Port Vale

Vale Park has been the home of Port Vale Football Club since 1950, but the club had been in operation in one form or another far earlier than that, living a nomadic lifestyle up until that point. We say that they had existed ‘in one form or another’ because the very beginnings of the club are up for some debate. A Port Vale historian believes that the club was formed in 1879 as an offshoot of Porthole Victoria Football Club, whilst the club itself declares that it was formed even earlier in 1876 after a meeting at Port Vale House. In 1884 they moved to the Burslem area and changed their name to Burslem Port Vale, dropping the Burslem in 1907 when they were forced to drop out of the football league and then reform due to financial difficulties. Before they even joined the Football League, Port Vale played their matches at The Meadows in Longport until 1881. From there they went to another Meadows, this time Westport Meadows, playing there for three years. They stayed at Burslem Football and Athletic Ground for two years before moving to the Athletic Ground where they played for 27 years. Next up came The Old Recreation Ground, home to The Vale from 1913 until 1950 when they eventually moved to their current ground, Vale Park.