Football team left with final message (4,4)

I believe the answer is:

port vale

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'football team' is the definition.
I don't know anything about this answer so I can't tell whether this works.

'left with final message' is the wordplay.
'left' becomes 'port' (left side of a ship - opposite of starboard).
'with' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'final message' becomes 'vale' (I can't explain this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'port'+'vale'='PORT VALE'

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I've seen this clue in The Guardian.

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