1999–2000 Port Vale F.C. season


The 1999–2000 season was Port Vale's 88th season of football in the English Football League, and sixth successive season in the First Division. Vale suffered relegation in 23rd place, some thirteen points adrift of safety. They also exited the FA Cup at the Third Round, and were knocked out of the League Cup at the First Round by fourth tier Chester City for the second consecutive season. The club spent nothing on transfers, but sold young players for some £1.5 million – despite this the club was heading towards bankruptcy. The club continued to gain one generation of players at the expense of the successful '90s generation; Martin Foyle, Paul Musselwhite and Ian Bogie departing, with fresh talent such as Micky Cummins and Mark Goodlad arriving in their place.

Overview

First Division

The pre-season saw Brian Horton sign Jeff Minton, Tommy Widdrington, and Steve Rimmer on free transfers. He also took Andy Oakes in on loan from Derby County and Matt Glennon from Bolton Wanderers as back-up goalkeepers, and striker Martin Aldridge on loan from Blackpool.
The season started with a goalless draw at Ewood Park with Blackburn Rovers, but soon went downhill with two defeats. Vale then entered inconsistent form, winning three and losing three in a run of six games. However just two points from seven October games indicated Vale's future. Also in the month, striker Marcus Bent, signed by John Rudge nine months earlier for £375,000, was sold to Sheffield United for a bargain £300,000, and was later sold on by the "Blades" for a £1.7 million profit. The club set a record on 5 September, when just 3,737 turned up to see a 3–0 win over Grimsby Town – a division record low for a television match. The Vale ended the year in solid form, unbeaten in seven games, despite just two victories. In December, Carl Griffiths was sold back to former club Leyton Orient for £100,000.
In January, Horton signed defender Sagi Burton on a free transfer, and signed Martin Bullock and Gareth Taylor on one month loans from Barnsley and Manchester City respectively. Controversially, he also sold promising young defender Anthony Gardner to Tottenham Hotspur for £1 million. The next month David Healy would arrive on loan from Manchester United for the remainder of the season. Also, former international Ville Viljanen became the first Fin to play for the club, when he joined from Västra Frölunda IF. In March, Horton made two key signings, bringing two young players that would be with the club for several years to come: Irish midfielder Micky Cummins and goalkeeper Mark Goodlad. He also sold Tony Butler to West Bromwich Albion for £140,000. During this transfer activity Vale won just once in a sequence of seventeen games. A 2–0 win over Portsmouth on 1 April raised hopes of Vale escaping the drop, but Horton's side gained just three points in their final eight games, thus dooming Vale to third tier football.
They finished in 23rd place with 36 points, a massive thirteen points away from the safety of West Bromwich Albion, and only ahead of Swindon Town on goals scored. With just seven victories, they had the fewest wins in the division. Tony Rougier only needed nine goals in all competitions to become the club's top-scorer. The relegation meant that Brian Horton lost his 'proud record' of never being relegated as a player or as a manager.
At the end of the season numerous players were allowed to leave on free transfers: eight-year club veteran goalkeeper Paul Musselwhite ; five-year club favourite Ian Bogie ; Wayne Corden ; Stewart Talbot ; Mark Snijders ; Kevin Pilkington ; and Steve Rimmer. Legendary striker Martin Foyle also retired, after nine years as Vale's star striker. Simon Barker also retired, at the age of 35. Meanwhile, the club's board increased to five members: Bill Bell, Andrew Bellfield, Paul Wright, Neil Hughes, and Charles Machin.

Finances

The club's shirt sponsors were Tunstall Assurance.

Cup competitions

In the FA Cup, Vale lost 2–0 to Premier League outfit Leeds United at Elland Road, to exit the competition at the Third Round. Just 11,912 turned up for the game, after the Vale board refused to allow a price reduction.
In the League Cup, for the second successive season Third Division Chester City knocked the Vale out at the First Round. In the 2–1 defeat at the Deva Stadium both sides finished the game with ten men, and as the return leg was a 4–4 draw, Chester achieved a 6–5 aggregate win.

League table

Results

Port Vale's score comes first

Football League First Division

Results by matchday

Matches

DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers
7 August 1999Blackburn RoversA0–020,530
14 August 1999West Bromwich AlbionH1–27,891Minton
21 August 1999Birmingham CityA2–418,089Rougier, Naylor
28 August 1999Tranmere RoversH1–04,657Naylor
31 August 1999Queens Park RangersA2–39,502Minton, Gardner
5 September 1999Grimsby TownH3–13,737Bent, Naylor, Foyle
11 September 1999FulhamH0–26,130
18 September 1999Stockport CountyA0–17,632
25 September 1999Swindon TownH2–04,629Carragher, own goal
2 October 1999Manchester CityA1–231,608Foyle
9 October 1999Huddersfield TownA2–211,885Gardner, Foyle
16 October 1999Norwich CityH0–15,790
19 October 1999Nottingham ForestH0–25,714
23 October 1999Wolverhampton WanderersA2–220,488Walsh, Rougier
26 October 1999Swindon TownA1–25,703Rougier
30 October 1999Manchester CityH1–210,250Foyle
5 November 1999Crewe AlexandraH1–03,500Rougier
12 November 1999WalsallA0–06,190
20 November 1999Crystal PalaceH2–25,170Rougier, Foyle
23 November 1999Sheffield UnitedA3–28,965Eyre, Tankard, Gardner
27 November 1999Charlton AthleticA2–219,266Rougier, Foyle
4 December 1999Blackburn RoversH0–06,084
18 December 1999PortsmouthA0–011,869
28 December 1999BarnsleyA1–316,855Minton
3 January 2000Ipswich TownH1–26,908Naylor
15 January 2000West Bromwich AlbionA0–010,831
22 January 2000Birmingham CityH3–17,702Naylor, Widdrington, Rougier
5 February 2000Queens Park RangersH1–15,493Bullock
8 February 2000Bolton WanderersH0–15,092
12 February 2000Grimsby TownA0–26,265
26 February 2000Stockport CountyH1–15,663Widdrington
4 March 2000FulhamA1–310,418Healy
7 March 2000Crewe AlexandraA1–28,044Viljanen
11 March 2000Sheffield UnitedH2–35,484Healy, Rougier
18 March 2000Crystal PalaceA1–118,954Widdrington
21 March 2000WalsallH1–25,737Cummins
25 March 2000Bolton WanderersA1–212,292Viljanen
1 April 2000PortsmouthH2–05,426Viljanen, Widdrington
4 April 2000Charlton AthleticH2–24,513Viljanen, Burton
8 April 2000Ipswich TownA0–319,663
15 April 2000BarnsleyH2–25,918Burton, Widdrington
18 April 2000Tranmere RoversA1–25,602Healy
22 April 2000Norwich CityA0–015,526
24 April 2000Huddersfield TownH1–25,828Naylor
29 April 2000Nottingham ForestA0–215,534
7 May 2000Wolverhampton WanderersH0–18,525

FA Cup

RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorers
R312 December 1999Leeds UnitedA0–211,912

League Cup

RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorers
R1 1st Leg10 August 1999Chester CityA1–22,102Rougier
R1 2nd Leg24 August 1999Chester CityH4–42,625Naylor, Minton, Griffiths

Player statistics

Appearances

Top scorers

Transfers

Transfers in

Transfers out

Loans in