Ahead of the new season getting underway on Friday evening, we continue our look at clubs the Spireites will face during the 2024/25 campaign, with Port Vale the next one under the spotlight…
FACT FILE
Team Name: Port Vale Football Club
Nickname: The Valiants
Year Founded: 1876
Stadium: Vale Park
Capacity: 15,036
2023/24 SEASON
Despite an opening day 7-0 away defeat to Barnsley, Port Vale won five of their first seven games. At the same time, Andy Crosby’s side embarked on a run to the Carabao Cup quarter-final. Their league form started to suffer as they failed to record a win between September and December. A couple of victories in December proved to be a false dawn as Port Vale would go on another three-month winless streak, which resulted is Crosby’s departure. Darren Moore was brought in to try and guide the Valiants away from the drop zone. Unfortunately for the former Sheffield Wednesday manager, Vale would only win twice more as relegation was confirmed after a 2-0 defeat to Bolton. Moore’s side finished in 23rd place.
MANAGER
Darren Moore, who had a 20-year playing career for the likes of Torquay United, West Bromwich Albion and Derby County, started his managerial career in 2018 with West Brom. He left the club after just over a year and had a spell at Doncaster Rovers before joining Sheffield Wednesday in 2021. He suffered relegation with the club at the end of the season and looked to get the Owls back up to the Championship. In the 2022/23 season, Moore’s side just missed out on automatic promotion but won the League One play-offs in dramatic style – beating Peterborough United on penalties after a remarkable comeback and then scoring a 123rd minute winner against Barnsley. Despite leading Wednesday to promotion, the former Jamaica international left the club in the summer of 2023. Moore had a short stint at Huddersfield Town before joining Port Vale in February 2024.
KEY PLAYER
Despite Port Vale’s relegation last campaign, Ethan Chislett had a very good season personally. The midfielder was involved in 18 goals and showed the creativity and flair that he is known for.
Last season in numbers:
Appearances – 54
Goals – 11
Assists – 7
Yellow Cards – 5
Red Cards – 0
Minutes Played – 3,618
PLAYED FOR BOTH
Ryan Boot started his professional career with Port Vale, signing his first contract in 2013 after spending a year in the club’s academy. He had three loans at Worcester City before making his debut for the Valiants in 2016 – a 2-2 draw against Bury. In the 2017/18 season, Boot made another 28 appearances before leaving the club to join Solihull Moors.
After spending five seasons at the ARMCO Arena, Boot left Solihull to join Chesterfield. The 29-year-old and Harry Tyrer battled it out for the number one spot. He played eight times in all competitions as the Spireites won the National League title.
HEAD-TO-HEAD RECORD
P 99 W 43 D 22 L 34
The Spireites and the Valiants will play their 100th competitive fixture this season. Chesterfield have had the better of the head-to-head meetings in recent years with 11 wins in the last 17 games.
PREVIOUS GAME
The two sides last met in March 2018 with both looking to help their survival hopes. Danny Pugh opened the scoring right on half time as he turned in David Worrall’s low shot past Aaron Ramsdale. The goalscorer was then shown his marching orders just two minutes later; Pugh went in strong and late on Jacob Brown and was issued with a red card. Chesterfield levelled things up in the second half with a brilliant free-kick that flew beyond future Spireites Ryan Boot. Unfortunately, Ben Whitfield won the game for Port Vale with a fantastic solo effort.
Photos of Darren Moore and Ethan Chislett courtesy of Port Vale FC/Tee Gee Pix.
