Port Vale signings from Crewe Alex: it’s a controversial move at the best of times, but here are five transfers from our near neighbours which have most benefitted the Valiants (this article was updated in 2025).
An editorial change
Thanks to Vale fan Lindsay Whitehouse, we’ve added a sixth name to this list. Lindsay makes a compelling case for the inclusion of striker Bert Llewellyn, who has been added at the end of this article.
Port Vale signings from Crewe Alex – five of the best
There have been a reasonable number of signings from our Cheshire rivals but it’s fair to say quite a few did not work out as planned. The first three players on this list should make sense but after that, it’s relatively slim pickings…
Tony Naylor
An absolute shoe-in for this list. The diminutive striker is regarded as one of the club’s best-ever strikers and scored some of the most spectacular goals ever seen at Vale Park. He was a bargain £150,000 signing from Crewe Alex in 1994. Naylor went on to play 295 games and score 89 goals. He also inspired the Valiants to their second domestic cup – the LDV Vans Trophy final in 2001.
Anthony Grant
The second near certainty on our list, Anthony Grant was a great signing from then Port Vale manager Rob Page. The Londoner bossed the Vale midfield for two years, earning a player of the year award. His decision to leave in the 2017 January transfer window arguably was the final nail in the club’s dwindling hopes of avoiding relegation.
Geoff Hunter
One for the older Port Vale fans perhaps but energetic midfielder Geoff Hunter was a tremendous addition to the Port Vale ranks in 1981. A first-team regular for five seasons he made over 250 appearances and won promotion twice with the Valiants. Geoff sadly passed away in 2022.
Luke Rodgers
This fourth choice was a tricky one and we suspect not everyone will agree with our selection of Luke Rodgers. The diminutive striker wasn’t an unqualified success at Vale Park but his stint was successful than most Vale signings from the Alex. The club’s top-scorer for the 2007-8, Rodgers netted twenty times in 66 games for the Valiants. His stay came to a controversial end when he was released following an argument with then manager Dean Glover.
James Peake
The last name on our list is not one we expect you to be overly familiar with. James Peake was one of Port Vale’s early League stars. He played for the club during two spells from 1897 and 1901 and scored 26 goals from 87 appearances. He was signed from Crewe Alex where had had made 84 appearances. The left-half was top-scorer in the 1898-99 season with eleven goals.
And not forgetting… Bert Llewellyn
It’s over to Lindsay Whitehouse with an explanation why Bert should be included. Lindsay writes: “No arguments about Tony Naylor being number one, in my opinion the number two, who is not even on your list, should be Bert Llewellyn. His record of one goal every two games is better than Tom Pope, Martin Foyle, Darren Beckford and Andy Jones. His average is bettered only by Wilf Kirkham and Jack “Nipper” Roberts in the whole of Vale’s history. He was prominent in the cup run of 1961/62 scoring twice against Crewe in round two; he got a hat-trick in round three against Northampton and scored the final goal in round four on that famous night against Sunderland. He was a fabulous scorer. Inexplicably one of the first things Freddie Steele did after being reappointed manager was to sell Bert to Northampton, which was utter madness.”
Have we missed any? Let us know your thoughts and post a comment…
Paul Bowles was a superb player for us, who became captain
No arguments about Tony Naylor being number 1, in my opinion the number 2, who is not even on your list, should be Bert Llewellyn. His record of 1 goal every 2 games is better than Tom Pope, Martin Foyle, Darren Beckford, Andy Jones. His average is bettered only by Wilf Kirkham and Jack “Nipper” Roberts in the whole of Vale’s history. He was prominent in the cup run of 1961/62 scoring twice against Crewe in R2; he got a hat-trick in R3 against Northampton and scored the final goal in R4 on that famous night against Sunderland. He was a fabulous scorer. Inexplicably one of the first things Freddie Steele did after being reappointed manager was to sell Bert to Northampton, utter madness.
Rob, I think you’ve missed one out here. Bert has to be in this list.