TODAY’S OPPOSITION
PORT VALE Formed in 1876, and the prefix ‘Burslem’ was added to the club’s name when they moved to the town in 1884. They were founder members of Football League Division Two in 1892 and after failing to gain re-election in 1896, they returned two years later before Burslem Port Vale resigned in 1907 due to financial problems. The ‘Burslem’ was dropped and they returned to the Football League in place of Leeds City in 1919 after which Vale established themselves in the Football League winning the Third Division (North) Championship in 192930 and finishing fifth in Division Two in 1931 which remains the club’s best ever finish. Port Vale hold the record for the most years spent in the Football League without ever playing in the top flight. Relegation back to the Third Division came in 1936 and Vale were moved between the North and South divisions for the next 18 years due to their central location in the Midlands. In 1950 the club moved to Vale Park, and in 1953-54 Vale were promoted to Division Two but were relegated three years later straight down to become founder members of the Fourth Division. Then followed many years of yo-yoing between the bottom two tiers, until in 1989 they won promotion via
the play-offs to Division Two, competing in the second tier for the first time in 32 years. That lasted until 1991-92 when they were relegated. Promotion was achieved again in 1994 and in 1995-96 they reached the Anglo-Italian Cup Final at Wembley losing 5-2 to Geona. In May 2000, Vale were relegated to the Second Division (League One) where they stayed until dropping to League Two in 2007-08. Despite going into administration in 2011-12, Vale were promoted at the end of the 2012-13 season and remained in League One until 2016-17 when they were relegated on the final day. After an eighth place finish last season, hopes were high this campaign and it started well with the Valiants sat in the play-off positions until a disastrous November in which they lost all five of their league games and then six wins since, has seen them drop to the bottom half of the table. John Askey was relieved of his duties in January, with Danny Pugh taking interim charge before Darrell Clarke was brought in from Walsall as manager on 15th February. After two draws and a loss in the first three games under Clarke, Vale have picked up three wins on the bounce to relieve any relegation fears and are preparing nicely for next season.
FOUNDED 1876
NICKNAME The Valiants
VALE PARK Capacity 19,052
RECORD SCORER Wilf Kirkham 164 (1923-29/1932-33)
RECORD APPEARANCES Roy Sproyson 837 (1949–72)
RECORD TRANSFERS Paid £500k Gareth Ainsworth Lincoln City September 1997 Received £2m Gareth Ainsworth Wimbledon October 1998
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