By Nathan Jackson
July 25 2008

Port Vale are generally a side that don't like to stay in one place too long. They often follow relegations with promotions and vice-versa. Now they're hoping to make an impact in their first appearance in the fourth tier for several years, that includes hoping that a manager with a poor league record can turn around his fortunes.

Port Vale were formed in 1876 and the club moved to Burslem 8 years later, becoming Burslem Port Vale in the process. The club struggled early on and despite becoming founding members of the Football League Division Two in 1892, they failed with re-election in the following season. They returned to their previous position in the Midland League.

Vale returned to Division Two but it wasn't long before they had to retire due to financial problems. They dropped Burslem from the name and returned to the current Port Vale name. Vale moved to a new ground shortly after World War One and this signalled a bit of an upturn in fortunates. They returned to the Football League again in 1919 following the expulsion of Leeds City FC. Leeds City had made illegal payments and Port Vale replaced them midway through the season, finishing a respectable 13^th place.

Vale's first actual relegation came in the 1928/9 season, but they returned a season later, winning the Third Division North title in 1931. The club's highest ever League position followed, finishing 5^th place in Division Two, the modern day Championship. Several movements between the Third Division North and South occurred due to their comparative geographical location was quite confusing, this continued for 18 years.

The club moved to their current Vale Park home in 1950 and it was dubbed as "The Wembley of the North" because of it's size and planned increased capacity amounts. Their first majorly successful season came in 1953/4 when they destroyed the Third Division North, conceding just 21 goals and losing just three times. They also reached the FA Cup semi finals that season.

Vale became founder members of the Fourth Division in 1957 after being relegated. 110 goals rather unsurprisingly saw them romp to the title. Port Vale continued into long spells of relegations and promotions. After several years in the lower divisions, they returned to the second division in 1988/9 after winning the Playoffs, but their spell in that division lasted just three seasons, being relegated in 1991/2 after a run of eighteen games without a win.

1992/3 should have seen Vale win promotion, but they set a new record as they gained 89 points and failed to win automatic promotion, losing in the Playoffs to West Brom. However, that season did see Port Vale win some silverware, being Stockport County thanks to goals by Paul Kerr and Bernie Slaven in the Football League Trophy.

Port vale won promotion in 1993/4 and went on to play a huge 62 games during the season. Those 62 games came from 46 in the League, reaching the 5^th round of the FA Cup, playing in the Anglo-Italian cup, the League Cup and the Football League trophy. It's a good thing for Port Vale fans that petrol wasn't that much in those days.

Two late day survival successes turned the century before the club were eventually relegated in time for the 2000/1 season. Port Vale reached the final of the Football League Trophy again, beating Lincoln City over two legs in the Northern Final before a victory over Brentford in the Millennium Stadium.

Port Vale's seasons ever since have really just been a collection of failed promotion attempts and successful relegation battles, until last season when Lee Sinnott, a manager plucked from Farsley Celtic, took over the club and subsequently got the club relegated to League Two.

DID YOU KNOW? : Despite it being commonly believed that Port Vale is one of a handful of clubs not to be named after a geographical location, the area of Port Vale was on maps that predated the club's formation.

DID YOU KNOW? : Gareth Ainsworth has the unusual honour of being Port Vale's record signing and record sale. He joined from Lincoln City for £500,000 before leaving for Wimbleton thirteen months later for £2,000,000.

DID YOU KNOW? : Port Vale have won the Football League Trophy on two occasions, both times winning it exactly twelve months after their city rivals, Stoke City. Their run to the trophy in 2000/1 included a win over their City rivals in the regional Semi Final.