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Stoke City club stalwarts leave as community arm set for 'relaunch and rebrand'
Stoke City have said farewells to two of the longest-serving stalwarts in an overhaul of the club’s community trust.
Adrian Hurst had been Stoke’s head of community for 24-and-a-half years and had actually joined the club all the way back in 1987. He was the face of a lot of Stoke’s non-football work in the city, such as the Big Sleep Out initiative to tackle homelessness, and Keep Stoke Smiling, described as ‘a work of genius’ by the British Orthodontic Society. He is now working for Staffordshire County Council.
Steve Hunt was fundraising officer for the Trust for just over 17 years and confirmed last week that he was leaving too. He was a familiar figure on the sidelines at the bet365 Stadium on a match day as well as the work across Stoke-on-Trent and beyond through the week.
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Stoke are recruiting a new director of community engagement with an aim of having “one core purpose: to create opportunities for everyone in Staffordshire to get active”.
A statement in the club’s job advert said: “The charity will rebrand, refocus and relaunch, and you will be at the heart of the creative and strategic process. We will engage with our local communities to identify and deliver projects to increase participation in sport and physical activity. This commitment will go hand-in-hand with a strategy to build and support facilities that give people from across our wide-ranging communities every opportunity to participate.
“The difference we will make to the lives will be tangible and profound. Together, we will make the people of the Potteries active, healthy and proud.”
A goodbye with a parting shot
Martyn Irvine has stood down as assistant head coach of Stoke City Women following an FA Women’s National League Cup quarter-final win over Burnley at Turf Moor on Saturday. Stoke turned semi-pro last year and have just reached the fourth round of the FA Women’s Cup too.
Irvine, however, suggested the women’s team has been “undervalued and under supported”.
He wrote on social media: “With a heavy heart I have decided to leave my role as assistant head coach.
“Proud of the last 10 months with an incredible group of players and staff. I have learnt so much from Marie Hourihan and have the upmost respect for a wondering person, coach and leader.
“In life you also have to understand your value, worth and energy. Marie has and is carrying out an incredible job with a wonderful group of people despite being let down, undervalued and under supported on many, many occasions. Proud of my input over the last 10 months.”
A good win for Stoke City Women
Yet the Burnley win really was a good one for Stoke, with Millie Ravening scoring a free-kick from 35 yards to seal it. Burnley had beaten Stoke 5-1 earlier in the season but the last couple of months have seen a run of terrific form.
Stoke have won 11 out of their last 12, being beaten by title-chasing Nottingham Forest in the other, and it is the first time they have reached the FA Cup fourth round in five years.
Hourihan said: “I reflect on 2024 with pride in terms of the achievements we’ve had throughout the season. We’re still in contention in the league, we’ve progressed in both cup competitions, and I’m proud of the individual development of the players.
“That for me is the most pleasing thing from the last 12 months, across the board, we’ve seen massive steps forward from the players individually and collectively.
“I take a lot of pride in that, and it’s been a fantastic first half of the season, but I know that we need to match that in the second half of the campaign in order to make this an unbelievable season.”
Tribute to Oscar Fairs
Stoke’s goalkeeping union paid tribute to tragic 14-year-old West Ham academy keeper Oscar Fairs.
Oscar died on Friday, with West Ham postponing all youth fixtures over the weekend including a Premier League 2 match against Stoke under-21s.
Viktor Johansson, Jack Bonham, Frank Fielding and coach Paul Clements had a Stoke number one shirt printed with Oscar’s name and a message of love to send down to London.
Stoke said in a statement: “The thoughts of all at Stoke City are with our colleagues at West Ham United and we join the Hammers in sending our love and sincere condolences to Oscar’s family and friends at this terribly sad and difficult time.”
Anniversaries this week
December 16 – birthday: Mame Diouf (37)
December 16, 1978 – 3-0 win over Wrexham: Peter Fox (first league appearance)
December 16, 2000 – 3-0 win over Bristol Rovers: Birkir Kristinsson (first league appearance)
December 17 – birthdays: Jimmy Robertson (80), Andrew Davies (40), Mama Sidibe (45)
December 18, 1982 – 2-0 defeat to Coventry: Chris Maskery (first league appearance)
December 19, 1970 – 1-0 win over Derby County: Sean Haslegrave (first league appearance)
December 20 – birthdays: Roy Brown (born on this day, 1923), Ed de Goey (58)
December 21, 1979 – 2-0 defeat to Leeds Utd: Roger Jones, Viv Busby (final league appearances)
December 21, 2002 – 1-1 draw with Wimbledon: Jurgen Vandeurzen (final league appearance)
