List of Port Vale F.C. records and statistics

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Port Vale F.C. is an English professional association football club based in Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, who play in EFL League One, as of the 2023–24 season. The club was formed in the 1870s, in 1884 they took the name Burslem Port Vale F.C., dropping the 'Burslem' in 1907. They played their home matches at The Old Recreation Ground between 1912 and 1950 and at Vale Park from 1950 to the present day. The club joined the English Football League in 1892 as founder members of the Football League Second Division, resigning in 1907, only to return in 1919. Vale's highest league finish was fifth in the Second Division in 1930–31, whilst they were FA Cup semi-finalists in 1953–54. They competed in Europe in the Anglo-Italian Cup on one occasion and would go on to reach the final, losing 5–2 to Italian club Genoa on 17 March 1996.

Port Vale have won four promotions out of the third tier, going up as champions in 1929–30 and 1953–54, and have won five promotions out of the fourth tier, being crowned champions in 1958–59. They have lifted the Football League Trophy twice, in 1993 and 2001. Two club records are also Football League records: most clean sheets in a season (30 in 46 Third Division North matches in the 1953–54 season) and biggest league defeat (0–10 against Sheffield United on 10 December 1892). Roy Sproson made 842 appearances (760 in the league) for Vale between 1950 and 1972, later becoming manager from January 1974 to October 1977. Wilf Kirkham is the club's record goalscorer with 164 goals in all competitions over two spells between 1923 and 1933, and set the record for most Football League goals in a single season with 38 in the 1926–27 campaign. Gareth Ainsworth is the player Vale have both received and spent the highest sum on in the transfer market: £500,000 was given to Lincoln City in September 1997 and £2 million received from Wimbledon as he departed in October 1998. All top five transfers either in or out were made in the 1990s, before the Bosman ruling and the departure of highly successful manager John Rudge. Chris Birchall is the club record international cap holder with three goals in 27 appearances playing for Trinidad and Tobago between 2001 and 2006, including three appearances in the 2006 World Cup.

Honours and achievements[edit]

Football League[edit]

Football League Third Division / Third Division North / League One (3rd tier)

Football League Fourth Division / Third Division / League Two (4th tier)

Football League Trophy[4][5]

Others[edit]

North Staffordshire & District League

  • Champions: 1909–10

The Central League

  • Runners–up: 1911–12

Anglo-Italian Cup

Debenhams Cup

Staffordshire Senior Cup

  • Winners: 1898, 1912, 1920, 1947, 1949, 1953, 2001
  • Runners–up: 1900, 1928, 1930, 1948, 1973, 2010, 2014

Birmingham Senior Cup[1]

  • Winners: 1913
  • Runners–up: 1899, 1900, 1914

Staffordshire Junior Cup[1]

  • Winners: 1910

North Staffordshire Charity Challenge Cup[1]

  • Winners: 1883, 1885,[a] 1891[a]
  • Runners–up: 1886

Staffordshire Senior Charity Cup[1]

  • Winners: 1892, 1897

North Staffordshire Infirmary Cup[1]

  • Winners: 1915, 1920,[a] 1922[a]
  • Runners–up: 1921, 1923, 1924, 1927, 1930, 1932

Burslem Challenge Cup[1]

  • Winners: 1885

Hanley Cup

  • Runners–up: 1910

Coronation Cup

  • Runners–up: 1953

Supporters' Clubs' Trophy[1]

  • Winners: 1961
  • Runners–up: 1960
Notes
  1. ^ a b c d The trophy was shared

Player records[edit]

Club record goalscorer Wilf Kirkham.

Appearances[edit]

Further information: List of Port Vale F.C. players

Most appearances[edit]

As of match played 27 April 2024
# Name Years League[a] FA Cup Other[b] Total
1  England Roy Sproson Defender 1949–1972 760 65 17 842
2  England Phil Sproson Defender 1977–1989 426 31 43 500
3  England Harry Poole Half-back 1953–1968 451 32 16 499
4  England Ray Walker Midfielder 1984–1985
1986–1997		 366 28 48 442
5  England Andy Porter Midfielder 1986–1998
2004–2006		 361 26 51 433
6  England Dean Glover Defender 1989–1998 363 20 48 431
7  England Neil Aspin Defender 1989–1999 348 24 38 410
8  England Russell Bromage Defender 1977–1987 347 20 35 402
9  England Terry Miles Midfielder 1955–1968 365 27 9 401
–  England Nathan Smith Defender 2016– 345 19 37 401
  1. ^ Appearances and goals are for matches in the English Football League, Central League, North Staffordshire & District League, North Staffordshire Federation League, Midland League, and the Combination.
  2. ^ Appearances and goals are for matches in play-off games, League Cup, Football League Trophy, Anglo-Italian Cup, Debenhams Cup, Supporters' Clubs' Trophy, and Coronation Cup.

Goalscorers[edit]

# Name Years League[a] FA Cup Other[b] Total
1  England Wilf Kirkham Forward 1923–1929
1932–1933		 153 11 0 164
2  England Tom Pope Forward 2011–2015
2017–2021		 96 10 9 115
3  England Martin Foyle Forward 1991–2000 83 9 16 108
4  England Stan Steele Inside forward 1955–1961
1968		 88 4 3 95
5  England Tom Nolan Forward 1931–1935
1936–1940		 89 3 1 93
6  Jamaica Robbie Earle Midfielder 1982–1991 77 4 9 90
7  England Tony Naylor Forward 1994–2001
2005		 71 2 16 89
8  England Adrian Capes Forward 1903–1905
1908–1911		 75 9 0 84
9  England Darren Beckford Forward 1987–1991 71 4 6 81
10  England Harry Poole Forward 1953–1968 73 6 0 79
  1. ^ Appearances and goals are for matches in the English Football League, Central League, North Staffordshire & District League, North Staffordshire Federation League, Midland League, and the Combination.
  2. ^ Appearances and goals are for matches in play-off games, League Cup, Football League Trophy, Anglo-Italian Cup, Debenhams Cup, Supporters' Clubs' Trophy, and Coronation Cup.

Transfer fees[edit]

Gareth Ainsworth is the club's record incoming and outgoing transfer.
Paid
# Fee Paid to For Date Adjusted for Inflation Notes
1 £500,000 Lincoln City  England Gareth Ainsworth Winger September 1997 equivalent to £968,091 in 2021 [21]
2 £450,000 York City  Northern Ireland Jon McCarthy Winger August 1995 equivalent to £920,308 in 2021 [22]
3 £375,000 Oxford United  England Martin Foyle Forward June 1991 equivalent to £856,479 in 2021 [23]
4 £350,000 Wrexham  England Dave Brammer Midfielder March 1999 equivalent to £645,259 in 2021
5 £300,000 Bristol Rovers  England Peter Beadle Forward August 1998 equivalent to £561,603 in 2021 [24]
– £300,000 Crystal Palace  England Marcus Bent Forward January 1999 equivalent to £553,079 in 2021
Record progression
Date Fee Paid to For Adjusted for Inflation Notes
March 1931 £1,550 Oldham Athletic  England Stewart Littlewood Forward equivalent to £112,044 in 2021 [25][26]
October 1946 Undisclosed Blackpool  Northern Ireland Jimmy Todd Half-back [27]
July 1948 £10,000[a] Liverpool  England
 England		 Mick Hulligan
Stan Palk		 Winger
Inside forward 		equivalent to £386,852 in 2021 [28]
January 1956 £7,000 Tottenham Hotspur  England Eddie Baily Inside forward equivalent to £185,873 in 2021 [29]
July 1963 £15,000 Leicester City  England Albert Cheesebrough Forward equivalent to £334,160 in 2021 [30]
August 1963 £15,000[b] Everton  Northern Ireland Billy Bingham Outside-right equivalent to £334,160 in 2021 [31]
August 1978 £37,000 Wolverhampton Wanderers  England Ken Todd Midfielder equivalent to £225,824 in 2021 [27]
November 1978 £40,000 Bury  England Peter Farrell Midfielder equivalent to £244,134 in 2021 [32]
February 1989 £200,000 Middlesbrough  England Dean Glover Defender equivalent to £529,354 in 2021 [33]
June 1991 £375,000 Oxford United  England Martin Foyle Forward equivalent to £856,479 in 2021 [23]
August 1995 £450,000 York City  Northern Ireland Jon McCarthy Winger equivalent to £920,308 in 2021 [34]
September 1997 £500,000 Lincoln City  England Gareth Ainsworth Winger equivalent to £968,091 in 2021 [21]
  1. ^ This sum was for two players so did not break the record for the transfer of a single player.
  2. ^ This sum equalled the previous record.
Received
# Fee Received from For Date Adjusted for Inflation Notes
1 £2.0m Wimbledon  England Gareth Ainsworth Winger October 1998 equivalent to £3,744,020 in 2021 [21]
2 £1.5m Birmingham City  Northern Ireland Jon McCarthy Winger September 1997 equivalent to £2,904,273 in 2021 [35]
3 £1.0m Sheffield Wednesday  England Ian Taylor Midfielder August 1994 equivalent to £2,116,005 in 2021 [36]
– £1.0m Bradford City  England Lee Mills Forward August 1997 equivalent to £1,936,182 in 2021
5 £950,000[a] Leicester City  England Steve Guppy Winger February 1997 equivalent to £1,839,373 in 2021 [37]
  1. ^ Includes £100,000 in add-ons
Record progression
Date Fee Received from For Adjusted for Inflation Notes
February 1921 £4,750 West Bromwich Albion  England Bobby Blood Forward equivalent to £224,193 in 2021 [38]
January 1949 Undisclosed Queens Park Rangers  England Bill Pointon Forward [39]
August 1967 £30,000 Blackpool  England Terry Alcock Defender equivalent to £579,292 in 2021 [40]
October 1978 £55,000 Leicester City  England John Ridley Midfielder equivalent to £335,685 in 2021 [41]
September 1987 £350,000 Charlton Athletic  Wales Andy Jones Forward equivalent to £1,047,351 in 2021
June 1991 £925,000 Norwich City  England Darren Beckford Forward equivalent to £2,112,648 in 2021 [42]
August 1994 £1.0m Sheffield Wednesday  England Ian Taylor Midfielder equivalent to £2,116,005 in 2021 [36]
September 1997 £1.5m Birmingham City  Northern Ireland Jon McCarthy Winger equivalent to £2,904,273 in 2021 [35]
October 1998 £2.0m Wimbledon  England Gareth Ainsworth Winger equivalent to £3,744,020 in 2021 [21]

Team of the Year[edit]

The following players have been included in the PFA Team of the Year or EFL Team of the Season whilst playing at the club:[43][44]

International caps[edit]

The following players have won full senior international whilst playing at the club:[16]

Name Position Country Caps Goals Years Notes
Chris Birchall Midfielder Trinidad and Tobago Trinidad and Tobago 27 3 2001–2013 Club record international caps and goals; first and only representative at a FIFA World Cup.
Tony Rougier Midfielder Trinidad and Tobago Trinidad and Tobago 20 1 1999–2000 Played four games in the 2000 CONCACAF Gold Cup.
Sammy Morgan Forward Northern Ireland Northern Ireland 7 2 1972–1973 Scored on his debut against Spain.
George Abbey Defender Nigeria Nigeria 6 0 2004–2007 First Port Vale player to be caped by an African nation.
Teddy Peers Goalkeeper Wales Wales 4 0 1922–1923 First player to be capped whilst at Port Vale.
Eamonn O'Keefe Forward Republic of Ireland Republic of Ireland 4 1 1984–1985 Scored against China in Kirin Cup semi-final.
Jon McCarthy Winger Northern Ireland Northern Ireland 4 0 1996–1997
Andy Jones Forward Wales Wales 3 1 1987 Scored on his debut against Finland.
Billy Bingham Outside-right Northern Ireland Northern Ireland 3 0 1963 Would later also manage his country.
Anthony Griffith Midfielder Montserrat Montserrat 2 0 2011 Also captained his country.
Ryan McGivern Defender Northern Ireland Northern Ireland 2 0 2014
Andrew Little Forward Northern Ireland Northern Ireland 1 0 2011 At the club on loan from Rangers.
Neville Southall Goalkeeper Wales Wales 1 0 1983 At the club on loan from Everton.
James Lawrie Forward Northern Ireland Northern Ireland 1 0 2009 Also capped for the Northern Ireland B team.
David Healy Forward Northern Ireland Northern Ireland 1 0 2014 At the club on loan from Manchester United.

Club records[edit]

Tom Holford played for the club against Derby County at the age of 46.
Chris Birchall won 24 caps for Trinidad and Tobago whilst at Port Vale.
Roy Sproson made 842 first-team appearances for Port Vale.

*pre 1981, a win was awarded with 2 points

Streaks[edit]

  • League wins: 8, 8 April 1893 to 30 September 1893[48]
  • Draws: 6, 26 April 1981 to 12 September 1981[48]
  • Losses: 9, 9 March 1957 to 20 April 1957[48]
  • Clean sheets: 7, 11 February 1922 to 18 March 1922[48]
  • Without a win: 17, 7 December 1991 to 21 March 1992[48]
  • Without a draw: 20, 10 September 1906 to 19 January 1907 & 30 October 2004 to 5 March 2005[48]
  • Without a loss: 19, 5 May 1969 to 8 November 1969[48]
  • Without a clean sheet: 22, 22 September 1956 to 23 February 1957[48]
  • Without failing to score: 22, 12 September 1992 to 13 February 1993[48]
  • Without scoring a goal: 6, 19 August 2017 to 12 September 2017[49]
Home
  • Wins: 12, 9 February 1952 to 8 September 1952[48]
  • Draws: 6, 10 October 1977 to 27 December 1977 & 20 January 1982 to 6 March 1982[48]
  • Losses: 6, 1 January 1992 to 14 March 1992 & 26 December 2018 to 19 February 2019[48][50]
  • Clean sheets: 11, 7 September 1953 to 13 February 1954[48]
  • Failing to score: 5, 13 April 1998 to 31 August 1998[48]
  • Without a win: 12, 28 March 1978 to 21 October 1978[48]
  • Without a draw: 19, 25 August 1928 to 6 April 1929[48]
  • Without a loss: 42, 8 November 1952 to 18 September 1954[48]
  • Without a clean sheet: 13, 26 September 1964 to 15 March 1965[48]
  • Without failing to score: 33, 19 October 1946 to 13 March 1948[48]
Away
  • Wins: 5, 20 March 1993 to 24 April 1993[48]
  • Draws: 6, 20 March 1954 to 26 April 1954 & 19 January 1985 to 29 March 1985[48]
  • Losses: 14, 21 September 1895 to 18 April 1896[48]
  • Clean sheets: 5, 20 March 1993 to 24 April 1993[48]
  • Failing to score: 6, 8 January 1966 to 9 March 1966[48]
  • Without a win: 29, 17 January 1903 to 8 October 1904[48]
  • Without a draw: 27, 26 January 1895 to 3 December 1898[48]
  • Without a loss: 10, 5 May 1969 to 8 November 1969[48]
  • Without a clean sheet: 42, 18 December 1976 to 30 September 1978[48]
  • Without failing to score: 15, 10 January 1998 to 26 September 1998[48]

Matches[edit]

Vale Park held 49,768 supporters for the visit of Aston Villa on 20 February 1960
Notes
  1. ^ a b Also a Football League record.[45]

European statistics[edit]

Record by season[edit]

Season Competition Qualification method Round Date Country Club Venue Result
1995–96[54] Anglo-Italian Cup Invitation Group A 5 September 1995  Italy Cesena Away 2–2
11 October 1995  Italy Ancona Home 2–0
8 November 1995  Italy Genoa Home 0–0
13 December 1995  Italy Perugia Away 3–5
English semi-final 23 January 1996  England Ipswich Town Away 2–4
English final 24 February 1996  England West Bromwich Albion Away 0–0
5 March 1996  England West Bromwich Albion Home 1–3
Tournament final 17 March 1996  Italy Genoa Neutral 5–2

Record by opposition nationality[edit]

Competition Played Won Drawn Lost Goals
for 		Goals
against
Anglo-Italian Cup  England 3 2 1 0 7 3
 Italy 5 2 2 1 11 10
Total 8 4 3 1 18 13

References[edit]

General

  • Kent, Jeff (1990). The Valiants' Years: The Story of Port Vale. Witan Books. ISBN 0-9508981-4-7.
  • Kent, Jeff (1993). The Port Vale Record 1879–1993. Witan Books. ISBN 0-9508981-9-8.
  • Kent, Jeff (1996). Port Vale Personalities: A Biographical Dictionary of Players, Officials and Supporters. Witan Books. ISBN 0-9529152-0-0.

Specific

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Kent 1990, p. 291
  2. ^ a b c "Port Vale FC History". port-vale.co.uk. Archived from the original on 26 October 2020. Retrieved 1 October 2016.
  3. ^ Peddy, Chris (26 May 2022). "League Two play-off final: Port Vale thrash Mansfield to win promotion". BBC Sport. Retrieved 28 May 2022.
  4. ^ Slaven, Bernie; Allan, Dave (2007). Legend? The Autobiography. Linthorpe: Linthorpe. p. 180. ISBN 0-9553363-3-3.
  5. ^ "Ten Years Ago Today". port-vale.co.uk. 22 April 2011. Retrieved 22 April 2011.
  6. ^ "Jack Shorrock becomes the youngest first-team player in Port Vale history". Port Vale F.C. 21 September 2022. Retrieved 21 September 2022.
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h i Kent 1990, p. 292
  8. ^ Baggaley, Mike (27 December 2023). "Fightback too late as Barnsley continue Vale's woeful home run". Valiant's Substack. Retrieved 27 December 2023.
  9. ^ List of Port Vale F.C. records and statistics at Soccerway. Retrieved 15 September 2017.
  10. ^ a b c Kent 1993, p. 288
  11. ^ Baggaley, Mike (27 November 2015). "How Ajay Leitch-Smith compares to Vale goal heroes". The Sentinel. Retrieved 27 November 2015.[permanent dead link]
  12. ^ Shaw, Phil (13 March 1996). "Bogie's lightning strike catches Stoke cold". The Independent. London. Retrieved 16 October 2017.
  13. ^ Baggaley, Michael (2 December 2019). "Andy Jones, Tony Naylor and Tom Pope in Port Vale's 10 fastest-ever hat-tricks". Stoke Sentinel. Retrieved 2 December 2019.
  14. ^ "Famous Players 80s Andy Jones". Port Vale Nostalgia. Retrieved 26 April 2023.
  15. ^ Sherwin, Phil (2010). The Port Vale Miscellany. Brimscombe Port: The History Press. p. 15. ISBN 978-0-7524-5777-2.
  16. ^ a b c "List of Port Vale Internationals". onevalefan.co.uk. Retrieved 6 June 2020.
  17. ^ Kent 1996, p. 214
  18. ^ Baggaley, Michael (1 September 2018). "Port Vale 1, Newport 2: History-maker Tom Pope is proud but frustrated". Stoke Sentinel. Retrieved 1 September 2018.
  19. ^ Baggaley, Michael (28 April 2018). "Tom Pope makes history at Port Vale player of the year awards". Stoke Sentinel. Retrieved 30 April 2018.
  20. ^ Baggaley, Michael (5 October 2019). "Will Atkinson makes Port Vale history by playing in Morecambe game". Stoke Sentinel. Retrieved 5 October 2019.
  21. ^ a b c d Shaw, Steve (20 November 2010). "Port Vale: Rudge was huge influence on career, says Gareth Ainsworth". The Sentinel. Archived from the original on 5 May 2013. Retrieved 20 November 2010.
  22. ^ Windross; Jarred. Citizens and Minstermen: A Who's Who of York City FC 1922–1997. p. 65.
  23. ^ a b Struthers, Greg (21 September 2008). "Caught in Time: Vale drunk on success". The Times. London, UK. Retrieved 25 November 2008.
  24. ^ "Profile" (PDF). watfordfcarchive.com. Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 September 2015. Retrieved 26 August 2015.
  25. ^ Kent 1996, p. 273
  26. ^ "Altrincham FC Legends". lusoweb.co.uk. Retrieved 19 February 2019.
  27. ^ a b Kent 1996, p. 291
  28. ^ Kent 1996, p. 146
  29. ^ Kent 1996, p. 14
  30. ^ Kent 1996, p. 59
  31. ^ Kent 1996, p. 30
  32. ^ Kent 1996, p. 98
  33. ^ Shaw, Phil (26 January 2006). "FA Cup Countdown: Heroes and Villans". The Independent. London. Retrieved 20 November 2011.
  34. ^ "Red raiders net Greening". York Evening Press. 24 March 1998. Retrieved 2 May 2016.
  35. ^ a b "Jon McCarthy: Port Vale add ex-Chester manager to backroom team". BBC Sport. 17 November 2017. Retrieved 19 November 2017.
  36. ^ a b Kent 1996, p. 287
  37. ^ "Steve Guppy - Player File". Chairboys on the Net. Archived from the original on 5 February 2012. Retrieved 23 May 2009.
  38. ^ Oakes, Beverley (2015), The Valiant, Country Books, p. 89, ISBN 978-1-910489-20-8
  39. ^ Kent 1996, p. 233
  40. ^ "Whatever happened to... Terry Alcock". Blackpool F.C. 19 September 2006. Archived from the original on 17 February 2012. Retrieved 20 November 2008.
  41. ^ Kent 1996, p. 250
  42. ^ Kent 1996, p. 22
  43. ^ Tony, Lynch (1995). The Official P.F.A. Footballers Heroes. Random House. ISBN 9780091791353.
  44. ^ "Football Manager EFL Team of the Season line-ups announced". EFL.com. 24 April 2022. Retrieved 25 April 2022.
  45. ^ a b c "Football League Records". football–league.co.uk. Retrieved 10 April 2009.
  46. ^ Baggaley, Mike (26 January 2017). "Port Vale talking points: Scouts, signings and likely game change". Stoke Sentinel. Retrieved 26 January 2017.
  47. ^ Baggaley, Mike (16 November 2023). "Embracing the challenge as Port Vale compete on all fronts". Valiant's Substack. Retrieved 17 November 2023.
  48. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac "Port Vale scoring and sequence records - Statto.com". Statto.com. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
  49. ^ Baggaley, Michael (13 September 2017). "Talking points as rock bottom Port Vale make unwanted history". Stoke Sentinel. Retrieved 13 September 2017.
  50. ^ Smith, Peter (21 February 2019). "Cheltenham v Port Vale: Defenders should take inspiration from ex-Crewe star". Stoke Sentinel. Retrieved 21 February 2019.
  51. ^ a b c Kent 1993, p. 284
  52. ^ a b Kent 1993, p. 286
  53. ^ Baggaley, Michael (16 October 2018). "Port Vale 2, Middlesbrough u-21s 0 report: Vale through as fans snub Checkatrade". StokeSentinel. Retrieved 17 October 2018.
  54. ^ "Anglo-Italian Cup 1995/96". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved 12 July 2010.
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