We take a trip back to November 1969 and a pulsating first Port Vale encounter with Wigan Athletic…
About the game
Port Vale were in the Fourth Division for the 1969-70 campaign with manager Gordon Lee entering his second season in charge. The Valiants were drawn against Northern Premier League side Wigan Athletic in the first round of the FA Cup. For the Latics it looked a daunting prospect. Lee had guided the Vale to a brilliant start and by the time the game was played in November, Vale were unbeaten and on a run of eighteen games without a defeat (a club record).
The first game was played on a heavy Springfield Park pitch, which proved to be a leveller. Sutherland opened the scoring to the delight of the majority of the 12,622 crowd but James was to equalise for Vale. The replay was held at Vale Park in front of 9,708 with Roy Sproson and Tommy McLaren scoring in a 2-2 draw. In those days, there were no penalty shootouts so the game went to a second replay. Held at Old Trafford, in front of a crowd of 16,456, Vale finally saw off their non-league opponents with a John James strike two minutes before the end of extra-time.
Vale went on to face Tranmere Rovers in the next round. After the first game was drawn, Vale had yet another cup replay but this time they were to exit after a 3-1 loss. However, it was a happier story in the League. Lee was to guide the Vale to promotion to the Third Division at the end of the season and James would finish as top scorer with 14 goals.
Press clippings
I was at all three games. These were old fashioned blood and guts FA Cup games and played to a finish. The FA Cup has diminished by banning replays. To see Vale ;trot out at Old Trafford and win was a great night. The gates for all games were very good, but to get the highest of all at a neutral venue says much for the appeal of the game to neutrals. Wigan were ready for the football league then, but they had to wait another 9 years until they finally made it. At least now we don’t have the farce of re-election, so not all the changes to the game have diminished it. Automatic promotion has definitely enhanced it.
We’ve had plenty of ding dong battles with Wigan over the years, let’s hope for another one, with Vale coming out on top on Saturday
I too was at all three games. Thing I remember most was what a black hole Old Trafford was then. People wouldn’t recognise it now.
We all went all three games then. The first game certainly caught the imagination, the best none league team in England playing at home to undefeated Port Vale from Division Four, it was even BBC’s Radio Commentary match of the day if my memory is correct. Attendances in the FA Cup in those days put those of today to shame, the first and third round draws were the biggest days of the season for most clubs. Another fact during the 1969/70 season that rarely gets mentioned is when little Port Vale trotted off down the road to play our southern cousins in a friendly. (Friday the 1st May), they turned all their first team out, Smith Greenhoff the lot, and little Port Vale won 3-2. What a battle! I recall The sentinel commented, the one thing to come out of this game is, that there can never be anything such as a friendly game between these two teams.
Better game for Wigan was in fourth division in 1978-79 season when we were losing 3-0 to Port Vale and won the game 5-3 great memories
Burslem to Wigan on a PMT single decker then stood on a muddy bank behind the goal. Same bus to Old Trafford, chased around the Stretford end by the United mob before kick off then a late late winner. Late home then up for school next morning.