Sky Bet League One
Matchday 2 of 46
Vale Park
Thursday, August 7th, 2025 - 8pm KO
KNOW YOUR OPPONENT | KEY STAFF
Manager: Darren Moore (2024-present)
Lead First Team Coach: Jamie Smith
First Team Coach: Simon Ireland
First Team Coach: Martin Devaney
Goalkeeping Coach: Gary Walsh
Chairman: Carol Shanahan
Chief Executive Officer: Matt Hancock
KNOW YOUR OPPONENT | SQUAD UPDATE
Nicknamed The Valiants, Port Vale will be hoping to celebrate 150 years as a club by keeping their place in League One this season. Darren Moore, in particular, will be hoping for this, having been brought in during the 2023/24 season to "come in, galvanise and energise the club" according to then-Director of Football, David Flitcroft.
Despite relegation to League Two that season, the side are now back up in League One following a 2-0 win at AFC Wimbledon, which secured automatic promotion. Moore, with experience managing Sheffield Wednesday, Huddersfield Town and most notably West Bromwich Albion in the Championship, will be looking forward to Vale’s first home of the campaign against the Bluebirds.
Port Vale’s business this summer has been smart, signing seven players on free transfers, including Jordan Gabriel from Blackpool, Cameron Humphreys from Rotherham United and Jordan Shipley from Shrewsbury Town. Eight players have left the club.
Current Squad
GK | Marko Marosi, Ben Amos, Arron Davies
DEF | Cameron Humphreys, Jesse Debrah, Ben Heneghan, Connor Hall, Ben Lomax, Jaheim Headley, Liam Gordon, Sam Hart, Jordan Gabriel, Mitch Clark, Kyle John
MID | Ryan Croasdale, George Byers, Funso Ojo, Rhys Walters, Jack Shorrock, Jordan Shipley, Ben Garrity, Rico Richards
FOR | Ronan Curtis, James Plant, Ben Waine, Lorent Tolaj, Jayden Stockley, Ruari Paton
LAST TIME OUT
Port Vale will be without left back Jaheim Headley this Thursday, after he picked up a red card against Rotherham United on Saturday. To add to their troubles, Port Vale were unsuccessful in their first game, losing 2-1 to the Millers.
Striker Sam Nombe scored a brace for Rotherham, before defender Connor Hall brought Port Vale back into the game in the 60th minute, but it would only be a consolation. Vale will be hoping to improve on Saturday’s result in their first home game of the campaign.
WHEN WE LAST MET
26/08/2014 | Port Vale 2-3 Cardiff City
It’s been over 11 years since Cardiff City and Port Vale last met. In the Second Round of the EFL Cup, Ole Gunnar Solskjær led his side to a narrow victory at Vale Park. Former City captain Joe Ralls opened the scoring in the 26th minute, although the sides were level going into half time thanks to a goal from Michael O’Connor in the 34th minute.
Striker Federico Macheda, who spent two years at the Club, would wrap up the game, with goals in the 60th and 79th minutes. Michael Brown scored a consolation goal in the 93rd minute, but a win took City into the next round.
SHARED CONNECTIONS
Perhaps the most notable connection between the two clubs is Darren Purse. Joining the Bluebirds in 2005, he was instantly named captain and enjoyed an impressive first campaign, netting six goals in 43 games. The centre back would stay at the Club until 2009, and often scored in big games, such as a headed goal in the 2-1 League Cup defeat against Liverpool in October 2007.
Purse signed for Port Vale in January 2013, after spells at Sheffield Wednesday, Millwall and Plymouth Argyle. Despite his short tenure there, he added experience to Port Vale, making 17 appearances, and was named Man of the Match on his debut, helping his side to a 2-1 victory against Gillingham, which sent them to the top of the table and eventually to promotion to League One.
Another player to feature for both clubs was striker Mark Harris, who came through the City youth ranks and made 87 appearances between 2017 and 2023, netting nine times. The Welshman joined the Valiants on a short loan in January 2019, making six appearances.
Other players to have featured for Port Vale and Cardiff City include Jimmy McGrath, George Whitcombe, John Williams, Gareth Ainsworth, Malvin Kamara, Matty Kennedy and Tom Sang.