1983–84 Port Vale F.C. season
Encyclopedia
The 1983–84 season was Port Vale
's seventy-second season of football in the Football League
, and first (fifteenth overall) back in the Third Division
following their promotion from the Fourth Division
. The club suffered a horrendous start, and John McGrath lost his job before Christmas
; he was replaced by his assistant John Rudge
. Rudge instigated an immense turnaround in results, but Vale still ended up relegated, six points shy of safety. Ireland
international Eamonn O'Keefe was top-scorer and Player of the Year, and young Mark Bright
showed his potential, though left at the end of the season.
£10,000 for Ireland
international Eamonn O'Keefe. He also brought in three players on free transfers: Tommy Gore
(Bury
), Gary Pollard
(Chesterfield
), and Chris Pearce
(Blackburn Rovers
). The club reported record season ticket sales, however several players refused to sign new contracts. As a result Barry Siddall
, Russell Bromage
, Geoff Hunter
, and Terry Armstrong
remained on weekly contracts.
The season began with McGrath's new attacking tactics failing miserably, despite a 2–0 win over Bristol Rovers
in the fourth game of the programme. Fifteen league games without a win followed, keeping the club rooted at the foot of the table. The Sentinels Chris Harper commented that "Vale cannot go on being applauded off the park as entertaining losers." Phil Sproson
noted that the ongoing contract problems caused unrest in the camp. Siddall handed in his notice, whilst Bob Newton
and £8,000 were traded to Chesterfield for the services of Martin Henderson
. Bromage walked out on the club after they refused to give him a contract lasting beyond two years. On 31 October, McGrath had to use 41 year old coach Alan Oakes
in a 1–0 defeat to Plymouth Argyle
. Chairman Jim Lloyd then blocked McGrath's attempt to sign defender Ken Fogarty
, showing how little confidence the board had in their manager. McGrath complained in the media, only to be 'gagged', instructed only to speak to the media on team affairs. Supporters began organizing demonstrations against Lloyd, and in favour of McGrath. In November Siddall and Bromage returned to sign new contracts. Steve Fox
was suspended by the club for a fortnight after he refused to play in defence, and on 26 November Burnley
thrashed Vale 7–0 at Turf Moor
in front of Granada TV cameras. Starting December nine points adrift of safety, paying the third-highest wage bill in the division (£9,000 a week), and home gate receipts down to around £3,000, McGrath was suspended on full pay. The club received a flood of letters in protest, 'some just abusive', but McGrath left permanently after being compensated financially.
John Rudge
was appointed caretaker-manager, and made his first signing by taking midfielder Kevin Young
on loan from Burnley. His side were defeated 4–0 at Deepdale
by Preston North End
, and finished the game with just nine men. By now thirteen points short of safety, and seven points from their nearest competitors, The Sentinel's Chris Harper believed them to be 'the poorest side in the Third Division by quite a long chalk'. The revival started the next day, with a 2–0 win over Sheffield United
the first of four straight home wins that cut the gap to safety down to only four points. O'Keefe and Henderson formed a potent striking partnership, whilst Young added balance to the midfield. Jim Steel
was sold off to Wrexham for £10,000. Rudge said the battle to avoid relegation was as difficult a job as 'trying to climb Everest
in a pair of pumps
'. Struggling again in February, their 4–2 win over Newport County
lifted them off the bottom spot. Following a 4–3 win over Brentford
on 3 March, Rudge was appointed as manager until the end of the season. He took Millwall
's Andy Massey
on loan, but failed to re-sign Bob Newton. On 19 March, Vale defeated fellow strugglers Southend United
2–1 at Roots Hall
, their first away game of the league campaign, it took them out of the relegation zone. The job only got more difficult for Rudge however, as an injury crisis developed, and the team went nine games with just one victory. Young striker Mark Bright
scored five times in the final six games, yet relegation was all but confirmed despite a 1–0 win over promotion-chasing Hull City
. Just 2,299 turned up at Vale Park
for a final day 1–0 victory over Millwall, yet a pitch invasion still ensued, with the invaders chanting "We'll be back".
They finished in 23rd place, ahead only of Exeter City
. Only Exeter and Wigan Athletic
scored fewer, and only Exeter conceded more goals. Player of the Year Eamonn O'Keefe was top-scorer with eleven goals, yet it was Mark Bright who was a revelation.
and Gary Pollard joined Mansfield Town
. However Mark Bright signed with Leicester City
against Rudge's wishes, and a tribunal handed Vale £33,333 and top-up clauses. O'Keefe also requested a transfer, as he felt he would receive no further international caps playing in the fourth tier. Mick Cullerton
, then Vale's commercial manager, later claimed that vast wage disparities in the squad caused discontent and reduced club morale.
, Vale were eliminated at the First Round by Lincoln City
.
In the League Cup
, Vale 'ran riot' over Wrexham at the Racecourse Ground
to go through to the Second Round 8–2 on aggregate. Coming up against Ron Atkinson
's Manchester United
, they were defeated 1–0 at home despite 'a workmanlike performance', and beaten 2–0 at Old Trafford
in a 'credible' game. The home leg in Burslem
saw a crowd of 19,855 – the highest crowd since the visit of West Ham United
in 1973
. This raised £45,873 in gate receipts for the club. However a fifty-strong gang of Manchester
thugs caused chaos in Burslem town centre, stabbing a man from Brown Edge
.
In the League Trophy
, Vale beat Fourth Division
Hereford United
1–0 at Edgar Street. They were then beaten 2–0 at the Memorial Stadium
by Bristol Rovers.
P = Matches played; W = Matches won; D = Matches drawn; L = Matches lost; F = Goals for; A = Goals against; GD = Goal difference; Pts = Points
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 seventy-second 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 first (fifteenth overall) back in the 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...
following their promotion from 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...
. The club suffered a horrendous start, and John McGrath lost his job before Christmas
Christmas
Christmas or Christmas Day is an annual holiday generally celebrated on December 25 by billions of people around the world. It is a Christian feast that commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ, liturgically closing the Advent season and initiating the season of Christmastide, which lasts twelve days...
; he was replaced by his assistant John Rudge
John Rudge
John Robert Rudge is an English former football player and football manager. He is currently working as the director of football at Stoke City....
. Rudge instigated an immense turnaround in results, but Vale still ended up relegated, six points shy of safety. Ireland
Republic of Ireland national football team
The Republic of Ireland national football team represents Ireland in association football. It is run by the Football Association of Ireland and currently plays home fixtures at Aviva Stadium in Dublin, which opened in May 2010....
international Eamonn O'Keefe was top-scorer and Player of the Year, and young 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....
showed his potential, though left at the end of the season.
Third Division
The pre-season saw John McGrath pay Wigan AthleticWigan 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...
£10,000 for Ireland
Republic of Ireland national football team
The Republic of Ireland national football team represents Ireland in association football. It is run by the Football Association of Ireland and currently plays home fixtures at Aviva Stadium in Dublin, which opened in May 2010....
international Eamonn O'Keefe. He also brought in three players on free transfers: Tommy Gore
Tommy Gore
Thomas John Gore is an English former footballer.-Wigan Athletic:Gore played as a youth for Liverpool and Tranmere Rovers before joining Wigan Athletic in January 1974. He made 185 Northern Premier League appearances for Wigan before the club gained its Football League status...
(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...
), Gary Pollard
Gary Pollard
Gary Pollard is an English former footballer.-Playing career:Pollard played for Chesterfield before joining Port Vale in June 1983. He played 22 games in all competitions in the 1983–84 season and moved on to Mansfield Town on a free transfer in July 1984...
(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...
), and Chris Pearce
Chris Pearce (footballer)
Christopher Leslie Pearce is a Welsh former footballer.-Playing career:Pearce played for Wolverhampton Wanderers before joining Blackburn Rovers. He enjoyed loan spells with Rochdale and Barnsley before transferring to Port Vale in June 1983. He became the first choice keeper from September 1984,...
(Blackburn Rovers
Blackburn Rovers F.C.
Blackburn Rovers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the town of Blackburn, Lancashire. The team currently competes in the Premier League, the top tier of English football....
). The club reported record season ticket sales, however several players refused to sign new contracts. As a result Barry Siddall
Barry Siddall
Barry Alfred Siddall is an English former professional football goalkeeper. When he retired from the game he had made 614 appearances to his name over a 21-year career in the Football League, playing for numerous clubs....
, 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....
, 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....
, and 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:...
remained on weekly contracts.
The season began with McGrath's new attacking tactics failing miserably, despite a 2–0 win over Bristol Rovers
Bristol Rovers F.C.
Bristol Rovers Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Bristol, that competes in Football League Two. The team plays its home matches at the Memorial Stadium, in the Horfield area of the city....
in the fourth game of the programme. Fifteen league games without a win followed, keeping the club rooted at the foot of the table. The Sentinels Chris Harper commented that "Vale cannot go on being applauded off the park as entertaining losers." 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...
noted that the ongoing contract problems caused unrest in the camp. Siddall handed in his notice, whilst Bob Newton
Bob Newton (footballer)
Robert Newton is an English footballer. Newton played as a striker for several clubs in the lower divisions of the Football League during the 1970s and '80s. He is most notable for his first five year spell at Hartlepool United between 1977 and 1982, where he wrote himself into club history with...
and £8,000 were traded to Chesterfield for the services of Martin Henderson
Martin Henderson (footballer)
William Martin Neville Henderson is a Scottish former footballer who played in Scotland, England, and the United States.-Playing career:...
. Bromage walked out on the club after they refused to give him a contract lasting beyond two years. On 31 October, McGrath had to use 41 year old coach Alan Oakes
Alan Oakes
Alan Arthur Oakes is an English footballer who holds Manchester City's all-time record for appearances. Thanks to a further six year stint at Chester , Oakes played 776 Football League matches – the seventh most in history.-Permanent Fixture with Man City:Oakes signed for Manchester City on...
in a 1–0 defeat to Plymouth Argyle
Plymouth Argyle F.C.
Plymouth Argyle Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Plymouth, Devon, that plays in Football League Two.Since becoming professional in 1903, the club has won five Football League titles, five Southern League titles and one Western League title. The 2009–10 season was the...
. Chairman Jim Lloyd then blocked McGrath's attempt to sign defender Ken Fogarty
Ken Fogarty
Ken Fogarty is a American soccer coach. Fogarty was Head Coach and Technical Director of the Cayman Islands national team from 1993–1994 and from 1996-1998.-Professional career:...
, showing how little confidence the board had in their manager. McGrath complained in the media, only to be 'gagged', instructed only to speak to the media on team affairs. Supporters began organizing demonstrations against Lloyd, and in favour of McGrath. In November Siddall and Bromage returned to sign new contracts. Steve Fox
Steve Fox (footballer)
Stephen Douglas "Steve" Fox is an English former professional footballer who played as a winger. He made 278 appearances in the Football League playing for Birmingham City, Wrexham, Port Vale and Chester City.-Playing career:...
was suspended by the club for a fortnight after he refused to play in defence, and on 26 November 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...
thrashed Vale 7–0 at Turf Moor
Turf Moor
Turf Moor is a football stadium in Burnley, Lancashire. It is the home ground of Burnley Football Club, which has played there since moving from its Calder Vale ground in 1883. The stadium, which is situated on Harry Potts Way, named so after the club's longest serving Manager, has a capacity of...
in front of Granada TV cameras. Starting December nine points adrift of safety, paying the third-highest wage bill in the division (£9,000 a week), and home gate receipts down to around £3,000, McGrath was suspended on full pay. The club received a flood of letters in protest, 'some just abusive', but McGrath left permanently after being compensated financially.
John Rudge
John Rudge
John Robert Rudge is an English former football player and football manager. He is currently working as the director of football at Stoke City....
was appointed caretaker-manager, and made his first signing by taking midfielder Kevin Young
Kevin Young (footballer)
Kevin Young is an English former footballer.-Playing career:Young began his career as an apprentice at Burnley, turning professional in May 1979 after his league debut. In November 1983, with his regular place at Burnley now a thing of the past he moved to Torquay United on loan, and the following...
on loan from Burnley. His side were defeated 4–0 at Deepdale
Deepdale
Deepdale is a stadium in the Deepdale area of Preston, England, the home of Preston North End F.C. and, up to 2010, England's National Football Museum. Preston North End are one of the founder members of the Football League.- History :...
by Preston North End
Preston North End F.C.
Preston North End Football Club is an English professional football club located in the Deepdale area of the city of Preston, Lancashire, currently playing in the third tier of English league football, League One...
, and finished the game with just nine men. By now thirteen points short of safety, and seven points from their nearest competitors, The Sentinel's Chris Harper believed them to be 'the poorest side in the Third Division by quite a long chalk'. The revival started the next day, with a 2–0 win over 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...
the first of four straight home wins that cut the gap to safety down to only four points. O'Keefe and Henderson formed a potent striking partnership, whilst Young added balance to the midfield. Jim Steel
Jim Steel (footballer)
William James "Jim" Steel is a Scottish former professional association footballer. A big, aggressive player, his position was centre forward....
was sold off to Wrexham for £10,000. Rudge said the battle to avoid relegation was as difficult a job as 'trying to climb Everest
Mount Everest
Mount Everest is the world's highest mountain, with a peak at above sea level. It is located in the Mahalangur section of the Himalayas. The international boundary runs across the precise summit point...
in a pair of pumps
Plimsoll shoe
A plimsoll shoe, plimsoll, or plimsole is a British English word for a type of athletic shoe with a canvas upper and rubber sole, developed as beachwear in the 1830s by the Liverpool Rubber Company. The shoe was originally, and often still is in parts of the United Kingdom, called a 'sand shoe' and...
'. Struggling again in February, their 4–2 win over Newport County
Newport County A.F.C.
Newport County Association Football Club are a professional football club based in the city of Newport, south Wales, who currently play in the Conference National, the highest level of the National League System and fifth highest of the overall English football league system...
lifted them off the bottom spot. Following a 4–3 win over Brentford
Brentford F.C.
Brentford Football Club are a professional English football club based in Brentford in the London Borough of Hounslow. They are currently playing in Football League One....
on 3 March, Rudge was appointed as manager until the end of the season. He took Millwall
Millwall F.C.
Millwall Football Club is an English professional football club based in South Bermondsey, south east London, that plays in the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football. Founded as Millwall Rovers in 1885, the club has retained its name despite having last played in the...
's Andy Massey
Andy Massey
Andrew Thomas Massey is a former Irish footballer and schoolboy international, born in England.-Playing career:Massey started his career with Millwall where he was an FA Youth Cup winner in 1978/79. He went on to make over 100 appearances in all competitions scoring 9 goals...
on loan, but failed to re-sign Bob Newton. On 19 March, Vale defeated fellow strugglers Southend United
Southend United F.C.
Southend United Football Club is an English football club based at Roots Hall Stadium, Prittlewell, Southend-on-Sea, Essex, who play in Football League Two. Their home ground is Roots Hall, and the club plan to move into a new 22,000-seater stadium located at Fossetts Farm.-Stadium:The club has had...
2–1 at Roots Hall
Roots Hall
Roots Hall is a multi-use sports stadium in Southend-on-Sea, Essex, England, primarily used for football games and is the home of the Football League Two club Southend United. With a capacity of 12,392 Roots Hall is the largest football stadium in Essex, and is the current venue for the final of...
, their first away game of the league campaign, it took them out of the relegation zone. The job only got more difficult for Rudge however, as an injury crisis developed, and the team went nine games with just one victory. Young striker 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....
scored five times in the final six games, yet relegation was all but confirmed despite a 1–0 win over promotion-chasing 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...
. Just 2,299 turned up 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....
for a final day 1–0 victory over Millwall, yet a pitch invasion still ensued, with the invaders chanting "We'll be back".
They finished in 23rd place, ahead only of Exeter City
Exeter City F.C.
Exeter City Football Club is an English football club, based in Exeter, which is owned by its fans through the Exeter City Supporters Trust.The club was a member of the Football League from 1920 to 2003...
. Only Exeter and 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...
scored fewer, and only Exeter conceded more goals. Player of the Year Eamonn O'Keefe was top-scorer with eleven goals, yet it was Mark Bright who was a revelation.
Finances
On the financial side, a £50,601 profit was recorded with donations from the Development Fund of £146,177 and an income of £73,023 from the open market rents. Wages had been cut back to £310,542, whilst gate receipts rose to £180,504. Steve Fox left for Chester CityChester City F.C.
Chester City Football Club was an English football team from Chester. The club was founded as Chester F.C., and joined the Football League in 1931, spending most of their time in the lower divisions. They changed their name to Chester City in 1983. Chester won their first league title in 2004, the...
and Gary Pollard joined 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...
. However Mark Bright signed with Leicester City
Leicester City F.C.
Leicester City Football Club , also known as The Foxes, is an English professional football club based at the King Power Stadium in Leicester...
against Rudge's wishes, and a tribunal handed Vale £33,333 and top-up clauses. O'Keefe also requested a transfer, as he felt he would receive no further international caps playing in the fourth tier. Mick Cullerton
Mick Cullerton
Michael Joseph Cullerton is a former Scottish footballer. He is noted for his two spells with Port Vale, as well as for being Stafford Rangers' star forward as they were one of the elite non-league clubs in the 1970s....
, then Vale's commercial manager, later claimed that vast wage disparities in the squad caused discontent and reduced club morale.
Cup competitions
In the FA CupFA 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 were eliminated at the First Round by 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....
.
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...
, Vale 'ran riot' over Wrexham at the Racecourse Ground
Racecourse Ground
The Glyndŵr University Racecourse Stadium AKA The Racecourse Ground is a stadium located in Wrexham, North Wales. It is the home of Wrexham F.C. and, since 2010, the Crusaders Rugby League team who play in the engage Super League...
to go through to the Second Round 8–2 on aggregate. Coming up against Ron Atkinson
Ron Atkinson
Ronald Ernest Atkinson, commonly known as "Big Ron" and "Bojangles" is an English former football player and manager. In recent years he has become one of Britain's best-known football pundits...
's Manchester United
Manchester United F.C.
Manchester United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, that plays in the Premier League. Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to Old Trafford in 1910.The 1958...
, they were defeated 1–0 at home despite 'a workmanlike performance', and beaten 2–0 at Old Trafford
Old Trafford
Old Trafford commonly refers to two sporting arenas:* Old Trafford, home of Manchester United F.C.* Old Trafford Cricket Ground, home of Lancashire County Cricket ClubOld Trafford can also refer to:...
in a 'credible' game. The home leg 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:...
saw a crowd of 19,855 – the highest crowd since the visit of West Ham United
West Ham United F.C.
West Ham United Football Club is an English professional football club based in Upton Park, Newham, East London. They play in The Football League Championship. The club was founded in 1895 as Thames Ironworks FC and reformed in 1900 as West Ham United. In 1904 the club relocated to their current...
in 1973
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...
. This raised £45,873 in gate receipts for the club. However a fifty-strong gang of Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
thugs caused chaos in Burslem town centre, stabbing a man from Brown Edge
Brown Edge, Staffordshire
Brown Edge is a village and civil parish in the Staffordshire Moorlands district of Staffordshire, England. According to the 2001 census it had a population of 2,406...
.
In the League Trophy
Football League Trophy
The Football League Trophy, currently known as the Johnstone's Paint Trophy for sponsorship reasons, is an annual English association football knock-out competition open to the 48 clubs in Football League One and Football League Two, the bottom two divisions in the four fully professional top...
, Vale beat 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...
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',...
1–0 at Edgar Street. They were then beaten 2–0 at the Memorial Stadium
Memorial Stadium (Bristol)
The Memorial Stadium, also commonly known by its previous name of The Memorial Ground, is a sports ground in Bristol, England, dedicated to the memory of the rugby union players of the city killed during World War I...
by Bristol Rovers.
Final league table
| P | W | D | L | F | A | GD | Pts | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oxford United Oxford United F.C. Oxford United Football Club is an English association football club based in Oxford, Oxfordshire. The club play in League Two, following promotion from the Conference National in May 2010. The club had been a non-League side since their relegation from the Football League in the 2005–06 season. The... |
46 | 28 | 11 | 7 | 91 | 50 | 95 |
| 2 | Wimbledon Wimbledon F.C. Wimbledon Football Club was an English professional association football club from Wimbledon, south-west London. Founded in 1889 as Wimbledon Old Central Football Club, the club spent most of its history in amateur and semi-professional non-League football before being elected to the Football... |
46 | 26 | 9 | 11 | 97 | 76 | 87 |
| 3 | 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 | 24 | 11 | 11 | 86 | 53 | 83 |
| 4 | 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 | 23 | 14 | 9 | 71 | 38 | 83 |
| 5 | Bristol Rovers Bristol Rovers F.C. Bristol Rovers Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Bristol, that competes in Football League Two. The team plays its home matches at the Memorial Stadium, in the Horfield area of the city.... |
46 | 22 | 13 | 11 | 68 | 54 | 79 |
| 6 | Walsall Walsall F.C. Walsall Football Club are an English association football club based in Walsall, West Midlands. They currently play in League One. The club was founded in 1888 as Walsall Town Swifts, an amalgamation of Walsall Town F.C. and Walsall Swifts F.C. The club was one of the founder members of the Second... |
46 | 22 | 9 | 15 | 68 | 61 | 75 |
| 7 | 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 | 20 | 11 | 15 | 73 | 65 | 71 |
| 8 | Gillingham Gillingham F.C. Gillingham Football Club is an English professional football club based in the town of Gillingham, Kent. The only Kent-based club in the Football League, they play their home matches at the Priestfield Stadium... |
46 | 20 | 10 | 16 | 74 | 69 | 70 |
| 9 | Millwall Millwall F.C. Millwall Football Club is an English professional football club based in South Bermondsey, south east London, that plays in the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football. Founded as Millwall Rovers in 1885, the club has retained its name despite having last played in the... |
46 | 18 | 13 | 15 | 71 | 65 | 67 |
| 10 | Bolton Wanderers Bolton Wanderers F.C. Bolton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the area of Horwich in the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, Greater Manchester. They began their current spell in the Premier League in 2001.... |
46 | 18 | 10 | 18 | 56 | 60 | |
| 64 | ||||||||
| 11 | Orient Leyton Orient F.C. Leyton Orient F.C. are an English professional football club in East London. They currently play in Football League One and are known to their fans as the O's.Leyton Orient have spent one season in the top flight of English football, in 1962–63... |
46 | 18 | 9 | 19 | 71 | 81 | |
| 63 | ||||||||
| 12 | 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... |
46 | 16 | 14 | 16 | 76 | 61 | 62 |
| 13 | Newport County Newport County A.F.C. Newport County Association Football Club are a professional football club based in the city of Newport, south Wales, who currently play in the Conference National, the highest level of the National League System and fifth highest of the overall English football league system... |
46 | 16 | 14 | 16 | 58 | 75 | |
| 62 | ||||||||
| 14 | 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.... |
46 | 17 | 10 | 19 | 59 | 62 | |
| 61 | ||||||||
| 15 | 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 | 16 | 13 | 17 | 46 | 56 | |
| 61 | ||||||||
| 16 | Preston North End Preston North End F.C. Preston North End Football Club is an English professional football club located in the Deepdale area of the city of Preston, Lancashire, currently playing in the third tier of English league football, League One... |
46 | 15 | 11 | 20 | 66 | 66 | 56 |
| 17 | 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 | 16 | 7 | 23 | 63 | 73 | |
| 55 | ||||||||
| 18 | Rotherham United Rotherham United F.C. Rotherham United Football Club are an English professional football club based in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, who compete in League Two, the fourth tier of English football. The club's colours have traditionally been red and white, although these have evolved through history... |
46 | 15 | 9 | 22 | 57 | 64 | |
| 54 | ||||||||
| 19 | Plymouth Argyle Plymouth Argyle F.C. Plymouth Argyle Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Plymouth, Devon, that plays in Football League Two.Since becoming professional in 1903, the club has won five Football League titles, five Southern League titles and one Western League title. The 2009–10 season was the... |
46 | 13 | 12 | 21 | 56 | 62 | |
| 51 | ||||||||
| 20 | Brentford Brentford F.C. Brentford Football Club are a professional English football club based in Brentford in the London Borough of Hounslow. They are currently playing in Football League One.... |
46 | 11 | 16 | 19 | 69 | 79 | |
| 49 | ||||||||
| 21 | 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 | 19 | 18 | 54 | 73 | |
| 46 | ||||||||
| 22 | Southend United Southend United F.C. Southend United Football Club is an English football club based at Roots Hall Stadium, Prittlewell, Southend-on-Sea, Essex, who play in Football League Two. Their home ground is Roots Hall, and the club plan to move into a new 22,000-seater stadium located at Fossetts Farm.-Stadium:The club has had... |
46 | 10 | 14 | 22 | 55 | 76 | |
| 44 | ||||||||
| 23 | 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 | 11 | 10 | 25 | 51 | 83 | |
| 43 | ||||||||
| 24 | Exeter City Exeter City F.C. Exeter City Football Club is an English football club, based in Exeter, which is owned by its fans through the Exeter City Supporters Trust.The club was a member of the Football League from 1920 to 2003... |
46 | 6 | 15 | 25 | 50 | 84 | |
| 33 |
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 Third Division
| Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Scorers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 27 August 1983 | 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 | 0–0 | 4,565 | |
| 3 September 1983 | Rotherham United Rotherham United F.C. Rotherham United Football Club are an English professional football club based in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, who compete in League Two, the fourth tier of English football. The club's colours have traditionally been red and white, although these have evolved through history... |
|A | 1–2 | 4,847 | O'Keefe |
| 6 September 1983 | Millwall Millwall F.C. Millwall Football Club is an English professional football club based in South Bermondsey, south east London, that plays in the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football. Founded as Millwall Rovers in 1885, the club has retained its name despite having last played in the... |
|A | 2–3 | 4,061 | Steel Jim Steel (footballer) William James "Jim" Steel is a Scottish former professional association footballer. A big, aggressive player, his position was centre forward.... (2) |
| 10 September 1983 | Bristol Rovers Bristol Rovers F.C. Bristol Rovers Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Bristol, that competes in Football League Two. The team plays its home matches at the Memorial Stadium, in the Horfield area of the city.... |
|H | 2–0 | 4,308 | 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... , Steel Jim Steel (footballer) William James "Jim" Steel is a Scottish former professional association footballer. A big, aggressive player, his position was centre forward.... |
| 17 September 1983 | Wimbledon Wimbledon F.C. Wimbledon Football Club was an English professional association football club from Wimbledon, south-west London. Founded in 1889 as Wimbledon Old Central Football Club, the club spent most of its history in amateur and semi-professional non-League football before being elected to the Football... |
|A | 2–4 | 2,690 | Newton Bob Newton (footballer) Robert Newton is an English footballer. Newton played as a striker for several clubs in the lower divisions of the Football League during the 1970s and '80s. He is most notable for his first five year spell at Hartlepool United between 1977 and 1982, where he wrote himself into club history with... (2) |
| 24 September 1983 | 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 | 1–2 | 4,879 | Fox Steve Fox (footballer) Stephen Douglas "Steve" Fox is an English former professional footballer who played as a winger. He made 278 appearances in the Football League playing for Birmingham City, Wrexham, Port Vale and Chester City.-Playing career:... |
| 26 September 1983 | 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 | 4,655 | 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.... |
| 1 October 1983 | Walsall Walsall F.C. Walsall Football Club are an English association football club based in Walsall, West Midlands. They currently play in League One. The club was founded in 1888 as Walsall Town Swifts, an amalgamation of Walsall Town F.C. and Walsall Swifts F.C. The club was one of the founder members of the Second... |
|A | 0–2 | 3,757 | |
| 14 October 1983 | Orient Leyton Orient F.C. Leyton Orient F.C. are an English professional football club in East London. They currently play in Football League One and are known to their fans as the O's.Leyton Orient have spent one season in the top flight of English football, in 1962–63... |
|A | 0–3 | 3,207 | |
| 18 October 1983 | Brentford Brentford F.C. Brentford Football Club are a professional English football club based in Brentford in the London Borough of Hounslow. They are currently playing in Football League One.... |
|A | 1–3 | 3,903 | Henderson Martin Henderson (footballer) William Martin Neville Henderson is a Scottish former footballer who played in Scotland, England, and the United States.-Playing career:... |
| 22 October 1983 | Bolton Wanderers Bolton Wanderers F.C. Bolton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the area of Horwich in the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, Greater Manchester. They began their current spell in the Premier League in 2001.... |
|H | 1–2 | 4,269 | 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... |
| 29 October 1983 | Newport County Newport County A.F.C. Newport County Association Football Club are a professional football club based in the city of Newport, south Wales, who currently play in the Conference National, the highest level of the National League System and fifth highest of the overall English football league system... |
|A | 1–2 | 3,829 | Ridley John Ridley (footballer) John Ridley is an English former footballer. A versatile midfielder, he had a twelve year professional career in the Football League, playing for Port Vale and Chesterfield, as well as Leicester City. He also played for non-league Stafford Rangers and for American side Fort Lauderdale Strikers.He... |
| 31 October 1983 | Plymouth Argyle Plymouth Argyle F.C. Plymouth Argyle Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Plymouth, Devon, that plays in Football League Two.Since becoming professional in 1903, the club has won five Football League titles, five Southern League titles and one Western League title. The 2009–10 season was the... |
|H | 0–1 | 3,466 | |
| 5 November 1983 | Exeter City Exeter City F.C. Exeter City Football Club is an English football club, based in Exeter, which is owned by its fans through the Exeter City Supporters Trust.The club was a member of the Football League from 1920 to 2003... |
|A | 1–1 | 3,301 | 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:... |
| 12 November 1983 | Oxford United Oxford United F.C. Oxford United Football Club is an English association football club based in Oxford, Oxfordshire. The club play in League Two, following promotion from the Conference National in May 2010. The club had been a non-League side since their relegation from the Football League in the 2005–06 season. The... |
|H | 1–3 | 3,927 | O'Keefe |
| 26 November 1983 | 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... |
|A | 0–7 | 6,385 | |
| 3 December 1983 | Gillingham Gillingham F.C. Gillingham Football Club is an English professional football club based in the town of Gillingham, Kent. The only Kent-based club in the Football League, they play their home matches at the Priestfield Stadium... |
|H | 0–1 | 3,086 | |
| 17 December 1983 | 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 | 0–1 | 2,861 | |
| 26 December 1983 | Preston North End Preston North End F.C. Preston North End Football Club is an English professional football club located in the Deepdale area of the city of Preston, Lancashire, currently playing in the third tier of English league football, League One... |
|A | 0–4 | 5,617 | |
| 27 December 1983 | 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 | 2–0 | 7,034 | O'Keefe, Young Kevin Young (footballer) Kevin Young is an English former footballer.-Playing career:Young began his career as an apprentice at Burnley, turning professional in May 1979 after his league debut. In November 1983, with his regular place at Burnley now a thing of the past he moved to Torquay United on loan, and the following... |
| 31 December 1983 | 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 | 0–1 | 8,736 | |
| 2 January 1984 | 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 | 2–1 | 4,008 | O'Keefe, Henderson Martin Henderson (footballer) William Martin Neville Henderson is a Scottish former footballer who played in Scotland, England, and the United States.-Playing career:... |
| 21 January 1984 | Wimbledon Wimbledon F.C. Wimbledon Football Club was an English professional association football club from Wimbledon, south-west London. Founded in 1889 as Wimbledon Old Central Football Club, the club spent most of its history in amateur and semi-professional non-League football before being elected to the Football... |
|H | 2–0 | 3,627 | O'Keefe, 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.... |
| 28 January 1984 | Bristol Rovers Bristol Rovers F.C. Bristol Rovers Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Bristol, that competes in Football League Two. The team plays its home matches at the Memorial Stadium, in the Horfield area of the city.... |
|A | 0–0 | 6,142 | |
| 30 January 1984 | Southend United Southend United F.C. Southend United Football Club is an English football club based at Roots Hall Stadium, Prittlewell, Southend-on-Sea, Essex, who play in Football League Two. Their home ground is Roots Hall, and the club plan to move into a new 22,000-seater stadium located at Fossetts Farm.-Stadium:The club has had... |
|H | 2–1 | 3,636 | Henderson Martin Henderson (footballer) William Martin Neville Henderson is a Scottish former footballer who played in Scotland, England, and the United States.-Playing career:... , Ridley John Ridley (footballer) John Ridley is an English former footballer. A versatile midfielder, he had a twelve year professional career in the Football League, playing for Port Vale and Chesterfield, as well as Leicester City. He also played for non-league Stafford Rangers and for American side Fort Lauderdale Strikers.He... |
| 4 February 1984 | Walsall Walsall F.C. Walsall Football Club are an English association football club based in Walsall, West Midlands. They currently play in League One. The club was founded in 1888 as Walsall Town Swifts, an amalgamation of Walsall Town F.C. and Walsall Swifts F.C. The club was one of the founder members of the Second... |
|H | 0–2 | 6,966 | |
| 11 February 1984 | 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 | 2–2 | 5,435 | Henderson Martin Henderson (footballer) William Martin Neville Henderson is a Scottish former footballer who played in Scotland, England, and the United States.-Playing career:... , Gore Tommy Gore Thomas John Gore is an English former footballer.-Wigan Athletic:Gore played as a youth for Liverpool and Tranmere Rovers before joining Wigan Athletic in January 1974. He made 185 Northern Premier League appearances for Wigan before the club gained its Football League status... (pen) |
| 14 February 1984 | Plymouth Argyle Plymouth Argyle F.C. Plymouth Argyle Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Plymouth, Devon, that plays in Football League Two.Since becoming professional in 1903, the club has won five Football League titles, five Southern League titles and one Western League title. The 2009–10 season was the... |
|A | 0–3 | 3,552 | |
| 18 February 1984 | Newport County Newport County A.F.C. Newport County Association Football Club are a professional football club based in the city of Newport, south Wales, who currently play in the Conference National, the highest level of the National League System and fifth highest of the overall English football league system... |
|H | 4–2 | 3,437 | Henderson Martin Henderson (footballer) William Martin Neville Henderson is a Scottish former footballer who played in Scotland, England, and the United States.-Playing career:... , 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... , Young Kevin Young (footballer) Kevin Young is an English former footballer.-Playing career:Young began his career as an apprentice at Burnley, turning professional in May 1979 after his league debut. In November 1983, with his regular place at Burnley now a thing of the past he moved to Torquay United on loan, and the following... , 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.... |
| 25 February 1984 | Bolton Wanderers Bolton Wanderers F.C. Bolton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the area of Horwich in the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, Greater Manchester. They began their current spell in the Premier League in 2001.... |
|A | 0–2 | 5,818 | |
| 3 March 1984 | Brentford Brentford F.C. Brentford Football Club are a professional English football club based in Brentford in the London Borough of Hounslow. They are currently playing in Football League One.... |
|H | 4–3 | 3,704 | O'Keefe (2), Gore Tommy Gore Thomas John Gore is an English former footballer.-Wigan Athletic:Gore played as a youth for Liverpool and Tranmere Rovers before joining Wigan Athletic in January 1974. He made 185 Northern Premier League appearances for Wigan before the club gained its Football League status... (pen), Fox Steve Fox (footballer) Stephen Douglas "Steve" Fox is an English former professional footballer who played as a winger. He made 278 appearances in the Football League playing for Birmingham City, Wrexham, Port Vale and Chester City.-Playing career:... |
| 5 March 1984 | Exeter City Exeter City F.C. Exeter City Football Club is an English football club, based in Exeter, which is owned by its fans through the Exeter City Supporters Trust.The club was a member of the Football League from 1920 to 2003... |
|H | 2–2 | 4,338 | Henderson Martin Henderson (footballer) William Martin Neville Henderson is a Scottish former footballer who played in Scotland, England, and the United States.-Playing career:... , Young Kevin Young (footballer) Kevin Young is an English former footballer.-Playing career:Young began his career as an apprentice at Burnley, turning professional in May 1979 after his league debut. In November 1983, with his regular place at Burnley now a thing of the past he moved to Torquay United on loan, and the following... |
| 10 March 1984 | Oxford United Oxford United F.C. Oxford United Football Club is an English association football club based in Oxford, Oxfordshire. The club play in League Two, following promotion from the Conference National in May 2010. The club had been a non-League side since their relegation from the Football League in the 2005–06 season. The... |
|A | 0–2 | 7,858 | |
| 19 March 1984 | Southend United Southend United F.C. Southend United Football Club is an English football club based at Roots Hall Stadium, Prittlewell, Southend-on-Sea, Essex, who play in Football League Two. Their home ground is Roots Hall, and the club plan to move into a new 22,000-seater stadium located at Fossetts Farm.-Stadium:The club has had... |
|A | 2–1 | 2,596 | 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.... , O'Keefe |
| 31 March 1984 | 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 | 0–3 | 3,163 | |
| 2 April 1984 | Rotherham United Rotherham United F.C. Rotherham United Football Club are an English professional football club based in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, who compete in League Two, the fourth tier of English football. The club's colours have traditionally been red and white, although these have evolved through history... |
|H | 2–3 | 3,705 | O'Keefe, Massey Andy Massey Andrew Thomas Massey is a former Irish footballer and schoolboy international, born in England.-Playing career:Massey started his career with Millwall where he was an FA Youth Cup winner in 1978/79. He went on to make over 100 appearances in all competitions scoring 9 goals... (pen) |
| 9 April 1984 | Orient Leyton Orient F.C. Leyton Orient F.C. are an English professional football club in East London. They currently play in Football League One and are known to their fans as the O's.Leyton Orient have spent one season in the top flight of English football, in 1962–63... |
|H | 2–0 | 3,169 | Henderson Martin Henderson (footballer) William Martin Neville Henderson is a Scottish former footballer who played in Scotland, England, and the United States.-Playing career:... , 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.... |
| 14 April 1984 | Gillingham Gillingham F.C. Gillingham Football Club is an English professional football club based in the town of Gillingham, Kent. The only Kent-based club in the Football League, they play their home matches at the Priestfield Stadium... |
|A | 1–1 | 3,323 | 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.... |
| 17 April 1984 | 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 | 1–1 | 2,952 | 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... |
| 21 April 1984 | Preston North End Preston North End F.C. Preston North End Football Club is an English professional football club located in the Deepdale area of the city of Preston, Lancashire, currently playing in the third tier of English league football, League One... |
|H | 1–1 | 3,574 | O'Keefe (pen) |
| 24 April 1984 | 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 | 1–3 | 14,385 | 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.... |
| 28 April 1984 | 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... |
|H | 2–3 | 3,061 | 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.... , Young Kevin Young (footballer) Kevin Young is an English former footballer.-Playing career:Young began his career as an apprentice at Burnley, turning professional in May 1979 after his league debut. In November 1983, with his regular place at Burnley now a thing of the past he moved to Torquay United on loan, and the following... |
| 5 May 1984 | 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 | 3,305 | 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.... |
| 7 May 1984 | 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 | 1–0 | 3,958 | 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.... |
| 12 May 1984 | 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 | 2–3 | 1,372 | 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.... , 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:... |
| 14 May 1984 | Millwall Millwall F.C. Millwall Football Club is an English professional football club based in South Bermondsey, south east London, that plays in the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football. Founded as Millwall Rovers in 1885, the club has retained its name despite having last played in the... |
|H | 1–0 | 2,299 | Fox Steve Fox (footballer) Stephen Douglas "Steve" Fox is an English former professional footballer who played as a winger. He made 278 appearances in the Football League playing for Birmingham City, Wrexham, Port Vale and Chester City.-Playing career:... |
FA Cup
| Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Goalscorers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| R1 | 19 November 1983 | 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 | 1–2 | 3,647 | 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.... |
League Cup
| Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Goalscorers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| R1 1st Leg | 31 August 1983 | Wrexham | H | 3–1 | 3,916 | 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... (2), O'Keefe (pen) |
| R1 2nd Leg | 13 September 1983 | Wrexham | A | 5–1 | 2,903 | Newton Bob Newton (footballer) Robert Newton is an English footballer. Newton played as a striker for several clubs in the lower divisions of the Football League during the 1970s and '80s. He is most notable for his first five year spell at Hartlepool United between 1977 and 1982, where he wrote himself into club history with... (2), 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.... , Gore Tommy Gore Thomas John Gore is an English former footballer.-Wigan Athletic:Gore played as a youth for Liverpool and Tranmere Rovers before joining Wigan Athletic in January 1974. He made 185 Northern Premier League appearances for Wigan before the club gained its Football League status... , Steel Jim Steel (footballer) William James "Jim" Steel is a Scottish former professional association footballer. A big, aggressive player, his position was centre forward.... |
| R2 1st Leg | 3 October 1983 | Manchester United Manchester United F.C. Manchester United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, that plays in the Premier League. Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to Old Trafford in 1910.The 1958... |
H | 0–1 | 19,855 | |
| R2 2nd Leg | 26 October 1983 | Manchester United Manchester United F.C. Manchester United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, that plays in the Premier League. Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to Old Trafford in 1910.The 1958... |
A | 0–2 | 23,589 |
League Trophy
| Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Goalscorers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| R1 | 22 February 1984 | 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 | 1–0 | 1,605 | 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... |
| R2 | 13 March 1984 | Bristol Rovers Bristol Rovers F.C. Bristol Rovers Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Bristol, that competes in Football League Two. The team plays its home matches at the Memorial Stadium, in the Horfield area of the city.... |
A | 0–2 | 2,597 |
Appearances
| Pos. | Name | Football League | FA Cup | League Cup | Total | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| GK |  Barry SiddallBarry Siddall Barry Alfred Siddall is an English former professional football goalkeeper. When he retired from the game he had made 614 appearances to his name over a 21-year career in the Football League, playing for numerous clubs.... |
39 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 45 | 0 |
| GK |  Chris PearceChris Pearce (footballer) Christopher Leslie Pearce is a Welsh former footballer.-Playing career:Pearce played for Wolverhampton Wanderers before joining Blackburn Rovers. He enjoyed loan spells with Rochdale and Barnsley before transferring to Port Vale in June 1983. He became the first choice keeper from September 1984,... |
7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 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... |
38 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 44 | 4 |
| DF | Wayne Cegielski Wayne Cegielski Wayne Cegielski is a former Welsh under-21 international footballer. A defender, he played 282 league games in a thirteen year career in the Football League.... |
39 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 43 | 0 |
| DF | Max Thompson Max Thompson (footballer) Maxwell Stuart Thompson is an English former footballer.-Playing career:Thompson started his career with Liverpool and broke the club record for being the youngest player to appear for Liverpool, when he made his debut against Tottenham Hotspur on 8 May 1974, at the age of 17 years and 128 days.... |
2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| DF | Gary Pollard Gary Pollard Gary Pollard is an English former footballer.-Playing career:Pollard played for Chesterfield before joining Port Vale in June 1983. He played 22 games in all competitions in the 1983–84 season and moved on to Mansfield Town on a free transfer in July 1984... |
18 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 22 | 0 |
| 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.... |
38 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 42 | 1 |
| 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:... |
19 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 21 | 2 |
| 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... |
22 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 29 | 3 |
| 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.... |
42 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 49 | 2 |
| MF | John Ridley John Ridley (footballer) John Ridley is an English former footballer. A versatile midfielder, he had a twelve year professional career in the Football League, playing for Port Vale and Chesterfield, as well as Leicester City. He also played for non-league Stafford Rangers and for American side Fort Lauderdale Strikers.He... |
30 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 35 | 2 |
| MF |  Robbie EarleRobbie Earle Robert Fitzgerald "Robbie" Earle MBE is an English-born Jamaican former international footballer who played as a midfielder. He played 578 league games in senior club football, scoring 136 goals.... |
12 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 0 |
| MF | Steve Fox Steve Fox (footballer) Stephen Douglas "Steve" Fox is an English former professional footballer who played as a winger. He made 278 appearances in the Football League playing for Birmingham City, Wrexham, Port Vale and Chester City.-Playing career:... |
40 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 47 | 3 |
| MF | Winston White Winston White Eric Winston White is an English former footballer. He made over 100 appearances each for Hereford United, Bury and Burnley.-Playing career:... |
1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| MF | Kevin Young Kevin Young (footballer) Kevin Young is an English former footballer.-Playing career:Young began his career as an apprentice at Burnley, turning professional in May 1979 after his league debut. In November 1983, with his regular place at Burnley now a thing of the past he moved to Torquay United on loan, and the following... |
28 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 30 | 4 |
| MF | Andy Massey Andy Massey Andrew Thomas Massey is a former Irish footballer and schoolboy international, born in England.-Playing career:Massey started his career with Millwall where he was an FA Youth Cup winner in 1978/79. He went on to make over 100 appearances in all competitions scoring 9 goals... |
4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 |
| MF | Alan Oakes Alan Oakes Alan Arthur Oakes is an English footballer who holds Manchester City's all-time record for appearances. Thanks to a further six year stint at Chester , Oakes played 776 Football League matches – the seventh most in history.-Permanent Fixture with Man City:Oakes signed for Manchester City on... |
1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| MF | Tommy Gore Tommy Gore Thomas John Gore is an English former footballer.-Wigan Athletic:Gore played as a youth for Liverpool and Tranmere Rovers before joining Wigan Athletic in January 1974. He made 185 Northern Premier League appearances for Wigan before the club gained its Football League status... |
36 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 43 | 3 |
| 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... |
7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 0 |
| 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.... |
26 | 9 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 31 | 10 |
| FW |  Jim SteelJim Steel (footballer) William James "Jim" Steel is a Scottish former professional association footballer. A big, aggressive player, his position was centre forward.... |
15 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 19 | 4 |
| FW | Bob Newton Bob Newton (footballer) Robert Newton is an English footballer. Newton played as a striker for several clubs in the lower divisions of the Football League during the 1970s and '80s. He is most notable for his first five year spell at Hartlepool United between 1977 and 1982, where he wrote himself into club history with... |
7 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 9 | 4 |
| FW |  Eamonn O'Keefe |
37 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 43 | 11 |
| FW | Martin Henderson Martin Henderson (footballer) William Martin Neville Henderson is a Scottish former footballer who played in Scotland, England, and the United States.-Playing career:... |
27 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 28 | 7 |
All competitions
| Scorer | Goals |
|---|---|
| Eamonn O'Keefe |
11 |
| 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.... |
10 |
| Martin Henderson Martin Henderson (footballer) William Martin Neville Henderson is a Scottish former footballer who played in Scotland, England, and the United States.-Playing career:... |
7 |
| Kevin Young Kevin Young (footballer) Kevin Young is an English former footballer.-Playing career:Young began his career as an apprentice at Burnley, turning professional in May 1979 after his league debut. In November 1983, with his regular place at Burnley now a thing of the past he moved to Torquay United on loan, and the following... |
4 |
| 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... |
|
| Jim Steel Jim Steel (footballer) William James "Jim" Steel is a Scottish former professional association footballer. A big, aggressive player, his position was centre forward.... |
|
| Bob Newton Bob Newton (footballer) Robert Newton is an English footballer. Newton played as a striker for several clubs in the lower divisions of the Football League during the 1970s and '80s. He is most notable for his first five year spell at Hartlepool United between 1977 and 1982, where he wrote himself into club history with... |
|
| Steve Fox Steve Fox (footballer) Stephen Douglas "Steve" Fox is an English former professional footballer who played as a winger. He made 278 appearances in the Football League playing for Birmingham City, Wrexham, Port Vale and Chester City.-Playing career:... |
3 |
| Tommy Gore Tommy Gore Thomas John Gore is an English former footballer.-Wigan Athletic:Gore played as a youth for Liverpool and Tranmere Rovers before joining Wigan Athletic in January 1974. He made 185 Northern Premier League appearances for Wigan before the club gained its Football League status... |
|
| 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... |
|
| John Ridley John Ridley (footballer) John Ridley is an English former footballer. A versatile midfielder, he had a twelve year professional career in the Football League, playing for Port Vale and Chesterfield, as well as Leicester City. He also played for non-league Stafford Rangers and for American side Fort Lauderdale Strikers.He... |
2 |
| 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.... |
|
| 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 Massey Andy Massey Andrew Thomas Massey is a former Irish footballer and schoolboy international, born in England.-Playing career:Massey started his career with Millwall where he was an FA Youth Cup winner in 1978/79. He went on to make over 100 appearances in all competitions scoring 9 goals... |
1 |
| 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.... |
|
League
| Scorer | Goals |
|---|---|
| Eamonn O'Keefe |
10 |
| 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.... |
9 |
| Martin Henderson Martin Henderson (footballer) William Martin Neville Henderson is a Scottish former footballer who played in Scotland, England, and the United States.-Playing career:... |
7 |
| Kevin Young Kevin Young (footballer) Kevin Young is an English former footballer.-Playing career:Young began his career as an apprentice at Burnley, turning professional in May 1979 after his league debut. In November 1983, with his regular place at Burnley now a thing of the past he moved to Torquay United on loan, and the following... |
4 |
| Jim Steel Jim Steel (footballer) William James "Jim" Steel is a Scottish former professional association footballer. A big, aggressive player, his position was centre forward.... |
3 |
| Steve Fox Steve Fox (footballer) Stephen Douglas "Steve" Fox is an English former professional footballer who played as a winger. He made 278 appearances in the Football League playing for Birmingham City, Wrexham, Port Vale and Chester City.-Playing career:... |
|
| Bob Newton Bob Newton (footballer) Robert Newton is an English footballer. Newton played as a striker for several clubs in the lower divisions of the Football League during the 1970s and '80s. He is most notable for his first five year spell at Hartlepool United between 1977 and 1982, where he wrote himself into club history with... |
2 |
| 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... |
|
| Tommy Gore Tommy Gore Thomas John Gore is an English former footballer.-Wigan Athletic:Gore played as a youth for Liverpool and Tranmere Rovers before joining Wigan Athletic in January 1974. He made 185 Northern Premier League appearances for Wigan before the club gained its Football League status... |
|
| 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... |
|
| John Ridley John Ridley (footballer) John Ridley is an English former footballer. A versatile midfielder, he had a twelve year professional career in the Football League, playing for Port Vale and Chesterfield, as well as Leicester City. He also played for non-league Stafford Rangers and for American side Fort Lauderdale Strikers.He... |
|
| 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:... |
|
| 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.... |
1 |
| Andy Massey Andy Massey Andrew Thomas Massey is a former Irish footballer and schoolboy international, born in England.-Playing career:Massey started his career with Millwall where he was an FA Youth Cup winner in 1978/79. He went on to make over 100 appearances in all competitions scoring 9 goals... |
|
| 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.... |
|