As Chelsea chase domestic silverware for the first time since 2018, they were handed the FA Cup quarter-final draw everyone wanted. On Monday, with Joe Cole and Joe Hart conducting the draw, the Blues were given a home tie against Port Vale, bottom of EFL League One. The date for the fixture was confirmed on Friday at noon.
- Saturday 4 April. Kick off 5:15pm. Stamford Bridge. BBC One & TNT Sports 1 (UK).
This, amazingly, will be the first time they have taken on the Valiants for 97 years. The pair were both in the Second Division in 1928/29, with Chelsea finishing ninth and Port Vale suffering relegation. That season, the duo played out a 3-3 draw at Stamford Bridge, before Port Vale were actually 1-0 winners at home on 6 April 1929. Almost exactly 97 years to the day later, the pair will meet again in West London.
This though gets you thinking. What is the longest gap Chelsea have had to wait between two meetings with the same opponent? Well, let's find out:
Chelsea's longest wait for a clash with the same club
Opponent | Gap | Year ended |
|---|---|---|
Lincoln City | 114 years | 2025 |
Port Vale | 97 years | 2026 |
Barrow | 76 years | 2024 |
Chesterfield | 72 years | 2022 |
Brentford | 63 years | 2013 |
Southend United | 59 years | 1972 |
Bradford City | 58 years | 1988 |
Reading | 57 years | 1987 |
Barnsley | 51 years | 1981 |
Oldham Athletic | 45 years | 1975 |
Wrexham | 44 years | 2026 |
Roma | 43 years | 2008 |
Crystal Palace | 43 years | 1969 |
Coventry City | 43 years | 1967 |
Swindon Town | 42 years | 1963 |
In the club's history, there have only been 15 instances of Chelsea having to wait four decades or longer between encounters with the same opponent. In recent times, they've ended elongated periods without facing Brentford, Chesterfield and Barrow, while this season has been very noteworthy in this regard.
In the previous round of the FA Cup, the Blues took on Wrexham for the first time since 1982. Meantime, their longest gap between two clashes with the same opponent came to an end earlier in the season. Back in September, a 2-1 EFL Cup victory at Sincil Bank was the Blues' first meeting with Lincoln since 1911, just six years after the club was founded.
Thus, this 114 year gap is the only one that is bigger than the 97 years between the Blues' two clashes with Port Vale. To set up this glamour trip to Stamford Bridge, the visitors have already ousted Maldon & Tiptree, Bristol Rovers, Fleetwood Town, Bristol City and then Sunderland in this season's competition.
This means, remarkably, Port Vale have won only one more EFL League One match this season (6) then FA Cup ties, hence why they're bottom, 11 points from safety. Thus, Chelsea are overwhelming favourites to progress through to the semi-finals at Wembley.
The other sixth round ties are Manchester City vs Liverpool, Southampton vs Arsenal and West Ham vs Leeds, meaning a heavyweight final four is likely, which Liam Rosenior's side are certainly forecast to be apart of.