This is the fifth 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, Andrew 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
About meMy name is Andrew Proctor and I’m aged 41 years old. The first Vale game I went to was with my dad. We stood up in the Railway Paddock for Liverpool at home – a 4 1 loss in the cup. My dad played a lot of Saturday and Sunday football, so I only went a few games in the next couple of years including a 3-0 home win over Wrexham when Vale scored three goals in three minutes.
In the early 2000’s, when I was at college, I had my first ever season ticket with my dad in the Lorne Street the season where Steven McPhee scored a lot of goals and we missed out on the play-offs on goal difference. Since around 2008 I’ve had a season ticket most years and go to around 10 to 15 away games, but last season I only went to Birmingham, Wigan and Chelsea away due to costs and performances on the pitch.
My choices
Here’s a run through of my team…
In goal I’ve gone for Mark Goodlad, who was a great shot stopper, won the LDV Trophy and was also a good penalty stopper. It’s a shame injuries cut his career short.
As full-backs, I have Matt Carragher and Allen Tankard. Carragher was one of my favourite ever Vale players and who captained the LDV Trophy winning side. I was really upset when he sadly passed away a few years later. Tankard was a good servant for the club and featured regularly for vale under John Rudge at Championship level.
My centre-halves are Antony Gardner and Neil Aspin. Gardner did well as a youngster in a side that was fighting for relegation survival. Injuries prevented him playing more for Spurs and England later in his career. Aspo really loved a tackle and was a good servant to the club – for that goal against Grimsby at home it was as if Messi was dribbling through players not Aspin.
In central midfield I’ve opted for Andy Porter and Ian Taylor. Porter would be my captain. I have to put him in as he gave his all for the shirt and marked Kinkladze out the game at Maine Road when vale won away at Manchester City. Taylor was only here two seasons but was scoring 15 to 20 goals a season from midfield so he’s got be in my team. He won the Autoglass in this first season and then promotion the next season before being sold to Sheffield Wednesday.
On the wings it’s McCarthy and Guppy. I’ve got to pick McCarthy as he chipped in with goals scored that goal against Everton and was sold for big money to Birmingham. I think most people will pick Guppy. His crossing was sublime putting it on a plate for players to score. He ended up playing for England and in the Premier League for Leicester and Scottish Prem for Celtic under Martin O’Neill.
Upfront I’ve picked Lee Mills and Tony Naylor. Mills is in because he was part of the strikeforce that nearly got Vale into the Premier League and he shared an excellent strike partnership with my other pick. Tony Naylor was class – my favourite ever vale player. The goal against Sunderland at home is probably a lot of fans’ best goal that a Vale player has ever scored.
The line-up
My sub choices
Paul Musselwhite, George Pilkington, Jan Jansson, Marc Bridge-Wilkinson, Martin Foyle
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)
Shocking how Foyle ain’t in the first 11 but the rest are good picks for sure
Thanks for your comment. The reason I didn’t pick Foyle in the starting 11 and only as a sub was because I didn’t start going vale regularly until 1996. Foyle was at his best in a vale shirt in the early 90s and I was only going occasionally then due to my dad playing Saturday and sunday football. I didn’t pick Robbie earle either as I didn’t see him in a vale shirt bit can remember him as a Wimbledon player.