Two minute guide to: Swindon v Port Vale
Port Vale travel to Swindon on Saturday – let’s hope it isn’t overshadowed by controversy as the 1960 fixture was…
In the picture: The 6-1 game that ended in controversy
The story behind our choice of image we’ve chosen to lead the article with…
Pictured at the top of the page is former Swindon Town player Jimmy Gauld.
When Port Vale recorded their highest-ever win (6-1) over Swindon in 1960 it should have been a cause for celebration but instead it inspired controversy.
The match had raised questions about the level of commitment shown by Swindon players…
In the Swindon ranks that day was a portly inside-left called Jimmy Gault. Originally named on the retained list he and fellow player Walter Bingley were quickly placed on the transfer list following the Vale defeat. The match had raised questions about the level of commitment shown by Swindon players (especially as Swindon then won the return fixture 6-0) and despite being the club record signing, Gault was subsequently released.
Swindon may have had good reasons for their actions. In 1964, Gauld sold his story for £7,000 to the Sunday People newspaper admitting he was the “ringleader” in a series of match fixing scams. Although Gault claimed to have only started fixing games after his playing career ended in 1961 his subsequent guilt left a cloud over Vale’s comprehensive win in 1960.
In the People’s expose, it emerged that Gauld had enticed several players into betting on the outcome of fixed matches, including England internationals Tony Kay and Peter Swan. Gauld was sentenced to four years imprisonment and fined £5,000 and in total 33 players were prosecuted for their involvement in what became known as the 1964 British betting scandal.
Image source: We ate all the pies website
The two sides
Port Vale
- Manager: Bruno Ribeiro
- Last match: 1-0 vs Rochdale
- Top scorer: Four on one goal each
Swindon
- Manager: Luke Williams
- Last match: 1-1 vs Gillingham
- Top scorer: Four on one goal each
Match details
Venue:
The County Ground
Date:
20th August, 2016
Prices:
- Adults : £23
- Seniors/Students: £18
- Juniors (17-19): £14
- Under-17s: £8
- Under 11s: £2
Tickets (except student prices) are available to pay on the day.
Pre-match thoughts
“I’m still very happy, we try to win every game and every game is three points for us and now we have seven we will keep going. We will try to continue not conceding goals as we play well and were organised well, but we need to keep working and improving…”
Bruno Ribeiro
Team news
Stand-in left-back Kjell Knops is a doubt for the game so Vale may have to select a stand-in for the stand-in… Bruno Ribeiro could select Calvin Mac-Intosch and move Nathan Smith to left-back or he may play Anthony Defreitas (who covered on Tuesday night) instead.
However, with Jerome Thomas apparently out with a groin strain, it’s more likely that Vale will hope Knops is fit to play and Defreitas will instead take Thomas’ place. Rigino Cicilia may also return and be on the bench.
Possible Vale line-up:
Alnwick
Purkiss – Streete – Smith – Knops
Tavares – Grant
Foley
Hooper – Forrester – Defreitas
Last time we met…
Last season Vale were unbeaten against Swindon. Following the 2-2 draw at the County Game the second fixture was this 1-0 win at Vale Park.
However, that draw at the County Ground was very much the exception in recent years. Vale have lost the previous four games with their last win coming back in 2005 thanks to goals from Micky Bell and Chris Cornes.
Overall record
Port Vale wins: 29
Port Vale losses: 30
Draws: 19
Form guide
Club connections
Striker Billy Paynter enjoyed some of his more memorable footballing moments with Port Vale and Swindon. After making his Vale debut aged 16, he scored his first goal as a 17 year-old and was named player of the year in 2005. After leaving Vale to join Hull City he joined Swindon in 2007 and struck up a partnerships with Simon Cox and Charlie Austin. He left Town in 2010 after scoring 51 goals in 139 games. Paynter currently plays for Hartlepool United.
Vale stats: 158 games | 34 goals
Other players to appear for both clubs include:
- Winger Alex Smith
- Forward Dany N’Guessan
- Defender Tim Parkin
- Winger Mark Marshall
- Forward Ken Beamish
Did you know…
- The two sides first met in 1938 with Vale winning 2-0.
- Harry Griffiths (above) scored Vale’s first goal against Swindon in that match.
- Vale’s first trip to Swindon in 1939 ended in a 1-1 draw.