After being favourites in the cup, Vale will definitely be underdogs for this game. Here’s our preview…
Vale viewpoint
Essentials
- Opposition: Bolton Wanderers
- Date: Saturday November 8th, 3pm
- Competition: League One
- Viewing guide: not available in the UK, live on PVTV overseas
Talking points
Vale grateful for last man standing John
Darren Moore appeared delighted to announce that Kyle John had got through a week of training unscathed. Excluding rookie Ben Lomax, John is the club’s only recognised right wingback so his availability for this game is vital.
Changes after cup?
Earlier this week we made the case for the inclusion of the likes of Rhys Walters. It followed the youngster’s impressive showing in the FA Cup. It remains to be seen whether Moore will want to start him in the League.
Luckless Ojo
One player who will not force his way into the line-up is Funso Ojo. After weeks out of the picture, the veteran midfielder has now been injured in training.
Known injury list
Mitch Clark, Jordan Gabriel and Liam Gordon are all long-term injured while the afore-mentioned Ojo will miss this game.
Possible Vale line-up (3-5-2)
Gauci – Humphreys, Debrah, Hall – John, Byers, Walters, Johnson – Hall – Paton, Cole
Kyle John
Opposition briefing
Essentials
- Name: Bolton Wanderers
- Manager: Steven Schumacher
- Stadium: Toughsheet Community stadium
Need to know
Meet the manager
41 year-old former Stoke City manager Steven Schumacher took over after Ian Evatt was dismissed in January 2025. His record stands at twelve wins from 37 games in charge.
Recent form
Good. Bolton have won three of their last five League One games and sit in seventh place in the table.
Last match
Wanderers beat Huddersfield Town 2-1 in the first round of the FA Cup.
Manager Steven Schumacher
Opposition history
Essentials
- Record appearance holder: Eddie Hopkinson, 578
- Record goalscorer: Nat Lofthouse, 285
- Record win: 8-0 vs Barnsley, 1934
Over the years
Brief History
Formed as Christ Church Football Club in 1874, Bolton Wanderers adopted their current name in 1877 and were a founder member of the Football League in 1888. The period before and after WW1 is regarded as the club’s finest as they challenged in the top division. Over the years Wanderers have won four FA Cups and two League Cups.
Stadium
Bolton moved to their current stadium, then known as the Reebok stadium back in 1997. Prior to that move, the club spent 102 years at Burnden Park.
Trivia
Burnden Park was the stadium depicted in the famous “Going to the match” painting by L. S. Lowry.
The Toughsheet stadium
Archive
This site is thirty years old and has thousands of posts. Here are a couple to feature the opposition.
Head-to-head
How it stands
- Vale wins: 3
- Draws: 11
- Vale losses: 30
Previous games
Fixture history
The two clubs first met back in 1900 when it ended in a comprehensive 5-0 win for Wanderers. In fact it took Vale nine games before they secured a draw against Bolton and a mammoth twenty games before they recorded their first win. That game was won thanks to strikes from David Riley and an injury-time winner from Ray Walker (and there’s more on it in the Archive section above).
Last time we met
The two sides last met in April 2024 when it finished 2-0 to Bolton. It was the last of three meetings in League and Cup during the 2023-24 season – with Vale losing all of them!
Andre Bikey makes a vital tackle in a 2017 fixture
Liam Gordon in Bolton colours
Played for both
Player connections
There are several current connections but it’s doubtful if any will feature. Injured Vale wingback Liam Gordon had a spell with Bolton in 2022. Back-up keeper Ben Amos also had a spell with Wanderers in 2015. On the Bolton side, there’s back-up keeper Nathan Broome, who had a spell on loan with Vale and also defender Will Forrester, signed from Vale in 2023. There’s also been plenty of players to appear for both sides in recent years. The list includes defender Jason Lowe, Dennis Politic, Harry Charsley and striker Tyler Walker.
Vintage connection
Lol Hamlett spent spells with both clubs as a player. He played for Wanderers between 1938 and 1949 in a spell disrupted by World War Two. He was as present at the Burnden Park disaster on 9 March 1946, where 33 spectators were sadly killed. He joined the Valiants in 1949 and made over a hundred appearances as a player. After retiring he then spent 25 years with Port Vale as a coach and trainer earning a well-deserved testimonial game in 1976.
Predict the score
Have your say
Discuss the game
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
Join the debate:
The Vale Park stadium
Test your knowledge
Have you been paying attention? Here’s our traditional preview quiz
Who is the current Bolton Wanderers manager?
In what year did they move into the Toughsheet Community stadium?
How many times have Vale beaten Bolton in competitive games?
Which two current Vale players have had spells with Bolton?
In what year did they move into the Toughsheet Community stadium?
How many times have Vale beaten Bolton in competitive games?
Which two current Vale players have had spells with Bolton?
(answers below – no cheating)
Quiz answers
Steven Schumacher
1997
Three
Ben Amos and Liam Gordon
Quiz ratings
Today’s theme is post-war Port Vale managers. How did you fare?
0/4 – Ivor Powell
1/4 – Jim Gannon
2/4 – John McGrath
3/4 – Freddie Steele
4/4 – John Rudge
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