This is the eighth 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, Brendan 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
Hi, I’m Brendan.
My Dad took me to a couple of Vale games in the mid ’80s which didn’t make much of an impression on me but the game that really made me fall in love with the Vale was the infamous 3-3 with Sheffield United in 1988.
Before I knew it I was following the team up and down the country and have been a season ticket holder in the Paddock, Bycars, Disabled Stand and now the Lorne Street.
I’m also part of the ever-growing ST10 Valiants, preaching the good word in the Staffordshire Moorlands.
Following the Vale means that the most memorable moments are both good and bad.
So victories over Everton, at Huddersfield to strive off relegation on the day Stoke were relegated and promotion at Wembley are balanced against relegations at Fleetwood, Bolton and Cardiff and one particular miserable last minute defeat at Watford on New Year’s Eve during a monsoon.
My choices
My goalkeeper might not be a popular choice but is the best shotstopper I’ve seen in a Vale Shirt, Jak Alnwick. One save in particular stands out. Against Sheffield United, Billy Sharp was six yards out completely free and Jak somehow stopped it.
The back four is straightforward. Simon Mills, Neil Aspin, Dean Glover and Allen Tankard. Simon “Simon” Mills glided up and down the right side and delivered a lovely ball into the box. ‘Aspo’ was the give everything kind of player that felt like a fan playing for his team. His thou shall not pass performance at the Victoria Ground for Vale’s first league win in decades stands out. ‘Deano’ was coolness personified. Never flustered and always in control. Who else would do an overhead kick back pass? We’ve not been blessed with a lot of quality left backs but Tanks stood out as Mr Consistent and we won’t mention that penalty.
On the right of my midfield is the rockstar Gareth Ainsworth. He pips Jon McCarthy because for me, he was a better all-round player with more eye for a goal. In the middle is Robbie Earle. How could it not be? My favourite ever Vale player. Would move from one box to the other in the blink of an eye, could pass could tackle and had the best disco dancing moves in Staffordshire. A legend. Joining him maybe surprisingly is Michael O’Connor. We really only got to see him fit for one season but God, he was outstanding that campaign. Scoring for forty yards out against Cardiff and destroying Coventry at their place were stand out moments. On the left is Steve Guppy. The easiest pick for me. Head and shoulders above anyone else out there
Up front is difficult but I’ve gone for the combination of Martin Foyle and Darren Beckford. Foyle was a workhorse up top, giving the opposition nightmares and Beckford was the best finisher I’ve seen playing for Vale.
Apologies to the bench because they easily have gotten into the 11.
The line-up
My sub choices
Goodlad, Walsh, Taylor, McCarthy, Naylor
The overall best eleven
Positions (votes after eight submissions)
Goalkeeper
- Mark Goodlad (3)
- Ken Hancock (2)
- Mark Grew (1)
- Paul Musselwhite (1)
- Jak Alnwick (1)
Right-back
- Simon Mills (4)
- Neil Aspin (1)
- Michael Walsh (1)
- Matt Carragher (1)
- Alan Webb (1)
Centre-halves
- Dean Glover (7)
- Neil Aspin (5)
- Antony Gardner (2)
- Roy Sproson (1)
- Phil Sproson (1)
Left-back
- Allen Tankard(4)
- Darren Hughes (3)
- Chris Sulley (1)
Right winger
- Jon McCarthy (4)
- Gareth Ainsworth (2)
- Tommy McLaren (1)
- Mark Chamberlain (1)
Central midfield
- Robbie Earle (6)
- Ian Taylor (3)
- Ray Walker (2)
- Harry Poole (1)
- Andy Porter (1)
- Brian Horton (1)
- Johnny Green (1)
- Michael O’Connor (1)
Left winger
- Steve Guppy (8)
Strikers
- Martin Foyle (6)
- Andy Jones (4)
- Darren Beckford (2)
- Tony Naylor (2)
- John James (1)
- Lee Mills (1)
Subs
- Ray Walker (5 votes)
- Darren Beckford (3 votes)
- Phil Sproson, Lee Mills, Paul Musselwhite, Andy Porter, Mark Goodlad, Ian Taylor, Michael Walsh, Jon McCarthy, Tony Naylor (all 2 votes)
- Scott Brown, Alan Webb, Gareth Ainsworth, Paul Kerr, Bernie Slaven, Jim Arnold, Mark Grew, Mick Cullerton, Mike Stowell, Robbie Earle, Robin van der Laan, George Pilkington, Jan Jansson, Marc Bridge-Wilkinson, Martin Foyle, Neil Aspin (all one vote)
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