Where Is Port Vale Football Club?
Port Vale FC is based in Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire — playing at Vale Park since 1950. Founded 1876, currently in EFL League One.
Port Vale Football Club is based in Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire — playing at Vale Park since 1950. Founded in 1876, the club currently competes in EFL League One as of the 2024-25 season. They share Stoke-on-Trent with Premier League / Championship rivals Stoke City, with the two clubs separated by roughly 5 miles.
Location facts
- Stadium. Vale Park, Hamil Road, Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent ST6 1AW.
- Capacity. ~15,000 (one of the largest grounds outside the Premier League / Championship).
- Local area. Burslem is one of the six towns making up Stoke-on-Trent (the others: Tunstall, Hanley, Stoke, Fenton, Longton).
- Postcode area. ST6 — north Stoke-on-Trent.
- Distance to Stoke City (bet365 Stadium). ~5 miles south.
Club history snapshot
- Founded. 1876 (as Burslem Port Vale).
- Founder member. Founder member of the Football League Second Division in 1892.
- Honours. Football League Trophy winners (1993, 2001).
- Famous players. Sir Stanley Matthews (started his career at Stoke but is associated with the local area), Robbie Williams (childhood fan and current shareholder).
- Nickname. The Valiants.
How to get to Vale Park
- By train. Stoke-on-Trent station → 30-min bus / taxi to Burslem.
- By car. A500 / A50 → A527 to Burslem; matchday parking near the ground.
- By coach. Away coaches: dedicated entrance off Hamil Road.
- Nearest motorway. M6 J15 (Stoke-on-Trent), ~6 miles.
Frequently asked questions
- Where is Port Vale FC located?
- Port Vale Football Club is based in Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire. The club's home ground, Vale Park, is on Hamil Road (postcode ST6 1AW). Burslem is one of the six towns of Stoke-on-Trent and sits about 5 miles north of the city of Stoke and the bet365 Stadium (home of Stoke City).
- What league are Port Vale in?
- As of the 2024-25 season, Port Vale compete in EFL League One — the third tier of English football. They were promoted from EFL League Two in 2021-22 via the play-offs. The club has historically moved between the second, third, and fourth tiers across its 145+ year history.
- Who owns Port Vale?
- Port Vale is owned by Carol and Kevin Shanahan, a husband-and-wife pair who took over in 2019. The Shanahans run Synectics Solutions, a Stoke-on-Trent-based data company. Pop singer Robbie Williams is a lifelong fan and a minority shareholder via the Synectics-fronted ownership group.
- Why is it called "Port Vale" if it's in Stoke-on-Trent?
- The "Port" in Port Vale comes from the historical canal port at the bottom of the valley where the original ground stood when the club was founded in 1876. "Vale" refers to that valley. The club was originally called Burslem Port Vale and dropped "Burslem" in 1909.
References
- Port Vale FC — Official Site — Port Vale FC
- EFL League One Standings — EFL
- BBC Sport — Port Vale — BBC Sport
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