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Come on Town!
Come on Town!

Grimsby v Port Vale Preview

By: Alex Green
Date: 27/12/2009

THE Boxing Day bonanza was put on hold as a much improved Mariners were preparing to test their metal against Notts County but we shall have to do with Port Vale in their last match of 2009.

Home > 2009-2010 Season > Previews > Port Vale (h)


Who are they?

Their History

Port Vale take their name not surprisingly from Burslem’s impressive maritime history but from the place the football club was formed. That being in 1876 at the Port Vale House somewhere in the suburbs of Stoke, Port Vale Football Club were formed moving to Burslem in 1884 renaming themselves Burslem Port Vale which evidently didn't catch on and in 1892 they joined us in a great big love in creating the Second Division as a result. Vale spent a while out of the league after 1892 and in 1919 they were asked back in somewhat sensational circumstances having to complete Leeds City’s fixture after they were found out for being naughty boys. Since then Vale have plodded along like ourselves and enjoyed a FA Cup semi final and one of the few teams to win the Football Trophy twice.

Last Season Was….

False optimism has covered all of us who have dropped to this level. 6,000 season tickets were sold last season in the hope of an immediate return to League One at Port Vale but soon the optimism was replaced with a fear of the end of their league status. The signs were there from the beginning that not all was well after losing 6 of their first 9 matches. Lee Sinnott was given the chop and replaced by assistant Dean Glover much to the dismay of Vale supporters. However much criticism was aimed at Glover he did what was needed of him and he kept the Vale up finishing 18th just one place above their lowest place throughout the season. As a result Glover's short tenure as boss meant he was forced to leave his job and in turn Micky Adams was given the chance to move Port Vale back up the league tables.

This Season….

So far this season not much improvement has been seen among the dedicated followers of the midlanders. The highlight has been kicking out both Sheffield clubs in the League Cup as well as a 4-0 victory against ourselves. October has seen an upturn in the club's fortunes only losing to Rotherham and Morecambe since then. The Valiant's real problem is much like ourselves though - they avoid defeats on a regular basis it's turning the vast majority of their draws in to victories. So far Vale have drawn 11 of their 21 league matches with only 5 wins from the season to their name.

The Future Is….

Financial problems have plagued us all in the lower league at one time or another and with bigger brothers Stoke advertising Premier League football just up the road it’s hard for the Vale to compete even with reduced ticket prices. Maybe things might be better if they finished building their main stand instead of tending to an omage of Halifax and Rotherham.

Key Player…

Marc Richards. Wolverhampton-born Richards was the only player who was able to break into double figures last season. His 11 goals helped keep any idea of relegation away from The Valiants' door. And so far the much travelled striker has continued his steady scoring, managing to grab 10 so far. After starting out at Blackburn in 2000 Richards was sent out to numerous clubs to find his feet and it was at Swansea where he impressed so much that he joined Northampton, only for him to be sent out on loan to Rochdale at the end of his two year period at Sixfields. After another 2 years at Barnsley he joined Vale on a free

Recent Form

TownPort Vale
DMorecambe(h)1-1
DShrewsbury(a)0-0
DDagenham(h)1-1
DMacclesfield(a)0-0
LBradford(h)0-3
Currently 23rd in League Two.
DNorthampton(a)1-1
LMorecambe(h)2-0
WLincoln(a)2-1
LHuddersfield (FAC)(h)0-1
DTorquay(h)2-2
Currently 16th in League Two.

Top Scorers

TownPort Vale
Sweeney6
Conlon4
Richards10
Dodds7

Team News

TownPort Vale

  • Olly Lancashire has recovered from the hamstring problem which forced him off early at Shrewsbury.

  • Joe Widdowson (foot) and right winger/striker Nathan Jarman (foot) are both pushing for a start after recovering from injuries.

  • Robbie Stockdale is still injured.
  • Defender John McCombe is suspended, but on-loan midfielder Sean Rigg returns from suspension.

  • Louis Dodds has now fully recovered from a knee injury.

  • Veteran striker Geoff Horsfield still has a hamstring problem.
  • Squads

    TownPort Vale
    1GKNick Colgan
    2DFRobbie Stockdale
    3DFJoe Widdowson
    5DFMatthew Heywood
    6MFPeter Sweeney
    7MFAdrian Forbes
    8FWNathan Jar man
    9FWAdam Proudlock
    10FWBarry Conlon
    11MFDanny Boshell
    12DFJamie Clarke
    13MFNick Hegarty
    14MFPeter Bore
    15DFMatthew Bird
    16DFPaul Linwood
    17MFGrant Normington
    18FWChris Jones
    19MFMichael Leary
    20MFJammal Shahin
    21FWMichael Coulson
    23MFOliver Lancashire
    24DFDamien McCrory
    25DFRob Atkinson
    26FWJean-Louis Akpa Akpro
    27FWDanny North
    28FWJosh Fuller
    29FWBradley Wood
    31MFNicky Featherstone
    32MFMark Hudson
    33FWBen Wright
    35GKLeigh Overton
    1 GK Joe Anyon
    3 FW Rob Taylor
    4 MF Anthony Griffith
    5 DF John McCombe
    6 DF Luke Prosser
    7 MF Doug Loft
    8 MF David Howland
    9 FW Marc Richards
    10 MF Tommy Fraser (captain)
    11 DF Adam Yates
    12 GK Chris Martin
    14 FW Louis Dodds
    15 DF Lee Collins
    16 DF Gareth Owen
    17 FW Sean Rigg (on loan from Bristol Rovers)
    19 MF Simon Richman
    21 FW James Lawrie
    22 DF Danny Edwards
    24 GK Daniel Lloyd-Weston
    26 MF Kris Taylor
    28 FW Geoff Horsfield
    29 MF Sam Morsy
    33 MF Jason Jarrett
    TBA FW Anthony Malbon

    Head to Head

    Town narrowly have the edge but draws are few and far between when Grimsby and Port Vale meet. It has been nine games since the clubs drew.

    P84 W36 D16 L32 F 143 A 130

    Head-to-Head (36th The Opposition Ladder)

    Last Meeting

    Port Vale 0 Grimsby 2 (Sat 18th Apr 2009)

    The last game came during Town's purple patch at the end of last season. A goal at the start of each half gave Grimsby the platform to record what turned out a fairly comfortable win over an out-of-form Port Vale side.

    Report

    Prediction

    The Fishy Prediction

    We were all immensely impressed with the performance against Morecambe Sweeney’s spectacular goal and the brilliant work rate warmed us all up on that freezing cold night. Woods has improved the squad beyond recognition now all he needs is the win he so deserves.

    Grimsby 2-0 Port Vale

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