History
The two clubs have long league histories, Stoke City were founded in 1863 or 1868 and Port Vale were probably formed in 1879. In the early 20th century, both clubs spent time out of the Football League structure: from 1907 (for Vale) and 1908 (for Stoke) until 1919 - both had resigned due to financial troubles. Stoke were founder members of the football league in 1888 and Port Vale were founder members of both the Second Division in 1892 and the Fourth Division in 1958. City have tended to be the more successful club over the years, the most valued trophy going to Stoke in 1972 in the form of the League Cup. Although Vale did reach the semi-finals of the FA Cup in 1954, Stoke bettered this with a second place finish in 2011. Stoke have also tended to play in higher tiers of the football league throughout the clubs history, although since 1919 the two clubs have found themselves in the same league for 22 seasons. Vale have had only five seasons playing at a higher level than City, and never in the top flight. Whilst competing in the same division, Vale have finished above Stoke on seven occasions. Stoke therefore have finished above Vale 87 times (as of 2011, and only including seasons in which Vale have competed in the Football League).
The first derby game was played at Westport Meadows on 2 December 1882, in the Second Round of the Staffordshire Senior Cup. Vale were complete unknowns, and so pulled off a surprise by managing a 1–1 with their more established rivals-to-be. No details of the match were recorded, though The Staffordshire Sentinel did mention the match along with the comment that it was "a spirited game". Stoke won the replay 5–1 at the Victoria Ground seven days later, with George Shutt bagging four of the goals. It took Vale seventeen attempts to register their first victory over Stoke, which they finally did in a friendly on 29 March 1890, winning 2–1.
The biggest attendance came on 6 January 1951, as a crowd of 49,500 packed into the Victoria Ground to witness the teams draw in an FA Cup First Round encounter. Three years later some 46,777 turned up at the ground when the pair met in the league. The biggest crowd for an encounter Vale Park came on 25 April 1955, when a crowd of 41,674 witnessed a Stoke victory.
Though the two clubs have been main rivals since as early as the 1880s, they have supported each other in times of need. Before regaining their Football League status in the early 20th century, the two clubs had a pact that meant Vale would not bid for membership, leaving Stoke more likely to succeed in their bid; Stoke would then support Vale in any future bids they made. During times of deep financial crisis at the Vale, Stoke played fund-raising matches with the Vale in order to try and prevent their rivals from going into liquidation. In turn, Vale allowed Stoke to play a home game at Vale Park when a freak gale in January 1976 caused severe damage to the Victoria Ground.
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