The Southern Supporters Club entered a new era in 2021 when Laurie Allen and his father, Richard Allen, took the helm.

Their vision was to build on the incredible work of past members while expanding the club’s social media presence and fostering a stronger sense of community—perhaps even organizing meet-ups for like-minded supporters.

Since then, many former members have reached out with support, helping to rebuild the group alongside a wave of new enthusiasts. Over the past four years, the club has established a dedicated committee, arranged numerous fixture meet-ups, raised funds for our chosen charity (Stoke City Community Trust), designed a new club badge, and much more.

Looking ahead, our goal is to continue growing our profile, achieve official affiliation with the Football Club, and create even more memorable experiences with the team we love.

The following is a passage written by one of the old regime

The original club played a vital role in making matchdays more accessible, organizing discounted rail travel on scheduled British Rail services—often as low as £5 for a return trip from Euston. These journeys frequently involved sharing carriages with other London-based supporters’ clubs, particularly Manchester City fans for home games. We even had a memorable trip alongside Wimbledon FC, the original “Crazy Gang.”

Around 20 dedicated regulars traveled consistently, with many others joining occasionally. At our peak, we boasted a membership of approximately 200—an impressive figure compared to similar organizations. The club was affiliated with APFSCIL (The Association of Provincial Football Supporters Clubs in London), which held monthly meetings in various North London pubs. We were also part of NFFSC (The National Federation of Football Supporters Clubs).

We were one of the few supporters’ clubs to publish a monthly magazine, Potters Monthly, and we hosted regular social events. The club also had a thriving pool, darts, and football team. Membership was a modest £1 per year, which included an SCSC LS&W enamel badge, a subscription to Potters Monthly, and an annual tour of the Victoria Ground every April.