1986–87 Port Vale F.C. season

The 1986–87 season was Port Vale's 75th season of football in the English Football League, and first (16th overall) season back in the Third Division following promotion from the Fourth Division.[1] John Rudge led to Vale to a mid-table finish, his Player of the Year signing Andy Jones scoring 37 goals in all competitions. Vale Park saw its record lowest attendance for a competitive encounter when only 994 loyal supporters turned out for a League Trophy clash with Hereford United. More than ten times this number turned out to see the Vale beaten by Manchester United in the Second Round of the League Cup. Rudge also signed Ray Walker to the club, and Andy Porter made his debut.

Port Vale
1986–87 season
ChairmanJim Lloyd
ManagerJohn Rudge
StadiumVale Park
Football League Third Division12th (57 Points)
FA CupSecond Round
(knocked out by Walsall)
League CupSecond Round
(knocked out by Manchester United)
League TrophyNorthern Section Quarter-finalists
(knocked out by Gillingham)
Player of the YearAndy Jones
Top goalscorerLeague: Andy Jones (31)
All: Andy Jones (37)
Highest home attendance10,568 vs. Manchester United, 7 October 1986
Lowest home attendance994 vs. Hereford United, 22 December 1986
Average home league attendance3,312
Biggest win6–0 vs. Fulham, 28 March 1987
Biggest defeat0–5 vs. Walsall, 6 December 1986

Overview

Third Division

The pre-season saw John Rudge bring 28-year-old stopper Mark Grew to the club from Ipswich Town.[1] He also bought Aston Villa's Ray Walker for £12,000; Sheffield United winger Paul Smith for £10,000; and Walsall's 'cultured' striker Richard O'Kelly for £6,000.[1] Rudge was connected with the vacant management position at Preston North End, but declared himself happy at Vale Park.[1] The season would see its midweek games played on a Tuesday, rather than the traditional Monday, and the play-offs were also introduced.[1]

The season opened with a 2–2 draw at crisis club Middlesbrough, who were forced to play the fixture at Hartlepool, after finding themselves kicked out of Ayresome Park.[1] Vale also drew their opening home match the following week against Rotherham United, and Grew was forced off with a knee injury and Alan Webb split his shinbone.[1] Jim Arnold agreed to return to the club on non-contract terms to replace the injured Grew.[1] Playing a 'fluent, passing game', Vale defeated bogey-team Walsall, who had maintained a 21-game unbeaten league run against the "Valiants" since 1965.[1] Ageing Arnold failed to maintain his fitness and Vale struggled around the foot of the table.[1] Rudge signed 'giant' Alex Williams on loan from Manchester City.[1] Despite Andy Jones leading the scoring charts, Vale still suffered, and Rudge's attempts to sign Steve Bull from West Bromwich Albion failed.[1] On 9 November, Vale Park hosted an American football match, in which Locomotive Derby beat the Stoke Spitfires 13–8.[1] By the end of the month Vale were cut four points adrift at the bottom of the league.[1] The next month John Williams was sold to Bournemouth for £30,000, having been in poor form for Vale.[1] Rudge then splashed out £5,000 on Bristol City's Gary Hamson.[1] He also brought Bob Hazell in from Reading on a free transfer.[1]

Hazell successfully shored up the Vale defence, as in his first three games the Vale kept three clean sheets.[1] In January, O'Kelly required a knee operation, but good news came as Alex Williams was signed permanently for £10,000.[1] On 27 January, Robbie Earle made his 142nd consecutive appearance in a 1–1 draw with Rotherham United at Millmoor, picking up a groin injury that put him into the treatment room.[1] The next week a 4–2 win over Doncaster Rovers was the last of a streak of six games unbeaten, that took the Vale up to fourteenth in the table.[1] Rudge attempted to sign Don Goodman, who was transfer listed at Bradford City, but ended his interest after being quoted £100,000.[2] A bad February ended with a 6–1 capitulation at home to Blackpool, Vale's biggest home defeat since March of the disastrous 1956–57 season.[1] Vale picked up eleven of a possible eighteen points in March, with Rudge also signing Darren Beckford on loan from Manchester City.[1] On 28 March, the club recorded their biggest ever away win by thumping Fulham 6–0 at Craven Cottage, with Jones bagging a hat-trick.[1] On 1 April, Jones was selected for the Wales squad, and scored past Finland.[3] Vale lost five of their seven April games, but ensured their safety by ripping apart Newport County on 4 May, with Jones hitting five goals.[1]

They finished in twelfth spot with 57 points, twelve points clear of Bolton Wanderers.[1] Andy Jones scored 37 goals in all competitions.[1]

Finances

On the financial side, a loss was made of £53,373.[1] Match receipts earned £228,422, whilst the market rents raised £100,614.[1] The bank overdraft stood at £216,453, whilst the club's total debts were £363,878.[1] The club's shirt sponsors were Browns Transport. Both Geoff Hunter and Wayne Ebanks left on free transfers, Hunter joining Wrexham.[1] Chairman Jim Lloyd also resigned due to his deteriorated relationship with the board.[1] He was replaced by garage owner Bill Bell, who was one of many men to have worked on building Vale Park in the 1940s.[1] Bell stated that he was not afraid to cut loose any deadwood.[1]

Cup competitions

In the FA Cup, the First Round tie with non-league neighbours Stafford Rangers attracted a healthy crowd of 5,738 (the second highest attendance of the season), and Vale advanced with a 1–0 win. Travelling to Walsall for the Second Round, they were on the end of a 5–0 drubbing at the Bescot Stadium. Jim Lloyd called the 'tame surrender' a 'disgrace' and Rudge ordered extra training for the players.[1]

In the League Cup, Vale advanced past Notts County 7–1 on aggregate following wins both at home and at Meadow Lane. They then faced Ron Atkinson's First Division Manchester United at the Second Round, just as they had in 1983. United picked up a 3–0 victory at Old Trafford before eliminating the Vale with a 5–2 win in Stoke-on-Trent.

In the League Trophy, the opening match against Fourth Division Hereford United set a club-record for the lowest-ever attendance for a competitive first team game, as only 994 fans turned up at Vale Park on 22 December to witness Vale win through a Jones goal.[1] The missing fans only missed 'a long yawn in freezing conditions'.[1] A 2–1 defeat to Newport County at Somerton Park failed to prevent Vale advancing to the First Round. Vale then eliminated Exeter City with a 1–0 win at St James Park. However Gillingham defeated Vale 4–3 on penalties after a 3–3 draw in Burslem.

League table

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
10 Mansfield Town 46 15 16 15 52 55 3 61
11 Brentford 46 15 15 16 64 66 2 60
12 Port Vale 46 15 12 19 76 70 +6 57
13 Doncaster Rovers 46 14 15 17 56 62 6 57
14 Rotherham United 46 15 12 19 48 57 9 57
Source:

Results

Port Vale's score comes first

Results by matchday

Round12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031323334353637383940414243444546
GroundAHAHHAHAHAAHHAAHAHAHAAHAHAHHHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHA
ResultDDWLDLWLLWDLLDLLLWLDWWWDWLDDLWDWLDWLLLWWLLLDWW
Position714710121612151613141617202021242223242017161614141414191513131415121215161311131414151312
Source: Statto[4]
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

Matches

DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers
23 August 1986MiddlesbroughA2–23,690O'Kelly, Maguire
30 August 1986Rotherham UnitedH1–13,734O'Kelly
6 September 1986BrentfordA2–03,150Maguire, Smith
13 September 1986York CityH2–34,893Jones (2 [1 pen])
16 September 1986Notts CountyH1–13,725Jones
20 September 1986Bolton WanderersA0–34,872
27 September 1986WalsallH4–14,531Jones (2 [1 pen]), Bowden, Earle
30 September 1986BlackpoolA0–24,585
4 October 1986FulhamH0–13,862
11 October 1986ChesterfieldA4–22,755Jones (2), Earle, Maguire
18 October 1986Bristol RoversA0–03,054
21 October 1986Swindon TownH3–43,420Earle, Jones, o.g.
25 October 1986GillinghamH1–23,055Jones
1 November 1986BuryA2–22,598Jones (pen), Smith
4 November 1986Carlisle UnitedA0–22,748
8 November 1986Wigan AthleticH0–13,339
22 November 1986Doncaster RoversA1–22,455O'Kelly
14 December 1986Chester CityH2–13,397Earle, Smith
19 December 1986DarlingtonA2–31,052Jones (2)
26 December 1986Bristol CityH0–04,168
27 December 1986Newport CountyA2–02,105Jones (pen), Smith
1 January 1987Mansfield TownA1–03,053Hazell
24 January 1987BrentfordH4–13,062Jones (2 [1 pen]), Earle, Smith
27 January 1987Rotherham UnitedA1–12,397Walker
3 February 1987Doncaster RoversH4–22,835Jones (2 [1 pen]), Hamson, Maguire
7 February 1987Notts CountyA1–45,277Bowden
14 February 1987Bolton WanderersH1–13,678Bowden
17 February 1987MiddlesbroughH0–03,263
28 February 1987BlackpoolH1–63,765Sproson
3 March 1987BuryH2–02,261Smith, Maguire
7 March 1987GillinghamA0–03,929
14 March 1987Bristol RoversH4–12,758Jones (2 [1 pen]), Walker, Maguire
17 March 1987Swindon TownA0–17,347
21 March 1987ChesterfieldH2–22,903Bowden, Sproson
28 March 1987FulhamA6–03,798Jones (3), Smith, Walker, Maguire
31 March 1987BournemouthH1–23,228Walker
4 April 1987Wigan AthleticA1–23,567Jones
11 April 1987Carlisle UnitedH0–12,449
14 April 1987York CityA4–12,804Webb, Jones, Sproson, Maguire
18 April 1987Mansfield TownH3–22,625Beckford, Jones, Maguire
20 April 1987Bristol CityA0–18,669
25 April 1987DarlingtonH1–22,492Jones
28 April 1987WalsallA2–55,696Beckford, Bromage
2 May 1987BournemouthA0–09,559
4 May 1987Newport CountyH6–12,733Jones (5 [2 pens]), Sproson
9 May 1987Chester CityA2–13,021Earle, Beckford

FA Cup

RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorers
R115 November 1986Stafford RangersH1–05,738Earle
R26 December 1986WalsallA0–57,033

League Cup

RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorers
R1 1st Leg26 August 1986Notts CountyA3–12,167Jones (2 [2 pens]), O'Kelly
R1 2nd Leg3 September 1986Notts CountyH4–13,486Jones, O'Kelly, Walker, Smith
R2 1st Leg24 September 1986Manchester UnitedA0–318,906
R2 2nd Leg7 October 1986Manchester UnitedH2–510,568Jones (pen), o.g.

League Trophy

RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorers
P22 December 1986Hereford UnitedH1–0994Jones
P6 January 1987Newport CountyA1–2826o.g.
R120 January 1987Exeter CityA1–01,365Maguire
SSQF10 February 1987GillinghamH3–3 (4-5 on pens)2,768Jones, Smith, Hazell

Player statistics

Appearances

Pos. Name Football League FA Cup League Cup League Trophy Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
GK Jim Arnold 120003000150
GK Alex Williams 310200040370
GK Mark Grew 3000100040
DF Phil Sproson 444204020524
DF Alan Webb 211000030241
DF Wayne Ebanks 160104010220
DF Chris Banks 250204030340
DF John Williams 140103000180
DF Alan Dodd 2000001030
DF Bob Hazell 211000031242
DF Craig Hawtin 0000000000
MF Russell Bromage 411204040511
MF Geoff Hunter 50202020110
MF Robbie Earle 356214040457
MF Paul Maguire 428204041529
MF Jon Bowden 344203030424
MF Andy Porter 1000001020
MF Paul Smith 427204131519
MF Gary Hamson 271000000271
MF Ray Walker 454104140545
FW Andy Jones 43311044425237
FW Richard O'Kelly 123102200155
FW Darren Beckford 114000000114

Top scorers

Place Position Nation Name Third Division FA Cup League Cup League Trophy Total
1FW WalesAndy Jones3104237
2MF ScotlandPaul Maguire80019
MF EnglandPaul Smith70119
4MF JamaicaRobbie Earle61007
5MF EnglandRay Walker40105
FW EnglandRichard O'Kelly30205
7FW EnglandJon Bowden40004
FW EnglandDarren Beckford40004
DF EnglandPhil Sproson40004
10DF EnglandBob Hazell10012
11DF EnglandAlan Webb10001
MF EnglandGary Hamson10001
MF EnglandRussell Bromage10001
Own goals10113
TOTALS 76 1 9 6 92

Transfers

Transfers in

Date from Position Nationality Name From Fee Ref.
June 1986GKMark GrewIpswich TownFree transfer[5]
July 1986FWRichard O'KellyWalsall£6,000[5]
July 1986MFPaul SmithSheffield United£10,000[5]
July 1986MFRay WalkerAston Villa£12,000[5]
December 1986MFGary HamsonBristol City£5,000[5]
December 1986DFBob HazellReadingFree transfer[5]
January 1987GKAlex WilliamsManchester City£10,000[5]
March 1987FWDarren BeckfordManchester City£15,000[5]

Transfers out

Date from Position Nationality Name To Fee Ref.
December 1986GKJim ArnoldKidderminster HarriersRetired[5]
December 1986DFJohn WilliamsBournemouth£30,000[5]
May 1987DFWayne EbanksCambridge UnitedFree transfer[5]
May 1987MFGeoff HunterWrexhamFree transfer[5]
July 1987MFJon BowdenWrexham£12,500[5]
August 1987MFRussell BromageBristol City£25,000[5]

Loans in

Date from Position Nationality Name From Date to Ref.
November 1986GKAlex WilliamsManchester CityJanuary 1987[5]
December 1986DFAlan Dodd IF ElfsborgDecember 1986[5]

Loans out

Date from Position Nationality Name To Date to Ref.
1987MFAndy Porter Hutt Valley United1987[5]

References

Specific
  1. 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. "Goodman too expensive for the likes of Port Vale". Staffordshire Sentinel Green 'Un. 11 February 2017. p. 30.
  3. Baggaley, Michael (1 April 2020). "Archive classic - Port Vale fans turn out for goal hero on Wales debut". Stoke Sentinel. Retrieved 3 April 2020.
  4. Port Vale 1986–1987 : Results & Fixtures Archived 4 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine. Statto Organisation. Retrieved 28 April 2012.
  5. 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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