In March 1954, Port Vale became only the second Third Division side to reach the FA Cup semi-finals. Freddie Steele’s famed Iron Curtain side defeated Leyton Orient 1-0 and we present media coverage of the historic win.
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.
Port Vale stun the FA Cup holders in one of Vale Park’s finest games of all time as it finishes Port Vale 2-0 Blackpool in 1954…
Iron Curtain stars 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.
On the 12th October 1946, Basil Hayward made his first-ever appearance for the club at the tender age of just 18 years and 188 days. He would progress into one of the legendary figures of the 1953-54 Iron Curtain side.
Port Vale lost their famous FA Cup semi-final against West Bromwich Albion in 1954 but what if there had been a replay. This unique ticket gives an indication of the plans… and the location may raise a few eyebrows!
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.
1953-54 Port Vale player profiles: images and contemporary text from the ‘Pride of Port Vale’ booklet.
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.
March 27th 2016 marks the 62nd anniversary of Port Vale’s FA Cup semi-final game against West Brom.
A well-received book about Port Vale’s legendary 1954 side – Men of Steele – has been given another print run.
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…
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 1954 FA Cup semi-final: we look at the special Sentinel newspaper produced for the biggest game in Port Vale’s history – the FA Cup semi-final against West Bromwich Albion.
OVF has a limited edition Iron Curtain mug for sale with the proceeds going to two Stoke-on-Trent based charities.
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.
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.
A brand-new book about Port Vale’s legendary 1954 side – Men of Steele – is available to purchase for just £9.99.
Thanks to Stuart Dean, we have a short documentary clip of Port Vale’s 1954 record-breaking side.
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 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.
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.
Salute to Port Vale is a vintage cartoon from the March 1954 edition of Charles Buchan’s Football Monthly.
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.
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 […]
It all connects for Barry; the 27th March, those thirty-one days, the twelve games played and Easter.