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Port Vale F.C. is an English professional association football club based in Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, who play in EFL League Two, as of the 2023–24 season. The club was formed in the 1870s; in 1884, they took the name Burslem Port Vale F.C., dropping the 'Burslem' in 1907. They played their home matches at The Old Recreation Ground between 1912 and 1950 and at Vale Park from 1950 to the present day. The club joined the English Football League in 1892 as founder members of the Football League Second Division, resigning in 1907, only to return in 1919. Vale's highest league finish was fifth in the Second Division in 1930–31, whilst they were FA Cup semi-finalists in 1953–54. On one occasion, they competed in Europe in the Anglo-Italian Cup. They would go on to reach the final, losing 5–2 to Italian club Genoa on 17 March 1996.
Port Vale have won four promotions out of the third tier, going up as champions in 1929–30 and 1953–54, and have won five promotions out of the fourth tier, being crowned champions in 1958–59. They have lifted the Football League Trophy twice, in 1993 and 2001. Two club records are also Football League records: most clean sheets in a season (30 in 46 Third Division North matches in the 1953–54 season) and biggest league defeat (0–10 against Sheffield United on 10 December 1892). Roy Sproson made 842 appearances (760 in the league) for Vale between 1950 and 1972, later becoming manager from January 1974 to October 1977. Wilf Kirkham is the club's record goalscorer with 164 goals in all competitions over two spells between 1923 and 1933, and set the record for most Football League goals in a single season with 38 in the 1926–27 campaign. Gareth Ainsworth is the player Vale have both received and spent the highest sum on in the transfer market: £500,000 was given to Lincoln City in September 1997 and £2 million received from Wimbledon as he departed in October 1998. All top five transfers, either in or out, were made in the 1990s, before the Bosman ruling and the departure of highly successful manager John Rudge. Chris Birchall is the club record international cap holder with three goals in 27 appearances playing for Trinidad and Tobago between 2001 and 2006, including three appearances in the 2006 World Cup.
Football League Third Division / Third Division North / League One (3rd tier)
Football League Fourth Division / Third Division / League Two (4th tier)
North Staffordshire & District League
Staffordshire Junior Cup[1]
North Staffordshire Charity Challenge Cup[1]
Staffordshire Senior Charity Cup[1]
North Staffordshire Infirmary Cup[1]
Burslem Challenge Cup[1]
Hanley Cup
Coronation Cup
Supporters' Clubs' Trophy[1]
# | Name | Years | League[lower-alpha 1] | FA Cup | Other[lower-alpha 2] | Total | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | ![]() | Roy Sproson | Defender | 1949–1972 | 760 | 65 | 17 | 842 |
2 | ![]() | Phil Sproson | Defender | 1977–1989 | 426 | 31 | 43 | 500 |
3 | ![]() | Harry Poole | Half-back | 1953–1968 | 451 | 32 | 16 | 499 |
4 | ![]() | Ray Walker | Midfielder | 1984–1985 1986–1997 | 366 | 28 | 48 | 442 |
5 | ![]() | Andy Porter | Midfielder | 1986–1998 2004–2006 | 361 | 26 | 51 | 433 |
6 | ![]() | Dean Glover | Defender | 1989–1998 | 363 | 20 | 48 | 431 |
7 | ![]() | Neil Aspin | Defender | 1989–1999 | 348 | 24 | 38 | 410 |
8 | ![]() | Russell Bromage | Defender | 1977–1987 | 347 | 20 | 35 | 402 |
9 | ![]() | Terry Miles | Midfielder | 1955–1968 | 365 | 27 | 9 | 401 |
– | ![]() | Nathan Smith | Defender | 2016– | 345 | 19 | 37 | 401 |
# | Name | Years | League[lower-alpha 1] | FA Cup | Other[lower-alpha 2] | Total | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | ![]() | Wilf Kirkham | Forward | 1923–1929 1932–1933 | 153 | 11 | 0 | 164 |
2 | ![]() | Tom Pope | Forward | 2011–2015 2017–2021 | 96 | 10 | 9 | 115 |
3 | ![]() | Martin Foyle | Forward | 1991–2000 | 83 | 9 | 16 | 108 |
4 | ![]() | Stan Steele | Inside forward | 1955–1961 1968 | 88 | 4 | 3 | 95 |
5 | ![]() | Tom Nolan | Forward | 1931–1935 1936–1940 | 89 | 3 | 1 | 93 |
6 | ![]() | Robbie Earle | Midfielder | 1982–1991 | 77 | 4 | 9 | 90 |
7 | ![]() | Tony Naylor | Forward | 1994–2001 2005 | 71 | 2 | 16 | 89 |
8 | ![]() | Adrian Capes | Forward | 1903–1905 1908–1911 | 75 | 9 | 0 | 84 |
9 | ![]() | Darren Beckford | Forward | 1987–1991 | 71 | 4 | 6 | 81 |
10 | ![]() | Harry Poole | Forward | 1953–1968 | 73 | 6 | 0 | 79 |
# | Fee | Paid to | For | Date | Adjusted for Inflation | Notes | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | £500,000 | Lincoln City | ![]() | Gareth Ainsworth | Winger | September 1997 | equivalent to £1,149,397 in 2023 | [21] |
2 | £450,000 | York City | ![]() | Jon McCarthy | Winger | August 1995 | equivalent to £1,092,665 in 2023 | [22] |
3 | £375,000 | Oxford United | ![]() | Martin Foyle | Forward | June 1991 | equivalent to £1,016,882 in 2023 | [23] |
4 | £350,000 | Wrexham | ![]() | Dave Brammer | Midfielder | March 1999 | equivalent to £766,104 in 2023 | |
5 | £300,000 | Bristol Rovers | ![]() | Peter Beadle | Forward | August 1998 | equivalent to £666,781 in 2023 | [24] |
– | £300,000 | Crystal Palace | ![]() | Marcus Bent | Forward | January 1999 | equivalent to £656,661 in 2023 |
Date | Fee | Paid to | For | Adjusted for Inflation | Notes | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
March 1931 | £1,550 | Oldham Athletic | ![]() | Stewart Littlewood | Forward | equivalent to £133,027 in 2023 | [25][26] |
October 1946 | Undisclosed | Blackpool | ![]() | Jimmy Todd | Half-back | [27] | |
July 1948 | £10,000[lower-alpha 1] | Liverpool | ![]() ![]() | Mick Hulligan Stan Palk | Winger Inside forward |
equivalent to £459,302 in 2023 | [28] |
January 1956 | £7,000 | Tottenham Hotspur | ![]() | Eddie Baily | Inside forward | equivalent to £220,683 in 2023 | [29] |
July 1963 | £15,000 | Leicester City | ![]() | Albert Cheesebrough | Forward | equivalent to £396,742 in 2023 | [30] |
August 1963 | £15,000[lower-alpha 2] | Everton | ![]() | Billy Bingham | Outside-right | equivalent to £396,742 in 2023 | [31] |
August 1978 | £37,000 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | ![]() | Ken Todd | Midfielder | equivalent to £268,117 in 2023 | [27] |
November 1978 | £40,000 | Bury | ![]() | Peter Farrell | Midfielder | equivalent to £289,856 in 2023 | [32] |
February 1989 | £200,000 | Middlesbrough | ![]() | Dean Glover | Defender | equivalent to £628,493 in 2023 | [33] |
June 1991 | £375,000 | Oxford United | ![]() | Martin Foyle | Forward | equivalent to £1,016,882 in 2023 | [23] |
August 1995 | £450,000 | York City | ![]() | Jon McCarthy | Winger | equivalent to £1,092,665 in 2023 | [34] |
September 1997 | £500,000 | Lincoln City | ![]() | Gareth Ainsworth | Winger | equivalent to £1,149,397 in 2023 | [21] |
# | Fee | Received from | For | Date | Adjusted for Inflation | Notes | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | £2.0m | Wimbledon | ![]() | Gareth Ainsworth | Winger | October 1998 | equivalent to £4,445,207 in 2023 | [21] |
2 | £1.5m | Birmingham City | ![]() | Jon McCarthy | Winger | September 1997 | equivalent to £3,448,190 in 2023 | [35] |
3 | £1.0m | Sheffield Wednesday | ![]() | Ian Taylor | Midfielder | August 1994 | equivalent to £2,512,294 in 2023 | [36] |
– | £1.0m | Bradford City | ![]() | Lee Mills | Forward | August 1997 | equivalent to £2,298,793 in 2023 | |
5 | £950,000[lower-alpha 1] | Leicester City | ![]() | Steve Guppy | Winger | February 1997 | equivalent to £2,183,854 in 2023 | [37] |
Date | Fee | Received from | For | Adjusted for Inflation | Notes | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
February 1921 | £4,750 | West Bromwich Albion | ![]() | Bobby Blood | Forward | equivalent to £266,181 in 2023 | [38] |
January 1949 | Undisclosed | Queens Park Rangers | ![]() | Bill Pointon | Forward | [39] | |
August 1967 | £30,000 | Blackpool | ![]() | Terry Alcock | Defender | equivalent to £687,783 in 2023 | [40] |
October 1978 | £55,000 | Leicester City | ![]() | John Ridley | Midfielder | equivalent to £398,553 in 2023 | [41] |
September 1987 | £350,000 | Charlton Athletic | ![]() | Andy Jones | Forward | equivalent to £1,243,501 in 2023 | |
June 1991 | £925,000 | Norwich City | ![]() | Darren Beckford | Forward | equivalent to £2,508,309 in 2023 | [42] |
August 1994 | £1.0m | Sheffield Wednesday | ![]() | Ian Taylor | Midfielder | equivalent to £2,512,294 in 2023 | [36] |
September 1997 | £1.5m | Birmingham City | ![]() | Jon McCarthy | Winger | equivalent to £3,448,190 in 2023 | [35] |
October 1998 | £2.0m | Wimbledon | ![]() | Gareth Ainsworth | Winger | equivalent to £4,445,207 in 2023 | [21] |
The following players have been included in the PFA Team of the Year or EFL Team of the Season whilst playing at the club:[43][44]
The following players have won full senior international whilst playing at the club:[16]
Name | Position | Country | Caps | Goals | Years | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Chris Birchall | Midfielder | ![]() | 27 | 3 | 2001–2013 | Club record international caps and goals; first and only representative at a FIFA World Cup. |
Tony Rougier | Midfielder | ![]() | 20 | 1 | 1999–2000 | Played four games in the 2000 CONCACAF Gold Cup. |
Sammy Morgan | Forward | ![]() | 7 | 2 | 1972–1973 | Scored on his debut against Spain. |
George Abbey | Defender | ![]() | 6 | 0 | 2004–2007 | First Port Vale player to be caped by an African nation. |
Teddy Peers | Goalkeeper | ![]() | 4 | 0 | 1922–1923 | First player to be capped whilst at Port Vale. |
Eamonn O'Keefe | Forward | ![]() | 4 | 1 | 1984–1985 | Scored against China in Kirin Cup semi-final. |
Jon McCarthy | Winger | ![]() | 4 | 0 | 1996–1997 | |
Andy Jones | Forward | ![]() | 3 | 1 | 1987 | Scored on his debut against Finland. |
Billy Bingham | Outside-right | ![]() | 3 | 0 | 1963 | Would later also manage his country. |
Anthony Griffith | Midfielder | ![]() | 2 | 0 | 2011 | Also captained his country. |
Ryan McGivern | Defender | ![]() | 2 | 0 | 2014 | |
Andrew Little | Forward | ![]() | 1 | 0 | 2011 | At the club on loan from Rangers. |
Neville Southall | Goalkeeper | ![]() | 1 | 0 | 1983 | At the club on loan from Everton. |
James Lawrie | Forward | ![]() | 1 | 0 | 2009 | Also capped for the Northern Ireland B team. |
David Healy | Forward | ![]() | 1 | 0 | 2014 | At the club on loan from Manchester United. |
*pre 1981, a win was awarded with 2 points
Season | Competition | Qualification method | Round | Date | Country | Club | Venue | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1995–96[54] | Anglo-Italian Cup | Invitation | Group A | 5 September 1995 | ![]() |
Cesena | Away | 2–2 |
11 October 1995 | ![]() |
Ancona | Home | 2–0 | ||||
8 November 1995 | ![]() |
Genoa | Home | 0–0 | ||||
13 December 1995 | ![]() |
Perugia | Away | 3–5 | ||||
English semi-final | 23 January 1996 | ![]() |
Ipswich Town | Away | 2–4 | |||
English final | 24 February 1996 | ![]() |
West Bromwich Albion | Away | 0–0 | |||
5 March 1996 | ![]() |
West Bromwich Albion | Home | 1–3 | ||||
Tournament final | 17 March 1996 | ![]() |
Genoa | Neutral | 5–2 |
Competition | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals for |
Goals against | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Anglo-Italian Cup | ![]() |
3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 3 |
![]() |
5 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 11 | 10 | |
Total | 8 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 18 | 13 | |
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