Cult Hero 38: Tommy Clare
Cult hero Tommy Clare: local lad, pioneer, captain, cup winner, manager, England International, war hero… Tommy Clare is well-deserving of a place in our Cult hall of fame.
Cult hero Tommy Clare: local lad, pioneer, captain, cup winner, manager, England International, war hero… Tommy Clare is well-deserving of a place in our Cult hall of fame.
Cult hero Randy Samuel: Canadian Randy Samuel is probably the only player called “Randy” to appear for the Valiants but aside from that, he also has several other claims for fame.
Cult hero Colin Tartt: We take a look at the Port Vale career of Colin Tartt – a ‘hard as nails’ full-back who spent two lengthy spells with the club in the seventies and eighties.
Cult hero Steve McPhee: the Scottish striker started with a goal and left under a cloud of controversy, but he will be remembered fondly by a generation of Vale fans.
Cult hero Teddy Peers: to many Vale fans, the name “Teddy Peers” will fail to ring a bell, but Ted holds a unique record and furthermore it’s one that will not be broken.
Cult hero Bernie Wright: sometimes, when you have to pick a cult hero, it really helps to choose one that fits the stereotypes. And Bernie ‘hairy and scary’ Wright certainly ticks most of the boxes.
Cult hero Gary Roberts: we take a look at our thirtieth cult Vale figure – midfielder Gary Roberts – who had a controversy-packed two year spell at Vale Park.
Cult hero Jack Maddock: local lad John (Jack) Maddock’s determination to play the sport of football should serve as an inspiration to all modern footballers.
Cult hero Jack Roberts: The Liverpudlian striker (pictured far right) is one of the most fascinating Vale characters that most fans have never heard of and a definite entry into our OVF Port Vale cult hall of fame.
Cult hero John McGrath: the first manager to enter our cult hall of fame, McGrath’s reign may have been outshone by that of John Rudge but nevertheless McGrath enjoyed a memorable, brief and (at-least partially) successful spell with the Valiants..
Cult hero Michael Walsh: OVF’s cult heroes section enters the modern age with our cult profile of Michael Walsh – one of the unluckiest players to appear for Port Vale in recent years.
Cult hero John Nicholson was a courageous defender who was ever-present for four seasons in the 1960’s and a key member of some of Vale’s most memorable cup ties.
Cult hero Tommy McLaren: the late midfielder was brave, totally committed and beloved of fans. Many would consider Tommy to be Vale’s ultimate cult hero.
Cult hero Akpo Sodje: he powerful forward arrived without fanfare but soon proved his worth to become a popular terrace hero and a deserved entrant in our hall of cult fame.
Cult hero Jan Jansson: the stylish Swedish midfielder was a relatively unsung performer in Vale’s supremely gifted 1996-1997 side.
Cult hero Neville Southall: the first goalkeeper to make our list, Neville Southall was a shoe-in for our cult hall of fame.
Cult hero John Durnin: why does a veteran, signed on a non-contract basis from Rhyl make our hall of fame?
Cult hero Paul Kerr: a goalscoring midfielder, Paul Kerr’s place in Port Vale’s history is assured…
Cult hero Jon Bowden: an all-action midfielder with a ‘play anywhere’ mentality, Jon Bowden was a fans favourite of the mid-1980s…
Cult hero John Jeffers: a classic winger, often infuriating, but brilliant on his day, John Jeffers is a worthy entrant in our cult hall of fame…
Cult hero Steve Fox: a winger who was a one-season wonder, we look back at wily eighties winger, Mr Steve Fox.
Cult hero Ally Brown: was Ally Brown a washed-up veteran striker at the end of his career – or did he still have something to offer?
Cult hero Paul Maguire: hmmm, this could be another controversial one – why did we chose a balding, ex-Stoke as a cult hero?
Cult hero Peter Clarke: a strapping centre-half who joined Vale for a brief, but memorable spell, Clarke left Vale a lasting parting gift.
Cult hero Alan Webb: one of the unsung heroes of the John Rudge revolution, we profile ever-reliable cult hero Alan Webb.
Cult hero David Lowe is one of a select number of players to have not one, but two successful loan spells with the Valiants.
Cult hero Chris Killen: not all the cult heroes we will feature stayed at Vale for a long time and Chris Killen is a fine example of a brief, but hugely popular stay.