Two minute guide: Port Vale v Southend Utd
It’s the first home game of the new season as Vale host Southend United on Saturday…
In the picture
The story behind our choice of image we’ve chosen to lead the article with…
The photo shows the back cover of the programme from a 1995 clash between the two sides. Vale were facing something of a star-studded Southend side managed by West Ham legend Bobby Moore and featuring Moore’s teammate Frank Lampard Snr. The match ended in a thumping 4-0 win for Vale with Andy Jones (shown on the cover of the programme) netting two and the other goals from Paul Maguire and a rare goal for Alan Webb. It came in something of a purple patch for Vale who hit four goals four times in eight matches.
Here are a few more images from that programme:
The two sides
Port Vale
- Manager: Bruno Ribeiro
- Last match: 1-2 vs Carlisle (LC)
- Top scorer: Anthony Grant (1)
Southend United
- Manager: Phil Brown
- Last match: 1-3 vs Gillingham (LC)
- Top scorer: Stephen McLaughlin (2)
Match details
Venue:
Vale Park
Date:
13th August, 19:45pm
Prices:
- Adults : £22 (£23 for Lorne St stand)
- Seniors: £17 (£18 for Lorne St stand)
- Juniors (18 to 21): £17 (£18 for Lorne St stand)
- Child (9-17): £10
- Under nines: Free
Tickets are available to pay on the day.
Pre-match thoughts
Port Vale’s Jerome Thomas
Team news
Remie Streete and Rigino Cicilia were rested for the Carlisle game but both may return to action on Saturday. Vale failed to complete the expected signing of a new striker so Cicilia, Anton Forester, JJ Hooper and Carlos Saleiro will all compete for the right to start upfront.
EDIT: The above was written before Vale announced the loan signing of striker Alex Jones on Friday evening.
Meanwhile summer signing Nile Ranger is in contention to start for visitors Southend.
Last time we met…
The two sides last met in February last season and it ended in a 3-1 win for Vale. The scorers were Carl Dickinson, Michael O’Connor and an own-goal. Of the Vale starting eleven that day only Ben Purkiss, Anthony Grant and Sam Foley are likely to feature this weekend. The win ended a woeful run of form at home against Southend with the Valiants failing to win in the previous four fixtures.
Overall record
Port Vale wins: 25
Port Vale losses: 23
Draws: 30
Club connections
Midfielder Anthony Grant is still well regarded by Southend fans after two spells with the club. Grant initially joined on loan in 2008 and joined on a permanent basis in the same year. He made a total of 184 appearances for United, scoring ten goals. Vale’s reigning player of the year is likely to feature for the Valiants despite requesting to go on the transfer list during the summer.
Vale stats: 47 games | 3 goals
Other players to appear for both clubs include:
- Winger Will Atkinson
- Defender Luke Prosser
- Defender Peter Clarke
- Winger Jemal Johnson
- Striker Billy Paynter
- Outside-right Robert Firth (more on him below
The former player who took Real Madrid to the league title…
Robert Firth is one of the players who had spells with both clubs but he’s also the subject of one of our all-time favourite OVF features. That’s because after his playing days had ended, the former Southend and Vale man went on to manage Real Madrid. Not only that but he secured the club the league title which at the time was only the second title in their long history.
You can read his extraordinary story here
Did you know…
- The two sides first met in the FA Cup in 1938 with Vale losing 1-0.
- The first league meeting was in the same year and it ended in a 2-2 draw.
- Vale’s first win was in 1947 with a 5-1 victory thanks to goals from Morris Jones (2), Ronnie Allen (2) and Alf Bellis. Ronnie Allen is pictured above.