Five of the best: dramatic Port Vale games shown live on TV
Ahead of Port Vale’s televised game with Bradford City, we take a look at five dramatic Port Vale encounters which were broadcast live.
Editorial notes –
- This feature only covers games which were televised on UK television in full. So, it doesn’t include games which were shown on highlight shows such as the FA Cup win over Spurs, the win over Everton and the draw at Anfield.
- We’re bound to have forgotten one. If we have please let us know by posting a comment at the end of the article.
Birmingham City 1-2 Port Vale
Obviously, not all of Vale’s greatest games were captured live on a TV broadcast and the pool of great televised Vale games is quite small. So, out of all the Leagyue fixtures that were shown, we’ve opted for this one. It may not be one of the most well remembered games but this was a n accomplished away performance by John Rudge’s side. Goals from Porter and Glover served up an away win against an expensively assembled Trevor Francis side boasting the likes of Mike Newell, Barry Horne and Anders Limpar.
Port Vale 2-1 Stockport County, 1993
We had to include this one as it included so many “firsts” – including a first trip to Wembley stadium and a first domestic trophy. But it was also a polished Port Vale display in front of a big crowd. Superbly worked goals for Paul Kerr and Bernie Slaven earned the Valiants a 2-1 win and the Autoglass Trophy.
Port Vale 2-1 Brentford, 2001
And if we include one domestic trophy final for the Valiants, it makes sense to include the second. The Vale come back from a goal down to clinch the trophy at Cardiff…
Port Vale 4-4 QPR, 1997
OK, Vale fans may only want to watch the first 45 minutes but for drama this game is certainly hard to beat. The Valiants were cruising 4-0 at half-time and but for a controversial refereeing decision they could have made it five. Vale sub Jermaine Holwyn scored an own goal but even then, when QPR made it 4-2 with five minutes left, it still looked like a Vale win. But two goals in the dying moments saw it end all-square.
Port Vale 3-1 Stoke City, 1992
A game that arguably had it all – a cup tie, wild weather, packed crowd, great goals, a horrendous challenge from Steve Foley, a horrendous miss from Dave Regis, some stunning Vale goals and knocking the local neighbours out of the FA Cup.