This is the eleventh 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. Here’s a best-ever eleven courtesy of Darren.
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 meI’m Darren. My dad started taking me about 1973 as a toddler. I live in Porthill and I enforced my passion on my son when he was a toddler himself. We sit together in the Hamil as season ticket holders.
My favourite game which will surprise many people, given our excellent cup runs in the 90’s, is Fleetwood away in September 2012. A brilliant attacking display with Louis Dodds starring. A scintillating display from Vale.
My choices
Here’s a run through of my choices… I’ve mainly gone for players who played in The Championship as it stands to sense that they were better than League 2 players. Extra shout-outs to Neville Southall, Kevin Scott, David Lowe and Olly Arblaster – four loan signings who all left a big impression on me
Mark Goodlad: An excellent keeper who was Mr Consistency. It could have been Neville Southall but I decided he didn’t play enough.
Right back: Andy Hill. An absolute quality defender. He got the vote over Aspin purely down to his extra quality.
Left-back: Darren Hughes. Only two candidates for me (Tankard the other). Blistering pace and a better attacking player got Hughes his place.
Centre-half: Dean Glover. The classiest footballing centre-half that the club have ever had. Unlikely to be bettered.
Centre-half: Bob Hazell. The rough with the smooth. An absolute warrior. I can still see that Southport tackle now.
Right wing: Gareth Ainsworth. A marauding steamroller of a winger. Worked his socks off.
Centre midfield: Ray Walker. Mr Smooth. Capable of running games singlehandedly.
Centre midfield: A toss up between Robbie Earle and Ian Taylor. Earle narrowly gets my vote because as well as goals he was also a gritty player.
Left wing: Steve Guppy. Quality player. Pinpoint crosses and decent goal return.
Centre-forward: Martin Foyle. Probably the best finisher I’ve seen at Vale. Never phased by a one-on-one situation and also a grafter.
Centre-forward: Tony Naylor. Impish clever striker. Good finisher and again a workrate to match.
The line-up
My sub choices
Aspin, Taylor, Pope, Bogie, Beckford
The overall best eleven
Positions (votes after eleven submissions)
Goalkeeper
- Mark Goodlad (5)
- Ken Hancock (2)
- Mark Grew (1)
- Paul Musselwhite (1)
- Jak Alnwick (1)
- Jim Arnold (1)
Right-back
- Simon Mills (5)
- Matt Carragher (2)
- Neil Aspin (1)
- Michael Walsh (1)
- Alan Webb (1)
- Andy Hill (1)
Centre-halves
- Dean Glover (10)
- Neil Aspin (6)
- Antony Gardner (3)
- Roy Sproson (1)
- Phil Sproson (1)
- Bob Hazell (1)
Left-back
- Allen Tankard(5)
- Darren Hughes (5)
- Chris Sulley (1)
Right winger
- Jon McCarthy (5)
- Gareth Ainsworth (3)
- Mark Chamberlain (2)
- Tommy McLaren (1)
Central midfield
- Robbie Earle (8)
- 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)
Left winger
- Steve Guppy (11)
Strikers
- Martin Foyle (8)
- Andy Jones (4)
- Darren Beckford (4)
- Tony Naylor (4)
- John James (1)
- Lee Mills (1)
Subs
- Ray Walker (6 votes)
- Darren Beckford (4 votes)
- Mark Goodlad, Tony Naylor, Paul Musselwhite, Andy Porter, Ian Taylor (all 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 (all one vote)
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