On the PV fans forum one of the posters asked where our so called dislike of them stemmed from, and to be honest I have no idea. It cant be due to DCs departure surely. I remember back in the day, a visit to Vale Park could be a bit tasty, but that applies to a few clubs in that era. Ive always considered Shrewsbury as our rivals historically. Not really bothered about Wolves as we never play them. They have a lets all laugh at Swindon thread, so they seem ok by me.
The wiltshire massive are in meltdown
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Yeah, lots of talk about how itâs a lopsided derby and we care about it more than they do.
I donât seem to remember Walsall fans trying to break into the Port Vale Family stand and trying to fight disabled people âŚ
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When I was at college in Bristol, over 40 years ago, another student there was a Vale fan and he often greeted me by singing âWe hate Walsall, more than Stokeâ, so I think the animosity has been as much, if not more, from them over the years, as from our side.
Didnât really matter during their âgloryâ years under Rudge but weâve so often had the beating of them at other times in my memory that Iâm not surprised they donât like us.
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Really, i dont remember that EN
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I think weâve just played them more frequently in the past decade or so. DC departure intensified it for a short while but far greater animosity for Salop, Dingles and even Graham Kavanagh legacy Stoke.
Iâll never forgive Tony Rougier for snapping Gino at Vale Park, but he got his comeuppance.
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It was only 2 1/2 years back.
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Aah, recovering from Knee replacement
Our dislike of them? It was two way. Rate themselves donât they.
They used to sing âwe hate you more than Stokeâ. IYKYK.
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They did indeed.
Fun fact, they also congregated at the hotel on the corner too. I walked past to cat calls, responded with a cheeky thumbs up and a âsee you next seasonâ, to which a couple of the cry babies surrounded me asking repeatedly âWhy will we? Why will we?â I headed off down the road realising that they didnât have the mental capacity to have a laugh (not before one of them started chucking pop bottles about) before it escalated.
Totally not bothered about us though 
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I think it was the first time weâd played them at Bescot after Darrell Clarke went to them.
Clarke and them got a load of stick for them losing and they couldnât handle it.
Theyâd been given a couple of blocks at the end of the Family stand as well as the away end. Some of their fans obviously got triggered by kids taking the pee and they tried to get through the police at the bottom of the stand. 
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I first saw us play Vale in 1972 and the rivalry existed then. Some older fans told me at that game that Vale was our biggest rival and if we could only win two games all season they had better be the two against them.
I canât remember a time when we didnât have a fierce dislike of them and it always seemed to be reciprocated.
For me, Salop are our main rivals, and then Vale, but I know plenty would put Vale at the top.
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Sounds very similar to their fans confronting ours on the Vale car park after we beat them 5-0 last game of the season.
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I think what it really boils down too, is they view themselves as a âbiggerâ club than us, but get little man syndrome from having a terrible record against us, and historically spending more time below us than above.
They have the Wembley of the North though âŚ
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Vale, Shrewsbury and Hereford back in the 1970s were our biggest rivals as I recall, basically because they were the clubs closest to us geographically who were in Division 3.
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I remember going to Vale away in the 99/2000 season and a Vale fan trying to attack my dad as we walked to the ground because I was wearing Walsall colours. I was 7 and Iâve despised them since. Proper vile club with vile fans
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As regular uts poster would say; Vale Park, never an easy place to go to. Everytime Iâve been there has been aggro and intimidation from Vale fans. Had a few lucky escapes. I think our rivalry with them is characterised by them being desperate to get the better of us, which in modern times they have on a few occasions. There must be some OK Vale fans. Met a Vale fan in the Arboretum Visitors Centre a few years back just after we had beaten them. It was the year they went up through the Play Offs. He was a bit down but complimentary about our win. Seemed unusually pleasant for a Vale fan. Always seen Shrewsbury as our proper rivals but that is because they were regular visitors when I started watching us whereas Vale were usually in Division 4.
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They donât like us because we are the bogeyest of bogey teams for them:
Historical Record:
Vale wins 25
Draws 26
Walsall wins 46
They didnât win a game at Fellows Park between 1956 and 1988 (21 matches)
They didnât beat us at Vale Park between 1965 and 1986 (14 matches)
During that time, we seemed to specialise in spawny last-minute goals, penalty saves etc.
So you can understand why weâre the favourites - first time I went to Vale Park in the late '70s, theyâd even gone to the trouble of making a âWe Hate Walsallâ banner!
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I go back a long time watching Walsall v Vale games starting 1958/59 season just taking a 20 year period to 1978 our record was played 23 games .won 9 .Drawn 12 . Lost 2 . Vale park was always a good place to go and a decent result for us .Out team and fans were always right up for it we were pretty much there bogey side .went to a midweek game away at vale my car was knackered at the time and I didnât think it would make it Young girl at work said I could use hers she came as along well .now Mrs Cowsded .
she never attended another game after that got what she wanted I think 
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Nice that we have some kinda rivalry when the local teams around is donât give a dam about us
You got it.The reason they donât like us is that we had a great record against them for many years home and away. I just hope it continues on Saturday. I appointed a Port Vale fan to work with me in the nineties and he was a decent chap but he explained their deep animosity towards us based on results. UTS