Post by JamesB on Feb 21, 2013 14:33:48 GMT
Preamble
We have a manager. It's not one we can all agree on but at least it's a manager. We can all hope that the correct decisions are made, the best team is chosen and the most appropriate things have been shouted at the underperforming players. That should do the trick
History
Port Vale is the only club in the Football League not named after a specific settlement - Port Vale is believed to have been a name for the surrounding area at the time the club was formed, while the official club website says that Port Vale House was where the club was formed in 1876, although it is disputed. They are based in the industrial town of Burslem in Staffordshire, part of the city of Stoke-on-Trent and once home to the club's most famous fan, the singer Robbie Williams.
Their ground there, Vale Park, opened in 1950, and was at the time was planned to be one of the largest in the country, hence the nickname 2The Wembley of the North", though it was never fully developed - indeed, it still isn't fully developed, as an upgrade started when the club were in the First Division in the late 1990s hasn't yet been finished due to the club's drop through the leagues and financial troubles. The record attendance at the ground was 49,768 for an FA Cup tie against Aston Villa in February 1960
Port Vale are known for being the club that has spent the most seasons in the second tier of English football without having reached the top flight. They were founder members of the Second Division in 1892 (as Burslem Port Vale) and, after a gradual slide down the leagues, the Fourth Division in 1958 - they had earlier been FA Cup semi-finalists in 1954, the closest they would get to winning a major honour, though they are two-time winners of the Football League Trophy
In 1968, under the management of Stanley Matthews, they were nearly expelled from the Football League over illegal payments made to players, but the initial punishment was reduced on appeal to a re-election vote, and they survived
Through the 1980s under John Rudge, the club started to climb the leagues again, reaching the Second Division in 1989. After relegation in 1992, they were promoted again in 1994 and remained there until 2000, Rudge having been sacked the year before. Administration followed in 2002, marking the end of the ownership of the club of Bill Bell, who died last week. A new board of fan owners took over the club, with Vale settling as a League One club until a disastrous 2007-08 season saw them relegated to League Two
It has been a frustrating few years for the club, with many near-misses, dismissals and a further trip into administration last year, but they are currently one of the two contenders to lift the title at the moment under Micky Adams
The opposition
- The last two weekends have seen rare slip-ups from the Valiants, with a draw at Barnet and a defeat to Morecambe, which has seen them drop behind Gillingham once again. The Morecambe defeat was their first since losing to Fleetwood on New Year's Day - the bad news for us is that their away form is stronger than their home form, though. Their last away defeat came at Sheffield United in the FA Cup on December 1st - their last league away defeat was at Northampton on October 27th, making them unbeaten in 8 away league games
- They strengthened in January by making 5 additions to the squad, including the return of club legend Chris Birchall, signing Darren Purse from Plymouth, and the free transfer of Lee Hughes from Notts County. But this has meant the same number of players have left to make away, among them former Torquay defender Gareth Owen, who was released, and the loaning-out of defender Clayton McDonald. They also lost Lewis Haldane in October, as the winger was forced to retire as a result of a broken leg sustained early on last season
- Team vs Morecambe: Neal; Yates, Purse, Duffy, Jones; Loft, Myrie-Williams, Burge, Vincent; Pope, Hughes. Subs: Taylor, Shuker, Morsy, Birchall, Dodds, Andrew, Williamson
Head-to-head
- It's very close: in all competitions, it's 17 wins apiece, with 18 draws. One of those wins for Torquay came in the FA Cup in 1957-58, so in league encounters, Port Vale have a slight advantage
- In the 21st century, Torquay and Port Vale have been in the same league for 5 seasons, beginning with our season in League One in 2004-05. In those matches, Torquay have 4 wins to Port Vale's 1, which came at Plainmoor in February 2010 - the match known for being the Torquay debut of Mo Camara. There have also been 4 draws
- The last meeting between the two sides came on September 1st when Torquay valiantly held out against the Valiants for a point at Vale Park. Ian Morris' only goal of the season so far gave Torquay a lead just before half time, but Vale dominated and eventually equalised as a result of an unfortunate own goal from Brian Saah. It was also notable for an impressive debut from young defender Kirtys MacKenzie
- Last season we also took a point from Vale Park with a gritty Friday night 0-0 draw without the services of Eunan O'Kane. We then went on to defeat Vale 2-1 at Plainmoor - defender John McCombe (briefly a Torquay player) gave them a first half lead but a red card for Joe Davis in the 69th minute was shortly followed by goals from Rene Howe and Ryan Jarvis. 4 points from 2 fixtures against the promotion contenders would again be a very good return...
We have a manager. It's not one we can all agree on but at least it's a manager. We can all hope that the correct decisions are made, the best team is chosen and the most appropriate things have been shouted at the underperforming players. That should do the trick
History
Port Vale is the only club in the Football League not named after a specific settlement - Port Vale is believed to have been a name for the surrounding area at the time the club was formed, while the official club website says that Port Vale House was where the club was formed in 1876, although it is disputed. They are based in the industrial town of Burslem in Staffordshire, part of the city of Stoke-on-Trent and once home to the club's most famous fan, the singer Robbie Williams.
Their ground there, Vale Park, opened in 1950, and was at the time was planned to be one of the largest in the country, hence the nickname 2The Wembley of the North", though it was never fully developed - indeed, it still isn't fully developed, as an upgrade started when the club were in the First Division in the late 1990s hasn't yet been finished due to the club's drop through the leagues and financial troubles. The record attendance at the ground was 49,768 for an FA Cup tie against Aston Villa in February 1960
Port Vale are known for being the club that has spent the most seasons in the second tier of English football without having reached the top flight. They were founder members of the Second Division in 1892 (as Burslem Port Vale) and, after a gradual slide down the leagues, the Fourth Division in 1958 - they had earlier been FA Cup semi-finalists in 1954, the closest they would get to winning a major honour, though they are two-time winners of the Football League Trophy
In 1968, under the management of Stanley Matthews, they were nearly expelled from the Football League over illegal payments made to players, but the initial punishment was reduced on appeal to a re-election vote, and they survived
Through the 1980s under John Rudge, the club started to climb the leagues again, reaching the Second Division in 1989. After relegation in 1992, they were promoted again in 1994 and remained there until 2000, Rudge having been sacked the year before. Administration followed in 2002, marking the end of the ownership of the club of Bill Bell, who died last week. A new board of fan owners took over the club, with Vale settling as a League One club until a disastrous 2007-08 season saw them relegated to League Two
It has been a frustrating few years for the club, with many near-misses, dismissals and a further trip into administration last year, but they are currently one of the two contenders to lift the title at the moment under Micky Adams
The opposition
- The last two weekends have seen rare slip-ups from the Valiants, with a draw at Barnet and a defeat to Morecambe, which has seen them drop behind Gillingham once again. The Morecambe defeat was their first since losing to Fleetwood on New Year's Day - the bad news for us is that their away form is stronger than their home form, though. Their last away defeat came at Sheffield United in the FA Cup on December 1st - their last league away defeat was at Northampton on October 27th, making them unbeaten in 8 away league games
- They strengthened in January by making 5 additions to the squad, including the return of club legend Chris Birchall, signing Darren Purse from Plymouth, and the free transfer of Lee Hughes from Notts County. But this has meant the same number of players have left to make away, among them former Torquay defender Gareth Owen, who was released, and the loaning-out of defender Clayton McDonald. They also lost Lewis Haldane in October, as the winger was forced to retire as a result of a broken leg sustained early on last season
- Team vs Morecambe: Neal; Yates, Purse, Duffy, Jones; Loft, Myrie-Williams, Burge, Vincent; Pope, Hughes. Subs: Taylor, Shuker, Morsy, Birchall, Dodds, Andrew, Williamson
Head-to-head
- It's very close: in all competitions, it's 17 wins apiece, with 18 draws. One of those wins for Torquay came in the FA Cup in 1957-58, so in league encounters, Port Vale have a slight advantage
- In the 21st century, Torquay and Port Vale have been in the same league for 5 seasons, beginning with our season in League One in 2004-05. In those matches, Torquay have 4 wins to Port Vale's 1, which came at Plainmoor in February 2010 - the match known for being the Torquay debut of Mo Camara. There have also been 4 draws
- The last meeting between the two sides came on September 1st when Torquay valiantly held out against the Valiants for a point at Vale Park. Ian Morris' only goal of the season so far gave Torquay a lead just before half time, but Vale dominated and eventually equalised as a result of an unfortunate own goal from Brian Saah. It was also notable for an impressive debut from young defender Kirtys MacKenzie
- Last season we also took a point from Vale Park with a gritty Friday night 0-0 draw without the services of Eunan O'Kane. We then went on to defeat Vale 2-1 at Plainmoor - defender John McCombe (briefly a Torquay player) gave them a first half lead but a red card for Joe Davis in the 69th minute was shortly followed by goals from Rene Howe and Ryan Jarvis. 4 points from 2 fixtures against the promotion contenders would again be a very good return...
. eg Torquay 0-1 Harragate, and fifa 13 prediction Torquay 1-1 Port Vale.
