1980–81 Port Vale F.C. season

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Port Vale
1980–81 season
ChairmanArthur MacPherson
(until October)
Don Ratcliffe
(from October)
ManagerJohn McGrath
StadiumVale Park
Football League Fourth Division19th (39 Points)
FA CupThird Round
(knocked out by Enfield)
League CupFirst Round
(knocked out by Tranmere Rovers)
Player of the YearRussell Bromage
Top goalscorerLeague: Mark Chamberlain, Neville Chamberlain (9 each)
All: Neville Chamberlain (13)
Highest home attendance7,722 vs. Burnley, 16 December 1980
Lowest home attendance2,091 vs. Torquay United, 6 October 1980
Average home league attendance2,738
Biggest win4–0 and 5–1
Biggest defeat0–5 vs. Mansfield Town, 24 January 1981

The 1980–81 season was Port Vale's 69th season of football in the English Football League, and their third-successive season (ninth overall) in the Fourth Division.[1] A difficult season, by February the club were bottom of the Football League. However, they rallied to finish in nineteenth place, thus avoiding a re-election campaign. Advancing to the Third Round of the FA Cup, there they were humiliated by a 3–0 defeat to non-League side Enfield in front of the TV cameras. As usual, they exited the League Cup at the First Round. Despite poor crowd figures and a poor league place, John McGrath had overseen the worst of the club's dire spell, whilst new Chairman Don Ratcliffe stabilized the finances by cutting expenditure. A bleak financial picture led McGrath to focus on youth, and the Chamberlain brothers (Mark and Neville) in particular developed well to leave the club with a more optimistic future.

Overview[edit]

Fourth Division[edit]

The pre-season saw John McGrath sign two news players – Leicester City's John Allen and Stoke City's Trevor Brissett.[1] These newcomers were all the Vale could afford, and Vale ominously failed to win any of their pre-season friendlies.[1] The club also received a £600 fine for the disciplinary record of the previous season (by now an annual occurrence).[1]

The season opened with a 3–0 win over Doncaster Rovers, but then Vale travelled to Roots Hall, where they were beaten 5–1 by Southend United.[1] This defeat was the first of a run of six games in which the "Valiants" picked up just a solitary point.[1] The Vale consistently lost away from home, but turned Vale Park into a fortress with four successive wins in Burslem.[1] Despite this, attendances remained barely above 2,000.[1] Injuries piled up; Gerry Keenan with ligament damage, Steve Jones with a collarbone injury, whereas Paul Bowles played on as captain despite being overweight.[2][1] The club in the re-election zone, unable to attract fans, and losing £1,000 a week, Arthur MacPherson resigned as chairman on 2 October, and was replaced by Don Ratcliffe.[1] Mark Chamberlain was then utilized, and scored four goals in his first four games and also created goals for others.[1] Former top-flight winger Johnny Miller then joined the club after his release from Mansfield Town.[1] Miller's crossing ability had not diminished, and he became a key player.[1] Young keeper Mark Harrison in good form, McGrath felt able to sell Trevor Dance to Stafford Rangers for £10,000.[1] Their upturn in form tailed off, and their 4–0 defeat at Plainmoor on 5 November was played in front of a then Torquay United record-low crowd of 1,227 fans.[1] A 1–0 victory over Southend United was the only win in a sequence of fourteen league games.[1]

In December, John Rudge was upgraded from coach to assistant manager.[1] However, poor league form continued; on 27 December Vale lost 5–1 to Northampton Town at the County Ground, and Phil Sproson was sent off for swearing at teammate Russell Bromage.[1] More away defeats came, with the Vale defence insistent on playing dangerous balls on the outside of their penalty area.[1] On 24 January, they lost 5–0 at Field Mill to Mansfield Town, this left them at the foot of the league, four points adrift of safety.[1] McGrath brought in two new signings: big defender Andy Higgins from Chesterfield and midfielder Terry Armstrong; Higgins was restricted mainly to away matches as there the team needed the added strength and height that he provided.[3][1] He also signed keeper Brian Lloyd on loan from Chester City, and the former Wales international proved to be a revelation.[1] McGrath then installed a five-man defence away from home, the tactic proved a success, as Vale avoided defeat in all but two of their final eight away games.[1] McGrath later reflected that "that Mansfield match was a dreadful experience, I simply could not wait any longer before taking some action; we had to get some better players."[3] Vale went on a streak of seven games unbeaten, recording a 4–0 win over fellow strugglers Hereford United.[1] On 26 April, the club started a club-record run of six consecutive draws, which would end on 12 September the next season. Their goalless draw with Crewe Alexandra at Gresty Road assured them of safety from re-election.[1]

They finished nineteenth place with 39 points, three points clear of the re-election places.[1] For the third consecutive season they had conceded seventy goals, and only Tranmere Rovers and Halifax Town conceded more.[1] The Chamberlain brothers were the top scorers in the league with nine goals, whilst Neville scored thirteen in all competitions.[1] McGrath said "it has taken time, but the attitude [of the team] is slowly changing."[1]

Finances[edit]

On the financial side, a £12,496 loss was announced.[1] Income was supplemented by an intake of £174,890 from the commercial department.[1] An average home attendance of 2,738 was the lowest since the club regained their Football League status in 1921. Nevertheless, spending had been slashed to bring finances under control.[1] Six players left at the end of the season on free transfers, most significantly: Neil Griffiths (Crewe Alexandra), Steve Jones, Alan Woolfall (Marine), and John Allen (Hinckley Athletic).[1] Loanee Lloyd also returned to his club, despite the fans demands to sign him up.[1] Kenny Beech was sold to Walsall for £10,000.[1]

Cup competitions[edit]

In the FA Cup, Vale advanced past Bradford City with a 4–2 win, the Chamberlain brothers in deadly form.[1] "Bantams" manager George Mulhall said "it could have been ten!".[1] With Harrison injured, Vale then used Derby County loanee keeper Steve Cherry in a 'magnificent' 1–1 draw with Burnley at Turf Moor.[1] Vale then finished off the Third Division club at home with a 2–0 win in front of a season-high crowd of 7,722.[1] Drawn against Isthmian League side Enfield in the Third Round, they drew 1–1 at Vale Park before they 'died in shame' with a 3–0 defeat in the replay.[1] This was the first time the Vale had been knocked out of the competition by a non-League club since Gainsborough Trinity beat them 2–1 in 1937.[1] Port Vale were Enfield's third scalp of the season after Barnsley and Hereford United. The loss came in front of the television cameras, and was particularly humiliating as Enfield's keeper had a quiet afternoon and Cherry gifted Enfield their second goal with a horrible miskick.[1]

In the League Cup, Neville Chamberlain scored after only fifty seconds in a 3–2 home defeat by Tranmere Rovers.[1] Vale then beat 1–0 at Prenton Park to exit the competition on away goals.[1]

League table[edit]

Main article: 1980–81 Football League

Pos Team
 Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion
17 Torquay United 46 18 5 23 55 63 −8 41
18 Crewe Alexandra 46 13 14 19 48 61 −13 40
19 Port Vale 46 12 15 19 57 70 −13 39
20 Stockport County 46 16 7 23 44 57 −13 39
21 Tranmere Rovers 46 13 10 23 59 73 −14 36 Re-elected
Source: [citation needed]

Results[edit]

Port Vale's score comes first

Football League Fourth Division[edit]

Results by matchday[edit]

Round12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031323334353637383940414243444546
GroundHAAHAHAHAHAHHAAHHAAHHAHAHAAAHAHHAHHHAAHAHHAHAA
ResultWLLDLLLWLWLWWLWDLDLDWLDDLLLLLDWLDDWWWDDLWDLDDD
Position281716202121222418221916201717171820211721212122222223242322222222212019191920191919202019
Source: Statto[4]
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

Matches[edit]

Date Opponent Venue Result Attendance Scorers
16 August 1980 Doncaster Rovers H 3–0 2,846 Jones, Griffiths, N.Chamberlain
18 August 1980 Southend United A 1–5 4,190 N.Chamberlain
23 August 1980 Wimbledon A 0–1 1,775
30 August 1980 Mansfield Town H 0–0 2,558
6 September 1980 Wigan Athletic A 0–1 4,666
13 September 1980 Aldershot H 0–1 2,370
15 September 1980 Stockport County A 1–2 3,480 N.Chamberlain
20 September 1980 Darlington H 4–2 2,158 Keenan (2), Allen, Farrell
27 September 1980 Bury A 1–2 2,341 Keenan
29 September 1980 Stockport County H 2–0 2,835 Beech, Allen
4 October 1980 York City A 1–4 2,025 Griffiths
6 October 1980 Torquay United H 3–1 2,091 o.g., Beech, Griffiths (pen)
11 October 1980 Tranmere Rovers H 5–1 2,820 Bromage (2), M.Chamberlain (2), Allen
18 October 1980 Bradford City A 1–2 2,843 Bromage
22 October 1980 Hereford United A 3–2 2,101 M.Chamberlain (2), Beech
25 October 1980 Hartlepool United H 1–1 3,072 Bromage
27 October 1980 Bournemouth H 0–2 3,009
1 November 1980 Peterborough United A 1–1 3,648 o.g.
5 November 1980 Torquay United A 0–4 1,227
8 November 1980 Rochdale H 1–1 2,774 Bowles
10 November 1980 Southend United H 1–0 2,780 Allen
15 November 1980 Doncaster Rovers A 0–2 2,422
5 December 1980 Crewe Alexandra H 2–2 4,154 Beech, N.Chamberlain
20 December 1980 Halifax Town A 2–2 1,215 o.g., Woolfall
26 December 1980 Lincoln City H 0–1 4,239
27 December 1980 Northampton Town A 1–5 2,978 N.Chamberlain
10 January 1981 Hartlepool United A 0–3 3,116
24 January 1981 Mansfield Town A 0–5 3,864
31 January 1981 Wimbledon H 2–3 2,372 Miller (2 [1 pen])
7 February 1981 Aldershot A 0–0 2,598
14 February 1981 Wigan Athletic H 3–0 3,214 Miller, Sproson, N.Chamberlain
21 February 1981 Bury H 1–3 2,831 N.Chamberlain
24 February 1981 Scunthorpe United A 1–1 1,878 M.Chamberlain
3 March 1981 Scunthorpe United H 2–2 2,277 Miller, M.Chamberlain
7 March 1981 York City H 2–0 2,319 Bennett (pen), M.Chamberlain
16 March 1981 Hereford United H 4–0 2,379 Bowles (2), M.Chamberlain, Armstrong
24 March 1981 Tranmere Rovers A 2–1 1,422 Beech, N.Chamberlain
28 March 1981 Bournemouth A 0–0 4,665
4 April 1981 Peterborough United H 1–1 2,982 Armstrong
12 April 1981 Rochdale A 1–2 2,590 Bowles
14 April 1981 Bradford City H 2–1 2,221 N.Chamberlain, Sproson
18 April 1981 Northampton Town H 1–1 2,371 Sproson
20 April 1981 Lincoln City A 0–1 3,784
26 April 1981 Halifax Town H 0–0 2,301
1 May 1981 Crewe Alexandra A 0–0 4,634
5 May 1981 Darlington A 1–1 1,576 M.Chamberlain

FA Cup[edit]

Main article: 1980–81 FA Cup
Round Date Opponent Venue Result Attendance Goalscorers
R1 22 November 1980 Bradford City H 4–2 4,022 N.Chamberlain (2), Bennett (pen), Beech
R2 13 December 1980 Burnley A 1–1 7,497 Miller
R2 Replay 16 December 1980 Burnley H 2–0 7,722 Farrell, M.Chamberlain
R3 3 January 1981 Enfield H 1–1 5,538 Beech
R3 Replay 6 January 1981 Enfield A 0–3 6,499

League Cup[edit]

Main article: 1980–81 Football League Cup
Round Date Opponent Venue Result Attendance Goalscorers
R1 1st Leg 9 August 1980 Tranmere Rovers H 2–3 2,651 N.Chamberlain (2)
R1 2nd Leg 12 August 1980 Tranmere Rovers A 1–0 2,386 Bromage

Player statistics[edit]

Appearances[edit]

Pos. Name Football League FA Cup League Cup Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
GK England Trevor Dance 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 0
GK England Steve Cherry 4 0 4 0 0 0 8 0
GK England Mark Harrison 24 0 1 0 0 0 25 0
GK Wales Brian Lloyd 16 0 0 0 0 0 16 0
DF England Neil Griffiths 21 3 2 0 2 0 25 3
DF England Phil Sproson 44 3 4 0 2 0 50 3
DF England Gerry Keenan 12 3 0 0 1 0 13 3
DF England Lee Harwood 4 0 0 0 2 0 6 0
DF England Paul Bowles 44 4 5 0 0 0 49 4
DF England Trevor Brissett 41 0 3 0 1 0 45 0
DF England Andy Higgins 10 0 0 0 0 0 10 0
DF England Russell Bromage 45 4 5 0 2 1 52 5
MF England Kenny Beech 45 5 5 2 2 0 52 7
MF England Mark Chamberlain 31 9 5 1 0 0 36 10
MF England Peter Farrell 25 1 4 1 1 0 30 2
MF England Ian Elsby 17 0 5 0 1 0 23 0
MF England Johnny Miller 26 4 5 1 0 0 31 5
MF England Terry Armstrong 17 2 0 0 0 0 17 2
MF England Paul Bennett 26 1 4 1 0 0 30 2
MF England Lee Jenkins 1 0 0 0 0 0 10 0
FW England Neville Chamberlain 35 9 5 2 2 2 42 13
FW England Alan Woolfall 11 1 0 0 0 0 11 1
FW England Steve Jones 10 1 2 0 2 0 14 1
FW England John Allen 18 4 0 0 2 0 20 4

Top scorers[edit]

Place Position Nation Name Fourth Division FA Cup League Cup Total
1 FW  England Neville Chamberlain 9 2 2 13
2 MF  England Mark Chamberlain 9 1 0 10
3 MF  England Kenny Beech 5 2 0 7
4 DF  England Russell Bromage 4 0 1 5
– MF  England Johnny Miller 4 1 0 5
6 FW  England John Allen 4 0 0 4
– DF  England Paul Bowles 4 0 0 4
8 DF  England Neil Griffiths 3 0 0 3
– DF  England Phil Sproson 3 0 0 3
– DF  England Gerry Keenan 3 0 0 3
11 MF  England Terry Armstrong 2 0 0 2
– MF  England Peter Farrell 1 1 0 2
– MF  England Paul Bennett 1 1 0 2
14 FW  England Alan Woolfall 1 0 0 1
– FW  England Steve Jones 1 0 0 1
– – – Own goals 3 0 0 3
TOTALS 57 8 3 68

Transfers[edit]

Transfers in[edit]

Date from Position Nationality Name From Fee Ref.
May 1980 FW England John Allen Leicester City Free transfer [5]
May 1980 DF England Trevor Brissett Stoke City Free transfer [5]
September 1980 MF England Johnny Miller Mansfield Town Free transfer [5]
November 1980 MF England Lee Jenkins Aston Villa Free transfer [5]
February 1981 MF England Terry Armstrong Huddersfield Town Free transfer [5]
February 1981 DF England Andy Higgins Chesterfield Free transfer [5]

Transfers out[edit]

Date from Position Nationality Name To Fee Ref.
October 1980 GK England Trevor Dance Stafford Rangers £10,000 [5]
April 1981 FW England John Allen Hinckley Athletic Free transfer [5]
April 1981 MF England Lee Jenkins Finland RoPS Free transfer [5]
April 1981 FW England Steve Jones Released [5]
May 1981 MF England Ian Elsby Macclesfield Town Free transfer [5]
May 1981 DF England Neil Griffiths Crewe Alexandra Free transfer [5]
May 1981 FW England Alan Woolfall Marine Free transfer [5]
August 1981 MF England Kenny Beech Walsall £10,000 [5]

Loans in[edit]

Date from Position Nationality Name From Date to Ref.
November 1980 GK England Steve Cherry Derby County January 1981 [5]
February 1981 GK Wales Brian Lloyd Chester City Summer 1981 [5]

Loans out[edit]

Date from Position Nationality Name To Date to Ref.
September 1980 GK England Trevor Dance Stafford Rangers October 1980 [5]

References[edit]

Specific
  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar 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. ^ Sentinel Football Annual 1980–81. p. 21.
  3. ^ a b Sentinel Football Annual 1981–82. p. 19.
  4. ^ Port Vale 1980–1981 : Results & Fixtures Archived 4 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine. Statto Organisation. Retrieved 28 April 2012.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q Kent, Jeff (1996). Port Vale Personalities. Witan Books. ISBN 0-9529152-0-0.
General
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