1975–76 Port Vale F.C. season

March 2015 March 2015 Port Vale 1975–76 Roy Sproson Mark Singer Vale Park Football League Third Division 12th (46 points) FA Cup Second Round(eliminated by Huddersfield Town) League Cup First Round(eliminated by Hereford United) Player of the Year John Ridley Mick Cullerton (17) Mick Cullerton (21) 6,121 vs. Crystal Palace, 4 October 1975 2,789 vs. Grimsby Town, 20 December 1975 4,133 3–0 (twice) and 4–1 0–3 (twice) _black_stripes _collarblack _black_stripes _white stripes _3_stripes_white ffffff ffffff ffffff 000000 000000 1974–75 1976–77 The 1975–76 season was Port Vale's 64th season of football in the Football League, and their sixth-successive season (12th overall) in the Third Division.Kent Jeff The Valiants' Years: The Story Of Port Vale Witan Books 1990 227–257 Surviving on a Shoestring (1969–1979) 0-9508981-4-7 Roy Sproson remained at the helm as manager, overseeing a mid‑table finish as the team ended the season in 12th place, earning 46 points from 46 matches. Striker Mick Cullerton was a key acquisition, rejoining the club and ultimately finishing as both league and season top scorer with 17 league goals and 21 in all competitions. The campaign saw a dip in support amid the continued success of Potteries derby rivals Stoke City playing in Europe and at the top of the First Division, which contributed to more modest gates and the sale of talismanic midfielder Brian Horton to Brighton & Hove Albion for £30,000 as a financial necessity. In the FA Cup, Vale reached the Second Round, while they were ousted in the First Round of the League Cup, suffering defeat at the hands of Hereford United. Attendances reflected the club's struggle for drawing power, with an average home league attendance of just 4,133. The highest gate of the season came in a 6,121 crowd for the match against Crystal Palace, while the lowest turnout was 2,789 for the fixture with Grimsby Town. In a season marked by financial pragmatism and stiff competition for fans, Port Vale delivered a respectable mid‑table finish thanks largely to Mick Cullerton's goals, even as off‑field pressures dictated player sales. Overview Third Division The pre-season saw failed attempts by Roy Sproson to sign Wales internationals Mike England and Wyn Davies. Instead he bought back Mick Cullerton from Stafford Rangers for £4,000, who had scored over seventy goals for Rangers in his two seasons away from Burslem. Another former player, Ken Hancock, re-signed as a player-coach, however, he soon found himself unable to play as he had received a pay-out upon his retirement in 1973. Just two days before the opening game Sproson quickly signed versatile defender/midfielder Terry Lees from Stoke City for £3,000 and winger Geoff Morris from Bangor City for £200. The season opened with five draws, followed by two victories that took the Vale to second. The first victory came on 20 September, as they scored three goals without reply in a "top-notch display" at home to Swindon Town. Six games without a win soon brought the "Valiants" tumbling down the table, though, as Cullerton lost his scoring touch. Fans did a sponsored walk to Shrewsbury Town on 21 October that raised a useful £500, though the team could only lose by a goal to nil. At the end of October, Steve Taylor arrived on loan from Bolton Wanderers, who put more 'bite' into the Vale attack. The unbeaten home record was ended with a 1–0 defeat to Aldershot on 3 November. Home fans turned against the players, and coach Reg Berks was 'appalled by some of the abuse hurled at the players'. Taylor scored a brace past Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough on 8 November, only to return immediately to Bolton. The team's poor disciplinary record continued from the previous campaigns, and The Football Association put the club 'under constant review' after Sproson arrived 45 minutes late to a disciplinary hearing in London after missing his train. Cullerton was back in scoring form as the Vale picked up victories and rose up the table. A season-low crowd of 2,789 on 20 December saw Vale come from 3–0 down to Grimsby Town to win the match 4–3. To motivate the players coach Reg Berks had told them at half-time that he was facing the sack if the team lost the game.Kent Jeff Port Vale Tales: A Collection Of Stories, Anecdotes And Memories Witan Books December 1991 52 0-9508981-6-3 The promotion-chasers pulled away from Vale in the New Year, however. Cullerton ended the month in fine scoring form, and Vale found themselves eighth in the table. The team slumped to a 3–1 loss at bottom club Mansfield Town on 3 January. A rare event occurred on 17 January when the Vale directors permitted rivals Stoke to play a home game to Middlesbrough at Vale Park. This happened because a severe gale severely damaged the Victoria Ground; whilst the gale also caused £2,000 worth of damage to Vale Park, the damage to Stoke's ground was much more severe. A crowd of 21,009 saw Stoke win 1–0, the highest crowd at Vale Park in over a decade. On 9 February, John Brodie gashed his leg to the bone during a 1–1 draw at home to Southend United. On 16 February, Vale won 1–0 at home to Sheffield Wednesday as Derek Brownbill scored the only foal of the game 11 minutes from time whilst goalkeeper John Connaughton played in stitches after receiving a kick to the head.Baggaley Mike Keeping the promotion bid on track https://portvalethevaliant.substack.com/p/keeping-the-promotion-bid-on-track 16 February 2025 Valiant's Substack 16 February 2025 A week later Keith Chadwick lasted just seven minutes against Chester before he broke his nose and sustained ligament damage. Ray Williams managed to break a 21-game goal drought to earn a credible point at Cardiff City's Ninian Park on 25 February. Eight more points in the next four games took the club to within three points of the promotion zone. Yet in March, the club sold Brian Horton to Brighton & Hove Albion for £30,000, a sum the club needed to balance the books. Sproson said that the sale was "upsetting" but necessary due to the club's poor attendance.Baggaley Mike Vale left to reflect on Colchester defeat https://portvalethevaliant.substack.com/p/vale-left-to-reflect-on-colchester 12 March 2025 Valiant's Substack 12 March 2025 The club's form suffered immediately, resulting in mid-table. They did, though, manage to beat UEFA Cup Winners' Cup quarter-finalists Wrexham 3–1 on 5 April. Five days later, Brighton beat Vale 3–0 at the Withdean Stadium, and John Brodie broke his leg following a challenge from Peter O'Sullivan. They finished in twelfth place with 46 points. Mick Cullerton hit 21 goals in all competitions to become the club's top scorer. To celebrate the club's centenary, a friendly was played with Stoke City, which finished 1–1 in front of 9,825 spectators. Stoke generously allowed the Vale to pocket the entire £6,500 worth of takings from the match.Kent Jeff The Potteries Derbies Witan Books 169 November 1998 0-9529152-3-5 Finances On the financial side, the Horton transfer and donations of £19,965 from the Development Fund ensured a profit of £24,819. An increase in ticket prices offset the cost of a reduced average gate. An income of £2,775 was gained from renting out space to market traders; however, Stoke-on-Trent Council soon put a stop to this. Geoff Morris left on a free transfer in the summer, signing with Kidderminster Harriers. Cup competitions In the FA Cup, Vale progressed past Southern League side Grantham 4–1 in Burslem following a 2–2 draw away.Baggaley Mike Ready for Carlisle and more https://portvalethevaliant.substack.com/p/ready-for-carlisle-and-more 21 December 2024 Valiant's Substack 19 December 2024 This proved a lucky escape for Vale as Brownbill's equalising goal at Grantham was allowed to stand despite an obvious handball.Kent Jeff Port Vale Tales: A Collection Of Stories, Anecdotes And Memories Witan Books December 1991 254 0-9508981-6-3 Many Vale supporters said that the linesman had raised his flag, only to lower it after being threatened by irate Vale spectators.Johnson Dave Fifty Shades of Black & White: Tales From the Vale 178 In the second round they faced Fourth Division side Huddersfield Town at Leeds Road, and were eliminated 2–1 after Mick Cullerton missed an open goal late on, which chairman Mark Singer never let Cullerton forget.Substack Valiant's The FA Cup, celebrating fans and plans revealed https://portvalethevaliant.substack.com/p/the-fa-cup-celebrating-fans-and-plans 6 December 2025 Valiant's Substack 4 December 2025 In the League Cup, the new two-legged format only resulted in a 4–4 aggregate draw despite Vale having led by four goals at half-time of the first leg, and so a replay was held at Gay Meadow, Shrewsbury, which Hereford won 1–0 after Terry Bailey was sent off. Cullerton scored a hat-trick in the first leg, thereby making 'a fairytale come true' by hitting three in his first game back at Vale Park. Results Football League Third Division 1975–76 Football League League table Third Division y PVL Results by matchday table b Round Ground A/H/A/H/A/H/H/A/H/A/H/A/A/H/H/A/H/H/A/H/A/H/A/H/A/A/H/A/H/H/A/A/H/A/A/H/A/H/A/H/H/A/H/A/H/A Result D/D/D/D/D/W/W/L/D/L/D/L/L/W/L/W/L/W/L/W/W/W/L/W/L/W/D/L/D/W/L/D/W/W/D/D/L/L/D/D/W/L/D/W/D/L Position 11/11/13/13/13/7/4/8/9/11/10/13/18/13/13/12/17/13/16/14/10/8/8/8/11/7/9/10/8/8/9/10/10/9/8/8/10/12/11/12/10/11/11/11/10/12 Points 1p/2p/3p/4p/5p/7p/9p/9p/10p/10p/11p/11p/11p/13p/13p/15p/15p/17p/17p/19p/21p/23p/23p/25p/25p/27p/28p/28p/29p/31p/31p/32p/34p/36p/37p/38p/38p/38p/39p/40p/42p/42p/43p/45p/46p/46p Home Away green2 Win yellow2 Draw red2 Loss green1 red1 StattoPort Vale 1975–1976 : Results & Fixtures https://web.archive.org/web/20160915134202/http://www.statto.com/football/teams/port-vale/1975-1976/results 15 September 2016 . Statto Organisation. Retrieved 28 April 2012. Matches 1 16 August 1975 Hereford United 0–0 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/hereford-united-v-port-vale-16-august-1975-134708/ Port Vale Edgar Street Hereford 6,219 2 23 August 1975 Port Vale 1–1 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-preston-north-end-23-august-1975-134722/ Preston North End Cullerton Vale Park Burslem 4,282 3 30 August 1975 Peterborough United 0–0 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/peterborough-united-v-port-vale-30-august-1975-134734/ Port Vale London Road Stadium Peterborough D. Reeves 6,065 4 6 September 1975 Port Vale 1–1 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-brighton-and-hove-albion-06-september-1975-134746/ Brighton & Hove Albion Morris Vale Park Burslem 3,289 5 13 September 1975 Southend United 3–3 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/southend-united-v-port-vale-13-september-1975-134761/ Port Vale Dulson Cullerton pen. Tartt Roots Hall Southend-on-Sea 4,569 6 20 September 1975 Port Vale 3–0 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-swindon-town-20-september-1975-134772/ Swindon Town Bailey 20 83 Cullerton 66 Vale Park Burslem R. Robinson 3,720 7 22 September 1975 Port Vale 2–1 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-cardiff-city-22-september-1975-134777/ Cardiff City Cullerton 19 Lees 48 Brian Attley 84 Vale Park Burslem Ray Chadwick 5,143 8 27 September 1975 15:00 BST Wrexham 1–0 L https://www.wrexhamafcarchive.co.uk/matchdetails.php?id=3399 Port Vale Thomas 3 Racecourse Ground Wrexham R.W. Toseland 3,863 9 4 October 1975 Port Vale 0–0 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-crystal-palace-04-october-1975-134808/ Crystal Palace Vale Park Burslem 6,121 10 11 October 1975 Gillingham 2–1 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/gillingham-v-port-vale-11-october-1975-134819/ Port Vale Chadwick Priestfield Stadium Gillingham, Kent 5,041 11 18 October 1975 Port Vale 1–1 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-chesterfield-18-october-1975-134832/ Chesterfield Cullerton Vale Park Burslem 3,892 12 21 October 1975 Shrewsbury Town 1–0 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/shrewsbury-town-v-port-vale-21-october-1975-134844/ Port Vale Gay Meadow Shrewsbury 4,673 13 25 October 1975 Colchester United 1–0 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/colchester-united-v-port-vale-25-october-1975-134851/ Port Vale Foley 17 Layer Road Colchester A Turvey 3,053 14 1 November 1975 Port Vale 1–0 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-rotherham-united-01-november-1975-134866/ Rotherham United Ridley Vale Park Burslem 3,921 15 3 November 1975 Port Vale 0–1 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-aldershot-03-november-1975-134870/ Aldershot Vale Park Burslem 3,917 16 8 November 1975 Sheffield Wednesday 0–3 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/sheffield-wednesday-v-port-vale-08-november-1975-134890/ Port Vale Taylor Chadwick Hillsborough Stadium Owlerton 11,035 17 15 November 1975 Port Vale 0–1 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-chester-15-november-1975-134899/ Chester Lennard Vale Park Burslem 3,908 18 29 November 1975 Port Vale 2–0 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-millwall-29-november-1975-134912/ Millwall Horton Vale Park Burslem 3,580 19 6 December 1975 Walsall 3–1 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/walsall-v-port-vale-06-december-1975-134928/ Port Vale Horton Fellows Park Walsall 4,526 20 20 December 1975 Port Vale 4–3 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-grimsby-town-20-december-1975-134936/ Grimsby Town Cullerton Harris Lees Vale Park Burslem 2,789 21 26 December 1975 Halifax Town 1–3 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/halifax-town-v-port-vale-26-december-1975-134944/ Port Vale Cullerton Brownbill The Shay Halifax, West Yorkshire 2,959 22 27 December 1975 Port Vale 2–1 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-bury-27-december-1975-134958/ Bury Cullerton Bailey Vale Park Burslem 5,957 23 3 January 1976 Mansfield Town 3–1 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/mansfield-town-v-port-vale-03-january-1976-134966/ Port Vale Clarke Randall Cullerton Field Mill Mansfield 5,417 24 10 January 1976 Port Vale 2–0 W https://www.theposhtrust.co.uk/match/1009/19760110 Peterborough United Cullerton 33 Horton 86 Vale Park Burslem W. Johnson 4,013 25 17 January 1976 Swindon Town 2–1 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/swindon-town-v-port-vale-17-january-1976-134993/ Port Vale McLaughlin 75 Syrett 89 Brownbill 83 County Ground Swindon R.S. Lewis 5,730 26 24 January 1976 Chesterfield 0–1 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/chesterfield-v-port-vale-24-january-1976-134997/ Port Vale Cullerton Saltergate Chesterfield, Derbyshire 4,058 27 31 January 1976 Port Vale 0–0 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-shrewsbury-town-31-january-1976-135011/ Shrewsbury Town Vale Park Burslem 3,835 28 7 February 1976 Aldershot 2–0 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/aldershot-v-port-vale-07-february-1976-135021/ Port Vale Recreation Ground Aldershot 3,446 29 9 February 1976 Port Vale 1–1 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-southend-united-09-february-1976-135032/ Southend United Harris Vale Park Burslem 3,494 30 16 February 1976 Port Vale 1–0 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-sheffield-wednesday-16-february-1976-135046/ Sheffield Wednesday Brownbill Vale Park Burslem 5,569 31 21 February 1976 Chester 1–0 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/chester-v-port-vale-21-february-1976-135051/ Port Vale Redfern pen. Sealand Road Chester 5,914 32 25 February 1976 19:30 GMT Cardiff City 1–1 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/cardiff-city-v-port-vale-25-february-1976-135070/ Port Vale Doug Livermore 86 Williams 21 Ninian Park Cardiff Leslie Burden 9,109 33 28 February 1976 Port Vale 3–2 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-colchester-united-28-february-1976-135080/ Colchester United Cullerton 8Brownbill 75Bailey 90 Dyer 20 63 Vale Park Burslem C Seel 3,803 34 6 March 1976 Rotherham United 1–2 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/rotherham-united-v-port-vale-06-march-1976-135092/ Port Vale Dulson Williams Millmoor Rotherham 4,338 35 9 March 1976 Crystal Palace 2–2 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/crystal-palace-v-port-vale-09-march-1976-135098/ Port Vale Cullerton Tartt Selhurst Park Selhurst, Croydon 23,032 36 13 March 1976 Port Vale 1–1 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-gillingham-13-march-1976-135112/ Gillingham Williams Vale Park Burslem 3,517 37 20 March 1976 Millwall 1–0 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/millwall-v-port-vale-20-march-1976-135135/ Port Vale The Den New Cross, Lewisham 7,116 38 27 March 1976 Port Vale 1–2 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-walsall-27-march-1976-135152/ Walsall Bailey Vale Park Burslem 4,870 39 30 March 1976 Grimsby Town 1–1 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/grimsby-town-v-port-vale-30-march-1976-135160/ Port Vale Cullerton pen. Blundell Park Cleethorpes 4,533 40 3 April 1976 Port Vale 1–1 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-hereford-united-03-april-1976-135173/ Hereford United Griffiths 66 Davey 54 Vale Park Burslem 4,430 41 5 April 1976 19:30 BST Port Vale 3–1 W https://www.wrexhamafcarchive.co.uk/matchdetails.php?id=981 Wrexham Bailey 8 20 Tartt 63 Evans 65 Vale Park Burslem D.W. Lloyd 3,604 42 10 April 1976 Brighton & Hove Albion 3–0 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/brighton-and-hove-albion-v-port-vale-10-april-1976-135189/ Port Vale Goldstone Ground Hove 19,194 43 17 April 1976 Port Vale 1–1 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-halifax-town-17-april-1976-135216/ Halifax Town Beech Vale Park Burslem 3,169 44 19 April 1976 Bury 1–2 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/bury-v-port-vale-19-april-1976-135222/ Port Vale Cullerton McLaren Gigg Lane Bury, Greater Manchester 4,609 45 20 April 1976 Port Vale 2–2 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-mansfield-town-20-april-1976-135232/ Mansfield Town Bailey Tartt Clarke Vale Park Burslem 4,239 46 24 April 1976 Preston North End 3–0 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/preston-north-end-v-port-vale-24-april-1976-135244/ Port Vale Deepdale Preston, Lancashire 5,783 FA Cup 1975–76 FA Cup R1 20 November 1975 Grantham 2–2 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/grantham-town-v-port-vale-22-november-1975-213856/ Port Vale Brownbill London Road Grantham 2,853 Replay 24 November 1975 Port Vale 4–1 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-grantham-town-24-november-1975-213885/ Grantham Brownbill Cullerton Tartt Vale Park Burslem 4,851 R2 13 December 1975 Huddersfield Town 2–1 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/huddersfield-town-v-port-vale-13-december-1975-213904/ Port Vale Belfitt Baines Brownbill Leeds Road Huddersfield 6,218 League Cup 1975–76 Football League Cup R1 1st Leg 20 August 1975 Port Vale 4–2 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-hereford-united-18-august-1975-29755/ Hereford United Cullerton 23 28 43 pen.Bailey 26 Lindsay 52 64 Vale Park Burslem 3,787 R1 2nd Leg 27 August 1975 Hereford United 2–0 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/hereford-united-v-port-vale-27-august-1975-29803/ Port Vale Ritchie 61Carter 88 Edgar Street Hereford 4,107 4–4 Replay 1 September 1975 Hereford United 1–0 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/hereford-united-v-port-vale-01-september-1975-29811/ Port Vale Paine 88 Gay Meadow Shrewsbury 3,676 Squad statistics Appearances and goals Key to positions: GK – Goalkeeper; DF – Defender; MF – Midfielder; FW – Forward Third Division FA Cup League Cup GK ENG John Connaughton 45 0 3 0 3 0 DF ENG John Brodie 12 0 0 0 0 0 DF ENG Garry Dulson 30 2 1 0 3 0 DF ENG Neil Griffiths 32 1 2 0 1 0 DF ENG David Harris 32 2 2 0 3 0 DF ENG Terry Lees 41 2 3 0 3 0 DF ENG Trevor Robson 1 0 0 0 0 0 MF ENG Terry Bailey 43 8 3 0 3 1 MF ENG Kenny Beech 7 1 0 0 0 0 MF ENG Keith Chadwick 14 2 1 0 3 0 MF SCO Tommy McLaren 31 1 3 0 1 0 MF ENG Geoff Morris 15 1 0 0 2 0 MF ENG John Ridley 46 1 3 0 3 0 MF ENG Colin Tartt 42 4 3 1 3 0 FW ENG Derek Brownbill 36 4 3 5 2 0 FW SCO Mick Cullerton 41 17 3 1 3 3 FW ENG Ray Williams 29 3 3 0 2 0 |- |colspan="14"|Players who featured but departed the club during the season: GK ENG David Ryan 1 0 0 0 0 0 MF ENG Brian Horton 31 4 3 0 1 0 FW ENG Steve Taylor 4 2 0 0 0 0 FW ENG Tony Betts 1 0 0 0 0 0 |} Top scorers PlacePositionNationNameThird DivisionFA CupLeague CupTotal1FWScotlandMick Cullerton1713212MFEnglandTerry Bailey8019–FWEnglandDerek Brownbill45094MFEnglandColin Tartt41055MFEnglandBrian Horton40046FWEnglandRay Williams30037MFEnglandKeith Chadwick2002–FWEnglandSteve Taylor2002–DFEnglandDavid Harris2002–DFEnglandGarry Dulson2002–DFEnglandTerry Lees200212MFScotlandTommy McLaren1001–DFEnglandNeil Griffiths1001–MFEnglandJohn Ridley1001–MFEnglandKenny Beech1001–MFEnglandGeoff Morris1001TOTALS557466 Transfers Transfers in Date from Position Nationality Name From Fee Ref. June 1975 FW SCO Mick Cullerton Stafford Rangers £5,000 Kent Jeff Port Vale Personalities Witan Books 1996 0-9529152-0-0 August 1975 MF ENG Terry Lees Stoke City £3,000 August 1975 MF ENG Geoff Morris WAL Bangor City £200 September 1975 FW ENG Tony Betts USA Portland Timbers Trial Transfers out Date from Position Nationality Name To Fee Ref. November 1975 FW ENG Tony Betts Boldmere St. Michael's Trial ended 10 March 1976 MF ENG Brian Horton Brighton & Hove Albion £30,000 May 1976 MF ENG Geoff Morris Kidderminster Harriers Free transfer August 1976 MF ENG Terry Lees NED Sparta Rotterdam £25,000 Loans in Date from Position Nationality Name From Date to Ref. 29 October 1975 FW ENG Steve Taylor Bolton Wanderers November 1975 16 January 1976 GK ENG David Ryan Manchester United January 1976 References Specific General Kent Jeff The Port Vale Record 1879-1993 Witan Books 1993 0-9508981-9-8 Category:Port Vale F.C. seasons Port Vale