Port Vale

Port Vale v Darlington

Coca-Cola League Two

Saturday 14th March 2009, 3pm

Man to watch

Full match previews on the D@rlo Uncovered website.

The away fans at Vale Park are behind the goal in the the Hamil Road Stand, with plenty of room - a capacity of 4,500. Ticket prices pegged to: Adults £19, OAPs £12.50, under 16s £8

Port Vale FC:
Vale Park, Hamil Road, Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent, ST6 1AW
Tel: 01782 655 800
History: Formed in Burslem in 1876, the club had an itinerant start - the club took its name from either a local canal wharf or a house. Burslem Port Vale joined Division Two in the Football League in 1891 but the club struggled, was eventually wound up and taken over by local non-league side Cobridge Church in 1907 and lost its league status. It moved to a ground in Hanley and eventually replaced Leeds City, who were expelled from the League in 1919. The 1920s saw all-time record scorer Wilf Kirkham play for Vale, who survived an attempt to merge with rivals Stoke. They won promotion in 1930 and finished fifth in Div 2, their highest position, the next season. The club moved to its existing stadium in 1950, but they had to sell star player Ronnie Allen. In 1954, the club reached the FA Cup semi-finals, after beating Stanley Matthews' Blackpool on the way but lost to West Brom after leading - old favourite Allen with a controversial penalty. With the club dropping to Div 4, in 1965, Stanley Matthews became manager. The club faced explusion from the League in 1967 over broken rules on payments to players but were re-elected. Generally, the 70s were a time of struggle before promotion was won again in 1983. John Rudge started his long association with the club, which lasted 15 years as manager. In 1988, his early successt included the FA Cup scalp of Spurs and the following season a long-awaited return to Div 2 and an Autoglass Trophy win at Wembley (1993). The club also lifted the LDV Vans Trophy in Cardiff in 2001. But financial problems led the club going into administration in 2003.
Record Attendance: 49,768 v Aston Villa, FA Cup 5th Rd, 1960
Capacity: 18.900
Last season: Relegated from League One
Honours: Div 3 runners-up 1993/1994; Div 3 North champions 1929/1930 and 1953/1954; Div Four champions 1958/1959, Autoglass Trophy, 1993, LDV Trophy, 2001
Record victory: 9-1 v Chesterfield, Div 2, 1932
Defeat: 0-10 v Notts County (A, 1895) or Sheff Utd (H, 1892)
Nicknames: The Valiants
Colours: White amd black
Manager: Lee Sinnott
Chairman: Bill Bratt
Players in: Sam Stockley (Wycombe), Louis Dodds (Leicester), John McCombe (Hereford), Steve Thompson (Middlesbrough), Anthony Griffiths (Doncaster), Rob Taylor (Nuneaton), Lee Collins (Wolves, loan for six months)
Players out: Joe Cardle (Airdrie), Adam Eckersley, Robin Hulbert, Mark McGregor, Colin Miles, Justin Miller, David Mulliga, Charlie O'Loughlan, George Pilkington, Craig Rocastle, Jason Talbot (Livingston)
Famous fans/connections: Will Kirkham, Ronnie Allen, Roy Sproson, Brian Horton, Mark Bright, Darren Beckford, Robbie Earle, Steve Guppy, Bernie Slaven, Ian Taylor, Marcus Bent (players), Neil Aspin (ex-Darlo). John Rudge, Gordon Lee, Stanley Matthews (managers), Robbie Williams and Phil "The Power" Taylor (fans)
Click for Streetmap of ground

Anything worth adding? Please e-mail us any suggestions. Back to index page

From the M6: Leave the M6 at junction 15, then take the A500 towards Stoke-on-Trent. After six miles, take the exit for the A527 Tunstall/Burslem. Take a left at the roundabout (signposted Tunstall A527, Longport Road). After half a mile take a right onto the B5051 (second exit) at a small roundabout into Newcastle St. Carry on up to the next roundabout and across to the crossroads. Then carry on straight over the crossroads into Moorland Rd, then it's second left into Hamil Rd. The ground is on the left. Parking: There is a large car park (Hamil Rd) located outside a superstore next to the stadium, otherwise street parking.
.

Stoke railway station is around four miles from the stadium. You either take a taxi or a No24 bus to Burslem town centre from the station. Off the bus, pass the Red Lion and take the second left turning on your left into Hamil Road
Train times: Darlington, London Euston and Sheffield
TIMES TO BE CONFIRMED

.
City Cabs 2000 01782 844444
Autocabs 01782 332211
City Centre Taxis 01782 811811
Four Star Taxis 01782 334334
N Staff Eagles Taxis 01782 314315
Darlington FC Supporters' Club
Coach. Contact: 01325 243911. See Darlington Supporters' Club for more details.

Stoke-on-Trent is made up of six towns - Tunstall, Burslem, Hanley (the city centre), Stoke, Fenton and Longton - rather than being just one city, in case you get confused. It was founded on the ceramic and pottery industry, which gives its name The Potteries. There are plenty of factory outlets and museums with relation to the industry, for visitors. Port Vale is in Burslem , synonymous with Josiah Wedgewood, and 10 minutes from the town centre.

There are online maps on the tourism website, showing the city in relation to the stadium to the south, with Fenton being the closest of the six towns.

Tourist Information Centre, Victoria Hall, Bagnall St, Cultural Quarter, Stoke-on-Trent (City Centre) ST1 3AD, Tel: 01782 236000 Visit Stoke website
The website has accommodation

Real ale

The Bull's Head, 14 St John's Square, Burslem.
The DAFTS choice by a country mile. Serves at least three ales from the nearby Titanic Brewery (named after the captain of the doomed liner Edward Smith, who was born locally). Two-room, football-friendly pub, 10 minutes walk from the ground. Usually two other guest ales to provide a good choice of beers, continental bottled beers and occasional beer festivals. CAMRA-recommended. Click for Streetmap
The local CAMRA also recommend The Leopard 21 Market Place, Burslem and The Post Office Vaults, 3 Market Place, Burslem, which is popular on match days.
Bars near ground
Red Lion, 3 Moorland Road, Burslem
A short walk from the stadium, this pub apparently serves Titanic real ale and bar snacks. Robbie Williams was born and brought up in this very pub...now you'll only find him on the jukebox.

The Vine, Hamil Road, Burslem
Gets very busy on match days, used by both sets of fans and a bit on the bijou side - five minutes walk. On the local CAMRA list and a few real ales.
New Inn, 50 Market Place, Burslem, ST6 4AR
Fan-friendly, there may also be some real ale and bar food. Click for Streetmap

.

If you'd like to be e-mailed a regular bulletin with the latest updates on this site - including details of DAFTS members known to be travelling then E-mail DAFTS

Rail timetables Virgin Trains GNER National Express SYPTE local transport Town maps
Hotels/B&Bs Stoke Sentinel Stoke city council Tourism site CAMRA Potteries

Surfing there...

There's the Official website and the best is the One Vale Fan site, which is a simply fabulous mix of history, memories and current news. There is also the North London Valiants exiles site.

Next away match:
Barnet (Saturday 28th March, 3pm)

No responsibility is taken for accuracy, if in doubt check before travelling.