 Trouble with the new ground continued, as the Regional Officer of the Ministry of Works refused to permit the transfer of the stand from the old to the new stadium, despite having approved similar procedures at Liverpool and Millwall.Chairman William Holdcroft felt this was unfair, and was supported by Stoke-on-Trent North MP Albert Davies.Despite this set-back the stadium was opened on 2 August in a ceremony attended by 12,000 rain-soaked people.