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Port Vale v Barrow preview – can Valiants make it three in a row and break into top three?

Port Vale v Barrow preview – can Valiants make it three in a row and break into top three?

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5/5 - (1 vote)

This match was rearranged after being postponed in January. We thought we’d compare our notes from then with now in this match preview…

The Vale perspective

Essentials

  • Port Vale crestOpposition: Barrow
  • Kick-off time: Saturday 11th January, 3pm Tuesday 25th March, 7:30pm
  • Venue: Vale Park stadium
  • Competition: League Two
Jayden Stockley - Port ValeFitness

Our original preview said there would be concerns over the fitness of George Byers, Jayden Stockley and Ben Garrity. The good news for the rearranged game is that Stockley and Garrity are now fit. Those are the positives – the negatives are that Ben Heneghan, Ethan Chislett and (sadly once again) George Byers will miss this through injury. Heneghan could be out for the season but Chislett and Byers could return again soon.

Ben Garrity - Port ValeTeam selection

Our original preview said “after all the chopping and changing, some fans will be pleased if the Valiants stick with the same starting eleven.” Vale have been relatively more settled since then although they still may make changes for this game. The temptation must be to return influential captain Ben Garrity to the starting XI.

Jesse Debrah - Port ValeThe Vale team –

Possible formation: 3-5-2

Possible starting eleven: Amos – Sang, Debrah, Hall – Clark, Walters, Croasdale, John – Curtis, Stockley, Tolaj

TV Camera - Flickr image by Pete under creative commons licenceViewing guide

This midweek game will be broadcast on Sky+ and is therefore available to fans in the UK. Fans based overseas can watch it via the PVTV service.

The opposition

Club factfile

  • Barrow AFC logoTeam: Barrow
  • League: League Two
  • Manager: Stephen Clemence Andy Whing

Trivia: the Barrow club crest contains an image of a submarine (an Astute class to be precise) to celebrate the town’s dockyard’s submarine industry. It (the dockyard, not the football club) constructed the country’s first nuclear powered submarine in 1960.

Away bench at Vale ParkMan in charge

Stephen Clemence has been removed from his post since our original review. He has been replaced by former Solihull Moors manager Andy Whing, who agreed a two and a half year deal in January. Whing has won five of his twelve games in charge.

HolkerStreet.png" by Barrovian is licensed under CC BY 3.0Form

Middling. In their last eleven games, Barrow have won four, lost five and drawn two. Their last away fixture saw them draw 2-2 at promotion challengers AFC Wimbledon thanks to two late goals.

Theo VassellTeam news

The visitors are expected to be without former Port Vale defender Theo Vassell, who has missed the last five matches through injury. Fellow defender Sam Barnes also sat out the 2-2 draw with Wimbledon due to a knock, making him a doubt for Tuesday’s trip to Vale Park. Goalscorers Dean Campbell and Connor Mahoney both came off the bench on Saturday and could be contenders to start.

One to watch

Port Vale midfielder Sam Foley - AS PhotosFormer Valiant Sam Foley is still going strong at the age of 38. He played the whole ninety minutes against Wimbledon at the weekend. Foley played 83 times for the Valiants during a two year spell between 2015 and 2017. He now has 122 appearances for Barrow.

Connections

Ben WhitfieldCurrent connections

Barrow include the afore-mentioned Theo Vassell and Sam Foley in their squad. Former Vale striker Ben Whitfield has also returned to Barrow on loan from Burton Albion. One player who Vale won’t face is former winger David Worrall, who is on loan at Kidderminster. Valiants defender Dan Jones spent a season on loan at Barrow. However, Jones also won’t feature having extended his loan spell at Gateshead

Port Vale striker Jamie ProctorVintage connections

Over the years there have been a number of players to feature for both clubs. The list of recent players includes striker Jamie Proctor, powerful goalkeeper Stuart Tomlinson, striker Dior Angus striker Richie Bennett as well as midfielder Rory Holden.

Paul Bowles - Port ValeFeatured connection

Defender Paul Bowles cost a £30,000 fee when he was signed by Alan Bloor in 1979. He had impressed at Crewe but did not impress Bloor’s sucessor John McGrath who released him on a free in 1982. Bowles went on to finish his playing career at Barrow in 1985. Bowles sadly passed away in 2017 aged 59.

History

Overall record

  • Port Vale wins: 12
  • Port Vale losses: 5
  • Draws: 5

Trivia: the Valiants have enjoyed some high scorelines against Barrow over the years. Vale have hit five goals once and four goals on three occasions.

Port Vale striker Baylee DipepaLast time we met

The two sides met in quick succession in League and Cup earlier this season. After a disappointing 3-2 League Cup defeat, Vale were thrashed 4-0 in the League meeting. It was an inauspicious end for Baylee Dipepa who made his final Vale squad appearance in the fixture.

Phil Griffiths - Port ValeMemorable meetings

The two clubs first met in 1929 when it ended in a thumping 5-0 win for the Valiants. Phil Griffiths (pictured) netted twice for the Vale. During Vale’s memorable Iron Curtain season (1953-54) striker Basil Hayward scored a hat-trick in a 4-0 home win. Until this season, the Valiants hadn’t lost at Holker Street since 1937.

 

Archive

This website has been in operation for over 25 years and in that time has acquired lots of Port Vale related memorabilia (we have over 10,000 Port Vale images). Here’s a newspaper clipping from the first-ever meeting between the two sides. If you want to read our full article on this historic occasion then just click here

Sunday Mercury 1929 - Port Vale 5-0 Barrow

Speedway at Holker Road - image the South Cumbria MailBrief history

Founded in 1901, Barrow’s first spell in the Football League lasted from 1921 until 1972 when they were replaced by Hereford United. Barrow’s fortunes hit a low in the 1990’s when owner Stephen Vaughan was investigated for money laundering. The club recovered and rejoined the Football League in 2020 under the management of Ian Evatt after finishing as the National League Champions.

The image shows speedway at the Holker Street ground, more on that below…

Club stats

  • Record attendance: 16,874 vs Swansea Town (1954)
  • Highest League position: Eighth in Division Three (1968)
  • Average attendance last season: 3,920

Trivia: Barrow’s expulsion from the Football League in 1972 in favour of allowing Hereford Utd to join was due to three things – Hereford’s cup record, Barrow’s geographical isolation and (somewhat bizarrely) because of the Barrow board’s decision to host speedway at the Holker Street stadium.

Opinion and quiz

Leek Town - Port Vale fansDiscuss 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…

Port Vale v Barrow match thread

Predict the score
Quiz

Have you been paying attention? Here’s our traditional preview quiz

Preview quiz

  • Who is the current Barrow manager?
  • Which former Vale defender now plays for Barrow?
  • What was the score in the last competitive fixture between the two sides?
  • Who scored Vale’s last goal against Barrow?

The tough one: what vessel is depicted on the Barrow crest?

(answers below – no cheating)

Quiz answers

  1. Andy Whing
  2. Theo Vassell
  3. Barrow 4-0 Port Vale
  4. Tom Sang

The tough one: an Astute class submarine

Images (c) onevalefan.co.uk except:

  • HolkerStreet.png” by Barrovian is licensed under CC BY 3.0
  • Speedway at Holker Road – image the South Cumbria Mail

How do you think the match will go for the Valiants? Share your thoughts and post a comment below.

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Rob Fielding

Rob Fielding is the editor of onevalefan and has been a Port Vale FC fan since 1980. He has written about Port Vale for 30 years. Rob has worked in many roles including in sports journalism and marketing. He has written a Port Vale book “No Ordinary Season” and curated the “Vale Vaults” Port Vale memorabilia exhibition. Rob has appeared on numerous radio broadcasts and podcasts (including BBC Radio Stoke) and written for multiple publications (including submissions for the Guardian, 442 and Word Soccer) about his club. His favourite player is striker Andy Jones and his favourite match is the FA Cup win over Spurs in 1988.

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5 Comments

Ken from North Wales •

No let up from the start and keep the opposition on the back foot. We should be more positive from the start and keep the pressure on. Garrity must be on from the start now we have Chislett injured. The manager keeps certain things hidden as there was no reason why Chislett not even in squad for last game against Morecambe. Still don’t understand Moore at times.

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Ian Mountford •

All matches will be tough, either teams have an eye on the dizzy heights or players are fighting for their lives at the bottom. Whichever end of the table these teams are you will have players fighting for their careers and this is why almost anyone can beat anyone. But no excuses the good players should step up. I just hope Moore doesn’t bottle it and go back to his old ways and try to over think games and turn every game into a chess match. It would be nice if we could play exactly the same as we did against MK, on the front foot with pace and purpose instead of just lumping high balls into their box, but we will see. Also it would be nice if Garrity was played (if played) in his best position, higher up the field where he can run past forwards from midfield.

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