2005–06 Port Vale F.C. season


The 2005–06 season was Port Vale's 94th season of football in the English Football League, and second successive season in League One. They finished in mid-table, and exited the League Cup at the First Round and the League Trophy at the Second Round. In the FA Cup, Vale made it to the Fourth Round, where they were knocked out 3–1 by top-flight Aston Villa. Foyle's efforts to build a promotion-winning team were boosted when Vale gained striker Leon Constantine, but his efforts were hindered with the sales of both Sam Collins and Billy Paynter.
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had another solid season.

Overview

League One

The pre-season saw Martin Foyle sign Mickey Bell and Hector Sam on free transfers from Bristol City and Wrexham respectively. He also took in promising young striker Chris Cornes on loan from Wolverhampton Wanderers, who would impress in a Vale shirt.
The season started with fourteen points from seven games to launch the club's promotion bid. After three defeats the Vale then entered a long period of inconsistent form. In September, Darrell Clarke joined on loan from Hartlepool United, though he would play just the one game for the club. Gary Mulligan also arrived on loan from Sheffield United, and would find greater success in Burslem. The next month Foyle added to the squad by signing Michael Husbands from Walsall. In November, Sam Togwell joined on loan from Scunthorpe United, in an initial six week deal that was extended until the end of the season. Another long-term loan deal was struck with Leyton Orient for big defender Clayton Fortune, who would later turn down a permanent transfer to Vale Park after failing to agree on personal terms. Foyle also made possibly the best signing of his spell in charge at Vale, bringing striker Leon Constantine in from Torquay United for a £20,000 fee. However Foyle lost two big players, when key defender Sam Collins and promising striker Billy Paynter were sold to Hull City for £65,000 and £150,000 respectively, the pair leaving on loan deals until the January transfer window. Four straight defeats followed this, emphasising the effect the sales had on the club's promotion bid. In January, Bell moved on to Cheltenham Town, and Hector Sam joined Walsall. In came Jason Talbot on loan from Mansfield Town, who joined the club permanently at the end of the season. Foyle also signed defender Mark McGregor from Blackpool, and midfielder Sean Doherty from ADO Den Haag. A sequence of two points in five games killed off the Vale's promotion hopes by April.
They finished in thirteenth place with sixty points, some distance from both promotion and relegation. Only the four relegated teams scored fewer goals than Vale, and Constantine was the club's top-scorer with twelve goals, closely followed by Cummins with eleven.
At the end of the season nine players departed the club: Lee Matthews ; Hector Sam ; Steve Rowland ; Tony Dinning ; Micky Cummins ; Jonny Brain ; Mark Innes ; Sean Doherty ; and Craig James. Andy Porter retired to concentrate on his coaching. With Dinning's departure, George Pilkington was appointed club captain. World Cup international winger Chris Birchall was also sold to Coventry City for £325,000.

Finances

On the financial side, Bill Bratt's cost-cutting measures had reduced the club's operating losses from £500,000 to £50,000. Despite this, the club took out a £2.25 million loan from the local council, with monthly repayments of around £19,000. Bratt continued to try and woo elderly North American millionaires, but Steve Stavro did not follow up his initial interest with any investment. In October 2005, the club turned down an investment group that wished to appoint Paul Gascoigne as manager. Foyle said "We need a cup run, or an investor, to give us a kick-start because we aren't doing too badly". He got his wish with an expected income of £250,000 from the Villa game. In February, lifelong fan Robbie Williams bought £240,000 of the £250,000 worth of available shares in the club. In April, the club announced a new record-breaking shirt sponsorship deal with BGC Gas. The club also announced Bill Bratt would now be a paid chief executive.

Cup competitions

In the FA Cup, Vale advanced past Wrexham to reach a Second Round encounter with Bristol Rovers. A late equalizer from Constantine earned Vale a replay, and a Chris Birchall strike gave the "Valiants" victory at the Memorial Stadium. They then made it to the Fourth Round after a 2–1 win over Doncaster Rovers thanks to a brace from loanee Sam Togwell. They faced a trip to Villa Park to face Premier League Aston Villa, where they were defeated 3–1 after a brace from Milan Baroš.
In the League Cup, Vale were knocked out 3–1 by Rotherham United at the Don Valley Stadium, with Hector Sam breaking his leg during the game.
In the League Trophy, Vale received a bye in the First Round, but in the Second Round were embarrassed to lose 2–1 to Conference club Hereford United at Edgar Street, after a Tamika Mkandawire header in extra-time.

League table

Results

Port Vale's score comes first

Football League One

Results by matchday

Matches

DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers
6 August 2005Southend UnitedA2–16,543Lowndes
9 August 2005GillinghamH0–04,931
15 August 2005BrentfordH1–04,275Cummins
20 August 2005Bristol CityA2–411,120Lowndes, Bell
27 August 2005Doncaster RoversH2–04,993Lowndes, Dinning
29 August 2005Milton Keynes DonsA0–04,592
3 September 2005Rotherham UnitedH2–04,528Lowndes, Paynter
10 September 2005Scunthorpe UnitedA0–25,694
17 September 2005Colchester UnitedH0–15,166
24 September 2005Yeovil TownA0–15,901
28 September 2005Oldham AthleticH2–23,796Cornes
1 October 2005WalsallH3–25,314Birchall, Mulligan, Cornes
8 October 2005Swindon TownA2–14,531Bell, Cornes
15 October 2005Bradford CityH0–14,892
22 October 2005BournemouthA2–16,320Cummins, Paynter
29 October 2005Hartlepool UnitedH1–24,550Cummins
12 November 2005ChesterfieldA0–24,714
19 November 2005Swindon TownH1–14,108Husbands
26 November 2005Southend UnitedH2–13,961Constantine, Husbands
6 December 2005Nottingham ForestA0–117,696
10 December 2005GillinghamA0–36,210
17 December 2005Bristol CityH0–14,214
26 December 2005BlackpoolH1–25,666Fortune
28 December 2005Huddersfield TownA3–010,824Constantine, Dinning
31 December 2005Tranmere RoversH0–24,489
2 January 2006Swansea CityA0–014,747
10 January 2006Rotherham UnitedA1–13,883Husbands
14 January 2006BarnsleyH3–24,468Sonner, Constantine, Togwell
21 January 2006Colchester UnitedA1–24,316Husbands
4 February 2006Oldham AthleticA1–05,555Constantine
11 February 2006Yeovil TownH1–04,732Constantine
14 February 2006BarnsleyA1–17,709Cummins
18 February 2006Nottingham ForestH0–26,793
25 February 2006BrentfordA1–07,542Smith
28 February 2006Scunthorpe UnitedH1–23,984Cummins
11 March 2006Doncaster RoversA1–15,511Constantine
18 March 2006BlackpoolA0–15,494
25 March 2006Huddersfield TownH1–15,664Cummins
31 March 2006Tranmere RoversA0–36,926
4 April 2006Milton Keynes DonsH3–13,452Constantine, Cummins
8 April 2006Swansea CityH3–24,850Togwell, Cummins, Constantine
15 April 2006WalsallA1–14,876Fortune
17 April 2006BournemouthH0–04,006
22 April 2006Bradford CityA0–17,139
29 April 2006ChesterfieldH3–14,478Pilkington, Cummins
6 May 2006Hartlepool UnitedA1–16,895Cummins

FA Cup

RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorers
R14 November 2005WrexhamH2–15,046Husbands, Constantine
R22 December 2005Bristol RoversH1–14,483Constantine
R2 Replay13 December 2005Bristol RoversA1–05,623Birchall
R36 January 2006Doncaster RoversH2–14,923Togwell
R428 January 2006Aston VillaA1–330,434Lowndes

League Cup

RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorers
R123 August 2005Rotherham UnitedA1–32,809Cummins

League Trophy

RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorers
R222 November 2005Hereford UnitedA1–21,355Smith

Player statistics

Appearances

Top scorers

Transfers

Transfers in

Transfers out

Loans in

Loans out