Rob Fielding thinks the win over Sunderland in the FA Cup fifth round will go down in the Port Vale history books.
Rob Fielding writes…
My late father loved joining in with that song and I shared a moment thinking how much he would have loved that cup performance…
So, what was your abiding memory of that FA Cup win over Sunderland. Was it Ben Waine wheeling away in celebration? The final whistle? The players saluting the fans post-match? If you forgive me a personal moment, mine was listening to the supporters belting out the “Wonder of You” en masse at the final whistle. My late father loved joining in with that song and I spent a moment thinking how much he would have loved that cup performance.
I’m sure I’m not the only fan thinking of those who have gone before us. They would have been there in spirit I’m sure. Not that the players needed any assistance from fans past of present – they had plenty of spirit of their own. That was one of the truly great Port Vale team performances. Everyone from Joe Gauci to late sub Grant Ward gave everything for the cause. Every single player put their bodies on the line, put in 100% effort and worked for the team. I was awestruck by Funso Ojo’s performance in midfield (he was everywhere) and the solidity of a previously porous Vale defence. From goalkeeper to striker, this was a tremendous performance.
I’ve missed out one player there. That’s Ben Waine of course. I’m delighted to be proven completely wrong on Ben Waine – what a force he is right now; direct, pacy, skilful and a goal threat. What’s more he seems such a nice chap – delighted to be playing for our club, humble about his achievements, eager to do more.
Waine is a player transformed and that could well be down to Vale’s change of manager. It’s a tribute to Jon Brady that he’s managed to transform an unhappy, dispirited and underperforming rabble into this well drilled, disciplined unit. To do that after losing two of the club’s most high profile players in January and having to resort to loans and free agents makes it even more remarkable. I think this win is guaranteed to be in the Port Vale history books and be remembered years from now.
I’ve been lucky enough to see some famous Vale giantkillings, starting with Spurs in the late 1980s. So, how does this one compare? I’d say it’s right up there. John Rudge (to his credit) made Vale into a great footballing side and though their performances in the cup were legendary it’s worth remembering that many of those giantkillings came when his side was also doing pretty well in the League. To have a side so far adrift at the bottom of the table shock a Premier League side, who are having a good season, is an extraordinary accomplishment.
This was a day when you could be proud to be a Vale fan. We’re in the cup draw for the quarter-finals and I think we’d take any of the remaining teams at home.
Bring ’em on!
Being a bit of a dinosaur and having started being taken down the Vale since the late 50s, I’ve seen the majority if not all of the so called giant killing displays during this time. The Liverpool game 64/5 was the first one I remember well even though we lost. The victories during the Rudge days were in a strange way, not exactly expected but not surprising as we were that good. Nowadays the gap between the top and bottom is enormous so cup shocks are less predictably, and you are dependent on their best players not playing. There’s no getting amongst them anymore so today’s victor is awfully impressive especially when you take our league predicament and the squad the new manager has to work with into consideration . Sunderland may not be one of the glamour boys but their league position can not be ignored. Today came down to organisation, shear hard work and a team spirit t we’ve not seen in a long time. Well done EVERYONE of you.
Absolutely spot on. You don’t get to witness many games like this as league 1 side. The Shanahan Era has brought fantastic memories for the Vale fans. And this is another one. In addition, Brady is proving himself to be a brilliant manager. One game away from Wembley, a giant killing. It can be done. Who would have dreamt of that at the beginning of January? The mind boggles at the contrast of emotions this season is giving!
Remarkable win that joins the list of my greatest FA Cup tie memories, against Liverpool 1964, Spurs 1988, and Everton 1996. Jon Brady has transformed the mentality and organization of the team, playing with belief, confidence, and for each other. Combine that with high work rate and a tighter defence keeping clean sheets, and you see the improvement in performance consistency and results.
Truly remarkable . When the 150 game v Exeter was lost, it was a major disappointment . The players have more than redeemed themselves this week, so very well done everyone. Crowd superb and really Sunderland were very much second best in all departments If anyone was going to score it was us!
Next up Mighty Dirty Leeds.
Very emotional after that performance, coming so quickly after a similar performance against Bristol City. Big difference from just a few weeks ago. Brady has had to assess the whole squad and instil his playing style in such a short time. It’s not easy to change a style of play into players lacking confidence and direction but he seems to be doing just that and the players seem to appreciate his philosophy. Days like yesterday live long in the memory and hopefully the players can keep this going. I am positive even if we go down we will at least go down with a fight and Brady will have us roaring again next season.
Some great points well made Rob. It has to be up there as you say simply for the reason we’ve been so poor(and are bottom of the league) for much of the season to win against a fair to middling Prem side. Everton will probably remain the best standard of performance I’ve ever seen but pound for pound on ability of the side this must challenge a lot of the other giantkillings. All that said a wonderful day and tears in my eyes at the end when the whistle went and singing the wonder of you. You genuinely think you’ll never see the day when we’d get close to emulating the ’54 side as normally we’d just be thankfully for making round 3 and maybe getting a good draw a nice day out/or a good atmosphere at VP a few quid for the club and good night Vienna so to make round 6 is special!
Such a great article Rob, and such great comments by other great Vale fans. My Dad who passed away 18 years ago, and my brother Alan, who was sent the old Yellow Pages by my Dad down south every week so he could read up about the Vale, would have been ecstatic yesterday. I go back even further to 1952 and I was taken with my Mum and brothers to all the Vale games during the cup run in 53/54 . Another wonderful giant killing that season was when we beat Blackpool (with Stan Matthews)who were the FA Cup holders at Vale Park. We went to London to see us beat Leyton Orient in the quarter-final. We then went down in a coach to Aston Villa to see the Vale virtually cheated out of the semi-final against West Brom. I cried all the way home. It never entered my head that they could lose. I hope we get the home draw we deserve tonight.
Chris Barber
As a con̈sistant critic of the manager(DM)his coaching staff tactics & efforts by his players it is so so good to be able to lump praise on the present manager coaching staff & his players since the days of giant killing of Blackpool with my Dad Grandad & Brothers in tow we have had few ups mainly downs following Vale !! Yesterday I was so pleased for my Grandchildren Greatgrandchildren & Myself were all moved to tears so pleased Mr Brady & his players have given them the thrill excitement & most important Memories for the rest of their lives long after this old fossil is up there with the great Vale teams of the past so once again WELL DONE ALL CONCERNED AT SUPER VALE!! UTV