Ben Waine (Port Vale | England)

LG

He's on a roll at the moment. First FA Cup quarter final since 1950. Will he be the first Kiwi to reach that??

If they got very lucky with the draw and had every Cup game at home, who knows. But it's mostly the big boys of the EPL left in the last eight now.

At least Vale will be taking some nice pay days with them down to L2.

Ben Waine scored the winner as Port Vale (last in L1) knocked Premier League side Sunderland out of the FA Cup and served up the Alan Shearer celly 🙋‍♂️

First time for 72 years that PVFV have made the quarters - this was BW's third 1-0 winning goal during this run#FlyingKiwis pic.twitter.com/hXbrxIzGlQ

— The Niche Cache (@thenichecache) March 8, 2026

“Hands down the biggest upset I've been involved in, it’s unbelievable”

Goalscorer Ben Waine reacts to Port Vale's huge FA Cup upset against Sunderland 👏

🎙@msmith850 | 📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/C5dfaYsvYG

— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) March 8, 2026

Ryan played in an FA Cup semi final for Blackburn against Arsenal (I think)

Waine the obvious hero for PV, but part Kiwi Joe Gauci also with a string of saves in goal to thwart Sunderland.

Highlights
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D2GIJBySQrA&t=1s

.

Since the big FA Cup win, Waine played 45 mins against Bradford (0-2 loss), 63 mins against Huddersfield (0-0) and missed this week's midweek 3-2 loss at Blackpool.

Hopefully he's fit tonight as last placed PV host Bolton.

https://us.soccerway.com/game/bolton-Or1bBrWD/port-vale-U3lM3y4e/?mid=xQVF2vre

Waine off the pine at 69 mins (1-0) in a 1-0 win.

PV still last, 11 pts from safety with 10 games left. 

They do have 2-3 matches in hand on the teams above them (their damaged pitch has seen a few games postponed), but it's League Two for them next season. They have two L1 catchups this week that Waineo will be away for - might explain why he was only a bench player overnight.

PV (24th/last) travel to Doncaster (17th) for a catchup game. Vale need a win really to be any hope of avoiding the drop.

Highlight's from the 1-0 win over Bolton the weekend. Sub Waine (no 19) with a backwards nod on that almost leads to a goal, then he gets the ball a long way out and does well to create some space and fire off a shot, the Bolton keeper saves fairly comfortably. PV's pitch in bad shape.

PV lose 1-0 at Doncaster.
Stay last 12 pts from safety with 9 games left.

PV get spanked 4-0 at Wycombe.
15 pts from safety with only 8 games left, they would need to go on a miraculous 8 game winning run to avoid the drop now.

All the focus for them now is on their big FA Cup QF at Chelsea next weekend.

FA Cup. Port Vale big quarter final at Chelsea.

Away from their home muddy paddock, they could get thrashed. Still a nice healthy payday, that should help them assemble a competitive squad next season in L2. And a chance for Waine to catch the eye of another club.

https://us.soccerway.com/game/chelsea-4fGZN2oK/port-vale-U3lM3y4e/?mid=nHVoqg0K 

https://twitter.com/BBCStokeSport/status/2039756696726221027

Port Vale's Ben Waine gets an FA Cup surprise from his goalscoring hero @alanshearer @BBCMOTD @NZ_Football

Click link to watch in full: https://t.co/lzjaciFgMx pic.twitter.com/r0TT2ts42d

— BBC Radio Stoke Sport (@BBCStokeSport) April 2, 2026

https://www.friendsoffootballnz.com/2026/04/04/all-whites-forward-ben-waine-ready-for-fairytale-fa-cup-tie-against-chelsea/

Vale manager Jon Brady, a former Australian youth international, hopes Waine can continue his run of form.

“He’s a real opportunist. He’s a good finisher. He reads when chances will fall on the box,” he told Nine’s Wide World of Sports.

“He’s always on the move, and I think he’s watched a lot of Alan Shearer and hence his celebration against Sunderland.

“So he’s following a good striker. It’d be nice to have one at Stamford Bridge like that, wouldn’t it? New Zealand will need a goal scorer going to the World Cup and there’d be no prouder moment.”

England and Newcastle United legend Shearer sent a personal message of good luck to Waine via video in the lead-up to the cup quarter-final.

Waine’s cup exploits have led to speculation he could be a summer transfer target.

Media reports in the UK have linked him with English Championship side Bristol City and League One clubs Huddersfield Town and Blackpool, suggesting he could move when the transfer window re-opens at the end of the season.

The cup run has turned into a money-spinner for struggling Vale, and winning their quarter-final would earn them £477,000 (NZ$1.08 million) in prize money in the Emirates-sponsored FA Cup. Vale will also benefit from their share of broadcast fees for live coverage of the quarter-final.

For winning their five ties so far, Vale have earned prize money of £614,000 (NZ$1.4 million).

Let’s go Waineo! 

All aboard the Waine Train! 

Reality check. You can't take your muddy paddock with you to away games.

Waine off at 65 mins (4-0) as Vale get thrashed 7-0

Highlights

The commentators talked about him a lot. But 60 plus places on the football pyramid are there for a reason. 

Port Vale (24th/last) host Rotherham (22nd)

https://us.soccerway.com/game/port-vale-U3lM3y4e/rotherham-KMfM7P4b/?mid=Cxa63ETs

Waine off the pine at 61 mins (1-0) in a 1-0 win

Wednesday morning
Port Vale (24th/last) host Barnsley (12th).

PV with 7 games to play and 16 pts from safety. They basically need to win all 7 matches in hand to survive!
They do have 2-3 games in hand on the teams above them, due to their FA Cup run.

https://us.soccerway.com/game/barnsley-UNGEKMx6/port-vale-U3lM3y4e/?mid=Sj4F1Fi3

Waineo off at 71 mins in a 0-0 draw. Barnsley failed to convert a pen.

The draw does take Port Vale up to 2nd last (23rd) on GD from Northampton (last).
15 pts from safety with only 6 games left, but this weekend they may be officially confirmed as relegated.

They travel to Garbett's Peterborough next.

AWs L1 matchup.
Peterborough host Port Vale.

https://us.soccerway.com/game/peterborough-tWeI85kh/port-vale-U3lM3y4e/?mid=65Pfkkd3

Waine on at 83 mins (3-1) as PV win 3-1 at The Posh.
Garbs off at 64 mins (1-3) for the vanquished, so they didn't cross paths.

Vale do climb to 22nd, but they are still 13 pts from safety with only 5 matches left.

For all Waineo's FA Cup heroics his stats in L1 this season are pretty meh, at a struggling PV. 23 games, 980 mins, 3 goals & 0 assists.

I think his best bet might be just to go down to L2 with Vale. With all that FA Cup dosh they should be able to assemble a strong squad in L2, and Waine might shine in a potentially dominant team. He hasn't spent much more than a season at any of his UK clubs, some stability might be a good thing. Gaffer Brady seems to like him.

Port Vale host Wigan

0-0 draw. Waine off the pine at 78 mins.

PV (23rd) unbeaten in 4 games, and still a mathematical chance of survival. 
But they would need to win all their remaining 4 matches, and need AFC Dons (20th) to go poinless in their last 2 matches.

PV (23rd) travel to Cardiff (2nd). Maybe Jazzy Jeff can report in on Waineo.
Vale's relegation likely confirmed after this match.

https://us.soccerway.com/game/cardiff-hO8wh6aP/port-vale-U3lM3y4e/?mid=rJb5pX1E

Couldn't believe this game got rescheduled for tomorrow night, it's my missus birthday... no eyes on the Waine Train for me unfortunately! Wanted to bring my Nix flag along with me when they came down to play, but alas. 

We've already been promoted though, so I really do hope Waineo bags one.

All aboard the Waine Train.
Next stop : League Two.

Sounds like he missed an open goal late on as well. Oh dear. 😬

So Waine off the pine at 72 mins (0-0) in a 1-0 loss at Cardiff City.
And yes League Two footy for Vale next season.

https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/cardiff-port-vale-result-highlights-33820055

Vale threw everything forward in response and came agonisingly close to a leveller when Onel Hernandez teed up Ben Waine just yards out, only for the striker to somehow miss the target.

https://twitter.com/thenichecache/status/2047104238388756775

https://t.co/mHRfjo6bAy pic.twitter.com/YXYsVAyAmo

— The Niche Cache (@thenichecache) April 23, 2026

Ouch !!

Waineo travels to his first UK club Plymouth. Pilgrims (8th) still a chance of making playoffs.

Vale lose 2-1. Waine a full game. Plymouth went down to 10 men in the 5th min.

Wednesday

Port Vale travel to Stockport County.
https://us.soccerway.com/game/port-vale-U3lM3y4e/stockport-county-IX6WjNvr/?mid=vFTi7ZiU

Waine off at HT (2-0) in a 2-1 win
Double change at HT

Had an assist for the first goal

Pep was in the stands, so I guess we know Waineo's next destination.

image.png 299.73 KB

https://twitter.com/OfficialPVFC/status/2049199431749140523

4' Sherif gives us the lead!

Ben Waine gets away down the left and sends a pinpoint cross into the path of Martin Sherif, who makes no mistake from close range!#PVFCLive | 0-1 pic.twitter.com/5CQlTJ5WBo

— Port Vale Football Club (@OfficialPVFC) April 28, 2026

https://twitter.com/thenichecache/status/2049333169837703502

On a platter from Ben Waine for the assist 🍽️

Port Vale have been relegated from League One but Waine's found some consistency over the last few months and could have a big season in the fourth tier now that he's finally got a steady role#FlyingKiwis pic.twitter.com/8pGEknPC9H

— The Niche Cache (@thenichecache) April 29, 2026