Stoke City are in their sixth year in the second grade of the English game after a four-year spell in the 'old' division three.
The last time the Potters were in the top flight was after their promotion in 1979, finishing third. Their stay among the elite lasted until 1985. In that era, Stoke were managed by Alan Durban (1978-1981), Richie Barker (1981-1983) and Bill Asprey (1984-1985).
Current manager Tony Pulis has a reputation for achieving solid results on small budgets. Under his guidance, Stoke have never been relegated, a proud record for Pulis.
In his second spell at Stoke, Pulis has succeeded in reviving interest in the club and Stoke fans are seriously talking about football once more.
Stoke moved to the Britannia Stadium in 1997. Victoria Ground had been their home stadium since 1878. Pulis is back after making way for a foreign manager, Johan Boskamp, when the club decided to go continental.
At present, Stoke are enjoying one of the best campaigns in The Championship, although these are still early days.
Under Pulis, Stoke have become a more consistent side and have sustained a realistic promotion challenge. Before the international break, Pulis was in a dilemma whether to recruit new players on loan come January or stick to his present squad.
Stoke's victory over Colchester saw Pulis's injury-hit team defy the odds to muscle their way back into the top six. In the first 10 games they acquired 17 points, having beaten one of the favourites, Charlton, and drew at West Brom.
City, who have lost two matches to date, were shocked last weekend when they went down at home 2-4 to lowly Sheffield Wednesday.
The introduction of Dominic Matteo in the heart of the defence and the never-say-die spirit of Rory Delap, along with the return of John Eustace in midfield, have given the side the stability needed to make a serious challenge for promotion.
Matteo has not played as a central defender for five years but he accepted to fill that role as long as Stoke keep the pace with the other contenders.
The manager
Tony Richard Pulis was born in Newport, Wales, on January 16, 1958. A tracksuit manager in the classic mould, he obtained the UEFA 'A' licence as a player, at the age of 21, to become one of the youngest ever to have the football degree.
As a player he chalked up more than 400 league games and started off with Bristol Rovers before trying his luck in Hong Kong in 1981 with the Happy Valley Club, a stay that was brief.
He returned to his country to play for another two years with Bristol Rovers before he signed for home club Newport County in 1984.
It was with the Welsh side that Pulis altered his role from a defender to a midfield player.
In his first spell at Bournemouth, he was part of the side that won the Division Three title in 1987, his only honour as a player. In the twilight of his career he had a brief stay with Gillingham and hung up his boots at Bournemouth.
At Dean Court's Fitness First Stadium, Pulis acted as player-coach and assistant to manager Harry Redknapp before taking over managerial responsibilities a year later after Redknapp departed to West Ham.
Pulis's managerial history:
1995-1999 - Gillingham. In 1996 the Gills were promoted to the Second Division and Pulis won the Division Three Manager of the Year award.
1999-2000 - Bristol City.
2000 - Portsmouth.
2002-2005 - Stoke City. In 2005, Manager of the Month for February.
2005-2006 - Plymouth Argyle.
2006 - Stoke City. Manager of the Month for April. His second tenure began on June 6, when chairman Peter Coates insisted that Pulis must return.
Coates stated that he had invested £10 million in the club so that the side would shrug off the tag of a perennial mid-table outfit.
Stoke City squad
Goalkeepers: Steve Simonsen 1, Russell Hoult 25.
Defenders: Marlon Broomes 3, Clint Hill 6, Dominic Matteo 16, Ritchie De Laet 20, Lewis Buxton 22, Andy Wilkinson 28, Carl Dickinson 31, Stephen Wright 19 (on loan from Sunderland), Jody Craddock 23 (on loan from Wolves), Ryan Shawcross (on loan from Man. United), Gabriel Zakuani (on loan from Fulham).
Midfielders: John Eustace 4, Liam Lawrence 7, Peter Sweeney 12, Rory Delap 24, Anthony Pulis 26, Demar Phillips 27.
Forwards: Jon Parkin 8, Richard Cresswell 9, Ricardo Fuller 10, Mamady Sidibe 11, Vincent Pericard 15.
Loaned players: Adam Rooney (forward) to Chesterfield, Matthew Hazley (midfielder) to Stafford, Robert Garrett (midfielder) to Wrexham.