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Port Vale 2-1 Tottenham Hotspur, FA Cup, 1988
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Port Vale 2-1 Tottenham Hotspur FA Cup fourth round, January 31th, 1988

Port Vale 2-1 Tottenham Hotspur

“White Hart Slain” proclaimed the banner from the Bycars stand as John Rudge’s unfancied Port Vale side produced one of the great FA Cup giantkillings. Terry Venables’ 1987 FA Cup finalists came to Burslem as overwhelming favourites with TV pundit Jimy Greaves wisecracking that “the only trouble they’ll have is finding the place.” Greaves was wrong as Ray Walker and Phil Sproson scored memorable goals in a famous 2-1 upset which saw the Valiants through to the fifth round.

In this special feature from onevalefan.co.uk we have previews, video, images, press clippings, quotes, match reports and much more…

You can also use the menu above to navigate between other classic upsets.

Match details

  • Venue: Vale Park stadium

    Competition: FA Cup fourth round

    Date: 3pm Saturday 30th January 1988

    Attendance: 20,045

  • Port Vale: Grew – Steggles, Sproson, Hazell, Hughes – Ford, Walker- Earle, Riley – Beckford, Coles

    Sub: Finney (for Beckford 83)

    Spurs: Parks – Hughton, Fairclough, Ruddock, Thomas – P.Allen, Fenwick, Mabbutt, Waddle – C.Allen, Moran

    Sub: Howells (for Hughton 60)

Special features on this game

Port Vale 2-1 Spurs

Port Vale 2-1 Spurs MOTD highlights

How Match of the Day covered Port Vale’s famous FA Cup giantkiling.

Watch the game

The 1988 FA Cup run

Previews and highlights of the FA Cup matches against Spurs and Watford in 1988.

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