Ultimate Port Vale XI subs: pick six outfield subs
We want to complete the bench players for our Ultimate Port Vale XI vote. We already have a back-up keeper but which outfield players should be on the bench
OK, so there’s a huge list of players to pick from. This list is the shortlist for each position minus the player selected for the starting position. You are allowed to select up to six players for the bench.
1. Rules and notes
- There will be a dedicated forum discussion thread for each position (a link is below).
- The forum discussion thread will have a poll attached containing the list of our shortlisted players. This makes it fair (one user one vote) and stops any outside influences (Stoke fans, we’re looking at you!) from trying to influence the poll as only registered forum users can vote
- The subs will be drawn from our shortlisted players. However, if we have missed a candidate out and you make a compelling case for their inclusion we will add them to the poll.
- A player must have played 50 first-team games for the Valiants to qualify
- You are allowed to select multiple candidates in this vote but please limit your choices to six players
2. The OVF Substitute Shortlist
- Reg Potts: The left-back in the famed 1953-54 side, locally-born “Dan” played for Vale for twelve years, won promotion in 1954 and played in an FA Cup semi-final.
- Darren Hughes: One of the speediest defenders seen at Vale, the former Brighton man earned promotion in 1989 and was named as Phil Sproson’s favourite left-back.
- Russell Bromage: A youth team graduate, Bromage made his debut at the age of 18 and played 347 games for the club. He won promotion in 1983 and again in 1986.
- Ron Wilson: A Scottish footballer, signed from Stoke City, who played over 250 games and won promotion in 1970.
- Stan Turner: The right-back in the famed 1953-54 side, locally-born Stan played for Vale for eight years, won promotion in 1954 and played in an FA Cup semi-final.
- Clinton Boulton: A youth team graduate, Clinton is the youngest goalscorer in the club’s history and made 244 appearances.
- Alan Webb: A bargain free transfer signing, Webb’s favoured position was right-back but he played all across the back four during a eight year stay with the club.
- Andy Hill: An experienced figure who joined Vale from Man City, Hill played right-back during some of John Rudge’s more memorable games as manager.
- Colin Tartt: A barn-storming full-back who enjoyed two spells with the club and was a fans’ favourite.
- Tommy Cheadle: Captain of the 1953-54 record-breaking team and Roy Sproson’s defensive partner.
- Dean Glover: Aspin’s regular counterfoil, Glover was renowned as one of the classiest centre-halves to appear in Vale colours.
- John Nicholson: Consistent defender who made a club record 208 consecutive appearances for the club.
- Anthony Gardner: Towering product of the youth academy who went on to play for England while at Spurs.
- Terry Alcock: Another local lad who came into the team in the 1960’s and was sold for a club record fee to Blackpool. He also had a second spell with the club.
- Peter Swan: Towering centre-half who played in the Autoglass Trophy final and won promotion in 1994.
- Dickie Cunliffe: the left winger of the famed 1954 record breaking side.
- John Jeffers: a tricky winger who was signed from Liverpool.
- Gareth Ainsworth: a “never-say-die” winger who remains the club’s record transfer sale when sold for £2m.
- Mark Chamberlain: One of the stand-out players from the late 70’s and early 80’s who went on to play for England.
- Colin Askey: The right winger in the famed 1954 side who was described as “brave as a lion” by team mate Roy Sproson.
- Ian Taylor: a snip of a signing from non-league, the tall goalscoring midfielder was an immediate hit and earned a £1m move to the top-flight
- Ian Bogie: a bargain signing by John Rudge, Bogie is renowned for his memorable goals including strikes against Everton and Stoke City
- Robin van der Laan: the club’s first European signing was a huge success as the combination of skill, tough tackling, goalscoring and hard work endeared the Dutchman to the Vale fans
- Tommy McLaren: a cult hero among older Vale fans, Tommy always put 100% effort into his numerous appearances in the Vale shirt
- Brian Horton: one of a select group to both manage and play for the club, Horton was signed from non-league Hednesford but became the star man in the Vale sides of the seventies
- Harry Poole: renowned for his set-piece ability, local lad Harry sits in third place in the club’s all-time appearance records
- Albert Leake: we found it difficult to leave the goalscoring legend of the 1954 side out of the midfield vote
- John Green: renowned for his elegant play, Green was player of the year as Vale won promotion under Gordon Lee
- Wilf Kirkham: although no current Vale fans will have seen him how could we leave out the club’s all-time record scorer?
- Andy Jones: the OVF editor’s favourite player was a barn-storming centre-forward who was a goal machine. Nine goals in two successive home games tells its own story…
- Darren Beckford: the striker took his time to find his scoring boots but when he did he guaranteed goals and he was top-scorer for four consecutive seasons.
- Tom Nolan: noted for his “cannonball” shots, Nolan netted 94 goals for the club before WW2 brought a premature end to his football career.
- Tom Pope: we can’t forget him. A Vale fan who fired the club to promotion in 2013, Pope is creeping up the club’s all-time scoring lists and we feel he is deserved contender.
- Bobby Blood: with a record of 47 goals in just 66 games we can’t leave this guy out. Injured in the war, Bob was told he’d never play the game and defied the critics. He also once hit a penalty so hard that the goalkeeper broke his wrist trying to save it. Wow!
- Ronnie Allen: a homegrown striker who was so good he would later play for England, Allen was sold to West Brom for a club record fee and would break Vale hearts with the winner in the FA Cup semi-final defeat.
3. Time to place your vote
To place your vote you need to be a registered user of our forum and go to this forum thread
Voting closes in a fortnight’s time.
