<P> Stoke City Football Club was formed in 1863 as Stoke Ramblers Football Club by former pupils of the Charterhouse School whilst they were apprentices at the North Staffordshire Railway . The club dropped the Ramblers from their name in 1878, and in 1888 they were founding members of the Football League . In 1925, the club's name was changed for the final time to Stoke City Football Club when Stoke - on - Trent was granted city status . </P> <P> The club moved in 1997 to the Britannia Stadium, a 28,383 all - seater stadium; having spent 119 years at the Victoria Ground . In the 2007--08 season, Stoke won promotion from the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football, and as of 2008--09 are playing in the top flight (currently Premier League) for the first time since the 1984--85 season, when they were relegated with a total of 17 points, a record low unsurpassed for 21 years . Stoke's only major trophy was the 1972 Football League Cup, won when they beat Chelsea 2--1 in the final at Wembley Stadium before a crowd of 97,852 . The club have also won the Football League Trophy twice, in 1992 and 2000 . In terms of league achievement the closest Stoke have come to winning the title was in the 1946--47 season where a final day defeat cost Stoke top spot . </P> <P> It is claimed that Stoke Ramblers was formed in 1863 when former pupils of Charterhouse School formed a football club while they were apprentices at the North Staffordshire Railway works in Stoke - on - Trent . However, Stoke Ramblers' first documented match was five years later, on 17 October 1868, at the club's original home, the Victoria Cricket Club ground against E.W May's XV, the 15 - a-side match ended in a 1--1 draw . In the game, the club's first goal was scored by Henry Almond, Stoke's founder and captain . Stoke played four further fixtures in 1868, recording their first victory with a 2--0 win against Newcastle - under - Lyme . In 1875, to cope with rising attendances, the club switched to a ground at Sweetings Field, not far from the Victoria Cricket Ground . At this time, the only fixtures were friendly matches; this changed in 1877 when the Staffordshire Football Association was formed and created a new competition, the County Cup, which Stoke won in the inaugural season, beating Talke Rangers 1--0 in the final . In an earlier round, Stoke had recorded what is still the club's record victory, a 26--0 triumph over Mow Cop . Stoke retained the County Cup in the following season with a 2--1 win over Cobridge and established themselves as the largest club in the area . </P>

When did stoke get promoted to the premier league