Port Vale v Cambridge Utd preview – a farewell to League One but for how long?

After Port Vale’s relegation was confirmed last weekend, this game is now a dead rubber for the home side although the visitors are still in slight danger of going down. Here’s our preview…

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Preamble

It’s likely to be a downbeat atmosphere for Vale’s final game of the season after relegation was confirmed. Here at OVF we’ve done a bit of a post-mortem of the season already with a look at what we feel the club got wrong last season and (on a more positive note) what they can get right next season.

In terms of this game, it may be a chance for the likes of James Wilson, Uche Ikpeazu and Gavin Massey to potentially bid farewell to the fans as they are out of contract in the summer. Finally, don’t forget that this game has an earlier kick-off – 12.30.

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Team news

Starting XI

With nothing to play for, this may be a chance for an early reset by manager Darren Moore. The manager has already praised the youngsters at his disposal so expect the likes of Jack Shorrock, Rhys Walters, James Plant and Baylee Dipepa to all be named in the starting eleven.

Injuries

James Wilson, who may be leaving in the summer will sit this one out as will Ben Lomax, loanee Dan Gore and Mitch Clark.

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The opposition

Season so far

A reasonable run of form around the New Year helped to haul Cambridge short of relegation trouble. In a lesson to Vale, this was helped by the recruitment of experienced strikers in the January transfer window. They have had a poor recent run with their last win five games ago but should be looking forward to another season of League One football at the end of this game.

Last game

Cambridge earned a 1-1 home draw with Wycombe Wanderers in midweek.

Meet some of the players

• Experienced striker Macauley Bonne has two goals in his last seven games and seven in total
• 32 year-old forward Elias Kachunga has six goals so far this season
• With former Vale loanee Jack Stevens injured, Will Mannion is expected to be in goal
• Michael Morrison is the club captain but has been sidelined with injury recently

Meet the man in charge

Former Swansea City, Leeds Utd, Birmingham City and Sheff Wed boss Gary Monk has been in charge for ten games, winning two and drawing three.

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Connections

Current

There will be a couple of well-known faces in the Cambridge squad. Popular former defender James Gibbons is on loan at the club from Bristol Rovers while former Vale loanee Jack Stevens is the usual first choice goalkeeper.

In the Vale squad, there will also be a couple of players well-known to Cambridge fans. Striker Uche Ikpeazu spent two years with Cambridge scoring 22 times while Vale loanee Jenson Weir had an earlier spell with United.

Recent

Players to appear for both sides in recent years include winger Luke Hannant, giant defender Kyle Howkins, forward David Amoo and experienced defender Leon Legge.

Featured

Midfielder Ray Walker, known as the “Hoddle of the lower leagues” by some is one of Port Vale’s most revered midfielders. Walker, who stands in fourth place in the club’s all-time appearance chart was signed for a bargain £12,000 from Aston Villa by John Rudge. He sprang to national attention with a stunning goal against Spurs in Vale’s FA Cup shock and during an eleven year spell with the club he totalled 424 appearances, 42 goals, two promotions and two player of the year awards. Walker’s spell at Cambridge was less lauded. Having lost his place in 1994, he spent a brief five game loan spell at Cambridge before returning to Burslem and regaining his starting place.

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History

Matches

The first game between the two sides took place in 1973 and ended in a 2-1 Port Vale win at Vale Park. In terms of biggest wins, both sides have manage to hammer the other 5-0. The most recent meeting was in September when it finished 1-1 with Ben Garrity on the scoresheet for the Valiants.

Brief History

The club was founded in 1912 as Abbey United, named after the Abbey district of Cambridge. In 1949 the club turned professional, and changed its name to Cambridge United in 1951. They were elected to the Football League in 1970. The side won six promotions in 35 years before being relegated into the National League in 2005. They re-entered the League in 2014 and won promotion to League One in 2021.

Trivia time

Brian Horton scored Port Vale’s first goal against Cambridge from the penalty spot in 1973.

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Opinion and quiz

Want to discuss things before, during and after the game? Our forum’s dedicated match thread is the place to be. Share your views with fellow fans –

Cambridge Utd (H) match thread

Have you been paying attention? Here’s our traditional preview quiz

• Who is the current Cambridge Utd manager?
• Which former Vale defender is in the Cambridge squad?
• Who scored Vale’s first-ever goal against Cambridge Utd?
• When was the club formed?

(answers below – no cheating)

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Quiz answers

1. Gary Monk
2. James Gibbons
3. Brian Horton
4. 1912