The city of Stoke - on - Trent was incorporated in 1910 ( city status granted in 1925 ) , therefore before this time the two clubs were based in separate towns .
Were local rivals rather than rivals within the same city .
The city of Stoke - on - Trent was incorporated in 1910 ( city status granted in 1925 ) , therefore before this time the two clubs were based in separate towns and were local rivals rather than rivals within the same city .