We obviously hope this won’t happen, but as a cautionary tale here is a list of some infamous Port Vale cup defeats…
Top image: Mark Goodlad is put under pressure during the first leg of the Canvey Island tie
Canvey Island, first round 2001
Canvey Island, first round 2001A first round disaster spread over two games. Leading 4-2, Vale managed to concede twice in the final moments as their opponents secured a replay at Vale Park. It should have been so much better for Vale who missed numerous chances including a Jeff Minton (pictured) penalty miss. In Burslem, the visitors left it late again with two late strikes giving them a 2-1 replay win. Vale responded by putting five players on the transfer list.
Chasetown, second round 2007
Chasetown, second round 2007In what was an echo of the Canvey loss, Vale once again exited after a replay. This time the first leg was at home and the Valiants really should have held on to a one goal lead. However, they conceded to make it 1-1 and replay at Chasetown. Vale were then their own worst enemies in the replay as Luke Rodgers (pictured) missed two penalties in a 1-0 loss. Bizarrely, Vale manager Lee Sinnott responded by signing two Chasetown players – Kyle Perry and Chris Slater. Neither was a success.
Kings Lynn Town, first round 2020
Kings Lynn Town, first round 2020It was a mark of Vale’s ineptitude that the 1-0 loss to their non-league opponents was the first time that season the visitors had managed to keep a clean sheet. Just like the Chasetown and Canvey Island games, the winning goal came in the dying minutes from the opposition. The match also came twenty years after the loss to Canvey Island. Two months later, Vale manager John Askey was sacked.
Scarborough, second round 2003
Scarborough, second round 2003Brian Horton’s side loss to Scarborough was a real kick in the teeth. The side had struggled in round one, taking two games to see off non-league Ford United and drawing another non-league side in the second round looked to represent another excellent chance to progress. But Horton’s tactics baffled (five foot nothing wingback Levi Reid marking six footer Ashley Sestanovich for instance) and it was Sestanovich’s header which won the game 1-0. Horton was replaced by Martin Foyle later that season.
Enfield, third round 1981
Enfield, third round 1981The mother of all cup defeats, financially challenged Vale passed up on a marvellous opportunity of a money spinning fourth round by losing to non-league Enfield live on television. It was particularly galling as the Valiants had secured excellent wins over Bradford City and Burnley to reach the third round. The first game ended in a 1-1 draw at Vale Park before the Valiants were humiliated in the replay. Loan goalkeeper Steve Cherry (pictured) gifted one of the goals with a terrible mis-kick as it ended 3-0 to Enfield. It prompted a run of three successive losses in the League.
I went to all except the Kings Lynn game and I think all the defeats were avoidable except the Enfield game, where we were just steam rolled. It was just men against boys and you just wanted the whistle to go before it ended up 5 or 6 .