Port Vale F.C.

Port Vale

Full name	Port Vale Football Club
Nickname(s)	The Valiants, The Vale, The Valeites[1]
Founded	1876
Ground	Vale Park Burslem Stoke-on-Trent (Capacity: 24,000)
Chairman	Bill Bratt
Manager	Micky Adams
League	League Two
2009–10	League Two, 10th
Home colours Away colours

Port Vale Football Club are an English football club currently playing in Football League Two. They are based in Burslem, Staffordshire — one of six towns that make up the city of Stoke-on-Trent. The club's main rivals in the city are Stoke City, and games between the two clubs are known as the "Potteries derby"; however, the last derby match took place on 10 February 2002 and so rivalry has increased between Port Vale and other local clubs, including Crewe Alexandra, Burton Albion, Macclesfield Town and Shrewsbury Town.

Port Vale are one of the few English league clubs not to be named after a city or town. The name Port Vale exists on maps pre-dating the 1876 formation of the club, and is a reference to a valley of ports on the Trent and Mersey Canal, associated with the city's pottery industry. The two symbols on the clubs badge are a bottle kiln and the Stafford knot. The club's mascot is Boomer the Dog, the Baha Men hit 'Who Let the Dogs Out?' is played as Boomer takes to the field before kick-off at home games, his squad number is 'K9'. The current shirt sponsorship comes from Harlequin Property. They have played more seasons in the second tier of English football (41) than any other club who have never reached the top tier.

Possibly the club's most successful times have been in the 1950s, where they were FA Cup semi-finalists in 1954 and won numerous league titles. John Rudge was manager from 1983 to 1999 and steered the club through some of its best years, certainly in recent times. Under his leadership the club reached 8th in the second tier in the 1996–97 season and enjoyed cup glory and numerous promotion campaigns. Since his reign the club have declined, Bill Bratt's Valiant 2001 supporters group took the club out of administration in 2003. But despite providing relative financial security for the club, as of 2009 the group has failed to prevent the club slipping to its lowest league standing in 30 years.

History

The kit used in Vale's first League season (1892)[2]

Port Vale were formed in 1876, following a meeting at the Port Vale House, from where the club took its name.^[3] They played their football at Limekiln Lane, Longport and from 1880 at Westport. The club moved to Burslem in 1884, changing its name to Burslem Port Vale in the process, they played at Moorland Road before moving into the Athletic Ground in 1885. In 1892 the club were founder members of the Football League Second Division.

The club dropped 'Burslem' from their name in 1907 - a dark time of financial difficulties where the club were forced to resign from the league. However the club's fortunes soon improved, they moved into their new home of The Old Recreation Ground in 1912 and returned to the Football League in October 1919, taking over the fixture list of Leeds City in the second division, who were disbanded because of financial irregularities.

The removal of 'Burslem' from the club's name means that it is the only club other than Arsenal in the English football league not to have the name of an area in its name.

In 1921 the club adopted their familiar white and black strip after having experimented with numerous colours, including; plain red, gold and black stripes, claret and blue and even during 1898–1902 playing in the red and white stripes now used by rivals Stoke City for the past 102 years. However, the kit soon changed to plain red shirts with white shorts in 1923, a look which lasted until 1934, where the white shirt, black shorts and socks kit once again was adopted.

The club saw their first relegation during the 1928-29 season, going from the Second Division to the Third Division North. They came up the following season as champions, the 1930-31 season saw a 5th place finish in the second tier of English football, their greatest league finish ever.

After this peak, the club were once again relegated in the 1935-36 season and remained in the third tier until World War II.

With the outbreak of war in Europe, and Vale sitting bottom of the Third Division South after 2 games, the 1939-40 season was cancelled as Britain and the allies fought a brutal war against Nazi Germany and the axis. With Germany and Japan's defeat, peace was restored and the 1946-47 season began.

In 1950, Vale Park was completed, the club's second ground, a year later Freddie Steele became manager. Steele quickly established himself at the club, masterminding the celebrated 'Iron Curtain' defence. The 1953-54 saw Vale storming to the Third Division North title as well as reaching the semi-finals of the FA Cup, losing out to eventual winners West Brom in very controversial fashion, seeing an Albert Leake goal disallowed for offside.^[4] Three years later, the club were once again relegated, and once again became founder members of a league - this time the Football League Fourth Division. Their first season in this new division was extremely successful as the club took the title with a club record 110 goals.

During the 1960s, the Vale fans witnessed numerous good cup runs, though never reaching close to their 1954 semi-final appearance. In 1967, Stanley Matthews took over (from Jackie Mudie who spent two years as manager), his reign ended in tears in 1968 as Vale were expelled from the Third Division over seemingly 'illegal payments' made to players.^[5]

Gordon Lee took the helm after Vale's expulsion, and soon after the club were back in the Third Division when they were promoted in 1970, finishing fourth in the Fourth Division. However, the 1970s did not prove a successful period for the Valiants, as the club languished in the bottom half of the Third Division for much of the decade (despite finishes of sixth in 1973 & 1975). Lee left in 1974, after Vale avoided relegation by just one place. The club eventually succumbed to relegation back to the Fourth Division in 1978, finishing 21st under Dennis Butler. Ultimately, five managers would follow Lee out the door, having proved unable (or unwilling, in regards to those who left to coach higher placed teams) to steady the club.

The season ending in 1980 saw Port Vale finish 20th in the Fourth Division (88th overall), the club's worst ever finish. However, local rivals Crewe Alexandra were three places below them, giving the supporters some small comfort. Despite this poor finish in John McGrath's first season, the club did begin to show some signs of recovery under his tutoring. Improving to seventh in 1982, and then achieving their first success for 13 years the following season, when Vale were promoted to the Third Division in 3rd place, whilst neighbours Crewe Alexandra suffered relegation to the Fourth Division, finishing 23rd.

In a decision that was to shape the next seventeen years of the club's history, John Rudge, McGrath's assistant, was appointed manager at Vale Park in December 1983. Though he was unable to halt Vale's immediate return to the bottom tier of the Football League, he succeeded in steadying the ship. Vale were promoted back to the third tier in 1985-86, losing just once at Vale Park, a 0-1 defeat to Preston North End, and, helped by the goals of prolific Welshman Andy Jones, finished in fourth place. One of the many cup upsets came in 1988, when, on 30 January 1988, a Vale side, mid-table in the Third Division, defeated First Division Tottenham Hotspur 2-1, thanks to a superb strike from Ray Walker.

The Valiants' rise didn't stop there. After three seasons in the third tier, another promotion, to the Second Division, followed in 1988-89. Robbie Earle scored the winning goal at Vale Park to complete a 2-1 aggregate play-off final victory over Bristol Rovers.

They suffered relegation on the final day of the 1991-92 league campaign. In 1992-93, Vale bounced back well, and were in the promotion picture for most of the season, however, they narrowly missed out as runners-up to local rivals Stoke City, when Bolton Wanderers pipped them on the final day, following a late run of form from the Lancashire side. In a remarkable end to the season, Vale would visit Wembley twice in just over a week. First, in the Final of the Autoglass Trophy, which was to be the club's first appearance at the home of football, Vale ran out 2-1 winners against Stockport County with Paul Kerr and Bernie Slaven scoring the goals. Unfortunately, in what was arguably the more important game of the two, Vale then lost in the play-off final to West Bromwich Albion. After Vale defender Peter Swan was red carded, with the game poised at 0-0, West Bromwich Albion went on to win 3-0, thanks to goals from Andy Hunt, Nicky Reid and Kevin Donovan, to deny the Valiants an immediate return to the second tier. However, they weren't to be denied a season later, and confirmed promotion on the final day of the 1993-94 season, with a 3-1 win at Brighton's Goldstone Ground, with a brace from talismanic striker Martin Foyle, and a goal from defender Dean Glover. They finished runners-up, behind Reading. The season also included Rudge's second giantkilling act, as Vale took out Southampton (then in the Premiership) in the FA Cup, 1-0, thanks to a Bernie Slaven goal, on their way to the Fourth Round.

Ian Taylor was to become Rudge's first £1,000,000 sale, when Sheffield Wednesday invested in the midfielder. The money was spent on bringing Steve Guppy and Gareth Griffiths, from Newcastle United and Rhyl respectively, to the club during the 1994-95 campaign, as Vale consolidated their second tier status. During the 1995-96 season, Vale struggled to find their league form in the early stages. However the FA Cup brought huge success; they vanquished Crystal Palace 4-3 in a 3rd Round Replay, before Rudge masterminded another memorable night at Vale Park. Everton(who were cup holders), were the victims of a sensational display of wing play from Steve Guppy and Jon McCarthy, who took the Merseysiders apart in a 2-1 win. Vale again held Premiership opponents in the next round, as they drew 0-0 with Leeds United at Elland Road, however they were to bow out in a replay 2-1, thanks to two late goals from Leeds' Gary McAllister. The team also had some success in the Anglo-Italian Cup, as they qualified for the Final at Wembley, in the competition's final season, where they lost 5-2 to then Italian Serie B side Genoa.

Again, Vale made a slow start to the 1996-97 campaign, with only two wins from their opening ten league games, those coming at home to Oxford United, and away to Queens Park Rangers. A protest against Chairman Bill Bell, after a poor, 2-0 home defeat to Crystal Palace, seemed to mark an upturn in the Valiants' performances. Despite the sale of Steve Guppy to Leicester City for £800,000, Vale's form remained steady from then on, until five wins from six, from mid-March to mid-April, put them in with a chance of making the Play-Offs and, ultimately, a place in the Premiership. However, with three games remaining, Vale were to lose 2-0 to Stoke City, both goals coming from Mike Sheron, before Wolves came away from Vale Park with a 2-1 victory to end their hopes. Vale's final finishing position of eighth was their highest in the pyramid since 1931.

The eighth-placed finish was to be the height of Vale's powers under John Rudge, and the following season, 1997-98, saw a more familiar mid-table and, eventually, relegation battle. Vale found themselves in deep relegation trouble going into the final match at Huddersfield after three straight defeats. Goals from Martin Foyle, Jan Jansson (two) and Lee Mills saw Vale claim a 4-0 win and an escape, at the expense of Manchester City and Stoke City, who both suffered relegation to the Second Division.

1998-99 saw Port Vale fare little better, with an early League Cup defeat to Chester City setting the tone. After sixteen years as Port Vale manager, John Rudge was sacked in January 1999 after one of Vale's most successful eras. He was replaced by former player Brian Horton, who had been working at Brighton & Hove Albion. Horton made five transfer-deadline day signings costing £1,000,000, and Vale managed a second-consecutive final-day escape after losing just two of their remaining eight games. There was no escape in 1999-2000, however. It was Huddersfield who eventually sealed Vale's fate, with a 2-1 win at Vale Park, thanks to a penalty from Kenny Irons, with Vale ultimately going down thirteen points adrift.

Despite a poor start to life back in the third tier, the Valiants rallied, and Brian Horton led the club to LDV Vans Trophy success in 2001, beating Brentford in the final to claim the competition for the second time. Marc Bridge-Wilkinson and Steve Brooker were the heroes this time in a game played at the Millennium Stadium because of Wembley's impending refurbishment. A fourth minute close-range header from Brentford defender, Michael Dobson, gave them the lead. They hel that lead until the 77th minute, when Vale were awarded a penalty, which Marc Bridge-Wilkinson calmly converted. Brooker then went on to send the travelling Valiants into delirium with a wonderful 84th minute winner.

After the trophy-winning season, the Valiants lost the services of veterans Tony Naylor and Allen Tankard, as the Rudge legacy gradually became a part of the club's past. A disappointing 14th place finish followed in 2001-02, and at the end of 2002, Bill Bell eventually called in the administrators, with the club around £1.5 million in debt. Valiant 2001 eventually secured control of the club after a long and drawn-out process as the season neared its close.

2003-04 was a new era for the club off the pitch, with the club coming out of administration under a new board of fan-ownership. However, Horton left in March 2004, after the board revealed he would not be given a new contract on the same terms, and his budget would be slashed, due to cost-cutting after administration. He was to be replaced by former player Martin Foyle, who had been a success as the club's Youth Team manager. Foyle spent almost four years as manager after this, but the style of football the team were playing did him few favours, as Vale finished 17th and 13th respectively, in his first two full campaigns in charge, despite promising starts. Foyle put together a successful strike partnership in Leon Constantine and Akpo Sodje, but a poor start to the 2007-08 season, in which several of Foyle's major signings didn't live up to expectation, resulted in his dismissal on 4 November 2007, with Vale in deep relegation trouble.

He was succeeded by Lee Sinnott, but the former Farsley Celtic manager was unable to prevent the club from sliding into League Two after a 23rd-place finish, as well as crashing out to Chasetown (an 8th tiered club) in the FA Cup Second Round, after a Replay.

2008-09 was Vale's first season in the bottom tier of the Football League for over twenty years. Sinnott was sacked on 22 September 2008, after an unsuccessful start to their League Two campaign, with the Valiants in 16th place. Dean Glover subsequently took over as caretaker-manager for the second time in twelve months.^[6] He was appointed as manager on a permanent basis on 6 October.^[7]

Glover was not the fan's choice for the management position, and failed to win over the supporters. The 2008-09 season finished with the club in 18th place in League Two, only a final day win at Barnet ensuring the club avoided its worst ever points tally in the bottom tier of the Football League. After months of speculation, it was announced on 1 May 2009, that a new manager would be found for the 2009-10 season with Glover standing down from the role.^[8]

On 4 June 2009, it was announced that Micky Adams would become the club's new manager. In just his second match, a League Cup tie at Championship side Sheffield United, Vale ran out 2-1 winners. This becoming only the third time in the clubs history that they had won away at a side two leagues above their own status (the others were in 1954 (a 2-0 home win against Blackpool) and 1964 (a 1-2 win at Birmingham City), both in the FA Cup). It was the same story in the Second Round, as Sheffield Wednesday were humbled 2-0, thanks to a sensational strike from defender Kris Taylor, and a smart finish from winger Rob Taylor. They eventually went out to Championship side Scunthorpe United in the Third Round, After Extra Time, and found themselves on the fringe of the League Two Play-Offs in mid-season.^[9] They burst into the play-off places for the first time in the season with just two games remaining, however just one point in their last two games saw them finish the season in a very respectable tenth place.

History repeated itself for the start of 2010-11, with Adams leading Vale to their fifth ever win over opposition two tiers higher than themselves, new signing Justin Richards scoring a brace in a 3-1 win at Queens Park Rangers in the League Cup First Round.^[10]

Stadiums

The Old Recreation Ground

The Rec was Vale's home from 1913 to 1950, before which they had flitted between several homes in their early years of existence. One of these was the Cobridge Athletic Ground, which was also a dog track for greyhound racing in Cobridge, an area between Burslem and Hanley. The Old Recreation Ground was located in Hanley and stood on what is now the multi-storey car park for the Potteries Shopping Centre.

Vale Park

Vale Park, Port Vale's home ground since 1950.

Vale Park has been Port Vale's home ground since 1950. Vale Park has a notional capacity of around 22,000; however with all the developments and a switch to an all-seater stadium in recent years, it is more likely around 18 or 19,000 once Lorne Street is completed.

Despite not being the oldest ground in the world, it has had several upgrades in its history. The original ground consisted of just two stands (The Railway side and the Lorne Street main stand) with banks of terracing at the Bycars and Hamil ends of the ground. Stands were eventually added behind each set of goals during the 1980s and 1990s as the ground began to be modernised. The paddock at the front of the Railway Stand was also made into an all-seated area, with just the Lorne Street side now being left as a standing area. Vale fans stood for the last time on Lorne Street at the end of the 1997-98 season, with the stand being demolished before work began on a new £3,000,000 structure. Work has yet to been finished on this, due to lack of finances and a change in ownership of the club. However, once new owners V2001 had taken care of the financing, work was finally begun on finishing the second half of the stand.

Supporters

Vale get most of their support in the north of Stoke-on-Trent, with the football fans in the towns of Tunstall and Burslem being mostly Valiants. The club also enjoys support from fans scattered all over the city, and the local area in general. The club has a healthy rivalry with Stoke City, as City are based in the town of Stoke-upon-Trent, only a small percentage of residents in the town are Vale fans. Stoke City also tends to enjoy a higher support base in the city as a whole, especially in recent times when they have achieved promotion to the country's top division.

Williams at a concert in Vienna

Among the club's famous fan base is singer Robbie Williams, who was raised in Stoke-on-Trent. He is now a major shareholder, having, in February 2006, bought £240,000 worth of the £250,000 worth of available shares in the club. Castle Comfort Stairlifts, the club's sponsors, at the same time bought the remainder for £10,000.^[11] For this investment, a restaurant at Vale Park is named after him.^[12]

"Although I can't be at the Vale often, my investment is just to say that my heart is still there and I'm a huge supporter. I'm really excited about what we may be able to do with the club in the future." Robbie Williams speaking in 2006.

For the computer game FIFA 2000, he provided an original theme song with It's Only Us, on the condition that Port Vale were included in the game, which they were, and are located in the Rest of World section. This song was also featured on the only FIFA Soundtrack CD release by EMI.^[13]

In 2005 Williams founded Los Angeles Vale F.C., a Super Metro League team in the United States, named for Port Vale and based at his L.A. home. His best friend, TV presenter Jonathan Wilkes, is also a Vale fan.^[14]

Another famous fan is darts legend Phil Taylor; Burslem born, The Power is a 15 time world champion of the sport.^[15] The local Member of Parliament Joan Walley is also a supporter.^[16] The singer Simon Webbe was signed up to the club's youth side as a teenager until a torn ligament at age seventeen put an end to any sporting ambitions. He remains a supporter of the club.^[17][18] The noted children's illustrator and author Bob Wilson, a Stoke native,^[19] is also a fan. His well-known Stanley Bagshaw series of books is set in an area based on Stoke, and the protagonist supports a thinly-disguised version of the Vale; even basing a book on their 1954 Cup run - albeit with a successful conclusion (Stanley Bagshaw and the short-sighted football trainer).^[20] England Ladies cricketer Danielle Wyatt also comes from a family of Vale supporters.

Many former players also still follow the club and attend games.

Honours and achievements

Statistics

Club records

Gareth Ainsworth, the club's most expensive signing and cause of £1.5 million profit within 13 months and 55 appearances.

Players

Current squad

As of 13 August 2010.^[23]

Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Position Player 1 GK Chris Martin 2 DF Adam Yates 3 MF Rob Taylor 4 MF Anthony Griffith 5 DF John McCombe 6 DF Gareth Owen 7 MF Doug Loft 8 FW Louis Dodds 9 FW Marc Richards 10 MF Tommy Fraser (captain) 11 FW Justin Richards 12 GK Stuart Tomlinson

No. Position Player 14 MF Kris Taylor 15 DF Lee Collins 16 MF Lewis Haldane 17 MF Sean Rigg 18 MF Sam Morsy 19 FW Anthony Malbon 21 DF Ritchie Sutton 22 MF Gary Roberts 23 MF Abdulai Bell-Baggie (on loan from Reading) 24 GK Sam Johnson 50 DF Scott McLaren

Out on loan

Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Position Player 20 DF Matthew Bell (on loan at Newcastle Town)

No. Position Player

Notable former players

Managerial history

Club management

Current technical body As of 14 May 2010 [24] Position Name Nationality Manager: Micky Adams English Assistant Manager: Geoff Horsfield English Head of Youth: Mark Grew English Youth Team Manager: Mike Ede British Youth Development Officer: Sevvy Aslam British Head Physiotherapist: John Bower British Youth Physiotherapist: Andrew Foster British Club Doctor: David Phillips British Chief Scout: Ray Williams English Head Groundsman: Steve Speed British Staff Senior Administrator: Estelle Baggley British Club Accountant: Tracey Carter British Ticket Office Manager: Jayne Turner British Lottery Manager: Brian Lewis British Merchandise Manager: Andrew Burgess British Community Manager: Jim Cooper British Safety Officer: Bill Stevenson British Senior Safety Advisor: Phil Mayer British Club Chaplain: John M. Hibberts (M.A.) British Website & Programme Editor: Dave Johnson British

Management positions As of 14 May 2010 [24] Position Name Nationality Chairman: Bill Bratt English Vice Chairman: Peter Jackson British Director: Stan Meigh British Director: Glenn Oliver British Director: Paul Humphreys British Director: Mike Thompstone British Director: Graham Mudie Scottish Director: Mike Lloyd British Club Secretary: Bill Lodey British Commercial Manager: Catherine Briggs British Conference & Events Duty Manager: Vacant Marketing Assistant: Vacant Sponsorship & Advertising Manager: Vacant

Previous Chairmen

Name Nationality Years Edward Oliver English 1885–1897 Robert Audley English 1897–1907 Sam Bennion English 1908–1911 J.H.Edwards British 1911–1913 Frank Huntbach English 1913–1921 Sampson Walker British 1921–1926 Frank Huntbach English 1926–1940 Tom Flint British 1940–1946 William Holdcroft English 1946–1952

Name Nationality Years Fred Burgess English 1952–1958 Jake Bloom English 1958–1959 Fred Burgess English 1959–1960 Jake Bloom English 1960–1961 Joe Machin British 1961–1963 Tom Talbot British 1963–1965 Fred Pinfold British 1965–1968 Arthur McPherson English 1968–1970 Mark Singer English 1970–1971

Name Nationality Years Graham Bourne British 1971–1972 Mark Singer English 1972–1977 Arthur McPherson English 1977–1980 Don Ratcliffe English 1980–1982 Jim Lloyd English 1982–1987 Bill Bell English 1987–2003 Bill Bratt English 2003-present

Those listed with a British nationality are assumed to be British, however exact nationality is not known for certain.

Reserve and youth teams

The club has run a reserve team for most of its history, they originally joined the Cheshire County League in 1923 with their most successful period coming in the late 1920s early 1930s when they won the league five times(four times consecutively) and also did the league and cup double in 1931. Despite one season in the Birmingham League in 1933-34, the reserves remained in the Cheshire division for nearly 50 years eventually leaving the league for good in the 1971 to join the Central League. Vale did have a period without a reserve outfit after the club came out of administration in 2003 due to cost cutting. However it was started up again in time for the 2006-07 season. Vale's reserves currently compete in The Central League Division One Central. The team is usually made up of a combination of fringe players and youth players in the last year or two of their scholarships. Former Vale player Andy Porter, who was also manager of the youth team, took charge of the reserves until he left the club at the end of 2008, leading them to second place in the 2007-08 league, although it was not enough to qualify for the end-of-season play-offs as a best runner-up. Geoff Horsfield is currently running the side with help from Mark Grew.

The most senior of the club's youth teams play their matches in the Football League Youth Alliance North West Conference, with ex-Valiant Mark Grew coaching them. In recent years, the under-18s have gone from strength to strength, winning a number of youth tournaments with more players going onto to earn professional contracts in the first team.

2007-08 was particularly notable, as the under-18s won the Foyle Cup in pre-season, beating Bournemouth 1-0 in the final, before equalling the club record of reaching the quarter-final in the FA Youth Cup, including the giantkillings of Bolton and Tottenham. The youth team finished the season by winning the Midland Floodlit Youth Cup, beating Lincoln City 6-5 on penalties after a 1-1 draw at Sincil Bank.^[25]

2008-09 began with the under-18s adding the Shrewsbury International Soccer Tournament to the trophy cabinet, remaining unbeaten throughout the event before beating Sutton Coldfield 3-0 in the final.^[26] The Midland Youth Cup was won for a second consecutive year in 2009 as the young Valiants beat Rushden & Diamonds 3-1, this time on home soil at Vale Park.^[27] The under-18s attempts at retaining the Shrewsbury International Soccer Tournament in 2009-10 got off to a poor start with defeat to Egyptian side Al-Ahly 2-1. The young Valiants could then only manage a 0-0 draw with Mexican's Cruz Azul in their second game. Al-Ahly were then to end their chances of making the final beating Cruz Azul themselves 2-0! A 1-0 victory over Ulster Schools was enough for Vale to qualify for the 3rd/4th place play-off, where they despatched local side Ellesmere Rangers 3-0 to take the bronze medal.^[28]

Reserve Team Honours

Youth Team Honours

Cups

References and notes

General

• Kent, Jeff: "The Valiants' Years: The Story Of Port Vale" (Witan Books, 1990, ISBN 0-9508981-4-7).
• Kent, Jeff: "The Port Vale Record 1879-1993" (Witan Books, 1993, ISBN 0-9508981-9-8).
• Kent, Jeff: "Port Vale Personalities: A Biographical Dictionary of Players, Officials and Supporters" (Witan Books, 1996, ISBN 0-9529152-0-0).

Specific

External links

• Official site
• Port Vale F.C. on BBC Sport: Club News – Recent results – Upcoming fixtures – Club stats
• News Coverage at The Sentinel