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2006–07 Port Vale F.C. season

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Port Vale
2006–07 season
OwnerValiant 2001
ChairmanBill Bratt
ManagerMartin Foyle
StadiumVale Park
Football League One12th (60 Points)
FA CupSecond Round
(knocked out by Hereford United)
League CupFourth Round
(knocked out by Tottenham Hotspur)
Football League TrophySecond Round
(knocked out by Crewe Alexandra)
Player of the YearAkpo Sodje
Top goalscorerLeague: Leon Constantine (22)
All: Leon Constantine (26)
Highest home attendance7,388 vs. Nottingham Forest, 26 September 2006
Lowest home attendance3,077 vs. Gillingham, 5 December 2006
Average home league attendance4,726
Biggest win4–0 and 5–1
Biggest defeat0–4 vs. Hereford United, 2 December 2006

The 2006–07 season was Port Vale's 95th season of football in the English Football League, and third-successive season in League One. Martin Foyle's side again finished in mid-table whilst exiting the FA Cup and the Football League Trophy in the Second Round. Vale, notoriously poor performers in the League Cup, managed to reach the Fourth Round for the first time, at which point they were beaten by top-flight Tottenham Hotspur. Strike partners Leon Constantine and Akpo Sodje put in a 42-goal partnership, with Sodje picking up the club's Player of the Year award. At the end of the season, top-scorer Constantine left the club, as did senior midfielder Danny Sonner, scuppering Foyle's long-term plans.

Manager Martin Foyle.
Player of the Year Akpo Sodje.
Top-scorer Leon Constantine.

Overview

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League One

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The pre-season saw Martin Foyle make a number of signings, including: Danny Sonner (Peterborough United);[1] Jason Talbot (Mansfield Town);[2] Paul Harsley (Macclesfield Town);[3] Richard Walker (Crewe Alexandra);[2] Danny Whitaker (Macclesfield Town); Colin Miles (Yeovil Town);[4] and Akpo Sodje (Darlington).[2] He also took Stefan Moore on loan from Queens Park Rangers,[5] and utility player Ritchie Humphreys from Hartlepool United.[6] Youth team player Danny Glover, son of assistant manager Dean Glover, was also given a squad number.

The season started with Vale in fine form, winning their first four games for the first time in 77 years.[7] His four goals meant Constantine was named the division's Player of the Month for August.[8] This run stopped with four defeats in the next five games, with Vale scoring just three goals. In November, Ross Gardner was signed on loan from Nottingham Forest and would join permanently in the January transfer window.[9] Foyle also signed defender Clayton Fortune on a season-long loan for a second time, this time from Leyton Orient.[10] Heading into December with just three wins in fifteen league games, they won their first four games, with Constantine hitting five of Vale's nine goals. In January, Foyle splashed out £30,000 on Crewe Alexandra striker Luke Rodgers. He also signed former teammate Paul Musselwhite as an emergency back-up goalkeeper following an injury to Mark Goodlad,[11] as well as Cardiff City midfielder Malvin Kamara.[12] He also turned down an offer from Barnsley of £200,000 (plus Marc Richards) for Constantine,[13] who claimed to be happy at Vale Park.[14] However, he did sell skilful winger Jeff Smith to Carlisle United for £60,000.[15] Also leaving Burslem was Louis Briscoe, who was allowed to join Leek Town.[16] Vale's form had left them once again, as they failed to pick up a win in a sequence of seven games. In February, defender Rhys Weston joined on a short-term contract, having left Norwegian club Viking FK.[17] On 10 March, Vale travelled to the Don Valley Stadium, and Sodje managed to hit four goals past the Rotherham United defence to give Vale a 5–1 win.[18] This gave Vale fans a sliver of hope of reaching the play-offs, but Vale failed to string two wins together in their final nine games, despite a 3–0 win over nearby Crewe Alexandra.

They finished in twelfth place with sixty points, a clear distance from both the play-off and the relegation zones. They again had the lowest number of draws in the division, recording just six stalemates. Constantine was the second-highest scorer in the division after Billy Sharp of Scunthorpe United. Player of the Year, Sodje also hit sixteen goals. Captain George Pilkington and midfielder Danny Whitaker missed just two games between them all season.

At the end of the season a number of players were released: Nathan Lowndes (Chester City); George Abbey (Crewe Alexandra); Rhys Weston (Walsall); Michael Husbands (Macclesfield Town);[19] Christian Smith (Clyde); Ross Gardner (Ilkeston Town);[20] Malvin Kamara (Huddersfield Town);[21] Michael Walsh and Mark Soboljew. Leon Constantine also decided against signing a new contract at Vale. Instead, he joined Leeds United.[22] Danny Sonner also rejected his contract offer, and moved on to Walsall,[23] but not before making a parting shot at the club's leadership.[24]

Finances

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The club had to make monthly repayments of around £19,000 for a £2.25 million loan from the local council in 2005.[25] The club's shirt sponsorship came from local company BGC Gas.

Cup competitions

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In the FA Cup, Vale advanced past League Two side Lincoln City with a 2–1 victory at Sincil Bank.[26] However, they then were on the end of a 4–0 hiding from Hereford United at Edgar Street in the Second Round.

In the League Cup, Vale faced Preston North End, who they defeated with goals from Sodje and Constantine.[27] The "Valiants" then vanquished Queens Park Rangers 3–2 in the Second Round.[28] This left them facing Norwich City, the third Championship club of the season to travel to Burslem in the League Cup. Vale again upset the odds by winning the penalty shoot-out 3–2 following a goalless draw against a strong "Canary" side.[29] Premier League Tottenham Hotspur awaited in the Fourth Round, who at White Hart Lane proved to be too much of a challenge for the Vale. Constantine put Vale into the lead, but a Tom Huddlestone goal took the game into extra time before both Huddlestone and Jermain Defoe scored to give "Spurs" a 3–1 win, thus saving Martin Jol's blushes.[30] This represented the club's greatest achievement in the competition, as Vale had never reached the fourth round before, and would not do so again until 2023.[31]

In the Football League Trophy, Vale advanced past Scunthorpe United after winning on penalties at Glanford Park.[32] They then had a home tie with local rivals Crewe Alexandra. The "Railwaymen" won the game 3–2 despite a brace from Constantine.

League table

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Main article: 2006–07 Football League

Pos Team
 Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
10 Millwall 46 19 9 18 59 62 −3 66
11 Doncaster Rovers 46 16 15 15 52 47 +5 63
12 Port Vale 46 18 6 22 64 65 −1 60
13 Crewe Alexandra 46 17 9 20 66 72 −6 60
14 Northampton Town 46 15 14 17 48 51 −3 59
Source: [citation needed]
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 One

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Results by matchday

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Round12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031323334353637383940414243444546
GroundHAAHAHHAAHHAHAHAAHAHAHHAAHHAAAHAHAHHAHHAHAHAAH
ResultWWWWLLWLLLDWLWLDLLLWWWWLLDLLDLWLWLWDWLWDLLWLLW
Position1111233347981079101314171512991011111111131512161415131312121112121412141512
Source: Statto[33]
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

Matches

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Date Opponent Venue Result Attendance Scorers
5 August 2006 Leyton Orient H 3–0 5,631 Constantine (2), Sodje
8 August 2006 Oldham Athletic A 1–0 4,975 Sodje
12 August 2006 Cheltenham Town A 1–0 4,309 Constantine
19 August 2006 Chesterfield H 3–2 5,622 Constantine (2), Pilkington
26 August 2006 Yeovil Town A 0–1 4,827
3 September 2006 Doncaster Rovers H 1–2 4,862 Whitaker
9 September 2006 Blackpool H 2–1 5,171 Constantine, Sodje
12 September 2006 Scunthorpe United A 0–3 3,473
16 September 2006 Bradford City A 0–2 7,829
23 September 2006 Bristol City H 0–2 5,295
26 September 2006 Nottingham Forest H 1–1 7,388 Husbands
30 September 2006 Northampton Town A 2–0 5,316 Pilkington, Moore
8 October 2006 Rotherham United H 1–3 4,810 Constantine (pen)
13 October 2006 Tranmere Rovers A 2–1 7,866 Smith, Constantine
21 October 2006 Huddersfield Town H 1–2 5,225 Constantine
28 October 2006 Millwall A 1–1 10,189 Sodje
4 November 2006 Crewe Alexandra A 1–2 7,632 Abbey
18 November 2006 Swansea City H 0–2 4,615
25 November 2006 Carlisle United A 2–3 7,543 Harsley, Smith
5 December 2006 Gillingham H 2–0 3,077 Gardner, Constantine
9 December 2006 Bournemouth A 4–0 4,538 Constantine (2), Pilkington, Sodje
16 December 2006 Brentford H 1–0 4,166 Pilkington
23 December 2006 Brighton and Hove Albion H 2–1 4,349 Constantine (2 [1 pen])
26 December 2006 Nottingham Forest A 0–3 22,999
30 December 2006 Bristol City A 1–2 12,776 Smith
1 January 2007 Scunthorpe United H 0–0 4,869
6 January 2007 Bradford City H 0–1 4,146
13 January 2007 Blackpool A 1–2 6,661 Sodje (pen)
27 January 2007 Brighton and Hove Albion A 0–0 5,177
3 February 2007 Leyton Orient A 1–2 4,295 Gardner
6 February 2007 Northampton Town H 1–0 3,353 Whitaker
17 February 2007 Chesterfield A 0–3 3,752
20 February 2007 Oldham Athletic H 3–0 4,061 Whitaker, Pilkington, Constantine (pen)
24 February 2007 Doncaster Rovers A 0–1 7,848
3 March 2007 Yeovil Town H 4–2 4,202 Constantine (2), Whitaker, Rose (og)
6 March 2007 Cheltenham Town H 1–0 3,340 Kamara
10 March 2007 Rotherham United A 5–1 3,854 Sodje (4), Pilkington
17 March 2007 Tranmere Rovers H 2–3 4,809 Sonner, Constantine
24 March 2007 Millwall H 2–0 3,973 Whitaker, Sodje
31 March 2007 Huddersfield Town A 2–2 10,313 Sodje (2)
7 April 2007 Carlisle United H 0–2 4,882
9 April 2007 Swansea City A 0–3 12,465
14 April 2007 Crewe Alexandra H 3–0 5,740 Hulbert, Constantine, Rodgers
21 April 2007 Gillingham A 2–3 5,928 Whitaker, Constantine (pen)
28 April 2007 Brentford A 3–4 5,125 Constantine (2), Rodgers
5 May 2007 Bournemouth H 2–1 5,080 Sodje, Rodgers

FA Cup

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Main article: 2006–07 FA Cup
Round Date Opponent Venue Result Attendance Goalscorers
R1 11 November 2006 Lincoln City A 2–1 3,884 Whitaker, Sodje
R2 2 December 2006 Hereford United A 0–4 4,076

League Cup

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Main article: 2006–07 Football League Cup
Round Date Opponent Venue Result Attendance Goalscorers
R1 23 August 2006 Preston North End H 2–1 3,522 Sodje, Constantine
R2 19 September 2006 Queens Park Rangers H 3–2 3,550 Smith, Whitaker, Walker
R3 24 October 2006 Norwich City H (3)0–0(2) 4,518
R4 8 November 2006 Tottenham Hotspur A 1–3 34,560 Constantine

Football League Trophy

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Main article: 2006–07 Football League Trophy
Round Date Opponent Venue Result Attendance Goalscorers
R1 30 October 2006 Scunthorpe United A (5)0–0(3) 3,421
R2 29 November 2006 Crewe Alexandra H 2–3 4,694 Constantine (2)

Player statistics

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Appearances and goals

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Pos. # Name League Two FA Cup League Cup Football League Trophy Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
GK 1 England Mark Goodlad 25 0 2 0 4 0 1 0 32 0
DF 2 England George Pilkington 46 6 1 0 4 0 2 0 53 6
DF 3 England Jason Talbot 22 0 0 0 3 0 1 0 26 0
MF 4 Northern Ireland Danny Sonner 33 1 2 0 4 0 1 0 40 1
DF 5 England Michael Walsh 18 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 20 0
DF 6 England Richard Walker 16 0 1 0 4 1 1 0 22 1
FW 7 England Luke Rodgers 8 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 8 3
MF 8 England Paul Harsley 32 1 2 0 4 0 2 0 40 1
FW 9 England Nathan Lowndes 12 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 12 0
FW 10 England Leon Constantine 42 22 2 0 4 2 2 2 50 26
GK 12 England Joe Anyon 22 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 23 0
MF 14 England Danny Whitaker 45 6 2 1 4 1 2 0 53 8
DF 15 Nigeria George Abbey 24 1 2 0 3 0 2 0 31 1
DF 16 England Mark McGregor 32 0 1 0 2 0 0 0 35 0
FW 17 Saint Lucia Michael Husbands 23 1 0 0 3 0 1 0 27 1
DF 18 England Colin Miles 29 0 2 0 1 0 1 0 33 0
MF 19 England Joe Cardle 7 0 1 0 1 0 1 0 10 0
FW 20 England Akpo Sodje 43 14 1 1 4 1 2 0 50 16
MF 21 England Robin Hulbert 20 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 20 1
MF 22 England Mark Soboljew 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
DF 23 England Luke Prosser 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
DF 24 Wales Rhys Weston 15 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 15 0
MF 25 England Christian Smith 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
GK 26 England Chris Martin 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
MF 27 England Ross Gardner 16 2 2 0 1 0 1 0 20 2
FW 28 England Danny Glover 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
DF 29 England Clayton Fortune 13 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 15 0
MF 32 Sierra Leone Malvin Kamara 18 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 18 1
GK 40 England Paul Musselwhite 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Players that left the club mid-season:
FW 7 England Stefan Moore 12 1 1 0 1 0 1 0 15 1
MF 11 England Jeff Smith 27 3 2 0 4 1 1 0 34 4
MF 24 England Louis Briscoe 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
DF 27 England Ritchie Humphreys 7 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 7 0

Top scorers

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Place Position Nation Number Name EFL League One FA Cup EFL Cup EFL Trophy Total
1 FW  England 10 Leon Constantine 22 0 2 2 26
2 FW  England 20 Akpo Sodje 14 1 1 0 16
3 MF  England 14 Danny Whitaker 6 1 1 0 8
4 DF  England 2 George Pilkington 6 0 0 0 6
5 MF  England 11 Jeff Smith 3 0 1 0 4
6 FW  England 7 Luke Rodgers 3 0 0 0 3
7 MF  England 27 Ross Gardner 2 0 0 0 2
8 MF  Northern Ireland 4 Danny Sonner 1 0 0 0 1
– FW  England 7 Stefan Moore 1 0 0 0 1
– FW  Saint Lucia 17 Michael Husbands 1 0 0 0 1
– DF  England 6 Richard Walker 0 0 1 0 1
– DF  Nigeria 15 George Abbey 1 0 0 0 1
– MF  England 8 Paul Harsley 1 0 0 0 1
– MF  Sierra Leone 32 Malvin Kamara 1 0 0 0 1
– MF  England 21 Robin Hulbert 1 0 0 0 1
– – – – Own goals 1 0 0 0 1
TOTALS 64 2 6 2 74

Transfers

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Transfers in

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Date from Position Nationality Name From Fee Ref.
May 2006 MF England Paul Harsley Macclesfield Town Free transfer [34]
May 2006 DF England Jason Talbot Mansfield Town Free transfer [34]
June 2006 DF England Colin Miles Yeovil Town Free transfer [34]
June 2006 DF England Richard Walker Crewe Alexandra Free transfer [34]
June 2006 MF England Danny Whitaker Macclesfield Town Free transfer [34]
August 2006 FW England Akpo Sodje Darlington Free transfer [34]
January 2007 MF England Ross Gardner Nottingham Forest Free transfer [34]
January 2007 FW Sierra Leone Malvin Kamara Cardiff City 'nominal' [34]
January 2007 GK England Paul Musselwhite Kettering Town Free transfer [34]
January 2007 FW England Luke Rodgers Crewe Alexandra £30,000 [34]
February 2007 DF Wales Rhys Weston Norway Viking Free transfer [34]

Transfers out

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Date from Position Nationality Name To Fee Ref.
January 2007 FW England Louis Briscoe Leek Town Released [34]
January 2007 MF England Jeff Smith Carlisle United £60,000 [34]
May 2007 DF Nigeria George Abbey Crewe Alexandra Released [34]
May 2007 MF England Ross Gardner Ilkeston Town Released [34]
May 2007 MF Northern Ireland Danny Sonner Walsall Rejected contract [34]
May 2007 DF England Michael Walsh Retired [34]
June 2007 FW Sierra Leone Malvin Kamara Huddersfield Town Free transfer [34]
June 2007 FW England Nathan Lowndes Chester City Released [34]
June 2007 GK England Paul Musselwhite Harrogate Town Free transfer [34]
June 2007 MF England Christian Smith Scotland Clyde Free transfer [34]
July 2007 FW Saint Lucia Michael Husbands Macclesfield Town Released [34]
July 2007 DF Wales Rhys Weston Walsall Released [34]
August 2007 FW England Leon Constantine Leeds United Bosman transfer [34]

Loans in

[edit]
Date from Position Nationality Name From Date to Ref.
29 August 2006 FW England Stefan Moore Queens Park Rangers 29 December 2006 [34]
8 September 2006 MF England Ritchie Humphreys Hartlepool United 9 October 2006 [34]
7 November 2006 MF England Ross Gardner Nottingham Forest 8 January 2007 [34]
22 November 2006 DF England Clayton Fortune Leyton Orient 6 May 2007 [34]

Loans out

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Date from Position Nationality Name To Date to Ref.
25 January 2007 MF England Christian Smith Cambridge United 20 March 2007 [34]
22 March 2007 MF England Christian Smith Northwich Victoria End of season [34]
22 March 2007 DF England Richard Walker Wrexham 8 April 2007 [34]
March 2007 GK England Chris Martin Kidsgrove Athletic End of season [34]

References

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Specific
  1. ^ "Vale sign Posh midfielder Sonner". BBC Sport. 28 May 2005. Retrieved 23 April 2012.
  2. ^ a b c "Boss adds trio to Port Vale squad". BBC Sport. 19 May 2006. Retrieved 11 August 2009.
  3. ^ "Harsley decides on Vale Park move". BBC Sport. 30 May 2006. Retrieved 31 May 2009.
  4. ^ "Vale snap up Miles and Whitaker". BBC Sport. 28 June 2006. Retrieved 16 July 2009.
  5. ^ "Vale capture QPR striker on loan". BBC Sport. 29 August 2006. Retrieved 2 August 2009.
  6. ^ "Humphreys leaves Pools". The Northern Echo. 8 September 2007. Retrieved 22 July 2007.
  7. ^ Baggaley, Mike (21 August 2024). "Impressive Vale show strength in depth". Valiant's Substack. Retrieved 21 August 2024.
  8. ^ Coca-cola Manager of the Month 2006-07 Archived 14 October 2006 at the Wayback Machine Football League.co.uk. Retrieved on 24 March 2007
  9. ^ "Port Vale sign Forest's Gardner". BBC Sport. 8 November 2006. Retrieved 21 May 2009.
  10. ^ "Fortune signs Port Vale loan deal". BBC Sport. 22 November 2006. Retrieved 20 May 2009.
  11. ^ "Port Vale sign keeper Musselwhite". BBC Sport. 3 January 2007. Retrieved 9 August 2009.
  12. ^ "Port Vale capture winger Kamara". BBC Sport. 16 January 2007. Retrieved 8 June 2009.
  13. ^ "Constantine's Tykes move is off". BBC Sport. 18 January 2007. Retrieved 5 January 2010.
  14. ^ "Constantine content at Port Vale". BBC Sport. 14 February 2007. Retrieved 21 January 2011.
  15. ^ "Carlisle snap up Vale midfielder". BBC Sport. 25 January 2004. Retrieved 25 January 2007.
  16. ^ "Port Vale release striker Briscoe". BBC Sport. 23 January 2007. Retrieved 12 May 2009.
  17. ^ "Port Vale wrap up Weston transfer". BBC Sport. 12 February 2007. Retrieved 19 July 2009.
  18. ^ "Rotherham 1-5 Port Vale". BBC Sport. 10 March 2007. Retrieved 21 January 2011.
  19. ^ "Husbands makes Macclesfield move". BBC Sport. 11 July 2007. Retrieved 5 May 2012.
  20. ^ "Vale boss Foyle clears the decks". BBC Sport. 9 May 2007. Retrieved 21 May 2009.
  21. ^ "Huddersfield sign winger Kamara". BBC Sport. 18 June 2007. Retrieved 8 June 2009.
  22. ^ "Leeds complete triple acquisition". BBC Sport. 7 August 2007. Retrieved 7 August 2007.
  23. ^ "Veteran Sonner rejects Vale offer". BBC Sport. 17 May 2007. Retrieved 28 June 2009.
  24. ^ "Chairman responds to Sonner blast". BBC Sport. 24 May 2007. Retrieved 28 June 2009.
  25. ^ "Port Vale late with repayments of £2.25m council loan". BBC Sport. 8 February 2012. Retrieved 8 February 2012.
  26. ^ "Port Vale 2-1 Lincoln". BBC Sport. 11 November 2006. Retrieved 21 January 2011.
  27. ^ "Port Vale 2-1 Preston". BBC Sport. 24 August 2006. Retrieved 21 January 2011.
  28. ^ "Port Vale 3-2 QPR". BBC Sport. 19 September 2006. Retrieved 21 January 2011.
  29. ^ "Port Vale 0-0 Norwich (AET)". BBC Sport. 24 October 2006. Retrieved 21 January 2011.
  30. ^ "Tottenham 3-1 Port Vale (aet)". BBC Sport. 8 November 2006. Retrieved 21 January 2011.
  31. ^ "MATCH REPORT | PORT VALE 0-0 BURTON ALBION". Port Vale F.C. 4 November 2023. Retrieved 10 November 2023.
  32. ^ "Port Vale beat Iron on penalties". BBC Sport. 30 October 2006. Retrieved 21 January 2011.
  33. ^ Port Vale 2006–2007 : Results & Fixtures Archived 4 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine. Statto Organisation. Retrieved 28 April 2012.
  34. ^ 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 z aa ab ac ad ae af "Port Vale FC Club Details | Transfers | Soccer Base". www.soccerbase.com. Retrieved 7 October 2016.
General
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