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: 18th 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: Micky Adams Chairman: Bill Bratt Players in: Tommy Fraser and Doug Loft (both Brighton), Jamie Guy (Colchester, loan), Geoff Horsfield, Kris Taylor (Hereford), Adam Yates (Morecambe) Players out: Kyle Perry (Mansfield), Dave Brammer, Scott Brown, Paul Edwards (released) 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

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, £4 cars) located outside a superstore next to the stadium, otherwise some street parking. .

Stoke railway station (in Hanley) is around four miles from the stadium, in Burslem. You can catch connecting trains (every hour) to Longport, five minutes away but this still leaves a 25-30 minute walk from the stadium. Return trains from Longport are 17.27 or 18.27. More straightfoward is to either take a taxi (about £6 to the ground) or a No 21 bus from Stoke Road, close to the railway station. This has the destination Bradeley on the front(fare £1.70 and services every 10 minutes). (To locate the bus stop - it's three minutes walk from station - turn left out of the main entrance, past the turning for College Road on your right and taxi rank on your left, and it is the next turning on the right at the end of Station Road by a mini-arounabout. Up Stoke Road for about 50 yards and the bus shelter is on the opposite side to the Signal radio station offices). The bus takes a slightly circuitous route into town first, where you can also catch it - Hanley (city centre) and bus statio. Get off the bus at the top of the hill, as you arrive in Burslem - the Ceramica centre, and it's a short walk up the hill into Hamil Road. Bus route map (PDF) Suggested train times (updated July 2009): Darlington 08.00 (York, 08.28) 08.40-(Manchester Piccadilly, 10.05) 10.15-arr Stoke-on-Trent, 10.48. Rtn: 18.18-(Manchester Picc, 19.00) 19.11-(York, 20.35) 20.45-arr 21.14. Fares: From £62 off-peak return Birmingham New Street 10.31-arr 11.18, rtn 18.07-arr 18.58. Fare: Off-peak day returns from £12.20 Plenty of direct trains from London Euston 10.00-11.24, rtn: 18.13-19.42. Off-peak return, £54.70 Sheffield 10.11 (Stockport, 10.53) 10.58 arr Stoke 11.42. Rtn: 17.58 via Stockport, arr 19.35. Or the 18.48 (Stockport, 19.16) 19.26-arr 20.08. Fares from £27.50 off-peak return.

. City Cabs 2000 01782 844444 Magnum Taxis 01782 819 819 Autocabs 01782 332211 City Centre Taxis 01782 811811 Four Star Taxis 01782 334334 N Staff Eagles Taxis 01782 314315 Darlington FC Supporters' Club Coach. 10am, cost £18 Contact: 01325 243911. See Darlington Supporters' Club for more details.

Trivia quiz question - Stoke-on-Trent is made up of which six towns? Answer: 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 by car, taxi or bus.

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 and awarded our DAFTS 2008-2009 away pub of the year. Two-room, football-friendly pub, 10 minutes walk from the ground. There is also a fair-sized beer garden, which serves BBQ on match days. Bob the landlord is very fan-friendly and welcoming, encouraging supporters with a love of real ale. The pub also sells the Vale fanzine behind the bar. Serves at least three ales from the nearby Titanic Brewery (named after the captain of the doomed liner Edward Smith, who was born locally). Usually two other guest ales to provide a good choice of beers, continental bottled beers and occasional beer festivals or themes. CAMRA-recommended. Click for Streetmap The local CAMRA also recommend The Leopard 21 Market Place, Burslem although the wearing of hats and swearing is banned. A note that theThe Post Office Vaults, 3 Market Place, Burslem, which is popular on match days, is a home fans only pub now. 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 There's a chip shop in May Road, 100 yards from the ground, or it's Burslem high street for the usual take-aways and restaurant chains, such as KFC.

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 Local buses 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 matches: Lincoln City (Sat 5th September, 3pm) and Accrington (Friday 11th September, 7.45pm) No responsibility is taken for accuracy, if in doubt check before travelling. © DAFTS 2009 Anything worth adding? Please e-mail us any suggestions. Back to index page