1996–97 Port Vale F.C. season


The 1996–97 season was Port Vale's 85th season of football in the English Football League, and third successive season in the First Division. John Rudge led the club to its joint-second highest ever league finish, as Vale finished in eighth spot, four points from the play-offs. Vale exited both the FA Cup and the League Cup at the Third Round.

Overview

First Division

The pre-season saw John Rudge sign forward Justin O'Reilly from non-league Gresley Rovers for a £30,000 fee.
The season started poorly, with just two wins in the opening thirteen games, and protests began to develop against Chairman Bill Bell and his selling policy. A decent October, with wins over Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux and Birmingham City at home, was followed by a winless November – in which midfielder Jan Jansson became the first Swede to play for the club, when he arrived on loan from IFK Norrköping. A run of four consecutive victories in December showed the squad's potential however. Tony Naylor put a hat-trick past Charlton Athletic in a 3–1 win at The Valley on 14 December. The following week Vale pulled Norwich City apart in a 6–1 win – Martin Foyle and Stewart Talbot both claiming braces, before the run was topped off with a 1–0 win over Manchester City in front of over 30,000 people at Maine Road. Meanwhile, O'Reilly was loaned out to Macclesfield Town to gain experience. Vale's form tailed off, and on 19 January they managed to go from 4–0 up against Queens Park Rangers at half-time to finish the game drawn 4–4. In February, Rudge spent £75,000 to bring Dutch midfielder Rogier Koordes in from Telstar. However he had to suffer the departure of winger Steve Guppy, who was sold to top-flight Leicester City for £850,000. Despite the loss, the "Valiants" marched on, as a late spurt of form saw them win four straight games to stand a great chance of reaching the play-offs with just three games to go. In April, O'Reilly was moved on to Southport, having not appeared in the Vale first team. Rivals Stoke City managed to dampen Vale's hopes by easing to a 2–0 victory at the Victoria Ground. More damaging though was the defeat at home to Wolves and a final day draw with eventual play-off winners Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park.
They finished eighth with 67 points, representing their highest finish since 1933–34. They finished three points and four places higher than Stoke.
At the end of the season, legendary midfielder Ray Walker ended his nine years association with the club, becoming a player-coach with non-league Leek Town. Another popular player's Vale career was just starting however, with Jan Jansson signing permanently for a £200,000 fee.

Finances

The club's shirt sponsors were Tunstall Assurance.

Cup competitions

In the FA Cup, Premier League Blackburn Rovers proved to be too strong, as Vale left Ewood Park having suffered a 1–0 defeat.
In the League Cup, nearby Second Division side Crewe Alexandra lost 1–0 at Vale Park, before Vale blasted them away with a 5–1 win at Gresty Road. They then advanced past Third Division Carlisle United with a 3–2 aggregate victory. Pitted against Oxford United in the Third Round, a 2–0 defeat at the Manor Ground meant Vale were out of the competition.

League table

Results

Port Vale's score comes first

Football League First Division

Results by matchday

Matches

DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers
17 August 1996Bolton WanderersH1–110,057Naylor
24 August 1996Swindon TownA1–18,706McCarthy
27 August 1996Tranmere RoversA0–26,123
31 August 1996Oxford UnitedH2–06,016Naylor, Mills
7 September 1996PortsmouthA1–16,448Porter
10 September 1996Manchester CityH0–210,770
14 September 1996Grimsby TownH1–14,892Hill
21 September 1996Southend UnitedA0–04,025
29 September 1996Bradford CityA1–14,706Guppy
2 October 1996Queens Park RangersA2–18,727Guppy, Naylor
5 October 1996Oldham AthleticA0–36,051
13 October 1996Stoke CityH1–114,396Mills
16 October 1996Crystal PalaceH0–24,522
19 October 1996Wolverhampton WanderersA1–022,755Naylor
26 October 1996Huddersfield TownA1–011,017McCarthy
29 October 1996BarnsleyH1–35,231Guppy
2 November 1996Birmingham CityH3–08,388Naylor, Guppy
9 November 1996West Bromwich AlbionA1–113,975Guppy
16 November 1996Sheffield UnitedH0–08,352
23 November 1996Ipswich TownA1–29,491Naylor
30 November 1996Huddersfield TownH0–06,026
7 December 1996ReadingA1–06,445Talbot
14 December 1996Charlton AthleticA3–110,003Naylor
21 December 1996Norwich CityH6–16,278Talbot, Foyle, Porter, Mills
26 December 1996Manchester CityA1–030,344Foyle
28 December 1996PortsmouthH0–27,382
11 January 1997Grimsby TownA1–13,863Tankard
19 January 1997Queens Park RangersH4–45,736Glover, Mills, Jansson, Brazier
25 January 1997Southend UnitedH2–15,588Guppy, McCarthy
28 January 1997Bradford CityH0–115,186
1 February 1997West Bromwich AlbionH2–28,093Naylor
8 February 1997BarnsleyA0–112,246
15 February 1997Ipswich TownH2–26,115Mills, Porter
23 February 1997Birmingham CityA2–113,192Porter, Glover
1 March 1997ReadingH1–06,057Naylor
4 March 1997Sheffield UnitedA0–314,950
8 March 1997Norwich CityA1–116,101McCarthy
15 March 1997Charlton AthleticH2–05,905Mills
18 March 1997Bolton WanderersA2–414,150Bogie, Talbot
22 March 1997Swindon TownH1–06,142Mills
31 March 1997Tranmere RoversH2–17,469Mills
5 April 1997Oxford UnitedA2–07,370Mills, Naylor
12 April 1997Oldham AthleticH3–28,114Naylor, Mills
20 April 1997Stoke CityA0–216,246
27 April 1997Wolverhampton WanderersH1–213,615Naylor
4 May 1997Crystal PalaceA1–116,401Mills

FA Cup

RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorers
R34 January 1997Blackburn RoversA0–119,891

League Cup

RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorers
R1 1st Leg20 August 1996Crewe AlexandraH1–05,236Naylor
R1 2nd Leg3 September 1996Crewe AlexandraA5–14,471Bogie, McCarthy, Foyle, Naylor, Mills
R2 1st Leg17 September 1996Carlisle UnitedH1–03,505Naylor
R2 2nd Leg24 September 1996Carlisle UnitedA2–25,545McCarthy, Mills
R3 1st Leg22 October 1996Oxford UnitedH0–04,942
R3 2nd Leg5 November 1996Oxford UnitedA0–25,279

Player statistics

Appearances

Top scorers

Transfers

Transfers in

Transfers out

Loans in