# List of Port Vale F.C. records and statistics

Port Vale F.C. is an English professional association football club based in Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, who play in EFL League Two, as of the 2023–24 season. The club was formed in the 1870s; in 1884, they took the name Burslem Port Vale F.C., dropping the 'Burslem' in 1907. They played their home matches at The Old Recreation Ground between 1912 and 1950 and at Vale Park from 1950 to the present day. The club joined the English Football League in 1892 as founder members of the Football League Second Division, resigning in 1907, only to return in 1919. Vale's highest league finish was fifth in the Second Division in 1930–31, whilst they were FA Cup semi-finalists in 1953–54. On one occasion, they competed in Europe in the Anglo-Italian Cup. They would go on to reach the final, losing 5–2 to Italian club Genoa on 17 March 1996.
Port Vale have won four promotions out of the third tier, going up as champions in 1929–30 and 1953–54, and have won five promotions out of the fourth tier, being crowned champions in 1958–59. They have lifted the Football League Trophy twice, in 1993 and 2001. Two club records are also Football League records: most clean sheets in a season (30 in 46 Third Division North matches in the 1953–54 season) and biggest league defeat (0–10 against Sheffield United on 10 December 1892). Roy Sproson made 842 appearances (760 in the league) for Vale between 1950 and 1972, later becoming manager from January 1974 to October 1977. Wilf Kirkham is the club's record goalscorer with 164 goals in all competitions over two spells between 1923 and 1933, and set the record for most Football League goals in a single season with 38 in the 1926–27 campaign. Gareth Ainsworth is the player Vale have both received and spent the highest sum on in the transfer market: £500,000 was given to Lincoln City in September 1997 and £2 million received from Wimbledon as he departed in October 1998. All top five transfers, either in or out, were made in the 1990s, before the Bosman ruling and the departure of highly successful manager John Rudge. Chris Birchall is the club record international cap holder with three goals in 27 appearances playing for Trinidad and Tobago between 2001 and 2006, including three appearances in the 2006 World Cup.

## Honours and achievements
### Football League

Football League Third Division / Third Division North / League One (3rd tier)
* Champions: 1929–30, 1953–54
* 2nd place promotion: 1993–94
* Play-off winners: 1988–89
Football League Fourth Division / Third Division / League Two (4th tier)
* Champions: 1958–59
* 3rd place promotion: 1982–83, 2012–13
* 4th place promotion: 1969–70, 1985–86
* Play-off winners: 2021–22
Football League Trophy
* Winners: 1993, 2001

### Others

North Staffordshire & District League
* Champions: 1909–10
The Central League
* Runners–up: 1911–12
Anglo-Italian Cup
* Runners–up: 1996
Debenhams Cup
* Runners–up: 1977
Staffordshire Senior Cup
* Winners: 1898, 1912, 1920, 1947, 1949, 1953, 2001
* Runners–up: 1900, 1928, 1930, 1948, 1973, 2010, 2014
Birmingham Senior Cup
* Winners: 1913
* Runners–up: 1899, 1900, 1914
Staffordshire Junior Cup
* Winners: 1910
North Staffordshire Charity Challenge Cup
* Winners: 1883, 1885, 1891
* Runners–up: 1886
Staffordshire Senior Charity Cup
* Winners: 1892, 1897
North Staffordshire Infirmary Cup
* Winners: 1915, 1920, 1922
* Runners–up: 1921, 1923, 1924, 1927, 1930, 1932
Burslem Challenge Cup
* Winners: 1885
Hanley Cup
* Runners–up: 1910
Coronation Cup
* Runners–up: 1953
Supporters' Clubs' Trophy
* Winners: 1961
* Runners–up: 1960
Bass Charity Vase
* Runners–up: 2024

#### Notes

* 1 2 3 4 The trophy was shared

## Player records

* Youngest first-team player: Jack Shorrock, 15 years 145 days (against Shrewsbury Town, 20 September 2022).
* Oldest first-team player: Tom Holford, 46 years 68 days, (against Derby County, 5 April 1924).
* Youngest first-team goalscorer: Jack Shorrock, 16 years 242 days (against Barnsley, 26 December 2023).
* Tallest first-team player: Tomáš Holý, 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m).
* Most goals in a season: Joe Brough, 43 goals in the 1909–10 season.
* Most Football League goals in a season: Wilf Kirkham, 38 goals in Second Division in the 1926–27 season.
* Most club top-scoring seasons: Wilf Kirkham, 6 (1924–25, 1925–26, 1926–27, 1927–28, 1928–29, 1932–33)
* Most goals in a Football League match: 6, Stewart Littlewood (against Chesterfield, 24 September 1932).
* Most goals in any match: 7, Chris Young (against Burton Rangers, Birmingham Senior Cup First Round, 21 September 1914).
* Longest consecutive scoring run: 8, John Rowland (1 September to 4 October 1965) & Basil Hayward (28 November 1953 to 26 January 1954).
* Most competitive hat-tricks: Wilf Kirkham, 13.
* Quickest competitive goal: 5 seconds, Ian Bogie (against Stoke City), 12 March 1996.
* Quickest competitive hat-trick: 3 minutes, Fred Mitcheson (against Plymouth Argyle), 21 April 1934.
* Most successful penalty-taker: Andy Jones, 20 from 23.
* Most penalties in a season: Andy Jones, 12 from 15 in the 1986–87 season.
* Most red cards: Jason Talbot, 5.
* Most clean sheets in a season: 29, Ray King, 1953–54.
* Most international caps while a Port Vale player: Chris Birchall, 27 for Trinidad and Tobago
* Most international goals while a Port Vale player: Chris Birchall, 3 for Trinidad and Tobago
* First Port Vale player to appear in the World Cup finals: Chris Birchall, for Trinidad and Tobago against Sweden on 10 June 2006
* Most appearances by a Port Vale player in the World Cup finals: Chris Birchall, three appearances for Trinidad and Tobago at the 2006 World Cup.
* Most consecutive appearances: John Nicholson, 208 (2 September 1961 – 8 September 1965).
* Most goals at Vale Park: Tom Pope, 64.
* Most Port Vale F.C. Player of the Year awards: Tom Pope, 3 (2013, 2014 & 2018).
* Longest time between appearances: Will Atkinson, 11 years and 11 months (6 November 2007 – 5 October 2019).

### Appearances
#### Most appearances

    As of match played 8 February 2025
| # | Name | Name | Name | Years | League | FA Cup | Other | Total |
| 1 | England | Roy Sproson | Defender | 1949–1972 | 760 | 65 | 17 | 842 |
| 2 | England | Phil Sproson | Defender | 1977–1989 | 426 | 31 | 43 | 500 |
| 3 | England | Harry Poole | Half-back | 1953–1968 | 451 | 32 | 16 | 499 |
| 4 | England | Ray Walker | Midfielder | 1984–1985 1986–1997 | 366 | 28 | 48 | 442 |
| 5 | England | Andy Porter | Midfielder | 1986–1998 2004–2006 | 361 | 26 | 51 | 433 |
| 6 | England | Dean Glover | Defender | 1989–1998 | 363 | 20 | 48 | 431 |
| 7 | England | Nathan Smith | Defender | 2016– | 353 | 19 | 40 | 412 |
| 8 | England | Neil Aspin | Defender | 1989–1999 | 348 | 24 | 38 | 410 |
| 9 | England | Russell Bromage | Defender | 1977–1987 | 347 | 20 | 35 | 402 |
| 10 | England | Terry Miles | Midfielder | 1955–1968 | 365 | 27 | 9 | 401 |
* ↑ Appearances and goals are for matches in the English Football League, Central League, North Staffordshire & District League, North Staffordshire Federation League, Midland League, and the Combination.
* ↑ Appearances and goals are for matches in play-off games, League Cup, Football League Trophy, Anglo-Italian Cup, Debenhams Cup, Supporters' Clubs' Trophy, and Coronation Cup.

### Goalscorers

| # | Name | Name | Name | Years | League | FA Cup | Other | Total |
| 1 | England | Wilf Kirkham | Forward | 1923–1929 1932–1933 | 153 | 11 | 0 | 164 |
| 2 | England | Tom Pope | Forward | 2011–2015 2017–2021 | 96 | 10 | 9 | 115 |
| 3 | England | Martin Foyle | Forward | 1991–2000 | 83 | 9 | 16 | 108 |
| 4 | England | Stan Steele | Inside forward | 1955–1961 1968 | 88 | 4 | 3 | 95 |
| 5 | England | Tom Nolan | Forward | 1931–1935 1936–1940 | 89 | 3 | 1 | 93 |
| 6 | Jamaica | Robbie Earle | Midfielder | 1982–1991 | 77 | 4 | 9 | 90 |
| 7 | England | Tony Naylor | Forward | 1994–2001 2005 | 71 | 2 | 16 | 89 |
| 8 | England | Adrian Capes | Forward | 1903–1905 1908–1911 | 75 | 9 | 0 | 84 |
| 9 | England | Darren Beckford | Forward | 1987–1991 | 71 | 4 | 6 | 81 |
| 10 | England | Harry Poole | Forward | 1953–1968 | 73 | 6 | 0 | 79 |
* ↑ Appearances and goals are for matches in the English Football League, Central League, North Staffordshire & District League, North Staffordshire Federation League, Midland League, and the Combination.
* ↑ Appearances and goals are for matches in play-off games, League Cup, Football League Trophy, Anglo-Italian Cup, Debenhams Cup, Supporters' Clubs' Trophy, and Coronation Cup.

### Transfer fees
#### Paid

| # | Fee | Paid to | For | For | For | Date | Adjusted for Inflation |
| 1 | £500,000 | Lincoln City | England | Gareth Ainsworth | Winger | September 1997 | equivalent to £1,149,397 in 2023 |
| 2 | £450,000 | York City | Northern Ireland | Jon McCarthy | Winger | August 1995 | equivalent to £1,092,665 in 2023 |
| 3 | £375,000 | Oxford United | England | Martin Foyle | Forward | June 1991 | equivalent to £1,016,882 in 2023 |
| 4 | £350,000 | Wrexham | England | Dave Brammer | Midfielder | March 1999 | equivalent to £766,104 in 2023 |
| 5 | £300,000 | Bristol Rovers | England | Peter Beadle | Forward | August 1998 | equivalent to £666,781 in 2023 |
| – | £300,000 | Crystal Palace | England | Marcus Bent | Forward | January 1999 | equivalent to £656,661 in 2023 |

#### Record progression

| Date | Fee | Paid to | For | For | For | Adjusted for Inflation |
| March 1931 | £1,550 | Oldham Athletic | England | Stewart Littlewood | Forward | equivalent to £133,027 in 2023 |
| October 1946 | Undisclosed | Blackpool | Northern Ireland | Jimmy Todd | Half-back | |
| July 1948 | £10,000 | Liverpool | England England | Mick Hulligan Stan Palk | Winger Inside forward | equivalent to £459,302 in 2023 |
| January 1956 | £7,000 | Tottenham Hotspur | England | Eddie Baily | Inside forward | equivalent to £220,683 in 2023 |
| July 1963 | £15,000 | Leicester City | England | Albert Cheesebrough | Forward | equivalent to £396,742 in 2023 |
| August 1963 | £15,000 | Everton | Northern Ireland | Billy Bingham | Outside-right | equivalent to £396,742 in 2023 |
| August 1978 | £37,000 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | England | Ken Todd | Midfielder | equivalent to £268,117 in 2023 |
| November 1978 | £40,000 | Bury | England | Peter Farrell | Midfielder | equivalent to £289,856 in 2023 |
| February 1989 | £200,000 | Middlesbrough | England | Dean Glover | Defender | equivalent to £628,493 in 2023 |
| June 1991 | £375,000 | Oxford United | England | Martin Foyle | Forward | equivalent to £1,016,882 in 2023 |
| August 1995 | £450,000 | York City | Northern Ireland | Jon McCarthy | Winger | equivalent to £1,092,665 in 2023 |
| September 1997 | £500,000 | Lincoln City | England | Gareth Ainsworth | Winger | equivalent to £1,149,397 in 2023 |
* ↑ This sum was for two players so did not break the record for the transfer of a single player.
* ↑ This sum equalled the previous record.

#### Received

| # | Fee | Received from | For | For | For | Date | Adjusted for Inflation |
| 1 | £2.0m | Wimbledon | England | Gareth Ainsworth | Winger | October 1998 | equivalent to £4,445,207 in 2023 |
| 2 | £1.5m | Birmingham City | Northern Ireland | Jon McCarthy | Winger | September 1997 | equivalent to £3,448,190 in 2023 |
| 3 | £1.0m | Sheffield Wednesday | England | Ian Taylor | Midfielder | August 1994 | equivalent to £2,512,294 in 2023 |
| – | £1.0m | Bradford City | England | Lee Mills | Forward | August 1997 | equivalent to £2,298,793 in 2023 |
| 5 | £950,000 | Leicester City | England | Steve Guppy | Winger | February 1997 | equivalent to £2,183,854 in 2023 |
* ↑ Includes £100,000 in add-ons

#### Record progression

| Date | Fee | Received from | For | For | For | Adjusted for Inflation |
| February 1921 | £4,750 | West Bromwich Albion | England | Bobby Blood | Forward | equivalent to £266,181 in 2023 |
| January 1949 | Undisclosed | Queens Park Rangers | England | Bill Pointon | Forward | |
| August 1967 | £30,000 | Blackpool | England | Terry Alcock | Defender | equivalent to £687,783 in 2023 |
| October 1978 | £55,000 | Leicester City | England | John Ridley | Midfielder | equivalent to £398,553 in 2023 |
| September 1987 | £350,000 | Charlton Athletic | Wales | Andy Jones | Forward | equivalent to £1,243,501 in 2023 |
| June 1991 | £925,000 | Norwich City | England | Darren Beckford | Forward | equivalent to £2,508,309 in 2023 |
| August 1994 | £1.0m | Sheffield Wednesday | England | Ian Taylor | Midfielder | equivalent to £2,512,294 in 2023 |
| September 1997 | £1.5m | Birmingham City | Northern Ireland | Jon McCarthy | Winger | equivalent to £3,448,190 in 2023 |
| October 1998 | £2.0m | Wimbledon | England | Gareth Ainsworth | Winger | equivalent to £4,445,207 in 2023 |

### Team of the Year

The following players have been included in the PFA Team of the Year or EFL Team of the Season whilst playing at the club:
* 1981–82: Mark Chamberlain (Fourth Division)
* 1982–83: Phil Sproson, Russell Bromage, Steve Fox (Fourth Division)
* 1984–85: Russell Bromage (Fourth Division)
* 1985–86: Phil Sproson (Fourth Division)
* 1987–88: Ray Walker (Third Division)
* 1988–89: Ray Walker (Third Division)
* 1992–93: Peter Swan, Ray Walker, Ian Taylor (Second Division)
* 1993–94: Neil Aspin, Dean Glover, Ian Taylor (Second Division)
* 2012–13: Jennison Myrie-Williams, Tom Pope (League Two)
* 2020–21: David Worrall (League Two)

### International caps

The following players have won full senior international whilst playing at the club:
| Name | Position | Country | Caps | Goals | Years | Notes |
| Chris Birchall | Midfielder | Trinidad and Tobago | 27 | 3 | 2001–2013 | Club record international caps and goals; first and only representative at a FIFA World Cup. |
| Tony Rougier | Midfielder | Trinidad and Tobago | 20 | 1 | 1999–2000 | Played four games in the 2000 CONCACAF Gold Cup. |
| Sammy Morgan | Forward | Northern Ireland | 7 | 2 | 1972–1973 | Scored on his debut against Spain. |
| George Abbey | Defender | Nigeria | 6 | 0 | 2004–2007 | First Port Vale player to be caped by an African nation. |
| Teddy Peers | Goalkeeper | Wales | 4 | 0 | 1922–1923 | First player to be capped whilst at Port Vale. |
| Eamonn O'Keefe | Forward | Republic of Ireland | 4 | 1 | 1984–1985 | Scored against China in Kirin Cup semi-final. |
| Jon McCarthy | Winger | Northern Ireland | 4 | 0 | 1996–1997 | |
| Andy Jones | Forward | Wales | 3 | 1 | 1987 | Scored on his debut against Finland. |
| Billy Bingham | Outside-right | Northern Ireland | 3 | 0 | 1963 | Would later also manage his country. |
| Anthony Griffith | Midfielder | Montserrat | 2 | 0 | 2011 | Also captained his country. |
| Ryan McGivern | Defender | Northern Ireland | 2 | 0 | 2014 | |
| Andrew Little | Forward | Northern Ireland | 1 | 0 | 2011 | At the club on loan from Rangers. |
| Neville Southall | Goalkeeper | Wales | 1 | 0 | 1983 | At the club on loan from Everton. |
| James Lawrie | Forward | Northern Ireland | 1 | 0 | 2009 | Also capped for the Northern Ireland B team. |
| David Healy | Forward | Northern Ireland | 1 | 0 | 2014 | At the club on loan from Manchester United. |

## Club records

* Most Football League goals scored in a season: 110 in 46 matches, Fourth Division, 1958–59.
* Fewest Football League goals scored in a season: 30 in 22 matches, Second Division, 1892–93.
* Fewest Football League goals conceded in a season: 21 in 46 matches, Third Division North, 1953–54.
* Most Football League goals conceded in a season: 106 in 42 matches, Second Division, 1935–36.
* Fewest Football League goals conceded at home in a season: 5 in 23 matches, Third Division North, 1953–54.
* Most points in a Football League season: 89 in 46 matches, Second Division 1992–93.
* Fewest points in a Football League season: 15 in 22 matches, Second Division, 1892–93.
* Fewest adjusted* points in a Football League season: 21 in 22 matches, Second Division, 1892–93.
* Lowest adjusted* points per game in a Football League season: 0.71 (30* in 42 matches), matches, Second Division, 1956–57.
* Most wins in a Football League season: 30 in 42 matches, Third Division North, 1929–30.
* Fewest wins in a Football League season: 6 in 22 matches, Second Division, 1892–93.
* Fewest defeats in a Football League season: 3 in 46 matches, Third Division North, 1953–54.
* Most defeats in a Football League season: 28 in 42 matches, Second Division, 1956–57.
* Most draws in a Football League season: 20 in 46 matches, 1977–78
* Fewest draws in a Football League season: 3 in 22 matches, 1892–93
* Most red cards in a season: 7 in 46 games, 1974–75 & 2001–02
* Most clean sheets in a season: 30 in 46 matches, Third Division North, 1953–54
* Most players used in a season: 43 in 1998–99
* Most competitive fixtures in a season: 62, 1995–96
*pre 1981, a win was awarded with 2 points

### Streaks

* League wins: 8, 8 April 1893 to 30 September 1893
* Draws: 6, 26 April 1981 to 12 September 1981
* Losses: 9, 9 March 1957 to 20 April 1957
* Clean sheets: 7, 11 February 1922 to 18 March 1922
* Without a win: 17, 7 December 1991 to 21 March 1992
* Without a draw: 20, 10 September 1906 to 19 January 1907 & 30 October 2004 to 5 March 2005
* Without a loss: 19, 5 May 1969 to 8 November 1969
* Without a clean sheet: 22, 22 September 1956 to 23 February 1957
* Without failing to score: 22, 12 September 1992 to 13 February 1993
* Without scoring a goal: 6, 19 August 2017 to 12 September 2017

#### Home

* Wins: 12, 9 February 1952 to 8 September 1952
* Draws: 6, 10 October 1977 to 27 December 1977 & 20 January 1982 to 6 March 1982
* Losses: 6, 1 January 1992 to 14 March 1992 & 26 December 2018 to 19 February 2019
* Clean sheets: 11, 7 September 1953 to 13 February 1954
* Failing to score: 5, 13 April 1998 to 31 August 1998
* Without a win: 12, 28 March 1978 to 21 October 1978
* Without a draw: 19, 25 August 1928 to 6 April 1929
* Without a loss: 42, 8 November 1952 to 18 September 1954
* Without a clean sheet: 13, 26 September 1964 to 15 March 1965
* Without failing to score: 33, 19 October 1946 to 13 March 1948

#### Away

* Wins: 5, 20 March 1993 to 24 April 1993
* Draws: 6, 20 March 1954 to 26 April 1954 & 19 January 1985 to 29 March 1985
* Losses: 14, 21 September 1895 to 18 April 1896
* Clean sheets: 5, 20 March 1993 to 24 April 1993
* Failing to score: 6, 8 January 1966 to 9 March 1966
* Without a win: 29, 17 January 1903 to 8 October 1904
* Without a draw: 27, 26 January 1895 to 3 December 1898
* Without a loss: 10, 5 May 1969 to 8 November 1969
* Without a clean sheet: 42, 18 December 1976 to 30 September 1978
* Without failing to score: 15, 10 January 1998 to 26 September 1998

### Matches

* Record win: 16–0 against Middlewich in a friendly, 2 February 1884.
* Record away win: 9–0 at Smallthorne in North Staffs & District League, 26 February 1910.
* Record Football League win: 9–1 against Chesterfield in Second Division, 24 September 1932.
* Record defeat: 0–12 at Aston Villa in Staffordshire Senior Cup, 26 January 1891.
* Record Football League defeat: 0–10 against Sheffield United in Second Division, 10 December 1892.
* Record aggregate score: 12 (3–9) at Tottenham Hotspur, 21 November 1931.
* Record aggregate cup score: 9 (2–7) at Aston Villa, 10 January 1925.
* Highest home attendance: 49,768 against Aston Villa, FA Cup fifth round, 20 February 1960.
* Highest Football League attendance: 40,066 against Stoke City, Second Division, 25 April 1955.
* Highest home gate receipts: £170,349: against Everton, FA Cup fourth round, 14 February 1996.
* Highest average home attendance: 20,708 in 1954–55
* Lowest (competitive first-team) attendance at Vale Park: 554 against Middlesbrough U21, EFL Trophy Group Stage, 16 October 2018.
* Lowest Football League attendance at Vale Park: 1,924 against York City, 1 May 1982.

#### Notes

* 1 2 Also a Football League record.

## European statistics
### Record by season

| Season | Competition | Qualification method | Round | Date | Country | Club | Venue | Result |
| 1995–96 | Anglo-Italian Cup | Invitation | Group A | 5 September 1995 | Italy | Cesena | Away | 2–2 |
| 1995–96 | Anglo-Italian Cup | Invitation | Group A | 11 October 1995 | Italy | Ancona | Home | 2–0 |
| 1995–96 | Anglo-Italian Cup | Invitation | Group A | 8 November 1995 | Italy | Genoa | Home | 0–0 |
| 1995–96 | Anglo-Italian Cup | Invitation | Group A | 13 December 1995 | Italy | Perugia | Away | 3–5 |
| 1995–96 | Anglo-Italian Cup | Invitation | English semi-final | 23 January 1996 | England | Ipswich Town | Away | 2–4 |
| 1995–96 | Anglo-Italian Cup | Invitation | English final | 24 February 1996 | England | West Bromwich Albion | Away | 0–0 |
| 1995–96 | Anglo-Italian Cup | Invitation | English final | 5 March 1996 | England | West Bromwich Albion | Home | 1–3 |
| 1995–96 | Anglo-Italian Cup | Invitation | Tournament final | 17 March 1996 | Italy | Genoa | Neutral | 5–2 |

### Record by opposition nationality

| Competition | Competition | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals for | Goals against |
| Anglo-Italian Cup | England | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 3 |
| Anglo-Italian Cup | Italy | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 11 | 10 |
| Total | Total | 8 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 18 | 13 |