1986–87 Port Vale F.C. season

Port Vale
1986–87 season
Chairman Jim Lloyd
Manager John Rudge
Stadium Vale Park
Football League Third Division 12th (57 Points)
FA Cup Second Round
League Cup Second Round
League Trophy Northern Section Quarter-finalists
Player of the Year Andy Jones
Top goalscorer League: Andy Jones (31)
All: Andy Jones (37)
Highest home attendance 10,568 vs. Manchester United (7 October 1986)
Lowest home attendance 994 vs. Hereford United (22 December 1986)
Average home league attendance 3,312
Home colours
← 1985–86 1987–88 →

The 1986–87 season was Port Vale's 75th season of football in the Football League, and first (16th overall) season back in the Third Division following promotion from the Fourth Division.[1] John Rudge led to Vale to a mid-table finish, his Player of the Year signing Andy Jones scoring 37 goals in all competitions. Vale Park saw its record lowest attendance for a competitive encounter when only 994 loyal supporters turned out for a League Trophy clash with Hereford United. More than ten times this number turned out to see the Vale beaten by Manchester United in the Second Round of the League Cup. Rudge also signed Ray Walker to the club, and Andy Porter made his debut.

Overview

Third Division

The pre-season saw John Rudge bring 28-year-old stopper Mark Grew to the club from Ipswich Town.[1] He also bought Aston Villa's Ray Walker for £12,000; Sheffield United winger Paul Smith for £10,000; and Walsall's 'cultured' striker Richard O'Kelly for £6,000.[1] Rudge was connected with the vacant management position at Preston North End, but declared himself happy at Vale Park.[1] The season would see its midweek games played on a Tuesday, rather than the traditional Monday, and the play-offs were also introduced.[1]

The season opened with a 2–2 draw at crisis club Middlesbrough, who were forced to play the fixture at Hartlepool, after finding themselves kicked out of Ayresome Park.[1] Vale also drew their opening home match the following week against Rotherham United, and Grew was forced off with a knee injury and Alan Webb split his shinbone.[1] Jim Arnold agreed to return to the club on non-contract terms to replace the injured Grew.[1] Playing a 'fluent, passing game', Vale defeated bogey-team Walsall, who had maintained a 21-game unbeaten league run against the "Valiants" since 1965.[1] Ageing Arnold failed to maintain his fitness and Vale struggled around the foot of the table.[1] Rudge signed 'giant' Alex Williams on loan from Manchester City.[1] Despite Andy Jones leading the scoring charts, Vale still suffered, and Rudge's attempts to sign Steve Bull from West Bromwich Albion failed.[1] On 9 November, Vale Park hosted an American football match, in which Locomotive Derby beat the Stoke Spitfires 13–8.[1] By the end of the month Vale were cut four points adrift at the bottom of the league.[1] The next month John Williams was sold to Bournemouth for £30,000, having been in poor form for Vale.[1] Rudge then splashed out £5,000 on Bristol City's Gary Hamson.[1] He also brought Bob Hazell in from Reading on a free transfer.[1]

Hazell successfully shored up the Vale defence, as in his first three games the Vale kept three clean sheets.[1] In January, O'Kelly required a knee operation, but good news came as Alex Williams was signed permanently for £10,000.[1] On 27 January, Robbie Earle made his 142nd consecutive appearance in a 1–1 draw with Rotherham United at Millmoor, picking up a groin injury that put him into the treatment room.[1] The next week a 4–2 win over Doncaster Rovers was the last of a streak of six games unbeaten, that took the Vale up to fourteenth in the table.[1] A bad February ended with a 6–1 capitulation at home to Blackpool, Vale's biggest home defeat since March of the disastrous 1956–57 season.[1] Vale picked up eleven of a possible eighteen points in March, with Rudge also signing Darren Beckford on loan from Manchester City.[1] On 28 March, the club recorded their biggest ever away win by thumping Fulham 6–0 at Craven Cottage, with Jones bagging a hat-trick.[1] On 1 April, Jones was selected for the Wales squad, and scored past Finland.[1] Vale lost five of their seven April games, but ensured their safety by ripping apart Newport County on 4 May, with Jones hitting five goals.[1]

They finished in twelfth spot with 57 points, twelve points clear of Bolton Wanderers.[1] Andy Jones scored 37 goals in all competitions.[1]

Finances

On the financial side, a loss was made of £53,373.[1] Match receipts earned £228,422, whilst the market rents raised £100,614.[1] The bank overdraft stood at £216,453, whilst the club's total debts were £363,878.[1] The club's shirt sponsors were Browns Transport. Both Geoff Hunter and Wayne Ebanks left on free transfers, Hunter joining Wrexham.[1] Chairman Jim Lloyd also resigned due to his deteriorated relationship with the board.[1] He was replaced by garage owner Bill Bell, who was one of many men to have worked on building Vale Park in the 1940s.[1] Bell stated that he was not afraid to cut loose any deadwood.[1]

Cup competitions

In the FA Cup, the First Round tie with non-league neighbours Stafford Rangers attracted a healthy crowd of 5,738 (the second highest attendance of the season), and Vale advanced with a 1–0 win. Travelling to Walsall for the Second Round, they were on the end of a 5–0 drubbing at the Bescot Stadium. Jim Lloyd called the 'tame surrender' a 'disgrace' and Rudge ordered extra training for the players.[1]

In the League Cup, Vale advanced past Notts County 7–1 on aggregate following wins both at home and at Meadow Lane. They then faced Ron Atkinson's First Division Manchester United at the Second Round, just as they had in 1983. United picked up a 3–0 victory at Old Trafford before eliminating the Vale with a 5–2 win in Stoke-on-Trent.

In the League Trophy, the opening match against Fourth Division Hereford United set a club-record for the lowest-ever attendance for a competitive first team game, as only 994 fans turned up at Vale Park on 22 December to witness Vale win through a Jones goal.[1] The missing fans only missed 'a long yawn in freezing conditions'.[1] A 2–1 defeat to Newport County at Somerton Park failed to prevent Vale advancing to the First Round. Vale then eliminated Exeter City with a 1–0 win at St James Park. However Gillingham defeated Vale 4–3 on penalties after a 3–3 draw in Burslem.

Final league table

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
1Bournemouth46291077640+ 3697
2Middlesbrough46281086730+ 3794
3Swindon Town46251297747+ 3087
4Wigan Athletic462510118360+ 2385
5Gillingham46239146548+ 1778
6Bristol City462114116336+ 2777
7Notts County462113127756+ 2176
8Walsall46229158067+ 1375
9Blackpool461616147459+ 1564
10Mansfield Town461516155255– 361
11Brentford461515166466– 260
12Port Vale461512197670+ 657
13Doncaster Rovers461415175662– 657
14Rotherham United461512194857– 957
15Chester City461317166159+ 256
16Bury461413195460– 655
17Chesterfield461315185669– 1354
18Fulham461217175977– 1853
19Bristol Rovers461312214975– 2651
20York City461213215579– 2449
21Bolton Wanderers461015214658– 1245
22Carlisle United46108283978– 3938
23Darlington46716234577– 3237
24Newport County46813254986– 3737

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
GroundAHAHHAHAHAAHHAAHAHAHAAHAHAHHHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHA
Result D D W L D L W L L W D L L D L L L W L D W W W D W L D D L W D W L D W L L L W W L L L D W W
Position 7 14 7 10 12 16 12 15 16 13 14 16 17 20 20 21 24 22 23 24 20 17 16 16 14 14 14 14 19 15 13 13 14 15 12 12 15 16 13 11 13 14 14 15 13 12

Sourced from Statto.[2]

Football League Third Division

DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers
23 August 1986 MiddlesbroughA2–23,690O'Kelly, Maguire
30 August 1986 Rotherham UnitedH1–13,734O'Kelly
6 September 1986 BrentfordA2–03,150Maguire, Smith
13 September 1986 York CityH2–34,893Jones (2 [1 pen])
16 September 1986 Notts CountyH1–13,725Jones
20 September 1986 Bolton WanderersA0–34,872
27 September 1986 WalsallH4–14,531Jones (2 [1 pen]), Bowden, Earle
30 September 1986 BlackpoolA0–24,585
4 October 1986 FulhamH0–13,862
11 October 1986 ChesterfieldA4–22,755Jones (2), Earle, Maguire
18 October 1986 Bristol RoversA0–03,054
21 October 1986 Swindon TownH3–43,420Earle, Jones, o.g.
25 October 1986 GillinghamH1–23,055Jones
1 November 1986 BuryA2–22,598Jones (pen), Smith
4 November 1986 Carlisle UnitedA0–22,748
8 November 1986 Wigan AthleticH0–13,339
22 November 1986 Doncaster RoversA1–22,455O'Kelly
14 December 1986 Chester CityH2–13,397Earle, Smith
19 December 1986 DarlingtonA2–31,052Jones (2)
26 December 1986 Bristol CityH0–04,168
27 December 1986 Newport CountyA2–02,105Jones (pen), Smith
1 January 1987 Mansfield TownA1–03,053Hazell
24 January 1987 BrentfordH4–13,062Jones (2 [1 pen]), Earle, Smith
27 January 1987 Rotherham UnitedA1–12,397Walker
3 February 1987 Doncaster RoversH4–22,835Jones (2 [1 pen]), Hamson, Maguire
7 February 1987 Notts CountyA1–45,277Bowden
14 February 1987 Bolton WanderersH1–13,678Bowden
17 February 1987 MiddlesbroughH0–03,263
28 February 1987 BlackpoolH1–63,765Sproson
3 March 1987 BuryH2–02,261Smith, Maguire
7 March 1987 GillinghamA0–03,929
14 March 1987 Bristol RoversH4–12,758Jones (2 [1 pen]), Walker, Maguire
17 March 1987 Swindon TownA0–17,347
21 March 1987 ChesterfieldH2–22,903Bowden, Sproson
28 March 1987 FulhamA6–03,798Jones (3), Smith, Walker, Maguire
31 March 1987 BournemouthH1–23,228Walker
4 April 1987 Wigan AthleticA1–23,567Jones
11 April 1987 Carlisle UnitedH0–12,449
14 April 1987 York CityA4–12,804Webb, Jones, Sproson, Maguire
18 April 1987 Mansfield TownH3–22,625Beckford, Jones, Maguire
20 April 1987 Bristol CityA0–18,669
25 April 1987 DarlingtonH1–22,492Jones
28 April 1987 WalsallA2–55,696Beckford, Bromage
2 May 1987 BournemouthA0–09,559
4 May 1987 Newport CountyH6–12,733Jones (5 [2 pens]), Sproson
9 May 1987 Chester CityA2–13,021Earle, Beckford

FA Cup

Main article: 1986–87 FA Cup
RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorers
R115 November 1986 Stafford RangersH1–05,738Earle
R26 December 1986 WalsallA0–57,033

League Cup

RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorers
R1 1st Leg26 August 1986 Notts CountyA3–12,167Jones (2 [2 pens]), O'Kelly
R1 2nd Leg3 September 1986 Notts CountyH4–13,486Jones, O'Kelly, Walker, Smith
R2 1st Leg24 September 1986 Manchester UnitedA0–318,906
R2 2nd Leg7 October 1986 Manchester UnitedH2–510,568Jones (pen), o.g.

League Trophy

RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorers
P22 December 1986 Hereford UnitedH1–0994Jones
P6 January 1987 Newport CountyA1–2826o.g.
R120 January 1987 Exeter CityA1–01,365Maguire
SSQF10 February 1987 GillinghamH3–3 (4-5 on pens)2,768Jones, Smith, Hazell

Player statistics

Appearances

Pos. Name Football League FA Cup League Cup League Trophy Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
GKEngland Jim Arnold 120003000150
GKEngland Alex Williams 310200040370
GKEngland Mark Grew 3000100040
DFEngland Phil Sproson 444204020524
DFEngland Alan Webb 211000030241
DFEngland Wayne Ebanks 160104010220
DFEngland Chris Banks 250204030340
DFEngland John Williams 140103000180
DFEngland Alan Dodd 2000001030
DFEngland Bob Hazell 211000031242
MFEngland Russell Bromage 411204040511
MFEngland Geoff Hunter 50202020110
MFJamaica Robbie Earle 356214040457
MFScotland Paul Maguire 428204041529
MFEngland Jon Bowden 344203030424
MFEngland Andy Porter 1000001020
MFEngland Paul Smith 427204131519
MFEngland Gary Hamson 271000000271
MFEngland Ray Walker 454104140545
FWWales Andy Jones 43311044425237
FWEngland Richard O'Kelly 123102200155
FWEngland Darren Beckford 114000000114

Scorers

All competitions

Scorer Goals
Wales Andy Jones 38
Scotland Paul Maguire 9
England Paul Smith
Jamaica Robbie Earle 7
England Ray Walker 5
England Richard O'Kelly
England Jon Bowden 4
England Darren Beckford
England Phil Sproson
England Bob Hazell 1
England Alan Webb
England Gary Hamson
England Russell Bromage

League

Scorer Goals
Wales Andy Jones 31
Scotland Paul Maguire 8
England Paul Smith 7
Jamaica Robbie Earle 6
England Ray Walker 4
England Darren Beckford
England Jon Bowden
England Phil Sproson
England Richard O'Kelly 3
England Bob Hazell 1
England Alan Webb
England Gary Hamson
England Russell Bromage

Transfers

Transfers in

Date from Position Nationality Name From Fee Ref.
June 1986 GK England Mark Grew Ipswich Town Free transfer [3]
July 1986 FW England Richard O'Kelly Walsall £6,000 [3]
July 1986 MF England Paul Smith Sheffield United £10,000 [3]
July 1986 MF England Ray Walker Aston Villa £12,000 [3]
December 1986 MF England Gary Hamson Bristol City £5,000 [3]
December 1986 DF England Bob Hazell Reading Free transfer [3]
December 1986 MF England Andy Porter Free transfer [3]
January 1987 GK England Alex Williams Manchester City £10,000 [3]
March 1987 FW England Darren Beckford Manchester City £15,000 [3]

Transfers out

Date from Position Nationality Name To Fee Ref.
December 1986 GK England Jim Arnold Kidderminster Harriers Retired [3]
December 1986 DF England John Williams Bournemouth £30,000 [3]
May 1987 DF England Wayne Ebanks Cambridge United Free transfer [3]
May 1987 MF England Geoff Hunter Wrexham Free transfer [3]
July 1987 MF England Jon Bowden Wrexham £12,500 [3]
August 1987 MF England Russell Bromage Bristol City £25,000 [3]

Loans in

Date from Position Nationality Name From Date to Ref.
November 1986 GK England Alex Williams Manchester City January 1987 [3]
December 1986 DF England Alan Dodd Sweden IF Elfsborg December 1986 [3]

Loans out

Date from Position Nationality Name To Date to Ref.
1987 MF England Andy Porter New Zealand Hutt Valley United 1987 [3]

References

Specific
  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 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 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 1986–1987 : Results & Fixtures. Statto Organisation. Retrieved 28 April 2012.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 Kent, Jeff (1996). Port Vale Personalities. Witan Books. ISBN 0-9529152-0-0.
General
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