Port Vale – Vale Park
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Vale Park is an all-seater stadium, with a capacity of 19,000. It is the home ground of Port Vale FC.
At one end of the ground is a single-tiered, all seated stand, complete with an electric scoreboard on the roof. This Phones4U Stand replaced a former open terrace and houses the away supporters.
Opposite, the Big AM Stand is covered and all seated. The Tricell Stand (also known as the Railway Stand) on one side is fair sized, covered and all seated. All three of these stands have supporting pillars halfway up, which may impede the view.
The other side, the Lorne Street Stand, is an attractive, all seated stand, complete with 48 executive boxes. However, the stand is not finished, so there is still a large area of concrete on one side, rather than rows of seats. The original clock from the old stand has been incorporated into the new construction.
The pitch is one of the widest in the League and the crowd are further set back from the playing action by the surrounding cinder track.
Next match:
How to get to Vale Park
By Road:
The Vale Park Stadium is located in Hamil Rd, Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent ST6 1AW.
Drivers arriving from the North should exit the M6 at junction 16, taking the A500 towards Stoke-on-Trent. After about 6 miles, take the exit for Tunstall (A527). At the roundabout, take the 2nd exit, signposted Tunstall A527 / Longport Road. After ½ mile, take the 2nd exit at the small roundabout onto the B5051. Go straight on at the next roundabout and straight across the crossroads into Moorland Road. Take the 2nd left into Hamil Road and the ground is on the left.
From the South, leave the M6 at junction 15, joining the A500 towards Stoke-on-Trent. Follow the A500 as far as the A527 exit, joining the A527 towards Tunstall. Directions are then as above.
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By Rail:
Stoke-on-Trent railway station is the most convenient for Vale Park. However, it is over 4 miles from the ground and visiting fans recommend getting a taxi. Alternatively, the no. 24 bus runs from the station to Burslem town centre. Near the traffic lights, go past the Red Lino pub on the left and Hamil Road, where the ground is located, is the 2nd left. Click here to check the current train timetables
By Air:
The nearest airport is Manchester, at a distance of 21 miles. The airport has regular rail connections to Manchester Piccadilly, which connects to Stoke-on-Trent. Overall journey time is about 80 minutes. Click here to check the current flight times
Taxis
There are several taxi companies in the Potteries that can take you to and from Vale Park. You can always prebook a private hire taxi, or hail a black cab on any highway.
Calling all Stoke-on-trent Taxi Companies – Why not advertise your company here?.
Where to Park?
There is a large, reasonably priced car park next to the ground in Hamil Road. Otherwise, street parking is available within walking distance of the ground.
Away Friendly Pubs near Vale Park
Vale Park is a 10-minute walk form the town centre, where there are several away friendly pubs. One of those recommended is the New Inn, which offers a friendly atmosphere, real ale and reasonably priced food. From outside the away end, turn right and go down to the bottom of Hamil Road. Turn right at the T-junction and go straight across the traffic lights at the crossroads. The New Inn on the right. Also recommended is the nearby Bull’s Head in St. John’s Square. This CAMRA-listed pub is an outlet for the local Titanic brewery and offers a good range of real ales.
Hotels near Vale Park
The Best Western Stoke-on-Trent Moat House, Etruria Hall, Festival Way, Etruria, Stoke-on-Trent ST1 5BQ is located just off the M6, ideally based for the city centre and just 1½ miles from Vale Park. Guest reviews note modern, clean rooms and facilities, supported by friendly staff. 
The Quality Hotel Stoke-on-Trent, 66 Trinity Street, Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent ST1 5NB, within 2 miles of Vale Park, is central to many popular locations and offers free guest parking. The hotel has restyled rooms and boasts a leisure club with swimming pool, spa, sauna, steam room, gym and sports-massage facility. Bennett’s Bar shows live sports and has a pool table.
Click here to see all hotels near Vale Park
What have other Away Fans said about their trip?
The majority of away fans have been impressed by the accommodation provided in the Phones4U Stand. The views of the action are good and the excellent acoustics allow a small number of fans to generate some real noise. The catering facilities on the concourse at the rear of the stand are also good, serving tasty hot dogs, pies and sausage rolls. Most visitors report their trip to Vale Park to have been relaxing and enjoyable, though some have been intimidated by the huge Police presence in and around the ground.
Correction ref bus service from Stoke Station. Either walk to Stoke Road (opposite Signal radio – 5 mins walk) and catch the number 21 (every 20 mins) to Burslem, or use Longport Station and either have a lengthy walk up to Burslem (approx 30 mins) or catch bus 94 or 98 (approx every 15 mins) to Burslem from right outside station. Service 21 also runs very close to Best Western Hotel if you’re staying there (stop opposite Toys R Us). Stoke PlusBus added to your rail ticket gives unlimited bus use in the city for £3.00.
I visited vale park last season and thought what a nice stadium but that changed when we were kettled into the area behind the goal and also behind the scoreboard which hangs down under the roof and stops you seeing the ball if it goes much over the crossbar. hopefully they will have more of the away end open for viewing and comfort reasons.
1. Why you were looking forward to going to the ground (or not as the case may be):
Despite us having played them plenty of times over the past few seasons I still hadn’t made it to Vale Park! Vale were flying high in the league and we have a decent away form, and a decent record having beaten all of the favourites for promotion so far
2. How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking? Drove to the game, straight forward and parking was right next to the ground, £4 in the Co Op carpark. Didn’t take to long to get out of the car park either which is a plus.
3. What you did before the game pub/chippy…. home fans friendly? No time for pub or chippy. Plenty of pubs on the way through town but most are HOME FANS ONLY
4. What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the ground? Incredibly strange looking ground. Externally the place resembles a prison. Inside nothing matches. One of the stands is unifinished. Seats were uncomfortable, leg room crap and the rain came in on us. View is obstructed by both the scoreboard at the back of the away end and the crossbar in the middle of it. All a bit sh*t to say it was £20 in.
5. Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc.. Vale on top for the first half and went 2-0. Had a player sent off and we pegged it back to 2-2. Throughout the game the Vale fans booed. Not a fantastic atmosphere even when they were winning. A very quiet ground.
6. Comment on getting away from the ground after the game: As mentioned, escaping the car park was fine. Did hear reports of the supporters coach having rocks thrown at it and groups of men threatening the Rochdale fans. Didn’t see it myself so won’t comment too much.
7. Summary of overall thoughts of the day out: Not a place I’d rush back to.
Good game, some disgusting and disgracefull fans that bricked our mini bus, smashing two windows and denting some of the panels. also chipped the windscreen, which would hahave been dangerous if it had gone through.