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.
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.