football
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Doing Nothing Is Still A Decision
We’ve got ourselves into an extraordinary pickle, haven’t we? Again. Just when Vale appear to have taken us to the very depths of despair, they reveal another level beneath it and invite us down. Second from bottom of League Two.… Continue reading
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Away Ends, Industrial Estates, The Other England, and Port Vale FC
There are many ways to spend a weekend. There are people who spend theirs away, and I mean properly away, like boutique hotels in the Cotswolds, coastal walks in Cornwall, spa breaks with complimentary robes and cucumber water. That kind… Continue reading
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Port Vale: The Dreamers and The Merchants of Doom
Of course they’re right, those merchants of doom. Vale’s prophets of pessimism. Before a ball had even been kicked, they knew. They could see calamity gathering on the horizon, steaming towards us like an express train with no brakes. They… Continue reading
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Durkheim, Collective Effervescence, Emotional Contagion and Port Vale FC
Durkheim’s concept of collective effervescence highlights the powerful connection between emotional contagion and football. We have all witnessed it, we have all been part of it, whether we realise it or not. The shared joy, despair, anticipation and belief that… Continue reading
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Port Vale: The Problems We Already Knew About
Here’s the moment. The moment that tells you everything. Hernandez twists away from his full-back, reaches the byline and hangs an inch-perfect cross into the box. Mo Faal is there, utterly unmarked, seven yards from goal with only the (make-believe)… Continue reading
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Port Vale 2026/27: We Walk This Road Together
Thank fuck that’s over with. May, June, July. Three months of exhausting nothingness. Weeks and days without rhyme or reason, finally, mercifully, behind us. Ok, there was the World Cup, and it did have its moments, just not from us.… Continue reading
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Port Vale: Who’s In, Who’s Out? The Story So Far…
The Vale squad for the 2026/27 season is taking shape, and with football being football there will, of course, be some late twists and turns before the transfer window finally slams shut. An absolute banging new arrival could emerge from… Continue reading
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Port Vale and The Art of Loving a Player You’ve Only Googled Once
The new season looms, and, as ever, I have nothing but unquestioning faith in the squad we’re assembling at Vale. And within that, there’s always a new signing I convince myself will be the story. That player who turns draws… Continue reading
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2025/26 Squad Review Part One: Keepers, Defenders, Wing-backs
Here we go then. No point pretending we need to wait until the final whistle of the season because, honestly, we’ve seen more than enough by now. Everyone’s had their chance, plenty of minutes on the pitch, plenty of time… Continue reading
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Port Vale and the FA Cup: What if Chelsea Shit The Bed?
Saturday is coming. Quarter-finals of the FA Cup. Away at Chelsea. It’s just sitting there on the horizon like some great shimmering promise or threat – I can’t quite tell which, and that’s half the thrill. I’m letting go of… Continue reading
