Port Vale celebrated 75 years of Vale Park as their home this August and commissioned a special publication for the landmark event.
The near 16,000-capacity stadium along Hamil Road in Burslem has hosted 1,956 fixtures since opening its gates in August 1950 and holds plenty of special memories for Valiants supporters.
From a club record attendance for an FA Cup Fifth Round tie against Aston Villa, to Third Division play-off victory over Bristol Rovers in 1989 and more recent promotion successes out of League Two in 2022 and 2025. There were also FA Cup heroics over Stanley Matthews’ Blackpool and Everton in the Fifties, as well as a record 8-0 win over Gateshead.
The 68-page publication traced the ground’s history throughout the decades, from Alderman Holdcroft’s vision to build ‘the Wembley of the North’, through to the top 10 games played at the ground, stadium records and plans for the future with the announcement of the Vale Park Community Campus.
As well as a famous ‘whose who’ list to have graced the Vale Park turf and a walk down memory lane with Gareth Ainsworth, there are also insightful columns from co-owner Carol Shanahan OBE, first-team manager Darren Moore and chief executive Matt Hancock.
Ignition Sports Media’s General Manager David Middleton commented: “We were thrilled to be asked to produce such a timeless piece of memorabilia to help the club mark the 75th anniversary of Vale Park. Although the home defeat to Doncaster Rovers may have dampened the party mood on the day, I’m sure Valiants supporters were ‘glad all over’ with the end result and the publication is one to treasure.”
Supporters wishing to obtain this issue can do so HERE
