Why are they called Port Vale?
Why are they called Port Vale? Find out the answer in our special feature.
Why are they called Port Vale?
The club’s unique name has attracted much interest and continued debate to this day. Here is a selection of the most popular theories about how the club took its name
- A Port Vale cricket club was in existence in 1874, which lent its name to the football club.
- The football club 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 / Street / Corn Mills and 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
- The name came from a shortening of “Longport Vale.”
- It was formed from a merger of Wolstanton, Middleport and Burslem St. Paul’s.
- It was originally a brickworks team. This theory is based on the existence of bricks with “Burslem Port Vale” marked upon them.
The accepted theory comes from respected Potteries historian Jeff Kent whose research found that the club was probably formed in 1879 as an offshoot of Porthill Victoria FC and took its name from the valley of canal ports where the team played. Kent makes the case that the club name comes from Port Vale wharf, a stopping point on the Trent and Mersey canal in Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent.
Around 1894 the club had a geographical element after they adopted the name “Burslem Port Vale” to indicate their formation in the town of Burslem. They continued to use that until 1912 when they moved to the Old Recreation Ground stadium. As the Old Rec ground was based in another Potteries town, Hanley, the “Burslem” was subsequently dropped from the name and the club became one of a handful of English Football League sides to have no geographical reference in their name.
Over the years there have even been campaigns to try and change the club’s name. You can read about one of them in our article here
Find out more about the Vale Park stadium
We have a dedicated section on the current stadium including historical articles on its foundation, the opening game, galleries and a look around the various stands which comprise the ground. To read more go to our Vintage Vale Park section