1996–97 Port Vale F.C. season

The 1996–97 season was Port Vale's 85th season of football in the English Football League, and third successive season in the First Division. John Rudge led the club to its joint-second highest ever league finish, as Vale finished in eighth spot, four points from the play-offs. Vale exited both the FA Cup and the League Cup at the Third Round.

Port Vale
1996–97 season
ChairmanBill Bell
ManagerJohn Rudge
StadiumVale Park
Football League First Division8th (67 Points)
FA CupThird Round
(knocked out by Blackburn Rovers)
League CupThird Round
(knocked out by Oxford United)
Player of the YearLee Mills
Top goalscorerLeague: Tony Naylor (17)
All: Tony Naylor (20)
Highest home attendance15,186 vs. Bradford City, 28 January 1997
Lowest home attendance3,505 vs. Carlisle United, 17 September 1996
Average home league attendance7,840
Biggest win6–1 vs. Norwich City, 21 December 1996
Biggest defeat0–3 (twice)

Overview

First Division

The pre-season saw John Rudge sign forward Justin O'Reilly from non-league Gresley Rovers for a £30,000 fee.

The season started poorly, with just two wins in the opening thirteen games, and protests began to develop against Chairman Bill Bell and his selling policy. A decent October, with wins over Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux and Birmingham City at home, was followed by a winless November – in which midfielder Jan Jansson became the first Swede to play for the club, when he arrived on loan from IFK Norrköping. A run of four consecutive victories in December showed the squad's potential however. Tony Naylor put a hat-trick past Charlton Athletic in a 3–1 win at The Valley on 14 December.[1] The following week Vale pulled Norwich City apart in a 6–1 win – Martin Foyle and Stewart Talbot both claiming braces, before the run was topped off with a 1–0 win over Manchester City in front of over 30,000 people at Maine Road.[2] Meanwhile, O'Reilly was loaned out to Macclesfield Town to gain experience. Vale's form tailed off, and on 19 January they managed to go from 4–0 up against Queens Park Rangers at half-time to finish the game drawn 4–4.[3] In February, Rudge spent £75,000 to bring Dutch midfielder Rogier Koordes in from Telstar. However he had to suffer the departure of winger Steve Guppy, who was sold to top-flight Leicester City for £850,000. Despite the loss, the "Valiants" marched on, as a late spurt of form saw them win four straight games to stand a great chance of reaching the play-offs with just three games to go. In April, O'Reilly was moved on to Southport, having not appeared in the Vale first team. Rivals Stoke City managed to dampen Vale's hopes by easing to a 2–0 victory at the Victoria Ground. More damaging though was the defeat at home to Wolves and a final day draw with eventual play-off winners Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park.

They finished eighth with 67 points (a mere four points off Palace in the play-offs), representing their highest finish since 1933–34. They finished three points and four places higher than Stoke.

At the end of the season, legendary midfielder Ray Walker ended his nine years association with the club, becoming a player-coach with non-league Leek Town. Another popular player's Vale career was just starting however, with Jan Jansson signing permanently for a £200,000 fee.

Finances

The club's shirt sponsors were Tunstall Assurance.

Cup competitions

In the FA Cup, Premier League Blackburn Rovers proved to be too strong, as Vale left Ewood Park having suffered a 1–0 defeat.

In the League Cup, nearby Second Division side Crewe Alexandra lost 1–0 at Vale Park, before Vale blasted them away with a 5–1 win at Gresty Road. They then advanced past Third Division Carlisle United with a 3–2 aggregate victory. Pitted against Oxford United in the Third Round, a 2–0 defeat at the Manor Ground meant Vale were out of the competition.

League table
Main article: 1996–97 Football League
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion
6 Crystal Palace 46 19 14 13 78 48 +30 71 Promoted to FA Premier League through play-offs
7 Portsmouth 46 20 8 18 59 53 +6 68
8 Port Vale 46 17 16 13 58 55 +3 67
9 Queens Park Rangers 46 18 12 16 64 60 +4 66
10 Birmingham City 46 17 15 14 52 48 +4 66
Source:
Rules for classification: In the Football League goals scored (GF) takes precedence over goal difference (GD).

Results

Port Vale's score comes first

Football League First Division

Results by matchday
Round12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031323334353637383940414243444546
GroundHAAHAHHAHAAHHAAHHAHAHAAHAHAHHAHAHAHAAHAHHAHAHA
ResultDDLWDLDDDWLDLWWLWDDLDWWWWLDDWLDLDWWLDWLWWWWLLD
Position1016181312171918191415172015111312101114161512989101178812109798886555688
Source: Statto[4]
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

Matches
DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers
17 August 1996Bolton WanderersH1–110,057Naylor
24 August 1996Swindon TownA1–18,706McCarthy
27 August 1996Tranmere RoversA0–26,123
31 August 1996Oxford UnitedH2–06,016Naylor, Mills
7 September 1996PortsmouthA1–16,448Porter
10 September 1996Manchester CityH0–210,770
14 September 1996Grimsby TownH1–14,892Hill
21 September 1996Southend UnitedA0–04,025
29 September 1996Bradford CityA1–14,706Guppy
2 October 1996Queens Park RangersA2–18,727Guppy, Naylor
5 October 1996Oldham AthleticA0–36,051
13 October 1996Stoke CityH1–114,396Mills
16 October 1996Crystal PalaceH0–24,522
19 October 1996Wolverhampton WanderersA1–022,755Naylor
26 October 1996Huddersfield TownA1–011,017McCarthy
29 October 1996BarnsleyH1–35,231Guppy
2 November 1996Birmingham CityH3–08,388Naylor (2), Guppy
9 November 1996West Bromwich AlbionA1–113,975Guppy
16 November 1996Sheffield UnitedH0–08,352
23 November 1996Ipswich TownA1–29,491Naylor
30 November 1996Huddersfield TownH0–06,026
7 December 1996ReadingA1–06,445Talbot
14 December 1996Charlton AthleticA3–110,003Naylor (3)
21 December 1996Norwich CityH6–16,278Talbot (2), Foyle (2), Porter, Mills
26 December 1996Manchester CityA1–030,344Foyle
28 December 1996PortsmouthH0–27,382
11 January 1997Grimsby TownA1–13,863Tankard
19 January 1997Queens Park RangersH4–45,736Glover, Mills, Jansson, Brazier (og)
25 January 1997Southend UnitedH2–15,588Guppy, McCarthy
28 January 1997Bradford CityH0–115,186
1 February 1997West Bromwich AlbionH2–28,093Naylor (2)
8 February 1997BarnsleyA0–112,246
15 February 1997Ipswich TownH2–26,115Mills, Porter (pen)
23 February 1997Birmingham CityA2–113,192Porter, Glover
1 March 1997ReadingH1–06,057Naylor
4 March 1997Sheffield UnitedA0–314,950
8 March 1997Norwich CityA1–116,101McCarthy
15 March 1997Charlton AthleticH2–05,905Mills (2)
18 March 1997Bolton WanderersA2–414,150Bogie, Talbot
22 March 1997Swindon TownH1–06,142Mills
31 March 1997Tranmere RoversH2–17,469Mills (2)
5 April 1997Oxford UnitedA2–07,370Mills, Naylor
12 April 1997Oldham AthleticH3–28,114Naylor (2), Mills
20 April 1997Stoke CityA0–216,246
27 April 1997Wolverhampton WanderersH1–213,615Naylor
4 May 1997Crystal PalaceA1–116,401Mills

FA Cup
Main article: 1996–97 FA Cup
RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorers
R34 January 1997Blackburn RoversA0–119,891

League Cup
Main article: 1996–97 Football League Cup
RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorers
R1 1st Leg20 August 1996Crewe AlexandraH1–05,236Naylor
R1 2nd Leg3 September 1996Crewe AlexandraA5–14,471Bogie, McCarthy, Foyle, Naylor, Mills
R2 1st Leg17 September 1996Carlisle UnitedH1–03,505Naylor
R2 2nd Leg24 September 1996Carlisle UnitedA2–25,545McCarthy, Mills
R3 1st Leg22 October 1996Oxford UnitedH0–04,942
R3 2nd Leg5 November 1996Oxford UnitedA0–25,279

Player statistics

Appearances
Pos. Name Football League FA Cup League Cup Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
GK Paul Musselwhite 3301020360
GK Arjan van Heusden 1300040170
DF Dean Glover 4221050482
DF Neil Aspin 3301040380
DF Allen Tankard 3711060441
DF Dean Stokes 1001000110
DF Jon McCarthy 4541062526
DF Andy Hill 3810050431
DF Jermaine Holwyn 70000070
DF Gareth Griffiths 2601040310
MF Andy Porter 4441060514
MF Ray Walker 1700020190
MF Ian Bogie 3111040361
MF Wayne Corden 1200010130
MF Steve Guppy 3461050406
MF Stewart Talbot 3440020364
MF Rogier Koordes 1300000130
MF Jan Jansson 1111000121
FW Martin Foyle 3731051434
FW Lee Mills 351300624115
FW Tony Naylor 431710534920
FW Justin O'Reilly 00000000

Top scorers
Place Position Nation Name First Division FA Cup League Cup Total
1FW EnglandTony Naylor170320
2FW EnglandLee Mills130215
3MF EnglandSteve Guppy6006
–FW Northern IrelandJon McCarthy4026
5MF EnglandStewart Talbot4004
–MF EnglandAndy Porter4004
–FW EnglandMartin Foyle3014
8FW EnglandIan Bogie2002
–DF EnglandDean Glover2002
10DF EnglandAllen Tankard1001
–DF EnglandAndy Hill1001
–MF SwedenJan Jansson1001
TOTALS 58 0 9 67

Transfers

Transfers in
Date from Position Nationality Name From Fee Ref.
February 1997MFRogier Koordes SC Telstar£75,000[5]

Transfers out
Date from Position Nationality Name To Fee Ref.
February 1997MFSteve GuppyLeicester City£850,000[5]
May 1997MFRay WalkerLeek TownFree transfer[5]

Loans in
Date from Position Nationality Name From Date to Ref.
November 1996MFJan JanssonIFK NorrköpingJanuary 1991[5]

References
Specific
  1. Baggaley, Mike (18 November 2016). "Port Vale archives: When Tony Naylor walloped Charlton". Stoke Sentinel. Retrieved 19 November 2016.
  2. Fielding, Rob (3 October 2019). "Five of the best thumping Port Vale home victories". onevalefan.co.uk. Retrieved 5 June 2020.
  3. Sherwin, Phil (2010). The Port Vale Miscellany. Brimscombe Port: The History Press. p. 103. ISBN 978-0-7524-5777-2.
  4. Port Vale 1996–1997 : Results & Fixtures Archived 4 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine. Statto Organisation. Retrieved 28 April 2012.
  5. "Port Vale FC Club Details | Transfers | Soccer Base". www.soccerbase.com. Retrieved 7 October 2016.
General
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