1988–89 Port Vale F.C. season
Encyclopedia
The 1988–89 season was Port Vale
's seventy-seventh season of football in the Football League
, and third successive (eighteenth overall) season in the Third Division
. They achieved promotion to the Second Division
with a 2–1 aggregate win over Bristol Rovers
in the two-legged play-off Final
. This came after a long season in which Vale were just pipped to the second automatic promotion spot by Sheffield United
. The club also reached the Third Round of the FA Cup
, Second Round of the League Cup
, and the Preliminary Round of the League Trophy
. John Rudge
's main stars were top-scorer Darren Beckford
, strike partner Ron Futcher
, defender Simon Mills, winger Ray Walker
, midfielder Robbie Earle
, and Player of the Year Mark Grew
. Returning star Andy Jones
was disappointing in his loan spell, but Andy Porter
and Dean Glover
both made their débuts in what was Phil Sproson
's last season at the club.
given a £40,000 upgrade to repair the floodlights, whilst a £20,000 electronic scoreboard
was installed at the Hamil End. Three executive boxes were also purchased from Newcastle United
, whilst facilities were opened to the local community. John Rudge
signed Bradford City
's top-scorer Ron Futcher
for £35,000; Sunderland
midfielder Paul Atkinson
for £20,000; and young Brighton & Hove Albion
goalkeeper Trevor Wood
on a free transfer. They were unbeaten in their seven pre-season friendlies, beating second tier rivals
Stoke City
1–0 in the process.
The season opened with a 4–2 win over Preston North End
at Deepdale
, though only a point came from the next two games. A 6–1 thumping of Cardiff City
and 5–0 win over Chesterfield
(Darren Beckford
scoring a hat-trick) were the first of six wins in seven games that took the "Valiants" to the top of the table. Rudge also agreed a £175,000 deal to bring Andy Jones
back from Charlton Athletic
, but the striker refused the deal. With goalkeeper Mark Grew
out with a thigh strain, Mike Stowell
was taken in on loan from Everton
. In October, a 3–2 loss to Blackpool
at Bloomfield Road
was followed by a 3–3 draw with Sheffield United
in front of 13,246 fans (the biggest gate for a league game since 1973
). The club were out of the automatic promotion zone by November, though were boosted by the £164,800 sale of the unused training ground at Cobridge
. With Atkinson injured, John Jeffers
was taken on loan from Liverpool
, though David Riley
's form kept Jeffers on the bench. Vale won seven of their next nine games to go second in the table. Before the year was out, Paul Millar
was signed from Irish club Portadown
for £20,000, but severely damaged his knee ligaments in one of his early training sessions. Gary Ford
also picked up an Achilles injury, and Vale's form suffered.
By January Wolves were clear at the top, and Vale were comfortably placed in second. Yet a back injury forced Bob Hazell
into retirement, whilst Ray Walker
had trouble with his foot. More bad news came when loyal servant Phil Sproson
retired on medical advice after sustaining a bad knee injury. Rudge took the decision to sign classy defender Dean Glover
from Middlesbrough
for £200,000, as a replacement for Sproson. This more than quadrupled the club's previous transfer record. Andy Jones also agreed to join the club on loan to boost the club's promotion chances. On 4 February, a crowd of 16,362 witnessed a goalless home draw with leaders Wolves. This was the first of an unbeaten run of ten games that tightened the club's grip on second place, the run ending with a 4–1 win over Notts County
at Meadow Lane
thanks to a Beckford hat-trick. During this spell £70,000 was spent on big defender Gary West
from Gillingham
and £30,000 was spent on making Jeffers' stay in Stoke-on-Trent
permanent. Preston also purchased young reserve winger Steve Harper
for £35,000. Jones failed to recapture the form of his first spell, Ford picked up an injury, whilst David Riley
broke his leg. Just two wins in nine games dragged Vale into a play-off battle. A young Andy Porter
helped to ensure three victories in the final three games, but it was too late to gain automatic promotion.
They finished in third place with 84 points, missing out on automatic promotion due to Sheffield United's superior goal difference. No team in the division conceded fewer than Vale's 48 goals, and Vale also had the best away record in the division. Ray Walker was selected for the PFA
's Third Division
Team of the Year
for the second season running.
Facing Preston North End in the play-off semi-finals, at Deepdale
there was a pitch invasion by fans after a fire erupted under the wooden slats of the stands. Stoke-on-Trent North MP Joan Walley
called for an enquiry at Parliament, but no enquiry was made. Vale drew 1–1 at Preston, but won 3–0 at home with a Beckford hat-trick in front of 13,416 supporters. In the final, an equalizing goal by Robbie Earle
earned Vale a 1–1 draw at Twerton Park
, before Earle scored the only goal of the return leg at Vale Park in front of 17,353 fans. This meant second tier football for the first time since 1956–57
. Beckford was the top-scorer with 23 goals, whilst Futcher and Earle both bagged nineteen goals.
, but debts had risen to £201,434.
, Vale progressed past Northern Premier League
Southport
with a 2–0 victory at Haig Avenue
. They then overcame Bolton Wanderers
2–1 at Burnden Park
. Drawn against First Division
Norwich City
at Burslem
in the Third Round, they were beaten 3–1 by the Canaries in front of 15,697 fans, despite holding the lead for most of the match.
In the League Cup
, a 3–2 home win over Chesterfield
and a 1–1 draw at Saltergate was enough to send Vale into the Second Round against Second Division
Ipswich Town
. Winning the home leg 1–0, they were knocked out of the competition with a 3–0 defeat at Portman Road
.
In the League Trophy
, a 1–1 home draw with Fourth Division
Hereford United
and a 5–1 defeat to Wolverhampton Wanderers
at Molineux
meant the Vale did not progress past the group stage.
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-seventh 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 third successive (eighteenth overall) season 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...
. They achieved promotion to the 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...
with a 2–1 aggregate 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 two-legged play-off Final
1989 Football League Third Division play-off Final
The 1989 Football League Third Division play-off final was a two-legged football match played at on 31 May and 3 June 1989, to determine the third and final team to gain promotion from the Third Division to the Second Division of The Football League in the 1988–89 season. Port Vale faced Bristol...
. This came after a long season in which Vale were just pipped to the second automatic promotion spot by 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 club also reached the Third Round of 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...
, Second Round of 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...
, and the Preliminary Round of 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...
. 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....
's main stars were top-scorer Darren Beckford
Darren Beckford
Darren Richard Lorenzo Beckford is a former professional footballer. His younger brother Jason also played professional football. They both played as forwards....
, strike partner Ron Futcher
Ron Futcher
Ronald Futcher is a former professional soccer centre-forward. He was the fourth highest career scorer of the North American Soccer League, and made over 400 appearances in total for nine different Football League clubs....
, defender Simon Mills, winger Ray Walker
Ray Walker (footballer)
Raymond "Ray" Walker is an English former football midfielder. He played 440 games for Port Vale in all competitions between 1986 and 1997, ensuring himself a place in the club's history. He was twice the club's player of the season, and was named on the PFA Team of the Year three times...
, midfielder Robbie Earle
Robbie 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....
, and Player of the Year Mark Grew
Mark Grew
Mark Stuart Grew is an English former football goalkeeper, now assistant manager to Micky Adams at Port Vale. On three occasions he has also served as the club's caretaker-manager, most recently from March to May in 2011....
. Returning star Andy Jones
Andy Jones (footballer)
Andrew Mark "Andy" Jones is a former Welsh international footballer. He gained six caps at international level, to add to his 276 appearances in the Football League. He scored one international goal and 89 domestic league goals....
was disappointing in his loan spell, but Andy Porter
Andy Porter (footballer)
Andrew Michael "Andy" Porter is an English former footballer, turned coach and manager, who is now a youth team coach at Stockport County...
and Dean Glover
Dean Glover
Dean Victor Glover is an English former footballer and football manager. A cultured and stylish defender, he had the ball control skills of a midfielder. He played 457 league games in a seventeen year career in the Football League.He started his career at Aston Villa in 1980, before he moved on to...
both made their débuts in what was 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...
's last season at the club.
Third Division
The pre-season saw Vale ParkVale 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....
given a £40,000 upgrade to repair the floodlights, whilst a £20,000 electronic scoreboard
Scoreboard
A scoreboard is a large board for publicly displaying the score in a game or match. Most levels of sport from high school and above use at least one scoreboard for keeping score, measuring time, and displaying statistics. Scoreboards in the past used a mechanical clock and numeral cards to...
was installed at the Hamil End. Three executive boxes were also purchased from Newcastle United
Newcastle United F.C.
Newcastle United Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear. The club was founded in 1892 by the merger of Newcastle East End and Newcastle West End, and has played at its current home ground, St James' Park, since the merger...
, whilst facilities were opened to the local community. 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....
signed 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....
's top-scorer Ron Futcher
Ron Futcher
Ronald Futcher is a former professional soccer centre-forward. He was the fourth highest career scorer of the North American Soccer League, and made over 400 appearances in total for nine different Football League clubs....
for £35,000; Sunderland
Sunderland A.F.C.
Sunderland Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear who currently play in the Premier League...
midfielder Paul Atkinson
Paul Atkinson (footballer born 1966)
Paul Atkinson is an English former footballer.-Playing career:Atkinson played for Sunderland before signing for Port Vale in June 1988 for a £20,000 fee. He scored a brace on his debut in a 3-1 win at Preston North End on 27 August 1988...
for £20,000; and young Brighton & Hove Albion
Brighton & Hove Albion F.C.
Brighton & Hove Albion Football Club are an English association football club based in the coastal city of Brighton & Hove, East Sussex. They currently play in the Football League Championship, the second tier of the English football league system....
goalkeeper Trevor Wood
Trevor Wood
Trevor John Wood is a former international Northern Irish footballer, born in Jersey.-Playing career:Wood played for Brighton & Hove Albion before having a successful trial with Port Vale in May 1988. He kept a clean sheet on his debut; a 2–0 home win over Huddersfield Town on 3 October 1988...
on a free transfer. They were unbeaten in their seven pre-season friendlies, beating second tier 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...
1–0 in the process.
The season opened with a 4–2 win over 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...
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 :...
, though only a point came from the next two games. A 6–1 thumping of Cardiff City
Cardiff City F.C.
Cardiff City Football Club are a Welsh professional football club based in Cardiff, Wales. The club competes in the English football pyramid and is currently playing in the Football League Championship. Cardiff City is the best supported football club in Wales, averaging approximately 22,500 for...
and 5–0 win over 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...
(Darren Beckford
Darren Beckford
Darren Richard Lorenzo Beckford is a former professional footballer. His younger brother Jason also played professional football. They both played as forwards....
scoring a hat-trick) were the first of six wins in seven games that took the "Valiants" to the top of the table. Rudge also agreed a £175,000 deal to bring Andy Jones
Andy Jones (footballer)
Andrew Mark "Andy" Jones is a former Welsh international footballer. He gained six caps at international level, to add to his 276 appearances in the Football League. He scored one international goal and 89 domestic league goals....
back from Charlton Athletic
Charlton Athletic F.C.
Charlton Athletic Football Club is an English professional football club based in Charlton, in the London Borough of Greenwich. They compete in Football League One, the third tier of English football. The club was founded on 9 June 1905, when a number of youth clubs in the southeast London area,...
, but the striker refused the deal. With goalkeeper Mark Grew
Mark Grew
Mark Stuart Grew is an English former football goalkeeper, now assistant manager to Micky Adams at Port Vale. On three occasions he has also served as the club's caretaker-manager, most recently from March to May in 2011....
out with a thigh strain, Mike Stowell
Mike Stowell
Michael "Mike" Stowell is an English former professional football goalkeeper, and now goalkeeping coach at Leicester City...
was taken in on loan from 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...
. In October, a 3–2 loss to 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...
at Bloomfield Road
Bloomfield Road
Bloomfield Road is an all-seater football stadium in the English town of Blackpool, Lancashire. It has been the permanent home of Blackpool F.C. since 1901 and is named after the road on which the stadium's main entrance used to stand. The stadium has been in a process of redevelopment since 2000...
was followed by a 3–3 draw with 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 13,246 fans (the biggest gate for a league game since 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...
). The club were out of the automatic promotion zone by November, though were boosted by the £164,800 sale of the unused training ground at Cobridge
Cobridge
Cobridge is an area of Stoke-on-Trent in the county of Staffordshire, England. Cobridge has a Holdcroft centre on Sneyd Street, a community centre and a C of E church called Christ Church on Emery Street which is Grade II listed. Cobridge once had a railway station on the Potteries Loop Line...
. With Atkinson injured, John Jeffers
John Jeffers
John Joseph Jeffers is a former English footballer.-Playing career:Jeffers played for Liverpool before joining Port Vale on loan in December 1988, he was recalled by the Reds in February 1989 but was snapped up by Vale the next month for £30,000...
was taken on loan from Liverpool
Liverpool F.C.
Liverpool Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Liverpool, Merseyside. Liverpool has won eighteen League titles, second most in English football, seven FA Cups and a record seven League Cups...
, though David Riley
David Riley
David Sidney Riley is a former English footballer. He was a small midfielder and striker.-Playing career:Riley played for Keyworth United and Nottingham Forest, and also enjoyed loans spells at Darlington and Peterborough United before he joined Port Vale for £20,000 in October 1987...
's form kept Jeffers on the bench. Vale won seven of their next nine games to go second in the table. Before the year was out, Paul Millar
Paul Millar
Paul William Millar is a Northern Irish football player turned manager, currently manager of Larne.As a player, he played in Midfield and attack. He started at Glentoran, moving on to Portadown, before signing with Port Vale in 1988. Three years later he transferred to Cardiff City...
was signed from Irish club Portadown
Portadown F.C.
Portadown F.C. is a semi-professional, Northern Irish football club which plays in the IFA Premiership.The club was founded in the late 1880s and joined the Irish League in 1924. It is based in Portadown in County Armagh and plays its home games at Shamrock Park...
for £20,000, but severely damaged his knee ligaments in one of his early training sessions. Gary Ford
Gary Ford
Gary Ford is an English former footballer. He played on the right-wing.-Playing career:Ford started playing with small York based team, Leeman United and then turned professional with York City at 18-years-of-age in February 1979. He stayed at the club for the next eight years, racking up 435...
also picked up an Achilles injury, and Vale's form suffered.
By January Wolves were clear at the top, and Vale were comfortably placed in second. Yet a back injury forced Bob Hazell
Bob Hazell
Robert Joseph Hazell is a former footballer of the 1970s and 1980s, notably with Wolves, Port Vale, Luton Town, Queens Park Rangers and Leicester City...
into retirement, whilst Ray Walker
Ray Walker (footballer)
Raymond "Ray" Walker is an English former football midfielder. He played 440 games for Port Vale in all competitions between 1986 and 1997, ensuring himself a place in the club's history. He was twice the club's player of the season, and was named on the PFA Team of the Year three times...
had trouble with his foot. More bad news came when loyal servant 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...
retired on medical advice after sustaining a bad knee injury. Rudge took the decision to sign classy defender Dean Glover
Dean Glover
Dean Victor Glover is an English former footballer and football manager. A cultured and stylish defender, he had the ball control skills of a midfielder. He played 457 league games in a seventeen year career in the Football League.He started his career at Aston Villa in 1980, before he moved on to...
from Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough F.C.
Middlesbrough Football Club , also known as Boro, are an English football club based in Middlesbrough, who play in the Football League Championship. Formed in 1876, they have played at the Riverside Stadium since August 1995, their third ground since turning professional in 1889...
for £200,000, as a replacement for Sproson. This more than quadrupled the club's previous transfer record. Andy Jones also agreed to join the club on loan to boost the club's promotion chances. On 4 February, a crowd of 16,362 witnessed a goalless home draw with leaders Wolves. This was the first of an unbeaten run of ten games that tightened the club's grip on second place, the run ending with a 4–1 win over Notts County
Notts County F.C.
Notts County Football Club are an English professional football club based in Nottingham. They are the oldest of all the clubs in the world that are now professional, having been formed in 1862. They currently play in League One of The Football League, the third tier of the English football system...
at Meadow Lane
Meadow Lane
Not to be confused with The Meadow, home of Southern Football League Premier Division football team Chesham UnitedThe Meadow Lane Stadium is a football stadium in Nottingham, England...
thanks to a Beckford hat-trick. During this spell £70,000 was spent on big defender Gary West
Gary West
Gary West is an English former footballer. He made 250 appearances in the Football League between 1982 and 1993, playing for numerous clubs; most notably Sheffield United, Lincoln City and Gillingham.-Playing career:...
from 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...
and £30,000 was spent on making Jeffers' stay in Stoke-on-Trent
Stoke-on-Trent
Stoke-on-Trent , also called The Potteries is a city in Staffordshire, England, which forms a linear conurbation almost 12 miles long, with an area of . Together with the Borough of Newcastle-under-Lyme Stoke forms The Potteries Urban Area...
permanent. Preston also purchased young reserve winger Steve Harper
Steve Harper (footballer born 1969)
Steven James Harper is an English former footballer.-Playing career:Harper graduated through Port Vale juniors to sign professional forms in June 1987. He played regular football for the start of the 1987–88 season but lost his place in January 1988. He was sold to Preston North End for £35,000...
for £35,000. Jones failed to recapture the form of his first spell, Ford picked up an injury, whilst David Riley
David Riley
David Sidney Riley is a former English footballer. He was a small midfielder and striker.-Playing career:Riley played for Keyworth United and Nottingham Forest, and also enjoyed loans spells at Darlington and Peterborough United before he joined Port Vale for £20,000 in October 1987...
broke his leg. Just two wins in nine games dragged Vale into a play-off battle. A young Andy Porter
Andy Porter (footballer)
Andrew Michael "Andy" Porter is an English former footballer, turned coach and manager, who is now a youth team coach at Stockport County...
helped to ensure three victories in the final three games, but it was too late to gain automatic promotion.
They finished in third place with 84 points, missing out on automatic promotion due to Sheffield United's superior goal difference. No team in the division conceded fewer than Vale's 48 goals, and Vale also had the best away record in the division. Ray Walker was selected for 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....
's 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...
Team of the Year
PFA Team of the Year
The Professional Footballers' Association Team of the Year is an annual award given to a set of 44 footballers in the top four tiers of English football; the Premier League, the Championship, League One and League Two, whom are seen to be deserving of being named in a "Team of the Year".The award...
for the second season running.
Facing Preston North End in the play-off semi-finals, 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 :...
there was a pitch invasion by fans after a fire erupted under the wooden slats of the stands. Stoke-on-Trent North MP Joan Walley
Joan Walley
Joan Lorraine Walley is a British Labour Party politician, who has been the Member of Parliament for Stoke-on-Trent North since 1987.-Early life:...
called for an enquiry at Parliament, but no enquiry was made. Vale drew 1–1 at Preston, but won 3–0 at home with a Beckford hat-trick in front of 13,416 supporters. In the final, an equalizing goal by Robbie Earle
Robbie 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....
earned Vale a 1–1 draw at Twerton Park
Twerton Park
Twerton Park is a multi-purpose stadium in the Twerton suburb of Bath, England. It is currently used mostly for football matches and is the home ground of Bath City. From 1986 to 1996 Bristol Rovers played there due to financial problems...
, before Earle scored the only goal of the return leg at Vale Park in front of 17,353 fans. This meant second tier football for the first time since 1956–57
1956–57 Port Vale F.C. season
The 1956–57 season was Port Vale's forty-fifth season of football in the Football League, and their third successive season in the Second Division. An unmitigated disaster from start to finish, they were relegated in bottom place with just 22 points from 42 games...
. Beckford was the top-scorer with 23 goals, whilst Futcher and Earle both bagged nineteen goals.
Finances
On the financial side, a loss of £88,142 was made due to a £333,084 debt on player transfers. Match receipts had risen by £258,000 thanks to an average home crowd of 6,731. The open market rents raised £122,000 and the Developments Fund donations raised £92,000. The wage bill had risen by 30% to £481,859 and the police bill had quadrupled to £55,202 – described by Bill Bell as as an 'absolutely crippling' cost. There was no bank overdraftOverdraft
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...
, but debts had risen to £201,434.
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 progressed past Northern Premier League
Northern Premier League
The Northern Premier League, is one of the regional English football leagues which sits directly below the Football Conference featuring semi-professional and amateur clubs. Geographically, the league covers all of Northern England, and the northern areas of the Midlands. Originally just one...
Southport
Southport F.C.
Southport Football Club are an English football club, based in Southport, Merseyside. They are currently in the Conference National, and play their home matches at Haig Avenue, which has a capacity of 6,008...
with a 2–0 victory at Haig Avenue
Haig Avenue
Haig Avenue is a football stadium in Southport, England and is the home ground of Southport F.C.-Location:The ground is situated to the east of Southport just off the A570, the main road to Ormskirk...
. They then overcame 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....
2–1 at Burnden Park
Burnden Park
Burnden Park was the home of English FA Premier League football club Bolton Wanderers who played home games here between 1895 and 1997. As well as hosting an FA Cup Final replay it was the scene of one of the greatest disasters in English football and the subject of an L. S...
. Drawn against First Division
Football League First Division
The First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
Norwich City
Norwich City F.C.
Norwich City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Norwich, Norfolk. As of the 2011–12 season, Norwich City are again playing in the Premier League after a six-year absence, having finished as runner up in the Championship in 2010–11 and winning automatic promotion.The...
at 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:...
in the Third Round, they were beaten 3–1 by the Canaries in front of 15,697 fans, despite holding the lead for most 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 3–2 home win over 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 a 1–1 draw at Saltergate was enough to send Vale into the Second Round against 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...
Ipswich Town
Ipswich Town F.C.
Ipswich Town Football Club are an English professional football team based in Ipswich, Suffolk. As of 2011, they play in the Football League Championship, having last appeared in the Premier League in 2001–02....
. Winning the home leg 1–0, they were knocked out of the competition with a 3–0 defeat at Portman Road
Portman Road
Portman Road is an association football stadium in Ipswich, Suffolk, England. It has been the home ground of Ipswich Town F.C. since 1884. The stadium has also hosted a number of England youth international matches, and one senior England friendly international match, against Croatia in 2003...
.
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...
, a 1–1 home draw with 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',...
and a 5–1 defeat to Wolverhampton Wanderers
Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.
Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club that represents the city of Wolverhampton in the West Midlands region. They are members of the Premier League, the highest level of English football. The club was founded in 1877 and since 1889 has played at...
at Molineux
Molineux stadium
Molineux Stadium is a Premier League football stadium situated in Whitmore Reans, Wolverhampton, England. It has been the home ground of Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club since 1889, and has a long and illustrious history as the first 'new build' stadium in Football League history, one of the...
meant the Vale did not progress past the group stage.
Final league table
| P | W | D | L | F | A | GD | Pts | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wolverhampton Wanderers Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club that represents the city of Wolverhampton in the West Midlands region. They are members of the Premier League, the highest level of English football. The club was founded in 1877 and since 1889 has played at... |
46 | 26 | 14 | 6 | 96 | 49 | 92 | |
| 2 | 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 | 25 | 9 | 12 | 93 | 54 | 84 | |
| 3 | 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 | 24 | 12 | 10 | 78 | 48 | +30 | 84 |
| 4 | Fulham Fulham F.C. Fulham Football Club is a professional English Premier League club based in southwest London Fulham, in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham. Founded in 1879, they play in the Premier League, their 11th current season... |
46 | 22 | 9 | 15 | 69 | 67 | 75 | |
| 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 | 19 | 17 | 10 | 67 | 51 | 74 | |
| 6 | 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 | 19 | 15 | 12 | 79 | 60 | 72 | |
| 7 | 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 | 18 | 14 | 14 | 66 | 61 | 68 | |
| 8 | Chester City Chester 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... |
46 | 19 | 11 | 16 | 64 | 61 | 68 | |
| 9 | Notts County Notts County F.C. Notts County Football Club are an English professional football club based in Nottingham. They are the oldest of all the clubs in the world that are now professional, having been formed in 1862. They currently play in League One of The Football League, the third tier of the English football system... |
46 | 18 | 13 | 15 | 64 | 54 | 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 | 16 | 16 | 14 | 58 | 54 | 64 | |
| 11 | Bristol City Bristol City F.C. Bristol City Football Club is one of two football league clubs in Bristol, England . They play at Ashton Gate, located in the south-west of the City... |
46 | 18 | 9 | 19 | 53 | 55 | ||
| 63 | |||||||||
| 12 | Swansea City Swansea City A.F.C. Swansea City Association Football Club are a Welsh professional football club based in Swansea, Wales. One of the most successful clubs in Welsh football, it has won 10 Welsh Cups and led the English Football League First Division in December 1981, before finishing the season in 6th position... |
46 | 15 | 16 | 15 | 51 | 53 | ||
| 61 | |||||||||
| 13 | 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 | 16 | 13 | 17 | 55 | 67 | ||
| 61 | |||||||||
| 14 | Huddersfield Town Huddersfield Town F.C. Huddersfield Town Football Club is an English football club formed in 1908 and based in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire. They currently play in League One... |
46 | 17 | 9 | 20 | 63 | 73 | ||
| 60 | |||||||||
| 15 | 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 | 14 | 17 | 15 | 48 | 52 | ||
| 59 | |||||||||
| 16 | Cardiff City Cardiff City F.C. Cardiff City Football Club are a Welsh professional football club based in Cardiff, Wales. The club competes in the English football pyramid and is currently playing in the Football League Championship. Cardiff City is the best supported football club in Wales, averaging approximately 22,500 for... |
46 | 14 | 15 | 17 | 44 | 56 | ||
| 57 | |||||||||
| 17 | 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 | 14 | 14 | 18 | 55 | 53 | 56 | |
| 18 | Reading Reading F.C. Reading Football Club is an English association football club based in the town of Reading, Berkshire who currently play in the Championship... |
46 | 15 | 11 | 20 | 68 | 72 | ||
| 56 | |||||||||
| 19 | 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 | 14 | 13 | 19 | 56 | 59 | ||
| 55 | |||||||||
| 20 | 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 | 16 | 6 | 24 | 66 | 76 | ||
| 54 | |||||||||
| 21 | 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 | 13 | 15 | 18 | 56 | 75 | ||
| 54 | |||||||||
| 22 | 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... |
46 | 14 | 7 | 25 | 51 | 86 | ||
| 49 | |||||||||
| 23 | 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 | 12 | 4 | 30 | 47 | 81 | ||
| 40 | |||||||||
| 24 | 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 | 8 | 13 | 25 | 48 | 78 | ||
| 37 |
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 1988 | 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 | 3–1 | 6,745 | Atkinson Paul Atkinson (footballer born 1966) Paul Atkinson is an English former footballer.-Playing career:Atkinson played for Sunderland before signing for Port Vale in June 1988 for a £20,000 fee. He scored a brace on his debut in a 3-1 win at Preston North End on 27 August 1988... (2 [1 pen]), Beckford Darren Beckford Darren Richard Lorenzo Beckford is a former professional footballer. His younger brother Jason also played professional football. They both played as forwards.... |
| 3 September 1988 | Chester City Chester 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... |
|H | 1–2 | 4,213 | Futcher Ron Futcher Ronald Futcher is a former professional soccer centre-forward. He was the fourth highest career scorer of the North American Soccer League, and made over 400 appearances in total for nine different Football League clubs.... |
| 10 September 1988 | 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 | 0–0 | 2,978 | |
| 17 September 1988 | Cardiff City Cardiff City F.C. Cardiff City Football Club are a Welsh professional football club based in Cardiff, Wales. The club competes in the English football pyramid and is currently playing in the Football League Championship. Cardiff City is the best supported football club in Wales, averaging approximately 22,500 for... |
|H | 6–1 | 4,280 | Futcher Ron Futcher Ronald Futcher is a former professional soccer centre-forward. He was the fourth highest career scorer of the North American Soccer League, and made over 400 appearances in total for nine different Football League clubs.... (2), Beckford Darren Beckford Darren Richard Lorenzo Beckford is a former professional footballer. His younger brother Jason also played professional football. They both played as forwards.... , Riley David Riley David Sidney Riley is a former English footballer. He was a small midfielder and striker.-Playing career:Riley played for Keyworth United and Nottingham Forest, and also enjoyed loans spells at Darlington and Peterborough United before he joined Port Vale for £20,000 in October 1987... , Earle Robbie 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.... , Walker Ray Walker (footballer) Raymond "Ray" Walker is an English former football midfielder. He played 440 games for Port Vale in all competitions between 1986 and 1997, ensuring himself a place in the club's history. He was twice the club's player of the season, and was named on the PFA Team of the Year three times... |
| 19 September 1988 | 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... |
|H | 5–0 | 4,469 | Beckford Darren Beckford Darren Richard Lorenzo Beckford is a former professional footballer. His younger brother Jason also played professional football. They both played as forwards.... (3), Ford Gary Ford Gary Ford is an English former footballer. He played on the right-wing.-Playing career:Ford started playing with small York based team, Leeman United and then turned professional with York City at 18-years-of-age in February 1979. He stayed at the club for the next eight years, racking up 435... (2) |
| 24 September 1988 | Bristol City Bristol City F.C. Bristol City Football Club is one of two football league clubs in Bristol, England . They play at Ashton Gate, located in the south-west of the City... |
|A | 1–0 | 7,235 | Walker Ray Walker (footballer) Raymond "Ray" Walker is an English former football midfielder. He played 440 games for Port Vale in all competitions between 1986 and 1997, ensuring himself a place in the club's history. He was twice the club's player of the season, and was named on the PFA Team of the Year three times... |
| 1 October 1988 | Wolverhampton Wanderers Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club that represents the city of Wolverhampton in the West Midlands region. They are members of the Premier League, the highest level of English football. The club was founded in 1877 and since 1889 has played at... |
|A | 3–3 | 14,018 | Earle Robbie 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.... , Futcher Ron Futcher Ronald Futcher is a former professional soccer centre-forward. He was the fourth highest career scorer of the North American Soccer League, and made over 400 appearances in total for nine different Football League clubs.... , 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... |
| 3 October 1988 | Huddersfield Town Huddersfield Town F.C. Huddersfield Town Football Club is an English football club formed in 1908 and based in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire. They currently play in League One... |
|H | 2–0 | 5,938 | Ford Gary Ford Gary Ford is an English former footballer. He played on the right-wing.-Playing career:Ford started playing with small York based team, Leeman United and then turned professional with York City at 18-years-of-age in February 1979. He stayed at the club for the next eight years, racking up 435... , Futcher Ron Futcher Ronald Futcher is a former professional soccer centre-forward. He was the fourth highest career scorer of the North American Soccer League, and made over 400 appearances in total for nine different Football League clubs.... |
| 8 October 1988 | 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 | 2–0 | 3,976 | Earle Robbie 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.... , Beckford Darren Beckford Darren Richard Lorenzo Beckford is a former professional footballer. His younger brother Jason also played professional football. They both played as forwards.... |
| 15 October 1988 | 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 | 2–1 | 7,985 | Riley David Riley David Sidney Riley is a former English footballer. He was a small midfielder and striker.-Playing career:Riley played for Keyworth United and Nottingham Forest, and also enjoyed loans spells at Darlington and Peterborough United before he joined Port Vale for £20,000 in October 1987... , Walker Ray Walker (footballer) Raymond "Ray" Walker is an English former football midfielder. He played 440 games for Port Vale in all competitions between 1986 and 1997, ensuring himself a place in the club's history. He was twice the club's player of the season, and was named on the PFA Team of the Year three times... |
| 22 October 1988 | 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 | 2–3 | 7,045 | Futcher Ron Futcher Ronald Futcher is a former professional soccer centre-forward. He was the fourth highest career scorer of the North American Soccer League, and made over 400 appearances in total for nine different Football League clubs.... (2) |
| 24 October 1988 | 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 | 3–3 | 13,246 | Ford Gary Ford Gary Ford is an English former footballer. He played on the right-wing.-Playing career:Ford started playing with small York based team, Leeman United and then turned professional with York City at 18-years-of-age in February 1979. He stayed at the club for the next eight years, racking up 435... (2), Futcher Ron Futcher Ronald Futcher is a former professional soccer centre-forward. He was the fourth highest career scorer of the North American Soccer League, and made over 400 appearances in total for nine different Football League clubs.... |
| 29 October 1988 | 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 | 1–2 | 5,212 | Earle Robbie 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.... |
| 8 November 1988 | 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 | 3–1 | 3,796 | Beckford Darren Beckford Darren Richard Lorenzo Beckford is a former professional footballer. His younger brother Jason also played professional football. They both played as forwards.... , Earle Robbie 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.... , Futcher Ron Futcher Ronald Futcher is a former professional soccer centre-forward. He was the fourth highest career scorer of the North American Soccer League, and made over 400 appearances in total for nine different Football League clubs.... |
| 12 November 1988 | Swansea City Swansea City A.F.C. Swansea City Association Football Club are a Welsh professional football club based in Swansea, Wales. One of the most successful clubs in Welsh football, it has won 10 Welsh Cups and led the English Football League First Division in December 1981, before finishing the season in 6th position... |
|H | 2–1 | 6,248 | Futcher Ron Futcher Ronald Futcher is a former professional soccer centre-forward. He was the fourth highest career scorer of the North American Soccer League, and made over 400 appearances in total for nine different Football League clubs.... , Beckford Darren Beckford Darren Richard Lorenzo Beckford is a former professional footballer. His younger brother Jason also played professional football. They both played as forwards.... |
| 26 November 1988 | Fulham Fulham F.C. Fulham Football Club is a professional English Premier League club based in southwest London Fulham, in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham. Founded in 1879, they play in the Premier League, their 11th current season... |
|H | 3–0 | 5,097 | Beckford Darren Beckford Darren Richard Lorenzo Beckford is a former professional footballer. His younger brother Jason also played professional football. They both played as forwards.... (2), Atkinson Paul Atkinson (footballer born 1966) Paul Atkinson is an English former footballer.-Playing career:Atkinson played for Sunderland before signing for Port Vale in June 1988 for a £20,000 fee. He scored a brace on his debut in a 3-1 win at Preston North End on 27 August 1988... (pen) |
| 2 December 1988 | 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 | 1–1 | 3,245 | 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 December 1988 | Reading Reading F.C. Reading Football Club is an English association football club based in the town of Reading, Berkshire who currently play in the Championship... |
|H | 3–0 | 4,779 | 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.... , Beckford Darren Beckford Darren Richard Lorenzo Beckford is a former professional footballer. His younger brother Jason also played professional football. They both played as forwards.... , Riley David Riley David Sidney Riley is a former English footballer. He was a small midfielder and striker.-Playing career:Riley played for Keyworth United and Nottingham Forest, and also enjoyed loans spells at Darlington and Peterborough United before he joined Port Vale for £20,000 in October 1987... |
| 26 December 1988 | 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 | 1–0 | 5,224 | Earle Robbie 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.... |
| 30 December 1988 | 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 | 0–1 | 4,593 | |
| 2 January 1989 | Notts County Notts County F.C. Notts County Football Club are an English professional football club based in Nottingham. They are the oldest of all the clubs in the world that are now professional, having been formed in 1862. They currently play in League One of The Football League, the third tier of the English football system... |
|H | 1–0 | 7,084 | Beckford Darren Beckford Darren Richard Lorenzo Beckford is a former professional footballer. His younger brother Jason also played professional football. They both played as forwards.... |
| 14 January 1989 | Chester City Chester 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... |
|A | 2–1 | 4,899 | Earle Robbie 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.... , Beckford Darren Beckford Darren Richard Lorenzo Beckford is a former professional footballer. His younger brother Jason also played professional football. They both played as forwards.... |
| 21 January 1989 | 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 | 1–3 | 5,783 | Futcher Ron Futcher Ronald Futcher is a former professional soccer centre-forward. He was the fourth highest career scorer of the North American Soccer League, and made over 400 appearances in total for nine different Football League clubs.... |
| 28 January 1989 | Cardiff City Cardiff City F.C. Cardiff City Football Club are a Welsh professional football club based in Cardiff, Wales. The club competes in the English football pyramid and is currently playing in the Football League Championship. Cardiff City is the best supported football club in Wales, averaging approximately 22,500 for... |
|A | 0–3 | 4,507 | |
| 4 February 1989 | Wolverhampton Wanderers Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club that represents the city of Wolverhampton in the West Midlands region. They are members of the Premier League, the highest level of English football. The club was founded in 1877 and since 1889 has played at... |
|H | 0–0 | 16,362 | |
| 11 February 1989 | Huddersfield Town Huddersfield Town F.C. Huddersfield Town Football Club is an English football club formed in 1908 and based in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire. They currently play in League One... |
|A | 0–0 | 8,004 | |
| 13 February 1989 | 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 | 3–0 | 5,033 | Beckford Darren Beckford Darren Richard Lorenzo Beckford is a former professional footballer. His younger brother Jason also played professional football. They both played as forwards.... (2), Jones Andy Jones (footballer) Andrew Mark "Andy" Jones is a former Welsh international footballer. He gained six caps at international level, to add to his 276 appearances in the Football League. He scored one international goal and 89 domestic league goals.... |
| 18 February 1989 | 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 | 2–1 | 6,100 | Earle Robbie 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.... , Futcher Ron Futcher Ronald Futcher is a former professional soccer centre-forward. He was the fourth highest career scorer of the North American Soccer League, and made over 400 appearances in total for nine different Football League clubs.... |
| 28 February 1989 | 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 | 0–0 | 18,787 | |
| 4 March 1989 | 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 | 1–0 | 6,306 | Futcher Ron Futcher Ronald Futcher is a former professional soccer centre-forward. He was the fourth highest career scorer of the North American Soccer League, and made over 400 appearances in total for nine different Football League clubs.... (pen) |
| 11 March 1989 | 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 | 2–2 | 2,397 | Futcher Ron Futcher Ronald Futcher is a former professional soccer centre-forward. He was the fourth highest career scorer of the North American Soccer League, and made over 400 appearances in total for nine different Football League clubs.... (pen), Earle Robbie 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.... |
| 13 March 1989 | 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 | 3–2 | 5,577 | Futcher Ron Futcher Ronald Futcher is a former professional soccer centre-forward. He was the fourth highest career scorer of the North American Soccer League, and made over 400 appearances in total for nine different Football League clubs.... , Ford Gary Ford Gary Ford is an English former footballer. He played on the right-wing.-Playing career:Ford started playing with small York based team, Leeman United and then turned professional with York City at 18-years-of-age in February 1979. He stayed at the club for the next eight years, racking up 435... , Jones Andy Jones (footballer) Andrew Mark "Andy" Jones is a former Welsh international footballer. He gained six caps at international level, to add to his 276 appearances in the Football League. He scored one international goal and 89 domestic league goals.... |
| 18 March 1989 | 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 | 8,584 | Ford Gary Ford Gary Ford is an English former footballer. He played on the right-wing.-Playing career:Ford started playing with small York based team, Leeman United and then turned professional with York City at 18-years-of-age in February 1979. He stayed at the club for the next eight years, racking up 435... |
| 25 March 1989 | Notts County Notts County F.C. Notts County Football Club are an English professional football club based in Nottingham. They are the oldest of all the clubs in the world that are now professional, having been formed in 1862. They currently play in League One of The Football League, the third tier of the English football system... |
|A | 4–1 | 7,328 | Beckford Darren Beckford Darren Richard Lorenzo Beckford is a former professional footballer. His younger brother Jason also played professional football. They both played as forwards.... (3 [1 pen]), Walker Ray Walker (footballer) Raymond "Ray" Walker is an English former football midfielder. He played 440 games for Port Vale in all competitions between 1986 and 1997, ensuring himself a place in the club's history. He was twice the club's player of the season, and was named on the PFA Team of the Year three times... |
| 27 March 1989 | 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 | 1–2 | 8,198 | Earle Robbie 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.... |
| 1 April 1989 | Reading Reading F.C. Reading Football Club is an English association football club based in the town of Reading, Berkshire who currently play in the Championship... |
|A | 0–3 | 4,501 | |
| 5 April 1989 | 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 | 2–2 | 6,869 | Jones Andy Jones (footballer) Andrew Mark "Andy" Jones is a former Welsh international footballer. He gained six caps at international level, to add to his 276 appearances in the Football League. He scored one international goal and 89 domestic league goals.... , Earle Robbie 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.... |
| 8 April 1989 | 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 | 2–1 | 5,358 | 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.... , Walker Ray Walker (footballer) Raymond "Ray" Walker is an English former football midfielder. He played 440 games for Port Vale in all competitions between 1986 and 1997, ensuring himself a place in the club's history. He was twice the club's player of the season, and was named on the PFA Team of the Year three times... |
| 15 April 1989 | 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... |
|A | 2–1 | 5,953 | Beckford Darren Beckford Darren Richard Lorenzo Beckford is a former professional footballer. His younger brother Jason also played professional football. They both played as forwards.... (2) |
| 21 April 1989 | Bristol City Bristol City F.C. Bristol City Football Club is one of two football league clubs in Bristol, England . They play at Ashton Gate, located in the south-west of the City... |
|H | 0–1 | 6,923 | |
| 25 April 1989 | 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 | 1–1 | 5,296 | Earle Robbie 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.... |
| 29 April 1989 | Swansea City Swansea City A.F.C. Swansea City Association Football Club are a Welsh professional football club based in Swansea, Wales. One of the most successful clubs in Welsh football, it has won 10 Welsh Cups and led the English Football League First Division in December 1981, before finishing the season in 6th position... |
|A | 0–0 | 4,229 | |
| 1 May 1989 | 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 | 1–2 | 6,604 | Futcher Ron Futcher Ronald Futcher is a former professional soccer centre-forward. He was the fourth highest career scorer of the North American Soccer League, and made over 400 appearances in total for nine different Football League clubs.... |
| 6 May 1989 | 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 | 2–0 | 4,516 | Futcher Ron Futcher Ronald Futcher is a former professional soccer centre-forward. He was the fourth highest career scorer of the North American Soccer League, and made over 400 appearances in total for nine different Football League clubs.... , Porter Andy Porter (footballer) Andrew Michael "Andy" Porter is an English former footballer, turned coach and manager, who is now a youth team coach at Stockport County... |
| 9 May 1989 | 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 | 1–0 | 6,136 | Earle Robbie 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.... |
| 13 May 1989 | Fulham Fulham F.C. Fulham Football Club is a professional English Premier League club based in southwest London Fulham, in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham. Founded in 1879, they play in the Premier League, their 11th current season... |
|A | 2–1 | 6,257 | Finney Kevin Finney Kevin Finney is an English former footballer.-Playing career:Finney came up through the Port Vale youth team to sign as a professional in May 1987. He made numerous appearances throughout the 1987–88 campaign, but was used mainly as a substitute for the next three seasons... , West Gary West Gary West is an English former footballer. He made 250 appearances in the Football League between 1982 and 1993, playing for numerous clubs; most notably Sheffield United, Lincoln City and Gillingham.-Playing career:... |
Third Division play-offs
| Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Goalscorers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SF 1st Leg | 22 May 1989 | 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 | 1–1 | 14,280 | Earle Robbie 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.... |
| SF 2nd Leg | 25 May 1989 | 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 | 3–1 | 13,416 | Beckford Darren Beckford Darren Richard Lorenzo Beckford is a former professional footballer. His younger brother Jason also played professional football. They both played as forwards.... (3) |
| F 1st Leg | 31 May 1989 | 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 | 1–1 | 9,042 | Earle Robbie 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.... |
| F 2nd Leg | 3 June 1989 | 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 | 1–0 | 17,353 | Earle Robbie 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.... |
FA Cup
| Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Goalscorers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| R1 | 19 November 1988 | Southport Southport F.C. Southport Football Club are an English football club, based in Southport, Merseyside. They are currently in the Conference National, and play their home matches at Haig Avenue, which has a capacity of 6,008... |
A | 2–0 | 3,434 | 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... , Riley David Riley David Sidney Riley is a former English footballer. He was a small midfielder and striker.-Playing career:Riley played for Keyworth United and Nottingham Forest, and also enjoyed loans spells at Darlington and Peterborough United before he joined Port Vale for £20,000 in October 1987... |
| R2 | 10 December 1988 | 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 | 2–1 | 7,499 | Futcher Ron Futcher Ronald Futcher is a former professional soccer centre-forward. He was the fourth highest career scorer of the North American Soccer League, and made over 400 appearances in total for nine different Football League clubs.... , Earle Robbie 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.... |
| R3 | 8 January 1989 | Norwich City Norwich City F.C. Norwich City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Norwich, Norfolk. As of the 2011–12 season, Norwich City are again playing in the Premier League after a six-year absence, having finished as runner up in the Championship in 2010–11 and winning automatic promotion.The... |
H | 1–3 | 15,697 | Webb Alan Webb (footballer) Alan Richard Webb is an English former footballer who played as a right-back. He played 225 league games in an eleven year career in the Football League. He spent 1981 to 1984 with West Bromwich Albion, and also played on loan at Lincoln City, but spent most of his career at Port Vale. He was... |
League Cup
| Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Goalscorers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| R1 1st Leg | 30 August 1988 | 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... |
H | 3–2 | 3,492 | Futcher Ron Futcher Ronald Futcher is a former professional soccer centre-forward. He was the fourth highest career scorer of the North American Soccer League, and made over 400 appearances in total for nine different Football League clubs.... (pen), 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... , Earle Robbie 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.... |
| R1 2nd Leg | 6 September 1988 | 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... |
A | 1–1 | 2,709 | Earle Robbie 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.... |
| R2 1st Leg | 26 September 1988 | Ipswich Town Ipswich Town F.C. Ipswich Town Football Club are an English professional football team based in Ipswich, Suffolk. As of 2011, they play in the Football League Championship, having last appeared in the Premier League in 2001–02.... |
H | 1–0 | 6,545 | 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... |
| R2 2nd Leg | 11 October 1988 | Ipswich Town Ipswich Town F.C. Ipswich Town Football Club are an English professional football team based in Ipswich, Suffolk. As of 2011, they play in the Football League Championship, having last appeared in the Premier League in 2001–02.... |
A | 0–3 | 9,065 |
League Trophy
| Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Goalscorers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | 21 November 1988 | 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 | 1,893 | Walker Ray Walker (footballer) Raymond "Ray" Walker is an English former football midfielder. He played 440 games for Port Vale in all competitions between 1986 and 1997, ensuring himself a place in the club's history. He was twice the club's player of the season, and was named on the PFA Team of the Year three times... |
| P | 13 December 1988 | Wolverhampton Wanderers Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club that represents the city of Wolverhampton in the West Midlands region. They are members of the Premier League, the highest level of English football. The club was founded in 1877 and since 1889 has played at... |
A | 1–5 | 9,734 | Ford Gary Ford Gary Ford is an English former footballer. He played on the right-wing.-Playing career:Ford started playing with small York based team, Leeman United and then turned professional with York City at 18-years-of-age in February 1979. He stayed at the club for the next eight years, racking up 435... |
Appearances
| Pos. | Name | Football League | FA Cup | League Cup | Total | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| GK |  Mark GrewMark Grew Mark Stuart Grew is an English former football goalkeeper, now assistant manager to Micky Adams at Port Vale. On three occasions he has also served as the club's caretaker-manager, most recently from March to May in 2011.... |
37 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 49 | 0 |
| GK |  Trevor WoodTrevor Wood Trevor John Wood is a former international Northern Irish footballer, born in Jersey.-Playing career:Wood played for Brighton & Hove Albion before having a successful trial with Port Vale in May 1988. He kept a clean sheet on his debut; a 2–0 home win over Huddersfield Town on 3 October 1988... |
2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| GK | Mike Stowell Mike Stowell Michael "Mike" Stowell is an English former professional football goalkeeper, and now goalkeeping coach at Leicester City... |
7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 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... |
20 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 29 | 5 |
| DF | Alan Webb Alan Webb (footballer) Alan Richard Webb is an English former footballer who played as a right-back. He played 225 league games in an eleven year career in the Football League. He spent 1981 to 1984 with West Bromwich Albion, and also played on loan at Lincoln City, but spent most of his career at Port Vale. He was... |
37 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 47 | 1 |
| DF | Chris Banks Chris Banks (footballer) Christopher N. Banks is an English former professional football defender, now a physiotherapist at Stoke City.... |
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| DF | Bob Hazell Bob Hazell Robert Joseph Hazell is a former footballer of the 1970s and 1980s, notably with Wolves, Port Vale, Luton Town, Queens Park Rangers and Leicester City... |
17 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 25 | 0 |
| DF | Simon Mills |
43 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 55 | 0 |
| DF | Darren Hughes Darren Hughes (footballer) Darren John Hughes is a former English footballer. He was a left-back noted for his pace. He played 333 games for six clubs over a fourteen year career in the Football League... |
44 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 56 | 0 |
| DF | Gary West Gary West Gary West is an English former footballer. He made 250 appearances in the Football League between 1982 and 1993, playing for numerous clubs; most notably Sheffield United, Lincoln City and Gillingham.-Playing career:... |
14 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 17 | 1 |
| DF | Dean Glover Dean Glover Dean Victor Glover is an English former footballer and football manager. A cultured and stylish defender, he had the ball control skills of a midfielder. He played 457 league games in a seventeen year career in the Football League.He started his career at Aston Villa in 1980, before he moved on to... |
22 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 26 | 0 |
| 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.... |
44 | 13 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 57 | 19 |
| MF | Andy Porter Andy Porter (footballer) Andrew Michael "Andy" Porter is an English former footballer, turned coach and manager, who is now a youth team coach at Stockport County... |
14 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 18 | 1 |
| MF | Ray Walker Ray Walker (footballer) Raymond "Ray" Walker is an English former football midfielder. He played 440 games for Port Vale in all competitions between 1986 and 1997, ensuring himself a place in the club's history. He was twice the club's player of the season, and was named on the PFA Team of the Year three times... |
43 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 56 | 6 |
| MF | Steve Harper Steve Harper (footballer born 1969) Steven James Harper is an English former footballer.-Playing career:Harper graduated through Port Vale juniors to sign professional forms in June 1987. He played regular football for the start of the 1987–88 season but lost his place in January 1988. He was sold to Preston North End for £35,000... |
7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 0 |
| MF | Kevin Finney Kevin Finney Kevin Finney is an English former footballer.-Playing career:Finney came up through the Port Vale youth team to sign as a professional in May 1987. He made numerous appearances throughout the 1987–88 campaign, but was used mainly as a substitute for the next three seasons... |
14 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 17 | 1 |
| MF | Gary Ford Gary Ford Gary Ford is an English former footballer. He played on the right-wing.-Playing career:Ford started playing with small York based team, Leeman United and then turned professional with York City at 18-years-of-age in February 1979. He stayed at the club for the next eight years, racking up 435... |
22 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 28 | 8 |
| MF | John Jeffers John Jeffers John Joseph Jeffers is a former English footballer.-Playing career:Jeffers played for Liverpool before joining Port Vale on loan in December 1988, he was recalled by the Reds in February 1989 but was snapped up by Vale the next month for £30,000... |
15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 19 | 0 |
| MF | Paul Atkinson Paul Atkinson (footballer born 1966) Paul Atkinson is an English former footballer.-Playing career:Atkinson played for Sunderland before signing for Port Vale in June 1988 for a £20,000 fee. He scored a brace on his debut in a 3-1 win at Preston North End on 27 August 1988... |
4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 3 |
| FW |  Andy JonesAndy Jones (footballer) Andrew Mark "Andy" Jones is a former Welsh international footballer. He gained six caps at international level, to add to his 276 appearances in the Football League. He scored one international goal and 89 domestic league goals.... |
17 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 17 | 3 |
| FW | Darren Beckford Darren Beckford Darren Richard Lorenzo Beckford is a former professional footballer. His younger brother Jason also played professional football. They both played as forwards.... |
42 | 20 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 55 | 23 |
| FW | David Riley David Riley David Sidney Riley is a former English footballer. He was a small midfielder and striker.-Playing career:Riley played for Keyworth United and Nottingham Forest, and also enjoyed loans spells at Darlington and Peterborough United before he joined Port Vale for £20,000 in October 1987... |
40 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 48 | 4 |
| FW | Ronnie Jepson Ronnie Jepson Ronald Francis "Ronnie" Jepson is an English former footballer and manager, now working as development coach at Queens Park Rangers.... |
2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| FW | Ron Futcher Ron Futcher Ronald Futcher is a former professional soccer centre-forward. He was the fourth highest career scorer of the North American Soccer League, and made over 400 appearances in total for nine different Football League clubs.... |
41 | 17 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 54 | 19 |
All competitions
| Scorer | Goals |
|---|---|
| Darren Beckford Darren Beckford Darren Richard Lorenzo Beckford is a former professional footballer. His younger brother Jason also played professional football. They both played as forwards.... |
23 |
| Ron Futcher Ron Futcher Ronald Futcher is a former professional soccer centre-forward. He was the fourth highest career scorer of the North American Soccer League, and made over 400 appearances in total for nine different Football League clubs.... |
19 |
| Robbie Earle Robbie 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.... |
|
| Gary Ford Gary Ford Gary Ford is an English former footballer. He played on the right-wing.-Playing career:Ford started playing with small York based team, Leeman United and then turned professional with York City at 18-years-of-age in February 1979. He stayed at the club for the next eight years, racking up 435... |
8 |
| Ray Walker Ray Walker (footballer) Raymond "Ray" Walker is an English former football midfielder. He played 440 games for Port Vale in all competitions between 1986 and 1997, ensuring himself a place in the club's history. He was twice the club's player of the season, and was named on the PFA Team of the Year three times... |
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 |
| David Riley David Riley David Sidney Riley is a former English footballer. He was a small midfielder and striker.-Playing career:Riley played for Keyworth United and Nottingham Forest, and also enjoyed loans spells at Darlington and Peterborough United before he joined Port Vale for £20,000 in October 1987... |
4 |
| Andy Jones Andy Jones (footballer) Andrew Mark "Andy" Jones is a former Welsh international footballer. He gained six caps at international level, to add to his 276 appearances in the Football League. He scored one international goal and 89 domestic league goals.... |
3 |
| Paul Atkinson Paul Atkinson (footballer born 1966) Paul Atkinson is an English former footballer.-Playing career:Atkinson played for Sunderland before signing for Port Vale in June 1988 for a £20,000 fee. He scored a brace on his debut in a 3-1 win at Preston North End on 27 August 1988... |
|
| Gary West Gary West Gary West is an English former footballer. He made 250 appearances in the Football League between 1982 and 1993, playing for numerous clubs; most notably Sheffield United, Lincoln City and Gillingham.-Playing career:... |
1 |
| Andy Porter Andy Porter (footballer) Andrew Michael "Andy" Porter is an English former footballer, turned coach and manager, who is now a youth team coach at Stockport County... |
|
| Kevin Finney Kevin Finney Kevin Finney is an English former footballer.-Playing career:Finney came up through the Port Vale youth team to sign as a professional in May 1987. He made numerous appearances throughout the 1987–88 campaign, but was used mainly as a substitute for the next three seasons... |
|
| Alan Webb Alan Webb (footballer) Alan Richard Webb is an English former footballer who played as a right-back. He played 225 league games in an eleven year career in the Football League. He spent 1981 to 1984 with West Bromwich Albion, and also played on loan at Lincoln City, but spent most of his career at Port Vale. He was... |
|
League
| Scorer | Goals |
|---|---|
| Darren Beckford Darren Beckford Darren Richard Lorenzo Beckford is a former professional footballer. His younger brother Jason also played professional football. They both played as forwards.... |
20 |
| Ron Futcher Ron Futcher Ronald Futcher is a former professional soccer centre-forward. He was the fourth highest career scorer of the North American Soccer League, and made over 400 appearances in total for nine different Football League clubs.... |
17 |
| Robbie Earle Robbie 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.... |
13 |
| Gary Ford Gary Ford Gary Ford is an English former footballer. He played on the right-wing.-Playing career:Ford started playing with small York based team, Leeman United and then turned professional with York City at 18-years-of-age in February 1979. He stayed at the club for the next eight years, racking up 435... |
7 |
| Ray Walker Ray Walker (footballer) Raymond "Ray" Walker is an English former football midfielder. He played 440 games for Port Vale in all competitions between 1986 and 1997, ensuring himself a place in the club's history. He was twice the club's player of the season, and was named on the PFA Team of the Year three times... |
5 |
| David Riley David Riley David Sidney Riley is a former English footballer. He was a small midfielder and striker.-Playing career:Riley played for Keyworth United and Nottingham Forest, and also enjoyed loans spells at Darlington and Peterborough United before he joined Port Vale for £20,000 in October 1987... |
3 |
| Steve Harper Steve Harper (footballer born 1969) Steven James Harper is an English former footballer.-Playing career:Harper graduated through Port Vale juniors to sign professional forms in June 1987. He played regular football for the start of the 1987–88 season but lost his place in January 1988. He was sold to Preston North End for £35,000... |
|
| Andy Jones Andy Jones (footballer) Andrew Mark "Andy" Jones is a former Welsh international footballer. He gained six caps at international level, to add to his 276 appearances in the Football League. He scored one international goal and 89 domestic league goals.... |
|
| 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... |
2 |
| Gary West Gary West Gary West is an English former footballer. He made 250 appearances in the Football League between 1982 and 1993, playing for numerous clubs; most notably Sheffield United, Lincoln City and Gillingham.-Playing career:... |
1 |
| Andy Porter Andy Porter (footballer) Andrew Michael "Andy" Porter is an English former footballer, turned coach and manager, who is now a youth team coach at Stockport County... |
|
| Kevin Finney Kevin Finney Kevin Finney is an English former footballer.-Playing career:Finney came up through the Port Vale youth team to sign as a professional in May 1987. He made numerous appearances throughout the 1987–88 campaign, but was used mainly as a substitute for the next three seasons... |
|