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1993–94 Port Vale F.C. season

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Port Vale
1993–94 season
ChairmanBill Bell
ManagerJohn Rudge
StadiumVale Park
Football League Second Division2nd (88 Points)
FA CupFourth Round
(knocked out by Wolverhampton Wanderers)
League CupFirst Round
(knocked out by Lincoln City)
Football League TrophyArea Quarter-finalists
(knocked out by Swansea City)
Player of the YearNeil Aspin
Top goalscorerLeague: Martin Foyle (17)
All: Martin Foyle (18)
Highest home attendance12,042 vs. Southampton, 18 January 1994
Lowest home attendance5,175 vs. Lincoln City, 17 August 1993
Average home league attendance8,377
Biggest win6–0 vs. Hartlepool United, 12 November 1994
Biggest defeat0–4 vs. Reading, 23 October 1993

The 1993–94 season was Port Vale's 82nd season of football in the English Football League and fifth-successive (37th overall) season in the Second Division. They won promotion to the First Division as the division's runners-up, just one point away from champions Reading. In the FA Cup, John Rudge's men caused an upset by defeating top-flight Southampton, before they exited in the Fourth Round. Vale were knocked out of the League Cup in the First Round and the Football League Trophy in the Area Quarter-finals.

Overview

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Second Division

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The pre-season saw John Rudge sign left-back Allen Tankard from Wigan Athletic for £87,500. Experienced forward Keith Houchen was allowed to join Hartlepool United on a free transfer, and Paul Kerr signed with Leicester City.

The season opened with a 2–1 defeat to Burnley at Turf Moor, a result which belied their tag as favourites for promotion.[1] Though the season got going for the Vale with their opening home game, as they recorded a 6–0 win over Barnet despite an early sending off for Peter Billing, both Martin Foyle and Bernie Slaven bagging hat-tricks.[2] This, however, would be the only victory in the first seven league games. In September, Steve Livingstone joined the club on loan from Chelsea. Then, in October, Canadian Ollie Heald signed from Norvan, having impressed whilst on trial. Vale shot up the table with eight victories in ten games. In January, Aidan Newhouse arrived on loan from Wimbledon but only played two games. Rudge made enquiries after Andy Saville, but the club could not afford the £350,000 expected by Birmingham City.[3] On 5 February, Vale beat Reading 2–1 to record the first away league win for a club at Elm Park in 12 months.[4] Bernie Slaven left the club in February for Darlington. The next month, Rudge brought Joe Allon to the club after Allon had left Brentford. He also signed winger David Lowe on loan from Leicester City. Vale picked up four clean sheets in the first five games of March but ended the month with two defeats. They had a solid April, winning six of their eight games, with Foyle scoring a hat-trick past Leyton Orient at Brisbane Road on 4 April. Two victories from their final two games of the season ensured promotion. A 3–1 victory at Brighton & Hove Albion was witnessed by 15,423 people – the biggest crowd at the Goldstone Ground for six years. Glover opened the scoring and a brace from Foyle confirmed the victory despite the home side pulling a goal back from a Dean Wilkins free kick.[5]

They finished second with 88 points, despite having finished third the previous season with 89 points. The top scorer was Martin Foyle with eighteen goals, though Ian Taylor and Nicky Cross also hit double figures.

At the end of the season, star midfielder Ian Taylor was sold to Sheffield Wednesday for £1 million (plus add-ons). The club also sold Peter Swan to Plymouth Argyle for £300,000. Also leaving the club were Nicky Cross and Trevor Wood, who joined Hereford United and Walsall respectively.

Finances

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The club's shirt sponsors were Tunstall Assurance.

Cup competitions

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In the FA Cup, Vale brushed aside Blackpool (2–0) and Huddersfield Town (1–0). Drawn against Premier League Southampton in the Third Round, the "Valiants" earned a 1–1 draw at The Dell with an Andy Porter goal from a free kick, which helped to put more pressure on struggling opposition manager Ian Branfoot, which would have been worse still without Ian Dowie's equaliser.[6] Back at Burslem, Vale achieved a giantkilling with a Bernie Slaven goal on a mud-filled Vale Park pitch; a clean sheet was achieved as Neil Aspin kept Matt Le Tissier quiet.[6] In the Fourth Round they faced First Division Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux, and were defeated 2–0.

In the League Cup, Vale exited in the First Round to Third Division Lincoln City on away goals, having drawn 2–2 at Vale Park and 0–0 at Sincil Bank.

In the Football League Trophy, Vale reached the Area Quarter-finalists. They would not enter the competition again until 2000–01.

League table

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Main article: 1993–94 Football League

Pos Team
 Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion or relegation
1 Reading 46 26 11 9 81 44 +37 89 Division Champions, promoted
2 Port Vale 46 26 10 10 79 46 +33 88 Promoted
3 Plymouth Argyle 46 25 10 11 88 56 +32 85 Participated in play-offs
4 Stockport County 46 24 13 9 74 44 +30 85
5 York City 46 21 12 13 64 40 +24 75
Source: [citation needed]

Results

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Port Vale's score comes first

Football League Second Division

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Results by matchday

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Round12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031323334353637383940414243444546
GroundAHAHHAAHAHHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAAHHAHHAHHAAHAHHAHAHAA
ResultLWLDDLDWWWWWLWWDWLWDDWLWDWDWLDWWWWLLDWWWLWWWWW
Position169141416182118139978578674444567776665444444443424322
Source: Statto[7]
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

Matches

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Date Opponent Venue Result Attendance Scorers
14 August 1993 Burnley A 1–2 12,592 Taylor
21 August 1993 Barnet H 6–0 7,538 Foyle (3), Slaven (3)
28 August 1993 Plymouth Argyle A 0–2 6,072
31 August 1993 Cambridge United H 2–2 6,484 Cross, Kerr
4 September 1993 Cardiff City H 2–2 8,140 Slaven (2)
11 September 1993 Bristol Rovers A 0–2 4,908
14 September 1993 Huddersfield Town A 1–1 5,154 Slaven
18 September 1993 Hartlepool United H 1–0 7,279 Kerr
25 September 1993 Brentford A 2–1 5,106 Cross, van der Laan
2 October 1993 Wrexham H 3–0 8,722 Cross (2), Kerr
9 October 1993 Hull City H 2–1 9,459 Cross (2)
16 October 1993 Blackpool A 3–1 8,969 Cross (2), Taylor
23 October 1993 Reading H 0–4 9,252
30 October 1993 Rotherham United A 2–0 4,786 Foyle, Taylor
6 November 1993 Swansea City H 3–0 7,854 Cook (og), Glover, Taylor
20 November 1993 Exeter City A 1–1 3,908 van der Laan
27 November 1993 Brighton & Hove Albion H 4–0 7,261 Cross, Foyle (2), Taylor
7 December 1993 Bournemouth A 1–2 2,954 Jeffers
11 December 1993 Barnet A 3–2 3,100 Foyle, Kerr, Taylor
18 December 1993 Burnley H 1–1 10,710 Slaven
27 December 1993 Fulham A 0–0 5,760
29 December 1993 Leyton Orient H 2–1 8,978 van der Laan (2)
1 January 1994 York City A 0–1 5,903
15 January 1994 Blackpool H 2–0 7,915 Briggs (og), Cross
22 January 1994 Hull City A 0–0 6,918
5 February 1994 Reading A 2–1 7,645 Foyle, Kent
12 February 1994 Stockport County H 1–1 10,628 Foyle
19 February 1994 Plymouth Argyle H 2–1 9,093 Lowe, Taylor
22 February 1994 Cambridge United A 0–1 2,543
1 March 1994 Bradford City H 0–0 7,294
5 March 1994 Bristol Rovers H 2–0 8,682 Taylor (2)
12 March 1994 Hartlepool United A 4–1 1,798 Aspin, Cross, Gilchrist (og) Lowe
15 March 1994 Huddersfield Town H 1–0 7,010 Kent
19 March 1994 Brentford H 1–0 8,269 Taylor
26 March 1994 Wrexham A 1–2 7,202 van der Laan
29 March 1994 Bradford City A 1–2 5,776 Foyle
2 April 1994 Fulham H 2–2 7,380 Allon (2)
4 April 1994 Leyton Orient A 3–2 3,412 Foyle (3)
12 April 1994 Rotherham United H 2–1 6,804 Griffiths (2)
16 April 1994 Bournemouth H 2–1 7,603 Cross, Taylor
19 April 1994 Stockport County A 1–2 5,910 Lowe
21 April 1994 York City H 2–1 8,703 Glover, Lowe
26 April 1994 Swansea City A 1–0 4,252 Taylor
30 April 1994 Exeter City H 3–0 10,377 Foyle (2), Kent
3 May 1994 Cardiff City A 3–1 4,705 Kent, Lowe, Taylor
7 May 1994 Brighton & Hove Albion A 3–1 15,423 Foyle (2), Glover

FA Cup

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Main article: 1993–94 FA Cup
Round Date Opponent Venue Result Attendance Goalscorers
R1 13 November 1993 Blackpool H 2–0 8,211 Foyle, Kerr
R2 3 December 1993 Huddersfield Town H 1–0 8,602 Tankard
R3 8 January 1994 Southampton A 1–1 11,086 Porter
R3 Replay 18 January 1994 Southampton H 1–0 12,042 Slaven
R4 29 January 1994 Wolverhampton Wanderers H 0–2 21,999

League Cup

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Main article: 1993–94 Football League Cup
Round Date Opponent Venue Result Attendance Goalscorers
R1 1st Leg 17 August 1993 Lincoln City H 2–2 5,175 Slaven, Taylor
R1 2nd Leg 24 August 1993 Lincoln City A 0–0 3,642

Football League Trophy

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Main article: 1993–94 Football League Trophy
Round Date Opponent Venue Result Attendance Goalscorers
R1 19 October 1993 Shrewsbury Town A 2–2 2,192 Kerr, Taylor
R1 9 November 1993 Wrexham H 0–0 4,376
R2 30 November 1993 Cambridge United A 4–2 1,648 Foyle (2), Taylor, Cross
QF 11 January 1994 Swansea City A 0–1 2,630

Player statistics

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Appearances and goals

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Pos. Name Football League FA Cup League Cup/League Trophy Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
GK England Paul Musselwhite 46 0 5 0 6 0 57 0
DF England Dean Glover 46 3 5 0 6 0 57 3
DF England Neil Aspin 40 1 5 0 6 0 57 1
DF England Peter Swan 40 0 5 0 5 0 50 0
DF England Bradley Sandeman 9 0 1 0 0 0 10 0
DF England Peter Billing 8 0 0 0 1 0 9 0
DF England Gareth Griffiths 4 2 0 0 0 0 4 2
DF England Dean Stokes 21 0 3 0 1 0 25 0
DF England Allen Tankard 26 0 2 1 5 0 33 1
MF England Andy Porter 37 0 5 1 3 0 45 1
MF England John Jeffers 25 1 5 0 5 0 35 1
MF Netherlands Robin van der Laan 33 5 5 0 5 0 43 5
MF England Kevin Kent 30 4 2 0 4 0 36 4
MF England Ian Taylor 42 13 2 0 6 3 50 16
MF England Paul Kerr 25 4 3 1 6 1 34 6
MF England Ray Walker 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
FW England Nicky Cross 37 12 5 0 5 1 47 13
FW England Martin Foyle 37 17 3 1 5 2 45 20
FW Scotland Bernie Slaven 23 7 4 1 4 1 31 9
FW England Joe Allon 4 2 0 0 0 0 4 2
FW Canada Ollie Heald 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
FW England Steve Livingstone 5 0 0 0 0 0 5 0
FW England David Lowe 19 5 0 0 0 0 19 5
FW England Aidan Newhouse 2 0 1 0 0 0 3 0

Top scorers

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Place Position Nation Name Second Division FA Cup League Cup Football League Trophy Total
1 FW  England Martin Foyle 17 1 0 2 20
2 MF  England Ian Taylor 13 0 1 2 16
3 FW  England Nicky Cross 12 0 0 1 13
4 FW  Scotland Bernie Slaven 7 1 1 0 9
5 MF  England Paul Kerr 4 1 0 1 6
6 FW  England David Lowe 5 0 0 0 5
– MF  Netherlands Robin van der Laan 5 0 0 0 5
8 MF  England Kevin Kent 4 0 0 0 4
9 DF  England Dean Glover 3 0 0 0 3
10 FW  England Joe Allon 2 0 0 0 2
– DF  England Gareth Griffiths 2 0 0 0 2
12 DF  England Neil Aspin 1 0 0 0 1
– MF  England John Jeffers 1 0 0 0 1
– DF  England Allen Tankard 0 1 0 0 1
– MF  England Andy Porter 0 1 0 0 1
– – Own goals 3 0 0 0 3
TOTALS 79 5 2 6 92

Transfers

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Transfers in

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Date from Position Nationality Name From Fee Ref.
January 1993 DF England Dean Stokes Halesowen Town Free transfer [8]
February 1993 DF England Gareth Griffiths Wales Rhyl £1,000 [8]
May 1993 DF England Peter Billing Coventry City £35,000 [8]
July 1993 DF England Allen Tankard Wigan Athletic £87,500 [8]
September 1993 MF Canada Ollie Heald Norvan Free transfer [8]
March 1994 FW England Joe Allon Brentford Free transfer [8]

Transfers out

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Date from Position Nationality Name To Fee Ref.
September 1993 FW England Brian Mills Released [8]
February 1994 FW Scotland Bernie Slaven Darlington Free transfer [8]
May 1994 FW England Nicky Cross Hereford United Free transfer [8]
May 1994 DF England Simon Mills Boston United Free transfer [8]
May 1994 GK Northern Ireland Trevor Wood Walsall Free transfer [8]
1 July 1994 MF England Ian Taylor Sheffield Wednesday £1,000,000 [8]
23 July 1994 DF England Peter Swan Plymouth Argyle £300,000 [8]
Summer 1994 MF England Paul Kerr Wycombe Wanderers Free transfer [8]

Loans in

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Date from Position Nationality Name From Date to Ref.
September 1993 FW England Steve Livingstone Chelsea September 1993 [8]
January 1994 FW England Aidan Newhouse Wimbledon January 1994 [8]
February 1994 MF England David Lowe Leicester City End of season [8]

Loans out

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Date from Position Nationality Name To Date to Ref.
March 1994 MF England Paul Kerr Leicester City End of season [8]

References

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Specific
  1. ^ Baggaley, Mike (11 August 2024). "Vale hit the ground running at Salford". Valiant's Substack. Retrieved 12 August 2024.
  2. ^ Harper, C (31 August 1993). "Valiant Review: The Official Matchday Magazine of Port Vale F.C.". p. 7.
  3. ^ Baggaley, Mike (15 January 2024). "Vale chief executive talks ticketing, Railway, Hamil and plans". Valiant's Substack. Retrieved 15 January 2024.
  4. ^ Baggaley, Mike (5 February 2024). "What next for Port Vale after manager Andy Crosby is sacked". Valiant's Substack. Retrieved 5 February 2024.
  5. ^ Baggaley, Mike (6 May 2024). "Targets and expectations as Vale prepare to start again". Valiant's Substack. Retrieved 7 May 2024.
  6. ^ a b Baggaley, Mike (18 January 2024). "Port Vale transfer window and injury updates ahead of Wycombe". Valiant's Substack. Retrieved 18 January 2024.
  7. ^ Port Vale 1993–1994 : Results & Fixtures Archived 4 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine. Statto Organisation. Retrieved 28 April 2012.
  8. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r "Port Vale FC Club Details | Transfers | Soccer Base". www.soccerbase.com. Retrieved 7 October 2016.
General
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