PORT VALE F.C.

'Port Vale' are an English association 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. Stoke City and Crewe Alexandra are their local rivals.
Although it is widely believed that Port Vale is one of the few 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 current manager is Martin Foyle; who was formerly the manager of the youth team – as well as being an important player for the club in the past. Dean Glover is the club's assistant manager, another notable former player.

Contents

Stadium

Robbie Williams

History of the Club

Achievements

Statistics

Current squad

Notable players

List of Managers

References

External links

Stadium

Main articles: 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 before 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 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 2 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 80s and 90s as the ground began to be modernized. 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 97-98 season with the stand being demolished before work began on a new 3 million pound structure. Unfortunately work has never been finished on this nearly 10 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 2nd half of the stand with work due to be completed sometime in 2008.

Robbie Williams

Among the club's 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.^[1]
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, as a special feature team. This song was also featured on the first and only FIFA Soundtrack CD release by EMI.^[2]

History of the Club

'Promotion and Giantkilling 1983-1989'
John Rudge took over the management reins at Vale Park in 1983/84 after the sacking of John McGrath following poor form upon Vale's promotion to Division 3 (now League One). Despite being unable to halt Vale's immediate return to the bottom tier of the Football League, Division 4 (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 4th place. Jones continued to prove another inspired Rudge signing a level higher, netting a club record 37 goals in the 1986/87 season belittling his £3,000 price tag from Rhyl. Jones was then sold for a then club record £375,000 to Charlton.
The Valiants rise didn't stop there after 3 seasons in Division 3 another promotion to Division 2(now the Championship) followed in 1988/1989. Robbie Earle scoring the winning goal at Vale Park to complete a 2-1 aggregate playoff 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 midway in Division 3 defeated Tottenham of Division 1 (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.
'Promotion and Stabilising 1993-1999'
Despite the disappointment going into the 93/94 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 2nd place confirming promotion on the last day with a 3-1 win at Brighton's Goldstone Ground in front of 6000 travelling Valiants. Vale also notched another F.A.Cup scalp beating then Premiership side Southampton 1-0 at Vale Park in a 3rd 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 million pound sale when Sheffield Wednesday invested in the midfielder, the money was well spent on bringing Tony Naylor, 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 17th in 1994/95 comfortably avoiding relegation by 10 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 2 more inspired signings with Jon McCarthy and Lee Mills joining before the 1995/96 season began.
'Giantkillers Award 1995/1996'
These next 2 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 10 games into the previous 95/96 season Vale had mustered just 1 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 the 2nd December 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 1 from bottom with just 5 wins all season but the magic of the F.A. 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 brought the tie back to Vale Park. Vale eventually won a classic 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 Round 4. 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 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 fullbacks 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 19000+ crowd (the last time Vale Park was full) saw Vale into round five where they would play Leeds United away who were then a top 10 Premiership side. The game at Elland Road took place on a Tuesday due to various cancellation due to bad weather and finished 0-0 in a game where the Valiants were arguable 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 12 minutes to send the Yorkshire club into the Round 6. 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 1995/1996'
The cup run seemed to inspire Vale onto better thing in the league with a run of 5 wins in a row pushing them up to 12th 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 V 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 hattrick. 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 hattrick as Vale record 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 2nd leg at Vale Park against West Brom confirmed a 4-2 aggregate success and a game against Italian winners Genoa in the final. The Italian's 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 30s 1996/1997'
Again Vale made a slow start to the 1996/97 campaign with only 2 wins from their opening 10 league games although a better performance in the League cup(a competition Vale traditionally struggle in!) 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 2nd win at Wolves' Molineaux 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 3 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 5 wins from 6 from mid March-mid April put them in with a chances of the playoffs for a place in the Premiership. However with 3 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 playoff however Vale remained just out of reach 4 points behind the London club. Vale's final finishing position of 8th was their highest in the pyramid since 1931, when they had finished 5th in the old division two.

Achievements

★ Division Three (North) champions: 1929/30; 1953/54

★ Promoted from Division Four: 1958/59 (as champions); 1969/70; 1982/83; 1985/86

★ Promoted from Division Three: 1988/89 (via play offs)

★ Promoted from Division Two: 1993/94 (as runners up)

★ FA Cup semi-finalists: 1953/54

★ Football League Trophy

★
★ 'Autoglass Trophy': 1992/93 (beat Stockport County 2-1)

★
★ 'LDV Vans Trophy': 2000/01: (beat Brentford 2-1)

★ Anglo-Italian Cup finalists: 1995/96

Statistics

'Best attendance'	49768: vs Aston Villa 20 February 1960 FA Cup R5
'Best league win'	9 - 1: vs Chesterfield 24 September 1932 Division Two
'Worst league loss'	0 - 10: vs Sheffield United 10 December 1892 Division Two
'Best cup win'	7 - 1: vs Irthlingborough 12 January 1907 FA Cup R1
'Most capped player'	Christopher Birchall : 22, Trinidad and Tobago
'Most League appearances'	Roy Sproson: 761 1950-1972
'Most League goals'	Wilf Kirkham: 154 1923-1933
'Most Goals in a season'	Wilf 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 31 August, 2007.''

Notable players

★ Gareth Ainsworth

★ Neil Aspin

★ Darren Beckford

★ Billy Bingham

★ Christopher Birchall

★ Ian Bogie

★ Mark Bright

★ Mark Chamberlain

★ Tommy Cheadle

★ / Robbie Earle

★ Martin Foyle

★ Anthony Gardner

★ Dean Glover

★ Steve Guppy

★ Andy Jones

★ Wilf Kirkham

★ Jon McCarthy

★ Sammy Morgan

★ Jackie Mudie

★ Neville Southall

★ Roy Sproson

★ Ian Taylor

★ Marcus Bent

★ Tony Naylor

★ Robin van der Laan

★ Ray Walker

List of Managers

★ 1876 - 1896 - To be updated. Enoch Hood

★ 1896 - 1905 - Sam Gleaves

★ 1905 - 1911 - Tom Clare

★ 1911 - 1912 - A.S. Walker

★ 1912 - 1914 - H. Myatt

★ 1919 - 1924 - Tom Holdford

★ 1924 - 1930 - Joe Schofield

★ 1930 - 1932 - Tom Morgan

★ 1932 - 1935 - Tom Holford

★ 1936 - 1937 - Warney Cresswell

★ 1937 - 1938 - Tom Morgan

★ 1945 - 1946 - Billy Frith

★ 1946 - 1951 - Gordon Hodgson

★ 1951 - 1957 - Freddie Steele

★ 1957 - 1962 - Norman Low

★ 1962 - 1965 - Freddie Steele

★ 1965 - 1967 - Stanley Matthews and Jackie Mudie

★ 1967 - 1968 - Stanley Matthews

★ 1968 - 1974 - Gordon Lee

★ 1974 - 1977 - Roy Sproson

★ 1977 - 1978 - Bobby Smith

★ 1978 - 1979 - Dennis Butler

★ 1979 - 1979 - Alan Bloor

★ 1979 - 1983 - John McGrath

★ 1983 - 1999 - John Rudge

★ 1999 - 2004 - Brian Horton

★ 2004 - present - Martin Foyle

References

1. "Robbie buys into Vale", BBC.co.uk, 27 February 2006
2. "FIFA 2000: Major League Soccer", Moby Games, 20 August 2006

External links

★ The Official Club Site