Port Vale has quite literally endured a very up-and-down decade of football, with the heartbreak of relegation often followed by the joy of promotion, culminating in several moments to remember for those at Vale Park.
Just last season, Darrell Clarke’s side cemented themselves into the Port Vale history books by jumping back up to League One via the play-off final at Wembley Stadium.
The likes of James Wilson are amongst those currently impressing for the League One side and has been one of several players to star in their best moments of the last decade – some of which we’ve outlined below.
2012/13 promotion against all odds
One of the few moments for Port Vale to remember in the last decade is their promotion to League One in the 2012/13 season. Micky Adams’ side impressively finished third on the final day of the season with a total of 78 points. Whilst in-play football went well, it was out of play that Port Vale had their struggles, with Keith Ryder’s takeover collapsing before Paul Wildes eventually took over the club.
Forced into a rebuild, Adams’ achievement of promotion will forever be one to remember when it comes to the history books at Vale Park.
Port Vale secure play-off joy
Struggling in League Two since 2017, Port Vale finally secured promotion back to League One in the 2021/22 season. Coming courtesy of the play-offs, Clarke’s side eased past Mansfield at Wembley, winning 3-0. Wilson and Mal Benning’s goals capped off an afternoon to remember after a season of ups and downs unexpectedly propelled them into pole position to go up.
Having finished as low as 13th in the season before, on-watching fans were left overjoyed by Vale’s sudden rise into the top six spots, before they went on, a crucial step further by reaching League One.
On course to stay in League One
Achieving promotion to League One is one thing, but staying in England’s third division is another achievement in itself. For any club, ensuring that a new league isn’t a challenge too far is crucial for the future. Sustaining their place in a new division and becoming a constant within it can be just as important as the promotion itself.
Port Vale deserves credit for doing exactly that so far, too. Clarke and co sit comfortably mid-table in League One and are well on course to survive another season following promotion last season.
As for next season, if they maintain their course for survival this time around, then their sights may just become set on what was once the impossibility of the League One play-off. It wouldn’t go completely against the trend set by Port Vale under Clarke. The manager took them from 13th to fifth in the space of a season, before reaching Wembley for promotion success.
They’re certainly underdogs to keep an eye on in the coming years, given their recent rise in success and stabilisation in England’s third tier.
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