1983–84 Port Vale F.C. season

March 2015 March 2015 Port Vale 1983–84 John McGrath(until 5 December)John Rudge(from 5 December) Jim Lloyd Vale Park Football League Third Division 23rd (43 points) FA Cup First Round(eliminated by Lincoln City) League Cup Second Round(eliminated by Manchester United) Associate Members' Cup Second Round(eliminated by Bristol Rovers) Player of the Year Eamonn O'Keefe Eamonn O'Keefe (10) Eamonn O'Keefe (11) 19,855 vs. Manchester United, 3 October 1983 2,299 vs. Millwall, 14 May 1984 4,023 5–1 vs. Wrexham, 13 September 1983 0–7 vs. Burnley, 26 November 1983 _Vwideblack _white stripes _color_3_stripes_black ffffff ffffff ffffff 000000 ffffff _greenborder _greenVtop _greenborder FFFF00 FFFF00 FFFF00 1982–83 1984–85 The 1983–84 season was Port Vale's 72nd season of football in the English Football League, and first (15th overall) back in the Third Division following their promotion from the Fourth Division.Kent Jeff The Valiants' Years: The Story Of Port Vale Witan Books 1990 258–290 From Rags to Riches (1979–1990) 0-9508981-4-7 John McGrath began as manager before being replaced by John Rudge in December due to a dismal run of results. The season opened disastrously, as Vale endured an 18‑game winless streak, culminating in a humiliating 7–0 defeat at Burnley under the glare of television cameras. Rudge's appointment sparked a gradual revival — reflecting his motto "we cannot change things overnight" — but the recovery proved insufficient, and Vale were relegated, finishing 23rd, six points adrift of safety. On the field, Eamonn O'Keefe, serving as both league and season top scorer, netted 11 goals, while impressing enough to be named Player of the Year, and the emerging Mark Bright displayed early promise before departing at season's close. In cup action, Vale bowed out early, suffering a First Round exit in the FA Cup (to v) and a Second Round defeat in the League Cup, while their run in the Associate Members' Cup also ended in the Second Round. Despite the on-pitch woes, the club maintained average home attendance around 4,023, highlighting continued local support even amid adversity. A season defined by a calamitous start and management upheaval — Rudge's mid-season appointment steadied the ship, but Vale ultimately fell back to the Fourth Division amid a determined yet insufficient recovery. Overview Third Division The pre-season saw John McGrath pay Wigan Athletic £10,000 for Ireland international forward Eamonn O'Keefe. He also brought in three players on free transfers: midfielder Tommy Gore (Bury), defender Gary Pollard (Chesterfield), and goalkeeper Chris Pearce (Rochdale). The club reported record season ticket sales, however, several players refused to sign new contracts. As a result, Barry Siddall, Russell Bromage, Geoff Hunter, and Terry Armstrong remained on weekly contracts. The season began with McGrath's new attacking tactics failing miserably, despite a 2–0 win over Bristol Rovers in the fourth game of the programme. Steve Fox asked to be dropped, and Wayne Cegielski ended up on crutches with an Achilles tendon injury. Fifteen league games without a win followed, keeping the club rooted at the foot of the table. Notable results in the sequence included a "rip-roaring" 4–2 defeat at Wimbledon, their "worst performance of the season" in a 2–0 loss at Walsall, and a "dismal 3–0 defeat at Orient. The Sentinel'''s Chris Harper commented that "Vale cannot go on being applauded off the park as entertaining losers." Phil Sproson noted that the ongoing contract problems caused unrest in the camp. Siddall handed in his notice, whilst Bob Newton and £8,000 were traded to Chesterfield for the services of Martin Henderson. Bromage walked out on the club after they refused to give him a contract lasting beyond two years. On 31 October, McGrath had to use 41-year-old coach Alan Oakes in a 1–0 defeat to Plymouth Argyle. A first away points was gained with a 1–1 draw at Exeter City on 5 November. Chairman Jim Lloyd then blocked McGrath's attempt to sign defender Ken Fogarty, showing how little confidence the board had in their manager. McGrath complained in the media, only to be 'gagged', instructed only to speak to the media on team affairs. Supporters began organizing demonstrations against Lloyd, and in favour of McGrath. On 12 November, Vale lost 3–1 at home to third-placed Oxford United. Siddall and Bromage returned to sign new contracts. Steve Fox was suspended by the club for a fortnight after he refused to play in defence, and on 26 November Burnley thrashed Vale 7–0 at Turf Moor in front of Granada TV cameras; Kevin Reeves scored a hat-trick as Burnley led by six goals at half-time.Baggaley Mike Groundhog Day as Vale's league woes continue at Shrewsbury https://portvalethevaliant.substack.com/p/groundhog-day-as-vales-league-woes#poll-122837 26 November 2023 Valiant's Substack 26 November 2023 Starting December nine points adrift of safety, paying the third-highest wage bill in the division (£9,000 a week), and home gate receipts down to around £3,000, McGrath was suspended on full pay. The club received a flood of letters in protest, 'some just abusive', but McGrath left permanently after being compensated financially. On 3 December, Vale fell to a defeat to Gillingham, Terry Cochrane scoring the only goal of the game less than a minute from the start. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/135340717 The Daily Telegraph 17 November 2023 Newspapers.com limited Millwall take shine from Walsall 5 December 1983 26 November 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20231126215430/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-telegraph/135340717/ live John Rudge was appointed caretaker manager, and made his first signing by taking midfielder Kevin Young on loan from Burnley. His side were defeated 4–0 at Deepdale by Preston North End, and finished the game with just nine men. By now 13 points short of safety, and seven points from their nearest competitors, The Sentinel's Chris Harper believed them to be 'the poorest side in the Third Division by quite a long chalk'. The revival started the next day, with a 2–0 win over second-placed Sheffield United despite Sproson being absent through injury as John Ridley and Wayne Cegielski were excellent in central defence to keep Keith Edwards and Tony Philliskirk from scoring, whilst Geoff Hunter was man of the match in midfield.Baggaley Mike Recruitment, Burton and more https://portvalethevaliant.substack.com/p/recruitment-burton-and-more 17 August 2025 Valiant's Substack 14 August 2025 It was the first of four straight home wins that cut the gap to safety down to only four points, including a 2–0 victory over promotion-chasing Wimbledon.Baggaley Mike Fightback too late as Barnsley continue Vale's woeful home run https://portvalethevaliant.substack.com/p/fightback-too-late-as-barnsley-continue 27 December 2023 Valiant's Substack 27 December 2023Baggaley Mike Port Vale transfer window talking points https://portvalethevaliant.substack.com/p/port-vale-transfer-window-talking 21 January 2024 Valiant's Substack 21 January 2024 O'Keefe and Henderson formed a potent striking partnership, whilst Young added balance to the midfield. Jim Steel was sold off to Wrexham for £10,000. Rudge said the battle to avoid relegation was as difficult a job as 'trying to climb Everest in a pair of pumps'. Struggling again in February, their 4–2 win over Newport County lifted them off the bottom spot following Rudge giving the team a stern talking to at half-time with the scores level; reporter Chris Harper likened Newport goalkeeper Mark Kendall to an octopus for the number of saves he made during the match.Baggaley Mike Cheltenham defeat plunges Vale deeper into relegation trouble https://portvalethevaliant.substack.com/p/cheltenham-defeat-plunges-vale-deeper 19 February 2024 Valiant's Substack 18 February 2024 Following a 4–3 win over Brentford on 3 March, Rudge was appointed as manager until the end of the season. He took Millwall's Andy Massey on loan, but failed to re-sign Bob Newton. On 19 March, Vale defeated fellow strugglers Southend United 2–1 at Roots Hall, their first away game of the league campaign, it took them out of the relegation zone. The team found themselves two goals up against on 2 April, only to lose 3–2 to Rotherham United. The job only got more difficult for Rudge, however, as an injury crisis developed, and the team went nine games with just one victory. Leslie scored a late equaliser to deny Vale a 1–0 victory at Gillingham on 14 April. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/135822063 Evening Sentinel 26 November 2023 Newspapers.com limited Vale fighting spirit 16 April 1984 26 November 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20231126213341/https://www.newspapers.com/article/evening-sentinel/135822063/ live Young striker Mark Bright replaced the injured Martin Henderson and scored five times in the final six games, yet relegation was all but confirmed despite a 1–0 win over promotion-chasing Hull City. Just 2,299 turned up at Vale Park for a final day 1–0 victory over Millwall, yet a pitch invasion still ensued, with the invaders chanting "We'll be back". They finished in 23rd place, ahead only of Exeter City. Only Exeter and Wigan Athletic scored fewer, and only Exeter conceded more goals. Player of the Year Eamonn O'Keefe was top-scorer with eleven goals, yet it was Mark Bright who was a revelation. Finances On the financial side, a £50,601 profit was recorded with donations from the Development Fund of £146,177 and an income of £73,023 from the open market rents. Wages had been cut back to £310,542, whilst gate receipts rose to £180,504. The club's shirt sponsors were PMT. Steve Fox left for Chester City, and Gary Pollard joined Mansfield Town. However, Mark Bright signed with Leicester City against Rudge's wishes. A tribunal handed Vale £33,333 and top-up clauses. O'Keefe also requested a transfer, as he felt he would receive no further international caps playing in the fourth tier. Mick Cullerton, then Vale's commercial manager, later claimed that vast wage disparities in the squad caused discontent and reduced club morale.Kent Jeff Port Vale Tales: A Collection Of Stories, Anecdotes And Memories Witan Books December 1991 87 0-9508981-6-3 Cup competitions In the FA Cup, Vale were eliminated in the first round by Lincoln City with a 2–1 home defeat. In the League Cup, Vale 'ran riot' over Wrexham at the Racecourse Ground to go through to the second round 8–2 on aggregate. Coming up against Ron Atkinson's Manchester United, they were defeated 1–0 at home despite 'a workmanlike performance', and beaten 2–0 at Old Trafford in a 'credible' game. The home leg in Burslem saw a crowd of 19,855 – the highest crowd since the visit of West Ham United in 1973. This raised £45,873 in gate receipts for the club. However, a fifty-strong gang of Manchester thugs caused chaos in Burslem town centre, stabbing a man from Brown Edge. In the Associate Members' Cup, Vale beat Fourth Division side Hereford United 1–0 at Edgar Street. They were then beaten 2–0 at the Memorial Stadium by Bristol Rovers. Results Football League Third Division 1983–84 Football League League table Third Division y PTV Results by matchday table b Round Ground H/A/A/H/A/H/H/A/A/A/H/A/H/A/H/A/H/H/A/H/A/H/H/A/H/H/A/A/H/A/H/H/A/A/A/H/H/A/A/H/A/H/A/H/A/H Result D/L/L/W/L/L/D/L/L/L/L/L/L/D/L/L/L/L/L/W/L/W/W/D/W/L/D/L/W/L/W/D/L/W/L/L/W/D/D/D/L/L/D/W/L/W Position 13/17/18/16/18/21/19/21/23/24/24/24/24/24/24/24/24/24/24/24/24/24/24/24/24/24/24/24/23/23/22/21/21/20/21/22/22/22/22/23/23/23/23/23/23/23 Points 1p/1p/1p/4p/4p/4p/5p/5p/5p/5p/5p/5p/5p/6p/6p/6p/6p/6p/6p/9p/9p/12p/15p/16p/19p/19p/20p/20p/23p/23p/26p/27p/27p/30p/30p/30p/33p/34p/35p/36p/36p/36p/37p/40p/40p/43p Home Away green2 Win yellow2 Draw red2 Loss green1 red1 StattoPort Vale 1983–1984 : Results & Fixtures https://web.archive.org/web/20160304060606/http://www.statto.com/football/teams/port-vale/1983-1984/results 4 March 2016 . Statto Organisation. Retrieved 28 April 2012. Matches 1 27 August 1983 Port Vale 0–0 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-scunthorpe-united-27-august-1983-139128/ Scunthorpe United Vale Park Burslem 4,565 2 3 September 1983 Rotherham United 2–1 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/rotherham-united-v-port-vale-03-september-1983-139138/ Port Vale O'Keefe Millmoor Rotherham 4,847 3 6 September 1983 Millwall 3–2 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/millwall-v-port-vale-06-september-1983-139146/ Port Vale Steel The Den New Cross, Lewisham 4,061 4 10 September 1983 Port Vale 2–0 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-bristol-rovers-10-september-1983-139164/ Bristol Rovers Sproson Steel Vale Park Burslem 4,308 5 17 September 1983 Wimbledon 4–2 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/wimbledon-v-port-vale-17-september-1983-139177/ Port Vale Newton Plough Lane Wimbledon, London 2,690 6 24 September 1983 Port Vale 1–2 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-bradford-city-24-september-1983-139188/ Bradford City Fox Vale Park Burslem 4,879 7 26 September 1983 Port Vale 1–1 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-wigan-athletic-26-september-1983-139191/ Wigan Athletic Bromage Bruce Vale Park Burslem 4,655 8 1 October 1983 Walsall 2–0 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/walsall-v-port-vale-01-october-1983-139209/ Port Vale Fellows Park Walsall 3,757 9 14 October 1983 Orient 3–0 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/orient-v-port-vale-14-october-1983-139223/ Port Vale Brisbane Road Leyton, East London 3,207 10 18 October 1983 Brentford 3–1 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/brentford-v-port-vale-18-october-1983-139236/ Port Vale Bullivant G. Roberts McNichol Henderson Griffin Park Brentford, West London 3,903 11 22 October 1983 Port Vale 1–2 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-bolton-wanderers-22-october-1983-139255/ Bolton Wanderers Tartt Vale Park Burslem 4,269 12 29 October 1983 Newport County 2–1 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/newport-county-v-port-vale-29-october-1983-139265/ Port Vale Aldridge Reid Ridley Somerton Park Newport, Wales 3,829 13 31 October 1983 Port Vale 0–1 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-plymouth-argyle-31-october-1983-139272/ Plymouth Argyle Phillips Vale Park Burslem 3,466 14 5 November 1983 Exeter City 1–1 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/exeter-city-v-port-vale-05-november-1983-139287/ Port Vale Armstrong St James Park Exeter 3,301 15 12 November 1983 Port Vale 1–3 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-oxford-united-12-november-1983-139303/ Oxford United O'Keefe Thomas Hebberd Vale Park Burslem 3,927 16 26 November 1983 Burnley 7–0 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/burnley-v-port-vale-26-november-1983-139310/ Port Vale Hamilton 4 Reeves 13 pen. 45 49 Hutchison 19 Flynn 24 Donachie 27 Turf Moor Burnley 6,385 17 3 December 1983 Port Vale 0–1 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-gillingham-03-december-1983-139326/ Gillingham Cochrane Vale Park Burslem 3,086 18 17 December 1983 Port Vale 0–1 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-lincoln-city-17-december-1983-139337/ Lincoln City Vale Park Burslem 2,861 19 26 December 1983 Preston North End 4–0 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/preston-north-end-v-port-vale-26-december-1983-139352/ Port Vale Deepdale Preston, Lancashire 5,617 20 27 December 1983 Port Vale 2–0 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-sheffield-united-27-december-1983-139361/ Sheffield United O'Keefe Young Vale Park Burslem 7,034 21 31 December 1983 15:00 GMT Hull City 1–0 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/hull-city-v-port-vale-31-december-1983-139372/ Port Vale Roberts 72 Boothferry Park Kingston upon Hull 8,736 22 2 January 1984 Port Vale 2–1 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-afc-bournemouth-02-january-1984-139383/ AFC Bournemouth O'Keefe Henderson Vale Park Burslem 4,008 23 21 January 1984 Port Vale 2–0 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-wimbledon-21-january-1984-139405/ Wimbledon O'Keefe Bright Vale Park Burslem 3,627 24 28 January 1984 Bristol Rovers 0–0 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/bristol-rovers-v-port-vale-28-january-1984-139410/ Port Vale Eastville Stadium Bristol 6,142 25 30 January 1984 Port Vale 2–1 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-southend-united-30-january-1984-139414/ Southend United Henderson Ridley Vale Park Burslem 3,636 26 4 February 1984 Port Vale 0–2 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-walsall-04-february-1984-139427/ Walsall Vale Park Burslem 6,966 27 11 February 1984 Bradford City 2–2 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/bradford-city-v-port-vale-11-february-1984-139432/ Port Vale Henderson Gore pen. Valley Parade Bradford 5,435 28 14 February 1984 Plymouth Argyle 3–0 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/plymouth-argyle-v-port-vale-14-february-1984-139448/ Port Vale Staniforth Tynan Home Park Plymouth 3,552 29 18 February 1984 Port Vale 4–2 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-newport-county-18-february-1984-139456/ Newport County Henderson Tartt Young Bright V. Jones Lilygreen Vale Park Burslem 3,437 30 25 February 1984 Bolton Wanderers 2–0 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/bolton-wanderers-v-port-vale-25-february-1984-139460/ Port Vale Burnden Park Bolton 5,818 31 3 March 1984 Port Vale 4–3 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-brentford-03-march-1984-139482/ Brentford O'Keefe Gore pen. Fox G. Roberts Gray Joseph Vale Park Burslem 3,704 32 5 March 1984 Port Vale 2–2 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-exeter-city-05-march-1984-139486/ Exeter City Henderson Young Vale Park Burslem 4,338 33 10 March 1984 Oxford United 2–0 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/oxford-united-v-port-vale-10-march-1984-139504/ Port Vale McDonald Rhoades-Brown Manor Ground Oxford 7,858 34 19 March 1984 Southend United 1–2 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/southend-united-v-port-vale-19-march-1984-139520/ Port Vale Bright O'Keefe Roots Hall Southend-on-Sea 2,596 35 31 March 1984 Wigan Athletic 3–0 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/wigan-athletic-v-port-vale-31-march-1984-139548/ Port Vale Lowe Butler Springfield Park Wigan 3,163 36 2 April 1984 Port Vale 2–3 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-rotherham-united-02-april-1984-139549/ Rotherham United O'Keefe Massey pen. Vale Park Burslem 3,705 37 9 April 1984 Port Vale 2–0 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-orient-09-april-1984-139564/ Orient Henderson Hunter Vale Park Burslem 3,169 38 14 April 1984 Gillingham 1–1 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/gillingham-v-port-vale-14-april-1984-139573/ Port Vale Leslie Bright Priestfield Stadium Gillingham, Kent 3,323 39 17 April 1984 Scunthorpe United 1–1 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/scunthorpe-united-v-port-vale-17-april-1984-139585/ Port Vale Sproson Old Show Ground Scunthorpe 2,952 40 21 April 1984 Port Vale 1–1 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-preston-north-end-21-april-1984-139598/ Preston North End O'Keefe pen. Vale Park Burslem 3,574 41 24 April 1984 Sheffield United 3–1 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/sheffield-united-v-port-vale-24-april-1984-139611/ Port Vale Bright Bramall Lane Sheffield 14,385 42 28 April 1984 Port Vale 2–3 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-burnley-28-april-1984-139620/ Burnley Bright Young Daley 25 68 80 Vale Park Burslem 3,061 43 5 May 1984 AFC Bournemouth 1–1 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/afc-bournemouth-v-port-vale-05-may-1984-139632/ Port Vale Bright Dean Court Bournemouth 3,305 44 7 May 1984 19:30 BST Port Vale 1–0 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-hull-city-07-may-1984-139648/ Hull City Bright Vale Park Burslem 3,958 45 12 May 1984 Lincoln City 3–2 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/lincoln-city-v-port-vale-12-may-1984-139661/ Port Vale Bright Armstrong Sincil Bank Lincoln 1,372 46 14 May 1984 Port Vale 1–0 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-millwall-14-may-1984-139668/ Millwall Fox Vale Park Burslem 2,299 FA Cup 1983–84 FA Cup R1 19 November 1983 Port Vale 1–2 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-lincoln-city-19-november-1983-215163/ Lincoln City Bright Vale Park Burslem 3,647 League Cup 1983–84 Football League Cup R1 1st Leg 31 August 1983 19:30 BST Port Vale 3–1 W https://www.wrexhamafcarchive.co.uk/matchdetails.php?id=2400 Wrexham Sproson 34 90 O'Keefe 58 pen. Evans 39 Vale Park Burslem D. Scott 3,916 R1 2nd Leg 13 September 1983 19:30 BST Wrexham 1–5 W https://www.wrexhamafcarchive.co.uk/matchdetails.php?id=2401 Port Vale King 21 Hunter 10 Gore 25 Newton 34 36 Steel 81 Racecourse Ground Wrexham J. Deakin 2,903 2–8 R2 1st Leg 3 October 1983 Port Vale 0–1 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-manchester-united-03-october-1983-31035/ Manchester United Stapleton Vale Park Burslem 19,855 R2 2nd Leg 26 October 1983 Manchester United 2–0 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/manchester-united-v-port-vale-26-october-1983-31090/ Port Vale Wilkins Whiteside Old Trafford Old Trafford 23,589 3–0 Associate Members' Cup 1983–84 Associate Members' Cup R1 22 February 1984 Hereford United 0–1 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/hereford-united-v-port-vale--22-february-1984-291501/ Port Vale Tartt 17 Edgar Street Hereford 1,605 R2 13 March 1984 Bristol Rovers 2–0 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/bristol-rovers-v-port-vale--13-march-1984-291509/ Port Vale Eastville Stadium Bristol 2,597 Squad statistics Appearances and goals Key to positions: GK – Goalkeeper; DF – Defender; MF – Midfielder; FW – Forward Third Division FA Cup League Cup Associate Members' Cup GK WAL Chris Pearce 7 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 GK ENG Barry Siddall 39 0 1 0 3 0 2 0 DF ENG Russell Bromage 38 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 DF WAL Wayne Cegielski 39 0 0 0 4 0 1 0 DF ENG Gary Pollard 18 0 1 0 1 0 2 0 DF ENG Phil Sproson 38 2 0 0 4 2 2 0 MF ENG Terry Armstrong 19 2 1 0 1 0 0 0 MF JAM Robbie Earle 12 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 MF ENG Steve Fox 40 3 1 0 4 0 2 0 MF ENG Tommy Gore 36 2 1 0 4 1 2 0 MF ENG Geoff Hunter 42 1 1 0 4 1 2 0 MF ENG John Ridley 30 2 1 0 2 0 2 0 MF ENG Colin Tartt 22 2 1 0 4 0 2 1 MF ENG Kevin Young 28 4 0 0 0 0 2 0 FW ENG Mark Bright 26 9 1 1 2 0 2 0 FW SCO Martin Henderson 27 7 1 0 0 0 0 0 FW IRL Eamonn O'Keefe 37 10 1 0 4 1 1 0 FW ENG Andy Shankland 7 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 |- |colspan="14"|Players who featured but departed the club during the season:'' DF ENG Max Thompson 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 MF ENG Andy Massey 4 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 MF ENG Alan Oakes 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 MF ENG Winston White 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 FW ENG Bob Newton 7 2 0 0 2 2 0 0 FW SCO Jim Steel 15 3 1 0 3 1 0 0 |} Top scorers PlacePositionNationNameFourth DivisionFA CupLeague CupAssociate Members' CupTotal1FWIrelandEamonn O'Keefe10010112FWEnglandMark Bright9100103FWScotlandMartin Henderson700074MFEnglandKevin Young40004–DFEnglandPhil Sproson20204–FWScotlandJim Steel30104–FWEnglandBob Newton202048MFEnglandSteve Fox30003–MFEnglandTommy Gore20103–MFEnglandColin Tartt200131MFEnglandJohn Ridley20002–MFEnglandGeoff Hunter10102–MFEnglandTerry Armstrong2000214MFEnglandAndy Massey10001–DFEnglandRussell Bromage10001TOTALS5118161 Transfers Transfers in Date from Position Nationality Name From Fee Ref. 1983 MF ENG Alan Oakes Northwich Victoria Free transfer Kent Jeff Port Vale Personalities Witan Books 1996 0-9529152-0-0 June 1983 GK WAL Chris Pearce Rochdale Free transfer June 1983 DF ENG Gary Pollard Chesterfield Free transfer July 1983 MF ENG Tommy Gore Bury Free transfer July 1983 MF IRL Eamonn O'Keefe Wigan Athletic £10,000 October 1983 FW SCO Martin Henderson Chesterfield Exchange October 1983 MF ENG Winston White Chesterfield Trial Transfers out Date from Position Nationality Name To Fee Ref. Summer 1983 FW ENG Bob Newton Chesterfield Free transfer October 1983 MF ENG Winston White Stockport County Trial ended December 1983 MF ENG Alan Oakes Sacked January 1984 FW SCO Jim Steel Wrexham £10,000 1984 MF ENG Steve Fox Chester City Free transfer June 1984 FW ENG Mark Bright Leicester City £33,333 July 1984 DF ENG Gary Pollard Mansfield Town Free transfer Summer 1984 FW SCO Martin Henderson Spalding United Sacked Loans in Date from Position Nationality Name From Date to Ref. November 1983 DF ENG Max Thompson Bournemouth November 1983 December 1983 MF ENG Kevin Young Burnley End of season March 1984 MF ENG Andy Massey Millwall April 1984 Loans out Date from Position Nationality Name To Date to Ref. October 1983 DF ENG Russell Bromage Oldham Athletic October 1983 October 1983 GK ENG Barry Siddall Blackpool October 1983 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 Port Vale