Fans hopeful after club's giant killing victory

Fans of Port Vale said the club's FA Cup win against Sunderland was a "historic day" and they remained hopeful their fortunes in the league would change.

The Valiants, who currently lie at the bottom of League One, knocked out the Premier League club with a 1-0 victory on Sunday, to reach the last eight of the competition.

It is only the second time that Vale have reached the FA Cup quarter-finals in their history, with the last time 72 years ago in 1954.

Kirsty Watts-Rollings, who attended the match, said the win was "unexpected" given the team's current season, but she was still "buzzing".

"I was somewhat shocked, when yesterday, not only were we playing really well, [but] we scored and held on to it right until the end," she said.

"It kind of felt like the promotion season all over again."

Watts-Rollings described how people were hugging each other and dancing following the win at Vale Park.

"Burslem was on fire walking through afterwards," she said. "It was brilliant."

Vale will find out who they will face in a quarter-final draw on Monday evening, with possible opponents including Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester City.

Speaking to BBC Radio Stoke after the win, Mark Porter, chairman of the supporters club, said it "gives you hope".

"These games, they'll go down historically... They're turning points," he said.

He added the money which would come in from the team's FA cup run would help the club in whichever league it was playing in next season.

"If they can turn this around now into the league form, who knows, it will be unbelievable won't it?" he said.

"I think it's a historic day... We know we're in a real tough fight at the bottom of the league, but you've got to take these moments and just turn them around."

Fan Emily Cherry described how Vale supporters were out of their seats and "screaming and shouting" the entire match.

"What an atmosphere, what a result, what a way to start a celebration for the 150th season," she said of the win.

"It also shows you that the support for Vale is there in the community, it shows you that when the players get that community, they get that fight and they get that passion, the supporters get behind the club."

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