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2001–02 Port Vale F.C. season

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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)
Football 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)

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 in the second round, and the Football League Trophy at the Area Quarter-finals. Behind the scenes, the club was heading for administration.

Striker Chris Killen.

Overview

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Second Division

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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, with the sequence concluding with a 4–1 win over Peterborough United, after which Horton said that "I hope we don't start thinking every game will be a four-goal stroll because it won't be".[1] This was followed by just one point from six games, in September, after failing to 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,[2] before he moved on to Gillingham. On 5 October, Vale won 5–0 at home to Cambridge United, with Killen scoring a brace and collecting an assist.[3] 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,[4] 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".[5] The next month Danny Webber was taken in on loan from Manchester United.[6]

Vale continued through the Christmas period in inconsistent form, despite the arrival of 36-year-old John Durnin.[7] 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.[8] 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,[9] as Horton was named Manager of the Month.[10] The 23,019 attendance at Stoke was the highest at any match in the division during the season. In contrast, the lowest attendance figure was 2,379, who saw a 1–0 win at Cambridge United three days later.[11] This run raised hopes of a play-off bid.[12] 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. However, Vale finished poorly, 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 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.[13]

Finances

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The collapse of ITV Digital cost the club £400,000 in revenue.[14] Chairman Bill Bell announced a 30% cut in the players' wage budget at the end of the campaign.[14] These ominous warnings belied a financial crisis that would hit the club hard the following season.[14] 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 was turned away by Bill Bell, who claimed that Valiant2001 "won't last three months". Later that month, former commercial director Neil Hughes was arrested for fraud allegedly stealing £20,000 from the club, but 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 investigating the club but found no wrongdoing. The club's shirt sponsors were Tunstall Assurance.

Cup competitions

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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.[15] 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.[16] They exited at the second round after a 3–0 defeat to Cardiff City at Ninian Park.[17]

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.[18] 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 Football 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.[19]

League table

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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: [20]
Rules for classification: In the Football League goals scored (GF) takes precedence over goal difference (GD).

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
GroundHAHAHAAHHAAHAHHAHAAHHAAHHAAHAHHAAHHAAHHAAHAHAH
ResultWLWLLDLLLWLWDDLWWLDDDLLWWLLWWWDWWWWLLLDLDWLDLL
Position310611131515191918191618171817171717171819191716161716141313131313131313131313131213131314
Source: Statto[21]
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

Matches

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Date Opponent Venue Result Attendance Scorers
11 August 2001 Notts County H 4–2 6,076 O'Callaghan (2), McPhee, Dodd
18 August 2001 Brentford A 0–2 4,561
25 August 2001 Peterborough United H 4–1 4,925 Hardy, Cummins, Brooker, McPhee
27 August 2001 Colchester United A 0–2 3,611
1 September 2001 Reading H 0–2 5,196
8 September 2001 Bristol City A 1–1 12,560 O'Callaghan
15 September 2001 Queens Park Rangers A 1–4 9,295 Brooker
18 September 2001 Swindon Town H 0–2 3,737
22 September 2001 Northampton Town H 0–1 4,419
25 September 2001 Wrexham A 3–1 3,091 McPhee (2), Killen
29 September 2001 Wycombe Wanderers A 1–3 5,714 Killen
5 October 2001 Cambridge United H 5–0 4,119 Killen (2), Cummins, Armstrong, Brooker
13 October 2001 Chesterfield A 1–1 4,348 Brooker
21 October 2001 Stoke City H 1–1 10,344 McPhee
24 October 2001 Cardiff City H 0–2 4,552
27 October 2001 Wigan Athletic A 1–0 5,634 Killen
3 November 2001 Bury H 1–0 4,688 Killen
10 November 2001 Brighton & Hove Albion A 0–1 6,648
20 November 2001 Bournemouth A 0–0 4,428
24 November 2001 Huddersfield Town H 1–1 5,026 Cummins
1 December 2001 Blackpool H 1–1 5,390 Cummins
15 December 2001 Tranmere Rovers A 1–3 7,859 Cummins
21 December 2001 Oldham Athletic A 0–2 4,317
26 December 2001 Bristol City H 1–0 5,682 McPhee
29 December 2001 Colchester United H 3–1 4,444 Armstrong, Rowland, Brooker
1 January 2002 Reading A 0–2 10,743
8 January 2002 Peterborough United A 0–3 3,747
12 January 2002 Brentford H 2–1 4,588 McPhee (pen), Armstrong
19 January 2002 Notts County A 3–1 6,006 Brooker (2), McPhee (pen)
22 January 2002 Oldham Athletic H 3–2 4,408 McClare, Brooker, McPhee
2 February 2002 Wycombe Wanderers H 1–1 4,737 Durnin
10 February 2002 Stoke City A 1–0 23,019 Cummins
13 February 2002 Cambridge United A 1–0 2,379 McPhee
16 February 2002 Chesterfield H 4–1 5,529 Cummins (2), Bridge-Wilkinson (2)
23 February 2002 Queens Park Rangers H 1–0 6,228 Bridge-Wilkinson
26 February 2002 Northampton Town A 0–1 5,155
2 March 2002 Swindon Town A 0–3 5,867
5 March 2002 Wrexham H 1–3 4,436 McPhee
9 March 2002 Tranmere Rovers H 1–1 4,630 Bridge-Wilkinson
16 March 2002 Blackpool A 0–4 7,811
23 March 2002 Bury A 1–1 3,700 Bridge-Wilkinson
30 March 2002 Wigan Athletic H 1–0 4,359 Brooker
1 April 2002 Cardiff City A 0–1 15,556
6 April 2002 Bournemouth H 0–0 3,514
13 April 2002 Huddersfield Town A 1–2 12,270 Bridge-Wilkinson
20 April 2002 Brighton & Hove Albion H 0–1 8,812

FA Cup

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Main article: 2001–02 FA Cup
Round Date Opponent Venue Result Attendance Goalscorers
R1 17 November 2001 Aylesbury United H 3–0 4,956 Burgess, Cummins, Brooker
R2 8 December 2001 Cardiff City A 0–3 9,650

League Cup

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Main article: 2001–02 Football League Cup
Round Date Opponent Venue Result Attendance Goalscorers
R1 21 August 2001 Chesterfield H 2–1 2,723 McPhee (2)
R2 12 September 2001 Charlton Athletic A 0–2 7,247

Football League Trophy

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Main article: 2001–02 Football League Trophy
Round Date Opponent Venue Result Attendance Goalscorers
R1 16 October 2001 Carlisle United H 2–1 2,664 Armstrong, Brooker
R2 30 October 2001 Rochdale A 2–1 1,639 Burton (pen), Armstrong
RQF 4 December 2001 Hull City A 1–2 5,326 McPhee

Player statistics

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Appearances and goals

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Pos. # Name Football League FA Cup League Cup Football League Trophy Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
GK 1 England Mark Goodlad 43 0 2 0 2 0 3 0 50 0
DF 2 England Matt Carragher 41 0 2 0 2 0 2 0 47 0
DF 3 Republic of Ireland Phil Hardy 8 1 0 0 2 0 0 0 10 1
MF 4 England Sean McClare 23 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 25 1
DF 5 England Michael Walsh 28 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 29 0
DF 6 Saint Kitts and Nevis Sagi Burton 37 0 2 0 1 0 2 1 42 1
MF 7 England Neil Brisco 37 0 1 0 2 0 3 0 43 0
MF 8 Republic of Ireland Micky Cummins 46 8 2 1 2 0 3 0 53 9
FW 9 England Steve Brooker 41 9 2 1 2 0 3 1 48 11
FW 10 Scotland Stephen McPhee 44 11 2 0 2 0 3 1 51 14
MF 11 England Marc Bridge-Wilkinson 19 6 0 0 0 0 0 0 19 6
GK 12 England Dean Delany 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 0
GK 13 England Chris Gowan 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
DF 14 England Rae Ingram 22 0 2 0 2 0 2 0 28 0
MF 16 England Ashley Dodd 9 1 2 0 1 0 1 0 13 1
MF 17 England Ian Armstrong 31 3 1 0 0 0 2 2 34 5
MF 18 Republic of Ireland George O'Callaghan 11 3 1 0 2 0 2 0 15 3
DF 19 England Alex Gibson 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 2 0
DF 20 England Paul Donnelly 6 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 8 0
DF 21 Northern Ireland Liam Burns 34 0 2 0 1 0 2 0 39 0
DF 22 England Paul Taylor 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
DF 23 Wales Steve Rowland 25 1 2 0 0 0 2 0 29 1
MF 24 England Ben Simpson 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
MF 25 England Danny Maye 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 3 0
FW 26 England Billy Paynter 7 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 8 0
FW 27 England Steve Torpey 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
MF 28 Trinidad and Tobago Chris Birchall 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 2 0
MF 30 England John Durnin 19 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 19 1
Players that left the club mid-season:
MF 4 England Simon Osborn 7 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 8 0
FW 15 England Richard Burgess 2 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 3 1
FW 15 Cameroon Mvondo Atangana 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0
FW 29 New Zealand Chris Killen 9 6 0 0 0 0 1 0 10 6
FW 29 England Danny Webber 4 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 5 0
DF 30 South Africa Paul Byrne 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 2 0

Top scorers

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Place Position Nation Number Name Second Division FA Cup League Cup Football League Trophy Total
1 FW  Scotland 10 Stephen McPhee 11 0 2 1 14
2 FW  England 9 Steve Brooker 9 1 0 1 11
3 MF  Ireland 8 Micky Cummins 8 1 0 0 9
4 FW  New Zealand 29 Chris Killen 6 0 0 0 6
– FW  England # Marc Bridge-Wilkinson 6 0 0 0 6
6 MF  England 17 Ian Armstrong 3 0 0 2 5
7 MF  Ireland 18 George O'Callaghan 3 0 0 0 3
8 DF  Wales 232 Steve Rowland 1 0 0 0 1
– DF  Ireland 3 Phil Hardy 1 0 0 0 1
– MF  England 4 Sean McClare 1 0 0 0 1
– MF  England 30 John Durnin 1 0 0 0 1
– MF  England 16 Ashley Dodd 1 0 0 0 1
– DF  Saint Kitts 6 Sagi Burton 0 0 0 1 1
– FW  England 15 Richard Burgess 0 1 0 0 1
– – – Own goals 0 0 0 0 0
TOTALS 51 3 2 5 61

Transfers

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Transfers in

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Date from Position Nationality Name From Fee Ref.
May 2001 MF England Ashley Dodd Manchester United Free transfer [22]
June 2001 DF England Alex Gibson Stoke City Free transfer [22]
June 2001 DF Republic of Ireland Phil Hardy Wrexham Free transfer [22]
June 2001 DF England Rae Ingram Macclesfield Town Free transfer [22]
July 2001 FW Scotland Stephen McPhee Coventry City Free transfer [22]
August 2001 FW England Steve Torpey Liverpool Free transfer [22]
Summer 2001 MF England Ian Armstrong Liverpool Free transfer [22]
September 2001 MF England Simon Osborn Wolverhampton Wanderers Free transfer [22]
29 November 2001 MF England Sean McClare Barnsley Free transfer [22]
December 2001 MF England John Durnin Wales Rhyl Free transfer [22]

Transfers out

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Date from Position Nationality Name To Fee Ref.
October 2001 MF England Simon Osborn Gillingham Free transfer [22]
January 2002 FW England Richard Burgess Nuneaton Borough Free transfer [22]
April 2002 MF England Ashley Dodd Moor Green Free transfer [22]
April 2002 DF Republic of Ireland Phil Hardy Released [22]
May 2002 MF Republic of Ireland George O'Callaghan Republic of Ireland Cork City Free transfer [22]
May 2002 FW England Steve Torpey Prescot Cables Free transfer [22]
June 2002 MF England Danny Maye Southend United Free transfer [22]
July 2002 DF England Paul Donnelly Stone Dominoes Free transfer [22]
July 2002 DF England Alex Gibson Stafford Rangers Free transfer [22]
August 2002 DF Saint Kitts and Nevis Sagi Burton Crewe Alexandra Free transfer [22]

Loans in

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Date from Position Nationality Name From Date to Ref.
23 September 2001 FW New Zealand Chris Killen Manchester City 23 November 2001 [22]
19 October 2001 MF England Sean McClare Barnsley 28 November 2001 [22]
23 November 2001 FW England Danny Webber Manchester United 31 December 2001 [22]
18 January 2002 FW Cameroon Mvondo Atangana Scotland Dundee United 18 February 2002 [22]

Loans out

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Date from Position Nationality Name To Date to Ref.
15 October 2001 FW England Steve Torpey Scarborough 15 November 2001 [22]

References

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Specific
  1. ^ Baggaley, Mike (25 August 2024). "Vale hurting after Barrow defeat". Valiant's Substack. Retrieved 25 August 2024.
  2. ^ "Vale sign Osborn". BBC Sport. 5 September 2001. Retrieved 18 January 2011.
  3. ^ Baggaley, Mike (6 October 2024). "Vale pass test at promotion rivals". Valiant's Substack. Retrieved 7 October 2024.
  4. ^ "McClare's loan extension hope". BBC Sport. 26 November 2001. Retrieved 18 January 2011.
  5. ^ "Port Vale 1-1 Stoke". BBC Sport. 21 October 2001. Retrieved 18 January 2011.
  6. ^ "Webber joins Vale on loan". BBC Sport. 29 November 2001. Retrieved 18 January 2011.
  7. ^ "Vale offer Durnin a chance". BBC Sport. 18 December 2001. Retrieved 18 January 2011.
  8. ^ "Atangana blow for Vale". BBC Sport. 5 February 2002. Retrieved 18 January 2011.
  9. ^ "Stoke 0-1 Port Vale". BBC Sport. 10 February 2002. Retrieved 18 January 2011.
  10. ^ "Horton Rewarded for Fab Feb". LMA. Archived from the original on 27 November 2013. Retrieved 12 April 2012.
  11. ^ Rothmans football yearbook 2002-03. London : Headline. 2002. ISBN 978-0-7553-1099-9. Retrieved 27 November 2022.
  12. ^ "Port Vale push on". BBC Sport. 21 February 2002. Retrieved 18 January 2011.
  13. ^ "Durnin lands Vale role". BBC Sport. 22 May 2002. Retrieved 18 January 2011.
  14. ^ a b c "Clubs in Crisis". BBC Inside Out. 21 October 2002. Retrieved 8 November 2011.
  15. ^ "Port Vale 3-0 Aylesbury". BBC Sport. 17 November 2001. Retrieved 18 January 2011.
  16. ^ "Port Vale 3-0 Aylesbury United". aylesburyunitedfc.co.uk. Retrieved 23 March 2018.
  17. ^ "Cardiff 3-0 Port Vale". BBC Sport. 8 December 2001. Retrieved 18 January 2011.
  18. ^ "Port Vale 2-1 Chesterfield". BBC Sport. 21 August 2001. Retrieved 18 January 2011.
  19. ^ "Hull 2-1 Port Vale". BBC Sport. 4 December 2001. Retrieved 18 January 2011.
  20. ^ "England 2001–02". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Archived from the original on 24 January 2010. Retrieved 24 February 2010.
  21. ^ Port Vale 2001–2002 : Results & Fixtures. Statto Organisation. Retrieved 28 April 2012.
  22. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y "Port Vale FC Club Details | Transfers | Soccer Base". www.soccerbase.com. Retrieved 7 October 2016.
General
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