From The Archives - a look at a match from Vale's past

Port Vale 2 Tottenham 1 - Saturday 30th January 1988

Port Vale 2 Tottenham 1

RoundthFA Cup 4

At Vale Park

January 1988thSaturday 30


PORT VALE: Finney, BanksSUBS:Grew, Steggles, Hughes, Walker, Hazell, Sproson, Ford, Earle, Riley, Beckford, Cole.


TOTTENHAM: Howells, StathamSUBS:Parks, Hughton, Thomas, Ruddock, Fairclough, Mabbutt, C Allen, P Allen, Waddle, Fenwick, Moran.


FA Cup holders Tottenham Hotspur were brought down to earth with a bang at Vale Park as Vale sent them packing and dumped them out of the competition thanks to goals from Ray Walker and Phil Sproson. Tottenham were without Argentinian star Ossie Ardiles but they still fielded a formidable line-up, littered with internationals. Ray Walker put Vale ahead after just 12 minutes with a dipping 20-yard shot dropped over the ‘keeper and twelve minutes later Phil Sproson netted Vale’s second to put the underdogs in the driving seat. Neil Ruddock pulled a goal back for the visitors in the second half but it wasn’t enough to salvage a replay.

The day’s other FA Cup results:

Barnsley 0 Birmingham 2

Blackpool 1 Man City 1

Bradford C 4 Oxford 2

Brighton 1 Arsenal 2

Coventry 0 Watford 1

Everton 1 Middlesbrough 1

Leyton Orient 2 Nottingham Forest 2

Luton 2 Southampton 1

Man United 2 Chelsea 0

Mansfield 1 Wimbledon 2

Newcastle 5 Swindon 0

Plymouth 1 Shrewsbury 0

Portsmouth P Sheff Utd P

Port Vale 2 Tottenham 1

QPR 3 West Ham 1