Carol and Kevin Shanahan have bought Port Vale FC and the clubs Vale Park ground from Norman Smurthwaite, Sign up NOW for your daily Port Vale newsletter straight to your inbox. [46], With Port Vale lying bottom of the English Football League, Smurthwaite sacked Brown on 16 September and claimed that he had been against giving Brown the job on a permanent basis in the summer but left the decision to Chief Executive Colin Garlick. "The club can confirm that Carol and Kevin Shanahan have completed the purchase of Port Vale Football Club. Owners of Synectics Solutions, an IT company based next door to Vale Park, they came to the clubs rescue with their buy-out. The club had little success throughout the 1960s and 1970s, despite being briefly managed by Stanley Matthews, and were forced to apply for re-election after breaking FA rules on illegal payments in 1968. The club has reinvigorated me it has saved me really, given me a new purpose. Tickets for a fans' forum with Port Vale's new owners have sold out - just a day after they were made available. Horton led the club to Football League Trophy success in 2001, as Marc Bridge-Wilkinson and Steve Brooker scored the goals to secure a 21 victory over Brentford in the final at the Millennium Stadium. Port Vale is under new ownership. Wilf Kirkham is the club's top goalscorer with 164 goals in all competitions, which includes 153 in the league and 11 in the FA Cup. People feel that the club does have a future. [19] However, after these achievements the club were once again relegated in the 193536 season and remained in the third tier until World War II. [21] Three years later, the club were again relegated, and once again became founder members of a division this time the Football League Fourth Division. The atmosphere was different and it has been every match since. View 37 photos of this 3 bed, 3 bath, 2869 sqft. Sheffield Wednesday have sold their 3,700. I think the main thing is getting the right characters in and creating an environment that is a working environment but enjoyable. Mrs Shanahan travelled to Windsor Castle this morning to receive the honour from His Royal Highness Prince Charles. is also a long-running fanzine, and has been printed since August 2000; the name was inspired by a remark by then-manager Brian Horton to local journalist Derek Davis following a defeat to Tranmere Rovers. [41] He later issued a statement to apologize for his decision to appoint Ribeiro and expressed regret with his own attempts to communicate with fans and "keyboard warriors" over social media. The self-made multi-millionaire Cov Kid - owner and chairman of League One rivals Port Vale - says he values the club at no more than 6million and is confident that potential buyers are out . It sounds dramatic but new Port Vale owner Carol Shanahan makes no apologies for the stark analogy. There are smiles on peoples faces, which you didnt see before. Alternatively, please email ifollow@efl.com - note that live chat is recommended for the quickest response on a matchday. Hopefully all the hard work thats going on off the pitch, we can replicate on it, and get the results everybody wants. [26] Despite this poor finish in John McGrath's first season, they eventually achieved their first success for thirteen years in 198283 by winning promotion out of the Fourth Division in third place. [59] Manager Darrell Clarke returned from a close family bereavement to lead Vale through the League Two play-off semi-finals at the end of the 202122 season. Smurthwaite. [97], The club's highest attendance at Vale Park is 49,768 against Aston Villa in the FA Cup on 20 February 1960, whilst the lowest is 554 against Middlesbrough U21 in the EFL Trophy on 16 October 2018. Ron Suart has served as both caretaker and interim manager. Their deal to buy the club from Smurthwaite was agreed in principle in order for the two parties to enter confidential and exclusive talks in April. season The 2003-04 season was Port Vale 's 92nd season of football in the English Football League, and fourth successive season (41st overall) in the Second Division. As always you can unsubscribe at any time. Port Vale plays a role in tackling those issues, with the kitchen at the stadium used to cook thousands of meals for vulnerable families with young children. But while the details of his contract are being negotiated, the manager has been speaking to players as the club prepares to publish its retained list. Hubb Foundation staff worked closely with more than 50 schools across the Potteries to identify the most vulnerable families and Carol constantly assessed the level of support required to meet their needs. We viewed it as the loved one was being held hostage and we had to pay the ransom to free them, said Shanahan of her 4million buy-out of the struggling League Two club. Personally speaking, I've been tickled beyond imagination. The average household income in the Vale area is $66,005. Vale are the only English Football League club not to be named after a place; their name being a reference to the valley of ports on the Trent and Mersey Canal. [89] The children's illustrator and author Bob Wilson, is also a fan. Her energy and commitment to doing what is right for our communities is endless. Smurthwaite was raised in Radford, Coventry, and bought his own home in the area at the age of 17 after receiving compensation from an industrial accident at Dunlop in 1977. [30] He continued to reveal that he had been physically assaulted by three Vale supporters in April 2014, though Staffordshire Police could find no record of Smurthwaite's complaint. He resigned as chairman following relegation back to League Two in 201617. It is in negotiations because that is the way it works. The fans' forum is being run by the Supporters' Club and is being held in the Valiant Suite at Vale Park. Despite this Rudge masterminded an eighth-place finish their highest in the pyramid since 1931. Last updated on 7 May 20197 May 2019.From the section Port Vale. Port Vale owner Norman Smurthwaite has sold the League Two club to local IT firm owners Carol and Kevin Shanahan. On hearing that families could not afford personal hygiene and cleaning products, Carol made sure they received supplies with their next food delivery. However, List of Port Vale F.C. Carol Shanahan has also been chair of the Vale's community scheme, the Port Vale Foundation Trust, since 2017. [65], A table of kit suppliers and shirt sponsors appear below:[66]. [20] In February, the home game with Doncaster Rovers was put into doubt after Smurthwaite refused to pay extra policing costs that Staffordshire Police had demanded following intelligence that there would be troublemakers instigating violence at the game. [74] Stoke have been the more successful team over the years, as Vale have finished higher in the league on only seven occasions. "We're behind the eight ball with regard to season ticket sales, which have been quite poor and that has to be a concern. [51] He was hospitalised after being struck by a car whilst walking outside Vale Park on 25 January 2019. Watch Monday Night Football live at Vale Park on Monday 16th January as the Vale host Peterborough United (8pm kick-off). [43] However, Horton left in February 2004, unwilling to accept the financial cutbacks imposed by the new board, and was replaced by former player Martin Foyle. 21707 Vale Pass, San Antonio, TX 78255 is for sale. As always you can unsubscribe at any time. In fact, they reckon they are seeing people who have not bought a season ticket in years. We use your sign-up to provide content in the ways you've consented to and improve our understanding of you. On Monday, the Valiants still faced the threat of administration as owner Norman Smurthwaite prepared to bail out. And if you can get the environment right, good things usually happen., Get the FREE Mirror Football newsletter with the day's key headlines and transfer news straight into your inbox. The clubs co-owner and Chair was recognised alongside others nationwide who made a significant contribution to the UKs Covid-19 response in a ceremony which had to be postponed from 2020 due to the pandemic. "But the first action we took was to buy Vale Park too. [31] He also admitted that he had been planning on buying Torquay United before being told by the Football League that he would not be allowed to own two clubs. As a society we face unprecedented challenges because of the pandemic and Im extremely proud to see the charity I founded and the companies I run playing a key role in putting local communities, families and people first., Note: For more information about the Hubb Foundation, visit: TheHubbFoundation.com. The Port Vale owner's son Patrick Shanahan has his very long locks shaved off by the club's players as they celebrate their League Two play-off final win against Mansfield. [95] Tom Pope and Martin Foyle have also scored more than 100 goals for the club. [1] His father and family are from the Sunderland area; he owned a business in the North East between 1999 and 2007 and was a season ticket holder at Sunderland for seven seasons. [66] He enquired for a move for Wigan Athletic, a club in administration, in September 2020, but pulled out after judging it to be too big of a risk and seeing a negative reaction from fans. Anyone who comes to the ground now can see theres been a lot of changes, he said. The Old Recreation Ground was Vale's home from 1913 to 1950, and was located in Hanley, standing on what is now the multi-storey car park for the Potteries Shopping Centre. John Askey believes everything is in place for Vale to thrive and avoid another relegation battle. [23] In April 2015 an email from his account was sent to a group of supporters stating that he wished to sell the club, though he denied sending the email, claiming that he had been hacked. Women at the end of the 202021 season. [98] The youngest player to play for the club is Nelson Agho, who was aged 15 years and 262 days on his debut against Walsall in the EFL Trophy on 13 November 2018. It is fantastic to see Carols achievements recognised with an OBE., Stoke-on-Trent City Council Leader Abi Brown paid tribute to Carol, saying: Im so pleased for Carol. [71] Outside the ground is a statue to Roy Sproson, who played 842 competitive games for the club. [39] He was replaced by former player Brian Horton, who spent big to secure the club's second consecutive final-day escape from relegation. After becoming one of the more prominent football clubs in Staffordshire, Burslem Port Vale were invited to become founder members of the Football League Second Division in 1892. [11] The concern in January was over the future of manager Micky Adams, and the apparent reluctance of Smurthwaite to offer a contract despite the positive results on the field as the manager's contract came close to its expiry at the end of the season; once a contract was promised Adams stated that "He has talked about it, now he has to deliver. But fans have got on board with the sense that this is a new era.. But he led the side eight points clear of relegation to finish 20th in League Two. "We're not going to gamble our future by spending ridiculous amounts," Carol Shanahan told BBC Radio Stoke. Fans had demanded Smurthwaite's exit, staging protests before they were put on hold when it was announced he was in talks to sell the club to the Shanahans. Something went wrong, please try again later. [20], Port Vale moved into their new home of Vale Park in 1950, and a year later Freddie Steele was appointed club manager. Since Carol and Kevin came in, its given everybody a lift, not just here but the whole area. [9] More worry came in December, when The Sunday People revealed that Smurthwaite had e-mailed agents pleading poverty over the club's finances. [56] During this time the club was serving players unsold pies from matchdays in order to save money. [3] After promotion from League Two to League One was secured, Smurthwaite said that "I've never had any hobbies to speak of, but buying Port Vale has given me a passion. Speaking in July 2016, Smurthwaite was still angry about the defeat to Exeter City seven months previously. The Shanahans, both long-standing Vale supporters, who own Potteries-based firm Synectics Solutions, have bought the club in its entirety. Carol Shanahan, 63, received the honour from the Prince of Wales on . They are confident they can revive the Valiants, but won't be offering false hope to supporters. [21] Steele quickly established himself at the club, masterminding the celebrated 'Iron Curtain' defence. Port Vale's Darrell Clarke: 'There were a lot of dark days and will be in future' Ben Fisher Manager returned to the dugout this month after a close family bereavement and knows Saturday's. We kick-off our 2023 home fixture programme with the visit of Peterborough United on Monday night (8pm kick-off). Carol and Kevin Shanahan take over a club that has just finished fifth from bottom of the Football League after a third successive season spent in a relegation battle. The club endured hard financial times during World War II, and sold the ground to the council, who were reluctant to allow the club to rent it back. They failed to build on this success however, although they went on to finish as champions of the first Fourth Division season under Norman Low's stewardship in 195859. Boss Askey who recently signed a three-year deal reckons the only way is up and, after painting the white lines on the pitch ahead of training, revealed his excitement at the challenge ahead. [12] They spent 13 seasons in the Second Division either side of a two-season return to the Midland League (189697 and 189798). [52] The club entered administration on 9 March. The club's traditional rivals are Stoke City, and games between the two are known as the Potteries derby. Since then, the Shanahans have made several bids to buy both the club and their Vale Park ground - which was owned by Smurthwaite through a separate company. [33] Some of the club's biggest name players rejected new contract offers and left Port Vale after Northampton Town paid compensation to Port Vale to sign Page as manager in May 2016; Smurthwaite claimed that he purposely set a low wage budget so as to drive Page and the players out of the club, thereby leaving room in the 201617 budget for a new manager to sign his own players. [24] However, the 1970s did not prove a successful period for the Valiants, as the club languished in the bottom half of the Third Division for much of the decade. [45] Sinnott was sacked in September 2008 and following an unsuccessful tenure from Dean Glover, Micky Adams was appointed as the club's new manager in June 2009. [25], Smurthwaite was rumoured to have planned to sack Page live on BT Sport if the club lost an FA Cup First Round replay to Maidenhead United, though he dismissed the rumour as untrue. Askey will be offered a new deal having made clear he would love to stay in charge. John McGrath steered the club to promotion in 198283, though he departed after relegation became inevitable the following season. Volunteers with paintbrushes are busy doing touch-up jobs, while boss John Askey takes a pre-season session on the training ground adjacent to the stadium. Port Vale FC latest news - Stoke Sentinel frontpage Sport Football Port Vale Port Vale FC is a professional football club playing in League One of the Football League based in Stoke-on-Trent.. When people ask, Why did you buy the Vale?, I say, Well somebody had to and nobody else was going to do it. But had we not done so, it would have gone into liquidation and we would have lost the club. You can change your choices at any time by visiting your privacy controls. It was horrible coming to games. 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