North Vale
| Full name | North Vale FC |
|---|---|
| Founded | ? |
| Ground | ?, Wales |
| League | First Division |
North Vale are a Welsh fictional football team that appeared in the British comic Roy of the Rovers.
History
North Vale was located in Wales but they played in the English First Division. North Vale have always punched above their weight. Vale's presence in the top flight is usually something of a surprise. But remarkably, the Welshmen featured in the First Division continuously for nearly a decade from the mid-70s and returned in the early 90s for the first few years of the Premier League.
One match that Melchester Rovers fans will recall really sums up the determination of the side from the Valleys. The FA Cup 5th Round tie in 1977 saw Mel Park shrouded in thick fog. Vale adapted best as Race's side seemed distracted by the conditions. Rovers supporters would argue that the fog was an unfair leveler, but the press would disagree. Vale won well 3-2, to advance to the quarter-finals. While Rovers were hammered on the back pages: "Racey's men fogbound!" and "Rovers lose their way in fog!" the pick of the headlines.
What this performance showed, was Vale's ability to raise their game and fight for their club, perhaps a result of being the only Welsh club at the top end of English football. North Vale weren't just representing a town and a club, but a footballing nation.
With a small ground and limited finances, Vale were dependent on their own youth system. Perhaps one of their greatest ever players, Gary Walker, the lightning-fast, blond-haired forward, is symbolic of North Vale's position in the soccer world.
Walker made headlines in the early 80s, his unbelievable goalscoring record also attracting the attention of the big clubs. Incredibly fast, a natural finisher, with a great leap, Walker led the line in the First Division while still in his teens. But the very top clubs were reluctant to take a chance, maybe thinking he was just a flash in the pan.
It took a shocking injury to another star teenage forward, Billy Kramer of Tynefield City, to force a move. City, newly promoted to the First Division, were struggling badly. Kramer's broken leg, sustained falling from a rooftop after being substituted during a poor performance against Walker's North Vale, forced the Reds into the transfer market.
Walker had impressed scoring a fabulous header past Gordon Stewart that afternoon and a £500,000 record transfer fee was soon agreed. But as always, Vale would take the money, move on and continue to mix it with the big boys.
Honours
Note that all records are fictional, as of the 1991/92 season. Info may be incomplete.
League
Cups
- FA Cup:
Colours and kits
During the 1970s, Vale would wear a white and sky blue top with black shorts and red socks. Later, they moved to a sky blue top with white shorts.
Rivalries
Stadium
Seasons
- 1976-77: ROTR Div1
- 1977-78: ROTR Div1
- 1986-87: ROTR Div1
- 1987-88: ROTR Div1
- 1991-92: ROTR Div1*
- 1992-93: ROTR Div1
- In 1991-92 North Vale play in Division 4, in Goalmouth story. This could be assumed as an English (not Welsh club) under the same name.
