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1994–95 Port Vale F.C. season

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Port Vale
1994–95 season
ChairmanBill Bell
ManagerJohn Rudge
StadiumVale Park
Football League First Division17th (58 Points)
FA CupSecond Round
(knocked out by Scarborough)
League CupSecond Round
(knocked out by Manchester United)
Player of the YearMartin Foyle
Top goalscorerLeague: Martin Foyle (16)
All: Martin Foyle (20)
Highest home attendance19,510 vs. Stoke City, 14 March 1995
Lowest home attendance4,728 vs. Bristol Rovers, 23 August 1994
Average home league attendance9,218
Biggest win6–0 vs. Hartlepool United, 12 November 1994
Biggest defeat0–3 and 1–4

The 1994–95 season was Port Vale's 83rd season of football in the English Football League, and first ever season in the First Division following their promotion from the Second Division. John Rudge led his team to safety in the league whilst reaching the Second Round of the FA Cup and League Cup. In the FA Cup they recorded a 6–0 victory over Hartlepool United, before suffering a shock defeat at Scarborough. Back in the same league as rivals Stoke City, they earned the season's bragging rights with a 1–1 draw at Vale Park and a 1–0 win at the Victoria Ground. Martin Foyle was the Player of the Year, bagging twenty goals in all competitions. Club legend Ian Taylor had been sold before a ball was kicked, but new legends were born with the signatures of Tony Naylor, Steve Guppy, and Ian Bogie.

Overview

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First Division

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The pre-season saw John Rudge spend a small amount of the money received on the sales of Ian Taylor and Peter Swan to bring Tony Naylor to the club from Crewe Alexandra for a £150,000 fee. A further £200,000 was splashed out on Nottingham Forest forward Lee Glover. Another £4,500 was spent on Dutch goalkeeper Arjan van Heusden from VV Noordwijk. Arriving on free transfers were Craig Lawton (Manchester United) and Stewart Talbot (Moor Green).

The season started modestly, with two wins in the four August games. In September, only Lee Glover, Tony Naylor and Martin Foyle could find the net, but the Vale won six points from their five games. To help with his recovery from a serious injury, Ray Walker spent some time on loan at Cambridge United, and won back his first-team place in the Vale starting eleven upon his return. Meanwhile, Tony Kelly arrived at the club from Bolton Wanderers, but after a brief spell, moved on to Millwall. On 17 September, Vale inflicted a 2–1 defeat on league leaders Middlesbrough player-manager Bryan Robson – his first loss in management.[1] Vale's attack was highlighted in October. However, the defence ensured three draws from five games. In November, Darren Hughes was allowed to leave the club for Northampton Town. On 5 November, Vale lost all their inhibitions in front of goal, beating Southend United 5–0 with five different scorers.[2] Rudge decided to make another big signing and bought winger Steve Guppy from Newcastle United for £225,000. Two days later, on 26 November, Guppy made his debut in a 2–1 win over Millwall, where he collected assists for both goals.[3] However, their draw with Swindon Town would prove to be the only point gained in December, as Vale were stuck in a relegation dogfight. John Jeffers spent January on loan at Shrewsbury Town. During this spell defender Kevin Scott arrived on loan from Tottenham Hotspur. The team gelled, forming a five-game unbeaten run based on just two goals conceded to shoot up the table. In March, midfielder Ian Bogie was signed from Leyton Orient for a £50,000 fee. Potteries derby day finally came on 14 March, and 19,510 turned up at Vale Park to witness a 1–1 draw with Stoke City, Naylor scoring Vale's goal.[4] Five defeats in seven games followed, raising concerns about the drop. However, the Vale were unbeaten in their final five games to ensure safety. This included a 3–3 draw at Elm Park that saw the "Valiants" come from three goals down to claim a point.[5] It also included a 1–0 win over Stoke at the Victoria Ground on 22 April, Foyle scoring the goal in what was Vale's first away win over Stoke in a league fixture since 1927.[4]

They finished in seventeenth place with 58 points, leaving them ten points clear of relegated Swindon Town. They were five points short of Stoke, who finished six places above the Vale. Player of the Year Martin Foyle bagged twenty goals, double that of his nearest rival Tony Naylor.

At the end of the season Ollie Heald, Peter Billing, Mark Burke and John Burndred were released, who signed with Scarborough, Hartlepool United, Fortuna Sittard and Stafford Rangers respectively. Joe Allon was also sold to Brentford for £42,500.

Finances

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The club's shirt sponsors were Tunstall Assurance.

Cup competitions

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As members of the second tier, Vale should have qualified for the Third Round of the FA Cup, but were forced to take part in the First Round to make up the numbers after Aldershot went bust and Maidstone United resigned from the league.[6] Vale went on to easily beat Third Division side Hartlepool United 6–0 in Burslem, with Martin Foyle bagging a hat-trick.[6] Remarkably, this would be the last hat-trick scored by a Vale player at Vale Park until April 2011.[7] However, a shock awaited in the Second Round, where Scarborough, also of the fourth tier, beat the Vale 1–0 at the McCain Stadium.

In the League Cup, Vale advanced past Second Division Bristol Rovers 4–2 on aggregate, having won 3–1 at the Memorial Stadium. They faced Premier League Manchester United in the Second Round. Alex Ferguson's "Red Devils" beat John Rudge's "Valiants" 2–1 at Vale Park in front of 18,605 supporters; Lee Glover scored for Vale, and Paul Scholes scored a brace on his United debut. Vale fans were disappointed to witness the then-unknown United reserves at the time.[8] However, Scholes would go on to become a household name, as would teenage teammates Gary Neville, Nicky Butt, and David Beckham; the United first XI would go on to win a combined total of more than 500 international caps throughout their careers.[9] For the second leg there were 31,615 fans at Old Trafford to witness a 2–0 United victory, David May and Brian McClair getting the goals.

League table

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Main article: 1994–95 Football League

Pos Team
 Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
15 Charlton Athletic 46 16 11 19 58 66 −8 59
16 Luton Town 46 15 13 18 61 64 −3 58
17 Port Vale 46 15 13 18 58 64 −6 58
18 Portsmouth 46 15 13 18 53 63 −10 58
19 West Bromwich Albion 46 16 10 20 51 57 −6 58
Source: [citation needed]
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goals scored; 3) Goal difference

Results

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Port Vale's score comes first

Football League First Division

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Results by matchday

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Round12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031323334353637383940414243444546
GroundAHAHHAAHHAAHHAAHAHHAAHHAHAAHHHAAHHAHAAHAHAHAAH
ResultLWDWLWLWLLDLDDDWLWDLLDLLWWDWWLDLWDLWLLLWLDWWDD
Position221110712467811151818202014181714161718212221182017151817171515171417171716171716141717
Source: Statto[10]
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

Matches

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Date Opponent Venue Result Attendance Scorers
14 August 1994 Swindon Town A 0–2 10,431
20 August 1994 Oldham Athletic H 3–1 10,051 Foyle, Kenny (og), Naylor
27 August 1994 Bristol City A 0–0 8,588
30 August 1994 Barnsley H 2–1 7,228 Burke, L.Glover
3 September 1994 Luton Town H 0–1 8,541
10 September 1994 Portsmouth A 2–0 8,989 L.Glover, Naylor
13 September 1994 Grimsby Town A 1–4 3,216 Foyle
17 September 1994 Middlesbrough H 2–1 10,313 L.Glover, Naylor
24 September 1994 Sheffield United H 0–2 9,324
1 October 1994 Wolverhampton Wanderers A 1–2 27,649 Allon
8 October 1994 Notts County A 2–2 6,903 Foyle, Kelly
15 October 1994 Charlton Athletic H 0–2 7,707
22 October 1994 Bolton Wanderers H 1–1 10,003 Allon
29 October 1994 Tranmere Rovers A 1–1 6,972 Jeffers
2 November 1994 West Bromwich Albion A 0–0 14,513
5 November 1994 Southend United H 5–0 7,141 Allon, Foyle, Porter, Walker, van der Laan
19 November 1994 Derby County A 0–2 13,357
26 November 1994 Millwall H 2–1 8,016 Allon, Burke
29 November 1994 Sunderland H 0–0 8,121
6 December 1994 Bolton Wanderers A 0–1 10,324
10 December 1994 Oldham Athletic A 2–3 7,712 Guppy, van der Laan
17 December 1994 Swindon Town H 2–2 7,747 Foyle (2)
28 December 1994 Reading H 0–2 7,891
31 December 1994 Watford A 2–3 7,794 Foyle (2)
15 January 1995 Tranmere Rovers H 2–0 7,944 Foyle, Tankard
28 January 1995 Southend United A 2–1 3,619 Foyle, van der Laan
4 February 1995 Sunderland A 1–1 13,377 Naylor
11 February 1995 West Bromwich Albion H 1–0 10,751 Guppy
21 February 1995 Derby County H 1–0 9,387 Kent
25 February 1995 Wolverhampton Wanderers H 2–4 13,676 Kent, Naylor
4 March 1995 Sheffield United A 1–1 13,647 L.Glover
7 March 1995 Luton Town A 1–2 5,947 Porter
11 March 1995 Bristol City H 2–1 7,646 Naylor, Scott
14 March 1995 Stoke City H 1–1 19,510 Naylor
18 March 1995 Barnsley A 1–3 6,878 Allon
21 March 1995 Portsmouth H 1–0 7,388 Allon
26 March 1995 Middlesbrough A 0–3 17,401
28 March 1995 Burnley A 3–4 10,058 Foyle (2), Allon
1 April 1995 Grimsby Town H 1–2 7,150 Naylor
5 April 1995 Millwall A 3–1 5,260 Bogie, Foyle, van der Laan
8 April 1995 Watford H 0–1 7,276
15 April 1995 Reading A 3–3 8,635 Bogie, Naylor, Porter
17 April 1995 Burnley H 1–0 9,663 van der Laan
22 April 1995 Stoke City A 1–0 20,429 Foyle
29 April 1995 Charlton Athletic A 1–1 12,596 Foyle
7 May 1995 Notts County H 1–1 9,542 Foyle

FA Cup

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Main article: 1994–95 FA Cup
Round Date Opponent Venue Result Attendance Goalscorers
R1 12 November 1994 Hartlepool United H 6–0 6,199 Foyle (3), Allon, D.Glover, Griffiths
R2 3 December 1994 Scarborough A 0–1 2,382

League Cup

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Main article: 1994–95 Football League Cup
Round Date Opponent Venue Result Attendance Goalscorers
R1 1st Leg 17 August 1994 Bristol Rovers A 3–1 3,307 Foyle, L.Glover, Naylor
R1 2nd Leg 23 August 1994 Bristol Rovers H 1–1 4,728 L.Glover
R2 1st Leg 21 September 1994 Manchester United H 1–2 18,605 L.Glover
R2 2nd Leg 5 October 1994 Manchester United A 0–2 31,615

Player statistics

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Appearances and goals

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Pos. Name Football League FA Cup League Cup Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
GK England Paul Musselwhite 44 0 2 0 4 0 50 0
GK Netherlands Arjan van Heusden 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 0
DF England Dean Glover 29 0 2 1 4 0 35 1
DF England Neil Aspin 37 0 2 0 1 0 40 0
DF England Bradley Sandeman 37 0 0 0 4 0 41 0
DF England Peter Billing 6 0 0 0 0 0 6 0
DF England Gareth Griffiths 20 0 2 1 3 0 25 1
DF England Dean Stokes 3 0 0 0 0 0 3 0
DF England Allen Tankard 39 1 2 0 4 0 45 1
DF England Kevin Scott 17 1 0 0 0 0 17 1
DF England John Morris 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
MF England Andy Porter 44 3 2 0 4 0 50 3
MF England Ray Walker 23 1 2 0 1 0 26 1
MF England John Jeffers 10 1 1 0 0 0 11 1
MF Netherlands Robin van der Laan 44 5 2 0 4 0 50 5
MF England Kevin Kent 23 2 0 0 4 0 27 2
MF England Ian Bogie 9 2 1 0 0 0 10 2
MF England Mark Burke 15 2 2 0 3 0 20 2
MF England Wayne Corden 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
MF England Steve Guppy 27 2 1 0 0 0 29 2
MF England Tony Kelly 4 1 0 0 1 0 5 1
MF Wales Craig Lawton 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
MF England Stewart Talbot 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 0
MF Canada Ollie Heald 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
FW England Martin Foyle 42 16 2 3 4 1 48 20
FW England Joe Allon 19 7 2 1 1 0 22 8
FW England John Burndred 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
FW Scotland Lee Glover 28 4 2 0 4 3 34 7
FW England Tony Naylor 33 9 0 0 3 1 36 10

Top scorers

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Place Position Nation Name First Division FA Cup League Cup Total
1 FW  England Martin Foyle 16 3 1 20
2 FW  England Tony Naylor 9 0 1 10
3 FW  England Joe Allon 7 1 0 8
4 FW  Scotland Lee Glover 4 0 3 7
5 MF  Netherlands Robin van der Laan 5 0 0 5
6 MF  England Andy Porter 3 0 0 3
7 FW  England Mark Burke 2 0 0 2
– MF  England Ian Bogie 2 0 0 2
– MF  England Kevin Kent 2 0 0 2
– MF  England Steve Guppy 2 0 0 2
11 MF  England Tony Kelly 1 0 0 1
– MF  England John Jeffers 1 0 0 1
– DF  England Allen Tankard 1 0 0 1
– MF  England Ray Walker 1 0 0 1
– DF  England Kevin Scott 1 0 0 1
– DF  England Gareth Griffiths 0 1 0 1
– DF  England Dean Glover 0 1 0 1
– – Own goals 1 0 0 1
TOTALS 58 6 5 69

Transfers

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Transfers in

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Date from Position Nationality Name From Fee Ref.
May 1994 GK Netherlands Arjan van Heusden Netherlands VV Noordwijk £4,500 [11]
July 1994 MF Wales Craig Lawton Manchester United Free transfer [11]
18 July 1994 FW England Tony Naylor Crewe Alexandra £150,000 [11]
August 1994 MF England Mark Burke Wolverhampton Wanderers Free transfer [11]
August 1994 MF England Stewart Talbot Moor Green Free transfer [11]
2 August 1994 FW England Lee Glover Nottingham Forest £200,000 [11]
September 1994 MF England Tony Kelly Bolton Wanderers Free transfer [11]
25 November 1994 MF England Steve Guppy Newcastle United £225,000 [11]
February 1995 MF England John Burndred Knypersley Victoria Free transfer [11]
23 March 1995 MF England Ian Bogie Leyton Orient £50,000 [11]

Transfers out

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Date from Position Nationality Name To Fee Ref.
1994 MF England Tony Kelly Millwall Free transfer [11]
November 1994 DF England Darren Hughes Northampton Town Quit [11]
May 1995 DF England Peter Billing Hartlepool United Free transfer [11]
May 1995 MF England John Burndred Stafford Rangers Free transfer [11]
May 1995 MF Canada Ollie Heald Scarborough Free transfer [11]
July 1995 FW England Joe Allon Lincoln City £42,500 [11]
Summer 1995 MF England Mark Burke Netherlands Fortuna Sittard Free transfer [11]
Summer 1995 MF Netherlands Robin van der Laan Derby County £475,000 [11]

Loans in

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Date from Position Nationality Name From Date to Ref.
13 January 1995 DF England Kevin Scott Tottenham Hotspur End of season [11]

Loans out

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Date from Position Nationality Name To Date to Ref.
6 January 1995 MF England John Jeffers Shrewsbury Town January 1995 [11]

References

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Specific
  1. ^ Baggaley, Mike (18 December 2023). "Port Vale ticket and injury update ahead of historic Middlesbrough game". Valiant's Substack. Retrieved 19 December 2023.
  2. ^ Baggaley, Mike (4 November 2024). "Good news on the horizon". Valiant's Substack. Retrieved 7 November 2024.
  3. ^ Baggaley, Mike (26 November 2024). "Staying top despite late drama". Valiant's Substack. Retrieved 26 November 2024.
  4. ^ a b Bullock, Liam (2023). El Ceramico: The Story of the Potteries Derby. Pitch. ISBN 978-1-80150-393-8.
  5. ^ Baggaley, Mike (15 April 2017). "Port Vale archives: Never write off Rudgie's Vale". Stoke Sentinel. Retrieved 15 April 2017.
  6. ^ a b Baggaley, Mike (12 November 2016). "Port Vale archives: Martin Foyle crushes Hartlepool in FA Cup". Stoke Sentinel. Retrieved 12 November 2016.
  7. ^ Phil Sherwin. "Phil Sherwin: Bizarre victory a fitting Vale Park finale for a bizarre season". The Sentinel. Retrieved 2 May 2011.
  8. ^ Baggaley, Mike (19 September 2024). "Heading in the right direction". Valiant's Substack. Retrieved 20 September 2024.
  9. ^ Sherwin, Phil (11 February 2012). "Beckham fails to win over fans at Vale Park". The Sentinel.
  10. ^ Port Vale 1994–1995 : Results & Fixtures Archived 4 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine. Statto Organisation. Retrieved 28 April 2012.
  11. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t "Port Vale FC Club Details | Transfers | Soccer Base". www.soccerbase.com. Retrieved 7 October 2016.
General
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