Stoke & Staffordshire

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Watch our pick of standout clips from Stoke and Staffordshire

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  1. A family of five stands together in front of a Christmas tree in a group hug. On the left side, under their father's arm, are two blonde boys. In the centre is a man with short grey hair wearing a navy blue Christmas jumper, to his right is a woman with long strawberry blonde hair wearing a black top and green skirt, and to her right is a small boy with blonde hair and an excited expression.

  2. A composite image featuring on the left Pauline Black of The Selecter, in a grey hat, sunglasses and black jacket. In the centre is a near adult sized cake in the shape of Buzz Lightyear and on the right is a woman with greying hair in a white and floral top, standing in front of some trees

  3. A young boy with blonde hair lies on the floor on his stomach, he is examining the England page of the sticker book and is pointing at a missing sticker. In front of him is a pile of stickers and a red tin with the World Cup logo on it, containing even more stickers.

  4. Lambs continue signing spree with Parkes & Lyttle

    Tamworth have taken their tally of signings for the week to eight by bringing in defenders Tom Parkes and Tyler Lyttle.

    Centre-back Parkes, 34, arrives from fellow National League side Hartlepool United, while full-back Lyttle, 29, joins from Brackley Town.

    Parkes made more than 300 appearances in the Football League, primarily for Bristol Rovers, Leyton Orient, Carlisle United and Exeter City, while Lyttle has spent most of his career in non-league.

    National League club Tamworth were taken over last week by 24-year-old American businessman Abdullah Ashraf.

  5. Station Road in Rowley Regis has buildings on either side and vehicles can be seen driving down it

  6. A general view of a brick-built warehouse building, which is being used as a vehicle repair business, on the side of the road. Several cars are parked on the side of the road.

  7. Port Vale manager Jon Brady walks along the touchline in his club tracktop and jacket

  8. Two hands are operating a silver valve on a yellow gas canister, which is on a wooden floor. An orange hose is attached to the canister.

  9. Two piles of brown-coloured offal on a main road, just before a traffic-light controlled pedestrian crossing. Cars can be seen manoeuvring

  10. Stoke name Higgins as new academy director

    Jack Higgins leans on a metal fence. He is wearing a grey T-shirt. There is a brick building behind him in the backgroundStoke City

    Stoke City have appointed Jack Higgins as the club's new academy director.

    The 34-year-old is a former head of education at Burnley and joins the Potters after spending the past six years as manager of the academy at League Two Fleetwood Town.

    In his time with the Cod Army, Higgins oversaw the development of their academy to Category Two status in 2023.

    Stoke sporting director Jonathan Walters said Higgins' experience of "building productive environments, developing players and connecting academy and first-team football" made him the "ideal person" for the job.

    "Over the last few months, we have taken time to look closely at our academy structure and how we can better support the development of young players throughout the club," Walters added.

    "We all recognise that the step from academy football to first-team football has become increasingly challenging in the modern game.

    "Our responsibility is to make that pathway as clear and consistent as possible."

    The club have also announced Sam Stockley will become head of professional development phase and take charge of the under-21 side.

    Stockley has been with Stoke for the past year having spent 14 years working in youth football in the USA.

  11. A woman with brown hair is wearing a yellow jumper and is pointing a control at a white air conditioned unit on a wall.

  12. A lightening bolt in the sky over Wombourne, Staffordshire

  13. Lowri Wright holds a trophy in one hand and a rosette and certificate in the other. She has long brown hair and is standing in front of signage saying Cheese Dairy Expo

  14. Ozzy Osbourne

  15. Tamworth sign Handley and Fogarty

    Tamworth have further bolstered their squad with the signings of defenders Tom Handley and Tommy Fogarty.

    Handley, 25, has arrived from Merthyr Town - he scored seven goals in 44 appearances for the National League North club last season.

    Fogarty, 21, was recently released by Birmingham City. He ended last season on loan at Morecambe.

    The arrivals take the number of Tamworth summer signings so far to six.

  16. Tommy Simkin, wearing a red Stoke City warm-up top, claps his hands together with goalkeeping gloves on before a game for the Potters.

  17. Djibril Soumare points at the camera with both hands and is wearing a black Stoke City hoodie

  18. A yellow gritting lorry at a depot

  19. A stock image of a classroom with chairs and tables with a blackboard in the background

  20. A hospital with ambulances parked outside it. The hospital building is several storeys high, and has red and yellow cladding on the lower part.

  21. Matthew Craig in action for Barnsley.

  22. A police car is parked on the road alongside a grassed hill. There are two large blocks of flats in the background.

  23. An artist impression of the planned development shows the homes surrounded by green fields with trees and bushes

  24. Tamworth sign duo Dyson and Bailey

    Oliver Dyson in action for Spennymoor TownGetty Images

    Oliver Dyson made 41 appearances for Spennymoor Town in National League North last season

    Tamworth have signed midfielder Oliver Dyson and left-back Joshua Bailey.

    Dyson, 26, who has previously featured for York City and Barrow, joins the National League side from Spennymoor Town.

    Bailey, 20, started his professional career with Shrewsbury Town and has joined Tamworth after an impressive season with Worcester City, where he scooped the players' player, supporters' player and young player of the season awards.