Stoke City Football Club is an English association football club based in Stoke-on-Trent. Founded as Stoke Ramblers Football Club in 1863, the club changed its name to Stoke Football Club in 1868 and then added the word "City" in 1927. During the 1888–89 season, Stoke joined the Football League and after a period in non-league football prior to World War I Stoke remained there until 2008 when Stoke gained promotion Premier League.[1]
Stoke City are founder members of the Football League, which was created in 1888. Over the years Stoke have played in the First Division, Second Division, Third Division, Third Division North, Championship, Football Alliance, Birmingham & District League and Southern League. Since 2018, Stoke compete in the second tier of English football, the EFL Championship.
Stoke's first opponent was West Bromwich Albion in September 1888 who defeated the Potters 2–0. Albion is also the opponent Stoke have played the most often in League matches, and against which they have recorded the most wins. The most league defeats inflicted upon City are by Liverpool and Sunderland, while the most drawn matches have come against Derby County.