List of Port Vale F.C. players


is an English professional association football club based in Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire. The club was formed in the late 1870s and in 1884 they took the name Burslem Port Vale, dropping the 'Burslem' prefix in 1907. The club joined the English Football League in 1892 as founder members of the Football League Second Division and though they resigned in 1907, they continued to play in North Staffordshire district leagues and would return to the Football League in 1919. The club's first team have competed in numerous nationally and internationally organised competitions, and all players who have played at least 25 such matches are listed below.

Introduction

More than 500 Port Vale players have appeared in at least 25 senior competitive matches. In the early days, the scarcity of nationally organised competitive football meant players could spend many years with the club while making few such outings. However to redress this the list includes appearances in minor cup competitions, such as the Staffordshire Senior Cup, prior to World War II. Exhibition matches were the primary source of games in the early days of the game and so appearances in friendly games during 19th century are also included. This means that Frank McGinnes is on the list, who recorded 109 goals in 140 matches despite being limited to just 33 goals in 39 Midland League games due to his death due to kidney failure on 25 June 1892, at the age of 22.
Numerous players throughout the club's history have enjoyed long careers with the club. Roy Sproson made 842 appearances for Vale between 1950 and 1972, later becoming manager for a three year spell beginning in 1974. His nephew, Phil Sproson, went on to play 500 games for the club between 1977 and 1989. Wilf Kirkham is the club's record goalscorer with 164 goals in all competitions, as well as 38 goals in a season. Gareth Ainsworth is the player Vale have both received and spent the highest sum on in the transfer market, £500,000 spent in 1997 with £2,000,000 received as he exited the following year. Chris Birchall is the club's record international cap holder with 27, playing for Trinidad and Tobago between 2001 and 2006, including three appearances in the 2006 FIFA World Cup. Others made little impact at the club, but were significant figures at other clubs, such as Willie Aitken, who went on to serve as head coach at Juventus.

Key

Players with 25 or more appearances

NameNationalityPositionPort Vale careerAppearancesGoals
DF1949–197284235
DF1977–198950041
FW1953–196849979
MF1984–1985
1986–1997
44243
MF1986–1998
2004–2006
43326
DF1989–199843120
DF1989–19994103
MF1977–198740215
MF1955–196840117
DF1946–195837258
FW1955–1961
1961–1965
37097
MF1967–197736929
DF1946–195736815
GK1992–20003670
MF1982–199135790
FW1991–2000356107
FW2008–2016
2018–2019
34956
MF1923–193734619
MF1921–193234118
FW1918–1923
1924–1931
33160
MF1972–1977
1981–1985
32720
DF1993–200132413
'FW2011–2015
2017–
320112
DF1923–19333163
MF1973–1978
1982–1985
3109
FW1920–192930265
MF1950–195930255
DF1945–19573013
FW1994–200129690
MF1950–196129343
DF1963–19702935
MF2000–200628734
FW1923–1929
1932–1933
276164
GK1949–19572750
GK1958–19642730
DF1965–197126712
MF1981–198726517
FW1896–190726354
MF1970–197625837
MF1897–190425428
DF2003–200825312
DF1973–198124815
DF2009–20182485
GK2000–20082470
DF1949–19572460
FW1900–1905
1908–1911
24389
MF1886–189424115
MF2008–2012
2013–2014
2372
DF1984–19922353
FW1886–189623085
FW1966–197322944
FW1968–197422935
DF1879–189122515
MF1911–19152248
FW1882–1892222104
DF1987–19942224
FW1931–1935
1936–1940
22196
DF1997–20032212
GK1986–19922210
MF1899–1907
1908–1910
22040
DF1987–19942208
MF1988–199521911
MF1949–195821823
GK1974–19802180
MF1970–19752159
FW1987–199121481
GK1937–19522130
DF2007–201321116
MF1990–199521027
MF1948–195520923
MF1961–19652081
DF1901–1905
1908–1911
20611
DF1894–19022058
FW2007–201220275
MF1942–195120130
DF1973–197920110
FW1965–1969
1975–1978
20058
FW1967–197220025
'DF2016–19911
MF1975–198119822
FW1945–195819656
MF2009–201419619
DF1953–19661968
DF1927–19361960
FW1975–198119440
DF1998–20071944
DF1897–1902
1905
1938
DF1971–19771933
GK1911–19181930
DF1935–19471929
MF1974–197819029
FW1906–1907
1909–1910
1913–1922
189104
DF1923–193118412
MF1889–18941836
DF1919–19241830
MF1958–196218236
MF2008–201418121
MF1995–200018012
MF1951–195617923
FW1989–199417643
MF2001–2006
2013–2016
17517
MF1911–191517513
DF1911–1915
1917–1920
1757
MF1923–192817417
FW2011–201516927
FW1948–195216914
DF1957–19621691
FW1962–196616643
MF1936–19501640
DF2008–20121634
MF1938–194815846
FW1977–198215841
FW2000–200615834
DF1945–19511585
MF1946–19531570
FW1946–195015640
MF1994–200015413
DF1921–19261539
GK1966–19721520
FW1896–190315153
MF1890–189615142
FW2001–200415140
DF2012–20161511
DF2002–200614911
DF1970–19751481
GK1901–19051480
MF1985–198814727
FW2001–200414744
MF1933–193814729
DF1882–1886
1887–1890
1465
DF1917–19221463
DF1970–19741456
GK1968–19721450
FW1991–19961447
DF2013–20161433
MF1903–19071427
DF1884–18931420
MF1919–19241419
FW1889–1892140109
MF2000–200414036
FW1991–19941408
MF1933–193713810
GK2012–20161380
DF2001–20061361
FW1892–1895
1906–1907
13547
MF1998–20041352
FW1894–1899
1904
13449
MF1930–19351345
DF1946–19511340
MF1997–20041331
DF1900–19041321
MF1976–197913113
DF1963–1967
1977–1978
1312
FW1985–1987
1989
12964
MF1949–19571299
DF2008–20131292
DF1929–19341290
FW1995–199812844
MF1995–1997
2002
12817
MF1994–199712813
FW1970–197312627
DF1959–19631266
DF1911–19151260
DF1995–19981231
MF1909–1911
1912–1914
1916–1919
12214
FW1941–194911953
FW1927–193111940
DF1974–19781193
FW1935–194011874
MF1926–1931
1939–1945
11843
GK2004–20101180
DF1949–19521180
DF1995–19981165
FW1914–1919
1921–1922
11429
DF1978–19821147
DF1968–19711140
DF1979–19821136
DF1886–18901132
'MF2017–11210
GK1929–19331120
MF1992–199411138
MF1979–198211020
DF1879–188811011
FW1903–190710931
MF1894–1896
1897–1899
10912
FW1948–195210829
FW1975–197810819
MF1882–189010715
DF1903–19071070
DF1977–19801060
DF1913–1914
1916–1919
1051
DF1920–19241050
FW2009–201210418
'MF2017–10413
FW1960–196310350
FW1924–192710329
DF1921–19241039
MF2004–20071037
MF1926–19291030
MF1932–193510220
MF1967–19711028
DF1982–19851025
MF2011–201410122
MF2001–200510117
DF2000–20021014
MF1935–193910022
DF1986–19891002
DF1937–19401000
MF1967–19699922
MF1891–18959824
MF2006–20089815
MF1914–19239814
MF1908–19119729
MF1978–19829711
MF1937–1946971
FW1987–19909614
'GK2018–960
FW1973–19759532
FW1969–19759511
MF1966–19699511
MF1999–2001
2005
958
'DF2016–951
GK1972–1974950
MF1904–19079325
GK1982–1984930
GK1938–1946920
DF1889–1893920
MF1988–19919113
MF1911–1914918
MF1891–1893918
MF1999–2001
2008–2009
914
GK1975–1980910
DF1886–1888
1893–1894
901
GK1924–1927900
DF1971–1973895
MF1926–19318828
MF1992–19938821
GK2007–2012880
DF1982–1988871
FW2007–20098620
MF1985–1987867
MF2005–2007862
DF1992–1996861
GK1934–1936860
GK1897–1900860
FW2005–20078538
'MF2018–851
FW1957–19598441
FW1981–19838428
FW1967–19698337
FW1984–19868327
MF2015–2017837
DF2004–2006831
GK1933–1937830
MF2006–2008826
MF1982–1984826
DF1898–1901820
FW1913–19158177
FW1978–19808124
DF2015–2017810
GK2010–2012810
DF1904–1907801
GK1980–1982800
DF1908–1911800
FW1882–18877925
'DF2018–795
MF2010–2013794
GK2015–2017790
FW1949–19517840
FW1958–1961787
DF1933–1936780
MF1913–19157720
MF1900–1906
1907
1909–1911
7710
MF1903–1906773
MF1908–19117614
MF2014–20167612
DF1890–1892
1892–1893
761
GK1914–1921760
MF1885–18997514
MF1932–1934755
MF2009
2009–2010
2010–2012
754
MF2009–2011754
MF1994–2000753
MF1897–1902752
DF1936–1938751
DF1935–1938750
GK1889–1892750
MF1959–19617438
DF1993–1998740
GK1893–1896740
DF1931–1934730
MF1892–18957222
FW1937–19397215
FW1965–19687211
MF2017–2018
2018–2019
728
MF1919–1922727
MF2004–2008721
DF2006–2008720
GK1906–1907
1926–1928
720
MF2013–2015714
DF2004–2007711
MF1941–1947711
FW1880–18907029
FW1983–19857019
DF2017–2019706
DF2013–2015706
DF1999–2001703
MF1902–1904703
DF1889–1891701
FW1963–19666931
FW1897–1899
1900–1901
6930
FW1988–19906923
MF1932–19346911
MF1946–1953694
MF1902–1904694
MF2015–2017693
GK2003–2006690
MF2018–2019685
GK1957–1959680
DF1939–1949680
DF1920–1922680
DF1898–1900680
FW1929–19316746
FW2004–2007677
MF1963–1965677
DF1978–1979673
GK1985–1986670
FW1919–19216647
FW1911–19136628
'MF2018–664
GK1884–1886661
FW1898–19006530
MF1913–19156527
MF1886–18886518
FW1955–19576516
FW1994–19966513
MF2008–2010654
DF1909–1915653
DF1924–1928651
DF1960–1966650
DF1899–1903650
FW1963–19676411
MF2009–2011642
MF1925–1929640
GK1919–1922640
FW1901–19046323
FW1950–19576321
DF1914–1920634
MF1984–1986627
DF1985–1986623
MF1977–1978623
DF1911–1918623
MF2012–2014622
MF2007–2009622
MF1936–1938621
MF1894–1897620
DF1892–1897620
MF1936–1938
1939
6129
DF1911–1913615
DF1882–1886612
DF1908–1911610
FW1929–19306035
FW1961–19636022
DF2014
2015–2017
606
DF1997–2000602
DF1893–1896601
DF1980–1982600
GK1922–1923600
MF1918–1921600
FW1963–19655914
MF1929–19315911
MF1932–1936597
MF2014–2016596
DF2011–2013591
DF1925–1932590
DF1884
1897
1898–1901
590
FW1939–19475829
FW1991–19935812
MF1997–19985811
MF2010–2011587
FW1956–19605737
FW2005–2007577
FW1930–1932576
DF1913–1919575
MF2015–2017573
DF1897–1901571
GK1983–1986570
FW1908–19145627
FW1884–18865617
MF1977–1978568
MF2014–2017566
FW1981–1983565
'MF2017–2019563
GK1904–1907561
MF1938–1946560
FW1926–1929
1931–1933
5535
MF1917–1921557
MF2014–2016556
SwedenMF1996–1999556
DF2014–2016550
MF1926–1930550
FW2015–20175410
FW2003–20045410
MF1999–20005410
MF1986–1987549
DF1965–1967544
MF1995–2001541
FW1895–1896
1898–1899
5317
FW2006–20075316
MF1961–19635311
MF2008–2010535
MF1965–1967534
MF1919–1921532
DF1992–1993531
DF1924–1927531
GK1948–1956530
FW1907–19115236
FW1954–19575234
FW1896–18995218
MF1908–1914524
DF1947–1949521
DF2011–2014
2017–2019
520
FW1909–1910
1911–1912
1913–1914
5145
FW1982–19835124
FW1893–18995117
MF1959–19615112
FW1892–1898519
MF1926–1930516
GK1988–1994510
FW2010–20115014
MF1961–1964508
FW1933–1935508
MF2002–2004504
DF2011
2012–2014
502
MF2001–2003502
MF1979–1981501
GK1941–1943
1944–1949
500
MF1902–1903
1906–1907
4917
FW1993–19944914
MF2014–2015497
FW1938–1939494
MF1987–1991492
MF2002–2005491
'DF2018–2019
2020
490
FW1885–18884818
MF2005–2006485
MF1984–1986485
MF1929–1933483
DF1989–1992481
DF1985–1987480
GK1965–1966480
FW1947–19554712
DF1954–1960474
DF1975–1976472
MF2001–2003471
MF1999–2001468
MF1972–1977467
FW2007–2010464
GK1964–1965461
DF1895–1898461
GK1887–1889460
FW1912–19134521
MF1960–19614514
MF1978–1979459
MF1890–1893457
MF1986–1988454
MF1924–1926453
MF1923–1924451
MF1965–1968450
FW1886–18874416
FW1919–1920449
MF1988–1991445
DF1998–2000444
MF1983–1984443
'DF2005–2006
2006–2007
442
MF1978–1980442
DF2002–2005440
GK1928–1930440
FW2015–20164313
FW1931–19334311
MF1963–1965437
FW1921–1923436
MF1888–1894436
GK1986–1987430
DF1979–1980430
GK1909–1911430
GK1897–1898430
GK1890–1893430
FW1906–19074214
FW1887–1894428
FW1902–1905427
FW2016–2019423
'MF2017–2018422
DF1967–1970421
MF2016–2018420
GK1920–1922420
FW1928–19314115
FW1884–18854112
MF1899–19004110
FW1944–1948418
FW2016–2018415
MF1921–1922415
MF1890–1891415
DF1997–1998
1998–1999
413
DF2002–2004410
MF1997–1999410
FW1927–19304014
FW2012–2013408
MF1998–2002404
'MF2018–403
DF1932–1936400
MF1928–1933396
MF2017–2019393
MF1916–1920393
GK2000–2004390
GK1953–1961390
FW1903–19053811
FW1913–1914
1918
386
MF1905–1907
1911–1912
382
DF2014–2015381
DF2013–2014381
DF2006–2008380
DF1934–1937380
FW1986–1988378
FW2000–2001376
'MF2019–375
MF2011–2013373
FW1945–1947371
DF2008–2009370
MF1971–1972370
GK1891–1894370
MF1938–19483610
MF1931–1932365
DF2018–2019362
DF1998–1999362
MF1963–1965362
DF2005–2010361
MF1933–1934361
MF1899–1900361
'DF2019
2019–
360
GK1927–1929360
FW1935–19363511
FW2004–20063510
FW2018–2019356
FW2016–2017355
MF2003–2004352
MF1978–1980352
MF1905–1907350
GK1900–1901350
FW1914–1915
1916–1917
1919–1920
3414
FW2013–20143413
FW1907–19113411
FW1976–1977348
FW1916–1920347
MF1912–1913346
MF1896–1897344
MF1895–1897341
DF2005–2006340
DF2001–2003340
DF1993–1995340
FW1887–18883323
FW1981–19843311
FW1922–19233311
FW1934–1937339
FW1886–1888337
MF1965–1966336
MF1892–1915335
MF1998–2000333
MF1987–1989332
DF1890–1891331
GK1994–1998330
FW2008–2009330
DF1967–1968330
DF1924–1926330
FW1911–19123212
FW1992
1994–1995
3210
FW1983–1984327
FW1962–1966326
MF1991–1992321
DF1894–1895321
DF2016–2018320
MF1957–1958320
DF1902–1903320
MF1893–18943115
MF1980–1982315
'DF2007–2008313
MF1976–1978312
GK1923–1924310
DF1906–1907
1911–1914
310
DF1906–1907310
FW1947–19483011
'FW2019–307
FW1949–1951
1952–1955
305
'MF2005–2006304
'MF1983–1984304
FW2007–2010302
FW1979–1981302
MF1972–1973302
MF1935–1936301
MF2011–2017
2019–2020
300
DF1886–1893300
FW1911–19122912
FW1905–1906299
FW1990–1993295
'MF2019–294
FW1969–1970294
FW1981–1986292
MF1947–1950291
GK2013–2018290
FW1962–19642812
FW1983–1984287
FW2013–2014286
FW1966–1967286
MF1911–1912284
FW2017–2019282
MF2009
2012
281
DF2008–2010280
MF1951–1957280
MF1892–1895280
FW1887–1888279
MF1901–1902
1903
278
DF1981–1982277
'FW2015–2016276
FW1879–1885276
MF1945–1948273
FW1922–1927273
MF1974–1975272
DF2017–2018271
MF2007–2008271
FW1977–1978270
DF1938–1946270
FW1930–19312611
MF1887–18892611
FW1956268
'MF1992
1994
267
FW1931–1933266
FW1998–1999266
MF1931–1932265
MF2016–2017261
MF1923–1924261
DF2016–2017260
MF2016–2017260
MF2005–2008260
GK1998–2000260
FW1988–1991260
DF1987–1988260
MF1919–1921260
DF1887–1891260
MF1937–19382511
'FW2019–258
MF2019–2020257
DF2016–2017
2017
255
FW1933–1936255
FW1899–1900255
MF1935–1937254
FW1951–1952252
MF1937–1938252
MF1912–1913
1919
252
MF1968–1969251
GK2011–2017250
DF1971–1973250

Players with fewer than 25 appearances