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BBC News
4 days ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Wolves struggle to find breakthrough in 1-1 draw with Stoke City
Wolves were forced to settle for a 1-1 draw against Championship side Stoke City in their first public pre-season friendly ahead of the 2025-26 campaign.Vítor Pereira's side were forced to come from behind to share the spoils, with forward Hwang Hee-chan getting on the end of a rebound in the 76th minute to net his first goal of the signing Fer Lopez was also handed his first minutes in a Wolves shirt during the encounter at bet365 Stadium, while left-back Hugo Bueno made his return from a successful loan spell at Feyenoord.
BBC News
15-07-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Cresswell ready for 'different' challenge at Stoke
New Stoke City signing Aaron Cresswell says joining the Potters will be "a different challenge" after more than a decade in the Premier League with West Ham but he is "ready to step up".The 35-year-old former England and Ipswich left-back agreed a one-year deal at the bet365 Stadium on 10 July following the expiration of his contract with the Hammers after 11 years of told BBC Radio Stoke it was an odd feeling getting used to a new club after spending such a long time in east London."It is, but that's football," he said."A lot of players might have four, five, six different clubs throughout their career and I was fortunate enough to stay at West Ham for 11 years but everything comes to an end."It's a different challenge joining Stoke and one I'm really excited about and looking forward to." This season will be Cresswell's first in the second tier since his final campaign with the Tractor Boys in he says he is relishing the chance to reacquaint himself with the division."I'm looking forward to the Championship," Cresswell added."In terms of competitiveness and toughness, I don't think there are many leagues in world football that are as tough."But I'm ready for the fight. I spent three years there with Ipswich and it's not an easy league."I'm not getting any younger but I'm more than capable of still playing - I managed to play nearly 20 games in the Premier League last year and until the day that hunger, that desire doesn't sit with me then I'll call it a day. "But I don't feel anywhere near reaching that level of giving up." Stoke a 'sleeping giant' Cresswell says he will try and pass on his experience to the club's other full-backs including Italy Under-17 left-back Laurence Giani and French defender Eric-Junior has already spoken to Giani while waiting at the airport travelling to the club's pre-season training camp in Spain."I had a coffee with him at the airport and had a 10-minute chat and I got to know him and it was nice," Cresswell said. "If he needs any advice or help I'll be the first to help him out. The same with Eric - if they need any support I'll be the first to help whether I'm playing or not."Cresswell also said he had had "plenty of chats" with boss Mark Robins ahead of signing adding he was "fair and tough and that's what you want"."You want an honest guy and he certainly fits that bill," Cresswell said. Stoke begin their latest attempt to return to the Premier League for the first time since 2018 at home against Derby County on 9 August and Cresswell is sure the club have the credentials to get back to the top flight. "It's been a challenging few years for Stoke but it's a sleeping giant in terms of the fan base, the size of the club and the infrastructure," he said."Everything's there and I want to help in any way I can. "We want a successful season and don't want to be fighting relegation."I'm at the back end of my career now but am ready to step up. I want to be fighting for the first game of the season and I'll give it my all."
BBC News
27-06-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Another survival scrap 'can't happen again'
Stoke City defender Ben Wilmot says another relegation battle "cannot happen again" after last season's final-day survival in the Potters finished two points - and four places - above the relegation zone after a goalless draw at Derby County proved enough to keep them tense end typified a turbulent season on and off the field at the bet365 Stadium that saw three different permanent managers take charge of a struggling side."Last season was one of the toughest mentally because of all the change," Wilmot told BBC Radio Stoke."And the nervy end to it wasn't very fun, so it was nice to get the job done and switch off for a few weeks." The appointment of Mark Robins at the start of the year brought some stability to Stoke, who had fired Stephen Schumacher five games into the season before hiring Spaniard Narcis Pelach only to sack him three months later after 19 games and three league former Coventry boss Robins could not pull the Potters comfortably clear of trouble, meaning the squad went into that final game at the Rams knowing defeat could see them drop into League One for the first time in more than 20 years."That last week, everybody was talking about the situation and who had to beat who and what we had to do and if we'd lost who we were relying on," Wilmot said."We were just so preoccupied - it was the only topic of conversation for the whole week."It was a very stressful end to the season. Nobody wanted to go down, but it was nice to get the job done and get away from it." Feels like Robins 'is in charge of the whole place' That drama and stress have had a lasting impact on the squad, with Wilmot sure the experience will stiffen their resolves as they head into the new season."Everybody will be back with the mindset 'that cannot happen again', and I think it'll certainly put us in good stead," he said."I think we'll be a little bit more fierce in the way we approach games and not allow ourselves to drop that low in the league again - hopefully we can get off to a good start."We just hope for a steadier season on and off the pitch."Last year was very turbulent - it's not easy for people to perform when you're constantly flipping between systems and different managers. It's tough."It's a lot of the lads first time experiencing a relegation battle, and that will only have a positive impact on their careers and how they deal with games mentally."So when times get tough this season, which they will, we'll be better prepared."As horrible as last season was, it's definitely put us in better stead for this." With another Championship campaign approaching, Robins is now six months into the job and preparing his first pre-season with the the extensive rebuilding of the squad ahead of the 2023-24 season, which saw 19 players signed that summer, the recruitment this time round has been much more measured, with only Wales winger Sorba Thomas the only permanent arrival so and the unifying influence Robins has had, makes Wilmot "optimistic" going into the new season."It felt that way a few weeks after the manager came in," he said."Things just felt different. You feel like he really is in charge of the whole place, rather than just being the coach, which is a nice feeling - you feel like you've got someone who is the boss."With it not being such a huge turnaround, it feels like we're building something rather than it's another rebuild with 15 to 20 lads leaving and coming in, so the whole vibe around the building has been better than it has been the last few years." 'We can get the club back to where it needs to be' Stoke start their eighth attempt to get back to the Premier League at home to Derby on Saturday, 9 August, in a repeat of that survival game in will have to improve significantly on their performances last season when they recorded their worst points tally (51), league position (18) and goal difference (-17) since they were relegated from the top flight in Wilmot, now the club's longest-serving player, having arrived four years ago, is confident that will happen."The reason I came here was to get back into the Premier League and that's not happened," he said."This is probably the most optimistic I've been coming into pre-season over the last few years."With the group we've got and the manager, this season should be a lot better than last, and we'll certainly be pushing for play-offs at least."The turnaround across the board has been crazy, but hopefully things are going to settle down under this manager, and we can get the club back to where it needs to be."
BBC News
12-06-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
'Defeat may end my career' - Heaney on must-win fight
Former British middleweight champion Nathan Heaney says his comeback fight next month is one he has "got to win" if he wants to get his career back on 34, returns to his home city of Stoke for the first time in five years as he takes on Grant Dennis at the King's Hall on 26 will the first time Heaney has fought since being stopped by Sofiane Khati in February in Manchester on the undercard of heavyweight Derek Chisora's final UK fight. "This is where my career started at the King's Hall with probably 100 people in 2018," Heaney told BBC Radio Stoke."We've sold out arenas all over the country in the last five years and now I get the opportunity to come back and get back on track."I've got to win. Win this fight and then big things can happen off the back of it." Defeat by Khati was Heaney's second of his career and came seventh months after he lost his British crown to Brad Pauls in a rematch in Birmingham following a split-draw in their first back-to-back losses have cranked up the pressure - and the jeopardy - for his bout with former European title challenger Heaney is not phased by the enormity of the situation and remembers the build-up to his British title-winning fight with Denzel Bentley in November 2023."When I boxed Denzel there was a lot of pressure on me," he said."The anxiety was ridiculous but you only had to look at my performance on the night so see how that can affect you positively."Career-wise, it is the most important one by far. I have to win but it's a very hard and unforgiving sport and you can't take anything for granted."Heaney still holds the burning ambition to fight at the home of his beloved Stoke City - the bet365 Stadium - and knows that will only happen if he wins."Five years ago when I last fought at the King's Hall when it was sold out, the videos went viral and that's what got me signed by Frank Warren," he said."It's a reminder of what the city is and the demand for it is. We need a bigger place and we've got one - the football stadium - so I need to get back on track to make sure that can happen."My dream is to end [my career] at Stoke City but if that didn't happen, 26 July could be the last time I fight in Stoke."If I was to lose then it will probably be the last time I ever fight. I've never imagined retiring on a loss but sometimes you have no choice." 'I need to be scared' Dennis, 41, has won 19 of his 32 fights and 'Hitman' Heaney will go into the contest also looking for his 19th victory in what will be his 22nd bought. Kent fighter Dennis has only won twice in 11 fights since losing his shot at the European middleweight title to Danny Dignum nearly three and a half years Heaney is expecting the veteran to make the most of his chance to capitalise on his recent setbacks."I'm on the back of the losses and he'll see this as a great opportunity for himself," Heaney said."This is going to be a very entertaining fight. He's got a very good style and styles make fights as they say."I need to be scared and have the adrenaline. I need to think 'oh my, this is it if I don't do this' - I need that. If you don't have that, you don't perform."It will be the most incredible atmosphere we've ever seen."Nathan Heaney was talking to BBC Radio Stoke's Lee Blakeman.
BBC News
24-03-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Stoke appoint Torrance as head of recruitment
Stoke City have named Ian Torrance as their new head of has spent the past year in Italy in a similar role with Serie A club Como and replaces Lee Darnbrough who left the club in February after just eight months at the bet365 Stadium. Torrance spent 13 years with Southampton, eventually becoming their chief scout before leaving to join Como in time for their first season back in Italy's top flight."We know our work in the transfer market will need to be smart, agile and diligent for us to be successful and we believe Ian is the right person to help us implement that moving forward," Stoke's sporting director Jon Walters said., external
