1993–94 Port Vale F.C. season


The 1993–94 season was Port Vale's 82nd season of football in the English Football League, and fifth successive 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 despite an early sending off for Peter Billing, 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. 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 and Huddersfield Town. 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.

League table

Results

Port Vale's score comes first

Football League Second Division

Results by matchday

Matches

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

FA Cup

RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorers
R113 November 1993BlackpoolH2–08,211Foyle, Kerr
R23 December 1993Huddersfield TownH1–08,602Tankard
R38 January 1994SouthamptonA1–111,086Porter
R3 Replay18 January 1994SouthamptonH1–012,042Slaven
R429 January 1994Wolverhampton WanderersH0–221,999

League Cup

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

League Trophy

RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorers
R119 October 1993Shrewsbury TownA2–22,192Kerr, Taylor
R19 November 1993WrexhamH0–04,376
R230 November 1993Cambridge UnitedA4–21,648Foyle, Taylor, Cross
QF11 January 1994Swansea CityA0–12,630

Player statistics

Appearances

Top scorers

Transfers

Transfers in

Transfers out

Loans in

Loans out