2001–02 Port Vale F.C. season

The 2001–02 season was Port Vale's 90th season of football in the English 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.

Port Vale
2001–02 season
ChairmanBill Bell
ManagerBrian Horton
StadiumVale Park
Football League Second Division14th (58 Points)
FA CupSecond Round
(knocked out by Cardiff City)
League CupSecond Round
(knocked out by Charlton Athletic)
League TrophyArea Quarter-finalists
(knocked out by Hull City)
Player of the YearMark Goodlad
Top goalscorerLeague: Stephen McPhee (11)
All: Stephen McPhee (14)
Highest home attendance10,344 vs. Stoke City, 21 October 2001
Lowest home attendance2,664 vs. Carlisle United, 16 October 2001
Average home league attendance5,210
Biggest win5–0 vs. Cambridge United, 5 October 2001
Biggest defeat0–3 (three games)

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]

League table
Main article: 2001–02 Football League
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
12 Tranmere Rovers 46 16 15 15 63 60 +3 63
13 Swindon Town 46 15 14 17 46 56 −10 59
14 Port Vale 46 16 10 20 51 62 −11 58
15 Colchester United 46 15 12 19 65 76 −11 57
16 Blackpool 46 14 14 18 66 69 −3 56
Source:
Rules for classification: In the Football League goals scored (GF) takes precedence over goal difference (GD).

Results

Port Vale's score comes first

Results by matchday
Round12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031323334353637383940414243444546
GroundHAHAHAAHHAAHAHHAHAAHHAAHHAAHAHHAAHHAAHHAAHAHAH
ResultWLWLLDLLLWLWDDLWWLDDDLLWWLLWWWDWWWWLLLDLDWLDLL
Position310611131515191918191618171817171717171819191716161716141313131313131313131313131213131314
Source: Statto[17]
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

Matches
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
Main article: 2001–02 FA Cup
RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorers
R117 November 2001Aylesbury UnitedH3–04,956Burgess, Cummins, Brooker
R28 December 2001Cardiff CityA0–39,650

League Cup
Main article: 2001–02 Football League Cup
RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorers
R121 August 2001ChesterfieldH2–12,723McPhee (2)
R212 September 2001Charlton AthleticA0–27,247

League Trophy
Main article: 2001–02 Football 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

Appearances
Pos. # Name Football League FA Cup League Cup League Trophy Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
GK1 Mark Goodlad 430202030500
DF2 Matt Carragher 410202020470
DF3 Phil Hardy 81002000101
MF4 Sean McClare 231100010251
DF5 Michael Walsh 280001000290
DF6 Sagi Burton 370201021421
MF7 Neil Brisco 370102030430
MF8 Micky Cummins 468212030539
FW9 Steve Brooker 4192120314811
FW10 Stephen McPhee 44112020315114
MF11 Marc Bridge-Wilkinson 196000000196
GK12 Dean Delany 4000000040
GK13 Chris Gowan 0000000000
DF14 Rae Ingram 220202020280
MF16 Ashley Dodd 91201010131
MF17 Ian Armstrong 313100022345
MF18 George O'Callaghan 113102020153
DF19 Alex Gibson 1000001020
DF20 Paul Donnelly 6000002080
DF21 Liam Burns 340201020390
DF22 Paul Taylor 0000000000
DF23 Steve Rowland 251200020291
MF24 Ben Simpson 0000000000
MF25 Danny Maye 2000001030
FW26 Billy Paynter 7010000080
FW27 Steve Torpey 1000000010
MF28 Chris Birchall 1000100020
MF30 John Durnin 191000000191
Players that left the club mid-season:
MF4 Simon Osborn 7000100080
FW15 Richard Burgess 2011000031
FW15 Mvondo Atangana 2000000020
FW29 Chris Killen 96000010106
FW29 Danny Webber 4000001050
DF30 Paul Byrne 1000001020

Top scorers
Place Position Nation Number Name Second Division FA Cup League Cup League Trophy Total
1FW Scotland10Stephen McPhee1102114
2FW England9Steve Brooker910111
3MF Ireland8Micky Cummins81009
4FW New Zealand29Chris Killen60006
–FW England#Marc Bridge-Wilkinson60006
6MF England17Ian Armstrong30025
7MF Ireland18George O'Callaghan30003
8DF Wales232Steve Rowland10001
–DF Ireland3Phil Hardy10001
–MF England4Sean McClare10001
–MF England30John Durnin10001
–MF England16Ashley Dodd10001
–DF Saint Kitts and Nevis6Sagi Burton00011
–FW England15Richard Burgess01001
–––Own goals00000
TOTALS 51 3 2 5 61

Transfers

Transfers in
Date from Position Nationality Name From Fee Ref.
May 2001MFAshley DoddManchester UnitedFree transfer[18]
June 2001DFAlex GibsonStoke CityFree transfer[18]
June 2001DFPhil HardyWrexhamFree transfer[18]
June 2001DFRae IngramMacclesfield TownFree transfer[18]
July 2001FWStephen McPheeCoventry CityFree transfer[18]
August 2001FWSteve TorpeyLiverpoolFree transfer[18]
Summer 2001MFIan ArmstrongLiverpoolFree transfer[18]
September 2001MFSimon OsbornWolverhampton WanderersFree transfer[18]
29 November 2001MFSean McClareBarnsleyFree transfer[18]
December 2001MFJohn Durnin RhylFree transfer[18]

Transfers out
Date from Position Nationality Name To Fee Ref.
October 2001MFSimon OsbornGillinghamFree transfer[18]
January 2002FWRichard BurgessNuneaton BoroughFree transfer[18]
April 2002MFAshley DoddMoor GreenFree transfer[18]
April 2002DFPhil HardyReleased[18]
May 2002MFGeorge O'Callaghan Cork CityFree transfer[18]
May 2002FWSteve TorpeyPrescot CablesFree transfer[18]
June 2002MFDanny MayeSouthend UnitedFree transfer[18]
July 2002DFPaul DonnellyStone DominoesFree transfer[18]
July 2002DFAlex GibsonStafford RangersFree transfer[18]
August 2002DFSagi BurtonCrewe AlexandraFree transfer[18]

Loans in
Date from Position Nationality Name From Date to Ref.
23 September 2001FWChris KillenManchester City23 November 2001[18]
19 October 2001MFSean McClareBarnsley28 November 2001[18]
23 November 2001FWDanny WebberManchester United31 December 2001[18]
18 January 2002FWMvondo Atangana Dundee United18 February 2002[18]

Loans out
Date from Position Nationality Name To Date to Ref.
15 October 2001FWSteve 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. "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. "Port Vale FC Club Details | Transfers | Soccer Base". www.soccerbase.com. Retrieved 7 October 2016.
General
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