- Founded: 1876
- Nicknames: The Valiants
- Honours: Football League Trophy (1992/93, 2000/01), Third Division (1929/30, 1953/54), Fourth Division (1958/59).
Formed in 1876, Port Vale Football Club took its name from the venue of the inaugural meeting at ‘Port Vale House’ situated in Stoke-on-Trent. The club first competed in the Midland League before becoming founding members of the Football League Second Division in 1892.
Vale spent 13 non-consecutive seasons in the division, punctuated by two seasons back in the Midland League, however had to resign from the league system due to financial difficulties and entered liquidation in 1907. The name Port Vale continued as a new club in the North Staffordshire Federation League up until 1919 when they were reinstated into the Football League following the expulsion of Leeds City.
The club spent the next 39 years fluctuating between the second and third divisions, most notably winning the Third Division North title in 1929/30 and in 1953/54, as well as reaching the FA Cup semi-finals for the first time in its history in the latter season.
John Rudge was appointed as manager in 1983 and stepped up to become Vale’s longest-serving and most successful manager, leading the club up to the turn of the millenium. Under his leadership the club won promotions in 1985/86, 1988/89 and 1993/94, won the Football League Trophy in 1993 and reached a post-war record eight placed finish in the second tier in 1996/97.
In a rather remarkable 2012/13 season Micky Adams won automatic promotion to League One with fan favourite Tom Pope scoring 33 goals despite Port Vale still being in administration. The Valiants would stay in League One until 2017 after new manager Bruno Ribiero and replacement caretaker manager Michael Brown failed to avoid relegation back down to League Two after three seasons previously of pushing for promotion to the Championship.
Vale were many people’s dark horses for promotion this season and have begun the season in the same rich vein of form which led to the same plaudits. They sit in third going into Saturday’s match against City just two points above the Grecians.
Fraser Horsfall’s late goal secured victory for Northampton in a tight game against promotion rivals Newport County.
Dom Telford had County’s best chance but he was denied by Liam Roberts.
Ali Koiki blazed over the crossbar and Mitch Pinnock fired straight at Nick Townsend before the hosts broke the deadlock.
Horsfall headed home Pinnock’s corner to secure the win which sees Northampton move up to third.
County drop down to seventh in the table after a second successive away defeat.
Highlights of the Cobblers Last time out!
Port Vale secured their first away win for two months with a dominant 3-1 League Two victory over relegation-threatened Carlisle.
David Worrall, James Wilson and David Amoo did the damage as the Valiants picked up their first victory at Brunton Park for five years.
Defeat left Keith Millen’s strugglers just two points above the dreaded trapdoor to non-league football after a disappointing fourth league defeat in a row.
Mistakes at the back cost Carlisle dearly.
Former Manchester United youngster Wilson took advantage of a mishap at the back for Worrall to fire home the opener inside the first minute.
West Brom loanee Owen Windsor opened his account for the hosts in the 21st minute, but it was a mere consolation.
Wilson produced two fine saves from Mark Howard, but third time was a charm as he struck to put Vale ahead just before half-time.
After the break, Kian Harratt hit the side netting for Darrell Clarke’s side.
But Amoo put the game to bed against his old club with a fine finish with 10 minutes to go.
Northampton got their League Two season up and running with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over 10-man Port Vale at Sixfields.
The Cobblers fielded eight debutants but it was an old name that scored the only goal of the game as Benny Ashley-Seal’s first-half strike ultimately proved the difference.
Vale started on top but they fell behind in the 23rd minute when a long throw into their box caused problems and Ashley-Seal was on hand to score from close-range after Nicke Kabamba’s shot had been blocked.
Tom Pett drew a low save out of Liam Roberts as Vale sought a quick response and the visitors should have been back on level terms before half-time when Devante Rodney picked out James Wilson but the striker somehow steered wide.
Vale’s chances were severely hampered 10 minutes into the second half when goalkeeper Lucas Covolan came racing out of his goal and saw red for tripping Kabamba.
Shaun McWilliams had a long-range shot tipped away by substitute goalkeeper Aidan Stone late on as Northampton claimed three points on the opening day.
| Played | Won | Draw | Lost | F | A |
| 85 | 32 | 17 | 36 |
PLAYED FOR BOTH
We look at a selection of players that played for the Cobblers and Port Vale.
Alan Young will take charge of the match having been the man in the middle 33 times in all competitions last season and 13 match this season.
Richard Morris and Oliver Bickles will be the assistant referees and Joe Clark is the fourth official.
| Date | Result | ||
| 26.09.2020 | Northampton | 0:2 | Hull City |
| 21.01.2020 | Leyton Orient | 1:1 | Northampton |
| 21.12.2019 | Mansfield Town | 1:1 | Northampton |
| 14.09.2019 | Northampton | 2:0 | Newport County |
| 25.08.2018 | Colchester Utd. | 1:2 | Northampton |
| 1 | Port Vale have lost just two of their last 10 Football League home games against Northampton (W4 D4). |
| 2 | Northampton beat Port Vale 1-0 in August, only once since 2002-03 have the Cobblers done the double over them in the Football League (2016-17). |
| 3 | Port Vale have won as many points from their last three league games (7) as they had in their previous eight in League Two combined. |
| 4 |
