1979–80 Port Vale F.C. season

Port Vale
1979–80 season
Chairman Arthur McPherson
Manager Dennis Butler
(until August)
Alan Bloor
(August to December)
John McGrath
(December onwards)
Stadium Vale Park
Football League Fourth Division 20th (36 Points)
FA Cup First Round
League Cup First Round
Player of the Year Kenny Beech
Top goalscorer League: Neville Chamberlain (11)
All: Neville Chamberlain (11)
Highest home attendance 6,756 vs. Walsall (8 March 1980)
Lowest home attendance 2,338 vs. Doncaster Rovers (3 May 1980)
Average home league attendance 3,462
Home colours

The 1979–80 season was Port Vale's 68th season of football in the Football League, and their second successive season (eighth overall) in the Fourth Division.[1] One of the club's worst ever seasons, Vale finished twentieth in the league, and exited both cup competitions at the first stage. They also lost a tremendous amount of money. There was also a managerial merry-go-round, with Dennis Butler replaced by Alan Bloor, who was in turned replaced by John McGrath, with Bill Bentley also spending a short period as caretaker-manager.

Overview

Fourth Division

The pre-season saw manager Dennis Butler sign three players on free transfers: Terry Owen (Rochdale), Alan Woolfall (Bury), and Steve Jones (Manchester United).[1] Meanwhile, the club was fined £500 by The Football Association for the team's ongoing poor disciplinary record.[1]

The season began with four straight league defeats, which resulted in the dismissal of Butler as manager.[1] Alan Bloor took over as caretaker manager, who threatened the players with a place on the bench if they failed to deliver in the first eleven, to prove his point he replaced Bernie Wright with Neville Chamberlain.[1] Chamberlain rewarded him with both goals in a 2–0 victory over Crewe Alexandra at Gresty Road.[1] A 5–0 thrashing of Northampton Town followed eight days later, with both Chamberlain and Wright claiming a brace.[1] However the following week they were 'massacred' 7–1 at high-flying Huddersfield Town's Leeds Road.[1] Despite this, Trevor Dance retained his place in goal, with John Connaughton 'in a huff' with the club.[1] By the end of September, Bloor was made manager on a permanent basis.[1] Vale celebrated with a 5–1 beating of Rochdale, whilst Ken Todd was sold to Portsmouth for £20,000.[1] Ged Stenson had his contract cancelled, and signed with Morecambe.[1] Losing five of their seven games in October, Vale drifted to third-from-bottom.[1] Bloor spent £30,000 on Crewe Alexandra defender Paul Bowles.[1] Undefeated in November in the league, Vale then lost 5–1 to York City at Bootham Crescent.[1] Later in the month, Vale became the first Fourth Division club to strike a shirt advertising deal, signing a deal with TI Creda for £5,000.[1] A surprise came though when Bloor resigned his position, stating that "I do not have what it takes".[1] Gordon Banks was also dismissed, and he blamed the players for his downfall, claiming they did not like hard work.[1] Bill Bentley was appointed as caretaker-manager, as the club approached numerous managers – including former player Ronnie Allen.[1] The job went to John McGrath, who had been working as a coach at Southampton.[1] He appointed Torquay United coach John Rudge as his second in command.[1]

Finding his new team to be undisciplined, McGrath said 'the holiday is over', and began fining players for various reasons.[1] He offloaded Connaughton to Altrincham, loaned Paul Bowles to Southampton, and discovered that Wright was no longer willing to play for the club.[1] In February, McGrath signed goalkeeper Mark Harrison and defender Lee Harwood from Southampton, as well as forward Tony Sealy on loan from Crystal Palace.[1] He also placed fifteen players on the transfer list, after which the Vale went on a six-game unbeaten run.[1] Harwood and Phil Sproson made a solid defensive pair, whilst young Mark Chamberlain (brother of Neville) was used in midfield.[1] The end of their run was a 2–2 draw with league leaders Walsall.[1] In March John Fleming arrived on loan from Lincoln City, and the club went on a run of one win in twelve games, ending with a 2–1 defeat at Vale Park to fellow strugglers York City.[1] In April, Felix Healy left the club to return to his native Northern Ireland.[1] A Sealy goal earned Vale two points in their penultimate game with Stockport County at Edgeley Park, and their final game was a 3–0 win over Doncaster Rovers in front of just 2,338 supporters.[1] These wins took Vale out of the re-election zone on goal difference.[1]

They finished in twentieth place with 36 points, finishing ahead of Hereford United in the re-election zone on goals scored.[1]

Finances

On the financial side, a loss of £82,069 was recorded.[1] The financial picture led Chairman Arthur McPherson to describe 1979–80 as 'probably the worst season in the club's history'.[1] Leaving the club at the end of the season were: Bernie Wright (Kidderminster Harriers); Bill Bentley (Stafford Rangers); Terry Owen (Northwich Victoria); Bob Delgado (Miami Americans); and Kevin Tully (Chorley).[1] Several players remained in Burslem on virtue of having extended contracts.[1]

Cup competitions

In the FA Cup, Vale were knocked out in the First Round after losing 3–1 at home to Doncaster Rovers.

In the League Cup, Vale were defeated by Tranmere Rovers 3–1 on aggregate.

Final league table

PWDLFAGDPts
1Huddersfield Town462712710148+5366
2Walsall46231857547+2864
3Newport County46277128350+3361
4Portsmouth462412109149+4260
5Bradford City462412107750+2760
6Wigan Athletic462113127661+1555
7Lincoln City461817116442+2253
8Peterborough United462110155847+1152
9Torquay United461517147069+147
10Aldershot461613176253+945
11Bournemouth461318155251+144
12Doncaster Rovers461514176263-144
13Northampton Town461612185166-1544
14Scunthorpe United461415175875-1743
15Tranmere Rovers461413195056-641
16Stockport County461412204872-2440
17York City461411216582-1739
18Halifax Town461313204672-2639
19Hartlepool United461410225964-538
20Port Vale461212225670-1436
21Hereford United461114213852-1436
22Darlington46917205074-2435
23Crewe Alexandra461113223568-3335
24Rochdale46713263379-4627

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

Results

Port Vale's score comes first

Round12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031323334353637383940414243444546
GroundAHAHAHHAHAHAAHHAHAAHAHAHHHAAAHAHHAHAHAAHAHAHAH
ResultLLLLWWLLWLLDLWLLWLLLLLDWLDWLLDWWDDDLWLDLLDLLWW
Position14182324211719211719222121212122212221212222222222222022222220191918182120212020222121222020

Source: Statto[2]
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

Football League Fourth Division

DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers
18 August 1979Newport CountyA1–24,008Tully
20 August 1979Hereford UnitedH0–12,744
25 August 1979AldershotA1–32,538Todd
1 September 1979Peterborough UnitedH0–12,794
7 September 1979Crewe AlexandraA2–04,539Chamberlain (2)
15 September 1979Northampton TownH5–02,847Chamberlain (2), Wright (2), Sproson
17 September 1979Bradford CityH1–24,724Sproson
22 September 1979Huddersfield TownA1–74,299Chamberlain
29 September 1979RochdaleH5–12,835Wright (2), Farrell, Owen
3 October 1979Bradford CityA0–24,393
6 October 1979Lincoln CityH1–23,127Wright
10 October 1979Hereford UnitedA0–02,741
13 October 1979Hartlepool UnitedA1–22,441Wright
20 October 1979DarlingtonH2–02,618Beech, Farrell
22 October 1979Tranmere RoversH0–12,990
27 October 1979WalsallA1–24,976Woolfall
3 November 1979Newport CountyH2–02,980Farrell, o.g.
10 November 1979Halifax TownA0–01,798
12 November 1979Tranmere RoversA1–12,140Wright
17 November 1979Torquay UnitedH1–12,643Wright
1 December 1979York CityA1–52,402Chamberlain
7 December 1979Stockport CountyH1–22,799Chamberlain
21 December 1979PortsmouthA2–212,022Griffiths (2)
26 December 1979Scunthorpe UnitedH1–03,433Wright
29 December 1979AldershotH0–22,559
5 January 1980BournemouthH1–12,875o.g.
12 January 1980Doncaster RoversA3–23,859Chamberlain (2), Sproson
26 January 1980Peterborough UnitedA0–33,287
2 February 1980Northampton TownA1–31,946Woolfall
9 February 1980Huddersfield TownH1–15,143Elsby
15 February 1980RochdaleA2–01,784Sealy, Beech
20 February 1980Crewe AlexandraH2–06,655Sealy, Farrell
23 February 1980Hartlepool UnitedH1–13,702Chamberlain
1 March 1980DarlingtonA1–12,102Sealy
8 March 1980WalsallH2–26,756Griffiths (pen), Chamberlain
15 March 1980Lincoln CityA0–32,969
22 March 1980Halifax TownH1–02,993o.g.
26 March 1980Wigan AthleticA1–34,854Beech
29 March 1980Torquay UnitedA1–12,109Keenan
1 April 1980PortsmouthH2–33,614Harwood, Sealy
5 April 1980Scunthorpe UnitedA0–11,981
7 April 1980Wigan AthleticH1–13,814Sealy
12 April 1980BournemouthA1–32,863Owen
19 April 1980York CityH1–22,640Owen
25 April 1980Stockport CountyA1–02,404Sealy
3 May 1980Doncaster RoversH3–02,338Jones, Griffiths (pen), Bromage

FA Cup

RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorers
R123 November 1979Doncaster RoversH1–34,973Beech

League Cup

RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorers
R1 1st Leg11 August 1979Tranmere RoversH1–23,213
R1 2nd Leg15 August 1979Tranmere RoversA0–13,026Woolfall

Player statistics

Transfers

Transfers in

Date from Position Nationality Name From Fee Ref.
May 1979FWEnglandSteve JonesManchester UnitedFree transfer[3]
Summer 1979FWEnglandTerry OwenRochdaleFree transfer[3]
August 1979FWEnglandAlan WoolfallBuryFree transfer[3]
October 1979DFEnglandPaul BowlesCrewe Alexandra£30,000[3]
February 1980GKEnglandMark HarrisonSouthamptonFree transfer[3]
February 1980DFEnglandLee HarwoodLeatherheadFree transfer[3]

Transfers out

Date from Position Nationality Name To Fee Ref.
August 1979FWEnglandBrian SinclairWinsford UnitedSacked[3]
October 1979DFEnglandGraham HawkinsRetired[3]
October 1979MFEnglandGed StensonMorecambeReleased[3]
October 1979MFEnglandKen ToddPortsmouth£20,000[3]
1980GKEnglandJohn ConnaughtonAltrinchamFree transfer[3]
1980FWEnglandTerry OwenNorthwich VictoriaFree transfer[3]
February 1980MFEnglandKevin TullyChorleyReleased[3]
May 1980DFEnglandBill BentleyStafford RangersFree transfer[3]
May 1980DFWalesBob DelgadoUnited States Miami AmericansReleased[3]
July 1980FWNorthern IrelandFelix HealyNorthern Ireland ColeraineFree transfer[3]
Summer 1980DFEnglandBilly LeeseRetired[3]
Summer 1980FWEnglandBernie WrightKidderminster HarriersFree transfer[3]

Loans in

Date from Position Nationality Name From Date to Ref.
February 1980FWEnglandTony SealyCrystal PalaceMay 1980[3]
March 1980MFEnglandJohn FlemingLincoln CityMarch 1980[3]

Loans out

Date from Position Nationality Name To Date to Ref.
January 1980DFEnglandPaul BowlesSouthamptonJanuary 1980[3]

References

Specific
  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 Kent, Jeff (1990). "From Rags to Riches (1979–1990)". The Valiants' Years: The Story Of Port Vale. Witan Books. pp. 258–290. ISBN 0-9508981-4-7.
  2. ↑ Port Vale 1979–1980 : Results & Fixtures. Statto Organisation. Retrieved 28 April 2012.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 Kent, Jeff (1996). Port Vale Personalities. Witan Books. ISBN 0-9529152-0-0.
General
  • Kent, Jeff (1993). The Port Vale Record 1879-1993. Witan Books. ISBN 0-9508981-9-8.
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