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They play in the Premier League after winning promotion in 2008; prior to this Stoke had not participated in top flight football for twenty-three years. Their first, and to date only, major trophy was won in the 1972 Football League Cup Final, when they beat Chelsea 2 � 1. The club has won the Football League Trophy on two occasions, firstly in 1992 and most recently in 2000. Their highest league finish in the top division is 4th, which they achieved in the 1935 � 36 and 1946 � 47 seasons. They have competed in European football twice, in 1972 and 1974; they will compete in Europe for the third time in 2011. Stoke played in their first FA Cup Final in 2011, finishing runners-up to Manchester City; they have also reached three FA Cup semi-finals, firstly in 1899 then consecutively in 1971 and 1972. Stoke's home ground is the Britannia Stadium, a 28,384 all-seater stadium reduced to 27,598 after segregation. Before the stadium was opened in 1997, they previously played at the Victoria Ground, which had been their home ground since 1878. The club's nickname is The Potters, named after the pottery industry in Stoke-on-Trent and their traditional home kit is a red and white vertically striped shirt with white shorts and white stockings. |