billc
Youth Player
Posts: 490
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Post by billc on Dec 16, 2015 18:31:00 GMT
My brother said, “I bet you are the only person in this ground who doesn’t know who he is”. It was rather unfair; I did know who Robbie Williams was as he walked by the family paddock to raucous jeers from Stoke fans. I used to work with someone in Salford who was a big “Take That” fan and I was familiar with the lad from Tunstall.
As it turned out it was a good day for Williams, as well as the other Vale fans in the Victoria Ground as they won 1-0 to a Bogle goal just before half time. The truth of the matter I have been to other derbies involving the Manchester Clubs, Bradford City v Huddersfield Town and Leicester v Coventry, but the Stoke / Vale game of 27th August 1995 must count as one of the tamest I have ever seen. There was no passion, no drive and no energy from either team and the only player who seemed up for it scored the goal.
I have no issues with Vale. I have had many friends who are Vale supporters, one named his pet hamster Lol after the trainer, and I have been to Vale Park on a few occasions in the 70s and 80s when University mates were looking for a game to go to and a trip to Burslem was the only option. In 79 we saw the Vale beat Wimbledon 1-0 when the South London club were beginning their march up (and eventually down) the leagues. My mate Steve had a furry hat bought in Leningrad to keep out the winter chill and the bored Wimbledon fans seized on this and began to chant “Where did you get that hat”. Another less than memorable match was a 0-0 draw against Sheffield Wednesday a year or so earlier.
I suppose I come from a generation, as did my Father, who would go to the Vale and Stoke, if the other were playing away. The connection to the Vale was further cemented as one of my brothers was an apprentice there in the 70s. He played at Forest once and recalled Brian Clough balling out a young Forest player “Young Man, he began in his north east inflected sing song voice. Dad did see the Vale when they were in the quarter final of the FA Cup in 1960 when he got involved in a punch up with a Villa fan “ I wouldn’t care but I wasn’t even a Vale supporter”, he later told me.
However setting that aside I went to the Victoria Ground expecting a more high level octane performance from the Potters than was realised in this error strewn defeat . Macari thought that the Stoke players treated the game like a Sunday park knock around, of the Stoke players only Paul Peschisolido went about his business with any serious intent buzzing around but with no service.
The Sentinel writer concluded that Stoke were too ponderous and slow.
The following day- a Bank Holiday Monday- I came across one of my brothers friends Brud staring discontentedly into the waters of the fortunately too shallow Manifold at Wetton Mill. He thought the performance too depressing for words. Never mind, things turned out just fine- eventually.
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Post by lordb on Dec 16, 2015 18:37:17 GMT
Did Cranson get sent Off?
Luke most games v Vale It was a terribile match
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Post by WoodbineWright2@ on Dec 16, 2015 18:51:09 GMT
I never truly enjoyed our local derby matches. They were horrendous experiences. Winning was unbridled ecstasy but losing was sheer torture. I didn't look forward to them, I worked with a fair few Fail lads back then and the banter was great, but the lead up to games was horrible. I don't miss them one bit.
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Post by stokiesteve on Dec 16, 2015 19:09:28 GMT
The early to mid 90's was all Stoke and Vale, nothing else.
True derby games. But for me, Vale fan's always had a real edge to them over the matches, like they had proven something - they were right all along and were always right after all following the Vale.
A lot of them still harbour such thoughts. I know one at work and when I challenged one of his anti Stoke tirade's recently, he really didn't know where the hatred came from.
He was just as aggressive in the 90's.
I know some stokies were just as bad especially in the 90's, but it always seemed to trouble Vale fans more. And if they were beaten such as the 2-0 at their place with Stein and Sanford scoring, they were unapproachable on the subject of the game.
They are my memories anyway. No doubt one day our paths will cross again.......
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Post by JoeinOz on Dec 16, 2015 23:32:57 GMT
We'd started the season well and the win at lester the week before was a big deal. Vale was the first of four consecutive defeats. The turning points were replacing Scott with Carruthers in the starting 11 and Overson's rallying call before the home game v Tranmere. Making the play offs in 96 was, IMHO, a bigger achievement for Lou than winning the league in 93. Look at what he was up against....in the league and in SCFC.....and it was a special thing to get done.
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Post by ihaveadream on Dec 17, 2015 14:03:54 GMT
What an embarrassing memory
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Post by Deleted on Dec 17, 2015 16:10:49 GMT
He got slaughtered and did not do what he was due to do because of the abuse but it worth it :-)
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Post by capto on Dec 17, 2015 16:12:06 GMT
The early to mid 90's was all Stoke and Vale, nothing else. True derby games. But for me, Vale fan's always had a real edge to them over the matches, like they had proven something - they were right all along and were always right after all following the Vale. A lot of them still harbour such thoughts. I know one at work and when I challenged one of his anti Stoke tirade's recently, he really didn't know where the hatred came from. He was just as aggressive in the 90's. I know some stokies were just as bad especially in the 90's, but it always seemed to trouble Vale fans more. And if they were beaten such as the 2-0 at their place with Stein and Sanford scoring, they were unapproachable on the subject of the game. They are my memories anyway. No doubt one day our paths will cross again....... 120 odd years of suppressed anger as we were the 'big' team - and for one decade they were our equals or better - to them, the happy years - if the roles were reversed, we'd be the same. We (as in the players) were just complacent - not understanding what was at stake ( i seem to remember, late '80's, we lost to them in a preseason 'friendly' & Mick Mills just shrugged it off - it was ONLY a preseason friendly, but the result mattered to both sets of fans - and he didn't get it!!) - and 20 odd years later, they've never forgotten - still waiting for the next happy years...... |
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Post by bringmesunshine on Dec 17, 2015 16:12:22 GMT
What an embarrassing memory Tell him what you really think ! |
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