Vale Park (Stoke-on-Trent)

Vale Park is a football stadium in Stoke-on-Trent, England. It has been the home ground of Port Vale F.C. since 1950.

General information

Arena capacity: 15,036 spectators

Address: Hamil Road, Stoke-On-Trent, Staffordshire, England, ST6 1AW

GPS coordinates for the navigator: 53°2′59″N 2°11′33″W

Year of construction: 1950

Construction cost: £50,000

Field: grass lawn with dimensions of 104 x 70.5 m

Seating plan of Vale Park

The ground has a good mixture of older and more modern stands. The overall look has been improved with the installation of 1,500 seats in a previously unfinished part of the Lorne Street Stand. This stand is of a good size having a capacity of around 5,000. It is two-tiered with a row of executive boxes situated between its large lower tier and much smaller upper tier. Above the players’ tunnel and Director’s area in the centre of the stand is a clock that was taken from the old stand that this new one replaced.

On the opposite side is the Railway Stand, which was opened in 1954. It is a fair-sized stand that is covered to the rear. It has a number of supporting pillars that run across the middle of the stand.

At one end is the Hamil Road End, which is a good-sized single-tiered stand. It also has an electric scoreboard situated just below its roof. Again it has a number of supporting pillars (although fewer in number than the Railway Stand), plus it has windshields to either side.

Opposite is the Bycars Road End, which although old looking was built in 1992. It also is partly covered to the rear and has some supporting pillars to either side. Situated in one corner, in-between the Bycars & Railway Stand is an odd-looking two-tiered structure that looks if it has been ‘wedged’ into the stadium. In fact, this area is the only portion of the old ground that still remains from when the ground was originally built in 1950.

Incidentally, the steelwork and roof of this structure were brought from the club’s previous stadium in Hanley, where it formed part of the “Swan Passage” stand. So the roof on that little corner of the ground is very old indeed! Filled with seating it is used as a Family Stand. On one side of the Hamil Road Stand, there is a Police Control Box, which keeps a watchful eye on the crowd. The pitch is also one of the widest in the League. Outside the Lorne Street Stand is a statue of former player and manager Roy Sproson.

Away Supporters

Up to 4,500 away supporters can be accommodated in the Signal One Stand, where the view and facilities located on the concourse behind the stand are good. Even a relatively small number of away fans can really make some noise from this stand, as the acoustics are excellent. However, the slope is quite shallow, which might affect your view should a tall person be seated in front. Normally though, you could still move to another seat if necessary.

If you wonder at half time why the Port Vale fans seem transfixed with staring at the away end, it is not intimidation, but the electric scoreboard perched on the roof of this stand! (which the away fans can’t see). Also at half time the Vale fans in the Railway Stand tend to transfer from one side to another so that can be nearer the goalmouth that Port Vale are attacking.

Please note that cash is not accepted at the away turnstiles, you have to buy a ticket from the ticket booth in the car park by the away end. This booth is ‘cash only’. If you wish to pay by credit or debit card you will need to purchase tickets from the Main ticket office.

Where to buy tickets?

Port Vale don’t categorize the matches that they play but they do offer reduced ticket prices for supporters who buy them early, you can save yourself £2 per ticket by being organized. That makes it nice and easy to understand the club’s ticketing structure, with just your age and the area of the ground you want to sit in determining how much you’ll pay for tickets.

The best way to get tickets for Port Vale matches is via the club’s official website, though you can also buy them over the phone. If you’d rather pick them up in person then the ticket office is open from 9am until 5pm Monday to Friday (staying open until 7.45pm for midweek home games), and from 9.30am until 3.15pm on Saturday match days.

How to get there?

Vale Park is closer to Stoke City’s Britannia Stadium than you might initially realize, so the instructions for getting there are not dissimilar to if you were heading to that other well-known football ground in The Potteries. Here are some of the more usual methods you might want to think about using.

Train

Trains run to the main Stoke-on-Trent station. From there, you can catch a bus to Burslem town centre. The Ground is situated on Hamil Road (By the traffic lights, go past the Red Lion on your left and Hamil Road is the second left turning.)

You can also catch the train to Longport station, which is a 25-minute walk to Vale Park. Head up Station Street then head onto Newcastle Street until you reach Burslem town centre. Hamil Road is then on your left.

Bus

There are several buses that run from the local areas to Burslem, the location of the ground. If you’re coming from Stoke centre then the 7, 7A, 7B, or 7C will all suffice. From Hanley Bus Station the 20, 20A, 29, 21 and 21A are all good options. Meanwhile from Newcastle-Under-Lyme the 98 and 98A will do the trick.

Car

Travelling From North:

Leave M6 at junction 16 and take the A500 south to Stoke-on-Trent. In approx 6 miles take the exit signposted Tunstall (A527). At the roundabout take a left turning, second exit signposted Tunstall A527.

After 0.5 miles turn right on to the B5051 (second exit, Newcastle Street) at the small roundabout. Carry on up to the next roundabout and go straight across to the cross-roads. Go straight across the cross-roads into Moorland Road. Take the second left on to Hamil Road and Vale Park is on the left.

Travelling From South:

Leave M6 at junction 15 and take the A500 north to Stoke-on-Trent. Continue on this road until you come to the exit signposted Tunstall A5271. Take the fourth exit, and after 0.5 miles turn right on to the B5051 (second exit, Newcastle Street) at the small roundabout.

Carry on up to the next roundabout and go straight across to the crossroads. Go straight across the crossroads into Moorland Road. Take the second left on to Hamil Road and Vale Park is on the left.

Travelling From East:

Enter the City via Uttoxeter bypass (M1/M6 link road) and through Meir and the new Meir Tunnel. Continue on the road until you pass Stoke City’s Britannia Stadium. Get in the middle or the right hand lane and turn right at the roundabout on to the A500.

Continue on the A500 and take the exit signposted Tunstall A5271. At the roundabout turn right (fourth exit signposted Tunstall A527). After 0.5 miles turn right on to the B5051 (second exit, Newcastle Street) at the small roundabout. Carry on up to the next roundabout and go straight across to the crossroads.

Go straight across the crossroads into Moorland Road. Take the second left on to Hamil Road and Vale Park is on the left.

Travelling From West:

Follow the A500 east and take the exit signposted Tunstall A527. At the roundabout take a left turning second exit signposted Tunstall A527. After 0.5 miles turn right on to the B5051 (second exit, Newcastle Street) at the small roundabout.

Carry on up to the next roundabout and go straight across to the crossroads. Go straight across the crossroads into Moorland Road. Take the second left on to Hamil Road and Vale Park is on the left.

Taxi

Getting a taxi from Stoke-On-Trent Railway Station to the ground will take you around fifteen minutes and should cost you roughly the same amount of pounds.

Parking

There is a car park available on Hamil Road, Car Park C, as well as some on-street parking in the surrounding region. Keep your eyes out for parking restrictions, however.

Where to eat and sleep?

You’re almost certainly going to want to stay in Stoke itself rather than the district of Burslem, though here are some hotel options for you to consider.

1. OYO The George. The George is in Burslem so it’s about half a mile from the ground. It has, for your delectation, a restaurant, a business centre, a conference space and free parking as well as the now-to-be-expected free Wi-Fi that most decent places promise.
2. The Best Western Plus Stoke-on-Trent Moat House. This Best Western hotel is around two miles from the stadium and has a restaurant, a bar, a fitness centre with indoor pool, a garden and free Wi-Fi as well as free parking.
3. The Borough Arms Hotel. This little gem of a hotel is great value for the price, cozy and stylish with a lovely bar and restaurant, not to mention free parking and free Wi-Fi. Not too far from the stadium either.

If Stoke-On-Trent is best described as ‘characterful’ then Burlsem is the sort of place where the locals have enough character to be featured in a best-selling novel. There are a few fun little places to go for a drink before and after the match, though most of the pubs in Burslem itself are home fan friendly only. Here are some places to think about.

1. The Bull’s Head. Not far from the ground is this Titanic Brewery pub that is one of the few in the local area that welcomes home and away fans. They are CAMRA recommended and have bar billiard and table skittles for use in the public bar area. Proper old-school.
2. The Swan. The Swan is another place that some away fans have had some joy getting in to, as long as you don’t have gregarious away team colours on or an ‘I hate Port Vale’ tattoo. They serve good food, often have live music on and also have a number of televisions with both BT Sport and Sky Sports available.
3. Post Office Vaults. This is a one-room pub, so it can get cramped in the build-up to the game. It has a good atmosphere, though, as well as TV screens for any live sport that might be on. It’s also CAMRA recommended and dog-friendly. Not that you’re likely to be taking a dog with you to the football, of course, but you never know.

Facilities

Vale Park offers a pleasant mix of the old and the new as far as the stands and facilities are concerned. Generally speaking, it’s a clean and pleasant ground with a number of places to buy food and drinks on the concourses. It’s not exactly Old Trafford or even, more locally, The Britannia, but it’s nice enough.

Maybe they’re not keen on people wandering around the ground on a tour and putting their grubby hands all over stuff, but the club are keen to get as many people as possible into their hospitality suites. For that reason there are a host of options available, with some of the better ones explored here.

1. President’s Seating– With this package you’ll enjoy a meal in The Chris Bayley Lounge before the game as well as access to the licensed bar in The Valiant Suite throughout the say. You’ll also be able to witness the post-match presentations.
2. Vice President’s Seating– This package promises a carvery in The Valiant Suite as well as access to the bar contained therein. You get the same post-match presentation access as with the President’s Seating package.
3. The Valiant Suite– This is essentially the same package as the Vice-President’s Seating one, but without the ace seats. You’ll get a carvery, access to a pay bar and a chance to watch the Man Of The Match presentations after the game.

Vale Park’s facilities can be used to house any number of exciting and interesting corporate events for anywhere up to 250 people. The club offers several fully licensed bars as well as the services of caterers and a DJ. Whether you’re hoping to host a dinner dance, an exhibition, a conference or even a wedding, Vale Park can handle all of your needs.

History

Vale Park’s capacity is just under 20,000, a far cry from the 49,768 supporters that managed to cram into the ground when Port Vale took on Aston Villa in the fifth round of the FA Cup in 1960. Another Midlands club, West Brom, boast the stadium on the highest ground in the country but Vale Park, at 520 feet above sea level, is one of the highest in the country. The area was chosen for the club’s new stadium in 1944 when the club knew they were going to have to leave The Old Recreation Ground where they had been playing.

The site of an old clay pit was chosen, with the development being known as The Wembley Of The North during its initial development. This was because of extraordinarily ambitious plans for the ground to have a capacity of 80,000 as well as room for 1000 cars to park. It’s eventual capacity of 40,000 on opening was still pretty impressive for a third-tier team. That the pitch was built on a clay pit causes the club problems to this day, however, with both freezing and flooding causing consistent problems.