Most outsiders may not even know that the city of Stoke is in the West Midlands, indeed most Stoke residents have never heard of the West Midlands and most West Midlanders think that Stoke is in the Greater Manchester metropolis as Manchester does have a tendency of claiming all towns and villages north of Stafford when they are calculating their population for second city purposes.
But the famous pottery town, nay, five towns of the Stoke-on-Trent conurbation are in fact within the regional boundary of the Wes Midlands. Though going on the latest agenda of the new Coalition Government, this may change when the West Midlands region is wound up and gerimandered back into the dustbin of political history.
However, regardless of whether Advantage West Midlands and the Government Office are still in existence by the end of this season (even by Christmas), many Wolves and Stoke supporters claim this fixture as their 'derby'. The very suggestion flies in the face of the widespread view that the derby for Stoke would be against Port Vale and more notably that for Wolves is the big Black Country clash with them Baggie boys.
Perhaps there could be just a tad bit of a wind up from Wolves fans of their Black Country rivals of just 9 miles away at the Hawthorns (compared with the 34 mile journey from Wolverhampton to Stoke-on-Trent). However, many hard core Wolves supporters do genuinely claim that the so-called Staffordshire derby with Stoke is the big one as far as they are concerned and I quote here a bloke I once heard on the sidelines of a Wordesley Wasps vs Stourbridge Glassboys (we're talking heart of the Black Country) Under 11s Stourbridge and District match:
"The 'Orthorns ain't even in tha Black Countray, thums in Brummagem. Our derby's agurnst Stowk, it's the Staffs durby, ay it our kid?"
Football fans familiar with the Stoke vs Wolves clash may also offer the explanation that Stoke and Wolves fans have a more lively history between them in terms of off-pitch antics, though we certainly aren't here to glorify football violence and I can't imagine for one minute that Albion v Wolves games haven't seen their fair share of altercations over the past hundred and thirty years.
Incidentally, what is interesting about the carve-up of the Black Country in terms of fan loyalty is that West Bromwich Albion lay claim to the whole borough of Sandwell and a mile or so into Birmingham along the Hagley Road and Handsworth borders, whilst Wolves territory tends to begin properly on the north and west side of Dudley and extends into significant parts of South Staffordshire and Shropshire, so places like Bridgnorth, Cannock and Telford are home to large populations of Wanderers faithful.
This then leaves what is perceived to be the Black Country capital of Dudley itself up for grabs not just by Albion and Wolves fans but also, rather cheekily by the Manchester United (glory hunters) of the West Midlands, the Villa . Claret and blue shirts being as common a sight on the parks and playing fields of Netherton and Gornal as striped and gold shirts, though Blues' kits remain a rarity north of Quinton. A Birmingham City fan in the Black Country has either got lost on the way to Merry Hill or is tracing his ancestors.
The historical relationship between Albion and Villa is also a strong one, going back to the years when they took it in turns to win the FA Cup and I have even heard Birmingham City fans who say that their ancestors went to St Andrews one week and the Albion the next - the implication being that Blue noses were pleased with any additional opportunities to wallop the Witton Enders and the blue and white scarfs of the two teams were potentially transferable given everything was handwashed and run through granny's mangle pre-1970. Even Albion's nickname, the Baggies, is said to have been given to them by their Brummie neighbours as their fans walked on mass, straight out of the foundries, along the Soho Road towards Small Heath or Aston still wearing their flappy industrial trousers.
All of this then perhaps feeds the deeply rooted feeling of exclusivity that has been engendered within the ranks of the Wolverhampton Dingles over many decades and with what should be their true rivals geographically speaking, Walsall, never stepping up to the mark, many Wolves fans therefore look further north for their cultural sparring partners in Staffordshire.
Braggley the Octopus predicts the result of this game:
In terms of results last season there was very little between Stoke and Wolves with a 2-2 draw in front of 27,000 at Stoke followed by a 0-0 late in the season in front of 28,400 fans at Molinuex with Wolves fighting for their Premiership survival. Wolves finished the 2009-10 season in 15th position on 38 points (an average of one point per game), whilst Stoke were four places above them in 11th with 47 points.
Neither side were known for big scores last season but Stoke should in theory pip it on their superiority in the long throw department. Ricardo Fuller should bang in a couple for Stoke but having said this, Wolves' new signing Steven Fletcher may bag one back and Kevin Doyle another - this promises to be a sick new partnership for the Dingles and the added strength in attack could be enough to keep it level once again.
So Braggley the Octopus predicts a 2-2 draw.
Most likely sending off Ryan Shawcross for Stoke and Karl Henry for Wolves.
Most likely manager to lose the plot, we're sticking our neck out by saying it will be Tony Pulis as opposed to Mick McCarthy as Mick will be pleased with the home draw in a tough start to the season and, as previously mentioned, a point per game could be enough to keep the Wolves up at the end of the season.
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