The Vale goes so far back in time nobody seems to know when it started. There was definitely a thing called Port Vale FC by 1880, though it went out of business in 1907. A local club picked up the name, though, and joined the Football League Second Division in 1919. And by the way, there is no such place as Port Vale; the name refers to a…

They and Stoke City share the Potteries Derby, named for the pronounced role of ceramics in the local area. Stoke have had a lot more success recently, though, and the two have not met since 2002, when both were in League Two. In fact, between league and cup games, they’ve only met 50 times. There’s also a rivalry, based in part on more frequent…

Port Vale F.C. Women compete in the West Midlands Regional Women’s Football League Division One North, the sixth tier. Games are at Bradeley Football Development

I’ve been to a lot of games around the country, so I really appreciate being pleasantly surprised by a football song. When Vale came out for the game I saw, they briefly played some rock song I didn’t recognize, then introduced the teams, and then busted out “The Wonder of You” by Elvis Presley! It was the King’s biggest hit in the UK, but…

Vale Park has been their home since 1950, and it’s a good mixture of old and new. The Railway Stand dates to 1954 and has a few pillars, but across the way is the larger, more modern Lorne Street Stand, with seats, boxes and no pillars. That would be the choice for views, the Railway for atmosphere. In each end are standard single-tier stands…

GETTING THERE: The main train station in town, Stoke-on-Trent, is over four miles away. It would take two buses to get to the ground from there, so just grab a taxi and get their number to arrange for after the game. There’s another train station, Longport, about a mile away but with less frequent service. You can get there direct from…