Thanks to former player and commentator Mick Cullerton here are some behind the scenes photos of Port Vale’s tour of Czechoslovakia in 1967.
Our grateful thanks to Mick Cullerton for these photos – the captions to the images are Mick’s own.
About the tour
A full explanation of Port Vale’s special relationship with Czechoslovakia can be found in our article here. This was the second tour by the team following the initial tour in 1960. It was a commercial tour by the club with promotion visits to a shoe factory and a glass manufacturer. The side played two games, beating Gottwaldov 2-0 and drawing 2-2 with Jisara Skutec.
Match reports:
Port Vale’s tour of Czechoslovakia in 1967 in photos
The Port Vale team hotel in Gottvaldov
Sir Stanley Matthews gazes out from the balcony of the Bata shoe factory in Gottvaldov.
Sir Stanley Matthews with a press attaché and the MD of the Bata Shoes factory.
The tour of the Bata shoe factory. Jimmy Hill, Mick Mahon and Roy Chapman can be seen in the background.
Sir Stanley Matthews, Alderman Barber and Roy Chapman during the tour of Bata shoes.
Mick Mahon, Ron Wilson, Jimmy Hill, Roy Sproson and Jimmy Goodfellow at Bata shoes.
Port Vale’s first friendly match at Gottvaldov.
Sir Stanley Matthews leads the team out for the first friendly match at Gottvaldov.
The Port Vale team lines up for the first friendly match at Gottvaldov.
Jimmy Hill about to play Mick Cullerton in to score.
A visit to the national ice hockey stadium in Prague.
Celebrations after the first game featuring Ron Wilson, Roy Chapman and Len Graham.
Prague pictured at 10pm after a trip to the ballet.
These three shots show the Port Vale players at the Bata shoe factory.
Sir Stanley Matthews (with John James and Mick Cullerton in the background) leads the team out for the game against Skuter.
Pre-match at Skuter featuring Mick Morris, Mick Mahon and Harry Poole receiving flowers.
The boardroom at Czechglass.
Sir Stanley Matthews receives a cut glass boot in the boardroom at Czechglass.
Terry Miles, Roy Chapman, Alderman Barber, Mr Burgess, Sir Stanley Matthews, John James, Mick Cullerton, Len Graham and Mick Morris.
Zlín is the original name of Gottwaldov.It returned to Zlin in about 1990
Brings back memories of when Czech national team came to Vale Park.
Brilliant, I was a ball boy at the vale in the return match, and before..soggy wet old track suit bottoms and a baggy top.great mems .spoke to ken Hancock,recently .My claim to fame . he didnt recall me throwing the wet heavy match ball back to him for a goal kick.DevastatedMick.
Great to see my old Dad Len Barber in these photos. He loved that tour. He spoke about it often.
Absolutely Brilliant and fascinating. If there ever was a film script in the making
Seeing Stan Matthews in the Vale line up reminds me of his comment that he retired from the professional game too early at the age of 50. He looks lean on these photos and the newspaper reports indicate he still had plenty to offer.
Great to see Mick Morris too. I helped look after Mick in the later part of his life. Really nice and likeable man. Mick was in the Vale team when I started attending Vale Park in the late sixties.
Great memories.
If only I could remember all of them!!!
Mick Mahon
Just seen your comment Mick. I’m sure you remember beating Leeds in the FA Cup with Colchester and winning the Watney Cup v West Brom. Shame you left at the end of 1968-69.