United travel to Port Vale for their latest League One meeting on Saturday.
Here is a guide to the ground for those fans heading there this weekend.Vale Park…
Port Vale’s ground holds nearly 19,000 fans and was opened in 1950. It was since renovated at around the turn of the century and, while it is still unfinished, it’s a nice traditional ground which generates plenty of noise.
One of the widest pitches in the Football League, it’s surrounded by four stands: Lorne Street opposite to The Railway Paddock, and The Bycars End facing the Hamil Road End.
Lorne Street is the newest of these, it is still unfinished, and away fans are housed in the Hamil Road End. It can hold up to 4,500 visitors and they do great food and it generates a good amount of noise. The electronic scoreboard is situated above the stand, which is a downside, and it is partly covered at the rear, with supporting pillars at each end.
An away day to Vale Park is generally an enjoyable one and the food is recommended, with pies, hot dogs and more available inside the ground for very reasonable prices. There’s a few nearby pubs, as well as a KFC.
Getting there by car....
Starting from Glanford Park for the 220-mile-round journey, take the first left at the roundabout by Tesco’s and the first exit at the next one onto the M181 to Humber Bridge/Doncaster/M180. Keep right upon reaching a fork before following signs for the M180.
Next, merge onto the M1. After around 20 miles exit junction 28 onto A38 towards A615/Derby/Matlock. At the roundabout, take the third exit onto the A38.
After 13.5 miles, take the first exit at the roundabout, onto Abbey Hill/A38. Continue for 3.5 miles and at the roundabout take the 2nd exit to stay on A38. Take the left onto A516 and go through the next two roundabouts.
Continue for four-and-a-half miles before taking the second exit onto the A50 ramp to Uttoxeter/Stoke/Sudbury/Doveridge and merge onto the A50. Follow signs for the A50 for the next 21 or so miles.
When you reach the roundabout, take the second exit onto the A500 ramp towards Nantwich/City Centre/Hanley/Stoke/A5006 and merge onto A500. Less than four miles later, take the A5271 ramp to B5051/Tunstall/Burslem.
Once you reach the roundabout, follow signs for the A5271 and at the roundabout take the second exit towards the B5051, where you will continue, going through one roundabout.
Less than a mile later, turn left onto Hamil Rd and left onto Lorne St, where you will see Vale Park.
Street parking is available near the ground or you can use the near superstore’s car park for £5.
Getting there by train...
Full journey details can be accessed here.
Longport Railway Station is the closest to the ground, but is a good 30 minute walk away and is not well served by trains, unlike Stoke On Trent station which is. Therefore most fans end up at Stoke On Trent railway station, which is over four miles away from Vale Park and then take a taxi up to the ground.
According to Port Vale’s website, you can catch a bus from Stoke to Burslem town centre. You can get either the 7, 7A, 7B or 7C services and Vale Park is situated on Hamil Road (By the traffic lights, go past the Red Lion on your left and Hamil Road is the second left turning.) Alternatively, you can get the train to Longport Station and take a 25 minute walk to the ground. You will need to plan ahead, though, as no trains will get you back to Scunthorpe after the game.
Enjoy the game!
Postcode: ST6 1AW
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