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Port Vale F.C.

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Port Vale
Port Vale F.C. logo
Port Vale F.C. logo
Full namePort Vale Football Club
Nickname(s)The Valiants , The Vale
Founded1876
GroundVale Park
Burslem
Stoke-on-Trent
Capacity22,356
ChairmanBill Bratt
ManagerEngland Lee Sinnott
LeagueLeague One
2007-08League One, 23rd
(relegated)

Port Vale are an English football club who currently play in Football League One. They are based in Burslem, Staffordshire - one of the six towns that make up the city of Stoke-on-Trent. The club's rivals are Stoke City, but Crewe Alexandra are also classed as a local derby, although they are situated in South Cheshire.

Although it is widely believed that Port Vale is one of the few English league teams not to be named after a geographical location, the name Port Vale exists on maps predating the formation of the club in 1876, and is a reference to a valley of ports on the Trent and Mersey canal, associated with the city's pottery industry.

Port Vale's last manager was Martin Foyle, who left the club by mutual consent on the 26th of September, 2007; Martin Foyle was formerly the manager of the Youth Team – as well as being an important player for the club in the past. Dean Glover was named the club's interim Caretaker Manager, another notable former player, before Lee Sinnott was appointed on November 5 2007.[1]

Stadium

Vale Park, Port Vale's home ground since 1950.
Main article: Vale Park

Vale Park has been Port Vale's ground home since 1950, when the club moved from the Old Recreation Ground in Hanley, which stood on what is now the multi-storey car park for the Potteries Shopping Centre. The Rec had been Vale's home since 1913 which they had flitted between several homes in their early years of existence. The most poignant being the Cobridge Athletic Ground which was also a dog track for Greyhound Racing in Cobridge, which is an area between Burslem and Hanley. Vale Park has a notional capacity of around 22,000, however with all the developments and a switch to an all-seater stadium in recent years, it is more likely around 18 or 19,000 once Lorne Street is completed. Despite not being the oldest ground in the world (circa 1950), Vale Park has had several upgrades in its 57 year history. The original ground consisted of just two stands (The Railway side and the Lorne Street or Main Stand) with banks of terracing at the Bycars and Hamil ends of the ground. Stands were eventually built behind each of goals during the 80's and 90's, as the ground began to be modernised. The Paddock at the front of the Railway Stand was also made into an all-seated affair with just the Lorne Street side now being left as a standing area. Vale fans stood for the last time on Lorne Street at the end of the 1997-98 season, with the stand being demolished before work began on a new £3,000,000 pound structure. Unfortunately, work has never been finished on this nearly ten years on, due to lack of finances and then a change in ownership of the club. However, once new owners V2001 had sorted out the financing, work was finally begun on finishing the second half of the stand with work due to be completed sometime in 2008.

Robbie Williams

Among the club's famous fanbase is singer Robbie Williams, who was raised in Stoke-on-Trent. He is now a major shareholder having, in February 2006, bought £240,000 worth of the £250,000 worth of available shares in the club. Sponsors, Castle Comfort Stairlifts, at the same time bought the remainder for £10,000.[2]

For the computer game FIFA 2000, he provided an original theme song with It's Only Us, on the condition that Port Vale were included in the game, which they were, and are located in the Rest of World section. This song was also featured on the first and only FIFA Soundtrack CD release by EMI.[3]

History

The Rudge era

Promotion and giant-killing 1983-1989

John Rudge took over the management reins at Vale Park in December 1983, after the sacking of John McGrath following poor form upon Vale's promotion to Division Three (now League One). Despite being unable to halt Vale's immediate return to the bottom tier of the Football League, Division Four (now League Two), finishing 23rd, Rudge made his first profit in the 1984 close season, when he sold Mark Bright to Leicester City for £33,000. Bright had originally been a signing from local non-leaguers Leek Town. Rudge steadied the ship, and had Vale promoted back to the third tier in 1985/86, losing just once at Vale Park, and helped by the goals of prolific Welshman Andy Jones finished in fourth place. Jones continued to prove another inspired Rudge signing a level higher, netting a club record thirty seven goals in the 1986/87 season belittling his £3,000 price tag from Rhyl. Jones was then sold for a then club record of £375,000 to Charlton. The Valiants rise didn't stop there, after three seasons in Division Three, another promotion to Division Two (now the Championship), followed in 1988/1989. Robbie Earle scoring the winning goal at Vale Park to complete a 2-1 aggregate Play-Off Final victory over Bristol Rovers.

Rudge also oversaw the first of three Cup giant killing acts on another momentous day at Vale Park in 1988, when a Vale side mid-way in Division Three, defeated Tottenham of Division One, (now the Premiership) 2-1. Ray Walker and Phil Sproson were on target for Vale against Terry Venables' side which included Chris Waddle and Clive Allen, but omitted Ossie Ardiles, apparently due to the heavy state of the pitch, which turned out to be costly for the London outfit.

Following promotion in 1989 Vale had two good seasons in the Second Division and were on course for a third when placed half way up the table at the end of November 1991. Then they suddenly went into a slump which led to relegation of the last day of 1991-92. They had a side that appeared better than the division they were in in 1992-93, with Ian Taylor signed from non-League making a big impression, but just missed out on promotion as runners-up to Reading when Bolton came from nowhere with a tremendous run of victories to pip them on the final day. Vale then lost in the play-off final to West Bromwich Albion.

Promotion and stabilising 1993-95

Despite the disappointment going into the 1993-94 season, Vale were able to bounce back with Rudge's next two bargain buys becoming important players. Ian Taylor who Vale had signed for £15,000 from non-league Moor Green, and Dutch import Robin van der Laan came to the fore with Martin Foyle back fit and experienced Bernie Slaven up front, Vale surged to second place, confirming promotion on the last day with a 3-1 win at Brighton's Goldstone Ground in front of 6,000 travelling Valiants. Vale also notched another F.A.Cup scalp beating then Premiership side Southampton 1-0 at Vale Park in an FA Cup Third Round replay.

This time round Rudge knew what was required to sustain a better challenge in the higher league, and although Ian Taylor became Rudge's first £1,000,000 sale, when Sheffield Wednesday invested in the midfielder, the money was well spent on bringing Steve Guppy and Gareth Griffiths to the club throughout the 1994/95 campaign. Although these three not big names or particularly proven at that time, they began to build into the Rudge's best team in the next two seasons.

Vale finished seventeenth in 1994/95, comfortably avoiding relegation by ten points, and again despite a Pre-Season sale of Robin van der Laan, who Derby bought for £475,000 (he originally cost £80,000). Rudge made two more inspired signings with Jon McCarthy and Lee Mills joining before the 1995/96 season began.

Giant-killers award 1995-96

These next two seasons, Vale fans were to witness some of the best football the club has ever played, and even have fans dreaming of the Premiership in the second half of the 1996/97 campaign. Although who'd have thought it ten games into the previous 95/96 season, Vale had mustered just one win; ironically away in the local derby against Stoke, and were struggling at the wrong end of the table. Early home form was also the worst for years, and it took The Valiants until December 2nd to finally notch a win at Vale Park, when Martin Foyle scored to beat Huddersfield 1-0. A 5-1 defeat at Ipswich on New Years Day, saw Vale slip to second from bottom, with just five wins all season, but the magic of the FA Cup, was again to prove the tonic.

The draw had done Vale no favours, with a trip to promotion-chasing Crystal Palace, but a battling 0-0 performance, brought the tie back to Vale Park. Vale eventually won a classic tie, on a freezing January night, with Ray Walker curling home a spectacular winner in Extra Time, to seal a 4-3 win, and set up a trip to Cup holders Everton in the Fourth Round. It was somewhat a mystery why Vale were struggling in the League, with wingers Steve Guppy and Jon McCarthy consistently proving their worth on the flanks, with skill and pinpoint crossing, the scurge of many a Full Back. However, the Everton tie was to prove their finest hour in a Vale shirt. Vale twice came from behind at Goodison Park to draw 2-2, with Ian Bogie scoring off virtually the last kick of the match. The replay was to prove a night to remember, Vale Park was full to capacity, to see Guppy and McCarthy produce a masterclass in wing play. The Right and Left combination terrorised the Everton Full Back's all night, and with the match poised at 1-1, after Ian Bogie's opener had been cancelled out by Graham Stuart, Guppy broke down the left, before crossing for McCarthy to smash the winner past Neville Southall in the Everton goal.

The victory, in front of a 19,000+ crowd, (the last time Vale Park was full) saw Vale into the Fifth Round, where they would play Leeds United away, who were then a top ten Premiership side. The game at Elland Road took place on a Tuesday, due to various cancellations due to bad weather, and finished 0-0, in a game where The Valiants were arguably the better side, and should have won. However, the tie went to a replay in Burslem, and Vale were dreaming of a Quarter Final with Liverpool when Tony Naylor slipped the ball past John Lukic to put them in front. Gary McAllister, however was to prove Leeds' saviour, scoring twice in the final twelve minutes, to send the Yorkshire club into the Quarter Finals. Vale's cup exploits were to earn them the FA's Giantkillers award for the 95/96 season.

League form improves and the Anglo-Italian Cup 1995-96

The Cup run seemed to inspire Vale onto better things in the league, with a run of five wins in a row, pushing them up to twelfth, as the season drew to a close. Vale also had some excellent results in the Anglo-Italian Cup, as they qualified for the Final at Wembley, in the 'England vs Italy' competition's final season. The pick of the Preliminary stages, was a 5-3 win at Italian side Perugia, where Lee Mills netted a Hat Trick. The English Semi Final draw pitted Vale away to Ipswich Town,(who they'd already lost to 5-1), Tony Naylor though, was to prove the hero, scoring a Hat Trick, as Vale recorded a superb 4-2 win at Portman Road,(the first in their history at Ipswich's ground).

A thrilling 3-1 victory in the English Final second leg at Vale Park, against West Brom, confirmed a 4-2 aggregate success, and a game against Italian winners Genoa in the Final. The Italians' skill, however, was to prove too much in the Final, and a side including future Italian internationals Vincenzo Montella and Fabio Galante, ran out 5-2 winners(Martin Foyle with both Vale goals.)

Dare to Dream? The highest finish since the 30's 1996-97

Again Vale made a slow start to the 1996-97 campaign, with only two wins from their opening ten league games, although a better performance in the League Cup, gave the fans something to shout about early on. Especially after thumping local side Crewe 5-1 at Gresty Road! A protest against Chairman Bill Bell, after a poor home defeat to Crystal Palace, seemed to see an upturn in the Valiant's performances. A second win at Wolves' Molineux ground(1-0), in two seasons, was followed by a mixed period, until December produced some of the best football many Vale fans are likely to have seen. The pick were three wins on the bounce, against ex-Premiership sides Charlton 3-1 at The Valley, 6-1 at home to Norwich and concluding in a 1-0 success on Boxing day at Manchester City in front of more than 30,000. Despite the sale of the excellent Steve Guppy to Leicester City for £800,000, Vale's form remained steady from then on, until five wins from six, from mid March to mid-April, put them in with a chances of the Play-Offs, for a place in the Premiership. However, with three games remaining, Vale were to lose in local derby defeats to main rivals Stoke City, before Wolves came away from Vale Park with a 2-1 victory to end their hopes. Had Vale picked up anything from either of those games, it would have set up a final day showdown at Selhurst Park against Crystal Palace for a place in the Play-Offs, however, Vale remained just out of reach four points behind the London club. Vale's final finishing position of eighth, was their highest in the pyramid since 1931, when they had finished fifth in the old Division Two.

Decline since 1997

After 16 years as Port Vale manager, John Rudge was sacked in January 1999, after one of Vale's most successful eras. He was replaced by former player Brian Horton, who was in charge for five years afterwards. Dwindling fortunes both on the pitch and financially put relegation on the cards. Vale managed a last day escape from the drop at Bury's expense by virtue of having scored more goals (this was the last season before goal difference replaced goals scored as the Football League's separator for teams on equal points, and such a system would have relegated Port Vale in 1999). However, there was no escape in 1999-2000 when both Vale and Swindon looked doomed to go down from start to finish. A worsening financial crisis put the club's future in jeopardy by the end of 2000 by which time the oulook was desperately bleak with the team apparently spiralling towards another relegation and the fans protesting against chairman Bill Bell. But there was a remarkable change in fortunes after the turn of the year as Brian Horton's team transformed their league form to pull up to a top half finish while also gaining silverware by beating Brentford in the final of the LDV Vans Trophy. A supporters' trust under the banner Valiant 2001 started moves towards attaining ownership of the club. This eventually succeeded but only after a period of administration. Bill Bratt became the new chairman and even though the finances were still slim for quite a while Vale were relatively buoyant.

Horton left in March 2004 to be replaced by Martin Foyle.

Foyle spent almost four years as manager, but Vale never looked like mounting a promotion challenge and he was finally sacked on 4 November 2007 with Vale in deep relegation trouble. He was succeeded by Lee Sinnott, but Sinnott was unable to prevent Vale from sliding into League Two in 23rd place with a mere 38 points. 2008-09 will be Vale's first season in the bottom tier of the Football League for almost a quarter of a century.

Achievements

  • FA Cup Semi Finalists: 1953/54

Statistics

Best attendance50000: vs Aston Villa 20 February 1960 FA Cup R5
Best league win9 - 1: vs Chesterfield 24 September 1932 Division Two
Worst league loss0 - 10: vs Sheffield United 10 December 1892 Division Two
Best cup win7 - 1: vs Irthlingborough 12 January 1907 FA Cup R1
Most capped playerChristopher Birchall : 22, Trinidad and Tobago
Most League appearancesRoy Sproson: 761 1950-1972
Most League goalsWilf Kirkham: 154 1923-1933
Most Goals in a seasonWilf Kirkham: 38 1926/27 Division Two
Transfer fee received£2,000,000: Gareth Ainsworth to Wimbledon 29 October 1998
Transfer fee paid£500,000: Gareth Ainsworth from Lincoln City 11 September 1997

Current squad

As of 14 April, 2008.

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
4 MF England ENG Robin Hulbert
7 MF England ENG Shane Tudor
8 MF England ENG Paul Harsley (captain)
13 MF England ENG Simon Richman
9 FW England ENG Marc Richards
10 FW England ENG Luke Rodgers
11 MF England ENG Paul Edwards
12 GK England ENG Joe Anyon
14 MF England ENG Danny Whitaker
No. Pos. Nation Player
32 MF England ENG Ross Davidson
21 MF England ENG Danny Glover
22 DF England ENG Luke Prosser
24 FW England ENG Kyle Perry
26 GK England ENG Chris Martin
27 FW Northern Ireland NIR Jamie Lawrie
29 DF England ENG Chris Slater
34 FW Northern Ireland NIR David Howland (on loan from Birmingham City) 


FW  Rob Taylor

Notable players

List of Managers

References

  1. ^ BBC Sport, Sinnott named new Port Vale boss
  2. ^ "Robbie buys into Vale", BBC.co.uk, 27 February 2006
  3. ^ "FIFA 2000: Major League Soccer", Moby Games, 20 August 2006
Preceded by Football League Trophy Winners
1992-93 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Football League Trophy Winners
2000-01 		Succeeded by

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