This is the second in a new series where OVF is asking fans to name a team of their best-ever Port Vale players in a 4-4-2 formation. This time, Richard gives us his choices…
About this feature: it’s simple, we ask Port Vale supporters to pick their best ever Valiants XI in a 4-4-2 formation. Plus five subs. The players can be from any era – they don’t have to have played against each other. In addition to the individual elevens, we’ll also produce a running update on the overall best XI as selected by fans in this feature. Want to take part? Contact us and let us know
About me
My name is Richard Cliff and I’m 55 years of age. Generations of my family have all been Port Vale supporters and my grandfather Leonard Cliff was Director at Port Vale during the 70s and early 80s.
My first season going to matches was in 1978/79 and I have been fortunate to travel home and away throughout the John Rudge era. Watching Port Vale over the years I have visited 74 away grounds.
Stand out memories include Cup games against Spurs, Liverpool, Derby, Everton Leeds and our arch rivals from down the road. Also the League Games at Stockport in the 80s gaining promotion along with the unforgettable Brighton away day in the 90s.
My choices
For me the best goalkeeper I have seen in a Vale shirt was Mark Grew. I remember going to West Ham and him saving two penalties along with stand out performances against Derby in the Cup and Bolton at home in the 80s when injured.
In defence, Simon Mills turned into a classy right back with tremendous passing ability. Neil Aspin was simply the best defender I have seen at Vale Park and Dean Glover was cultured and classy – the complete centre half. Allen Tankard was the most consistent left back I have ever seen. Always an 8 out of 10.
In midfield, Jon McCarthy could catch pigeons with his speed and produced that unforgettable moment against Everton in the FA Cup Robbie Earle had an amazing engine and scorer of the goal in the play-off final against Bristol Rovers to seal promotion in the 80s. Ian Taylor made instant impact after signing from non-league and was a midfield goal scoring machine. Steve Guppy was the best crosser of a ball seen at Vale Park. An old fashioned winger who didn’t need to beat a man to get a cross in.
Upfront, Andy Jones was my favourite ever Port Vale player. He scored nine goals in two consecutive home games. Alongside him would be Martin Foyle. It means the most complete centre forward I have seen along with the best finisher.
The line-up
My sub choices
Paul Kerr, Bernie Slaven, Ray Walker, Tony Naylor and Jim Arnold
The overall best eleven
Positions (votes after 12 submissions)
Goalkeeper
- Mark Goodlad (5)
- Ken Hancock (3)
- Mark Grew (1)
- Paul Musselwhite (1)
- Jak Alnwick (1)
- Jim Arnold (1)
Right-back
- Simon Mills (5)
- Matt Carragher (2)
- Andy Hill (2)
- Neil Aspin (1)
- Michael Walsh (1)
- Alan Webb (1)
Centre-halves
- Dean Glover (11)
- Neil Aspin (7)
- Antony Gardner (3)
- Roy Sproson (1)
- Phil Sproson (1)
- Bob Hazell (1)
Left-back
- Allen Tankard(5)
- Darren Hughes (5)
- Chris Sulley (1)
- Roy Sproson (1)
Right winger
- Jon McCarthy (5)
- Gareth Ainsworth (3)
- Mark Chamberlain (3)
- Tommy McLaren (1)
Central midfield
- Robbie Earle (9)
- Ian Taylor (4)
- Ray Walker (3)
- Brian Horton (2)
- Harry Poole (1)
- Andy Porter (1)
- Johnny Green (1)
- Michael O’Connor (1)
- Robin van der Laan (1)
- Gareth Ainsworth (1)
Left winger
- Steve Guppy (12)
Strikers
- Martin Foyle (9)
- Andy Jones (4)
- Darren Beckford (4)
- Tony Naylor (4)
- John James (1)
- Lee Mills (1)
- Stan Steele (1)
Subs
- Ray Walker (6 votes)
- Darren Beckford, Tony Naylor, Paul Musselwhite, Andy Porter, Ian Taylor (4 votes)
- Mark Goodlad (3 votes)
- Neil Aspin, Phil Sproson, Lee Mills, Michael Walsh, Jon McCarthy, Robbie Earle, Jan Jansson, Ian Bogie (all 2 votes)
- Scott Brown, Alan Webb, Gareth Ainsworth, Paul Kerr, Bernie Slaven, Jim Arnold, Mark Grew, Mick Cullerton, Mike Stowell, Robin van der Laan, George Pilkington, Marc Bridge-Wilkinson, Martin Foyle, Allen Tankard, Tom Pope, Kyle John (all one vote)
Unless you’re well into your 80’s you would not have seen the best of the 53/4 team so the majority of our best ever team will almost certainly come from the John Rudge era. Being a bit of an old git goalkeeper wise I’ve got to go for Ken Hancock. Fullbacks-it’s two straight battles between Webb and Mills — Hughes and Tankard. There’s absolutely nothing between them, but I’ll go Mills and Tankard.-Centre backs, it’s got to be Aspin and Glover (but if Micheal Walsh had not had such bad luck with injuries, he would almost certainly have given them a run for their money). The four across the middle really does open your eyes to how spoiled we were, do you play four midfielders across the middle or go with two wide men? It honestly could be any four from sixteen. No one has even mentioned the likes of Chamberlain, Horton, or Van dear Laan. But I’ll go with the obvious three of McCarthy, Earle and Guppy, but instead of Walker (the best footballer player I’ve seen at the Vale) I’m going with Horton, he had everything.-The front two, again you could go for numerous combinations, but I’m going for Foyle and Naylor. Both of them were such clever unselfish players who could run forever. My team — Hancock, – Mills, Aspin, Glover, Tankard, – McCarthy, Earle, Horton, Guppy, – Naylor, Foyle, – SUBS Musselwhite, Walsh, Taylor, Walker, Chamberlain, Beckford. Manager – it’s a toss up between John Rudge or Me ? I do need to mention Cummings, Porter, Ainsworth, Ford and Cross who were also so influential to those wonderful days.