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Ground Name: Vale
Park |
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| Contents | |
| What's The Ground
Like? Future Developments Looking Towards The Big AM Stand (photo) What Is It Like For Visiting Supporters? Where To Drink? Tricell & Big AM Stands (photo) How To Get There And Where To Park By Train Ground Layout Admission Prices For Away Fans Local Rivals Programme & Fanzine Disabled Facilities Fixtures 2008-2009 Record & Average Attendance Fans Ground Reviews Hotel Accommodation Feedback Return To The Main Menu |
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| What's The Ground Like? | |
| At one end of the ground is a fair sized single tiered all seated stand, complete with an electric scoreboard on the roof. This stand, the Phones4U Stand, houses the away supporters and it replaced a former open terrace. Opposite is the Big AM Stand, covered and all seated. The corners on either side of this stand have been filled. The Tricell Stand (also known as the Railway Stand) on one side is fair sized, covered and all seated. All three of these stands have a small number of supporting pillars, half way up them, which may restrict your view. The other side, the Lorne Street Stand, is a relatively new smart looking 5,000 all seated stand, complete with 48 executive boxes, which so far has been half built. To keep some sense of history the original clock from the old stand has been incorporated into the new construction. Unfortunately it is unclear when this stand will be completed as building work has been suspended due to lack of finance. A pity, as the empty 'predominantly concrete' area, really brings the ground down. Still, if this stand does get completed, it will look superb. On the opposite corner is a Police Control Box keeping a watchful eye over the crowd. The pitch is one of the widest in the League and the crowd are further set back from the playing action by the surrounding cinder track. | |
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During the 2007/08 season the Club hope to eventually complete the currently half built Lorne Street Stand. This would vastly improve the overall look of the ground. |
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| Looking Towards The Big AM Stand | |
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| What Is It Like For Visiting Supporters? | |
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Up to 4,500 away supporters can be accommodated in the Phones4U Stand, where
the view and facilities located on the concourse behind the stand are good. Even a relatively small number of away
fans can really make some noise from this stand, as the acoustics are excellent. However, the slope
is quite shallow, which
might affect your view should a tall person be seated in front. Normally
though, you could still move to another seat if necessary. I've been to Port Vale on a number of occasions and always found it be a good day out. However the experience has sometimes been a little intimidating, not due to the Port Vale supporters but more because of the huge Police presence in and around the ground. One Police Officer said to me as we left the ground five minutes early, as my team were losing 4-0. "Leaving already? there's still five minutes to go!". Now who said that Police Officers don't have a sense of humour? Still, on the plus side the pasties on offer within the ground are among the best I've eaten at any football ground, so much so, that I found myself going back for a second. The P.A within the ground is quite deafening at times and there is no escape, even in the toilets, as it is piped through! If you wonder at half time why the Port Vale fans seem transfixed with staring at the away end, it is not intimidation, but the electric scoreboard perched on the roof of this stand! (which the away fans can't see). Also at half time the Vale fans in the Railway Stand tend to transfer from one side to another so that can be nearer the goalmouth that Port Vale are attacking. Vince Smith a visiting Northampton Town fan adds; 'I must say it was an enjoyable day out at Vale Park, with very friendly stewards, turnstile operators and very good food served by friendly staff. All in all a very pleasant experience and far more enjoyable than a visit to their near neighbours.' And for a bit of trivia, Dave Seddon, a visiting Brentford supporter informs me; 'the roof of the Caudwell Stand was originally that of the Main Stand at Chester City's old Sealand Road ground'. Stephen Wood adds; 'The roof of the away end was indeed bought by Bill Bell back in 1991-92 for £300,000 as Chester were moving grounds. It was installed during the 1992-93 season and the first team we played when the roof was fully constructed was, you guessed it, Chester!' |
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| Where To Drink? | |
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Bernie Mountford informs me; 'The Vine near to
the ground, on Hamil Road, is certainly a good bet for away supporters. A good pint
is on offer coupled with an enjoyable pre-game atmosphere'. This pub is certainly
the main away fan pub, but it not for claustrophobes, as
this small pub packs the fans in like sardines. Still it was friendly
enough, with a range of real ales on offer. The town centre is only a short walk away where there are a number of pubs to be found. I visited the New Inn (just along from Kentucky Fried Chicken), which was friendly, served real ale and reasonably priced food. Another pub worth visiting is the Bull's Head in St John's Square. This pub is the local outlet for the nearby Titanic Brewery which is located in Burslem. It is friendly for away fans and has good number of real ales on offer. To find this pub: From the outside of the away end, turn right and go down to the bottom of Hamil Road (passing the Vine Pub on your left). Turn right at the t-junction and then go straight across the traffic lights at the crossroads. Proceed past KFC, Wades and the New Inn on the right and then if you look over to your left you will see Woolworths at the bottom of the square. The Bulls Head is on the right of this square. Also recommended to me is the Red Lion on Moorland Road (coming from the ground, at the bottom of Hamil Road turn roght into Moorland Road B5051 and the pub is down on the right). This is a good sized pub that serves real ale and bar snacks. |
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| How To Get There And Where To Park | |
| The ground is located in the town of Burslem, one of the
six towns comprising Stoke On Trent. Leave the M6 at junction 15 or 16 and take the A500
towards Stoke on Trent. Follow A500 until the A527 Tunstall/Burslem exit,
where you take the A527 towards Tunstall/Burslem. At the next island just past
the Price Kensington factory turn right for Burslem town centre. Continue on this road
up the hill, crossing another island and into Burslem town centre. Continue straight on
over the traffic lights at the cross roads and then take the first road on the left which
takes you down to the ground. There is a large car park located outside a superstore next
to the ground which costs £4, otherwise street parking. For a map showing the location of the ground in Burslem click here (to take you to the Street Map website). To go to a simplified page, containing the directions and pub info, which you can print out click here. |
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| By Train | |
| Longport station is the closest to the ground, but is a good 30 minute walk away and is not well served. Most fans end up at Stoke On Trent railway station, which is over four miles away and take a taxi (about £6) up to the ground. | |
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| Admission Prices | |
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Home Fans*: |
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| Local Rivals | |
| Stoke City. | |
| Programme & Fanzine | |
| Official Programme £2.50 - Sold from booths
within the ground. Vale Park Beano Fanzine - £1 |
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| Disabled Facilities | |
| For details of disabled facilities at the ground please visit the relevant page on the National Association Of Disabled Supporters (NADS) website. | |
| Fixtures 2008-2009 | |
| For the Port Vale fixture list click here (to take you to the BBC Sports Website) | |
| Record & Average Attendance | |
| 49,768 v Aston Villa, FA Cup 5th Round, February 20th, 1960. Modern All Seated Attendance Record: 15,582 v Chesterfield Division 2, 17 April 2004 Average Attendance: 2007-2008: 4,417 (League One) 2006-2007: 4,725 (League One) 2005-2006: 4,666 (League One) |
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| Fans Reviews Of Vale Park | |
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Leah
Dunn (Leeds United) 15/3/08 Jack Carnill (Nottingham Forest) 15/9/07 |
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| Hotel Accommodation | |
| If you require hotel accommodation in the area then first try a hotel booking service provided by Football Hotels who are powered by Activehotels, who specialise in locating accommodation near or within a short travelling distance of the football ground. They also have the added advantage over some other hotel booking services that you pay on departure. Yes this site will earn a small commission if you book through them, but it will go to help with the running costs of keeping the Guide going. To access their Port Vale page click here. | |
| Feedback | |
| If anything is incorrect or you have something to add,
please e-mail me and I'll
update
the guide. |
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| Return To The Main Menu | |
