Phil Yelland does the research to find out how Port Vale have got on during previous visits to Barrow ahead of Saturday's League Two encounter.
Saturday sees Port Vale visit The Dunes Hotel Stadium. We will be looking to avenge last season’s defeat when two goals from Vale skipper Tom Conlon – one for just inside the Barrow half - gave Vale the points.
Prior to that, their last competitive game here was in October 1966 when they took away a point from a 2-2 draw. The Barrow goals in that Division Four contest came from Alex Alston and Jim Mulholland.
The first meeting between the sides here came in Division Three North in January 1930 when Albert Walker’s goal earned us a point in a 1-1 draw. We then enjoyed two home wins against them. The second of those games, in February 1938, saw us recorded our biggest victory over Vale – a 3-0 triumph with two goals from Matthew Robinson and one from Arthur Baker.
Since then, Vale’s six visits to Barrow have seen them remain unbeaten. They got their first victory here in April 1952 when, despite Tom King scoring for us, they ran out 2-1 winners as they finished runners-up to Oldham Athletic in Division Three North. Their second win came in October 1958, as they headed for the first ever Division Four title. They picked up the points with a 2-1 success, Jackie Keen netting the Barrow goal.
So, nine previous meetings have seen two Barrow wins; three Vale wins and four draws. Let’s hope we can get our third win, and our first in over 80 years, here this weekend.