1996–97 Port Vale F.C. season

Port Vale
1996–97 season
Chairman Bill Bell
Manager John Rudge
Stadium Vale Park
Football League First Division 8th (67 Points)
FA Cup Third Round
League Cup Third Round
Player of the Year Lee Mills
Top goalscorer League: Tony Naylor (17)
All: Tony Naylor (20)
Highest home attendance 15,186 vs. Bradford City (28 January 1997)
Lowest home attendance 3,505 vs. Carlisle United (17 September 1996)
Average home league attendance 7,840
Home colours

The 1996–97 season was Port Vale's 85th season of football in the Football League, and third successive season in the First Division. John Rudge led the club to its joint-second highest ever league finish, as Vale finished in eighth spot, four points from the play-offs. Vale exited both the FA Cup and the League Cup at the Third Round.

Overview

First Division

The pre-season saw John Rudge sign forward Justin O'Reilly from non-league Gresley Rovers for a £30,000 fee.

The season started poorly, with just two wins in the opening thirteen games, and protests began to develop against Chairman Bill Bell and his selling policy. A decent October, with wins over Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux and Birmingham City at home, was followed by a winless November – in which midfielder Jan Jansson became the first Swede to play for the club, when he arrived on loan from IFK Norrköping. A run of four consecutive victories in December showed the squad's potential however. Tony Naylor put a hat-trick past Charlton Athletic in a 3–1 win at The Valley on 14 December.[1] The following week Vale pulled Norwich City apart in a 6–1 win, before the run was topped off with a 1–0 win over Manchester City in front of over 30,000 people at Maine Road. Meanwhile, O'Reilly was loaned out to Macclesfield Town to gain experience. Vale's form tailed off, and on 19 January they managed to go from 4–0 up against Queens Park Rangers at half-time to finish the game drawn 4–4.[2] In February, Rudge spent £75,000 to bring Dutch midfielder Rogier Koordes in from Telstar. However he had to suffer the departure of winger Steve Guppy, who was sold to top-flight Leicester City for £850,000. Despite the loss, the "Valiants" marched on, as a late spurt of form saw them win four straight games to stand a great chance of reaching the play-offs with just three games to go. In April, O'Reilly was moved on to Southport, having not appeared in the Vale first team. Rivals Stoke City managed to dampen Vale's hopes by easing to a 2–0 victory at the Victoria Ground. More damaging though was the defeat at home to Wolves and a final day draw with eventual play-off winners Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park.

They finished eighth with 67 points (a mere four points off Palace in the play-offs), representing their highest finish since 1933–34. They finished three points and four places higher than Stoke.

At the end of the season, legendary midfielder Ray Walker ended his nine years association with the club, becoming a player-coach with non-league Leek Town. Another popular player's Vale career was just starting however, with Jan Jansson signing permanently for a £200,000 fee.

Finances

The club's shirt sponsors were Tunstall Assurance.

Cup competitions

In the FA Cup, Premier League Blackburn Rovers proved to be too strong, as Vale left Ewood Park having suffered a 1–0 defeat.

In the League Cup, nearby Second Division side Crewe Alexandra lost 1–0 at Vale Park, before Vale blasted them away with a 5–1 win at Gresty Road. They then advanced past Third Division Carlisle United with a 3–2 aggregate victory. Pitted against Oxford United in the Third Round, a 2–0 defeat at the Manor Ground meant Vale were out of the competition.

Final league table

PosTeamPWDLFAGDPts
1.Bolton Wanderers462814410053 +4798
2.Barnsley462214107655 +2180
3.Wolverhampton Wanderers462210146851 +1776
4.Ipswich Town462014126850 +1874
5.Sheffield United462013137552 +2373
6.Crystal Palace461914137848 +3071
7.Portsmouth46208185953 +668
8.Port Vale461716135855 +367
9.Queens Park Rangers461812166460 +466
10.Birmingham City461715145248 +466
11.Tranmere Rovers461714156356 +765
12.Stoke City461810185157 -664
13.Norwich City461712176368 -563
14.Manchester City461710195960 -161
15.Charlton Athletic461611195266 -1459
16.West Bromwich Albion461415176872 -457
17.Oxford United46169216468 -457
18.Reading461512195867 -957
19.Swindon Town46159225271 -1954
20.Huddersfield Town461315184861 -1354
21.Bradford City461212224772 -2548
22.Grimsby Town461113226081 -2146
23.Oldham Athletic461013235166 -1543
24.Southend United46815234286 -4439

P = Matches played; W = Matches won; D = Matches drawn; L = Matches lost; F = Goals for; A = Goals against; GD = Goals difference; Pts = Points

Results

Port Vale's score comes first

Legend

Win Draw Loss
Round12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031323334353637383940414243444546
GroundHAAHAHHAHAAHHAAHHAHAHAAHAHAHHAHAHAHAAHAHHAHAHA
Result D D L W D L D D D W L D L W W L W D D L D W W W W L D D W L D L D W W L D W L W W W W L L D
Position 10 16 18 13 12 17 19 18 19 14 15 17 20 15 11 13 12 10 11 14 16 15 12 9 8 9 10 11 7 8 8 12 10 9 7 9 8 8 8 6 5 5 5 6 8 8

Sourced from Statto.[3]

Football League First Division

DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers
17 August 1996 Bolton WanderersH1–110,057Naylor
24 August 1996 Swindon TownA1–18,706McCarthy
27 August 1996 Tranmere RoversA0–26,123
31 August 1996 Oxford UnitedH2–06,016Naylor, Mills
7 September 1996 PortsmouthA1–16,448Porter
10 September 1996 Manchester CityH0–210,770
14 September 1996 Grimsby TownH1–14,892Hill
21 September 1996 Southend UnitedA0–04,025
29 September 1996 Bradford CityA1–14,706Guppy
2 October 1996 Queens Park RangersA2–18,727Guppy, Naylor
5 October 1996 Oldham AthleticA0–36,051
13 October 1996 Stoke CityH1–114,396Mills
16 October 1996 Crystal PalaceH0–24,522
19 October 1996 Wolverhampton WanderersA1–022,755Naylor
26 October 1996 Huddersfield TownA1–011,017McCarthy
29 October 1996 BarnsleyH1–35,231Guppy
2 November 1996 Birmingham CityH3–08,388Naylor (2), Guppy
9 November 1996 West Bromwich AlbionA1–113,975Guppy
16 November 1996 Sheffield UnitedH0–08,352
23 November 1996 Ipswich TownA1–29,491Naylor
30 November 1996 Huddersfield TownH0–06,026
7 December 1996 ReadingA1–06,445Talbot
14 December 1996 Charlton AthleticA3–110,003Naylor (3)
21 December 1996 Norwich CityH6–16,278Talbot (2), Foyle (2), Porter, Mills
26 December 1996 Manchester CityA1–030,344Foyle
28 December 1996 PortsmouthH0–27,382
11 January 1997 Grimsby TownA1–13,863Tankard
19 January 1997 Queens Park RangersH4–45,736Glover, Mills, Jansson, Brazier (og)
25 January 1997 Southend UnitedH2–15,588Guppy, McCarthy
28 January 1997 Bradford CityH0–115,186
1 February 1997 West Bromwich AlbionH2–28,093Naylor (2)
8 February 1997 BarnsleyA0–112,246
15 February 1997 Ipswich TownH2–26,115Mills, Porter (pen)
23 February 1997 Birmingham CityA2–113,192Porter, Glover
1 March 1997 ReadingH1–06,057Naylor
4 March 1997 Sheffield UnitedA0–314,950
8 March 1997 Norwich CityA1–116,101McCarthy
15 March 1997 Charlton AthleticH2–05,905Mills (2)
18 March 1997 Bolton WanderersA2–414,150Bogie, Talbot
22 March 1997 Swindon TownH1–06,142Mills
31 March 1997 Tranmere RoversH2–17,469Mills (2)
5 April 1997 Oxford UnitedA2–07,370Mills, Naylor
12 April 1997 Oldham AthleticH3–28,114Naylor (2), Mills
20 April 1997 Stoke CityA0–216,246
27 April 1997 Wolverhampton WanderersH1–213,615Naylor
4 May 1997 Crystal PalaceA1–116,401Mills

FA Cup

Main article: 1996–97 FA Cup
RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorers
R34 January 1997 Blackburn RoversA0–119,891

League Cup

RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorers
R1 1st Leg20 August 1996 Crewe AlexandraH1–05,236Naylor
R1 2nd Leg3 September 1996 Crewe AlexandraA5–14,471Bogie, McCarthy, Foyle, Naylor, Mills
R2 1st Leg17 September 1996 Carlisle UnitedH1–03,505Naylor
R2 2nd Leg24 September 1996 Carlisle UnitedA2–25,545McCarthy, Mills
R3 1st Leg22 October 1996 Oxford UnitedH0–04,942
R3 2nd Leg5 November 1996 Oxford UnitedA0–25,279

Player statistics

Appearances

Pos. Name Football League FA Cup League Cup Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
GKEngland Paul Musselwhite 3301020360
GKNetherlands Arjan van Heusden 1300040170
DFEngland Dean Glover 4221050482
DFEngland Neil Aspin 3301040380
DFEngland Allen Tankard 3711060441
DFEngland Dean Stokes 1001000110
DFNorthern Ireland Jon McCarthy 4541062526
DFEngland Andy Hill 3810050431
DFNetherlands Jermaine Holwyn 70000070
DFEngland Gareth Griffiths 2601040310
MFEngland Andy Porter 4441060514
MFEngland Ray Walker 1700020190
MFEngland Ian Bogie 3111040361
MFEngland Wayne Corden 1200010130
MFEngland Steve Guppy 3461050406
MFEngland Stewart Talbot 3440020364
MFNetherlands Rogier Koordes 1300000130
MFSweden Jan Jansson 1111000121
FWEngland Martin Foyle 3731051434
FWEngland Lee Mills 351300624115
FWEngland Tony Naylor 431710534920
FWEngland Justin O'Reilly 00000000

Scorers

All competitions

Scorer Goals
England Tony Naylor 20
England Lee Mills 15
England Steve Guppy 6
Northern Ireland Jon McCarthy
England Stewart Talbot 4
England Andy Porter
England Martin Foyle
England Dean Glover 2
England Allen Tankard 1
England Andy Hill
England Ian Bogie
Sweden Jan Jansson

League

Scorer Goals
England Tony Naylor 17
England Lee Mills 13
England Steve Guppy 6
England Stewart Talbot 4
England Andy Porter
Northern Ireland Jon McCarthy
England Martin Foyle 3
England Dean Glover 2
England Allen Tankard 1
England Andy Hill
England Ian Bogie
Sweden Jan Jansson

Transfers

Transfers in

Date from Position Nationality Name From Fee Ref.
February 1997 MF Netherlands Rogier Koordes Netherlands SC Telstar £75,000 [4]

Transfers out

Date from Position Nationality Name To Fee Ref.
February 1997 MF England Steve Guppy Leicester City £850,000 [4]
May 1997 MF England Ray Walker Leek Town Free transfer [4]

Loans in

Date from Position Nationality Name From Date to Ref.
November 1996 MF Sweden Jan Jansson IFK Norrköping January 1991 [4]

References

Specific
  1. Baggaley, Mike (18 November 2016). "Port Vale archives: When Tony Naylor walloped Charlton". Stoke Sentinel. Retrieved 19 November 2016.
  2. Sherwin, Phil (2010). The Port Vale Miscellany. Brimscombe Port: The History Press. p. 103. ISBN 978-0-7524-5777-2.
  3. Port Vale 1996–1997 : Results & Fixtures. Statto Organisation. Retrieved 28 April 2012.
  4. 1 2 3 4 "Port Vale FC Club Details | Transfers | Soccer Base". www.soccerbase.com. Retrieved 7 October 2016.
General
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