Stoke aren’t used to much media attention. When they do get on live TV, they tend to be a bit camera shy. No doubt if the promotion push continues then all of a sudden Sky Sports News, Football Focus and Central Soccer Night will all become very interested.
There are some people though who follow Stoke week on week. The Sentinel and BBC Radio Stoke both follow Stoke in great detail. Mushy Peas and Gravy has been looking at the good, that bad and the ugly.
BBC Radio Stoke
John Acres
BBC Radio Stoke’s chief sports man. You’ll hear him reading the sports news everyday on BBC Radio Stoke. He also does Praise and Grumble on a Friday at 6pm. Match-day coverage at Stoke, Acres will be there fronting it.
Originally from Plymouth in Devon, Acres is an adopted Stoke. He’s been at Radio Stoke for over 5 years since starting his career at BBC Radio Devon.
Fair play to him, he seems to be fairly passionate. Who am I to criticise a southerner coming to Stoke and showing an interest. But he is not a commentator. He should leave that to Nigel Johnson. Football commentary on the radio is as much about what you don’t say as what you do say. He says far too much. Every little thing that goes on, on the pitch, Acres will tell you. ‘Pulis is standing there hands in pockets’, ‘Pulis moves around in his technical area’. We don’t need to hear your voice all the time, that’s what Dennis Smith is there to summarise for! He should take some tips from Nigel Johnson, who is a SCFC legend.
Nigel Johnson
Over 1,500 games commentating on Stoke in over 35 years. He is an institution, employed by both BBC Radio Stoke and Stoke City he is loved and adored by fans. Having started life as a headteacher at Heron Cross High School he moved to radio where he started commentating on such things as Cricket and…Port Vale!
He’s seen it all; promotions, relegation’s, takeovers, manager changes, stadium changes. Will he see a promotion this year?
His commentary style is succinct. His low stoke accent fills wherever you listen. He still is a commentator and may frustrate you because there aren’t enough score updates or he doesn’t tell you where the ball is, but still he is the voice of Stoke City.
The Sentinel
Martin Spinks
Martin Spinks is Mr Stoke City when it comes to the written press. He writes everyday about them in the Sentinel, does the match reports, and generally makes a nuisance of himself!
His close relationship with Tony Pulis makes his hard to shift and he is not best liked by many people. His gushing match reports tell you that Stoke were great, even if they weren’t. The reason for this is because if he says the wrong things then he will have his privileges taken away; such as his unnecessary tunnel pass (why can’t he just wait in the Press Room like all the other print journalists).
He has got a nice monopoly going though so he’s probably not too worried.
