Memories
My first memories of watching the Vale
“As a young girl from about the age of 8-11, my grandmother lived at 11 Lorne Street Burslem. I used to watch one half of Vale games from her back bedroom window and then I ran down to the ground and went under the wire fence to watch the rest.”
Jan Sharp
My first Vale game:
“I remember the first time I saw the Vale play. It was the late 1950’s and I was about 8 or 9. My uncle took me and held me as I sat on the wall at the front of the Railway paddock. I can’t remember who we played that day but clearly recall the sweet smell of pipe tobacco and the supporters with their black and white hats and scarves, packed onto the terraces. I watched on in awe as they sang their songs and swirled their noisy wooden rattles. Then there was the tremendous roar from the crowd behind me when we scored. I was hooked by the sheer exhilaration of it all and I’ve been a loyal Vale supporter ever since that day.”
David Thorley
My love of the Vale:
“I claim a unique attachment to Port Vale. I was born at the old Haywood Hospital on High Lane, raised in Bradeley and Smallthorne, and went to school at Stanfield Tech (now Haywood Academy) on High Lane. So the first 18 years of my life were spent within a long free kick of Vale Park.
My grandfather Joe Penkethman cemented my relationship, taking me to my first game on Boxing Day 1955. Those were the days of the Iron Curtain defence. Sadly, we lost 1-0 to Barnsley, which confirmed my lifelong dislike for teams in red.
I started to go to games regularly in 1958-59, the season we won the old Fourth Division by a country mile, playing in black and amber. As I grew older, I would bike past the ground on my way home from school, just to see the players up close, as they came and went. Once I got my first car, both home and away games were possible.
The 90s came and went and, like all us older fans, we got to achieve what we had only previously dreamed about. Not one, not two, but three trips to Wembley.
Having been a season ticket holder and later a Vice-President, I eventually relocated to Texas and my only contact was the internet. Radio Stoke coverage was a real blessing and still is, thanks to iFollow.”
Tony Boulton