The Fiver | Not one of the great career moves

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Like everyone else around the country, the paying punters at Stoke City just want a little joy in their lives. They just want to be entertained. It’s not too much to ask after a hard week at work. But their hopes and desires are not always shared by those managing the team. Take Bob McGrory, a dour Scot straight from Central Casting, who very nearly won the league for the Potters in 1947, but sold star winger Stanley Matthews in a fit of pique with three games of the season to go. Matthews was a bit too flashy for McGrory’s tastes, you see, and the sheer number of fans who flocked to witness his skilful play made his boss fume in the resentful style. Not only that, Matthews had taken McGrory’s pal Bobby Liddle’s place in the team. And he wanted paying properly. So he was packed off to Blackpool. Stoke subsequently lost their last game of the season and missed out to Liverpool by one point. Well done, Bob!

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