How did Port Vale FC get their name?
How did Port Vale FC get their name?
One of the most common questions is how did Port Vale FC get their name? There is no simple answer to this question. However, the club being an offshoot of Porthill Victoria is the most realistic answer.
The problem is that there is very little documented evidence of the club in its early days.
The official explanation
The official story is that Port Vale FC was formed in 1876, following a meeting at Port Vale House. Port Vale was supposed to have taken its name from the building. This has been reported in several official club publications.
The most likely explanation
However, noted Port Vale historian Jeff Kent indicated that the club was probably formed in 1879 as an offshoot of Porthill Victoria FC. He claims that Port Vale took its name from the valley of canal ports where the team played. Kent has found no evidence of a club being in existence in 1876 despite it being the official formation date.
Other explanations
Some theories about the club’s name are listed below:
- A Port Vale cricket club was in existence in 1874, which lent its name to the football club.
- The official explanation is that Port Vale was formed during a 1876 meeting at the Port Vale House, from where the club took its name.
- The players who founded the club lived near such places as: Port Vale Wharf, Port Vale Street, Port Vale Corn Mills and Port Vale House.
- Nearby Porthill Victoria (for whom founder players John and Enoch Hood may have previously played) played upon a hill, therefore the team of the valley may have chosen Port Vale as “a rather natural choice” of team name
- On the other hand, the Port Vale name could come from a shortening of “Longport Vale.”
- Port Vale was formed from a merger of Wolstanton, Middleport and Burslem St. Paul’s.
- Port Vale could be a brickworks team. This theory is based on the existence of bricks with “Burslem Port Vale” and “Port Vale” marked upon them.
If you’re interested in the history of the club, please read our History of Port Vale section.