Video: Promotion Ecstasy for Stoke City

There are pitch invasions, and then there are Pitch Invasions. This one qualifies for the capitals.

Stoke City last played in the Premier League English top flight in the 1984-85 season, before a lot of today’s players were even born. They needed a draw against Leicester City on Sunday to claim second place in the Championship and automatic promotion, and that’s exactly what they got: nil-nil. But it might as well have been 10-0 for all the joy created by that single point.

What this video doesn’t show is the first, premature, pitch invasion, which started before the final whistle was officially blown. Thankfully for Stoke City fans the pitch was cleared, and the real whistle sounds seconds later. This video shows the euphoric aftermath.

What does Stoke City gain by playing in the Premier League? It’s not just about pride. Promoted teams gain approximately £60 million.

Yesterday was the final day of play in the Championship. Final results:

Promoted: West Bromwich Albion, Stoke City
Play-offs: Hull City v Watford, Bristol City v Crystal Palace
Relegated: Leicester City, Scunthorpe United, Colchester United

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Category: England, English Premier League, World Football