A licensable photograph from Stoke City's 2021 Championship fixture against Derby County has been made available for distribution. The image, captured by photographer Jon Hobley, shows Derby County goalkeeper Emmanuel Idem during the match at the Britannia Stadium on March 20, 2021. The picture was distributed by MI News via the Reuters Connect platform, which provides licensable content to media outlets.
What does the image show?
The photograph is a high-resolution action shot from the Sky Bet Championship encounter. It features Derby County's Emmanuel Idem, framed in a tight crop that focuses on the goalkeeper during play. The image file measures 5317 by 3545 pixels with a size of 13.5 megabytes, indicating its suitability for professional print and digital publication. This specific visual record is identified by the unique reference USN MT1NURPHO000I232GW within the Reuters Connect system.
Where was the match played?
The game took place at Stoke City's home ground, the Britannia Stadium in Stoke-on-Trent. This venue has been the club's home since 1997 and hosted numerous Championship fixtures during the 2020-21 season. The match itself was one of many pivotal contests as clubs battled for position in the second tier of English football. The city of Stoke-on-Trent in the United Kingdom provided the backdrop for this sporting event, which was categorized under the topics of Europe and Sport by the content distributor.
How does this connect to Stoke City today?
While the image captures a moment from five years ago, it emerges as Stoke City prepares for a new Championship campaign. The club finished 17th in the final 2025 table, accumulating 55 points from 46 games with a record of 15 wins, 10 draws, and 21 losses. Their recent form at the end of that season showed a string of difficult results. You can review the full league table on our standings page.
Stoke scored 51 goals last season while conceding 56, resulting in a negative five goal difference. They ended the campaign 40 points behind the champions, Coventry City. The team now looks ahead to its next fixture, a home match against Norwich City on September 1, 2026. Norwich finished 9th in the previous season's table.
Who is currently unavailable for Stoke?
The squad faces some selection challenges ahead of the new season. Several players are currently sidelined, including defender Aaron Cresswell, winger Ato Ampah, full-back Junior Tchamadeu, and midfielder Lamine Cissé. Their absence will test the depth of the playing group as manager Steven Schumacher plans for the upcoming match. Fans can monitor the latest availability updates on our dedicated injuries page.
What happens next for the Potters?
The distribution of this archival image coincides with a period of preparation for Stoke City. The club is building towards its opening home game of the 2026-27 season against Norwich. Historical images like this one serve as reminders of past campaigns as the team aims to improve on its 17th-place finish. Supporters can track the team's progress and view the full schedule on our fixtures section. The focus now shifts entirely to the current squad and its ambitions for the new season.
