There are only a handful of players who have been on the books of both the Vale and Chelsea!
John ‘Jock’ Cameron
Jock was born in Kirkwood, Coatbridge, Scotland in 1879 was a full-back with St Mirren before joining Blackburn Rovers in 1904. He was good enough to win two full international caps for Scotland and moved to Chelsea for £900 in 1907. He played almost 200 games for Chelsea and helped them to win promotion to the First Division in 1911/12.
In 1913, he made what appeared to be a surprising move to join the Vale - who were then a non-League side - playing in the Central League, so quite a drop! Vale had just moved to the Old Recreation Ground in Hanley and he played in the first game at the new ground, a 3-3 draw against Blackburn Rovers reserves in the Central League. He made 41 apps that season as right-back but left at the end of it, probably due to the World War.
He returned to the Vale in 1916 and played in the war leagues at left-back. In August 1918, he was made Vale player-manager, but was relieved of his duties in January 1919 although he remained as a player. He retired at the end of that season having made 105 appearances for the Vale, scoring one goal.
Joe Allon
Joe was a striker, born in Gateshead in 1966. He began his career with Newcastle United and then played for Swansea City and Hartlepool United before moving to Chelsea for £375,000 in 1991.
It was whilst there that he played six games on loan for the Vale in February 1992. He was released to join Brentford at the end of that season, but Vale signed him permanently in March 1994. He scored twice in four games as Vale were promoted to the Championship and then scored eight times in 22 games in 1994/95.
He was sold to Lincoln City for £42,500 in July 1995. He ended his playing career back at Hartlepool United and then was a coach for two years at Leeds United.
Steve Livingstone
Steve was a striker, born in Middlesbrough in 1969 who played for Coventry City and Blackburn Rovers before joining Chelsea for £350,000 in March 1993.
He made just the one senior appearance for Chelsea, at home to Manchester United as a substitute a month later. He joined the Vale on a month’s loan in September 1993 and played five games in our 1993/94 promotion season.
He later moved to Grimsby Town where he stayed for 10 years making over 330 appearances. He finished his playing career with Carlisle United and went on to sell properties back in Middlesbrough.
Anthony Grant
Anthony is a midfielder who was born in Lambeth in 1987. He began his career in the Chelsea academy, aged 13, turning professional in 2004. He made one first-team appearance for Chelsea, as a substitute in a 3-1 victory at Manchester United in May 2005, replacing Joe Cole. He had loan spells at Oldham Athletic, Wycombe Wanderers, Luton Town and Southend United, joining the latter permanently in 2008. He also played for Stevenage and Crewe Alexandra before joining the Vale in June 2015.
He won the club’s Player of the Season award in his first season, 2015/16, but then left to join Peterborough United in January 2017 having made 69 appearances and scoring three goals for the Vale. He has since played for Shrewsbury Town, Swindon Town, Scunthorpe United, Crawley Town, Welling United and his current club, AFC Whyteleafe.
He has also won six international caps for Jamaica, despite playing for England at U16, U17 and U19 level.
Tom Taiwo
Tom was a midfielder who was born in Pudsey in 1990. He joined Chelsea from the Leeds United academy aged 16 along with Michael Woods for a combined fee of £5 million. In February 2008, he was in the Chelsea squad for an FA Youth Cup tie at Vale Park which the Londoners won 5-2. He never played for the Chelsea first team but was loaned out to the Vale in August 2008. He made three starts and two sub appearances before returning to Stamford Bridge.
He later played for Carlisle United, Hibernian, Falkirk and Hamilton Academical, where he sadly suffered a career-ending injury aged 29. He also represented England at U17 level.
Another link is Frank Sinclair, a defender who made over 200 appearances for Chelsea and later coached the Vale between March 2020 and May 2021.
Thanks to Club Historian, Phil Sherwin, for the info above!
