62 years ago: Port Vale reach their only FA Cup semi-final
March 27th 2016 marks the 62nd anniversary of Port Vale’s FA Cup semi-final game against West Brom.
Tag: Iron Curtain
Port Vale book available again
A well-received book about Port Vale’s legendary 1954 side – Men of Steele – has been given another print run.
Vale Legends No.2 – 1953-54 side
A new series of videos by OVF celebrate the achievements of key Vale players or officials. Our aim is to sum up their work for the club in a matter of minutes. Next up is the 1953-54 side…
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…
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.
Exclusive Iron Curtain charity mug for sale
OVF has a limited edition Iron Curtain mug for sale with the proceeds going to two Stoke-on-Trent based charities.
Coming soon: Iron Curtain charity fundraiser
In the next few days, OVF will be publishing details of a special item that we’ll be selling to raise money for our two chosen charities – the Donna Louise Trust and the Douglas MacMillan hospice.
60 years on: Vale’s proudest cup moment
To commemorate the sixtieth anniversary of Port Vale’s FA Cup semi-final appearances, here is a documentary video on that legendary Iron Curtain side.
New Port Vale book on sale
A brand-new book about Port Vale’s legendary 1954 side – Men of Steele – is available to purchase for just £9.99.
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.
59 years on: Vale stun Matthews’ Blackpool
Wednesday 20th February 2013 is the 59th anniversary of one of Vale Park’s finest games of all time. Freddie Steele’s Iron Curtain side stunned FA Cup holders Blackpool (boasting Stanley Matthews and six other internationals) in a famous FA Cup giantkilling.
The heroes of ’54 get the magazine treatment
The excellent football nostalgia magazine Backpass has an extensive feature on Port Vale’s 1954 Iron Curtain side including an interview with Vale great Colin Askey.
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
OVF is proud to reproduce a vintage cartoon from the March 1954 edition of Charles Buchan’s Football Monthly. It celebrates the achievements of Port Vale’s legendary 1954 Iron Curtain side.
Legends of our Past
Barry first posted this in January 2002 and it includes a tribute to all those who played for Port Vale fifty years ago – especially in that famous FA Cup Semi Final against West Bromich Albion at Villa Park.
May 6, 1954
Barry says that this day in history remains indelible on his psyche for several reasons. He says it was a time in his youth when human endurance seemed to ignore the logic of gravity and sensibility and where, as we were later informed by Captain Kirk in StarTrek, they were prepared to go where no […]
Thirty-one Days, Twelve Games & Easter
It all connects for Barry; the 27th March, those thirty-one days, the twelve games played and Easter.
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.
Port Vale’s 1953-1954 Iron Curtain side player profiles
Exclusive images and contemporary text from the ‘Pride of Port Vale’ booklet. The book celebrated the achievements of the legendary 1954 ‘Iron Curtain’ side. These are the original text and cartoons that appear in the 1954 booklet.
I'd Love a Babycham
Exiled Valiant Barry Edge lives in Perth, Western Australia and is a regular columnist for onevalefan. Barry begs the question as to what similarities and differences will eventually be drawn in relation to Port Vale’s great start in the 2003/04 campaign vis-à-vis 1953/54.
Memories of 1954
Barry Edge is an exiled Valiant living in Western Australia. Here he shares with us his memories of 1954.
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.
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.
Port Vale history 1950 to 1968
The move to Vale Park, the cup run of the famed ‘Steele Curtain’ side and the controversy over league expulsion.
