[1] Stoke City are founder members of the Football League, which was created in 1888.
Since 2018, Stoke compete in the second tier of English football, the EFL Championship.
Stoke's first opponent was West Bromwich Albion in September 1888 who defeated the Potters 2–0.
Albion is also the opponent Stoke have played the most often in League matches, and against which they have recorded the most wins.
The most league defeats inflicted upon City are by Liverpool and Sunderland, while the most drawn matches have come against Derby County.