Sun 8th Nov - Kingston Communications Stadium
By Joe Drabble Last updated: 22nd January 2008
Stoke City have announced plans to forge links with American club Austin Aztex.
City director Phil Rawlins, who lives in the Texas city of Austin has acquired the franchise for the American club.
The Potters will be one of the first clubs to form an affiliation with an American side - the link will enable Stoke to hold a summer training camp in Austin as well as the opportunity to scout any emerging US talent.
Rawlings told the club's official website: "I am delighted to have the opportunity to bring a top-class professional soccer franchise to Austin.
"Central Texas has long been a hot-bed of young soccer talent with more than 35,000 kids playing the game locally.
"Today's announcement gives these youngsters and talented players throughout Texas something to aim for and the chance of playing soccer at the highest level."
Stoke City's chief executive Tony Scholes also expressed his delight at the news.
"Working with someone we know and respect like Phil Rawlins in a booming soccer marketplace like the States made our affiliation an easy decision for Stoke City," he told the Sentinel.
"We feel certain that Aztex will be a major success, both in Austin and across the United States, and look forward to a long and mutually profitable relationship between Stoke City and Austin Aztex."

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| Time | Fixture |
|---|---|
| Sunday 8th November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 13:30 | Hull vs Stoke |
| Sunday 22nd November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 16:00 | Stoke vs Portsmouth |
| Saturday 28th November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Blackburn vs Stoke |
| Saturday 5th December | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Arsenal vs Stoke |
| Saturday 12th December | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 12:45 | Stoke vs Wigan |
| Saturday 19th December | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Aston Villa vs Stoke |
| Saturday 26th December | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Man City vs Stoke |
| Monday 28th December | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Stoke vs Birmingham |
| Tuesday 5th January | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 19:45 | Stoke vs Fulham |
| Saturday 9th January | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Burnley vs Stoke |
| Saturday 16th January | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 12:45 | Stoke vs Liverpool |
| Tuesday 26th January | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 19:45 | Stoke vs Man City |
| Monday 1st February | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 20:00 | Sunderland vs Stoke |
| Saturday 6th February | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Stoke vs Blackburn |
| Tuesday 9th February | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 19:45 | Wigan vs Stoke |
| Time | Result |
|---|---|
| Saturday 31st October | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Stoke 2 - 2 Wolverhampton | |
| Tuesday 27th October | |
| Carling Cup | |
| Portsmouth 4 - 0 Stoke | |
| Saturday 24th October | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Tottenham 0 - 1 Stoke | |
| Saturday 17th October | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Stoke 2 - 1 West Ham | |
| Sunday 4th October | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Everton 1 - 1 Stoke | |
| Saturday 26th September | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Stoke 0 - 2 Man Utd | |
| Tuesday 22nd September | |
| Carling Cup | |
| Stoke 4 - 3 Blackpool | |
| Saturday 19th September | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Bolton 1 - 1 Stoke | |
| Saturday 12th September | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Stoke 1 - 2 Chelsea | |
| Saturday 29th August | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Stoke 1 - 0 Sunderland | |
| Wednesday 26th August | |
| Carling Cup | |
| Leyton Orient 0 - 1 Stoke | |
| Saturday 22nd August | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Birmingham 0 - 0 Stoke | |
| Wednesday 19th August | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Liverpool 4 - 0 Stoke | |
| Saturday 15th August | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Stoke 2 - 0 Burnley | |
| Friday 7th August | |
| Friendly Match | |
| Stoke 2 - 2 Valladolid | |
| Saturday 1st August | |
| Friendly Match | |
| Derby 2 - 2 Stoke | |
| Wednesday 29th July | |
| Friendly Match | |
| Nottm Forest 1 - 1 Stoke | |
| Saturday 25th July | |
| Friendly Match | |
| Preston 2 - 1 Stoke | |
| Friday 17th July | |
| Friendly Match | |
| St Pauli 3 - 1 Stoke | |
| Sunday 12th July | |
| Friendly Match | |
| Newcastle Town 2 - 1 Stoke | |
| Pos | Team | P | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | Liverpool | 11 | 18 |
| 8 | Sunderland | 12 | 17 |
| 9 | Stoke City | 11 | 16 |
| 10 | Burnley | 12 | 16 |
| 11 | Fulham | 10 | 14 |
Pictures from Sunday's Premier League action where Hull snatch victory and Chelsea beat Man United.
Sunderland fan Lucinda Gittins was strutting her stuff in the Soccer AM studios this week.
Paul Merson fears for Phil Brown - and says Hull couldn't be facing a worse game than home to Stoke.
West Ham's FA Cup final defeat to Liverpool in 2006. Can you name the mystery starting XI?
Stoke boss Tony Pulis insists he has no problem with Tuncay Sanli's reaction to being substituted against Hull.
Hull came from behind to beat Stoke 2-1 at the KC Stadium to ease the pressure on Phil Brown.
Tony Pulis believes Stoke could still be susceptible to second-season syndrome.
Stoke boss Tony Pulis has played down the pressure on football managers ahead of their clash with Hull City.
Stoke are close to securing the long-term future of defender Ryan Shawcross, Tony Pulis has confirmed.