Skip to content

'I'm a Chelsea fan but my grandad was a Vale hero'

Alex McIntyre,West Midlandsand
Lee Blakeman,BBC Radio Stoke
News imagePaul Baker A black and white old photograph of a football match. Three players in black are competing for the ball with three other players in lighter-coloured kits.Paul Baker
Billy Briscoe, pictured kicking on the left, was part of the Port Vale side who faced Chelsea in 1928

Port Vale legend Billy Briscoe's grandson will face a dilemma in the next round of the FA Cup - because he is a fan of their opponents, Chelsea.

But Paul Baker said he would "love" to see the Vale emerge victorious in the quarter-final tie against the Blues, revealing his grandfather was part of the clubs' last encounter, 98 years ago.

Briscoe made more than 300 appearances for the Stoke-on-Trent side between 1918 and 1931. He was also the club's joint-top goal scorer during the 1923-24 season.

Baker told BBC Radio Stoke his grandfather, who died in 1994 at the age of 97, was an "absolute character".

He fondly remembered watching Grandstand or On The Ball with him, recalling his grandfather "jumping up" and reacting when the Vale scores were read out.

"He never lost [the passion]," Baker said. "He had so many tales to tell. He didn't like the modern diving and said [today's players] were 'so soft'."

Baker said he was a Chelsea season-ticket holder and would be watching the game on 4 April with his cousin, at Stamford Bridge.

News imagePaul Baker A man with short hair, dark jacket and blue jumper has his arm around an elderly woman who has white hair and a striped black and white top.Paul Baker
Paul Baker, pictured with his mum Marjorie Baker, Briscoe's daughter, said he would "love" to see Port Vale win the tie

Looking ahead to the tie, Baker said he could not really lose due to his connection with both teams, adding he was looking to get "one of those half-and-half scarfs".

"I've seen Chelsea at Wembley so many times… on this one occasion, I would love Vale to go through," he explained.

"I would love to see Vale at Wembley and somehow manage to blag a ticket for that if it happens, in his [my grandad's] honour, because he was a terrific character."

Baker said legendary Stoke-on-Trent footballer Sir Stanley Matthews once described Briscoe as his "hero".

An old photograph he found also showed Briscoe playing during the last match between Chelsea and Port Vale in 1928, with the matched ending in a 3-3 draw.

He said the fact the two sides will now meet in the FA Cup quarter finals was "fantastic" and showed the "magic" of the tournament.

"It's brilliant," he added. "I can't wait to see it."

Follow BBC Stoke & Staffordshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.

More on this story
Related internet links