‘A club which cares about the truly loyal fans’ – Stoke City praised by fans after covering away travel for fifth successive year

Football fans have been praising Stoke City after the Premier League club vowed to cover away supporters' coaches next season.

The offer covers every league game on the road, with official buses organised by the club departing from the bet365 Stadium for all 19 away days.

It is the fifth successive season they have done the kind gesture - after becoming the first club in any of England’s top four divisions to do so in 2013 - and the club say more than 12,500 fans took up the offer last term.

Speaking about the offer, chief executive Tony Scholes told the Potters' official website: “We have been delighted with the way our supporters have embraced the free coach travel initiative; they are travelling to away games in significantly higher numbers than at any other time in our Premier League history.

“Last season we took an average of 1,896 fans to away games, an increase of 40 per cent on the away support we took to games before we introduced free travel.

“Before 2013, we were taking an average of three or four official supporters’ coaches to away games but now we’re taking an average of 14 coaches to each game.

“We have a fantastic backing, both at the bet365 Stadium and on the road, and we’re sure that will again be the case in our 10th successive season in the Premier League.”

The Football Supporters' Federation were among those commending the club on the gesture, with some fans urging other clubs to follow suit.

See some of the best reaction, below...