1985–86 Port Vale F.C. season

Port Vale
1985–86 season
Chairman Jim Lloyd
Manager John Rudge
Stadium Vale Park
Football League Fourth Division 4th (79 Points)
FA Cup Second Round
League Cup Second Round
League Trophy Northern Section Semi-Finalists
Player of the Year Jim Arnold
Top goalscorer League: Robbie Earle (15)
All: Andy Jones (18)
Highest home attendance 11,736 vs. Walsall (8 December 1985)
Lowest home attendance 1,584 vs. Blackpool (10 February 1986)
Average home league attendance 3,581
Home colours

The 1985–86 season was Port Vale's 74th season of football in the Football League, and second successive (13th overall) season in the Fourth Division.[1] John Rudge achieved his first success as manager, leading Vale to promotion into the Third Division with a fourth-place finish. The club also reached the Second Round in both the FA Cup and League Cup, as well as the Northern Section Semi-Finals of the League Trophy. Rudge signing Andy Jones excelled to become the club's top-scorer, whilst Robbie Earle had another impressive season. However the promotion campaign was built on the strength of the Vale defence, and goalkeeper Jim Arnold was made Player of the Year.

Overview

Fourth Division

The pre-season saw John Rudge sign big defender John Williams from Tranmere Rovers for £12,000, and powerful Welsh striker Andy Jones from Northern Premier League side Rhyl for £3,000.[1] He also signed goalkeeper Jim Arnold (Everton); Paul Maguire (Tacoma Stars); Jeff Johnson (Gillingham); and Wayne Ebanks (West Bromwich Albion).[1] Meanwhile, new safety regulations reduced Vale Park's capacity down to 16,800, and later again to 16,300.[1] The club set a £10 bonus for clean sheets and also set bonuses for promotion. Another late addition was Jon Bowden from Oldham Athletic for £5,000.[1]

The season opened with a 1–0 defeat to Exeter City at St James Park.[1] Vale continued on indifferent form, and on 17 September played out a goalless draw with Aldershot at the Recreation Ground's lowest recorded Football League attendance of 1,027.[1] At the end of the month Vale went nine league games without a loss to fire the club into the promotion race, their run including three 4–0 wins in Burslem as they went clear at the top of the table.[1] With John Williams sidelined with an ankle injury, Vale's form suffered with just two wins in the following eleven games, and Vale fell to fifth place.[1] From 11 January to 26 April the "Valiants" hit a run of eighteen league games unbeaten (eight draws and ten wins), thus ensuring promotion.[1] This run was built on the striking partnership of Robbie Earle and Andy Jones, as well as a solid defence and consistent displays from keeper Arnold.[1] During this spell Rudge failed to re-sign Bob Newton from Chesterfield, though was cheered by completing the double over Dario Gradi's Crewe Alexandra at Gresty Road.[1] One low point was an attack by a Stockport gang on Russell Bromage following a 2–1 win over Stockport County at Edgeley Park.[1] Promotion was ensured with a 1–0 win over bottom club Torquay United at Plainmoor, in which the majority of the crowd were Vale fans.[1] However, with two defeats and a draw in their final three games, Rudge accused his players of lacking professionalism as they lost the chance to head into the Third Division as runners-up.[1]

They finished in fourth place with 79 points, seven points clear of Orient.[1] Preston North End were the only team to beat Vale on their own ground in the league all season.[1] Their 37 goals conceded was the lowest total in the division and a record excelled only by Manchester United in the First Division.[1] Their 67 goals scored tally was not particularly impressive, though Earle and Jones' partnership provided almost half of these goals.[1] Phil Sproson was selected for the PFA Fourth Division Team of the Year.[1]

Finances

On the financial side, the season lost a disastrous sum of £79,474.[1] The promotion bonuses meant the wage bill totalled at £413,471.[1] Vale's average home attendance of 3,581 was the third-highest in the division.[1] The club's shirt sponsors were ECI. Three players transferred at the end of the season were Peter Griffiths (Salisbury United), Chris Pearce (Wrexham), and Jeff Johnson (Barrow).[1] Player of the Year Jim Arnold and Ally Brown retired, whilst Oshor Williams was sold to Preston North End for 'a small fee'.[1]

Cup competitions

In the FA Cup, Vale beat Mansfield Town 1–0 in a replay following a 1–1 draw at Field Mill. Vale Park saw a crowd of 11,736 for the Second Round goalless tie with Walsall, and were then eliminated following a 2–1 defeat at the Bescot Stadium.

In the League Cup, Vale advanced past Third Division Wigan Athletic 3–2 on aggregate following at 2–0 win at Springfield Park. They were then knocked out by First Division West Bromwich Albion, losing 1–0 at The Hawthorns, before giving an excellent account of themselves by battling back from 2–0 down at Vale Park to draw 2–2.

In the League Trophy, Vale advanced through the group stage with a 1–1 draw with Wrexham at the Racecourse Ground and a 2–0 home win over Blackpool. The next stage saw Vale triumph over Scunthorpe United at Glanford Park with a 4–3 win on penalties following a 1–1 draw. In the Area Semi-Finals they were then defeated by holders Wigan Athletic, though still earned £1,250 in prize money.

Final league table

P WDLFAGAPts
1Swindon Town4632688243+39102
2Chester City46231588350+3384
3Mansfield Town462312117447+2781
4Port Vale46211696737+3079
5Orient462012147964+1572
6Colchester United461913148863+2570
7Hartlepool United462010166867+170
8Northampton Town461810187958+2164
9Southend United461810186967+264
10Hereford United461810187473+164
11Stockport County461713166371-864
12Crewe Alexandra46189195461-763
13Wrexham46179206880-1260
14Burnley461611196065-559
15Scunthorpe United461514175055-559
16Aldershot46177226674-858
17Peterborough United461317165264-1256
18Rochdale461413195777-2055
19Tranmere Rovers46159227473+154
20Halifax Town461412206071-1154
21Exeter City461315184759-1254
22Cambridge United46159226580-1554
23Preston North End461110255489-3543
24Torquay United46910274388-4537

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

Results

Port Vale's score comes first

Legend

Win Draw Loss
Round12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031323334353637383940414243444546
GroundAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAAHAAHAHAHAHAHHHHAAHHAHAHAHAAHA
Result L D W D L W D W L W W W W D W W D D L D W L W L L D D W W W D D D W D W D D W W W W W L D L
Position 16 18 10 12 17 13 14 11 11 8 6 5 4 3 3 1 1 3 5 8 4 6 4 5 5 5 6 5 5 5 5 6 6 5 5 4 4 4 4 4 3 3 3 3 3 4

Sourced from Statto.[2]

Football League Fourth Division

DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers
17 August 1985 Exeter CityA0–12,868
24 August 1985 Mansfield TownH0–02,930
26 August 1985 BurnleyA2–13,995Sproson, Griffiths
31 August 1985 RochdaleH1–13,043Jones
7 September 1985 OrientA0–12,455
14 September 1985 Cambridge UnitedH4–12,674Maguire (2 [2 pens]), Earle, Brown
17 September 1985 AldershotA0–01,027
21 September 1985 Halifax TownH3–22,754Hunter (2), Maguire
27 September 1985 Colchester UnitedA0–13,110
30 September 1985 Hartlepool UnitedH4–03,015O.Williams, J.Williams, Jones, Maguire
5 October 1985 WrexhamH4–03,351Maguire (2 [1 pen]), Johnson, o.g.
12 October 1985 Tranmere RoversA2–12,338Earle, Maguire
19 October 1985 Southend UnitedH4–04,736Jones (2), Webb, Earle
22 October 1985 Scunthorpe UnitedA0–01,888
26 October 1985 Swindon TownH3–05,073O.Williams, Earle, Brown
2 November 1985 Preston North EndA1–04,536Maguire (pen)
6 November 1985 Hereford UnitedA1–13,308Sproson
9 November 1985 Stockport CountyH1–15,248Bowden
23 November 1985 Peterborough UnitedA0–12,852
14 December 1985 Northampton TownA2–23,259Sproson, Earle
17 December 1985 Torquay UnitedH1–03,421Hunter
22 December 1985 Mansfield TownA1–23,730O.Williams
26 December 1985 Crewe AlexandraH3–05,976Maguire, Brown, Earle
1 January 1986 Chester CityA1–45,323Earle
4 January 1986 Preston North EndH0–13,592
11 January 1986 RochdaleA3–32,445Jones (2), Brown
17 January 1986 Exeter CityH0–03,385
25 January 1986 Cambridge UnitedA3–12,437J.Williams, Hunter, Earle
1 February 1986 OrientH2–03,074Earle (2)
3 February 1986 Scunthorpe UnitedH3–12,977J.Williams, Jones (pen), Bromage
24 February 1986 BurnleyH1–13,030Banks
1 March 1986 Colchester UnitedH1–12,726Jones
5 March 1986 Hartlepool UnitedA1–12,550Bowden
8 March 1986 WrexhamA3–12,614Shankland, Earle, Jones (pen)
15 March 1986 Tranmere RoversH0–03,527
18 March 1986 AldershotH3–12,461Bowden, Hunter, Earle
23 March 1986 Swindon TownA0–010,147
29 March 1986 Chester CityH1–14,490Sproson
31 March 1986 Crewe AlexandraA1–04,986Earle
5 April 1986 Hereford UnitedH1–03,344Jones (pen)
11 April 1986 Stockport CountyA2–14,691Maguire, Brown
19 April 1986 Peterborough UnitedH2–03,765Jones (2 [1 pen])
26 April 1986 Torquay UnitedA1–01,898Earle
29 April 1986 Halifax TownA0–21,389
3 May 1986 Northampton TownH0–03,873
5 May 1986 Southend UnitedA1–21,687Earle

FA Cup

Main article: 1985–86 FA Cup
RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorers
R116 November 1985 Mansfield TownA1–15,207Earle
R1 Replay18 November 1985 Mansfield TownH1–06,749Maguire (pen)
R28 December 1985 WalsallH0–011,736
R2 Replay10 December 1985 WalsallA1–25,671Brown

League Cup

RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorers
R1 1st Leg20 August 1985 Wigan AthleticH1–22,620Sproson
R1 2nd Leg2 September 1985 Wigan AthleticA2–02,772Jones, Earle
R2 1st Leg24 September 1985 West Bromwich AlbionA0–16,218
R2 2nd Leg7 October 1985 West Bromwich AlbionH2–27,985Jones, Maguire

League Trophy

RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorers
R121 January 1986 WrexhamA1–1992Jones (pen)
R110 February 1986 BlackpoolH3–11,584Maguire, Hunter, Jones
NSQF10 March 1986 Scunthorpe UnitedA1–1 (4-3 pens)1,415Jones (pen)
NSSF26 March 1986 Wigan AthleticH1–24,832Jones (pen)

Player statistics

Appearances

Pos. Name Football League FA Cup League Cup Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
GKWales Chris Pearce 50000060
GKEngland Jim Arnold 4104040520
DFEngland Phil Sproson 4444031545
DFEngland Alan Webb 3914040481
DFEngland Wayne Ebanks 1202000150
DFEngland Chris Banks 1910000221
DFEngland John Williams 3630040443
MFEngland Russell Bromage 4014040511
MFEngland Geoff Hunter 4554040576
MFJamaica Robbie Earle 461541415817
MFEngland Peter Griffiths 51001091
MFScotland Paul Maguire 451041415713
MFWales Jeff Johnson 1010040161
MFEngland Oshor Williams 3234030403
MFEngland Jon Bowden 3634010443
FWScotland Ally Brown 2754120336
FWEngland Mick Perry 00000010
FWEngland Andy Shankland 21000031
FWWales Andy Jones 411230425318
FWEngland Steve Cammack 30000030
FWEngland Steve Biggins 40000040

Scorers

All competitions

Scorer Goals
Wales Andy Jones 18
Jamaica Robbie Earle 15
Scotland Paul Maguire 13
Scotland Ally Brown 6
England Geoff Hunter
England Phil Sproson 5
England Jon Bowden 3
England John Williams
England Oshor Williams
England Alan Webb 1
England Chris Banks
England Peter Griffiths
Wales Jeff Johnson
England Andy Shankland
England Russell Bromage

League

Scorer Goals
Jamaica Robbie Earle 15
Wales Andy Jones 12
Scotland Paul Maguire 10
Scotland Ally Brown 5
England Geoff Hunter
England Phil Sproson 4
England Jon Bowden 3
England John Williams
England Oshor Williams
England Alan Webb 1
England Chris Banks
England Peter Griffiths
Wales Jeff Johnson
England Andy Shankland
England Russell Bromage

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 Kent, Jeff (1990). "From Rags to Riches (1979–1990)". The Valiants' Years: The Story Of Port Vale. Witan Books. pp. 258–290. ISBN 0-9508981-4-7.
  2. Port Vale 1985–1986 : Results & Fixtures. Statto Organisation. Retrieved 28 April 2012.
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