2001–02 Port Vale F.C. season

Port Vale
2001–02 season
Chairman Bill Bell
Manager Brian Horton
Stadium Vale Park
Football League Second Division 14th (58 Points)
FA Cup Second Round
League Cup Second Round
League Trophy Area Quarter-finalists
Player of the Year Mark Goodlad
Top goalscorer League: Stephen McPhee (11)
All: Stephen McPhee (14)
Highest home attendance 10,344 vs. Stoke City (21 October 2001)
Lowest home attendance 2,664 vs. Carlisle United (16 October 2001)
Average home league attendance 5,210
Home colours

The 2001–02 season was Port Vale's 90th season of football in the Football League, and second successive season (39th overall) in the Second Division. On the pitch Vale finished in mid-table, whilst exiting both the FA Cup and the League Cup at the Second Round, and the League Trophy at the Area Quarter-finals. Behind the scenes the club was heading for administration.

Striker Chris Killen.

Overview

Second Division

The pre-season saw Brian Horton sign numerous bit-part players on free transfers: Ashley Dodd (Manchester United); Ian Armstrong (Liverpool); Phil Hardy (an eleven-year Wrexham veteran); Rae Ingram (Macclesfield Town); and Alex Gibson (Stoke City). He also signed Stephen McPhee from Coventry City, who would go on to become a key player for the club.

The season opened with six points from three games, though this was followed by just one point from six games. In September, after failing secure Paul Hall's signature, New Zealand international striker Chris Killen was signed on loan from Manchester City. Simon Osborn also joined from Wolverhampton Wanderers on a one-month contract,[1] before he moved on to Gillingham. In October, Steve Torpey was allowed to join Scarborough on a one-month loan. Arriving in Burslem was Sean McClare, who joined on a one-month loan from Barnsley,[2] before signing permanently when the loan deal finished. Frenchman Johan Gallon also had a trial at the club, but was not offered a contract. On 21 October, Vale played rivals Stoke City, and McPhee scored for Vale, before Chris Iwelumo buried a late equaliser for the "Potters".[3] The next month Danny Webber was taken in on loan from Manchester United.[4] Vale continued through the Christmas period in inconsistent form, despite the arrival of 36-year-old John Durnin.[5] In January, Mvondo Atangana became the first Cameroonian to play for the Vale, when he joined on loan from Dundee United – he would only play two games before picking up a serious injury.[6] Meanwhile, Richard Burgess was allowed to join Nuneaton Borough permanently. Vale then went on a sequence of seven wins in eight games to shoot up the table, including a 1–0 win over Stoke at the Britannia Stadium thanks to a Micky Cummins header,[7] as Horton was named Manager of the Month.[8] This run raised hopes of a play-off bid.[9] It also encouraged chairman Bill Bell to offer new contracts to the management team (Horton, Grew, Foyle and Glover), as well as seven players. Horton was also awarded the Manager of the Month award for February. Vale finished in poor form however, winning just one of their final eleven games.

Vale finished in fourteenth place with 58 points, quite some distance from either the play-offs or the relegation zone. The team lost 14 of their 23 league games away from home. Stoke finished nine places and 22 points above the Vale, and won promotion via the play-offs, never to meet the Vale again for the rest of the decade. McPhee hit fourteen goals to become the club's top-scorer, with Brooker and Cummins close behind in the scoring charts. Cummins was also an ever-present. Overworked goalkeeper Mark Goodlad was voted Player of the Year.

At the end of the season numerous players were allowed to leave on a free transfers: Sagi Burton (Crewe Alexandra); George O'Callaghan (Cork City); Danny Maye (Southend United); Paul Donnelly (Stone Dominoes); Steve Torpey (Prescot Cables); and Phil Hardy. Durnin also turned his hand to coaching, and was appointed as the club's under-17 coach.[10]

Finances

The collapse of ITV Digital cost the club £400,000 in revenue.[11] Chairman Bill Bell announced a 30% cut in the players' wage budget at the end of the campaign.[11] These ominous warnings belied a financial crisis that would hit the club hard the following season.[11] In August, former chairman Jim Lloyd returned to the club as a director. The next month, Chief Executive Dave Jolley was sacked. A Charles Machin led consortium made a £1 million bid for the club in December, but were turned away by Bill Bell, who claimed that Valiant2001 "won't last three months". Later in the month former commercial director Neil Hughes was arrested for fraud for allegedly stealing £20,000 from the club; he denied the offence. The club's debt stood at £1.7 million in February. The next month the Football Association's compliance unit began an investigation into the club, but found no wrongdoing. The club's shirt sponsors were Tunstall Assurance.

Cup competitions

In the FA Cup, Vale avoided losing to a non-league club for the second successive season by beating Aylesbury United 3–0 at Vale Park.[12] They had been held by the "Ducks" 0–0 at half-time, and the non-league side seemed to have taken the lead on 52 minutes until captain Scott Honeyball's headed goal was disallowed for an infringement; Burgess then put the Vale ahead two minutes later before Cummins and Brooker made the game safe.[13] They exited at the Second Round after a 3–0 defeat to Cardiff City at Ninian Park.[14]

In the League Cup, for the second consecutive season Vale faced Third Division Chesterfield in the First Round, this time however the two-legged format was scrapped in favour of a standard knock-out tournament structure. Vale progressed with a 2–1 win thanks to a brace from McPhee. It was a bad-tempered affair, with three sendings-off.[15] Facing Premier League Charlton Athletic at The Valley in the Second Round, Alan Curbishley's men eliminated the Vale with a 2–0 win.

In the League Trophy, Vale advanced past Carlisle United and Rochdale to reach the Area Quarter-finals. where they faced Hull City at Boothferry Park. The "Tigers" eliminated the "Valiants" with a 2–1 win.[16]

Final league table

PosTeamPlWDLFAGDPts
1.Brighton & Hove Albion46251566642 +2490
2.Reading46231587043 +2784
3.Brentford462411117743 +3483
4.Cardiff City46231497550 +2583
5.Stoke City462311126740 +2780
6.Huddersfield Town462115106547 +1878
7.Bristol City462110156853 +1573
8.Queens Park Rangers461914136049 +1171
9.Oldham Athletic461816127765 +1270
10.Wigan Athletic461616146651 +1564
11.Wycombe Wanderers461713165864 -664
12.Tranmere Rovers461615156360 +363
13.Swindon Town461514174656 -1059
14.Port Vale461610205162 -1158
15.Colchester United461512196576 -1157
16.Blackpool461414186669 -356
17.Peterborough United461510216459 +555
18.Chesterfield461313205365 -1252
19.Notts County461311225971 -1250
20.Northampton Town46147255479 -2549
21.Bournemouth461014225671 -1544
22.Bury461111244375 -3244
23.Wrexham461110255689 -3343
24.Cambridge United46713264793 -4634

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
GroundHAHAHAAHHAAHAHHAHAAHHAAHHAAHAHHAAHHAAHHAAHAHAH
ResultWLWLLDLLLWLWDDLWWLDDDLLWWLLWWWDWWWWLLLDLDWLDLL
Position310611131515191918191618171817171717171819191716161716141313131313131313131313131213131314

Source: Statto[17]
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

Football League Second Division

DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers
11 August 2001Notts CountyH4–26,076O'Callaghan (2), McPhee, Dodd
18 August 2001BrentfordA0–24,561
25 August 2001Peterborough UnitedH4–14,925Hardy, Cummins, Brooker, McPhee
27 August 2001Colchester UnitedA0–23,611
1 September 2001ReadingH0–25,196
8 September 2001Bristol CityA1–112,560O'Callaghan
15 September 2001Queens Park RangersA1–49,295Brooker
18 September 2001Swindon TownH0–23,737
22 September 2001Northampton TownH0–14,419
25 September 2001WrexhamA3–13,091McPhee (2), Killen
29 September 2001Wycombe WanderersA1–35,714Killen
5 October 2001Cambridge UnitedH5–04,119Killen (2), Cummins, Armstrong, Brooker
13 October 2001ChesterfieldA1–14,348Brooker
21 October 2001Stoke CityH1–110,344McPhee
24 October 2001Cardiff CityH0–24,552
27 October 2001Wigan AthleticA1–05,634Killen
3 November 2001BuryH1–04,688Killen
10 November 2001Brighton & Hove AlbionA0–16,648
20 November 2001BournemouthA0–04,428
24 November 2001Huddersfield TownH1–15,026Cummins
1 December 2001BlackpoolH1–15,390Cummins
15 December 2001Tranmere RoversA1–37,859Cummins
21 December 2001Oldham AthleticA0–24,317
26 December 2001Bristol CityH1–05,682McPhee
29 December 2001Colchester UnitedH3–14,444Armstrong, Rowland, Brooker
1 January 2002ReadingA0–210,743
8 January 2002Peterborough UnitedA0–33,747
12 January 2002BrentfordH2–14,588McPhee (pen), Armstrong
19 January 2002Notts CountyA3–16,006Brooker (2), McPhee (pen)
22 January 2002Oldham AthleticH3–24,408McClare, Brooker, McPhee
2 February 2002Wycombe WanderersH1–14,737Durnin
10 February 2002Stoke CityA1–023,019Cummins
13 February 2002Cambridge UnitedA1–02,379McPhee
16 February 2002ChesterfieldH4–15,529Cummins (2), Bridge-Wilkinson (2)
23 February 2002Queens Park RangersH1–06,228Bridge-Wilkinson
26 February 2002Northampton TownA0–15,155
2 March 2002Swindon TownA0–35,867
5 March 2002WrexhamH1–34,436McPhee
9 March 2002Tranmere RoversH1–14,630Bridge-Wilkinson
16 March 2002BlackpoolA0–47,811
23 March 2002BuryA1–13,700Bridge-Wilkinson
30 March 2002Wigan AthleticH1–04,359Brooker
1 April 2002Cardiff CityA0–115,556
6 April 2002BournemouthH0–03,514
13 April 2002Huddersfield TownA1–212,270Bridge-Wilkinson
20 April 2002Brighton & Hove AlbionH0–18,812

FA Cup

RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorers
R117 November 2001Aylesbury UnitedH3–04,956Burgess, Cummins, Brooker
R28 December 2001Cardiff CityA0–39,650

League Cup

RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorers
R121 August 2001ChesterfieldH2–12,723McPhee (2)
R212 September 2001Charlton AthleticA0–27,247

League Trophy

RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorers
R116 October 2001Carlisle UnitedH2–12,664Armstrong, Brooker
R230 October 2001RochdaleA2–11,639Burton (pen), Armstrong
RQF4 December 2001Hull CityA1–25,326McPhee

Player statistics

Transfers

Transfers in

Date from Position Nationality Name From Fee Ref.
May 2001MFEnglandAshley DoddManchester UnitedFree transfer[18]
June 2001DFEnglandAlex GibsonStoke CityFree transfer[18]
June 2001DFRepublic of IrelandPhil HardyWrexhamFree transfer[18]
June 2001DFEnglandRae IngramMacclesfield TownFree transfer[18]
July 2001FWScotlandStephen McPheeCoventry CityFree transfer[18]
August 2001FWEnglandSteve TorpeyLiverpoolFree transfer[18]
Summer 2001MFEnglandIan ArmstrongLiverpoolFree transfer[18]
September 2001MFEnglandSimon OsbornWolverhampton WanderersFree transfer[18]
29 November 2001MFEnglandSean McClareBarnsleyFree transfer[18]
December 2001MFEnglandJohn DurninWales RhylFree transfer[18]

Transfers out

Date from Position Nationality Name To Fee Ref.
October 2001MFEnglandSimon OsbornGillinghamFree transfer[18]
January 2002FWEnglandRichard BurgessNuneaton BoroughFree transfer[18]
April 2002MFEnglandAshley DoddMoor GreenFree transfer[18]
April 2002DFRepublic of IrelandPhil HardyReleased[18]
May 2002MFRepublic of IrelandGeorge O'CallaghanRepublic of Ireland Cork CityFree transfer[18]
May 2002FWEnglandSteve TorpeyPrescot CablesFree transfer[18]
June 2002MFEnglandDanny MayeSouthend UnitedFree transfer[18]
July 2002DFEnglandPaul DonnellyStone DominoesFree transfer[18]
July 2002DFEnglandAlex GibsonStafford RangersFree transfer[18]
August 2002DFSaint Kitts and NevisSagi BurtonCrewe AlexandraFree transfer[18]

Loans in

Date from Position Nationality Name From Date to Ref.
23 September 2001FWNew ZealandChris KillenManchester City23 November 2001[18]
19 October 2001MFEnglandSean McClareBarnsley28 November 2001[18]
23 November 2001FWEnglandDanny WebberManchester United31 December 2001[18]
18 January 2002FWCameroonMvondo AtanganaScotland Dundee United18 February 2002[18]

Loans out

Date from Position Nationality Name To Date to Ref.
15 October 2001FWEnglandSteve TorpeyScarborough15 November 2001[18]

References

Specific
  1. ↑ "Vale sign Osborn". BBC Sport. 5 September 2001. Retrieved 18 January 2011.
  2. ↑ "McClare's loan extension hope". BBC Sport. 26 November 2001. Retrieved 18 January 2011.
  3. ↑ "Port Vale 1-1 Stoke". BBC Sport. 21 October 2001. Retrieved 18 January 2011.
  4. ↑ "Webber joins Vale on loan". BBC Sport. 29 November 2001. Retrieved 18 January 2011.
  5. ↑ "Vale offer Durnin a chance". BBC Sport. 18 December 2001. Retrieved 18 January 2011.
  6. ↑ "Atangana blow for Vale". BBC Sport. 5 February 2002. Retrieved 18 January 2011.
  7. ↑ "Stoke 0-1 Port Vale". BBC Sport. 10 February 2002. Retrieved 18 January 2011.
  8. ↑ "Horton Rewarded for Fab Feb". LMA. Archived from the original on 27 November 2013. Retrieved 12 April 2012.
  9. ↑ "Port Vale push on". BBC Sport. 21 February 2002. Retrieved 18 January 2011.
  10. ↑ "Durnin lands Vale role". BBC Sport. 22 May 2002. Retrieved 18 January 2011.
  11. 1 2 3 "Clubs in Crisis". BBC Inside Out. 21 October 2002. Retrieved 8 November 2011.
  12. ↑ "Port Vale 3-0 Aylesbury". BBC Sport. 17 November 2001. Retrieved 18 January 2011.
  13. ↑ "Port Vale 3-0 Aylesbury United". aylesburyunitedfc.co.uk. Retrieved 23 March 2018.
  14. ↑ "Cardiff 3-0 Port Vale". BBC Sport. 8 December 2001. Retrieved 18 January 2011.
  15. ↑ "Port Vale 2-1 Chesterfield". BBC Sport. 21 August 2001. Retrieved 18 January 2011.
  16. ↑ "Hull 2-1 Port Vale". BBC Sport. 4 December 2001. Retrieved 18 January 2011.
  17. ↑ Port Vale 2001–2002 : Results & Fixtures. Statto Organisation. Retrieved 28 April 2012.
  18. 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 "Port Vale FC Club Details | Transfers | Soccer Base". www.soccerbase.com. Retrieved 7 October 2016.
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