Fans were in a party mood today for the finale to another fantastic season for Albion.

More than 4,500 made the journey to Vale Park to celebrate consecutive championships.

Boss Peter Taylor made three changes to the team which clinched the Division Two title with a 0-0 draw against Swindon at Withdean last Saturday.

Keeper Michel Kuipers was rested with a thigh injury which has been troubling him for weeks, so Will Packham came in for his full League debut.

Packham's only previous first team appearances were as a late substitute for Kuipers at Halifax at the end of last season and in the home F.A. Cup defeat by Preston in January.

Charlie Oatway returned in midfield in place of the injured Junior Lewis.

Lewis had an operation on Wednesday on the groin problem which has bothered him since he arrived on loan from Leicester in February.

Another loan signing, Wayne Gray, was back in the attack at the expense of Daniel Webb.

Gray, drafted in from Wimbledon just before last month's transfer deadline, previously had a loan stint with Vale.

He partnered Bobby Zamora, making his 100th appearance for Albion and seeking his 70th goal.

Zamora got his first taste of international football as a substitute for the England Under 21s in Tuesday's 1-0 defeat by Portugal at Stoke.

Under 21 boss David Platt names his squad for the European championships early next month and he was at Vale Park along with West Brom manager Gary Megson.

Former Albion captain Brian Horton made one change to the Vale side defeated 2-1 at Huddersfield last Saturday.

Michael Walsh came into the centre of defence for Liam Burns, while Irishman Michael Cummins completed a record of playing in all 52 League and Cup matches for the mid-table Potteries club this season.

Circumstances were reversed when the teams met on the final day of the 1993/94 campaign at the Goldstone.

Vale won 3-1 to steal promotion from the Second Division, while Albion finished 14th.

There was a nice touch before the kick-off as the Vale players formed a Guard of Honour to welcome Albion on to the pitch.

Port Vale: Mark Goodlad; Matthew Carragher, Sean McClare, Michael Walsh, Saji Burton, Neil Brisco, Michael Cummins, Stephen Brooker, Steve McPhee, Marc Bridge-Wilkinson, Rae Ingram. Subs: Delaney, Burns, Birchall, Paynter, Byrne.

Albion: Will Packham; Paul Watson, Kerry Mayo, Danny Cullip, Simon Morgan, Charlie Oatway, Paul Brooker, Richard Carpenter, Nathan Jones, Wayne Gray, Bobby Zamora. Subs: Rogers, Hadland, Lee, Pethick, Webb.

Referee: Mr M. Ryan (Preston).