A look at the Cardiff City v Port Vale, 1954 match programme

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We take an brief leaf through the pages of a vintage programme – the FA Cup Fourth Round clash between Port Vale and Cardiff City in 1954.

About the game against Cardiff City

This game was part of the Port Vale Iron Curtain side’s famous 1953-54 FA Cup run to the semi-finals. It was a fourth round tie which the Valiants won 2-0 thanks to goals from Ken Griffiths and Albert Leake. The game was reportedly played in snowy conditions with the Valiants undoubtedly helped by an injury to the Cardiff goalkeeper The Vale would play and beat Blackpool in the next round and would eventually controversially lose out to West Brom in the semi-final.

Match stats: FA Cup fourth round, 30th January 1954

Match details: Cardiff City 0-2 Port Vale (Griffiths, Leake)

Attendance: 27,295

The front cover

The back cover

Port Vale player profiles

The league table

About Port Vale's 1953-54 Iron Curtain side

Known as the “Iron Curtain” for their tremendous defensive qualities, the Port Vale FC side of 1953-54 set numerous club records and are regarded as probably the greatest Port Vale side of all-time.

Managed by Freddie Steele, the side were crowned Third Division North Champions and also reached the FA Cup semi-final where they unluckily lost to West Brom.

Their success was based on a squad of nineteen players, many of whom were locally born. Players included Ray King, Roy Sproson, Tommy Cheadle, Colin Askey, Dickie Cunliffe, Albert Leake and Basil Hayward.

The side set three Football League records including the least number of goals conceded in a season, a club record eleven successive home wins and they were undefeated at home all season.

We have a series of special features, press clippings, images and video about the 1954 Port Vale side. Click the button below for more…