'MAKSYM IS A SPECIAL SIGNING IN CITY HISTORY'

Russian supporters' club chairman says defender's signing means so much more than football

- Peter Smith

MAKSYM Talovierov will become the first Ukrainian to play for Stoke City after signing from Plymouth Argyle and his arrival has stirred an emotional welcome from the club's Russian supporters' club.

The 25-year-old centre-half met his new teammates at Clayton Wood yesterday, returning to football after a close season spent on international duty with Ukraine in Canada.

He is clearly incredibly proud of his home country and it is believed that confirmation of his transfer was delayed due to sensitivity regarding the intensifying bombardment of Kyiv late last week.

He was officially unveiled on Saturday morning, signing a three-year contract.

Ivan Korzh, who helped bring Russian Stoke fans together with a fan club that was made official in 2013, got in touch to try to explain what that means for him and his modest but passionate band of Potters who used to follow "from Minsk to Prokopyevsk, Murmansk to Alma-Ata" but are now spread out around Europe.