Two minute guide to: Notts County
In our regular pre-match feature, we take a brief look at our next opponents – Notts County, who visit Vale Park on Boxing Day…
Team news
Anthony Griffith: expected to return to the side
Vale will probably make changes after the poor performance against Milton Keynes. Dan Jones will probably miss out and we expect Anthony Griffith back in the midfield with possibly Liam Chilvers missing out. Vale will check on the fitness of duo Adam Yates and Rob Taylor while captain Doug Loft is close to a welcome return.
Possible Vale starting XI:
Johnson
Yates Robertson Duffy Dickinson
Myrie-Williams Griffith Lines Birchall
Pope Williamson
Pre-match quotes
Carl Dickinson: wants Vale to come out firing
“There is a game coming quickly so we need to put it right then, but first and foremost this wasn’t good enough. It needs sorting quickly because on Boxing Day we need to come out firing and making sure we go straight for the gullet.”
– Carl Dickinson
“We will be preparing all next week and that includes Christmas Day and we will be hopefully trying to put that right.”
– Micky Adams
Current Form
(recent games first)
Port Vale: L-D-W-W-L
Notts County: D-W-W-L-D
The men in charge
Port Vale:
Micky Adams
Age:
52
Time in charge:
2009-10, 2011 to present
Games in charge:
209 (W: 90, D: 57, L: 62)
Honours:
Promotion 2012, manager of the month (Sept 2010 and Sept 2012)
Memorable quote:
“We looked like a woman who had a big fur coat on but underneath she’s got no knickers on.” (following a run of three defeats in 2009)
Notts County:
Shaun Derry
Age:
36
Time in charge:
2012 to present
Games in charge:
9 (W: 2 D: 2 L: 5)
Honours:
None
Memorable quote:
“This is my club and I keep a close eye on it and I just had an urge.” (Derry on why he decided to manage the club)
Head-to-head
Last time we met The Valiants won 2-1 at Vale Park back in 2010 thanks to goals from Marc Richards and Kris Taylor.
Overall record
- Vale wins: 34
- Notts County wins: 42
- Draws: 20
The last time we…
had a home fixture on Boxing Day was back in 2007.
The last Vale team to face Notts County was:
- Chris Martin
- Adam Yates
- John McCombe
- Lee Collins
- Kris Taylor
- Louis Dodds
- Doug Loft
- Anthony Griffith
- Lewis Haldane
- Craig Davies
- Marc Richards
Connections
Well, naturally we need to mention Lee Hughes at this point. The veteran striker spent a highly successful four year stay at County before joining Vale in 2013. Meanwhile, Liam Chilvers has spent two spells at Notts County – on loan in 2001 and from 2012-2013 and Dan Jones also spent a spell on loan at County.
Other players to appear for both sides include:
Luke Rodgers, Krystian Pearce, David McGoldrick, Neil MacKenzie, Jimmy McGrath, Ian Buxton, George Stabb, Gary Brazil, Andy Williams, Brett Angell, Peter Beadle, Lee Matthews, Mark Smith, Lee Ashcroft and Steve Cherry (see panel on the right).
Cherry bombed Loanee Steve Cherry was in goal for one of Vale’s worst-ever cup moments – an FA Cup exit to Enfield.
Trivia
Some Notts County facts:
- County, the oldest professional league club were formed 151 years ago
- In the 1920’s giant goalkeeper Albert Iremonger played for the club. He was reported to be a “giant with hands like the claws of a JCB”
- County’s Meadow Lane ground was bombed during World War Two
- Former managers include Jimmy Sirrel, Neil Warnock and Sam Allardyce
Some Christmas facts:
- Vale were last handed a home fixture on Boxing Day back in 2007
- Marc Laird was the last Vale player to score at Vale Park on Boxing Day
Ton up for Tom?
Should he start, this will be Tom Pope’s 100th league start since he joined Vale permanently in 2011.