List of Port Vale F.C. records and statistics
is an English professional association football club based in Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, playing in EFL League Two, the fourth level of the English football league system, as of the 2020–21 season. The club was formed in the 1870s, in 1884 they took the name Burslem Port Vale F.C., dropping the 'Burslem' in 1907. They played their home matches at The Old Recreation Ground between 1912 and 1950 and at Vale Park from 1950 to the present day. The club joined the English Football League in 1892 as founder members of the Football League Second Division, resigning in 1907, only to return in 1919. Vale's highest league finish was fifth in the Second Division in 1930–31, whilst they were FA Cup semi-finalists in 1953–54. They competed in Europe in the Anglo-Italian Cup on one occasion and would go on to reach the final, losing 5–2 to Italian club Genoa on 17 March 1996.
Port Vale have won four promotions out of the third tier, going up as champions in 1929–30 and 1953–54, and have won five promotions out of the fourth tier, being crowned champions in 1958–59. They have lifted the Football League Trophy twice, in 1993 and 2001. Two club records are also Football League records: most clean sheets in a season and biggest league defeat. Roy Sproson made 842 appearances for Vale between 1950 and 1972, later becoming manager from January 1974 to October 1977. Wilf Kirkham is the club's record goalscorer with 164 goals in all competitions over two spells between 1923 and 1933, and set the record for most Football League goals in a single season with 38 in the 1926–27 campaign. Gareth Ainsworth is the player Vale have both received and spent the highest sum on in the transfer market: £500,000 was given to Lincoln City in September 1997 and £2 million received from Wimbledon as he departed in October 1998. All top five transfers either in or out were made in the 1990s, before the Bosman ruling and the departure of highly successful manager John Rudge. Chris Birchall is the club record international cap holder with three goals in 27 appearances playing for Trinidad and Tobago between 2001 and 2006, including three appearances in the 2006 World Cup.
Honours and achievements
Football League
Football League Third Division / Third Division North / League OneFootball League Fourth Division / Third Division / League Two
Football League Trophy
- Winners: 1993, 2001
Others
- Champions: 1909–10
- Runners–up: 1911–12
- Runners–up: 1996
- Runners–up: 1977
- Winners: 1898, 1912, 1920, 1947, 1949, 1953, 2001
- Runners–up: 1900, 1928, 1930, 1948, 1973, 2010, 2014
- Winners: 1913
- Runners–up: 1899, 1900, 1914
- Winners: 1910
- Winners: 1883, 1885, 1891
- Runners–up: 1886
- Winners: 1892, 1897
- Winners: 1915, 1920, 1922
- Runners–up: 1921, 1923, 1924, 1927, 1930, 1932
- Winners: 1885
- Runners–up: 1910
- Runners–up: 1953
- Winners: 1961
- Runners–up: 1960
Player records
- Youngest first team player: Nelson Agho, 15 years 262 days.
- Oldest first team player: Tom Holford, 46 years 68 days,.
- Youngest first team goalscorer: Clint Boulton, 17 years 110 days.
- Tallest first team player: Sam Johnson,.
- Most goals in a season: Joe Brough, 43 goals in the 1909–10 season.
- Most Football League goals in a season: Wilf Kirkham, 38 goals in Second Division in the 1926–27 season.
- Most club top-scoring seasons: Wilf Kirkham, 6
- Most goals in a Football League match: 6, Stewart Littlewood.
- Most goals in any match: 7, Chris Young.
- Longest consecutive scoring run: 8, John Rowland & Basil Hayward.
- Most competitive hat-tricks: Wilf Kirkham, 13.
- Quickest competitive goal: 5 seconds, Ian Bogie, 12 March 1996.
- Quickest competitive hat-trick: 3 minutes, Fred Mitcheson, 21 April 1934.
- Most successful penalty-taker: Andy Jones, 20 from 23.
- Most penalties in a season: Andy Jones, 12 from 15 in the 1986–87 season.
- Most red cards: Jason Talbot, 5.
- Most clean sheets in a season: 29, Ray King, 1953–54.
- Most international caps while a Port Vale player: Chris Birchall, 27 for Trinidad and Tobago
- Most international goals while a Port Vale player: Chris Birchall, 3 for Trinidad and Tobago
- First Port Vale player to appear in the World Cup finals: Chris Birchall, for Trinidad and Tobago against Sweden on 10 June 2006
- Most appearances by a Port Vale player in the World Cup finals: Chris Birchall, three appearances for Trinidad and Tobago at the 2006 World Cup.
- Most consecutive appearances: John Nicholson, 208.
- Most goals at Vale Park: Tom Pope, 64.
- Most Port Vale F.C. Player of the Year awards: Tom Pope, 3.
- Longest time between appearances: Will Atkinson, 11 years and 11 months.
Appearances
Most appearances
Goalscorers
Transfer fees
;Paid:;Record progression:
;Received:
;Record progression:
PFA Team of the Year
The following players have been included in the PFA Team of the Year whilst playing at the club:- 1981–82: Mark Chamberlain
- 1982–83: Phil Sproson, Russell Bromage, Steve Fox
- 1984–85: Russell Bromage
- 1985–86: Phil Sproson
- 1987–88: Ray Walker
- 1988–89: Ray Walker
- 1992–93: Peter Swan, Ray Walker, Ian Taylor
- 1993–94: Neil Aspin, Dean Glover, Ian Taylor
- 2012–13: Jennison Myrie-Williams, Tom Pope
International caps
| Name | Position | Country | Caps | Goals | Years | Notes |
| Midfielder |  Trinidad and Tobago | 27 | 3 | 2001–2013 | Club record international caps and goals; first and only representative at a FIFA World Cup. | |
| Midfielder | Trinidad and Tobago | 20 | 1 | 1999–2000 | Played four games in the 2000 CONCACAF Gold Cup. | |
| Forward |  Northern Ireland | 7 | 2 | 1972–1973 | Scored on his debut against Spain. | |
| Defender |  Nigeria | 6 | 0 | 2004–2007 | ||
| Goalkeeper |  Wales | 4 | 0 | 1922–1923 | First player to be capped whilst at Port Vale. | |
| Forward |  Republic of Ireland | 4 | 1 | 1984–1985 | Scored against China in Kirin Cup semi-final. | |
| Winger | Northern Ireland | 4 | 0 | 1996–1997 | ||
| Forward |  Wales | 3 | 1 | 1987 | Scored on his debut against Finland. | |
| Outside-right | Northern Ireland | 3 | 0 | 1963 | Would later also manage his country. | |
| Midfielder |  Montserrat | 2 | 0 | 2011 | Also captained his country. | |
| Defender | Northern Ireland | 2 | 0 | 2014 | ||
| Forward | Northern Ireland | 1 | 0 | 2011 | At the club on loan from Rangers. | |
| Goalkeeper | Wales | 1 | 0 | 1983 | At the club on loan from Everton. | |
| Forward | Northern Ireland | 1 | 0 | 2009 | Also capped for the Northern Ireland B team. | |
| Forward | Northern Ireland | 1 | 0 | 2014 | At the club on loan from Manchester United. |
Club records
- Most Football League goals scored in a season: 110 in 46 matches, Fourth Division, 1958–59.
- Fewest Football League goals scored in a season: 30 in 22 matches, Second Division, 1892–93.
- Fewest Football League goals conceded in a season: 21 in 46 matches, Third Division North, 1953–54.
- Most Football League goals conceded in a season: 106 in 42 matches, Second Division, 1935–36.
- Fewest Football League goals conceded at home in a season: 5 in 23 matches, Third Division North, 1953–54.
- Most points in a Football League season: 89 in 46 matches, Second Division 1992–93.
- Fewest points in a Football League season: 15 in 22 matches, Second Division, 1892–93.
- Most wins in a Football League season: 30 in 42 matches, Third Division North, 1929–30.
- Fewest wins in a Football League season: 6 in 22 matches, Second Division, 1892–93.
- Fewest defeats in a Football League season: 3 in 46 matches, Third Division North, 1953–54.
- Most defeats in a Football League season: 28 in 42 matches, Second Division, 1956–57.
- Most red cards in a season: 7 in 46 games, 1974–75 & 2001–02
- Most clean sheets in a season: 30 in 46 matches, Third Division North, 1953–54
- Most players used in a season: 43 in 1998–99
Streaks
- League wins: 8, 8 April 1893 to 30 September 1893
- Draws: 6, 26 April 1981 to 12 September 1981
- Losses: 9, 9 March 1957 to 20 April 1957
- Clean sheets: 7, 11 February 1922 to 18 March 1922
- Without a win: 17, 7 December 1991 to 21 March 1992
- Without a draw: 20, 10 September 1906 to 19 January 1907 & 30 October 2004 to 5 March 2005
- Without a loss: 19, 5 May 1969 to 8 November 1969
- Without a clean sheet: 22, 22 September 1956 to 23 February 1957
- Without failing to score: 22, 12 September 1992 to 13 February 1993
- Without scoring a goal: 6, 19 August 2017 to 12 September 2017
- Wins: 12, 9 February 1952 to 8 September 1952
- Draws: 6, 10 October 1977 to 27 December 1977 & 20 January 1982 to 6 March 1982
- Losses: 6, 1 January 1992 to 14 March 1992 & 26 December 2018 to 19 February 2019
- Clean sheets: 11, 7 September 1953 to 13 February 1954
- Failing to score: 5, 13 April 1998 to 31 August 1998
- Without a win: 12, 28 March 1978 to 21 October 1978
- Without a draw: 19, 25 August 1928 to 6 April 1929
- Without a loss: 42, 8 November 1952 to 18 September 1954
- Without a clean sheet: 13, 26 September 1964 to 15 March 1965
- Without failing to score: 33, 19 October 1946 to 13 March 1948
- Wins: 5, 20 March 1993 to 24 April 1993
- Draws: 6, 20 March 1954 to 26 April 1954 & 19 January 1985 to 29 March 1985
- Losses: 14, 21 September 1895 to 18 April 1896
- Clean sheets: 5, 20 March 1993 to 24 April 1993
- Failing to score: 6, 8 January 1966 to 9 March 1966
- Without a win: 29, 17 January 1903 to 8 October 1904
- Without a draw: 27, 26 January 1895 to 3 December 1898
- Without a loss: 10, 5 May 1969 to 8 November 1969
- Without a clean sheet: 42, 18 December 1976 to 30 September 1978
- Without failing to score: 15, 10 January 1998 to 26 September 1998
Matches
- Record win: 16–0 against Middlewich in a friendly, 2 February 1884.
- Record away win: 9–0 at Smallthorne in North Staffs & District League, 26 February 1910.
- Record Football League win: 9–1 against Chesterfield in Second Division, 24 September 1932.
- Record defeat: 0–12 at Aston Villa in Staffordshire Senior Cup, 26 January 1891.
- Record Football League defeat: 0–10 against Sheffield United in Second Division, 10 December 1892.
- Record aggregate score: 12 at Tottenham Hotspur, 21 November 1931.
- Record aggregate cup score: 9 at Aston Villa, 10 January 1925.
- Highest home attendance: 49,768 against Aston Villa, FA Cup fifth round, 20 February 1960.
- Highest Football League attendance: 40,066 against Stoke City, Second Division, 25 April 1955.
- Highest home gate receipts: £170,349: against Everton, FA Cup fourth round, 14 February 1996.
- Highest average home attendance: 20,708 in 1954–55
- Lowest attendance at Vale Park: 554 against Middlesbrough U21, EFL Trophy Group Stage, 16 October 2018.
- Lowest Football League attendance at Vale Park: 1,924 against York City, 1 May 1982.
European statistics
Record by season
| Season | Competition | Qualification method | Round | Date | Country | Club | Venue | Result |
| 1995–96 | Anglo-Italian Cup | Invitation | Group A | 5 September 1995 | Cesena | Away | 2–2 | |
| 1995–96 | Anglo-Italian Cup | Invitation | Group A | 11 October 1995 | Ancona | Home | 2–0 | |
| 1995–96 | Anglo-Italian Cup | Invitation | Group A | 8 November 1995 | Genoa | Home | 0–0 | |
| 1995–96 | Anglo-Italian Cup | Invitation | Group A | 13 December 1995 | Perugia | Away | 3–5 | |
| 1995–96 | Anglo-Italian Cup | Invitation | English semi-final | 23 January 1996 | Ipswich Town | Away | 2–4 | |
| 1995–96 | Anglo-Italian Cup | Invitation | English final | 24 February 1996 | West Bromwich Albion | Away | 0–0 | |
| 1995–96 | Anglo-Italian Cup | Invitation | English final | 5 March 1996 | West Bromwich Albion | Away | 1–3 | |
| 1995–96 | Anglo-Italian Cup | Invitation | Tournament Final | 17 March 1996 | Genoa | Neutral | 5–2 |