Books about the Vale

[mr.hobblesworth]

Dave Johnson is in the process of producing a book of Vale stories and anecdotes from fans and players. It should be out in time for you all to get one in your Christmas stocking!

 

Have you contributed? I remember you saying on here how you'd bought Rudgie a lottery ticket for the Vale. One of my favourite ever posts on here, that was.

[Jacko51]

Have you contributed? I remember you saying on here how you'd bought Rudgie a lottery ticket for the Vale. One of my favourite ever posts on here, that was.

 

We have, but not that story!

[bertiepee]

Out of all my vale books my favourite is the Denis Dawson one, never managed get hold of his second book, bet speedy and lodey could tell a few tales

[mr.hobblesworth]

I really like that one too. Never even knew about his second one until Santa mentioned it on here and there's no sign on ebay. Someone's selling a fair few Vale books, including Bernie Slaven's autobiography, and they're quite cheap at the moment, but no sign of that one. Any idea what it was called? Was it the same publisher?

[robf]

Just to add - in addition to "No Ordinary Season" I have a second Vale book in progress.

 

I'm not going to give too much away but it's not about a specific time or player and should be available for (optimistically) August, probably more realistically between then and the end of the year.

 

If anyone is interested in "No Ordinary Season" in the meantime, it can be found here - https://www.amazon.co.uk/No-ordinary-season-Rob-Fielding/dp/1291426892?ie=UTF8&*Version*=1&*entries*=0

[Howjy04]

'The Port Vale Miscellany' by Phil Sherwin.Foreword by Robbie Earle.

[Vital Spark]

My personal favourite was the diary of the 1989 promotion season. Very good read.

[mr.hobblesworth]

Just to add - in addition to "No Ordinary Season" I have a second Vale book in progress.

 

I'm not going to give too much away but it's not about a specific time or player and should be available for (optimistically) August, probably more realistically between then and the end of the year.

 

Ooh, give us a hint...

[mbycars]

After next season it could be No Ordinary Season part 2.

[robf]

Ooh, give us a hint...

 

It's not to do with OVF but involves some elements of OVF along with some original research. A well-known face from yesteryear has agreed to do the foreword. It would have been done sooner but the OVF crash/new server stopped it in its tracks. That's all you're getting...

[Central Scrutinizer]

Rudgie in a sombrero with maracas (for some reason I can't remember) and another with him in his PJs in bed with the Autoglass Trophy on his bedside table.

 

That was when the club adopted La Cucuracha as music to be played after scoring a goal. It was short lived and soon replaced by Glad All Over.

[Jeff Kent]

My personal favourite was the diary of the 1989 promotion season. Very good read.

Thank you for your kind comment.

[Jeff Kent]

What are the best ones?

 

I used to really enjoy the Jeff Kent ones, particularly the Port Vale Tales and The Port Vale Record ones. Does JK still write books? I think he may have burned his boats by supporting Valiant 2001 during their last few months.although that 'what if' book looks ok. Some of his earlier books go for a few quid sometimes.

 

I have a couple of Vale related autobiographies, namely by Denis Dawson (ex Groundsman - RIP) and Ray King (goalkeeper in the famous early 1950s team). Both are really great.

 

Then there are a few cheapo-ish A-Z style books full of facts that most people already know.

 

Peter Swan's autobiography has a bit of Vale stuff in it but not enough to warrant a purchase. Then there's the long mooted Rudgie autobiography, if it ever gets published.

 

Owt else?

 

I'm glad you've enjoyed my books.

I'm currently in the middle of a series of books about English hills (in Staffordshire, Cheshire, etc), but am also working on a new Vale history and encyclopaedia.

I haven't burned any boats, though it became apparent that others had burned theirs. At the 2011 EGM, I argued that the shareholders should keep their shares to retain a say in the running of the club. Now we, the supporters, have no voice, but that's what the majority wanted and so I accepted it.

[Jeff Kent]

What If There Was No Port In The Vale by Jeff Kent is quite interesting despite its bloody awful title.

I'm glad you liked the book. The title is a little different than you've written and I thought it was rather apt, myself, which was why I so named it!

[For Us All]

I have seven Vale books,

 

The Valiants' Years.

Port Vale Tales.

Port Vale FC an A-Z.

Port Vale Grass Roots.

Men of Steele.

Port Vale Miscellany.

This Side Up 2012-2013.

 

I love reading them all,particularly Denis Dawson's Grass Roots and I can't wait for the latest one from Dave Johnson to be published.