ABOUT ME Page 4.
THE VALE & ALBION
 


 

 

 In my early teens I started going to football matches. Port Vale was my team. They were in the bottom half of the lowest Division and I can't remember them winning very often. But they must have had at least one good run of results because in 1954 they got through to the semi-finals of the FA Cup and were drawn against West Bromwich Albion ( one of the top teams in the top division). I was so excited.
There I was, standing in the queue
Somewhere about here , I think

Just like Stanley in 'The short-sighted football trainer' I was convinced I'd get a ticket

But I was wrong.

Present day Vale supporters may be interested to know that the pictures of the Huddersgate Albion ground that appear in the Stanley books are based on photos of Vale Park as it was in the 1950's.

 The ticket offices were brand new then and considered to be 'very modern'.
They've since been demolished.

 
    Oh, and in case you're wondering, unlike Huddersgate Albion who, in my Stanley story, unexpectedly triumph over Stockwich Hotspurs the out-and-out favourites - The Vale lost 2-nil.