by Domnall Óg
Home >> Up the Vale!
Port Vale Football Club was founded in 1876 ; the year when Custer lost the Battle of Little Big Horn and 26 years before Real Madrid came into existence.
“The Vale” are based in Stoke-on-Trent, England – a city so famous for it’s ceramics that people call the city “The Potteries”. Every Saturday for 127 football seasons it has been workers from the potteries who have shivered, sweated, screamed and dreamed on the terraces of Vale park.
This insoluble link is reflected in the club badge which shows a pottery oven in the bottom left. The club badge of Stoke-on-Trent’s other football team no longer has such a homage to their fans.
Anyone can support Real Madrid or Barcelona (and yes, even my adopted Real Sociedad). It’s easy. It’s the shareholders and showbusiness side of soccer. Posh and Becks. Dosh and bucks.
But to be a Vale fan takes character. It’s cold in Stoke in winter. I mean really, really cold. In San Sebastián, where I live, it is surprising if the thermometer falls below zero. In Stoke it’s surprising if it doesn’t. A football scarf is not a fashion accessory for the Vale fan. It’s part of a life-support system.
Port Vale will not be competing in the Champion’s League next season. They will be playing in the English Third Division and as always their biggest rivals will be themselves.
Port Vale seek to surpass their own limitations. They know that winning trophies and reaching glory do not take the place of hard work – they will be a consequence of hard work.
In the TV series Star Trek, the Vulcan Mr Spock would sometimes say of a planet “There’s life, Jim. But not as we know it.” That’s how I felt about soccer when I came to this country.
Once when I was 9 years old I was watching Port Vale train in Tunstall Park. At the end of the session the manager Gordon Lee sent the team running up Victoria Park Road back to the Port Vale stadium. I approached Gordon Lee and asked for an autograph. He called the entire team back – most of when more than 100 metres into their run – and they all ran back and signed autographs for me. And not a bodyguard or Image Consultant in sight!
In the music industry all the hype and column inches go to trashy pop. But real music fans and genuine connoisseurs listen to rock’n’roll.
Ladies and gentlemen of Spain support your European dream teams of course – but keep an eye on the valiant Port Vale. Pop into their website at the weekends and see how they got on.
“Up the Vale”
Soccer’s rock and roll
Graphic used by kind permission of Port Vale FC .
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Posted on http://www.weeklyletter.com at 2009-01-22 08:00:00 +0100
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Is this the team where Robbie Williams is investing his money? I’ve a friend who was born in Stoke, but he’s Stoke’s City supporter, especially this season playing in Premier League. I think his oppinion about Port Vale isn’t the same as you, being sensible.
Could be the same antagonism as Sevilla against Betis, Barça against Español, or in your case, Real Sociedad against Athletic de Bilbao?
Hi guys
What a great article.I feel more or less the same, even though I am Real Madrid supporter.Not everything is easy supporting a team as Real, is true that there are many chances your team to get the glory, due the amount of money invest yearly, but at the same time take so much stress around it.
Supporting your local team is great too.Merely for the targets they pretend to reach each session, getting the promotion to the second division, no descending, etc and a thing very important is that each player really feel the team as own.
Those players do not move to others teams for money, there are proffesional in others activities and decide to play each Sunday for the local team.
For a single one there is a small part of our heart to support our local tema.
Greatings
Yes, Robbie William’s mum is my mum’s neighbour! There has always been great rivalry between Port Vale and Stoke City. I bet your friend was born in the south side of the city.