1993–94 Port Vale F.C. season
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 | |
| ||
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. | Reading | 46 | 26 | 11 | 9 | 81 | 44 | 89 |
2. | Port Vale | 46 | 26 | 10 | 10 | 79 | 46 | 88 |
3. | Plymouth Argyle | 46 | 25 | 10 | 11 | 88 | 56 | 85 |
4. | Stockport County | 46 | 24 | 13 | 9 | 74 | 44 | 85 |
5. | York City | 46 | 21 | 12 | 13 | 64 | 40 | 75 |
6. | Burnley | 46 | 21 | 10 | 15 | 79 | 58 | 73 |
7. | Bradford City | 46 | 19 | 13 | 14 | 61 | 53 | 70 |
8. | Bristol Rovers | 46 | 20 | 10 | 16 | 60 | 59 | 70 |
9. | Hull City | 46 | 18 | 14 | 14 | 62 | 54 | 68 |
10. | Cambridge United | 46 | 19 | 9 | 18 | 79 | 73 | 66 |
11. | Huddersfield Town | 46 | 17 | 14 | 15 | 58 | 61 | 65 |
12. | Wrexham | 46 | 17 | 11 | 18 | 66 | 77 | 62 |
13. | Swansea City | 46 | 16 | 12 | 18 | 56 | 58 | 60 |
14. | Brighton & Hove Albion | 46 | 15 | 14 | 17 | 60 | 67 | 59 |
15. | Rotherham United | 46 | 15 | 13 | 18 | 63 | 66 | 58 |
16. | Brentford | 46 | 13 | 19 | 14 | 57 | 55 | 58 |
17. | Bournemouth | 46 | 14 | 15 | 17 | 51 | 59 | 57 |
18. | Leyton Orient | 46 | 14 | 14 | 18 | 57 | 71 | 56 |
19. | Cardiff City | 46 | 13 | 15 | 18 | 66 | 79 | 54 |
20. | Blackpool | 46 | 16 | 5 | 25 | 63 | 75 | 53 |
21. | Fulham | 46 | 14 | 10 | 22 | 50 | 63 | 52 |
22. | Exeter City | 46 | 11 | 12 | 23 | 52 | 83 | 45 |
23. | Hartlepool United | 46 | 9 | 9 | 28 | 41 | 87 | 36 |
24. | Barnet | 46 | 5 | 13 | 28 | 41 | 86 | 28 |
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 |
Template:Fb rbr header Template:Fb rbr ground Template:Fb rbr result Template:Fb rbr position fl |} Sourced from Statto.[1]
Football League Second Division
Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Scorers |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
14 August 1993 | Burnley | A | 1–2 | 12,592 | Taylor |
21 August 1993 | Barnet | H | 6–0 | 7,538 | Foyle (3), Slaven (3) |
28 August 1993 | Plymouth Argyle | A | 0–2 | 6,072 | |
31 August 1993 | Cambridge United | H | 2–2 | 6,484 | Cross, Kerr |
4 September 1993 | Cardiff City | H | 2–2 | 8,140 | Slaven (2) |
11 September 1993 | Bristol Rovers | A | 0–2 | 4,908 | |
14 September 1993 | Huddersfield Town | A | 1–1 | 5,154 | Slaven |
18 September 1993 | Hartlepool United | H | 1–0 | 7,279 | Kerr |
25 September 1993 | Brentford | A | 2–1 | 5,106 | Cross, van der Laan |
2 October 1993 | Wrexham | H | 3–0 | 8,722 | Cross (2), Kerr |
9 October 1993 | Hull City | H | 2–1 | 9,459 | Cross (2) |
16 October 1993 | Blackpool | A | 3–1 | 8,969 | Cross (2), Taylor |
23 October 1993 | Reading | H | 0–4 | 9,252 | |
30 October 1993 | Rotherham United | A | 2–0 | 4,786 | Foyle, Taylor |
6 November 1993 | Swansea City | H | 3–0 | 7,854 | Cook (og), Glover, Taylor |
20 November 1993 | Exeter City | A | 1–1 | 3,908 | van der Laan |
27 November 1993 | Brighton & Hove Albion | H | 4–0 | 7,261 | Cross, Foyle (2), Taylor |
7 December 1993 | Bournemouth | A | 1–2 | 2,954 | Jeffers |
11 December 1993 | Barnet | A | 3–2 | 3,100 | Foyle, Kerr, Taylor |
18 December 1993 | Burnley | H | 1–1 | 10,710 | Slaven |
27 December 1993 | Fulham | A | 0–0 | 5,760 | |
29 December 1993 | Leyton Orient | H | 2–1 | 8,978 | van der Laan (2) |
1 January 1994 | York City | A | 0–1 | 5,903 | |
15 January 1994 | Blackpool | H | 2–0 | 7,915 | Cross (2) |
22 January 1994 | Hull City | A | 0–0 | 6,918 | |
5 February 1994 | Reading | A | 2–1 | 7,645 | Foyle, Kent |
12 February 1994 | Stockport County | H | 1–1 | 10,628 | Foyle |
19 February 1994 | Plymouth Argyle | H | 2–1 | 9,093 | Lowe, Taylor |
22 February 1994 | Cambridge United | A | 0–1 | 2,543 | |
1 March 1994 | Bradford City | H | 0–0 | 7,294 | |
5 March 1994 | Bristol Rovers | H | 2–0 | 8,682 | Taylor (2) |
12 March 1994 | Hartlepool United | A | 4–1 | 1,798 | Aspin, Cross, Lowe |
15 March 1994 | Huddersfield Town | H | 1–0 | 7,010 | Kent |
19 March 1994 | Brentford | H | 1–0 | 8,269 | Taylor |
26 March 1994 | Wrexham | A | 1–2 | 7,202 | van der Laan |
29 March 1994 | Bradford City | A | 1–2 | 5,776 | Foyle |
2 April 1994 | Fulham | H | 2–2 | 7,380 | Allon |
4 April 1994 | Leyton Orient | A | 3–2 | 3,412 | Foyle (3) |
12 April 1994 | Rotherham United | H | 2–1 | 6,804 | Griffiths |
16 April 1994 | Bournemouth | H | 2–1 | 7,603 | Cross, Taylor |
19 April 1994 | Stockport County | A | 1–2 | 5,910 | Lowe |
21 April 1994 | York City | H | 2–1 | 8,703 | Glover, Lowe |
26 April 1994 | Swansea City | A | 1–0 | 4,252 | Taylor |
30 April 1994 | Exeter City | H | 3–0 | 10,377 | Foyle (2), Kent |
3 May 1994 | Cardiff City | A | 3–1 | 4,705 | Kent, Lowe, Taylor |
7 May 1994 | Brighton & Hove Albion | A | 3–1 | 15,423 | Foyle (2), Glover |
FA Cup
Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Goalscorers |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
R1 | 13 November 1993 | Blackpool | H | 2–0 | 8,211 | Foyle, Kerr |
R2 | 3 December 1993 | Huddersfield Town | H | 1–0 | 8,602 | Tankard |
R3 | 8 January 1994 | Southampton | A | 1–1 | 11,086 | Porter |
R3 Replay | 18 January 1994 | Southampton | H | 1–0 | 12,042 | Slaven |
R4 | 29 January 1994 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | A | 0–2 | 21,999 |
League Cup
Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Goalscorers |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
R1 1st Leg | 17 August 1993 | Lincoln City | H | 2–2 | 5,175 | Slaven, Taylor |
R1 2nd Leg | 24 August 1993 | Lincoln City | A | 0–0 | 3,642 |
League Trophy
Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Goalscorers |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
R1 | 19 October 1993 | Shrewsbury Town | A | 2–2 | 2,192 | Kerr, Taylor |
R1 | 9 November 1993 | Wrexham | H | 0–0 | 4,376 | |
R2 | 30 November 1993 | Cambridge United | A | 4–2 | 1,648 | Foyle (2), Taylor, Cross |
QF | 11 January 1994 | Swansea City | A | 0–1 | 2,630 |
Player statistics
Appearances
ScorersAll competitions
League
|
Transfers
Transfers in
Date from | Position | Nationality | Name | From | Fee | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
January 1993 | DF | ![]() |
Dean Stokes | Halesowen Town | Free transfer | [2] |
February 1993 | DF | ![]() |
Gareth Griffiths | ![]() |
£1,000 | [2] |
May 1993 | DF | ![]() |
Peter Billing | Coventry City | £35,000 | [2] |
July 1993 | DF | ![]() |
Allen Tankard | Wigan Athletic | £87,500 | [2] |
September 1993 | MF | ![]() |
Ollie Heald | Norvan | Free transfer | [2] |
March 1994 | FW | ![]() |
Joe Allon | Brentford | Free transfer | [2] |
Transfers out
Date from | Position | Nationality | Name | To | Fee | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
September 1993 | FW | ![]() |
Brian Mills | Released | [2] | |
February 1994 | FW | ![]() |
Bernie Slaven | Darlington | Free transfer | [2] |
May 1994 | FW | ![]() |
Nicky Cross | Hereford United | Free transfer | [2] |
May 1994 | DF | ![]() |
Simon Mills | Boston United | Free transfer | [2] |
May 1994 | GK | ![]() |
Trevor Wood | Walsall | Free transfer | [2] |
June 1994 | MF | ![]() |
Ian Taylor | Sheffield Wednesday | £1,000,000 | [2] |
July 1994 | DF | ![]() |
Peter Swan | Plymouth Argyle | £300,000 | [2] |
Summer 1994 | MF | ![]() |
Paul Kerr | Wycombe Wanderers | Free transfer | [2] |
Loans in
Date from | Position | Nationality | Name | From | Date to | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
September 1993 | FW | ![]() |
Steve Livingstone | Chelsea | September 1993 | [2] |
January 1994 | FW | ![]() |
Aidan Newhouse | Wimbledon | January 1994 | [2] |
February 1994 | MF | ![]() |
David Lowe | Leicester City | End of season | [2] |
Loans out
Date from | Position | Nationality | Name | To | Date to | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
March 1994 | MF | ![]() |
Paul Kerr | Leicester City | End of season | [2] |
References
- Specific
- General