Why did the chicken cross the Atlantic?

Because former Potters youth star Charlie was selling his tasty American fried recipe to fans at City's home clash with Luton

- Sentinel Reporter

A FORMER Stoke City player returned after a decade away from the clubbut not on the pitch.

Instead Charlie Ward was serving up his fried chicken recipe to fans at Tuesday night's visit of Luton Town. The retired midfielder was a leading light of Stoke's youth squad, before his professional career took him across the Atlantic to play in the American USL Championship in 2015.

Charlie, of Birmingham, said: “This is our first event booking - and it's mad that it's at Stoke. You can't write it really. Stoke was a big piece of my professional footballing career in England, so it's super exciting to be coming back with my new business. I've got lots of fond memories here.

“I started off playing for the Aston Villa youth team, until I got released in 2012. Then I was the captain on Stoke's under-23 squad until I left in 2015. During that time, Stoke was in its prime as a club. I saw some of the best players in the world.”