1981–82 Port Vale F.C. season
Encyclopedia
The 1981–82 season was Port Vale
Port Vale F.C.
Port Vale Football Club is an English football club currently playing in Football League Two. They are based in Burslem, Staffordshire — one of six towns that make up the city of Stoke-on-Trent. The club's traditional rivals in the city are Stoke City, and games between the two clubs are known as...

's seventieth season of football in the Football League
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...

, and their fourth successive season (tenth overall) in the Fourth Division
Football League Fourth Division
The Fourth Division of The Football League was the fourth-highest division in the English football league system from the 1958–59 season until the creation of the Premier League prior to the 1992–93 season...

. John McGrath led his team to a seventh place finish, a big improvement on the previous two seasons. Top-scorer Ernie Moss
Ernie Moss
Ernest "Ernie" Moss is an English former footballer. He is most associated with his home town club, Chesterfield, where in three separate spells spanning nearly twenty years he made 539 appearances, scoring a club record 192 goals. He was later voted PFA Fans' Favourites and cult hero number one...

 and midfielder Mark Chamberlain
Mark Chamberlain
Mark Valentine Chamberlain is an English retired international footballer. He is the younger brother of Neville Chamberlain, and the father of Arsenal and England U21 player Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain....

 proved to be the stars of the season. The season was notable for Vale Park
Vale Park
Vale Park is a football stadium in Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent, England. It is the home ground of Port Vale F.C., who have played at the ground since 1950....

's lowest ever Football League attendance.

Fourth Division

The pre-season saw John McGrath make four new signings: defender Ray Deakin
Ray Deakin
Raymond John Deakin was an English footballer, whose playing position was left-back.-Biography:Born in Liverpool, Deakin began his career at Everton, where he signed his first professional contract in 1977. However, he never made any appearances for Everton's first team, and was released in 1981....

 (Everton
Everton F.C.
Everton Football Club are an English professional association football club from the city of Liverpool. The club competes in the Premier League, the highest level of English football...

); midfielder Geoff Hunter
Geoff Hunter (footballer)
Geoffrey "Geoff" Hunter is a former English footballer who played as a midfielder. In a twelve year career in the Football League he played 430 league games, scoring 38 goals....

 (from Crewe Alexandra
Crewe Alexandra F.C.
Crewe Alexandra Football Club is an English professional football club based in Crewe, Cheshire. Nicknamed The Railwaymen due to the town's links with the rail industry, they currently play in Football League Two, the fourth tier of English football, and are based at the Alexandra Stadium.The club...

 for £12,000); and forwards Ernie Moss
Ernie Moss
Ernest "Ernie" Moss is an English former footballer. He is most associated with his home town club, Chesterfield, where in three separate spells spanning nearly twenty years he made 539 appearances, scoring a club record 192 goals. He was later voted PFA Fans' Favourites and cult hero number one...

 (from Chesterfield
Chesterfield F.C.
Chesterfield Football Club is an English football club based in Chesterfield, Derbyshire. The club currently plays in Football League One, the third tier of English football. Despite being the fourth oldest Football League club in England, they have spent most of their existence in the lower...

 for £12,000) and Jimmy Greenhoff
Jimmy Greenhoff
James "Jimmy" Greenhoff is an English former football player. He was a skilful forward and although capped five times at under-23 level, once as an over-age player, he never played for the full side, and is labelled as the finest English player never to play for England...

 (Toronto Blizzard
Toronto Blizzard (NASL)
The Toronto Blizzard were a professional soccer club based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada that played in the North American Soccer League.-History:The Toronto Metros joined the NASL in 1971. Their home field was Varsity Stadium....

). Attempts to re-sign Brian Horton
Brian Horton
Brian Horton is an English former footballer and manager, who is working as Phil Brown's assistant at Preston North End.Horton played for Hednesford Town, Port Vale, Brighton & Hove Albion, Luton Town and Hull City as a midfielder...

 failed. On 1 August, a heavy metal
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...

 concert was held at Vale Park
Vale Park
Vale Park is a football stadium in Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent, England. It is the home ground of Port Vale F.C., who have played at the ground since 1950....

, headlined by local lad Lemmy's Motörhead. Some twenty thousand metal fans paid £7.50 admission each to boost club coffers. However Vale failed to win any of their pre-season friendlies, and in fact were embarrassed to lose 6–1 at home to local rivals
Potteries derby
The Potteries derby is the football local derby in Stoke-on-Trent between Port Vale and Stoke City. The fans of each club both consider the other to be their main rivals; this has led to a heated atmosphere at these matches, especially with the rise of football hooliganism and the 'Naughty Forty'...

 Stoke City
Stoke City F.C.
Stoke City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire that plays in the Premier League. Founded in 1863, it is the oldest club in the Premier League, and considered to be the second oldest professional football club in the world, after Notts...

.

The season opened with four draws, somewhat ironic considering that McGrath had stated that 'forwards are much more important now' after the Football League changed a win from earning two points to three points. On 12 September, their club-record run of six consecutive draws came to an end. Four victories in five games then put Vale into seventh place, and Colin Tartt
Colin Tartt
Colin Tartt is a former English footballer.-Playing career:Tartt joined Port Vale from Alsager College , initially on trial, in June 1972. His first appearance was as a substitute in a 7–0 drubbing at Rotherham United on 26 August 1972, his first full debut was on 26 September that year in a 4–0...

 was signed from Chesterfield for £15,000. A 2–0 home defeat to Sheffield United
Sheffield United F.C.
Sheffield United Football Club is a professional English football club based in the city of Sheffield, South Yorkshire.They were the first sporting team to use the name 'United' and are nicknamed 'The Blades', thanks to Sheffield's worldwide reputation for steel production...

 in front of the television cameras was the first of a run of four defeats in five games, and sent an injury-hit Vale down into mid-table. In November, Lee Harwood
Lee Harwood (footballer)
Lee Harwood is an English former footballer.-Playing career:Harwood played for Southampton , Wimbledon and Leatherhead before joining Port Vale in February 1980. He enjoyed regular football for the rest of the 1979–80 season, but damaged a cartilage in August 1980...

 was forced to retire with a knee injury. Vale then went on a fifteen match unbeaten run in the league, and between 20 January and 6 March the team went on a club-record six consecutive home draws. Stoke City offered £100,000 plus incentives for Mark Chamberlain
Mark Chamberlain
Mark Valentine Chamberlain is an English retired international footballer. He is the younger brother of Neville Chamberlain, and the father of Arsenal and England U21 player Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain....

, but Chairman Don Ratcliffe called the offer 'an insult' and rejected it out of hand. Instead Tony Sealy
Tony Sealy
Anthony John "Tony" Sealy is a retired footballer in the 1970s and 1980s. He won four Championship medals with four different clubs and played for numerous clubs across the world.-Playing career:...

 arrived on loan, this time from Queens Park Rangers
Queens Park Rangers F.C.
Queens Park Rangers Football Club is an English professional football club, based in White City, Hammersmith and Fulham, west London. As the 2010-11 Football League Championship champions, they now play in the top tier of English football the Premier League, for the first time in 15 years...

. On 6 February Mark Chamberlain scored a memorable goal at Field Mill
Field Mill
Field Mill is a multi-use stadium in Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, England.It is currently occupied by its main tenant, Mansfield Town.The stadium has a capacity of around 10,000 when fully open, but due to the Bishop Street Stand being closed and safety restrictions, the ground currently holds less...

 when he stood off the pitch to avoid being caught offside, then returned to tackle a startled Rod Arnold
Rod Arnold
Roderick James "Rod" Arnold is an English former football goalkeeper who spent the majority of his career at Mansfield Town, having started his career at Wolverhampton Wanderers...

 and tap the ball into an empty net. Mansfield Town
Mansfield Town F.C.
Mansfield Town Football Club is an English football club from the former mining town of Mansfield, Nottinghamshire. The club was formed in 1897 as Mansfield Wesleyans and changed its name to Mansfield Wesley in 1906 before settling on Mansfield Town in 1910...

 manager Stuart Boam
Stuart Boam
Stuart William Boam is a retired English footballer and manager who is probably best known for his eight-year spell with Middlesbrough....

 was so enraged that the goal stood that he raced onto the pitch to verbally abuse the linesman. In March, Johnny Miller
Johnny Miller (footballer)
John Tony Miller is an English former footballer. He was described by Jeff Kent as an "exciting right-winger who provided pinpoint crosses".-Playing career:...

 had to retire with a knee injury. On 20 March, Mark Harrison
Mark Harrison (footballer)
Mark Simon Harrison is a former English footballer, specialist goalkeeper trainer, and manager.-Playing career:Harrison was a trainee with Southampton before joining Port Vale in February 1980. He was immediately the first choice keeper, however was troubled by cartilage problems from November 1980...

 conceded 'a crazy goal' from Hull City
Hull City A.F.C.
Hull City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Kingston upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, founded in 1904. The club participates in the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football...

 left-back Dennis Booth
Dennis Booth
Dennis Booth is an English former footballer and coach.-Charlton Athletic:Booth signed professional forms with Athletic in 1966, after rising through the schoolboy ranks. He remained there until 1971 where he signed for Blackpool for a fee of £7,777...

 at Boothferry Park
Boothferry Park
Boothferry Park was a football stadium in Kingston upon Hull, and was home to the football club Hull City for over 50 years from 31 August 1946 until December 2002, when they moved to the Kingston Communications Stadium....

, whose fifty yard free kick hit the back of the net after several bounces. Injuries hit the Vale squad and the promotion campaign faded away. On 1 May, Vale Park
Vale Park
Vale Park is a football stadium in Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent, England. It is the home ground of Port Vale F.C., who have played at the ground since 1950....

 witnessed its lowest ever Football League attendance when a mere 1,924 turned up against York City
York City F.C.
York City Football Club is an English football club based in York, North Yorkshire. The club participates in the Conference National, the fifth tier of English football. Founded in 1922, they joined the Football League in 1929, and have spent most of their history in the lower divisions...

.

They finished in seventh place with seventy points, eighteen short of fourth-placed Bournemouth
A.F.C. Bournemouth
A.F.C. Bournemouth is an English football club currently playing in Football League One. The club plays at Dean Court in Kings Park, Boscombe, Bournemouth, Dorset and have been in existence since 1899....

. With nine away victories and twelve home draws, McGrath stated that "we blew it at Burslem". Ernie Moss
Ernie Moss
Ernest "Ernie" Moss is an English former footballer. He is most associated with his home town club, Chesterfield, where in three separate spells spanning nearly twenty years he made 539 appearances, scoring a club record 192 goals. He was later voted PFA Fans' Favourites and cult hero number one...

 was the Player of the Year and top-scorer with seventeen goals, however it was Mark Chamberlain who was selected in the PFA
Professional Footballers' Association
The Professional Footballers' Association is the trade union for professional footballers in England and Wales. The world's oldest professional sport trade union, it has 4,000 members....

 Fourth Division
Football League Fourth Division
The Fourth Division of The Football League was the fourth-highest division in the English football league system from the 1958–59 season until the creation of the Premier League prior to the 1992–93 season...

 team and received a cheque for £250 when he was chosen as The Star's best player of the division.

Finances

On the financial side, a loss of £65,000 was announced, despite donations of £136,070. The overdraft
Overdraft
An overdraft occurs when money is withdrawn from a bank account and the available balance goes below zero. In this situation the account is said to be "overdrawn". If there is a prior agreement with the account provider for an overdraft, and the amount overdrawn is within the authorized overdraft...

 stood at £235,452. Good news was that the club lottery had raised £750,000 in less than five years. McGrath released eight players and retained eleven. Those departing included: Peter Farrell
Peter Farrell (English footballer)
Peter John Farrell is an English former football midfielder noted for his excellent technical ability. He is now a coach at Brentford....

 and Gerry Keenan
Gerry Keenan
Gerard Patrick "Gerry" Keenan is an English former footballer.-Playing career:Keenan played for Liverpool, Skelmersdale United and Bury before signing for Port Vale in September 1978 for a £15,000 fee. After enjoying two seasons of regular football he suffered with knee injuries from September...

 (Rochdale
Rochdale A.F.C.
Rochdale Association Football Club is an English professional football club based in Rochdale, Greater Manchester. They play their home matches at Spotland Stadium. Formed in 1907, they were accepted into the Football League in 1921...

); Paul Bowles
Paul Bowles (footballer)
Paul Michael Anthony Bowles is a former English footballer. He was a cousin of Stan Bowles.-Playing career:...

 (Stockport County
Stockport County F.C.
Stockport County Football Club is an English football club based in Stockport, Greater Manchester. The club formed in 1883 as Heaton Norris Rovers, shortly afterwards merging with Heaton Norris F.C., and adopted the current name on 24 May 1890 on the creation of the County Borough of Stockport...

); Trevor Brissett
Trevor Brissett
Trevor Anthony Brissett was an English footballer.-Playing career:Brissett played for Stoke City before joining local rivals Port Vale in May 1980. After becoming a regular in the 1980–81 season he lost his first team place the next season and was given a free transfer in May 1982...

 (Darlington
Darlington F.C.
Darlington Football Club is a professional association football club based in Darlington, County Durham, currently playing in the Conference National. The club was founded in 1883, and originally played its games at Feethams, before moving to the Darlington Arena in 2003...

); Andy Higgins
Andy Higgins
Andrew Martin Higgins is an English former footballer.-Playing career:Higgins played for Chesterfield before joining Port Vale in February 1981. He failed to nail down a regular place and was instead given a free transfer in May 1982. He moved on to Hartlepool United, King's Lynn, Rochdale and...

 (Hartlepool United
Hartlepool United F.C.
Hartlepool United Football Club is an English professional football club based in Hartlepool that currently play in League One. The team won promotion to League One in the 2006–07 season...

); and Ray Deakin (Burnley
Burnley F.C.
Burnley Football Club are a professional English Football League club based in Burnley, Lancashire. Nicknamed the Clarets, due to the dominant colour of their home shirts, they were founder members of the Football League in 1888...

).

Cup competitions

In the FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...

, Vale drew with Third Division
Football League Third Division
The Football League Third Division was the 3 tier of English Football from 1920 until 1992 when after the formation of the Football Association Premier League saw the league renamed The Football League Division Two...

 Lincoln City
Lincoln City F.C.
Lincoln City Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Lincoln, Lincolnshire. The club are currently members of the Conference National in 2011–12 following relegation from the Football League....

 at Sincil Bank
Sincil Bank
Sincil Bank is a football stadium in Lincoln, England and has been the home of Lincoln City since 1895. Previously, Lincoln City had played at the nearby John O'Gaunts ground since the club's 1884 inception. Sincil Bank has an overall capacity of 10,120 and is colloquially known to fans as "The...

 and again in Burslem
Burslem
The town of Burslem, known as the Mother Town, is one of the six towns that amalgamated to form the current city of Stoke-on-Trent, in the ceremonial county of Staffordshire, in the Midlands of England.-Topography:...

, and so had to play a second replay, which they won 2–0. Their clash with Stockport County
Stockport County F.C.
Stockport County Football Club is an English football club based in Stockport, Greater Manchester. The club formed in 1883 as Heaton Norris Rovers, shortly afterwards merging with Heaton Norris F.C., and adopted the current name on 24 May 1890 on the creation of the County Borough of Stockport...

 was postponed seven times due to snow and fog, before the "Valiants" finally recorded a 4–1 victory on 2 January. Facing Second Division
Football League Second Division
From 1892 until 1992, the Football League Second Division was the second highest division overall in English football.This ended with the creation of the FA Premier League, prior to the start of the 1992–93 season, which caused an administrative split between The Football League and the teams...

 Shrewsbury Town
Shrewsbury Town F.C.
Shrewsbury Town Football Club is an English Association football club based in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, who play in League Two, the fourth tier of English football. The club was formed in 1886 and has played in all the bottom three divisions in various guises since being elected into the Football...

 in the Third Round, they lost by the odd goal at Gay Meadow
Gay Meadow
The Gay Meadow is the former home ground of Shrewsbury Town FC, a football club in England. It was situated just outside the town centre of Shrewsbury, on the banks of the River Severn and it opened in August 1910....

, the Shrews scoring with the last kick of the match.

In the League Cup
Football League Cup
The Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup or, from current sponsorship, the Carling Cup, is an English association football competition. Like the FA Cup, it is played on a knockout basis...

, a 1–1 draw at Edgar Street was followed by a 2–0 home win to knock Hereford United
Hereford United F.C.
Hereford United Football Club is an English professional football club based in the city of Hereford. Founded in 1924, they are competing in Football League Two in the 2011–12 season. Hereford have played at Edgar Street for their entire history and are nicknamed 'The Whites' or 'The Lilywhites',...

 out 3–1 on aggregate. In the Second Round for the first time since 1972
1972–73 Port Vale F.C. season
The 1972–73 season was Port Vale's sixty-first season of football in the Football League, and their third successive season in the Third Division. Their promotion efforts ended with a sixth place finish, whilst in the two cup competitions they lost out to Newcastle United and West Ham United...

, they lost to Tranmere Rovers
Tranmere Rovers F.C.
Tranmere Rovers Football Club are an English team based in Birkenhead, Wirral. The club currently compete in League One, the third tier of the English football league system...

 both at Prenton Park
Prenton Park
Prenton Park is an association football stadium in Birkenhead, England. It is the home ground of Tranmere Rovers F.C. The club moved to the current Prenton Park in 1912. The ground has had several rebuilds, with the most recent occurring in 1995 in response to the requirement of the Taylor Report...

 and Vale Park
Vale Park
Vale Park is a football stadium in Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent, England. It is the home ground of Port Vale F.C., who have played at the ground since 1950....

 to exit the competition 4–1 on aggregate.

Final league table

P WDLFAGDPts
1 Sheffield United
Sheffield United F.C.
Sheffield United Football Club is a professional English football club based in the city of Sheffield, South Yorkshire.They were the first sporting team to use the name 'United' and are nicknamed 'The Blades', thanks to Sheffield's worldwide reputation for steel production...

46 27 15 4 94 41
53
96
2 Bradford City
Bradford City A.F.C.
Bradford City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Bradford, West Yorkshire, playing in League Two....

46 26 13 7 88 45
43
91
3 Wigan Athletic
Wigan Athletic F.C.
Wigan Athletic Football Club is an English Premier League Association football club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester, having been promoted from the Championship in 2005. Wigan's current spell in the Premier League is the only top flight run in the club's history.They have played at the DW...

46 26 13 7 80 46
34
91
4 Bournemouth
A.F.C. Bournemouth
A.F.C. Bournemouth is an English football club currently playing in Football League One. The club plays at Dean Court in Kings Park, Boscombe, Bournemouth, Dorset and have been in existence since 1899....

46 23 19 4 62 30
32
88
5 Peterborough United
Peterborough United F.C.
Peterborough United Football Club are a professional English football club based in Peterborough. Peterborough United formed in 1934 and played in the old Midland League, which they won six times; eventually being admitted to the Football League in 1960, replacing Gateshead. Their home ground is...

46 24 10 12 71 57
14
82
6 Colchester United
Colchester United F.C.
Colchester United Football Club is an English football club based in Colchester. The club was formed in 1937, and briefly shared their old Layer Road home with now defunct side Colchester Town who had previously used the ground from 1910....

46 20 12 14 82 57
25
72
7 Port Vale
Port Vale F.C.
Port Vale Football Club is an English football club currently playing in Football League Two. They are based in Burslem, Staffordshire — one of six towns that make up the city of Stoke-on-Trent. The club's traditional rivals in the city are Stoke City, and games between the two clubs are known as...

46 18 16 12 56 49 +7 70
8 Hull City
Hull City A.F.C.
Hull City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Kingston upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, founded in 1904. The club participates in the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football...

46 19 12 15 70 61
9
69
9 Bury
Bury F.C.
Bury Football Club is an association football team based in Bury, Greater Manchester. The team currently play in League One. The club's nickname is The Shakers which was bestowed upon them by club chairman JT Ingham, an industrialist and ironmonger of the late 1890s.-Formation of the club and the...

46 17 17 12 80 59
21
68
10 Hereford United
Hereford United F.C.
Hereford United Football Club is an English professional football club based in the city of Hereford. Founded in 1924, they are competing in Football League Two in the 2011–12 season. Hereford have played at Edgar Street for their entire history and are nicknamed 'The Whites' or 'The Lilywhites',...

46 16 19 11 64 58
6
67
11 Tranmere Rovers
Tranmere Rovers F.C.
Tranmere Rovers Football Club are an English team based in Birkenhead, Wirral. The club currently compete in League One, the third tier of the English football league system...

46 14 18 14 51 56
60
12 Blackpool
Blackpool F.C.
Blackpool Football Club are an English football club founded in 1887 from the Lancashire seaside town of Blackpool. They are competing in the 2011–12 season of the The Championship, the second tier of professional football in England, having been relegated from the Premier League at the end of the...

46 15 13 18 66 60
6
58
13 Darlington
Darlington F.C.
Darlington Football Club is a professional association football club based in Darlington, County Durham, currently playing in the Conference National. The club was founded in 1883, and originally played its games at Feethams, before moving to the Darlington Arena in 2003...

46 15 13 18 61 62
58
14 Hartlepool United
Hartlepool United F.C.
Hartlepool United Football Club is an English professional football club based in Hartlepool that currently play in League One. The team won promotion to League One in the 2006–07 season...

46 13 16 17 73 84
55
15 Torquay United
Torquay United F.C.
Torquay United Football Club, nicknamed the Gulls, are an English association football club based in the tourist resort town of Torquay, Devon. They played in the Conference National in 2008–09, but were promoted to Football League Two after a 2–0 win over Cambridge United on 17 May 2009 at Wembley...

46 14 13 19 47 59
55
16 Aldershot
Aldershot F.C.
Aldershot Football Club was an English Football League club, which was wound up in the High Court in March 1992. They became the first Football League club since Accrington Stanley to resign from the League during the course of a season. The club was nicknamed the Shots for both the last syllable...

46 13 15 18 57 68
54
17 York City
York City F.C.
York City Football Club is an English football club based in York, North Yorkshire. The club participates in the Conference National, the fifth tier of English football. Founded in 1922, they joined the Football League in 1929, and have spent most of their history in the lower divisions...

46 14 8 24 69 91
50
18 Stockport County
Stockport County F.C.
Stockport County Football Club is an English football club based in Stockport, Greater Manchester. The club formed in 1883 as Heaton Norris Rovers, shortly afterwards merging with Heaton Norris F.C., and adopted the current name on 24 May 1890 on the creation of the County Borough of Stockport...

46 12 13 21 48 67
49
19 Halifax Town
Halifax Town A.F.C.
Halifax Town Association Football Club were an English football team who most recently played in the Conference National, although prior to that they participated in the Football League for over eighty years...

46 9 22 15 51 72
49
20 Mansfield Town
Mansfield Town F.C.
Mansfield Town Football Club is an English football club from the former mining town of Mansfield, Nottinghamshire. The club was formed in 1897 as Mansfield Wesleyans and changed its name to Mansfield Wesley in 1906 before settling on Mansfield Town in 1910...

46 13 10 23 63 81
47
21 Rochdale
Rochdale A.F.C.
Rochdale Association Football Club is an English professional football club based in Rochdale, Greater Manchester. They play their home matches at Spotland Stadium. Formed in 1907, they were accepted into the Football League in 1921...

46 10 16 20 50 62
46
22 Northampton Town
Northampton Town F.C.
Northampton Town Football Club are an English professional football club based in Northampton, Northamptonshire. They currently play in Football League Two, the lowest league division, after being relegated from League One on the last day of the 2008–09 season...

46 11 9 26 57 84
42
23 Scunthorpe United
Scunthorpe United F.C.
Scunthorpe United Football Club is an English association football team based in the town of Scunthorpe, North Lincolnshire, who play in the Football League One....

46 9 15 22 43 79
42
24 Crewe Alexandra
Crewe Alexandra F.C.
Crewe Alexandra Football Club is an English professional football club based in Crewe, Cheshire. Nicknamed The Railwaymen due to the town's links with the rail industry, they currently play in Football League Two, the fourth tier of English football, and are based at the Alexandra Stadium.The club...

46 6 9 31 29 84
27

P = Matches played; W = Matches won; D = Matches drawn; L = Matches lost; F = Goals for; A = Goals against; GD = Goal difference; Pts = Points

Legend

Win Draw Loss

Football League Fourth Division

DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers
29 August 1981 Halifax Town
Halifax Town A.F.C.
Halifax Town Association Football Club were an English football team who most recently played in the Conference National, although prior to that they participated in the Football League for over eighty years...

|H 0–0 3,382
5 September 1981 Darlington
Darlington F.C.
Darlington Football Club is a professional association football club based in Darlington, County Durham, currently playing in the Conference National. The club was founded in 1883, and originally played its games at Feethams, before moving to the Darlington Arena in 2003...

|A 1–1 1,872 Deakin
Ray Deakin
Raymond John Deakin was an English footballer, whose playing position was left-back.-Biography:Born in Liverpool, Deakin began his career at Everton, where he signed his first professional contract in 1977. However, he never made any appearances for Everton's first team, and was released in 1981....

 (pen)
12 September 1981 Mansfield Town
Mansfield Town F.C.
Mansfield Town Football Club is an English football club from the former mining town of Mansfield, Nottinghamshire. The club was formed in 1897 as Mansfield Wesleyans and changed its name to Mansfield Wesley in 1906 before settling on Mansfield Town in 1910...

|H 0–0 3,043
19 September 1981 Rochdale
Rochdale A.F.C.
Rochdale Association Football Club is an English professional football club based in Rochdale, Greater Manchester. They play their home matches at Spotland Stadium. Formed in 1907, they were accepted into the Football League in 1921...

|A 2–1 1,824 Keenan
Gerry Keenan
Gerard Patrick "Gerry" Keenan is an English former footballer.-Playing career:Keenan played for Liverpool, Skelmersdale United and Bury before signing for Port Vale in September 1978 for a £15,000 fee. After enjoying two seasons of regular football he suffered with knee injuries from September...

, Deakin
Ray Deakin
Raymond John Deakin was an English footballer, whose playing position was left-back.-Biography:Born in Liverpool, Deakin began his career at Everton, where he signed his first professional contract in 1977. However, he never made any appearances for Everton's first team, and was released in 1981....

 (pen)
23 September 1981 Wigan Athletic
Wigan Athletic F.C.
Wigan Athletic Football Club is an English Premier League Association football club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester, having been promoted from the Championship in 2005. Wigan's current spell in the Premier League is the only top flight run in the club's history.They have played at the DW...

|A 0–2 4,525
26 September 1981 Stockport County
Stockport County F.C.
Stockport County Football Club is an English football club based in Stockport, Greater Manchester. The club formed in 1883 as Heaton Norris Rovers, shortly afterwards merging with Heaton Norris F.C., and adopted the current name on 24 May 1890 on the creation of the County Borough of Stockport...

|H 1–0 2,755 Moss
Ernie Moss
Ernest "Ernie" Moss is an English former footballer. He is most associated with his home town club, Chesterfield, where in three separate spells spanning nearly twenty years he made 539 appearances, scoring a club record 192 goals. He was later voted PFA Fans' Favourites and cult hero number one...

28 September 1981 Colchester United
Colchester United F.C.
Colchester United Football Club is an English football club based in Colchester. The club was formed in 1937, and briefly shared their old Layer Road home with now defunct side Colchester Town who had previously used the ground from 1910....

|H 2–1 3,351 Sproson
Phil Sproson
Phillip Jess "Phil" Sproson is a former English footballer who played as a central defender. He played in 500 matches for Port Vale and scored 41 goals , this places him third highest in the list of appearances for Port Vale...

, Moss
Ernie Moss
Ernest "Ernie" Moss is an English former footballer. He is most associated with his home town club, Chesterfield, where in three separate spells spanning nearly twenty years he made 539 appearances, scoring a club record 192 goals. He was later voted PFA Fans' Favourites and cult hero number one...

2 October 1981 Crewe Alexandra
Crewe Alexandra F.C.
Crewe Alexandra Football Club is an English professional football club based in Crewe, Cheshire. Nicknamed The Railwaymen due to the town's links with the rail industry, they currently play in Football League Two, the fourth tier of English football, and are based at the Alexandra Stadium.The club...

|A 2–0 4,604 N.Chamberlain
Neville Chamberlain (footballer)
Neville Patrick Chamberlain is a retired English footballer. His brother, Mark was also a footballer, and his nephew Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain plays for Arsenal.-Playing career:...

, M.Chamberlain
Mark Chamberlain
Mark Valentine Chamberlain is an English retired international footballer. He is the younger brother of Neville Chamberlain, and the father of Arsenal and England U21 player Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain....

10 October 1981 Sheffield United
Sheffield United F.C.
Sheffield United Football Club is a professional English football club based in the city of Sheffield, South Yorkshire.They were the first sporting team to use the name 'United' and are nicknamed 'The Blades', thanks to Sheffield's worldwide reputation for steel production...

|H 0–2 7,289
17 October 1981 Bury
Bury F.C.
Bury Football Club is an association football team based in Bury, Greater Manchester. The team currently play in League One. The club's nickname is The Shakers which was bestowed upon them by club chairman JT Ingham, an industrialist and ironmonger of the late 1890s.-Formation of the club and the...

|A 2–3 3,565 Bowles
Paul Bowles (footballer)
Paul Michael Anthony Bowles is a former English footballer. He was a cousin of Stan Bowles.-Playing career:...

, Greenhoff
Jimmy Greenhoff
James "Jimmy" Greenhoff is an English former football player. He was a skilful forward and although capped five times at under-23 level, once as an over-age player, he never played for the full side, and is labelled as the finest English player never to play for England...

19 October 1981 Peterborough United
Peterborough United F.C.
Peterborough United Football Club are a professional English football club based in Peterborough. Peterborough United formed in 1934 and played in the old Midland League, which they won six times; eventually being admitted to the Football League in 1960, replacing Gateshead. Their home ground is...

|H 1–3 2,844 Deakin
Ray Deakin
Raymond John Deakin was an English footballer, whose playing position was left-back.-Biography:Born in Liverpool, Deakin began his career at Everton, where he signed his first professional contract in 1977. However, he never made any appearances for Everton's first team, and was released in 1981....

 (pen)
31 October 1981 Hull City
Hull City A.F.C.
Hull City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Kingston upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, founded in 1904. The club participates in the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football...

|H 2–1 2,591 Shankland
Andy Shankland
Andrew John "Andy" Shankland is an English former footballer who played 29 league and cup games in the Football League for Port Vale between 1981 and 1986. During this time the club were twice promoted out of the Fourth Division...

, M.Chamberlain
Mark Chamberlain
Mark Valentine Chamberlain is an English retired international footballer. He is the younger brother of Neville Chamberlain, and the father of Arsenal and England U21 player Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain....

4 November 1981 Bradford City
Bradford City A.F.C.
Bradford City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Bradford, West Yorkshire, playing in League Two....

|A 0–1 4,043
7 November 1981 Bournemouth
A.F.C. Bournemouth
A.F.C. Bournemouth is an English football club currently playing in Football League One. The club plays at Dean Court in Kings Park, Boscombe, Bournemouth, Dorset and have been in existence since 1899....

|A 1–1 5,798 Moss
Ernie Moss
Ernest "Ernie" Moss is an English former footballer. He is most associated with his home town club, Chesterfield, where in three separate spells spanning nearly twenty years he made 539 appearances, scoring a club record 192 goals. He was later voted PFA Fans' Favourites and cult hero number one...

11 November 1981 Blackpool
Blackpool F.C.
Blackpool Football Club are an English football club founded in 1887 from the Lancashire seaside town of Blackpool. They are competing in the 2011–12 season of the The Championship, the second tier of professional football in England, having been relegated from the Premier League at the end of the...

|A 3–2 4,785 Tartt
Colin Tartt
Colin Tartt is a former English footballer.-Playing career:Tartt joined Port Vale from Alsager College , initially on trial, in June 1972. His first appearance was as a substitute in a 7–0 drubbing at Rotherham United on 26 August 1972, his first full debut was on 26 September that year in a 4–0...

 (2), N.Chamberlain
Neville Chamberlain (footballer)
Neville Patrick Chamberlain is a retired English footballer. His brother, Mark was also a footballer, and his nephew Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain plays for Arsenal.-Playing career:...

14 November 1981 Aldershot
Aldershot F.C.
Aldershot Football Club was an English Football League club, which was wound up in the High Court in March 1992. They became the first Football League club since Accrington Stanley to resign from the League during the course of a season. The club was nicknamed the Shots for both the last syllable...

|H 1–0 2,811 Greenhoff
Jimmy Greenhoff
James "Jimmy" Greenhoff is an English former football player. He was a skilful forward and although capped five times at under-23 level, once as an over-age player, he never played for the full side, and is labelled as the finest English player never to play for England...

28 November 1981 Hartlepool United
Hartlepool United F.C.
Hartlepool United Football Club is an English professional football club based in Hartlepool that currently play in League One. The team won promotion to League One in the 2006–07 season...

|H 5–2 2,477 Moss
Ernie Moss
Ernest "Ernie" Moss is an English former footballer. He is most associated with his home town club, Chesterfield, where in three separate spells spanning nearly twenty years he made 539 appearances, scoring a club record 192 goals. He was later voted PFA Fans' Favourites and cult hero number one...

 (2), M.Chamberlain
Mark Chamberlain
Mark Valentine Chamberlain is an English retired international footballer. He is the younger brother of Neville Chamberlain, and the father of Arsenal and England U21 player Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain....

, N.Chamberlain
Neville Chamberlain (footballer)
Neville Patrick Chamberlain is a retired English footballer. His brother, Mark was also a footballer, and his nephew Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain plays for Arsenal.-Playing career:...

, Armstrong
Terry Armstrong
Terence "Terry" Armstrong is an English former footballer who played as a midfielder for Huddersfield Town and Port Vale during the 1970s & 1980s.-Playing career:...

5 December 1981 Scunthorpe United
Scunthorpe United F.C.
Scunthorpe United Football Club is an English association football team based in the town of Scunthorpe, North Lincolnshire, who play in the Football League One....

|A 0–0 2,021
19 December 1981 Torquay United
Torquay United F.C.
Torquay United Football Club, nicknamed the Gulls, are an English association football club based in the tourist resort town of Torquay, Devon. They played in the Conference National in 2008–09, but were promoted to Football League Two after a 2–0 win over Cambridge United on 17 May 2009 at Wembley...

|A 1–0 1,780 M.Chamberlain
Mark Chamberlain
Mark Valentine Chamberlain is an English retired international footballer. He is the younger brother of Neville Chamberlain, and the father of Arsenal and England U21 player Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain....

20 January 1982 Darlington
Darlington F.C.
Darlington Football Club is a professional association football club based in Darlington, County Durham, currently playing in the Conference National. The club was founded in 1883, and originally played its games at Feethams, before moving to the Darlington Arena in 2003...

|H 2–2 3,529 Hunter
Geoff Hunter (footballer)
Geoffrey "Geoff" Hunter is a former English footballer who played as a midfielder. In a twelve year career in the Football League he played 430 league games, scoring 38 goals....

, Moss
Ernie Moss
Ernest "Ernie" Moss is an English former footballer. He is most associated with his home town club, Chesterfield, where in three separate spells spanning nearly twenty years he made 539 appearances, scoring a club record 192 goals. He was later voted PFA Fans' Favourites and cult hero number one...

22 January 1982 Halifax Town
Halifax Town A.F.C.
Halifax Town Association Football Club were an English football team who most recently played in the Conference National, although prior to that they participated in the Football League for over eighty years...

|A 1–1 2,965 M.Chamberlain
Mark Chamberlain
Mark Valentine Chamberlain is an English retired international footballer. He is the younger brother of Neville Chamberlain, and the father of Arsenal and England U21 player Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain....

25 January 1982 Tranmere Rovers
Tranmere Rovers F.C.
Tranmere Rovers Football Club are an English team based in Birkenhead, Wirral. The club currently compete in League One, the third tier of the English football league system...

|H 0–0 4,355
30 January 1982 Rochdale
Rochdale A.F.C.
Rochdale Association Football Club is an English professional football club based in Rochdale, Greater Manchester. They play their home matches at Spotland Stadium. Formed in 1907, they were accepted into the Football League in 1921...

|H 1–1 3,835 Tartt
Colin Tartt
Colin Tartt is a former English footballer.-Playing career:Tartt joined Port Vale from Alsager College , initially on trial, in June 1972. His first appearance was as a substitute in a 7–0 drubbing at Rotherham United on 26 August 1972, his first full debut was on 26 September that year in a 4–0...

2 February 1982 Northampton Town
Northampton Town F.C.
Northampton Town Football Club are an English professional football club based in Northampton, Northamptonshire. They currently play in Football League Two, the lowest league division, after being relegated from League One on the last day of the 2008–09 season...

|A 5–3 1,644 Hunter
Geoff Hunter (footballer)
Geoffrey "Geoff" Hunter is a former English footballer who played as a midfielder. In a twelve year career in the Football League he played 430 league games, scoring 38 goals....

 (2), Sproson
Phil Sproson
Phillip Jess "Phil" Sproson is a former English footballer who played as a central defender. He played in 500 matches for Port Vale and scored 41 goals , this places him third highest in the list of appearances for Port Vale...

, M.Chamberlain
Mark Chamberlain
Mark Valentine Chamberlain is an English retired international footballer. He is the younger brother of Neville Chamberlain, and the father of Arsenal and England U21 player Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain....

, Greenhoff
Jimmy Greenhoff
James "Jimmy" Greenhoff is an English former football player. He was a skilful forward and although capped five times at under-23 level, once as an over-age player, he never played for the full side, and is labelled as the finest English player never to play for England...

6 February 1982 Mansfield Town
Mansfield Town F.C.
Mansfield Town Football Club is an English football club from the former mining town of Mansfield, Nottinghamshire. The club was formed in 1897 as Mansfield Wesleyans and changed its name to Mansfield Wesley in 1906 before settling on Mansfield Town in 1910...

|A 3–1 2,690 M.Chamberlain
Mark Chamberlain
Mark Valentine Chamberlain is an English retired international footballer. He is the younger brother of Neville Chamberlain, and the father of Arsenal and England U21 player Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain....

, Moss
Ernie Moss
Ernest "Ernie" Moss is an English former footballer. He is most associated with his home town club, Chesterfield, where in three separate spells spanning nearly twenty years he made 539 appearances, scoring a club record 192 goals. He was later voted PFA Fans' Favourites and cult hero number one...

, Sealy
Tony Sealy
Anthony John "Tony" Sealy is a retired footballer in the 1970s and 1980s. He won four Championship medals with four different clubs and played for numerous clubs across the world.-Playing career:...

8 February 1982 Wigan Athletic
Wigan Athletic F.C.
Wigan Athletic Football Club is an English Premier League Association football club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester, having been promoted from the Championship in 2005. Wigan's current spell in the Premier League is the only top flight run in the club's history.They have played at the DW...

|H 1–1 8,773 Sealy
Tony Sealy
Anthony John "Tony" Sealy is a retired footballer in the 1970s and 1980s. He won four Championship medals with four different clubs and played for numerous clubs across the world.-Playing career:...

 (pen)
13 February 1982 Crewe Alexandra
Crewe Alexandra F.C.
Crewe Alexandra Football Club is an English professional football club based in Crewe, Cheshire. Nicknamed The Railwaymen due to the town's links with the rail industry, they currently play in Football League Two, the fourth tier of English football, and are based at the Alexandra Stadium.The club...

|H 0–0 6,542
19 February 1982 Stockport County
Stockport County F.C.
Stockport County Football Club is an English football club based in Stockport, Greater Manchester. The club formed in 1883 as Heaton Norris Rovers, shortly afterwards merging with Heaton Norris F.C., and adopted the current name on 24 May 1890 on the creation of the County Borough of Stockport...

|A 2–1 3,001 Sealy
Tony Sealy
Anthony John "Tony" Sealy is a retired footballer in the 1970s and 1980s. He won four Championship medals with four different clubs and played for numerous clubs across the world.-Playing career:...

 (pen), Moss
Ernie Moss
Ernest "Ernie" Moss is an English former footballer. He is most associated with his home town club, Chesterfield, where in three separate spells spanning nearly twenty years he made 539 appearances, scoring a club record 192 goals. He was later voted PFA Fans' Favourites and cult hero number one...

22 February 1982 York City
York City F.C.
York City Football Club is an English football club based in York, North Yorkshire. The club participates in the Conference National, the fifth tier of English football. Founded in 1922, they joined the Football League in 1929, and have spent most of their history in the lower divisions...

|A 0–2 1,938
27 February 1982 Sheffield United
Sheffield United F.C.
Sheffield United Football Club is a professional English football club based in the city of Sheffield, South Yorkshire.They were the first sporting team to use the name 'United' and are nicknamed 'The Blades', thanks to Sheffield's worldwide reputation for steel production...

|A 1–2 13,813 Sealy
Tony Sealy
Anthony John "Tony" Sealy is a retired footballer in the 1970s and 1980s. He won four Championship medals with four different clubs and played for numerous clubs across the world.-Playing career:...

 (pen)
6 March 1982 Bury
Bury F.C.
Bury Football Club is an association football team based in Bury, Greater Manchester. The team currently play in League One. The club's nickname is The Shakers which was bestowed upon them by club chairman JT Ingham, an industrialist and ironmonger of the late 1890s.-Formation of the club and the...

|H 0–0 3,733
10 March 1982 Peterborough United
Peterborough United F.C.
Peterborough United Football Club are a professional English football club based in Peterborough. Peterborough United formed in 1934 and played in the old Midland League, which they won six times; eventually being admitted to the Football League in 1960, replacing Gateshead. Their home ground is...

|A 0–1 4,151
13 March 1982 Blackpool
Blackpool F.C.
Blackpool Football Club are an English football club founded in 1887 from the Lancashire seaside town of Blackpool. They are competing in the 2011–12 season of the The Championship, the second tier of professional football in England, having been relegated from the Premier League at the end of the...

|H 2–0 3,440 N.Chamberlain
Neville Chamberlain (footballer)
Neville Patrick Chamberlain is a retired English footballer. His brother, Mark was also a footballer, and his nephew Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain plays for Arsenal.-Playing career:...

, Moss
Ernie Moss
Ernest "Ernie" Moss is an English former footballer. He is most associated with his home town club, Chesterfield, where in three separate spells spanning nearly twenty years he made 539 appearances, scoring a club record 192 goals. He was later voted PFA Fans' Favourites and cult hero number one...

15 March 1982 Bradford City
Bradford City A.F.C.
Bradford City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Bradford, West Yorkshire, playing in League Two....

|H 1–1 4,325 Tartt
Colin Tartt
Colin Tartt is a former English footballer.-Playing career:Tartt joined Port Vale from Alsager College , initially on trial, in June 1972. His first appearance was as a substitute in a 7–0 drubbing at Rotherham United on 26 August 1972, his first full debut was on 26 September that year in a 4–0...

20 March 1982 Hull City
Hull City A.F.C.
Hull City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Kingston upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, founded in 1904. The club participates in the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football...

|A 1–3 5,506 Deakin
Ray Deakin
Raymond John Deakin was an English footballer, whose playing position was left-back.-Biography:Born in Liverpool, Deakin began his career at Everton, where he signed his first professional contract in 1977. However, he never made any appearances for Everton's first team, and was released in 1981....

27 March 1982 Bournemouth
A.F.C. Bournemouth
A.F.C. Bournemouth is an English football club currently playing in Football League One. The club plays at Dean Court in Kings Park, Boscombe, Bournemouth, Dorset and have been in existence since 1899....

|H 1–1 3,004 Deakin
Ray Deakin
Raymond John Deakin was an English footballer, whose playing position was left-back.-Biography:Born in Liverpool, Deakin began his career at Everton, where he signed his first professional contract in 1977. However, he never made any appearances for Everton's first team, and was released in 1981....

 (pen)
3 April 1982 Aldershot
Aldershot F.C.
Aldershot Football Club was an English Football League club, which was wound up in the High Court in March 1992. They became the first Football League club since Accrington Stanley to resign from the League during the course of a season. The club was nicknamed the Shots for both the last syllable...

|A 2–1 1,594 o.g.
Own goal
An own net occurs in goal-scoring games when a player scores a goal that is registered against his or her own team. It is usually accidental, and may be a result of an attempt at defensive play that failed or was spoiled by opponents....

, Deakin
Ray Deakin
Raymond John Deakin was an English footballer, whose playing position was left-back.-Biography:Born in Liverpool, Deakin began his career at Everton, where he signed his first professional contract in 1977. However, he never made any appearances for Everton's first team, and was released in 1981....

10 April 1982 Hereford United
Hereford United F.C.
Hereford United Football Club is an English professional football club based in the city of Hereford. Founded in 1924, they are competing in Football League Two in the 2011–12 season. Hereford have played at Edgar Street for their entire history and are nicknamed 'The Whites' or 'The Lilywhites',...

|A 0–1 2,973
12 April 1982 Northampton Town
Northampton Town F.C.
Northampton Town Football Club are an English professional football club based in Northampton, Northamptonshire. They currently play in Football League Two, the lowest league division, after being relegated from League One on the last day of the 2008–09 season...

|H 1–0 3,014 Sproson
Phil Sproson
Phillip Jess "Phil" Sproson is a former English footballer who played as a central defender. He played in 500 matches for Port Vale and scored 41 goals , this places him third highest in the list of appearances for Port Vale...

17 April 1982 Scunthorpe United
Scunthorpe United F.C.
Scunthorpe United Football Club is an English association football team based in the town of Scunthorpe, North Lincolnshire, who play in the Football League One....

|H 2–1 2,507 Moss
Ernie Moss
Ernest "Ernie" Moss is an English former footballer. He is most associated with his home town club, Chesterfield, where in three separate spells spanning nearly twenty years he made 539 appearances, scoring a club record 192 goals. He was later voted PFA Fans' Favourites and cult hero number one...

 (2)
24 April 1982 Hartlepool United
Hartlepool United F.C.
Hartlepool United Football Club is an English professional football club based in Hartlepool that currently play in League One. The team won promotion to League One in the 2006–07 season...

|A 1–3 1,439 M.Chamberlain
Mark Chamberlain
Mark Valentine Chamberlain is an English retired international footballer. He is the younger brother of Neville Chamberlain, and the father of Arsenal and England U21 player Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain....

26 April 1982 Hereford United
Hereford United F.C.
Hereford United Football Club is an English professional football club based in the city of Hereford. Founded in 1924, they are competing in Football League Two in the 2011–12 season. Hereford have played at Edgar Street for their entire history and are nicknamed 'The Whites' or 'The Lilywhites',...

|H 1–1 2,160 Sproson
Phil Sproson
Phillip Jess "Phil" Sproson is a former English footballer who played as a central defender. He played in 500 matches for Port Vale and scored 41 goals , this places him third highest in the list of appearances for Port Vale...

1 May 1982 York City
York City F.C.
York City Football Club is an English football club based in York, North Yorkshire. The club participates in the Conference National, the fifth tier of English football. Founded in 1922, they joined the Football League in 1929, and have spent most of their history in the lower divisions...

|H 0–0 1,924
3 May 1982 Colchester United
Colchester United F.C.
Colchester United Football Club is an English football club based in Colchester. The club was formed in 1937, and briefly shared their old Layer Road home with now defunct side Colchester Town who had previously used the ground from 1910....

|A 0–1 1,570
8 May 1982 Tranmere Rovers
Tranmere Rovers F.C.
Tranmere Rovers Football Club are an English team based in Birkenhead, Wirral. The club currently compete in League One, the third tier of the English football league system...

|A 2–1 1,524 Moss
Ernie Moss
Ernest "Ernie" Moss is an English former footballer. He is most associated with his home town club, Chesterfield, where in three separate spells spanning nearly twenty years he made 539 appearances, scoring a club record 192 goals. He was later voted PFA Fans' Favourites and cult hero number one...

 (2)
15 May 1982 Torquay United
Torquay United F.C.
Torquay United Football Club, nicknamed the Gulls, are an English association football club based in the tourist resort town of Torquay, Devon. They played in the Conference National in 2008–09, but were promoted to Football League Two after a 2–0 win over Cambridge United on 17 May 2009 at Wembley...

|H 2–0 2,007 Bowles
Paul Bowles (footballer)
Paul Michael Anthony Bowles is a former English footballer. He was a cousin of Stan Bowles.-Playing career:...

, Sproson
Phil Sproson
Phillip Jess "Phil" Sproson is a former English footballer who played as a central defender. He played in 500 matches for Port Vale and scored 41 goals , this places him third highest in the list of appearances for Port Vale...


FA Cup

RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorers
R1 21 November 1981 Lincoln City
Lincoln City F.C.
Lincoln City Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Lincoln, Lincolnshire. The club are currently members of the Conference National in 2011–12 following relegation from the Football League....

A 2–2 3,950 N.Chamberlain
Neville Chamberlain (footballer)
Neville Patrick Chamberlain is a retired English footballer. His brother, Mark was also a footballer, and his nephew Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain plays for Arsenal.-Playing career:...

, M.Chamberlain
Mark Chamberlain
Mark Valentine Chamberlain is an English retired international footballer. He is the younger brother of Neville Chamberlain, and the father of Arsenal and England U21 player Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain....

R1 Replay 30 November 1981 Lincoln City
Lincoln City F.C.
Lincoln City Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Lincoln, Lincolnshire. The club are currently members of the Conference National in 2011–12 following relegation from the Football League....

H 0–0 4,769
R1 Replay 2 December 1981 Lincoln City
Lincoln City F.C.
Lincoln City Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Lincoln, Lincolnshire. The club are currently members of the Conference National in 2011–12 following relegation from the Football League....

H 2–0 5,373 Armstrong
Terry Armstrong
Terence "Terry" Armstrong is an English former footballer who played as a midfielder for Huddersfield Town and Port Vale during the 1970s & 1980s.-Playing career:...

, N.Chamberlain
Neville Chamberlain (footballer)
Neville Patrick Chamberlain is a retired English footballer. His brother, Mark was also a footballer, and his nephew Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain plays for Arsenal.-Playing career:...

R2 2 January 1982 Stockport County
Stockport County F.C.
Stockport County Football Club is an English football club based in Stockport, Greater Manchester. The club formed in 1883 as Heaton Norris Rovers, shortly afterwards merging with Heaton Norris F.C., and adopted the current name on 24 May 1890 on the creation of the County Borough of Stockport...

H 4–1 4,478 Moss
Ernie Moss
Ernest "Ernie" Moss is an English former footballer. He is most associated with his home town club, Chesterfield, where in three separate spells spanning nearly twenty years he made 539 appearances, scoring a club record 192 goals. He was later voted PFA Fans' Favourites and cult hero number one...

 (2), N.Chamberlain
Neville Chamberlain (footballer)
Neville Patrick Chamberlain is a retired English footballer. His brother, Mark was also a footballer, and his nephew Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain plays for Arsenal.-Playing career:...

 (2)
R3 5 January 1982 Shrewsbury Town
Shrewsbury Town F.C.
Shrewsbury Town Football Club is an English Association football club based in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, who play in League Two, the fourth tier of English football. The club was formed in 1886 and has played in all the bottom three divisions in various guises since being elected into the Football...

A 0–1 7,230

League Cup

RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorers
R1 1st Leg 2 September 1981 Hereford United
Hereford United F.C.
Hereford United Football Club is an English professional football club based in the city of Hereford. Founded in 1924, they are competing in Football League Two in the 2011–12 season. Hereford have played at Edgar Street for their entire history and are nicknamed 'The Whites' or 'The Lilywhites',...

A 1–1 2,817 Moss
Ernie Moss
Ernest "Ernie" Moss is an English former footballer. He is most associated with his home town club, Chesterfield, where in three separate spells spanning nearly twenty years he made 539 appearances, scoring a club record 192 goals. He was later voted PFA Fans' Favourites and cult hero number one...

R1 2nd Leg 14 September 1981 Hereford United
Hereford United F.C.
Hereford United Football Club is an English professional football club based in the city of Hereford. Founded in 1924, they are competing in Football League Two in the 2011–12 season. Hereford have played at Edgar Street for their entire history and are nicknamed 'The Whites' or 'The Lilywhites',...

H 2–0 3,006 Deakin
Ray Deakin
Raymond John Deakin was an English footballer, whose playing position was left-back.-Biography:Born in Liverpool, Deakin began his career at Everton, where he signed his first professional contract in 1977. However, he never made any appearances for Everton's first team, and was released in 1981....

 (pen), Moss
Ernie Moss
Ernest "Ernie" Moss is an English former footballer. He is most associated with his home town club, Chesterfield, where in three separate spells spanning nearly twenty years he made 539 appearances, scoring a club record 192 goals. He was later voted PFA Fans' Favourites and cult hero number one...

R2 1st Leg 5 October 1981 Tranmere Rovers
Tranmere Rovers F.C.
Tranmere Rovers Football Club are an English team based in Birkenhead, Wirral. The club currently compete in League One, the third tier of the English football league system...

A 0–2 2,791
R2 2nd Leg 28 October 1981 Tranmere Rovers
Tranmere Rovers F.C.
Tranmere Rovers Football Club are an English team based in Birkenhead, Wirral. The club currently compete in League One, the third tier of the English football league system...

H 1–2 2,372 N.Chamberlain
Neville Chamberlain (footballer)
Neville Patrick Chamberlain is a retired English footballer. His brother, Mark was also a footballer, and his nephew Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain plays for Arsenal.-Playing career:...


Appearances

Pos. Name Football League FA Cup League Cup Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
GK   Mark Harrison
Mark Harrison (footballer)
Mark Simon Harrison is a former English footballer, specialist goalkeeper trainer, and manager.-Playing career:Harrison was a trainee with Southampton before joining Port Vale in February 1980. He was immediately the first choice keeper, however was troubled by cartilage problems from November 1980...

46 0 5 0 4 0 55 0
DF   Phil Sproson
Phil Sproson
Phillip Jess "Phil" Sproson is a former English footballer who played as a central defender. He played in 500 matches for Port Vale and scored 41 goals , this places him third highest in the list of appearances for Port Vale...

42 5 5 0 4 0 51 5
DF   Gerry Keenan
Gerry Keenan
Gerard Patrick "Gerry" Keenan is an English former footballer.-Playing career:Keenan played for Liverpool, Skelmersdale United and Bury before signing for Port Vale in September 1978 for a £15,000 fee. After enjoying two seasons of regular football he suffered with knee injuries from September...

21 1 0 0 3 0 24 1
DF   Paul Bowles
Paul Bowles (footballer)
Paul Michael Anthony Bowles is a former English footballer. He was a cousin of Stan Bowles.-Playing career:...

44 2 5 0 4 0 53 2
DF   Trevor Brissett
Trevor Brissett
Trevor Anthony Brissett was an English footballer.-Playing career:Brissett played for Stoke City before joining local rivals Port Vale in May 1980. After becoming a regular in the 1980–81 season he lost his first team place the next season and was given a free transfer in May 1982...

14 0 0 0 1 0 15 0
DF   Andy Higgins
Andy Higgins
Andrew Martin Higgins is an English former footballer.-Playing career:Higgins played for Chesterfield before joining Port Vale in February 1981. He failed to nail down a regular place and was instead given a free transfer in May 1982. He moved on to Hartlepool United, King's Lynn, Rochdale and...

4 0 2 0 2 0 8 0
DF   Ray Deakin
Ray Deakin
Raymond John Deakin was an English footballer, whose playing position was left-back.-Biography:Born in Liverpool, Deakin began his career at Everton, where he signed his first professional contract in 1977. However, he never made any appearances for Everton's first team, and was released in 1981....

23 6 0 0 4 1 27 7
MF   Russell Bromage
Russell Bromage
Russell Bromage is an English former footballer who played as a midfielder. In a fourteen year career in the Football League he made 400 league appearances, scoring 14 goals....

45 0 5 0 4 0 54 0
MF   Mark Chamberlain
Mark Chamberlain
Mark Valentine Chamberlain is an English retired international footballer. He is the younger brother of Neville Chamberlain, and the father of Arsenal and England U21 player Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain....

46 8 5 1 4 0 55 8
MF   Peter Farrell
Peter Farrell (English footballer)
Peter John Farrell is an English former football midfielder noted for his excellent technical ability. He is now a coach at Brentford....

4 0 0 0 0 0 4 0
MF   Terry Armstrong
Terry Armstrong
Terence "Terry" Armstrong is an English former footballer who played as a midfielder for Huddersfield Town and Port Vale during the 1970s & 1980s.-Playing career:...

34 1 5 1 3 0 42 2
MF   Paul Bennett
Paul Bennett (footballer born 1961)
Paul Bennett is an English former footballer.-Playing career:Bennett played for Everton before joining Port Vale in September 1978. He enjoyed fairly regular football during the 1980–81 season after making his debut as a substitute in a 1–1 draw at Peterborough United on 1 November 1980...

4 0 0 0 1 0 5 0
MF   Colin Tartt
Colin Tartt
Colin Tartt is a former English footballer.-Playing career:Tartt joined Port Vale from Alsager College , initially on trial, in June 1972. His first appearance was as a substitute in a 7–0 drubbing at Rotherham United on 26 August 1972, his first full debut was on 26 September that year in a 4–0...

38 4 5 0 0 0 43 4
MF   Geoff Hunter
Geoff Hunter (footballer)
Geoffrey "Geoff" Hunter is a former English footballer who played as a midfielder. In a twelve year career in the Football League he played 430 league games, scoring 38 goals....

41 3 5 0 3 0 49 3
FW   Neville Chamberlain
Neville Chamberlain (footballer)
Neville Patrick Chamberlain is a retired English footballer. His brother, Mark was also a footballer, and his nephew Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain plays for Arsenal.-Playing career:...

30 4 5 4 2 1 37 9
FW   Tony Sealy
Tony Sealy
Anthony John "Tony" Sealy is a retired footballer in the 1970s and 1980s. He won four Championship medals with four different clubs and played for numerous clubs across the world.-Playing career:...

6 4 0 0 0 0 6 4
FW   Andy Shankland
Andy Shankland
Andrew John "Andy" Shankland is an English former footballer who played 29 league and cup games in the Football League for Port Vale between 1981 and 1986. During this time the club were twice promoted out of the Fourth Division...

12 1 0 0 1 0 13 1
FW   Ernie Moss
Ernie Moss
Ernest "Ernie" Moss is an English former footballer. He is most associated with his home town club, Chesterfield, where in three separate spells spanning nearly twenty years he made 539 appearances, scoring a club record 192 goals. He was later voted PFA Fans' Favourites and cult hero number one...

44 13 4 2 3 2 51 17
FW   Jimmy Greenhoff
Jimmy Greenhoff
James "Jimmy" Greenhoff is an English former football player. He was a skilful forward and although capped five times at under-23 level, once as an over-age player, he never played for the full side, and is labelled as the finest English player never to play for England...

33 3 4 0 2 0 38 3
FW   Mark Bright
Mark Bright
Mark Abraham Bright is a former English footballer who is now a sports pundit and BBC London's sport presenter, as well as a coach at Crystal Palace....

2 0 0 0 0 0 2 0


All competitions

Scorer Goals
  Ernie Moss
Ernie Moss
Ernest "Ernie" Moss is an English former footballer. He is most associated with his home town club, Chesterfield, where in three separate spells spanning nearly twenty years he made 539 appearances, scoring a club record 192 goals. He was later voted PFA Fans' Favourites and cult hero number one...

17
  Neville Chamberlain
Neville Chamberlain (footballer)
Neville Patrick Chamberlain is a retired English footballer. His brother, Mark was also a footballer, and his nephew Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain plays for Arsenal.-Playing career:...

9
  Mark Chamberlain
Mark Chamberlain
Mark Valentine Chamberlain is an English retired international footballer. He is the younger brother of Neville Chamberlain, and the father of Arsenal and England U21 player Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain....

8
  Ray Deakin
Ray Deakin
Raymond John Deakin was an English footballer, whose playing position was left-back.-Biography:Born in Liverpool, Deakin began his career at Everton, where he signed his first professional contract in 1977. However, he never made any appearances for Everton's first team, and was released in 1981....

7
  Phil Sproson
Phil Sproson
Phillip Jess "Phil" Sproson is a former English footballer who played as a central defender. He played in 500 matches for Port Vale and scored 41 goals , this places him third highest in the list of appearances for Port Vale...

5
  Tony Sealy
Tony Sealy
Anthony John "Tony" Sealy is a retired footballer in the 1970s and 1980s. He won four Championship medals with four different clubs and played for numerous clubs across the world.-Playing career:...

4
  Colin Tartt
Colin Tartt
Colin Tartt is a former English footballer.-Playing career:Tartt joined Port Vale from Alsager College , initially on trial, in June 1972. His first appearance was as a substitute in a 7–0 drubbing at Rotherham United on 26 August 1972, his first full debut was on 26 September that year in a 4–0...

  Jimmy Greenhoff
Jimmy Greenhoff
James "Jimmy" Greenhoff is an English former football player. He was a skilful forward and although capped five times at under-23 level, once as an over-age player, he never played for the full side, and is labelled as the finest English player never to play for England...

3
  Geoff Hunter
Geoff Hunter (footballer)
Geoffrey "Geoff" Hunter is a former English footballer who played as a midfielder. In a twelve year career in the Football League he played 430 league games, scoring 38 goals....

  Paul Bowles
Paul Bowles (footballer)
Paul Michael Anthony Bowles is a former English footballer. He was a cousin of Stan Bowles.-Playing career:...

2
  Terry Armstrong
Terry Armstrong
Terence "Terry" Armstrong is an English former footballer who played as a midfielder for Huddersfield Town and Port Vale during the 1970s & 1980s.-Playing career:...

  Andy Shankland
Andy Shankland
Andrew John "Andy" Shankland is an English former footballer who played 29 league and cup games in the Football League for Port Vale between 1981 and 1986. During this time the club were twice promoted out of the Fourth Division...

1
  Gerry Keenan
Gerry Keenan
Gerard Patrick "Gerry" Keenan is an English former footballer.-Playing career:Keenan played for Liverpool, Skelmersdale United and Bury before signing for Port Vale in September 1978 for a £15,000 fee. After enjoying two seasons of regular football he suffered with knee injuries from September...


League

Scorer Goals
  Ernie Moss
Ernie Moss
Ernest "Ernie" Moss is an English former footballer. He is most associated with his home town club, Chesterfield, where in three separate spells spanning nearly twenty years he made 539 appearances, scoring a club record 192 goals. He was later voted PFA Fans' Favourites and cult hero number one...

13
  Mark Chamberlain
Mark Chamberlain
Mark Valentine Chamberlain is an English retired international footballer. He is the younger brother of Neville Chamberlain, and the father of Arsenal and England U21 player Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain....

8
  Ray Deakin
Ray Deakin
Raymond John Deakin was an English footballer, whose playing position was left-back.-Biography:Born in Liverpool, Deakin began his career at Everton, where he signed his first professional contract in 1977. However, he never made any appearances for Everton's first team, and was released in 1981....

6
  Phil Sproson
Phil Sproson
Phillip Jess "Phil" Sproson is a former English footballer who played as a central defender. He played in 500 matches for Port Vale and scored 41 goals , this places him third highest in the list of appearances for Port Vale...

5
  Tony Sealy
Tony Sealy
Anthony John "Tony" Sealy is a retired footballer in the 1970s and 1980s. He won four Championship medals with four different clubs and played for numerous clubs across the world.-Playing career:...

4
  Neville Chamberlain
Neville Chamberlain (footballer)
Neville Patrick Chamberlain is a retired English footballer. His brother, Mark was also a footballer, and his nephew Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain plays for Arsenal.-Playing career:...

  Colin Tartt
Colin Tartt
Colin Tartt is a former English footballer.-Playing career:Tartt joined Port Vale from Alsager College , initially on trial, in June 1972. His first appearance was as a substitute in a 7–0 drubbing at Rotherham United on 26 August 1972, his first full debut was on 26 September that year in a 4–0...

  Jimmy Greenhoff
Jimmy Greenhoff
James "Jimmy" Greenhoff is an English former football player. He was a skilful forward and although capped five times at under-23 level, once as an over-age player, he never played for the full side, and is labelled as the finest English player never to play for England...

3
  Geoff Hunter
Geoff Hunter (footballer)
Geoffrey "Geoff" Hunter is a former English footballer who played as a midfielder. In a twelve year career in the Football League he played 430 league games, scoring 38 goals....

  Paul Bowles
Paul Bowles (footballer)
Paul Michael Anthony Bowles is a former English footballer. He was a cousin of Stan Bowles.-Playing career:...

2
  Terry Armstrong
Terry Armstrong
Terence "Terry" Armstrong is an English former footballer who played as a midfielder for Huddersfield Town and Port Vale during the 1970s & 1980s.-Playing career:...

1
  Andy Shankland
Andy Shankland
Andrew John "Andy" Shankland is an English former footballer who played 29 league and cup games in the Football League for Port Vale between 1981 and 1986. During this time the club were twice promoted out of the Fourth Division...

  Gerry Keenan
Gerry Keenan
Gerard Patrick "Gerry" Keenan is an English former footballer.-Playing career:Keenan played for Liverpool, Skelmersdale United and Bury before signing for Port Vale in September 1978 for a £15,000 fee. After enjoying two seasons of regular football he suffered with knee injuries from September...

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