List of Port Vale F.C. players

Port Vale F.C. is an English professional association football club based in Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire. The club was formed in the late 1870s. They took the name Burslem Port Vale in 1884 and dropped the 'Burslem' prefix in 1907. The club joined the English Football League in 1892 as founder members of the Football League Second Division. Though they resigned in 1907, they continued to play in North Staffordshire district leagues and would return to the Football League in 1919. The club's first team has competed in numerous nationally and internationally organised competitions, and all players who have played at least 25 such matches are listed below.

Introduction
More than 500 Port Vale players have appeared in at least 25 senior competitive matches. In the early days, the scarcity of nationally organised competitive football meant players could spend many years with the club while making few such outings. However, to redress this, the list includes appearances in minor cup competitions, such as the Staffordshire Senior Cup, before World War II. Exhibition games (friendlies) were the primary source of games in the early days of the game, so appearances of friendly games during the 19th century are also included. This means that Frank McGinnes is on the list, who recorded 109 goals in 140 matches despite being limited to just 33 goals in 39 Midland League games due to his death due to kidney failure on 25 June 1892, at the age of 22.

Numerous players throughout the club's history have enjoyed long careers. Roy Sproson made 842 appearances for Vale between 1950 and 1972, later becoming manager for three years beginning in 1974. His nephew, Phil Sproson, played 500 games for the club between 1977 and 1989. Wilf Kirkham is the club's record goalscorer, with 164 goals in all competitions and 38 goals in a season. Gareth Ainsworth is the player Vale have both received and spent the highest sum on in the transfer market, £500,000 spent in 1997 with £2,000,000 received as he exited the following year. Chris Birchall is the club's record international cap holder with 27, playing for Trinidad and Tobago between 2001 and 2006, including three appearances in the 2006 FIFA World Cup. Others made little impact at the club but were significant figures at other clubs, such as Willie Aitken, who went on to serve as head coach at Juventus.

Key
Name: Players with name in italics were on loan from another club for the duration of their Port Vale career. Players marked in bold are still playing for the club. Players known only by their surname (i.e. the initial of their first name is not recorded) are not included. All statistics are correct up to and including the match played on 27 April 2024. Nationality: Nationalities are listed for players, where known. Nationality is defined as the country of their international selection, where applicable. Nationalities for those who were not ever called up for international level are defined as their country of birth. Players highlighted in pink represented their country at senior level whilst at the club. Position: GK – Goalkeeper; DF – Defender; MF – Midfielder; FW – Forward Port Vale career: Port Vale career is defined as the first and last calendar years in which the player was registered as a professional at the club. Appearances and goals: Appearances and goals comprise those in the English Football League (including play-off games), The Combination, Midland League, North Staffordshire Federation League, North Staffordshire & District League, The Central League, FA Cup, League Cup / EFL Cup, Football League Trophy / EFL Trophy, Anglo-Italian Cup, Debenhams Cup, Supporters' Clubs' Trophy, and Coronation Cup. Minor cup competitions (such as the Staffordshire Senior Cup) may also be included before World War II only. Friendly matches in the 19th century only are included. Appearances in the 1939–40 Football League season, abandoned after three matches because of the Second World War, are excluded. Wartime league appearances are excluded.

Players with 25 or more appearances