Port Vale F.C. is an English professional association football club based in Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, who play in , as of the 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. On one occasion, they competed in Europe in the Anglo-Italian Cup. They 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
Football League Football League Third Division / Third Division North / League One (3rd tier) Champions: 1929–30, 1953–54 2nd place promotion: 1993–94 Play-off winners: 1988–89
Football League Fourth Division / Third Division / League Two (4th tier) Champions: 1958–59 2nd place promotion: 2024–25 3rd place promotion: 1982–83, 2012–13 4th place promotion: 1969–70, 1985–86 Play-off winners: 2021–22
Football League Trophy Winners: 1993, 2001
Others
North Staffordshire & District League Champions: 1909–10
The Central League Runners–up: 1911–12
Anglo-Italian Cup Runners–up: 1996
Debenhams Cup Runners–up: 1977
Staffordshire Senior Cup Winners: 1898, 1912, 1920, 1947, 1949, 1953, 2001 Runners–up: 1900, 1928, 1930, 1948, 1973, 2010, 2014
Birmingham Senior Cup Winners: 1913 Runners–up: 1899, 1900, 1914
Staffordshire Junior Cup Winners: 1910
North Staffordshire Charity Challenge Cup Winners: 1883, 1885, 1891 Runners–up: 1886
Staffordshire Senior Charity Cup Winners: 1892, 1897
North Staffordshire Infirmary Cup Winners: 1915, 1920, 1922 Runners–up: 1921, 1923, 1924, 1927, 1930, 1932
Burslem Challenge Cup Winners: 1885
Hanley Cup Runners–up: 1910
Coronation Cup Runners–up: 1953
Supporters' Clubs' Trophy Winners: 1961 Runners–up: 1960
Bass Charity Vase Runners–up: 2024
Notes
Player records
Youngest first-team player: Jack Shorrock, 15 years 145 days (against Shrewsbury Town, 20 September 2022). Oldest first-team player: Tom Holford, 46 years 68 days, (against Derby County, 5 April 1924). Youngest first-team goalscorer: Jack Shorrock, 16 years 242 days (against Barnsley, 26 December 2023). Tallest first-team player: Tomáš Holý, . Most goals in a season: Joe Brough, 43 goals in the 1909–10 season. Most Football League goals in a season: Wilf Kirkham, 38 goals in Second Division in the 1926–27 season. Most club top-scoring seasons: Wilf Kirkham, 6 (1924–25, 1925–26, 1926–27, 1927–28, 1928–29, 1932–33) Most goals in a Football League match: 6, Stewart Littlewood (against Chesterfield, 24 September 1932). Most goals in any match: 7, Chris Young (against Burton Rangers, Birmingham Senior Cup first round, 21 September 1914). Longest consecutive scoring run: 8, John Rowland (1 September to 4 October 1965) & Basil Hayward (28 November 1953 to 26 January 1954). Most competitive hat-tricks: Wilf Kirkham, 13. Quickest competitive goal: 5 seconds, Ian Bogie (against Stoke City), 12 March 1996. Quickest competitive hat-trick: 3 minutes, Fred Mitcheson (against Plymouth Argyle), 21 April 1934. Most successful penalty-taker: Andy Jones, 20 from 23. Most penalties in a season: Andy Jones, 12 from 15 in the 1986–87 season. Most red cards: Jason Talbot, 5. Most clean sheets in a season: 29, Ray King, 1953–54. Most international caps while a Port Vale player: Chris Birchall, 27 for Trinidad and Tobago Most international goals while a Port Vale player: Chris Birchall, 3 for Trinidad and Tobago First Port Vale player to appear in the World Cup finals: Chris Birchall, for Trinidad and Tobago against Sweden on 10 June 2006 Most appearances by a Port Vale player in the World Cup finals: Chris Birchall, three appearances for Trinidad and Tobago at the 2006 World Cup. Most consecutive appearances: John Nicholson, 208 (2 September 1961 – 8 September 1965). Most goals at Vale Park: Tom Pope, 64. Most Port Vale F.C. Player of the Year awards: Tom Pope, 3 (2013, 2014 & 2018). Longest time between appearances: Will Atkinson, 11 years and 11 months (6 November 2007 – 5 October 2019).
Appearances
Most appearances #NameYearsLeagueFA CupOtherTotal1Defender1949–19722Defender1977–19893Half-back1953–19684Midfielder1984–19851986–19975Midfielder1986–19982004–20066Defender1989–19987Defender2016–20258Defender1989–19999Midfielder1955–196810Defender1977–1987
Goalscorers #NameYearsLeagueFA CupOtherTotal1Forward1923–19291932–19332Forward2011–20152017–20213Forward1991–20004Inside forward1955–196119685Forward1931–19351936–19406Midfielder1982–1991–Forward1994–200120058Forward1903–19051908–19119Forward1987–199110Defender1953–1968
Transfer fees
Paid #FeePaid toForDateAdjusted for InflationNotes1£500,000Lincoln CityGareth AinsworthWingerSeptember 19972£450,000York CityJon McCarthyWingerAugust 19953£375,000Oxford UnitedMartin FoyleForwardJune 19914£350,000WrexhamDave BrammerMidfielderMarch 19995£300,000Bristol RoversPeter BeadleForwardAugust 1998–£300,000Crystal PalaceMarcus BentForwardJanuary 1999
Record progression DateFeePaid toForAdjusted for InflationNotesMarch 1931£1,550Oldham AthleticStewart LittlewoodForwardOctober 1946UndisclosedBlackpoolJimmy ToddHalf-backJuly 1948£10,000LiverpoolMick HulliganStan PalkWingerInside forwardJanuary 1956£7,000Tottenham HotspurEddie BailyInside forwardJuly 1963£15,000Leicester CityAlbert CheesebroughForwardAugust 1963£15,000EvertonBilly BinghamOutside-rightAugust 1978£37,000Wolverhampton WanderersKen ToddMidfielderNovember 1978£40,000BuryPeter FarrellMidfielderFebruary 1989£200,000MiddlesbroughDean GloverDefenderJune 1991£375,000Oxford UnitedMartin FoyleForwardAugust 1995£450,000York CityJon McCarthyWingerSeptember 1997£500,000Lincoln CityGareth AinsworthWinger
Received #FeeReceived fromForDateAdjusted for InflationNotes1£2.0mWimbledonGareth AinsworthWingerOctober 19982£1.9mPreston North EndJordan HugillForwardJune 20143£1.5mBirmingham CityJon McCarthyWingerSeptember 19974£1.2mPlymouth ArgyleLorent TolajForwardAugust 20255£1.0mSheffield WednesdayIan TaylorMidfielderAugust 1994
Record progression DateFeeReceived fromForAdjusted for InflationNotesFebruary 1921£4,750West Bromwich AlbionBobby BloodForwardJanuary 1949UndisclosedQueens Park RangersBill PointonForwardAugust 1967£30,000BlackpoolTerry AlcockDefenderOctober 1978£55,000Leicester CityJohn RidleyMidfielderSeptember 1987£350,000Charlton AthleticAndy JonesForwardJune 1991£925,000Norwich CityDarren BeckfordForwardAugust 1994£1.0mSheffield WednesdayIan TaylorMidfielderSeptember 1997£1.5mBirmingham CityJon McCarthyWingerOctober 1998£2.0mWimbledonGareth AinsworthWinger
Team of the Year The following players have been included in the PFA Team of the Year or EFL Team of the Season whilst playing at the club: 1981–82: Mark Chamberlain (Fourth Division) 1982–83: Phil Sproson, Russell Bromage, Steve Fox (Fourth Division) 1984–85: Russell Bromage (Fourth Division) 1985–86: Phil Sproson (Fourth Division) 1987–88: Ray Walker (Third Division) 1988–89: Ray Walker (Third Division) 1992–93: Peter Swan, Ray Walker, Ian Taylor (Second Division) 1993–94: Neil Aspin, Dean Glover, Ian Taylor (Second Division) 2012–13: Jennison Myrie-Williams, Tom Pope (League Two) 2020–21: David Worrall (League Two) 2024–25: Connor Hall (League Two)
International caps The following players have won full senior international whilst playing at the club: NamePositionCountryCapsGoalsYearsNotesMidfielder Trinidad and Tobago2732001–2013Club record international caps and goals; first and only representative at a FIFA World Cup.Midfielder Trinidad and Tobago2011999–2000Played four games in the 2000 CONCACAF Gold Cup.Forward New Zealand1132025–2026Non-playing member of 2026 FIFA World Cup squadForward Northern Ireland721972–1973Scored on his debut against Spain.Defender Nigeria602004–2007First Port Vale player to be capped by an African nation.Defender Guyana512026Forward Republic of Ireland411984–1985Scored against China in Kirin Cup semi-final.Goalkeeper Wales401922–1923First player to be capped whilst at Port Vale.Forward Northern Ireland401996–1997Forward Northern Ireland332000At the club on loan from Manchester United.Forward Wales311987Scored on his debut against Finland.Forward Saint Kitts and Nevis312026Forward Honduras312026At the club on loan from Liverpool.Forward Northern Ireland301963Would later also manage his country.Midfielder Montserrat202011Also captained his country.Defender Northern Ireland202014Goalkeeper Wales101983At the club on loan from Everton.Forward Northern Ireland102009Also capped for the Northern Ireland B team.Forward Northern Ireland102011At the club on loan from Rangers.Goalkeeper Australia102025At the club on loan from Aston Villa.
Club records
Most Football League goals scored in a season: 110 in 46 matches, Fourth Division, 1958–59. Fewest Football League goals scored in a season: 30 in 22 matches, Second Division, 1892–93. Fewest Football League goals conceded in a season: 21 in 46 matches, Third Division North, 1953–54. Most Football League goals conceded in a season: 106 in 42 matches, Second Division, 1935–36. Fewest Football League goals conceded at home in a season: 5 in 23 matches, Third Division North, 1953–54. Most points in a Football League season: 89 in 46 matches, Second Division 1992–93. Fewest points in a Football League season: 15 in 22 matches, Second Division, 1892–93. Fewest adjusted* points in a Football League season: 21 in 22 matches, Second Division, 1892–93. Lowest adjusted* points per game in a Football League season: 0.71 (30* in 42 matches), matches, Second Division, 1956–57.
Most wins in a Football League season: 30 in 42 matches, Third Division North, 1929–30. Fewest wins in a Football League season: 6 in 22 matches, Second Division, 1892–93. Fewest defeats in a Football League season: 3 in 46 matches, Third Division North, 1953–54. Most defeats in a Football League season: 28 in 42 matches, Second Division, 1956–57. Most draws in a Football League season: 20 in 46 matches, 1977–78 Fewest draws in a Football League season: 3 in 22 matches, 1892–93 Most red cards in a season: 7 in 46 games, 1974–75 & 2001–02 Most clean sheets in a season: 30 in 46 matches, Third Division North, 1953–54 Most players used in a season: 43 in 1998–99