TrueVale Fan
New Member
Firstly, I felt compelled to post as a few of your lads showed our club some support when we were in admin a few years ago and were on the cusp of going under, so I am doing the same. Have been looking out for how you are going on and can empathies with your position and genuinely hope you turn it around, and you will. We were days from extinction, survived, ditched our board and now are promoted and back on the up but finding league 1 a bit trickier than we expected. Pope is firing again though. There is light at the end of the tunnel.
To the game itself, just wanted to share a bit of local knowledge and give some sound advice. As an earlier poster said, Stoke station is miles away, and Longport station is not well served really. A cab from Stoke to Burslem will cost you about £8 to a tenner. The away end has great facilities and you should enjoy that.
Where to drink. The good news is, that unlike many grounds these days, Vale Park is minutes walk from Burslem town centre which is steeped in history (it’s no Stratford upon Avon!) but it is packed with pubs with loads of character. We are 2 miles from Stoke on Trent City centre (Hanley).
Here is the sad bit and don’t shoot the messenger. Our club over the last 5 or 6 years has developed a very serious and growing hooligan problem. So much so, that I will not take my kids who are 7 and 9 to away matches anymore, and the atmosphere in Burslem town centre can be toxic to say the least. It may surprise you, but it is quite horrible at times but typically, if you are normal fans and going about your business you should be ok. The Wolves game a few weeks ago is well known, and it was a sizable minority of Vale fans who caused it all day (its all over youtube and this was not an isolated incident). Utterly embarrassed by it, but that’s the reality. For the Wolves game, the club gave the pub next to the ground over to away fans (Tommy Cheadles) and they may do this again in light of what happened a few weeks ago.
Apart from that, you could try Hanley where Vale fans don’t drink (but Stoke do) or even Tunstall which is 1 mile away. If you do go to Burslem here is my guide and I grew up there.
By far the best and only place really is the Bulls Head on Swan square. Its a camera pub unchanged for 50 years and is mixed home and away. You will be fine in there.
I go in the Duke William next door which is a historic pub but home fans really, that said, if you don’t look like Danny Dyer, then you will be fine. We will have a friendly natter with you for sure.
The best pub is The Leopard which is kind of home fans only but will be ok. It was built in 1740 and full of character and Josiah Wedgewood used to drink in it. Very ecclectic
Places NOT to go anywhere near unless you are of that persuasion is, in descending order of dodgeyness is
Ye Old Crown - Known main Vale hooligan pub and will be crammed full of nutters in their 30s and 40's and about 500 of them!
Chillz across the road, as above but not quite as toxic
Sagger Mackers on Newcastle Street - Avoid, very partisan
Red Lion near ground (Robbie Williams used to live there) - Avoid, full of nutters and if you see it, you wouldn’t want to go in anyway (it has no windows)
Post Office Vaults - not good either
The Vine - used to be ways pub but not anymore and they won’t let you in.
There are other like the Swan and Roebuck, but again, quite a partisan crowd in them
Apologies for the doom and gloom, but I don’t want any decent away fans to have to suffer an experience like Wolves fans did 2 weeks ago. Genuine advice, so take it or leave it. Be careful on Hamil Road after the game. There will be lads knocking around and the Police were a disgrace against Wolves so dont rely on them.
Hope you have a great day. The majority of Potteries people are the most welcoming I know but a lot of pond life also. Hope we win obviously, but best of luck for rest of season. You deserve better
Peace
To the game itself, just wanted to share a bit of local knowledge and give some sound advice. As an earlier poster said, Stoke station is miles away, and Longport station is not well served really. A cab from Stoke to Burslem will cost you about £8 to a tenner. The away end has great facilities and you should enjoy that.
Where to drink. The good news is, that unlike many grounds these days, Vale Park is minutes walk from Burslem town centre which is steeped in history (it’s no Stratford upon Avon!) but it is packed with pubs with loads of character. We are 2 miles from Stoke on Trent City centre (Hanley).
Here is the sad bit and don’t shoot the messenger. Our club over the last 5 or 6 years has developed a very serious and growing hooligan problem. So much so, that I will not take my kids who are 7 and 9 to away matches anymore, and the atmosphere in Burslem town centre can be toxic to say the least. It may surprise you, but it is quite horrible at times but typically, if you are normal fans and going about your business you should be ok. The Wolves game a few weeks ago is well known, and it was a sizable minority of Vale fans who caused it all day (its all over youtube and this was not an isolated incident). Utterly embarrassed by it, but that’s the reality. For the Wolves game, the club gave the pub next to the ground over to away fans (Tommy Cheadles) and they may do this again in light of what happened a few weeks ago.
Apart from that, you could try Hanley where Vale fans don’t drink (but Stoke do) or even Tunstall which is 1 mile away. If you do go to Burslem here is my guide and I grew up there.
By far the best and only place really is the Bulls Head on Swan square. Its a camera pub unchanged for 50 years and is mixed home and away. You will be fine in there.
I go in the Duke William next door which is a historic pub but home fans really, that said, if you don’t look like Danny Dyer, then you will be fine. We will have a friendly natter with you for sure.
The best pub is The Leopard which is kind of home fans only but will be ok. It was built in 1740 and full of character and Josiah Wedgewood used to drink in it. Very ecclectic
Places NOT to go anywhere near unless you are of that persuasion is, in descending order of dodgeyness is
Ye Old Crown - Known main Vale hooligan pub and will be crammed full of nutters in their 30s and 40's and about 500 of them!
Chillz across the road, as above but not quite as toxic
Sagger Mackers on Newcastle Street - Avoid, very partisan
Red Lion near ground (Robbie Williams used to live there) - Avoid, full of nutters and if you see it, you wouldn’t want to go in anyway (it has no windows)
Post Office Vaults - not good either
The Vine - used to be ways pub but not anymore and they won’t let you in.
There are other like the Swan and Roebuck, but again, quite a partisan crowd in them
Apologies for the doom and gloom, but I don’t want any decent away fans to have to suffer an experience like Wolves fans did 2 weeks ago. Genuine advice, so take it or leave it. Be careful on Hamil Road after the game. There will be lads knocking around and the Police were a disgrace against Wolves so dont rely on them.
Hope you have a great day. The majority of Potteries people are the most welcoming I know but a lot of pond life also. Hope we win obviously, but best of luck for rest of season. You deserve better
Peace
