Ali Al-Hamadi has had Stoke City supporters singing his name since he joined from Ipswich Town on loan in January
Ali Al-Hamadi admits he didn’t have a clue Stoke City supporters were singing his name until a teammate whispered the lyrics into his ear at the end of his debut.
The 23-year-old striker joined on loan from Ipswich Town in January, filling a vacancy left by Tom Cannon, who had been recalled by Leicester from an 11-goal half-season spell to be sold on to Sheffield United for big money.
It was a sore blow to lose Cannon but Al Hamadi scored on his first appearance, against Hull, and his work rate up front sparked Stoke fans to rework Inspiral Carpets’ This Is How It Feels, with a namecheck for Cannon thrown in for good measure.
“It’s great pride as a footballer when people sing your name,” he said ahead of this weekend’s trip to Coventry. “I already felt like a bit of a cult hero. I don’t know why! Maybe it’s the way I play but for whatever reason I’ve always had a decent song from the fans, at Wimbledon and at Ipswich. I’ve always had a good connection with the fans. I didn’t even know what they were singing until the end of the game. I could hear them singing all game but just thought it was for the team to be honest. I was so focused then when we went over to the fans at full-time I was still clapping not knowing what was going on then someone said, ‘Do you know what they’re singing?’ and then whispered in my ear.
“I hadn’t even realised. I was then singing it all weekend. Everyone was sending it to me. All my mates were watching and a couple of lads from Ipswich. I always thought my name would be difficult to put into songs with this many syllables but for some reason it seems to fit. Fingers crossed they can keep singing it.
“By the way, I’ve got nothing against Tom Cannon! I’m sure he’s a lovely lad and he did well for the club. I hope he’s not offended.”
Al-Hamadi has discussed his life and career in the latest episode of the Potters Pod podcast with Rob Adcock, talking about the decision to leave the Premier League and join Stoke. He had been getting minutes from the bench for Ipswich, who he had joined 12 months previously, but was desperate to be playing and scoring more.
He said: “I feel like whatever stage I’ve been at I’ve wanted to take the challenge on. It would have been easy to stay and when it came down to it I was thinking, ‘Do I go? Do I stay?’ But I wouldn’t have been able to live with myself if I didn’t take the challenge on and try it.
“There were a lot of different factors, not one specific thing, but the main thing was just playing football. I went through a year or six months at Ipswich with not playing as much as I’d been used to a year before that. So it was, ‘Can I get back to playing? Can I get fit again? Can I get sharp again?’ Because coming into Premier League games keeps you fit but the feeling you get when you’re playing week in, week out, smashing games out and getting that momentum and sharpness, is the main thing no matter what level.”
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