Stoke City back in top flight after 23 years

LONDON (Reuters) - Stoke City were promoted to the Premier League when a drab 0-0 draw at home to Leicester City clinched runners-up spot in the Championship (second division) on the last day of the season on Sunday.

Third-placed Hull City, the only team who could have denied Stoke, were beaten 1-0 at Ipswich Town.

West Bromwich Albion, who had all but secured their promotion last Monday, return to the top flight as champions after a 2-0 victory at Queen's Park Rangers put them on 81 points, two more than Stoke.

While Albion are no strangers to Premier League campaigns in recent seasons, Stoke are now looking forward to their first season among the elite since 1985 and the 60 million pound windfall that promotion guarantees.

The contrast in emotions could hardly have been greater as the 0-0 draw sent Leicester City down to League One, the third tier in English football for the first time. They joined already relegated Scunthorpe United and Colchester United.

A premature pitch invasion by jubilant Stoke fans delayed the final few minutes at the Britannia Stadium, before the final whistle sparked wild scenes of celebration.

Hull can still clinch a place in the top flight for the first time in their 104-year history through the playoffs which will also feature Bristol City, Crystal Palace and Watford, who finished fourth, fifth and sixth respectively.

(Reporting by Martyn Herman, editing by Rex Gowar)