The key players that formed the first XI of 1953–54 were: Ray King (goalkeeper); Reg Potts and Stan Turner (full-backs); Tommy Cheadle, Albert Leake, Roy Sproson (half-backs); Colin Askey, John Cunliffe, Ken Griffiths, Basil Hayward, and Albert Mullard (forwards); Derek Tomkinson (reserve forward).

[4] He considered signing Stoke City goalkeeper Dennis Herod, and the two parties held talks before he was instead sold to Stockport County for £500.

[7] The fitness work was crucial to the team's success, as Steele was ahead of his time in that he insisted that wide players should defend when the opposition was on the ball to support the defence.

[8] Superstition was of great importance to Steele, who ensured that the team rigidly stuck their pre-match rituals such as the intricacies of kit layout and the order in which players entered the pitch.

[13] Four days later, Vale recorded a 2–1 win over Bradford Park Avenue at the Horsfall Stadium despite Reg Potts being injured with a swollen ankle early in the match.

[2] A 21 September game against nearby unbeaten Crewe Alexandra was billed as a 'crunch clash' between first and second, and a Sproson goal on 87 minutes won the match for the Vale.

[15] The draw was achieved despite injuries to Albert Leake, Hayward and John Cunliffe, who were replaced by Derek Tomkinson, Roland Lewis and Mick Hulligan.

[16] Vale then beat Tranmere Rovers 2–0 after their defence successfully contained the threat posed by the division's then-top scorer Cyril Done.

[2] Steele was investigated by a joint FA/Football League inquiry for his time as Mansfield Town manager regarding suspected illegal payments – found guilty, he was given a £250 fine.

[23] Title rivals Gateshead then left Vale Park with a point after a goalless draw, ending the club's record run of 12 consecutive home victories.

[24] A shock came on 6 February, when Bill Shankly's Workington earned a 2–0 win at Borough Park – the only time in the season Vale lost by more than one goal.

[26] On 6 March, Tranmere Rovers striker Bill Bainbridge put his side ahead at Prenton Park, but the Vale equalised within two minutes and went on to win the game 3–1.

[28] The trip to face Carlisle United at Brunton Park five days later saw six players sit out with injuries, leaving Hancock, Tomkinson, Len Barber, Elsby, Hulligan and Alan Bennett all to make rare appearances; Ken Fish also took charge of the team as Freddie Steele was watching FA Cup opponents West Bromwich Albion.

[30] Vale ended the month with a 1–0 victory over Accrington Stanley despite Barber missing the second and last penalty the club would be awarded in the season.

[32] On 10 April, they thrashed Stockport County 7–0 in a ground record victory, with Hayward scoring a hat-trick – they were 6–0 up after 36 minutes but then proceeded to play at 'a pleasant trot'.

[36] Les Robson had put the "Quakers" ahead by half-time after Ray King miss-kicked a clearance, but the Vale controlled the game as soon as Albert Leake scored the equaliser.

[37] In the Second Round Vale drew another league rival in Southport, who battled to a 1–1 draw at Haig Avenue on 12 December, Harry Whitworth's header cancelling out Basil Hayward's opener.

[19] The pitch was muddy and the weather was pouring rain in a game that was inevitably poor in quality, settled in the 50th minute by Albert Leake following a long ball played by John Cunliffe.

[42] Centre-half Tommy Cheadle restricted centre-forward Trevor Ford to a quiet game, and at full-time the pair were full of bruises but still left the pitch with a handshake and a smile.

[45] Albert Leake scored two goals on the waterlogged pitch, as his team put 'a dazzling display in attack and defence' and their 'hard-fighting, quick-on-the-ball play smothered Blackpool's intricate approach work'.

[45][47] In the Sixth Round they faced Third Division South club Leyton Orient at Brisbane Road, as 8,000 Vale fans made up a 31,000 crowd.

[45] In all 100 coaches and 14 excursion trains took the supporters to Birmingham for the match on 27 March, at which time high-scoring West Brom were top of the First Division – in all 68,221 spectators packed into the stadium.

[45] Ken Griffiths was unable to recover from a knee injury in time for the match and so was replaced by Derek Tomkinson, this was the first and only change to the first eleven throughout the cup run.

[32] Later in the match Leake had an equalising goal disallowed for offside, and Vale therefore failed to be the first third-tier club to reach an FA Cup final.

[32] At the end of the season only four players were released: William Cook, F.Viggars, Alf Jones and Lovatt, whilst A.Wharton was made available on a free transfer.

[54] The All-Star team was as follows: Frank Swift, Bert Sproston, Andy Beattie, Bill Corkhill, Les McDowall, Joe Mercer, Sammy Crooks, Raich Carter, Freddie Steele, Tim Ward and Peter Doherty; the All-Stars won 2–1 with both goals coming from Steele, making the club's manager the first player to score two goals against the Vale in one match that season.