1993–94 Port Vale F.C. season

Port Vale
1993–94 season
Chairman Bill Bell
Manager John Rudge
Stadium Vale Park
Football League Second Division 2nd (88 Points)
FA Cup Fourth Round
League Cup First Round
League Trophy Area Quarter-finalists
Player of the Year Neil Aspin
Top goalscorer League: Martin Foyle (17)
All: Martin Foyle (18)
Highest home attendance 12,042 vs. Southampton (18 January 1994)
Lowest home attendance 5,175 vs. Lincoln City (17 August 1993)
Average home league attendance 8,377
Home colours

The 1993–94 season was Port Vale's 82nd season of football in the Football League, and fifth successive (37th overall) season in the Second Division. They won promotion to the First Division as the division's runners-up, just one point away from champions Reading. In the FA Cup, John Rudge's men caused an upset by defeating top-flight Southampton, before they exited at the Fourth Round. Vale were knocked out of the League Cup at the First Round, and the League Trophy at the Area Quarter-finals.

Overview

Second Division

The pre-season saw John Rudge sign left-back Allen Tankard from Wigan Athletic for £87,500. Experienced forward Keith Houchen was allowed to join Hartlepool United on a free transfer, and Paul Kerr signed with Leicester City.

The season opened with a 2–1 defeat to Burnley at Turf Moor. Though the season really got going for the Vale with their opening home game, as they recorded a 6–0 win over Barnet, both Martin Foyle and Bernie Slaven bagging hat-tricks. This however would be the only victory in the first seven league games. In September, Steve Livingstone joined the club on loan from Chelsea. Then in October, Canadian Ollie Heald signed from Norvan, having impressed whilst on trial. Vale shot up the table with eight victories in ten games. In January, Aidan Newhouse arrived on loan from Wimbledon, but only played two games. In February, Bernie Slaven left the club for Darlington. The next month Rudge brought Joe Allon to the club after Allon left Brentford. He also signed winger David Lowe on loan from Leicester City. Vale picked up four clean sheets in the first five games of March, but ended the month with two defeats. They had a solid April, winning six of their eight games, with Foyle scoring a hat-trick past Leyton Orient at Brisbane Road on 4 April. Two victories from their final two games of the season ensured promotion.

They finished in second-placed with 88 points, despite having finished third the previous season with 89 points. Top-scorer was Martin Foyle with eighteen goals, though Ian Taylor and Nicky Cross also hit double figures.

At the end of the season, star midfielder Ian Taylor was sold to Sheffield Wednesday for £1 million (plus add-ons). The club also sold Peter Swan to Plymouth Argyle for £300,000. Also leaving the club were Nicky Cross and Trevor Wood, who joined Hereford United and Walsall respectively.

Finances

The club's shirt sponsors were Tunstall Assurance.

Cup competitions

In the FA Cup, Vale brushed aside Blackpool (2–0) and Huddersfield Town (1–0). Drawn against Premier League Southampton in the Third Round, the "Valiants" earned a 1–1 draw at The Dell with an Andy Porter goal. Back at Burslem, Vale achieved a giantkilling with a Bernie Slaven goal. In the Fourth Round they faced First Division Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux, and were defeated 2–0.

In the League Cup, Vale exited at the First Round to Third Division Lincoln City on away goals, having drawn 2–2 at Vale Park and 0–0 at Sincil Bank.

In the League Trophy, Vale reached the Area Quarter-finalists. They would not enter the competition again until 2000–01.

Final league table

Pos. Team Pld W D L GF GA Pts
1. Reading4626119814489
2. Port Vale46261010794688
3. Plymouth Argyle46251011885685
4. Stockport County4624139744485
5. York City46211213644075
6. Burnley46211015795873
7. Bradford City46191314615370
8. Bristol Rovers46201016605970
9. Hull City46181414625468
10. Cambridge United4619918797366
11. Huddersfield Town46171415586165
12. Wrexham46171118667762
13. Swansea City46161218565860
14. Brighton & Hove Albion46151417606759
15. Rotherham United46151318636658
16. Brentford46131914575558
17. Bournemouth46141517515957
18. Leyton Orient46141418577156
19. Cardiff City46131518667954
20. Blackpool4616525637553
21. Fulham46141022506352
22. Exeter City46111223528345
23. Hartlepool United469928418736
24. Barnet4651328418628

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

Results

Port Vale's score comes first

Round12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031323334353637383940414243444546
GroundAHAHHAAHAHHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAAHHAHHAHHAAHAHHAHAHAA
ResultLWLDDLDWWWWWLWWDWLWDDWLWDWDWLDWWWWLLDWWWLWWWWW
Position169141416182118139978578674444567776665444444443424322

Source: Statto[1]
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

Football League Second Division

DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers
14 August 1993BurnleyA1–212,592Taylor
21 August 1993BarnetH6–07,538Foyle (3), Slaven (3)
28 August 1993Plymouth ArgyleA0–26,072
31 August 1993Cambridge UnitedH2–26,484Cross, Kerr
4 September 1993Cardiff CityH2–28,140Slaven (2)
11 September 1993Bristol RoversA0–24,908
14 September 1993Huddersfield TownA1–15,154Slaven
18 September 1993Hartlepool UnitedH1–07,279Kerr
25 September 1993BrentfordA2–15,106Cross, van der Laan
2 October 1993WrexhamH3–08,722Cross (2), Kerr
9 October 1993Hull CityH2–19,459Cross (2)
16 October 1993BlackpoolA3–18,969Cross (2), Taylor
23 October 1993ReadingH0–49,252
30 October 1993Rotherham UnitedA2–04,786Foyle, Taylor
6 November 1993Swansea CityH3–07,854Cook (og), Glover, Taylor
20 November 1993Exeter CityA1–13,908van der Laan
27 November 1993Brighton & Hove AlbionH4–07,261Cross, Foyle (2), Taylor
7 December 1993BournemouthA1–22,954Jeffers
11 December 1993BarnetA3–23,100Foyle, Kerr, Taylor
18 December 1993BurnleyH1–110,710Slaven
27 December 1993FulhamA0–05,760
29 December 1993Leyton OrientH2–18,978van der Laan (2)
1 January 1994York CityA0–15,903
15 January 1994BlackpoolH2–07,915Cross (2)
22 January 1994Hull CityA0–06,918
5 February 1994ReadingA2–17,645Foyle, Kent
12 February 1994Stockport CountyH1–110,628Foyle
19 February 1994Plymouth ArgyleH2–19,093Lowe, Taylor
22 February 1994Cambridge UnitedA0–12,543
1 March 1994Bradford CityH0–07,294
5 March 1994Bristol RoversH2–08,682Taylor (2)
12 March 1994Hartlepool UnitedA4–11,798Aspin, Cross, Lowe
15 March 1994Huddersfield TownH1–07,010Kent
19 March 1994BrentfordH1–08,269Taylor
26 March 1994WrexhamA1–27,202van der Laan
29 March 1994Bradford CityA1–25,776Foyle
2 April 1994FulhamH2–27,380Allon
4 April 1994Leyton OrientA3–23,412Foyle (3)
12 April 1994Rotherham UnitedH2–16,804Griffiths
16 April 1994BournemouthH2–17,603Cross, Taylor
19 April 1994Stockport CountyA1–25,910Lowe
21 April 1994York CityH2–18,703Glover, Lowe
26 April 1994Swansea CityA1–04,252Taylor
30 April 1994Exeter CityH3–010,377Foyle (2), Kent
3 May 1994Cardiff CityA3–14,705Kent, Lowe, Taylor
7 May 1994Brighton & Hove AlbionA3–115,423Foyle (2), Glover

FA Cup

RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorers
R113 November 1993BlackpoolH2–08,211Foyle, Kerr
R23 December 1993Huddersfield TownH1–08,602Tankard
R38 January 1994SouthamptonA1–111,086Porter
R3 Replay18 January 1994SouthamptonH1–012,042Slaven
R429 January 1994Wolverhampton WanderersA0–221,999

League Cup

RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorers
R1 1st Leg17 August 1993Lincoln CityH2–25,175Slaven, Taylor
R1 2nd Leg24 August 1993Lincoln CityA0–03,642

League Trophy

RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorers
R119 October 1993Shrewsbury TownA2–22,192Kerr, Taylor
R19 November 1993WrexhamH0–04,376
R230 November 1993Cambridge UnitedA4–21,648Foyle (2), Taylor, Cross
QF11 January 1994Swansea CityA0–12,630

Player statistics

Transfers

Transfers in

Date from Position Nationality Name From Fee Ref.
January 1993DFEnglandDean StokesHalesowen TownFree transfer[2]
February 1993DFEnglandGareth GriffithsWales Rhyl£1,000[2]
May 1993DFEnglandPeter BillingCoventry City£35,000[2]
July 1993DFEnglandAllen TankardWigan Athletic£87,500[2]
September 1993MFCanadaOllie HealdNorvanFree transfer[2]
March 1994FWEnglandJoe AllonBrentfordFree transfer[2]

Transfers out

Date from Position Nationality Name To Fee Ref.
September 1993FWEnglandBrian MillsReleased[2]
February 1994FWScotlandBernie SlavenDarlingtonFree transfer[2]
May 1994FWEnglandNicky CrossHereford UnitedFree transfer[2]
May 1994DFEnglandSimon MillsBoston UnitedFree transfer[2]
May 1994GKNorthern IrelandTrevor WoodWalsallFree transfer[2]
June 1994MFEnglandIan TaylorSheffield Wednesday£1,000,000[2]
July 1994DFEnglandPeter SwanPlymouth Argyle£300,000[2]
Summer 1994MFEnglandPaul KerrWycombe WanderersFree transfer[2]

Loans in

Date from Position Nationality Name From Date to Ref.
September 1993FWEnglandSteve LivingstoneChelseaSeptember 1993[2]
January 1994FWEnglandAidan NewhouseWimbledonJanuary 1994[2]
February 1994MFEnglandDavid LoweLeicester CityEnd of season[2]

Loans out

Date from Position Nationality Name To Date to Ref.
March 1994MFEnglandPaul KerrLeicester CityEnd of season[2]

References

Specific
  1. Port Vale 1993–1994 : Results & Fixtures. Statto Organisation. Retrieved 28 April 2012.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 "Port Vale FC Club Details | Transfers | Soccer Base". www.soccerbase.com. Retrieved 7 October 2016.
General
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