A walk down memory lane with the Port Vale football team
Get comfortable in your favourite chair, and take a trip down memory lane with Port Vale football team.
Your mate asks you if you want to enjoy 500 free spins at euro palace; a great online betting site. But you decide to take a virtual trip with Port Vale instead, you shake your head and a look back at the club’s history.
1876
The Port Vale Football Club were established in 1876 and one explanation for its name is from the club’s inaugural meeting at Port Vale House in Stoke-on-Trent. In 1884, the club moved to Burslem and became known as Burslem Port Vale.
1890’s
Port Vale joined the Football League in 1892 but soon suffered a club record loss of 10-0 to Sheffield United and the struggling club left the league in 1895. They rejoined in 1898 thanks in part to an FA Cup win over Sheffield United. In 1907, the club was forced to resign as the club’s finances were in disarray and performances poor in the pitch. Following this devastating blow, the club moved to a new home and renamed their team to simply be known as Port Vale. The club made a dramatic comeback in 1919 and was able to return to the Football League taking over the fixtures of Leeds City.
1920’s
Despite a tough start to their League return, the Port Vale team comfortably won the Third Division Championship and in 1931 they finished as high as 5th place in Division Two. The club’s central location saw the club move between North and South divisions.
1950’s
In 1950, the Vales moved to their current home of Vale Park. The season of 1953-54 was one of the side’s greatest as the team eased to the Third Division Championship as well as reaching the semi-finals of the FA Cup.
1960’s
From 1960 to 1967, the team had some memorable matches including a draw against Liverpool in 1964. However, there was another worrying period in 1968 when the club was found to have broken FA Rules and was forced to apply for re-election to the League. Fortunately, Vale were re-admitted in the summer and in 1969-1970 Gordon Lee’s side won promotion.
1970’s and 80’s
With numerous new managers being elected it was a period of little progress for the club until the arrival of manager John Rudge. In 1987 striker Andy Jones scored a staggering 37 goals as things started to look up again. At the end of the 1988-89 season, Port Vale returned to the second flight after an absence of thirty years.
And the rest, they say, is history. Since then, Port Vale have had mixed fortunes. This season, continuing relegation issues mean that Port Vale are one again standing at the edge of a cliff.
