STOKE skipper Tom Perry has praised the Potters crowd for keeping behind the team despite an up and down season.

Perry said “The crowd have been good with us this year and the numbers have picked up despite it not being the best of seasons in the league.

“It’s been an up and down season and everyone wants to see a winning team and we all want our supporters to know that we go into every meeting wanting to win and do our very best for the club, sometimes things work and sometimes things don’t just come off for us. There is a real good relationship between the riders and supporters and they always get behind the team win, lose or draw and we all appreciate that fact.

“We have won one trophy in the National League Fours and it was great for us as a team and club and also fantastic to see the supporters celebrating especially after the length of time the club has been without winning a trophy and hopefully that is just the first of many in future seasons.”

Perry, has also signed for Championship club Birmingham where he captained the Brummies’ to back to back league titles.

The Potters skipper will ride in the West Midland clubs final three league matches of the season and make his debut on Wednesday night against Berwick at Perry Barr.