FORMER Port Vale favourite Martin Foyle hailed a “great draw” after his York City side were handed an away tie at Premier League Stoke City in the third round of the FA Cup.

Foyle, who lives two minutes away from Stoke’s Britannia Stadium, never finished on the losing side as a player against Vale’s cross-city rivals and, despite a difference of four divisions, he is backing his team to acquit themselves well against their top-flight hosts.

The game is due to be staged on the weekend commencing January 2, meaning the New Year’s Day Blue Square Premier trip to Mansfield will now need to be rescheduled.

On learning of the draw, a delighted Foyle said: “It’s a great draw. As a player, I never lost to Stoke in all the games I started against them either with Port Vale or Oxford.

“It’s a game we can go and enjoy and a great tie for our supporters. It’s not that far to go so I’m sure a lot of them will come and get behind us.

“The gulf is miles between the Premiership and non-League now but we won’t be going there to make up the numbers because the last thing we need is a 7-0 drubbing. We will put it to the back of our minds for now but have a really good go at it in the New Year.”