Vale Park – stadium description

Though it may seem hard to believe, this was supposed to be ‘Wembley of the North’, with 80,000 capacity and 1,000-car parking space around it. However reality proved these plans were too ambitious for a third-league side. That didn’t stop Port Vale overall, just forced a decrease in plans.

New stadium had to get built as the club lost tenancy at its previous ground. Decision was made to build in a former clay pit next to Burslem Park where Vale started their history.

Construction took long 5 years and resulted in 40,000 capacity (though only 360 seated)Stands were erected alongside the pitch, while end zones were land slopes. Before first decade of existence ended, size went up to 50,000 people (in 1954, 1,000 seated) and floodlights were installed (1958).

In mid-1980s problem appeared as capacity fell to just over 16,000 for safety reasons. Late 1980s saw hundreds of thousands spent on floodlight improvements, scoreboard and spectator facilities, like first of its kind in the UK disabled section. But these efforts didn’t solve size problems, inspectors again cut capacity, to 12,000.

No wonder intensive works started in early 1990s to convert the ground into an all-seater and last game with terraces took place in late 1998. Right after this construction of a new eastern stand began. Interestingly, it hasn’t been finished to date.

How Vale Park compares to other League Two venues?