I was there: a fans’ view of Port Vale’s Iron Curtain side
Many younger fans never saw the legendary 1953-54 Port Vale side. Geoff Ainsworth did. He watched from the sidelines and here’s his review of the squad from that incredible season.
Category: Legends of 1954
Port Vale 1953-54 season
The Port Vale 1953-54 season was arguably the greatest in the long history of the football club. A squad of nineteen mainly local players set numerous club records.
Managed by Freddie Steele, the team became known as the Iron Curtain (or Steele Curtain) due to its formidable defence which contained Vale legends Roy Sproson, Tommy Cheadle and goalkeeper Ray King.
The side coasted to the Third Division North title and also reached the semi-final of the FA Cup where they were unfortunate to lose narrowly to West Bromwich Albion.
Over the course of the season, the side set seven club records and three Football League records – including fewest League goals conceded in a season and eleven consecutive clean sheets. The side were unbeaten at home during the whole season.
1954 semi-final special – the front cover
To conclude our look at the Sentinel special marking the club’s FA Cup semi-final appearance in 1954, here is a Photoshopped copy of the front cover.
Port Vale v WBA, FA Cup semi-final special
Following on from the “players at home” feature, here are several more clippings from the Sentinel’s special on Port Vale’s 1954 FA Cup semi-final against West Bromwich Albion.
The 1954 side pictured at home…
Iron Curtain stars at home: taken from a Sentinel FA Cup semi-final special on display at the Vale Vaults exhibition, here are some unique period portraits of the legendary Freddie Steele side pictured at home.
Video: The 1953-1954 Port Vale Iron Curtain season
Thanks to Stuart Dean, we have a short documentary clip of Port Vale’s 1954 record-breaking side.
1950s Port Vale autographs pictured
Thanks to Pete T, we have some photos of Vale fan Geoff Austin’s autograph book from which dates back to the 1950’s. It contains 1950s Port Vale autographs plus those of Stoke City players from that era.
Pictured: the goal that took Vale into the semi-final
Thanks to OVF reader Paul Rafferty, we have an image of Vale’s crucial FA Cup goal against Leyton Orient – the strike that secured Port Vale’s place in the semi-finals.
The moment Vale’s cup final dreams were dashed…
Whilst in the course of research for more OVF historical features, we were given these amazing images of Vale’s 1954 FA Cup semi-final clash with West Bromwich Albion.
1954 salute to Port Vale cartoon
Salute to Port Vale is a vintage cartoon from the March 1954 edition of Charles Buchan’s Football Monthly.
Port Vale players of the 1950’s and 1960’s
Thanks to Port Vale fan Angela Fox, OVF has been handed these amazing images of Port Vale players, fans and club staff during the 1950’s and 1960’s.
1953-54 Port Vale player profiles – the legendary Iron Curtain side
1953-54 Port Vale player profiles: images and contemporary text from the ‘Pride of Port Vale’ booklet.
Port Vale v Wrexham, 1954
Paul Humphreys has kindly provided the onevalefan viewers with the opportunity to leaf through the pages of a souvenir programme from the glorious 1954 Iron Curtain campaign.
The 1954 FA Cup semi-final programme
We present exclusive images from the programme for Vale’s biggest-ever match, the FA Cup semi-final against West Brom in 1954.
Port Vale 2-0 Blackpool, 1954
Port Vale stun the cup holders in one of Vale Park’s finest games of all time as it finishes Port Vale 2-0 Blackpool in 1954…
King of the Steele Curtain side
In 2000, OVF managed to speak to Ray King, a genuine Port Vale legend, who played in Vale’s FA Cup semi-final side. Read the great man’s thoughts.