1998–99 Port Vale F.C. season

Port Vale
1998–99 season
Chairman Bill Bell
Manager John Rudge
(until January)
Brian Horton
(January onwards)
Stadium Vale Park
Football League First Division 21st (47 Points)
FA Cup Third Round
League Cup First Round
Player of the Year Martin Foyle
Top goalscorer League: Martin Foyle (9)
All: Martin Foyle (9)
Highest home attendance 16,557 vs. Liverpool (3 January 1999)
Lowest home attendance 3,478 vs. Chester City (11 August 1998)
Average home league attendance 6,991
Home colours

The 1998–99 season was Port Vale's 87th season of football in the Football League, and fifth successive season in the First Division. It was the end of an era for the club, as manager of sixteen years John Rudge was sacked in January, and was replaced by Brian Horton. As a testament to the upheaval at the club, a massive 43 players turned out for the Vale in the league over the course of the season. The Vale just avoided relegation on goals scored, despite suffering a final day defeat to Bury, who were relegated having scored ten fewer goals. Liverpool knocked them out of the FA Cup at the Third Round, and Vale were also knocked out of the League Cup by fourth tier Chester City in the First Round. The sacking of Rudge spoiled what was supposed to be a happy season for Vale fans, as Vale competed in a division above rivals Stoke City for only the fourth time.

Overview

First Division

The pre-season saw John Rudge splash out £300,000 on Bristol Rovers forward Peter Beadle and £100,000 on Scunthorpe United defender Michael Walsh. He also signed Dave Barnett (Dunfermline Athletic); Brian McGlinchey and Paul Beesley (Manchester City); and John McQuade (Hamilton Academical) on free transfers. Stéphane Pounewatchy also became the first French player to play for the club when he was signed on a monthly contract from Dundee. Scott Mean was loaned to the club by West Ham United, though he went on to sustain a knee injury during his spell that would damage his career. Also Andy Clarke was signed on loan from Wimbledon.

The season started poorly with three defeats, Lee Hughes scoring a hat-trick for West Bromwich Albion to finish this run off. Two wins opened the month of September, though the month ended with former-Valiant Lee Mills scoring a brace for Bradford City in a 4–0 win over Vale at Valley Parade. In October, Derek McGill signed from Queens Park Rangers, though he would move on to Hamilton Academical later in the year. On 29 October, Gareth Ainsworth became Vale's biggest ever transfer as he was sold to Wimbledon for £2 million. In November, Robin Berntsen became the first Norwegian to play for the Vale when he arrived on loan from Tromsø IL. In addition to this French forward Christophe Horlaville joined on loan from Le Havre, and Des Lyttle also arrived on loan from Nottingham Forest. After winning the first four games in October, Vale then went on a streak of twelve defeats in fifteen games, though the sole victory of this run, a 1–0 win over Bury on 19 December, would prove to be crucial at the end of the season. The win was not enough for Rudge, who would get the sack in January after he made his final two signings: Trinidadian midfielder Tony Rougier from Hibernian for £175,000, and young striker Marcus Bent from Crystal Palace for a £375,000 fee. After Rudge was sacked by Chairman Bill Bell, highly distressed fans formed a "flat cap protest" (Rudge's headwear of choice) against the decision. Offered the role of Director of Football at the club, he instead took up the same position at rivals Stoke City. To replace him, Bell appointed experienced manager and former Vale player Brian Horton.

In February, Peter Beadle was sold on to Notts County for £250,000, representing a £50,000 loss. The month of March saw Horton make his first signings as manager, bringing in five new faces: Dave Brammer (£300,000 from Wrexham); Tony Butler (£115,000 from Blackpool); Carl Griffiths (£100,000 from Leyton Orient); Alex Smith (£75,000 from Chester City); and Chris Allen (free from Nottingham Forest). This cost the club a total of £590,000. He also took in striker Alan Lee on loan from Aston Villa, and Craig Russell on loan from Manchester City. His changes finally paid off in April, as Vale went on a five game unbeaten run. Their penultimate game was a 2–0 victory over QPR, meaning that a final day 1–0 defeat at fellow relegation candidates Bury was inconsequential.

They finished in 21st position with 47 points, ahead of Bury on goals scored, but behind both Portsmouth and Queens Park Rangers on goals scored. Had the goals difference rule been in effect then Vale would have been relegated instead of Bury. Crewe Alexandra finished three places and one position higher than the Vale. Vale suffered 25 defeats, more than any other club in the league, and only Grimsby and Bury had scored fewer goals. Player of the Year Martin Foyle was the club's top-scorer with nine goals, representing the lowest total tally for the club's top-scorer since 1964–65. Only Paul Musselwhite and Allen Tankard managed to hit forty appearances, as 43 players managed to turn out for the club throughout the season.

At the end of the season there was a complete clear-out, with ten players leaving: ten-year club veteran Neil Aspin (Darlington); Dave Barnett (Lincoln City); Brian McGlinchey (Gillingham); John McQuade (Raith Rovers); Chris Allen (Stockport County); Rogier Koordes (TOP Oss); Jan Jansson (IFK Norrköping); Paul Mahorn (Stevenage Borough); Stéphane Pounewatchy (Colchester United); and Paul Beesley (Blackpool).

Finances

The club's shirt sponsors were Tunstall Assurance.

Cup competitions

In the FA Cup, Vale hosted Premier League side Liverpool. The "Reds" left Burslem with a 3–0 victory, the goals scored by Michael Owen, Paul Ince, and Robbie Fowler.

In the League Cup, Third Division Chester City dispatched the Vale 2–1 at Vale Park, and held on to a 2–2 draw at the Deva Stadium to embarrass Vale fans with a minor giant-killing act.

Final league table

PosTeamPWDLFAPts
1.Sunderland46311239128105
2.Bradford City4626911824787
3.Ipswich Town4626812693286
4.Birmingham City46231211663781
5.Watford46211411655677
6.Bolton Wanderers46201610785976
8.Sheffield United46181315716667
9.Norwich City46151714626162
10.Huddersfield Town46151615627161
11.Grimsby Town46171019405261
12.West Bromwich Albion46161119697659
13.Barnsley46141715595659
14.Crystal Palace46141616587158
15.Tranmere Rovers46122014636156
16.Stockport County46121717496053
17.Swindon Town46131122598150
18.Crewe Alexandra46121222547848
19.Portsmouth46111421577347
20.Queens Park Rangers46121123526147
21.Port Vale4613825457547
22.Bury46101719356047
23.Oxford United46101422487144
24.Bristol City4691522578042

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
GroundHAHAHHAHAAHAHHAHAAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHHAHHA
Result L L L D L W W L D L W W W W D L L L L L D L L W L L L L L W L W L W D L L L W D D W D L W L
Position 23 24 24 24 24 22 19 19 21 23 20 18 15 12 13 13 13 15 16 20 19 22 22 20 20 21 22 23 23 22 22 21 21 20 20 21 21 22 21 22 21 20 20 21 20 21

Sourced from Statto.[1]

Football League First Division

DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers
8 August 1998 Birmingham CityH0–210,465
15 August 1998 Huddersfield TownA1–210,030Ainsworth
22 August 1998 West Bromwich AlbionH0–38,146
29 August 1998 Swindon TownA1–17,800Ainsworth
31 August 1998 Ipswich TownH0–35,485
8 September 1998 Wolverhampton WanderersH2–18,087Beadle, Naylor
12 September 1998 Crystal PalaceA1–015,983Beadle
19 September 1998 PortsmouthH0–25,992
26 September 1998 Grimsby TownA2–25,747Naylor, Beesley
29 September 1998 Bradford CityA0–413,245
3 October 1998 Norwich CityH1–05,580Ainsworth
11 October 1998 BarnsleyA2–016,195Foyle, Beadle
17 October 1998 Bristol CityH3–26,691Ainsworth (2), Beesley
20 October 1998 Crewe AlexandraH1–08,205Beesley
24 October 1998 WatfordA2–28,750Foyle, Tankard
31 October 1998 Sheffield UnitedH2–36,737Foyle, Beadle
4 November 1998 Bolton WanderersA1–313,324Beadle
8 November 1998 Stockport CountyA2–47,612Beadle, Own goal
14 November 1998 SunderlandH0–28,839
21 November 1998 Oxford UnitedA1–25,964McGlinchey
28 November 1998 Tranmere RoversH2–25,216Foyle (2)
5 December 1998 Queens Park RangersA2–310,498Foyle, Barker
12 December 1998 SunderlandA0–237,583
19 December 1998 BuryH1–06,425Barker (pen)
26 December 1998 West Bromwich AlbionA2–314,929Naylor (2)
28 December 1998 Bolton WanderersH0–28,201
9 January 1999 Birmingham CityA0–118,632
16 January 1999 Swindon TownH0–15,405
30 January 1999 Ipswich TownA0–116,328
6 February 1999 Huddersfield TownH2–06,499Foyle (2)
13 February 1999 Wolverhampton WanderersA1–320,952Bogie
20 February 1999 Crystal PalaceH1–06,051Tankard
27 February 1999 PortsmouthA0–412,838
9 March 1999 Norwich CityA4–312,960Tankard, Russell, Walsh, Bogie
13 March 1999 Stockport CountyH1–16,456Allen
20 March 1999 Sheffield UnitedA0–315,515
23 March 1999 Grimsby TownH0–14,980
3 April 1999 Bristol CityA0–211,039
5 April 1999 BarnsleyH1–05,968Foyle
10 April 1999 Crewe AlexandraA0–05,606
13 April 1999 Bradford CityH1–16,998Lee
17 April 1999 Oxford UnitedH1–07,393Tankard
24 April 1999 Tranmere RoversA1–17,770Lee
27 April 1999 WatfordH1–27,126Widdrington
1 May 1999 Queens Park RangersH2–09,851Gardner, Griffiths
9 May 1999 BuryA0–17,567

FA Cup

Main article: 1998–99 FA Cup
RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorers
R33 January 1999 LiverpoolH0–316,557

League Cup

RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorers
R1 1st Leg11 August 1998 Chester CityH1–23,478Ainsworth
R1 2nd Leg18 August 1998 Chester CityA2–22,461Naylor (2)

Player statistics

Appearances

Pos. Name Football League FA Cup League Cup Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
GKEngland Paul Musselwhite 3800020400
GKEngland Kevin Pilkington 80100090
DFEngland Neil Aspin 3001010320
DFEngland Allen Tankard 3741020404
DFEngland Matt Carragher 1000020120
DFEngland Paul Beesley 3531000363
DFEngland Dave Barnett 2701000280
DFNorthern Ireland Liam Burns 40000040
DFNetherlands Mark Snijders 1000020120
DFEngland Michael Walsh 1911020221
DFEngland Tony Butler 40000040
DFEngland Anthony Gardner 1510000151
DFEngland Des Lyttle 70000070
DFNorthern Ireland Brian McGlinchey 1511010171
DFFrance Stéphane Pounewatchy 20000020
DFEngland Alex Smith 80000080
MFEngland Ian Bogie 3421020372
MFEngland Wayne Corden 1401010160
MFEngland Stewart Talbot 3300020350
MFNetherlands Rogier Koordes 1700010180
MFSweden Jan Jansson 70001080
MFEngland Gareth Ainsworth 1550021176
MFNorway Robin Berntsen 10000010
MFEngland Richard Eyre 1100000110
MFEngland Tommy Widdrington 91000091
MFEngland Chris Allen 51000051
MFEngland Simon Barker 2520000252
MFEngland Dave Brammer 90000090
MFEngland Neil Brisco 10100020
MFScotland John McQuade 30000030
MFEngland Scott Mean 10000010
MFRepublic of Ireland George O'Callaghan 40100050
MFTrinidad and Tobago Tony Rougier 1200000120
FWEngland Martin Foyle 3590020379
FWEngland Tony Naylor 2241022256
FWEngland Peter Beadle 2361020266
FWEngland Marcus Bent 1500000150
FWEngland Andy Clarke 60000060
FWEngland Carl Griffiths 31000031
FWFrance Christophe Horlaville 20100030
FWRepublic of Ireland Alan Lee 1120000112
FWScotland Derek McGill 30000030
FWEngland Craig Russell 81000081

Scorers

All competitions

Scorer Goals
England Martin Foyle 9
England Gareth Ainsworth 6
England Peter Beadle
England Tony Naylor
England Allen Tankard 4
England Paul Beesley 3
Republic of Ireland Alan Lee 2
England Simon Barker
England Ian Bogie
England Craig Russell 1
England Michael Walsh
England Anthony Gardner
Northern Ireland Brian McGlinchey
England Tommy Widdrington
England Chris Allen
England Carl Griffiths

League

Scorer Goals
England Martin Foyle 9
England Peter Beadle 6
England Gareth Ainsworth 5
England Tony Naylor 4
England Allen Tankard
England Paul Beesley 3
Republic of Ireland Alan Lee 2
England Simon Barker
England Ian Bogie
England Craig Russell 1
England Michael Walsh
England Anthony Gardner
Northern Ireland Brian McGlinchey
England Tommy Widdrington
England Chris Allen
England Carl Griffiths

References

  1. Port Vale 1998–1999 : Results & Fixtures. Statto Organisation. Retrieved 28 April 2012.
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