Fans’s memories of Liverpool 2-2 Port Vale, 1991
Here’s how Port Vale supporters remember the epic League Cup draw at Anfield in 1991.
Liverpool 2-2 Port Vale, League Cup third round, 1991
See our complete coverage of the Liverpool v Port Vale League Cup game
We have a dedicated landing page for this match. It contains all the related articles, video and images from this match in one place so you can look back at a classic Vale giantkilling in depth.
What a game, certainly for the Vale fans. If I remember 9000 of us for a midweek game, little interest from Liverpool fans who were struggling at that time. Rushed home from work and 4 of us shot off to the game in a rush with time against us. Ended up parking/ abandoning the car on a major road leading up to Anfield. Little Billy approached the car , a quid to look after it. Chucked him a quid on the run to the ground.
What a game, still remember Van der Laan rising to power in the header as if it was yesterday. Great equaliser to send us home very happy. Sung our hearts out for the lads. Returned to the car very happy until we headed towards ours passing car after car with smashed windows. As we got closer it looked like little Billy hadn’t earned his money as they were all smashed around us with our front passenger window missing.
However there was no glass inside our car, turns out some idiot (yours truly), in too much of a rush, had shot out of the car without winding up his window. Liverpool’s finest had come down the line looking to rob the cars and assumed with the window appearing to be missing that someone had beat them to it.
In the intervening period between the replay Liverpool regained some form and well we know what happened next.
Man in the pub
I was a kid when I went to this, so went there far more optimistic than if I went as an adult. I’d seen us beat Tottenham so obviously we could beat Liverpool. We were Port Vale. A bunch of scallys offered to protect out car for a quid or two. When we returned the car next to us had its windows out though. They hadn’t apparently been offered the privilege of having their car protected. At that age it hadn’t clicked at what services they were actually offering.
I don’t think the fans sat down throughout the whole match. I spent most of it standing on my seat. The crowd pretty much didn’t stop singing for 90 mins. I remember at one point the volume went down, I think they had a corner, and dean glover motioned to the crowd to keep going, so the fans must have been driving them forward. Obviously the crowd responded. I remember the van der Laan goal but not much else apart from the emotion of the match. Great journey home in the boot of a hatchback of my dads friend, waving my scarf at everybody I assumed were Liverpool fans.
Andyregs
I recall no atmosphere at all from the famous Kop. Obviously as a Vale fan you have rose tinted spectacles on but they really were quiet as a mouse.
The scenes when we scored were amazing and a game right up there in my memory bank.
darren1810
One of my all time favourite Vale games. My memories of this is more about the Vale support. An absolutely huge following and we were jammed in like sardines. Amazing atmosphere and that Darren Hughes run. Great night.
darren1810
My second visit to Anfield was another one to remember, a 2-2 draw following that 0-0 in the 60’s. Unforgettable moments going to places like Anfield, Goodison and Highbury and coming away unbeaten.
For Us All
It’s one of those games that stays in your memory banks same as the Derby County game and for me Liverpool 1964, the day I was passed from the front of the Kop to the back over the fans heads, but that’s another story.
Anyway back to 1990, I worked at JCB in those days and if anyone left early the shop floor would start banging their hammers on their benches. As I left at 3.30 there was an almighty noise of hammers banging and shopfloor workers shouting wooooooow ! I was told the next day that there was a management meeting going on at the time and production manager stood up saying “what’s that bloody noise and lifted his glasses and looked out of the office window then said “Oh, its Barny going Liverpool!”
Travelling back from Uttoxeter to Hanley I got stuck in a bit of traffic but managed a quick wash and change (Vale top on) and rushed up to get Tony Ball’s coach. I was one minute late but as I got on the coach Old Reg (bless his soul) gave me a right rollicking for being late and slapped me around the back of the head (softly).
Anyway, we got to Liverpool and strolled across Stanley Park to Anfield. What an atmosphere from the Vale fans, brilliant !
Back in those days I was a smoker and as Vale were warming up and having a shoot in Andy Porter cracked a shot over the bar and it was coming right at me, I naturally put but both hands up to stop the ball, which I did but it knocked my fag out my hand and onto the bloke behind who was jumping about and cursing!
The game was great and I’ll never forget that feeling when the equaliser went in right in front of us. Those are the moments that make you a lifelong fan and keep you coming back hoping for more.
Lets hope we get more!
barny61
I was fortunate to be a corporate guest in the Trophy Room, even the taxi driver was chuffed with his first trip through the Shankly Gates. Good meal but no build up, just got into a seat towards the Kop End for the kick-off. Home crowd were fairly quiet, I got a good view of Robin`s opening goal but just smiled in the home area. Thought the game was all over when Rush had the chance to make it 3-1, but luckily Martin sent the away end into raptures, I leapt up but nobody minded, although usually I manage to keep quiet in such areas. The previous FA cup game in the 60s was memorable for the Beatles atmosphere on the Kop. and the ovation the Vale got after the game. I remain unbeaten at Liverpool, 3 draws, League 1-1, FA Cup 0-0, League Cup 2-2, but unlikely to ever go there again, happy memories.
Fosse69
Organised a bus with a pub stop so many beers was had by all. What a great night lost my voice by the end of the game
Ardwick Whites
Drove to the game with a few friends, great game and atmosphere and wonderful that we scored twice at the mighty Anfield.
We lost our way back to the car, stopped at a pub in Huyton and were greeted by Liverpool fans who bought us a pint for our team’s efforts.
Got home at 1am.
Derek Moreton
Lived and worked in Liverpool at the time. Vale had sold their ticket allocation for the game and I didn’t have one. So I paid to go in the kop. Had a great view as it wasn’t well attended by the Liverpool fans but I was careful enough to mouth a “yes” under my breath when the Vale goals went in.
Paul Needham
What a night! Unbelievable atmosphere from the 9,000 Valeites. Fond memories of the goals and wild celebrations but also Robin van der Laan flattening Jan Molby when he tried to put his foot on the ball, with a great timed tackle. I`m pretty sure a good few would have passed out had that deflected shot from Ryan Kidd curled the right side of the post in the last minute with Grobbelaar looking on helpless. Time seemed to stand still but we could not will it into the net.
Rob
I was fortunate enough to be at the game, excellent performance against very good Liverpool team, my abiding memory of the game was Martin Foyle scoring in front of the packed away end and the sheer amount of noise that the Vale fans generated that night…. one to savour!
Tony Oakley
Liverpool 2-2 Port Vale, League Cup third round, 1991
See our complete coverage of the Liverpool v Port Vale League Cup game
We have a dedicated landing page for this match. It contains all the related articles, video and images from this match in one place so you can look back at a classic Vale giantkilling in depth.