STOKE defense Tony Allen won't ever forget looking across and viewing Alfredo Di Stefano, Ferenc Puskas and the remainder of the True Madrid superstars arranged at the Victoria Ground. An impressive sight? Kind of. 100 YEARS IN THE MAKING: Tony Allen, remaining, looks on as Real Madrid striker Bueno moves close to scoring at the Victoria Ground all through Stoke's centenary celebration match on April 24, 1963. Hands are shaken by greats OF THE GAME: Stanley Matthews and Alfredo Di Stefano ahead of the Stoke centenary celebration match at the Victoria Surface. PRIMARY MAN: Stanley Matthews tangles with Ron Harris through that crucial Stoke victory at Stamford Bridge in-may 1963. He recalls: "I recall standing there, ready to go on the frequency, and thinking, 'We could get yourself a right sticking here.' "I didn't understand what to expect. I knew they were famous players, but I had never seen any of them perform. Glass was rated by free Upgrade from Pilkington Glass to high quality Planitherm A on new orders Contact: 01782 917980 Appropriate until: Tuesday, December 31 2013 "These times I watch Spanish baseball all of the time on television, but in the past that sport was the first time I had seen the Actual Madrid participants. "I was concerned they'd give us a chasing and wind up taking the mickey. "In the overall game, they certainly were absolutely fantastic. Their players hardly had to lift their foot off the ball to send 40 yards to it straight to the foot of a team-mate. "They were a hell of a side, but we played pretty well too." It is hardly covered by "pretty well" as then-Second Division Stoke went toe-to-toe with Madrid and secured a 2-2 pull contrary to the largest club in world soccer. Madrid had won five consecutive European Cups as much as 1960, also produced the final in 1962 and could achieve the final again in 1964. No wonder 44,914 spectators, Stoke's greatest group of the season, crammed into the Victoria Ground to see the overall game. Madrid took the lead on 16 minutes when Ruiz beat goalkeeper Jimmy O'Neill from just outside the penalty area, but Stoke roared back to take the overall game to their visitors. They eventually found an easy method past Madrid keeper Vicente on 48 minutes when Jackie Mudie found Dennis Viollet on the right. He went past Vicente Miera, cut in from the side and slammed the ball past the helpless keeper. As Don Ratcliffe handed to Jimmy McIlroy, who handled the ball with his left foot before shooting it home with his right, via a deflection off Lucien Muller only four minutes later City took the lead. But, Stoke alternative Ron Andrew added down Puskas in the area and the Hungarian good whipped the ball completely in to the place from the penalty spot to ensure the honours were shared. "It was not actually performed like a friendly," recalls Allen. "Before the game Tony Waddington told us to venture out and appreciate it. He said, 'You may not have several options to play against players like this a' this is some thing unique.' "My dad was there. While when I began I was on the floor team at Stoke, aged 15, playing in the Birmingham League with this home games at Leek Town, he always used to view me. I don't think my dad actually thought he'd see me playing against Real Madrid a' I never soft thought it myself." Stoke had guaranteed Real Madrid A10,000 from the morning, a payment they easily protected from match receipts of A20,000. Madrid sent their first-choice team, their only important absence being leader Gento, who was injured. A centenary banquet was included by their two-day stay at the North Stafford Hotel before the game and a knees up after it. They flew house or apartment with a lot of tokens of the groups' friendship, including Spode coffee companies, Royal Doulton figure jugs and a Doulton ceramic bull and matador figure to get in the trophy room at the Bernabeu. After waving goodbye to Madrid, Waddington told The Sentinel: "Real Madrid told us that in all their trips a' and they've visited many parts of the entire world a' they've never been treated quite so wonderfully by anyone." On when Madrid came to town a Stoke side who were in the thick of a promotion fight the event might have taken a temporary toll. Stoke came ultimately back to the Victoria Ground three days after the Madrid game. They certainly were without Dennis Viollet, who'd found a strain in the centenary fit, and dropped 1-0 to Middlesbrough. But, it did not matter just because a Stoke part filled with quality and knowledge would keep their nerve to clinch promotion back once again to the top-flight that period. The smooth skills of Viollet, McIlroy and Co were allied to the defensive excellence of famous brands Tony Allen, the Northwood-born full-back who clocked up 473 appearances for the Potters and played 3 x for England. That's without mentioning Sir Stanley Matthews, the home-grown hero whose famous position helped secure the Actual Madrid game. Matthews was 48-years-old by the finish of the 1962/63 campaign year, but nevertheless able to terrorise weight defences. That was never more obvious than on Saturday, May 11 at a top-of-the table fight at Stamford Bridge. Stoke won 1-0 in the front of 66,199 to take them to the verge of advertising. Allen recalls: "In the very first 10 minutes, Chelsea's Ron 'Chopper' Harris and Eddie McCready compromised Stan to bits. "Most those who found it would have now been convinced that if Stan had any sense he would vanish. "Instead, he dusted himself down, picked himself up, and ran Chelsea ragged for the remainder of the game. He was wonderful. I believe is the better I have ever seen Stoke play away from home. We only won 1-0, but we totally cleaned the ground with Chelsea that day." STOKE TOWN CENTENARY MATCH April 24, 1963 STOKE CITY 2, REAL MADRID 2 (At the Victoria Ground) Stoke City: O'Neill, Asprey, Allen, Clamp, Stuart (Andrew), Skeels, Matthews, Viollet (Howitt), Mudie, McIlroy, Ratcliffe. Real Madrid: Vicente (Araquistain), Casado, Miera, Muller (Zoco), Santamaria, Pachin, Amancio, Ruiz, Di Stefano (Felo), Puskas, Bueno.
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