 Stoke City Football Club was formed in 1863 under the name of " Stoke Ramblers " by former pupils of Charterhouse School whilst they were apprentices at the North Staffordshire Railway . The club dropped the Ramblers from their name and in 1888 they were founding members of the Football League . In 1928 , the club 's name was changed for the final time to Stoke City Football Club when Stoke @-@ on @-@ Trent was granted city status . 
