2002–03 Port Vale F.C. season

Port Vale
2002–03 season
Chairman Bill Bell
(until December)
Administrators
(December until March)
Bill Bratt
(March onwards)
Manager Brian Horton
Stadium Vale Park
Football League Second Division 17th (53 Points)
FA Cup First Round
League Cup First Round
League Trophy Area Quarter-finalists
Player of the Year Sam Collins
Top goalscorer League: Marc Bridge-Wilkinson (9)
All: Marc Bridge-Wilkinson (9)
Highest home attendance 6,395 vs. Wigan Athletic (26 December 2002)
Lowest home attendance 2,222 vs. Chesterfield (12 November 2002)
Average home league attendance 4,436
Home colours

The 2002–03 season was Port Vale's 91st season of football in the Football League, and third successive season (40th overall) in the Second Division. Another poor season, Brian Horton's side avoided relegation with a seventeenth-place finish. Vale exited both the FA Cup and the League Cup at the First Round with defeats to Crewe Alexandra, and reached the Area Quarter-finals of the League Trophy. Financial issues were at the forefront in the minds of Vale fans, as the club entered administration in December. After a successful bid, Bill Bratt's Valiant 2001 group won control of the club, taking the club out of administration.

Robbie Williams decided against purchasing the club.
John Durnin left the club at the end of the season.

Overview

Second Division

The pre-season saw Brian Horton make several free signings: Jon McCarthy (Birmingham City); Brett Angell (Rushden & Diamonds); Ian Brightwell (Walsall);[1] Phil Charnock (Crewe Alexandra); Sam Collins (Bury);[2][3] and Mark Boyd (Newcastle United).[4] Midfielder Dean Keates had a trial at the club over the summer, but was not offered a contract.

The season started poorly with four straight defeats and only one goal scored from open play, causing fans to barrack Horton.[5] Their form changed with a 1–0 win over Wigan Athletic at the JJB Stadium – the first in a sequence of five consecutive victories. Following this run victories were sparse for the Vale, and they picked up just four league victories until the beginning of March. The club agreed to sell Stephen McPhee to Wigan Athletic for £300,000, though the deal fell through over personal terms.[6] In October, Lee Ashcroft arrived on loan from Wigan Athletic.[7] Meanwhile, Jon McCarthy was released,[8] and signed with Doncaster Rovers.[9] The next month Brett Angell also departed after rejecting a new deal with the club,[10] and instead joined Queens Park Rangers. A mini-revival began in the new year, as Vale were unbeaten in their three January league games. In February, defender Peter Clarke arrived on a three-month loan deal from Everton.[11][12] Adrian Littlejohn also joined the club on a monthly contract,[13] having left Lincoln City. There was a turnaround in form following a 1–0 win over Blackpool on 8 March, as eighteen points from the final twelve games of the season were enough to see off the fan's fears of relegation. Horton still remained unpopular with some sections of the Vale's supporters.[14]

They finished in seventeenth place with 53 points, just five points above Cheltenham Town in the relegation zone. They finished 33 points and 15 places behind Crewe, who were promoted as runners-up. The end of season table was unusual, in that 15 points separated 7th and 8th, whilst 17 points separated 8th and 21st. Marc Bridge-Wilkinson was the club's top-scorer with just nine goals in all competitions.

At the end of the season a number of players left the club on free transfers: Matt Carragher (Macclesfield Town);[15] Paul Byrne (Barry Town); Phil Charnock (Bury); Sean McClare (Rochdale); John Durnin (Accrington Stanley); and Rae Ingram (Bangor City).

Finances, administration & a change of ownership

Talks of Bell selling the club circulated at the start of the season,[16] as Staffordshire Police were forced to write off £100,000 worth of debt.[17] Meanwhile, Marketing executive Terry Smith resigned after just six weeks in the job. Bell told the press that the Lorne Street stand would be open at the start of the season, though work never got going on the project. Director Jim Lloyd resigned in September, leaving the club with just Bell and two directors (only one of whom was allowed to vote; Bell had the casting vote in the event of a tie). The club's financial crisis came to a head in the season, the club £2.4 million in debt and posting £500,000 a year losses.[18] On 25 November, Bell put his shares up for sale at £10 each.[19]

The club entered administration on 16 December,[20] with £600,000 owed to Inland Revenue and the Customs & Excise;[21] Birmingham-based administration firm Poppleton & Appleby took control. Assistant manager Mark Grew and Ray Williams were both laid off in order to save money.[22] The club approached millionaire pop star and Vale fan Robbie Williams,[23] who rejected the opportunity to invest in the club.[24] Rumours circulated of a possible merger with rivals Stoke City and a ground-share at the Britannia Stadium,[25] fuelled by the belief that a 'mystery bidder' was in fact the Icelandic owners of Stoke City.[26] Stoke Holdings, the Icelandic company which owned Stoke City, offered Bill Bell £50,000 to buy his debt and thereby take control of the club by bypassing the administrators; however Bell rejected the offer. Valiant2001 eventually agreed to rent the club shop off Bell as an incitement for him to accept their offer (his vote was needed as he was the club's biggest creditor). The administrators received a number of bids for the club,[27] and received interest from Mo Chaudry (owner of WaterWorld), Summerbank Management (Tunstall based consultancy firm), and property developing duo Steve Ball and Iain McIntosh.[28] A late bid from Gianni Paladini seemed likely to succeed,[29] however Bill Bratt's 'Valiant 2001' fan-based consortium's bid was accepted in March,[30] and the group took control the following month.[31] The group had had a £1 million bid rejected by Bell the previous year.[32] The total cost of administration was £255,000, and Bratt said "It has been a ride of terror".[33]

In May, the club announced a new two year £200,000 shirt sponsorship deal with local mobile phone company Tricell, ending ten years of sponsorship from Tunstall Assurance.[34] The new board also appointed former player Andy Porter as youth coach,[35] and got the club's transfer embargo lifted in July.[36]

Cup competitions

In the FA Cup, Vale were knocked out by nearby Crewe Alexandra with a Dean Ashton goal.[37]

In the League Cup, Crewe made the first of their three visits to Vale Park (all of which they won), and advanced with a 2–0 victory, both goals scored by Rodney Jack.[38]

In the League Trophy, Vale advanced through the opening rounds with home wins over Hull City and Chesterfield (after a penalty shootout[39]). In the Northern Section Quarter-Finals they faced Shrewsbury Town at Gay Meadow, and lost 2–1.

Final league table

PosTeamPlWDLFAGDPts
1.Wigan Athletic46291346825 +43100
2.Crewe Alexandra462511107640 +3686
3.Bristol City462411117948 +3183
4.Queens Park Rangers462411116945 +2483
5.Oldham Athletic46221686838 +3082
6.Cardiff City462312116843 +2581
7.Tranmere Rovers462311126657 +980
8.Plymouth Argyle461714156352 +1165
9.Luton Town461714156762 +565
10.Swindon Town461612185963 -460
11.Peterborough United461416165154 -358
12.Colchester United461416165256 -458
13.Blackpool461513185664 -858
14.Stockport County461510216570 -555
15.Notts County461316176270 -855
16.Brentford461412204756 -954
17.Port Vale461411215470 -1653
18.Wycombe Wanderers461313205966 -752
19.Barnsley461313205164 -1352
20.Chesterfield46148244373 -3050
21.Cheltenham Town461018185368 -1548
22.Huddersfield Town461112233961 -2245
23.Mansfield Town46128266697 -3144
24.Northampton Town46109274079 -3939

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
GroundHAAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAAHAHHAAAHAHHAHHAAHAHHAAHAHHA
ResultLLLLWWWWWLLDDDLWDDLWLLLLDWDLLWLDLLLWDWLDWWLDWL
Position2424242422191511910131212141412131316121415181917151516191517191920221920181919171619181617

Source: Statto[40]
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

Football League Second Division

DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers
10 August 2002Tranmere RoversH1–45,629Brooker
13 August 2002Cardiff CityA1–313,296Bridge-Wilkinson (pen)
17 August 2002ChesterfieldA1–23,598Angell (pen)
24 August 2002Stockport CountyH0–14,070
26 August 2002Wigan AthleticA1–06,532Armstrong
31 August 2002Peterborough UnitedH1–03,862Angell
7 September 2002Swindon TownA2–15,029Bridge-Wilkinson (2)
14 September 2002Colchester UnitedH1–03,328Collins
17 September 2002Notts CountyH3–23,505Angell (2), Paynter
21 September 2002BlackpoolA2–37,756Collins, Bridge-Wilkinson
28 September 2002Bristol CityH2–34,286Paynter, Cummins
5 October 2002Huddersfield TownA2–29,091Collins, Paynter
12 October 2002Oldham AthleticH1–15,563McPhee
19 October 2002BrentfordA1–15,177Paynter
26 October 2002Crewe AlexandraH1–26,374Angell
29 October 2002Cheltenham TownA1–03,852Bridge-Wilkinson (pen)
2 November 2002Queens Park RangersH0–04,394
9 November 2002Luton TownA0–06,112
23 November 2002Northampton TownA0–34,357
30 November 2002Mansfield TownH4–23,880Cummins (2), Armstrong, Paynter
14 December 2002Wycombe WanderersA1–35,229Armstrong
21 December 2002Plymouth ArgyleH1–24,892Brooker
26 December 2002Wigan AthleticH0–16,395
28 December 2002BarnsleyA1–29,291Bridge-Wilkinson
1 January 2003Stockport CountyA1–14,390Brooker
18 January 2003Peterborough UnitedA2–14,770Brooker, Bridge-Wilkinson
25 January 2003BarnsleyH0–04,033
1 February 2003Tranmere RoversA0–17,461
8 February 2003Luton TownH1–24,714Boyd
11 February 2003ChesterfieldH5–23,039Boyd (2), McPhee, Armstrong, Brooker
15 February 2003Queens Park RangersA0–413,703
22 February 2003Swindon TownH1–14,085Armstrong
25 February 2003Cardiff CityH0–23,831
1 March 2003Colchester UnitedA1–43,581Bridge-Wilkinson
4 March 2003Notts CountyA0–16,302
8 March 2003BlackpoolH1–04,394Bridge-Wilkinson (pen)
15 March 2003Crewe AlexandraA1–18,146Brisco
18 March 2003BrentfordH1–03,241Collins
22 March 2003Cheltenham TownH1–24,800McPhee
29 March 2003Oldham AthleticA1–17,209Cummins
5 April 2003Mansfield TownA1–04,538Durnin
12 April 2003Northampton TownH3–24,209Walsh, Clarke, Littlejohn
19 April 2003Plymouth ArgyleA0–312,587
21 April 2003Wycombe WanderersH1–13,590Littlejohn
26 April 2003Huddersfield TownH5–15,925Armstrong (2), Littlejohn, Collins, Charnock
3 May 2003Bristol CityA0–212,410

FA Cup

RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorers
R116 November 2002Crewe AlexandraH0–15,507

League Cup

RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorers
R110 September 2002Crewe AlexandraH0–23,765

League Trophy

RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorers
R122 October 2002Hull CityH3–12,621Angell (2), Carragher
R212 November 2002ChesterfieldH(4)1–1(3)2,222Armstrong
SQF10 December 2002Shrewsbury TownA1–22,597Boyd

Player statistics

Transfers

Transfers in

Date from Position Nationality Name From Fee Ref.
May 2002MFEnglandMark BoydNewcastle UnitedFree transfer[41]
June 2002DFEnglandSam CollinsBuryFree transfer[41]
August 2002FWEnglandBrett AngellRushden & DiamondsFree transfer[41]
August 2002DFEnglandIan BrightwellStoke CityFree transfer[41]
August 2002MFEnglandPhil CharnockCrewe AlexandraFree transfer[41]
August 2002MFNorthern IrelandJon McCarthyBirmingham CityFree transfer[41]
February 2003MFEnglandAdrian LittlejohnSheffield UnitedFree transfer[41]

Transfers out

Date from Position Nationality Name To Fee Ref.
October 2002MFNorthern IrelandJon McCarthyDoncaster RoversReleased[41]
November 2002FWEnglandBrett AngellQueens Park RangersFree transfer[41]
May 2003DFEnglandMatt CarragherStafford RangersReleased[41]
May 2003MFEnglandJohn DurninAccrington StanleyReleased[41]
May 2003DFEnglandRae IngramWales Bangor CityReleased[41]
May 2003MFEnglandSean McClareRochdaleReleased[41]
July 2003MFSouth AfricaPaul ByrneWales Barry TownFree transfer[41]
August 2003MFEnglandPhil CharnockBuryFree transfer[41]

Loans in

Date from Position Nationality Name From Date to Ref.
11 October 2002FWEnglandLee AshcroftWigan Athletic27 October 2002[41]
20 February 2003DFEnglandPeter ClarkeEverton4 May 2003[41]

References

Specific
  1. ↑ "Vale seal double deal". BBC Sport. 1 August 2002. Retrieved 19 January 2011.
  2. ↑ "Collins reunites with Horton". BBC Sport. 26 June 2002. Retrieved 19 January 2011.
  3. ↑ "Horton moves for Collins". BBC Sport. 10 June 2002. Retrieved 19 January 2011.
  4. ↑ "Boyd joins Vale". BBC Sport. 27 May 2002. Retrieved 19 January 2011.
  5. ↑ "Horton will battle on". BBC Sport. 19 August 2002. Retrieved 19 January 2011.
  6. ↑ "McPhee deal hitch". BBC Sport. 9 September 2002. Retrieved 19 January 2011.
  7. ↑ "Vale set for Ashcroft signing". BBC Sport. 9 October 2002. Retrieved 19 January 2011.
  8. ↑ "Vale release McCarthy". BBC Sport. 1 October 2002. Retrieved 19 January 2011.
  9. ↑ Oliver, Pete (9 October 2002). "McCarthy joins Doncaster". BBC Sport. Retrieved 19 January 2011.
  10. ↑ "Angell rejects Vale deal". BBC Sport. 4 November 2002. Retrieved 19 January 2011.
  11. ↑ "Vale take Clarke on loan". BBC Sport. 20 February 2003. Retrieved 19 January 2011.
  12. ↑ "Clarke returns to Everton". BBC Sport. 29 April 2003. Retrieved 19 January 2011.
  13. ↑ "Vale want pair for another month". BBC Sport. 25 March 2003. Retrieved 19 January 2011.
  14. ↑ "Horton refuses to back down". BBC Sport. 13 April 2003. Retrieved 19 January 2011.
  15. ↑ "Carragher exits Vale". BBC Sport. 9 May 2003. Retrieved 19 January 2011.
  16. ↑ "Vale takeover moves closer". BBC Sport. 25 September 2002. Retrieved 19 January 2011.
  17. ↑ "Police ask Vale for cash upfront". BBC News. 11 June 2003. Retrieved 19 January 2011.
  18. ↑ "Vale fans group to bid". BBC Sport. 12 December 2002. Retrieved 19 January 2011.
  19. ↑ "Bell to sell Vale shares". BBC Sport. 25 November 2002. Retrieved 19 January 2011.
  20. ↑ "Vale go into administration". BBC Sport. 16 December 2002. Retrieved 19 January 2011.
  21. ↑ "Vale near administration". BBC Sport. 5 December 2002. Retrieved 19 January 2011.
  22. ↑ "Vale axe Grew". BBC Sport. 18 December 2002. Retrieved 19 January 2011.
  23. ↑ "Vale in Robbie plea". BBC News. 19 December 2002. Retrieved 19 January 2011.
  24. ↑ "Robbie says 'no' to Port Vale". BBC News. 22 January 2003. Retrieved 19 January 2011.
  25. ↑ "Vale deny Potters merger". BBC Sport. 31 January 2003. Retrieved 19 January 2011.
  26. ↑ "Vale Park fears rise". BBC Sport. 5 February 2003. Retrieved 19 January 2011.
  27. ↑ "Vale bids flood in". BBC Sport. 6 January 2003. Retrieved 19 January 2011.
  28. ↑ "Fans' group win control of Vale". BBC News. 19 February 2003. Retrieved 19 January 2011.
  29. ↑ "Jackson wins control". clubsincrisis.com. Retrieved 4 December 2011.
  30. ↑ "Fans bid for Port Vale accepted". BBC Sport. 13 March 2003. Retrieved 19 January 2011.
  31. ↑ "Vale fans to take control". BBC Sport. 7 April 2003. Retrieved 19 January 2011.
  32. ↑ "Vale fans table new offer". BBC Sport. 20 November 2002. Retrieved 19 January 2011.
  33. ↑ "Port Vale: Vale owed 200 creditors £2.4m the last time the administrator came calling". The Sentinel. 2 March 2012. Retrieved 2 March 2012.
  34. ↑ "Vale ink sponsorship deal". BBC Sport. 29 May 2003. Retrieved 19 January 2011.
  35. ↑ "Porter wins Vale role". BBC Sport. 13 June 2003. Retrieved 19 January 2011.
  36. ↑ "Vale embargo lifted". BBC Sport. 18 July 2003. Retrieved 19 January 2011.
  37. ↑ "Port Vale 0-1 Crewe". BBC Sport. 16 November 2002. Retrieved 19 January 2011.
  38. ↑ "Port Vale 0-2 Crewe". BBC Sport. 10 September 2002. Retrieved 19 January 2011.
  39. ↑ "Port Vale 1-1 Chesterfield (4-3 pens)". BBC Sport. 12 November 2002. Retrieved 19 January 2011.
  40. ↑ Port Vale 2002–2003 : Results & Fixtures. Statto Organisation. Retrieved 28 April 2012.
  41. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 "Port Vale FC Club Details | Transfers | Soccer Base". www.soccerbase.com. Retrieved 7 October 2016.
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