 On 4 May 2008 , Stoke City won promotion to the top flight of English football after a 23 @-@ year absence , and as of 2008 – 09 are playing in the Premier League for the first time . On 18 July 2008 , the club broke their transfer record to purchase striker Dave Kitson for £ 5 @.@ 5 million from Reading . The following weekend , the Britannia Stadium hosted its first ever top @-@ flight game , against Aston Villa , with a home win courtesy of Mamady Sidibe 's injury @-@ time goal from a Rory Delap throw @-@ in , giving Stoke City their first ever Premier League points . The club went on to record a 12th @-@ place finish in their first season back in the Premier League . A much cited aspect of the team 's style of play has been the utilisation of Rory Delap 's long throw to create goal @-@ scoring opportunities . Pulis signed Robert Huth and Tuncay Şanlı from Middlesbrough for a combined fee in the region of £ 10 million , in a bid to establish the club in the Premier League prior to the 2009 – 2010 season . This feat was achieved comfortably as the club finished in 11th place , thereby securing a third season in the Premier League . Pulis bolstered his squad for 2010 – 11 season with the club record £ 8 million signing of Kenwyne Jones . 
