1993–94 Port Vale F.C. season

Port Vale
1993–94 season
Chairman Bill Bell
Manager John Rudge
Stadium Vale Park
Football League Second Division 2nd (88 Points)
FA Cup Fourth Round
League Cup First Round
League Trophy Area Quarter-finalists
Player of the Year Neil Aspin
Top goalscorer League: Martin Foyle (17)
All: Martin Foyle (18)
Highest home attendance 12,042 vs. Southampton (18 January 1994)
Lowest home attendance 5,175 vs. Lincoln City (17 August 1993)
Average home league attendance 8,377
Home colours

The 1993–94 season was Port Vale's 82nd season of football in the Football League, and fifth successive (37th overall) season in the Second Division. They won promotion to the First Division as the division's runners-up, just one point away from champions Reading. In the FA Cup, John Rudge's men caused an upset by defeating top-flight Southampton, before they exited at the Fourth Round. Vale were knocked out of the League Cup at the First Round, and the League Trophy at the Area Quarter-finals.

Overview

Second Division

The pre-season saw John Rudge sign left-back Allen Tankard from Wigan Athletic for £87,500. Experienced forward Keith Houchen was allowed to join Hartlepool United on a free transfer, and Paul Kerr signed with Leicester City.

The season opened with a 2–1 defeat to Burnley at Turf Moor. Though the season really got going for the Vale with their opening home game, as they recorded a 6–0 win over Barnet, both Martin Foyle and Bernie Slaven bagging hat-tricks. This however would be the only victory in the first seven league games. In September, Steve Livingstone joined the club on loan from Chelsea. Then in October, Canadian Ollie Heald signed from Norvan, having impressed whilst on trial. Vale shot up the table with eight victories in ten games. In January, Aidan Newhouse arrived on loan from Wimbledon, but only played two games. In February, Bernie Slaven left the club for Darlington. The next month Rudge brought Joe Allon to the club after Allon left Brentford. He also signed winger David Lowe on loan from Leicester City. Vale picked up four clean sheets in the first five games of March, but ended the month with two defeats. They had a solid April, winning six of their eight games, with Foyle scoring a hat-trick past Leyton Orient at Brisbane Road on 4 April. Two victories from their final two games of the season ensured promotion.

They finished in second-placed with 88 points, despite having finished third the previous season with 89 points. Top-scorer was Martin Foyle with eighteen goals, though Ian Taylor and Nicky Cross also hit double figures.

At the end of the season, star midfielder Ian Taylor was sold to Sheffield Wednesday for £1 million (plus add-ons). The club also sold Peter Swan to Plymouth Argyle for £300,000. Also leaving the club were Nicky Cross and Trevor Wood, who joined Hereford United and Walsall respectively.

Finances

The club's shirt sponsors were Tunstall Assurance.

Cup competitions

In the FA Cup, Vale brushed aside Blackpool (2–0) and Huddersfield Town (1–0). Drawn against Premier League Southampton in the Third Round, the "Valiants" earned a 1–1 draw at The Dell with an Andy Porter goal. Back at Burslem, Vale achieved a giantkilling with a Bernie Slaven goal. In the Fourth Round they faced First Division Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux, and were defeated 2–0.

In the League Cup, Vale exited at the First Round to Third Division Lincoln City on away goals, having drawn 2–2 at Vale Park and 0–0 at Sincil Bank.

In the League Trophy, Vale reached the Area Quarter-finalists. They would not enter the competition again until 2000–01.

Final league table

Pos. Team Pld W D L GF GA Pts
1. Reading4626119814489
2. Port Vale46261010794688
3. Plymouth Argyle46251011885685
4. Stockport County4624139744485
5. York City46211213644075
6. Burnley46211015795873
7. Bradford City46191314615370
8. Bristol Rovers46201016605970
9. Hull City46181414625468
10. Cambridge United4619918797366
11. Huddersfield Town46171415586165
12. Wrexham46171118667762
13. Swansea City46161218565860
14. Brighton & Hove Albion46151417606759
15. Rotherham United46151318636658
16. Brentford46131914575558
17. Bournemouth46141517515957
18. Leyton Orient46141418577156
19. Cardiff City46131518667954
20. Blackpool4616525637553
21. Fulham46141022506352
22. Exeter City46111223528345
23. Hartlepool United469928418736
24. Barnet4651328418628

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

Results

Port Vale's score comes first

Legend

Win Draw Loss
Round12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031323334353637383940414243444546
GroundAHAHHAAHAHHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAAHHAHHAHHAAHAHHAHAHAA
Result L W L D D L D W W W W W L W W D W L W D D W L W D W D W L D W W W W L L D W W W L W W W W W
Position 16 9 14 14 16 18 21 18 13 9 9 7 8 5 7 8 6 7 4 4 4 4 5 6 7 7 7 6 6 6 5 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 3 4 2 4 3 2 2

Sourced from Statto.[1]

Football League Second Division

DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers
14 August 1993 BurnleyA1–212,592Taylor
21 August 1993 BarnetH6–07,538Foyle (3), Slaven (3)
28 August 1993 Plymouth ArgyleA0–26,072
31 August 1993 Cambridge UnitedH2–26,484Cross, Kerr
4 September 1993 Cardiff CityH2–28,140Slaven (2)
11 September 1993 Bristol RoversA0–24,908
14 September 1993 Huddersfield TownA1–15,154Slaven
18 September 1993 Hartlepool UnitedH1–07,279Kerr
25 September 1993 BrentfordA2–15,106Cross, van der Laan
2 October 1993 WrexhamH3–08,722Cross (2), Kerr
9 October 1993 Hull CityH2–19,459Cross (2)
16 October 1993 BlackpoolA3–18,969Cross (2), Taylor
23 October 1993 ReadingH0–49,252
30 October 1993 Rotherham UnitedA2–04,786Foyle, Taylor
6 November 1993 Swansea CityH3–07,854Own goal, Glover, Taylor
20 November 1993 Exeter CityA1–13,908van der Laan
27 November 1993 Brighton & Hove AlbionH4–07,261Cross, Foyle (2), Taylor
7 December 1993 BournemouthA1–22,954Jeffers
11 December 1993 BarnetA3–23,100Foyle, Kerr, Taylor
18 December 1993 BurnleyH1–110,710Slaven
27 December 1993 FulhamA0–05,760
29 December 1993 Leyton OrientH2–18,978van der Laan (2)
1 January 1994 York CityA0–15,903
15 January 1994 BlackpoolH2–07,915Cross (2)
22 January 1994 Hull CityA0–06,918
5 February 1994 ReadingA2–17,645Foyle, Kent
12 February 1994 Stockport CountyH1–110,628Foyle
19 February 1994 Plymouth ArgyleH2–19,093Lowe, Taylor
22 February 1994 Cambridge UnitedA0–12,543
1 March 1994 Bradford CityH0–07,294
5 March 1994 Bristol RoversH2–08,682Taylor (2)
12 March 1994 Hartlepool UnitedA4–11,798Aspin, Cross, Lowe
15 March 1994 Huddersfield TownH1–07,010Kent
19 March 1994 BrentfordH1–08,269Taylor
26 March 1994 WrexhamA1–27,202van der Laan
29 March 1994 Bradford CityA1–25,776Foyle
2 April 1994 FulhamH2–27,380Allon
4 April 1994 Leyton OrientA3–23,412Foyle (3)
12 April 1994 Rotherham UnitedH2–16,804Griffiths
16 April 1994 BournemouthH2–17,603Cross, Taylor
19 April 1994 Stockport CountyA1–25,910Lowe
21 April 1994 York CityH2–18,703Glover, Lowe
26 April 1994 Swansea CityA1–04,252Taylor
30 April 1994 Exeter CityH3–010,377Foyle (2), Kent
3 May 1994 Cardiff CityA3–14,705Kent, Lowe, Taylor
7 May 1994 Brighton & Hove AlbionA3–115,423Foyle (2), Glover

FA Cup

Main article: 1993–94 FA Cup
RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorers
R113 November 1993 BlackpoolH2–08,211Foyle, Kerr
R23 December 1993 Huddersfield TownH1–08,602Tankard
R38 January 1994 SouthamptonA1–111,086Porter
R3 Replay18 January 1994 SouthamptonH1–012,042Slaven
R429 January 1994 Wolverhampton WanderersA0–221,999

League Cup

RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorers
R1 1st Leg17 August 1993 Lincoln CityH2–25,175Slaven, Taylor
R1 2nd Leg24 August 1993 Lincoln CityA0–03,642

League Trophy

Player statistics

Appearances

Pos. Name Football League FA Cup League Cup/League Trophy Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
GKEngland Paul Musselwhite 4605060570
DFEngland Dean Glover 4635060573
DFEngland Neil Aspin 4015060571
DFEngland Peter Swan 4005050500
DFEngland Bradley Sandeman 901000100
DFEngland Peter Billing 80001090
DFEngland Gareth Griffiths 42000042
DFEngland Dean Stokes 2103010250
DFEngland Allen Tankard 2602150331
MFEngland Andy Porter 3705103451
MFEngland John Jeffers 2515050351
MFNetherlands Robin van der Laan 3345050434
MFEngland Kevin Kent 3042040364
MFEngland Ian Taylor 421320635016
MFEngland Paul Kerr 2543161346
FWEngland Nicky Cross 371250514713
FWEngland Martin Foyle 371831524521
FWScotland Bernie Slaven 2374141319
FWEngland Joe Allon 42000042
FWCanada Ollie Heald 00000000
FWEngland Steve Livingstone 50000050
FWEngland David Lowe 1950000195
FWEngland Aidan Newhouse 20100030

Scorers

All competitions

Scorer Goals
England Martin Foyle 18
England Ian Taylor 14
England Nicky Cross 12
Scotland Bernie Slaven 9
England David Lowe 5
England Paul Kerr
Netherlands Robin van der Laan 4
England Kevin Kent
England Dean Glover 3
England Joe Allon 2
England Gareth Griffiths
England Neil Aspin 1
England John Jeffers
England Allen Tankard
England Andy Porter

League

Scorer Goals
England Martin Foyle 17
England Ian Taylor 13
England Nicky Cross 12
Scotland Bernie Slaven 7
England David Lowe 5
England Paul Kerr 4
Netherlands Robin van der Laan
England Kevin Kent
England Dean Glover 3
England Joe Allon 2
England Gareth Griffiths
England Neil Aspin 1
England John Jeffers

References

  1. Port Vale 1993–1994 : Results & Fixtures. Statto Organisation. Retrieved 28 April 2012.
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