Press Clippings: media reports of Port Vale’s glorious 1953-54 season
Culled from our media archives, here are a selection of press clippings from Port Vale’s fabulous 1953-54 season…
This match took place on the 17th October. It was part of a run of SEVENTEEN games without losing.
In those days, the press seemed to quite like taking photos of players in the bath! Pictured in the second image from left are Dickie Cunliffe, Mick Hulligan, Colin Askey, Ray King, Ken Griffiths, Tom Cheadle and Basil Hayward.
Ray King, Dickie Cunliffe and Ken Griffiths catch up with the newspapers in the Vale changing room:
Port Vale players training ahead of the FA Cup fourth round tie with Cardiff City. Vale would triumph 2-0:
Port Vale players check out their opponents Blackpool who they would beat in the fifth round of the FA Cup:
The manager talks tactics ahead of the FA Cup sixth round game with Leyton Orient.
Here’s how the game ended:
It took Vale into the FA Cup semi-final, here’s the Sentinel’s preview:
About the 1953-54 Port Vale Iron Curtain side
Known as the “Iron Curtain” for their tremendous defensive qualities, the Port Vale FC side of 1953-54 set numerous club records and are regarded as probably the greatest Port Vale side of all-time.
Managed by Freddie Steele, the side were crowned Third Division North Champions and also reached the FA Cup semi-final where they unluckily lost to West Brom.
Their success was based on a squad of nineteen players, many of whom were locally born. Players included Ray King, Roy Sproson, Tommy Cheadle, Colin Askey, Dickie Cunliffe, Albert Leake and Basil Hayward.
The side set three Football League records including the least number of goals conceded in a season, a club record eleven successive home wins and they were undefeated at home all season.
We have a series of special features, press clippings, images and video about the 1954 Port Vale side