The Valiants have struggled in League One – England’s third tier – and currently sit bottom in the division with eight fixtures remaining. However, the FA Cup has brought them plenty of joy, and Chelsea must warn against complacency at the Bridge on Saturday.

Here is everything you need to know about Port Vale to get you prepped for our FA Cup meeting…

Factfile

Full name: Port Vale Football Club

City: Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent

Formation: 1876

Honours: Champions of English football’s third tier in 1930 and 1954, champions of English football’s fourth tier in 1959, Football League Trophy winners in 1993 and 2001

Head coach: Jon Brady

2024/25 league finish: 2nd in League Two (promoted)

Stadium: Vale Park

Colours: White and black

Nickname: The Valiants

Rivals: Stoke City

League record

Port Vale have never played in the top flight of English football, but have spent plenty of time in the second tier, including the seven seasons we faced them before and after the First World War.

Aside from a six-season stint in the old First Division in the 1990s – including a league-high finish of eighth in 1996/97 – Vale have bounced between the third and fourth tiers of English football in the past 65 years.

2025/26 so far…

After winning promotion last season, the Valiants have struggled in League One, winning only seven of their 38 games to date and lying 14 points adrift of safety. Manager Darren Moore left in December and was replaced by Australian Jon Brady.

However, it has been a different story in the FA Cup. Entering from the first round at the beginning of November, Port Vale have won five games – all played at Vale Park – to reach the quarter-finals.

They beat non-league Maldon and Tiptree 5-1 before edging past League Two sides Bristol Rovers and Fleetwood Town 1-0.

In a rearranged fourth round tie, Bristol City of the Championship were defeated by the same scoreline and then came Vale’s biggest scalp to date – and one of the biggest in the Cup this season.

Sunderland fielded a strong starting XI at Vale Park but went down to a goal by Ben Waine. The New Zealand striker had also netted the winner against the two Bristol clubs.

In the Carabao Cup, Port Vale knocked out Blackpool and another Championship side, Birmingham City, before eventual losing finalists Arsenal triumphed 2-0 at Vale Park.

Current squad

As well as Waine, who scored for the All Whites against Chile in this international break, Port Vale’s squad includes former Burnley and Watford striker Andre Gray, Ben Amos – once of Manchester United – and winger Onel Hernandez, the first Cuban to have played in the Premier League.

Notable former players

Two players who enjoyed notable success against Chelsea – Robbie Earle and Steve Guppy – spent several years at Vale before high-profile moves to Wimbledon and Leicester City, respectively.

All-time record appearance maker Roy Sproson has a statue outside Vale Park, while in more recent times, Tom Pope was a prolific striker.

Those who have played for both Chelsea and Port Vale include Jock Cameron, Joe Allon, Steve Livingstone and Anthony Grant.