Stoke City landed promotion hero when they struck Leeds United deal

Stoke City landed promotion hero when they struck Leeds United deal

In an attempt to build on Stoke’s eighth-place result the previous season and push the team into a promotion battle, Tony Pulis made moves in the summer of 2007 to bring in a number of Championship-ready players.

To further their goals, players like Ryan Shawcross, Jon Parkin, and Leon Cort arrived, while the Potters also raided League One-bound Leeds United to sign Richard Cresswell, a talented forward.

Cresswell, 29, was originally set to sign with Hull City, but his transfer to the Tigers fell through due to issues after his medical. This was a great thing for Stoke, as he became a vital member of Pulis’ team and played a significant role in their eventual promotion at the conclusion of his first season there.

After an impressive stint in the second division with Preston North End from 2000 to 2006, Cresswell joined Stoke on a three-year contract in early August 2007. At the time, manager Pulis acknowledged that he was “absolutely delighted” to be signing a player of his caliber and experience.

Even though the striker-turned-winger scored his first goal for the team against Rochdale in the League Cup, it wasn’t until mid-October that he scored in a league game for the first time. Upon arrival, he immediately made the starting eleven, but Stoke failed to mount a promotion challenge early in the season.

At Crystal Palace, he scored his first goal away from home. He then scored another in the second half to give the Potters a brace and a 3-1 victory at Selhurst Park, which was only their second away victory of the season.

Pulis’ team may have gotten into gear for the promotion chase thanks to Cresswell’s best run of personal form. He scored against Plymouth Argyle and his old team Preston during his run of three straight victories over QPR, Norwich City, and Sheffield United in November and December. Stoke did not lose again until late January.

By the halfway point of the season, the Potters had secured their place in the Championship top six. Cresswell’s impressive career continued when he was a brilliant substitute against struggling Scunthorpe United, scoring a goal to help Stoke rally from a 2-0 deficit to win 3-2.

In March, he earned a penalty kick against fellow promotion-hopeful Burnley in extra time, which Liam Lawrence duly converted to steal a point at the end of the game at the Britannia Stadium. It was his only assist of the season.

Cresswell kept playing every week as Stoke advanced into the automatic promotion spots, and with five games remaining, his goal away at Sheffield Wednesday kept them atop the second division.

If Hull hadn’t lost to Crystal Palace, his goal in their penultimate game of the season against Colchester United might have guaranteed the Potters promotion. However, they completed the task a week later with a 0-0 draw against Leicester City, securing their eagerly anticipated return to the top flight.

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