Hurtling Towards Relegation - But Can Port Vale Shock Chelsea In Fa Cup?

Back astatine nan crushed and connected a wall adjacent to nan Railway Stand are pictures celebrating Port Vale's past triumphs, including nan Football League Trophy last wins complete Stockport successful 1993 and Brentford successful 2001.

While Brentford person since gone connected to found themselves successful nan Premier League, Vale person ne'er played successful nan apical flight.

There person been memorable FA Cup occasions though, for illustration nan clip Tottenham were beaten 2-1 present successful 1988.

According to Port Vale's charismatic website,, external Spurs leader Terry Venables took 1 look astatine nan transportation and told prima midfielder Ossie Ardiles that he would "get mislaid successful nan mud".

"I retrieve that day," instrumentality Phil Hollins says arsenic he waits successful an hour-long queue for Chelsea tickets. "Almost 40 years on, we still talk astir it."

Eight years aft beating Spurs, Port Vale knocked retired FA Cup holders Everton. Special moments for illustration these, however, person been fewer and acold between.

Even past season's promotion from League Two nether Darren Moore, who was replaced by Brady 3 months ago, came astatine a cost.

Port Vale past week announced eye-watering losses of £6.1m.

While this season's 5 FA Cup wins person netted £614,250 successful FA prize money, immoderate fans person expressed interest astir nan club's finances.

Others are much relaxed astir nan early nether husband-and-wife owners Kevin and Carol Shanahan, some long-standing Vale supporters who person invested millions of pounds since buying nan nine successful 2019.

"It's for illustration an angel has been sent from above," instrumentality Mick Hughes says astir Carol, who is besides chair of nan club. "She's personification who has nan nine astatine bosom and is not conscionable reasoning astir dollar signs."

Hollins adds: "Carol is simply a group personification who does a batch for nan community. The nine opened connected Christmas Day to provender 150 people. She cares."

While nan losses "look scary connected paper", says Hancock, he adds: "The Shanahan family do a batch right.

"The nine is successful a overmuch amended spot than erstwhile they first took over. The accommodation are a batch amended and nan play summons prices person remained fixed successful a clip erstwhile everything is getting much expensive.

"It's conscionable unfortunate nan shot broadside of nan nine is suffering astatine nan minute."