Stat Attack: Notts County v Port Vale

Notts County have met Staffordshire club Port Vale a grand total of 91 times over the years, with the first two fixtures coming within a week of each other back in February 1921. The Magpies won the first game 2-1, but lost 1-0 at Meadow Lane.

Notts have won 37 games, lost 34, and drawn 20 against the Valiants, with the highest scoring matches coming in February 1927 (a 6-2 defeat) and April 1935 (a 5-3 defeat).

Port Vale is one of the few English league clubs not to be named after a geographical location. The name Port Vale exists on maps pre–dating the formation of the club, which probably occurred in 1879, and is a reference to a valley of ports on the Trent and Mersey Canal, associated with the city's pottery industry.

The club itself is actually based in Burslem, one of six towns that make up the city of Stoke-on-Trent.

Port Vale have never been in the top tier of English football, and the last time they were in the second tier was back in 1999-2000.

In terms of silverware, the Valiants have won the Staffordshire Senior Cup twice, in 1920 and 2001, whilst being runners-up in 1900 and 2010, as well as several other regional cups like the Birmingham Senior Cup, one of the oldest county football competitions still active.

The club, despite being fairly small, enjoys the support of some world-famous celebrities. Robbie Williams is a huge fan, to the point that he held £240,000 worth of shares in the club and has a restaurant at Vale Park named after him.

For the videogame FIFA 2000, he provided an original theme song called It's Only Us, on the condition that Port Vale should be included in the game, which they were, located in the Rest of World section!

Also, in 2005, Williams founded Los Angeles Vale F.C., a Super Metro League team in the United States, named after Port Vale and based at his Los Angeles home.

Darts star Phil “The Power” Taylor is also a big fan, while Blue (that Noughties boy-band) singer Simon Webbe was part of their youth setup until a ligament injury hampered any prospect of a career in football.

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Notts County are without suspended centre-half Haydn Hollis, who serves a one-match ban for his sending off in last weekend's 3-1 defeat at Brentford.

Notts look likely to choose from Dean Leacock and Manny Smith to replace him.

Meanwhile, Port Vale are without skipper Doug Loft, who suffered an injury in training on Friday.

Assistant manager Mark Grew says that some of their fringe players may get a chance at Meadow Lane, with striker Jordan Hugill looking a strong contender.

Vale, who beat Notts 2-1 on Boxing Day, start the day seven points adrift of the League One play-offs.

(On the plus side, however, at least we don't have to face Lee Hughes again - he's now at Forest Green Rovers)