1987–88 Port Vale F.C. season

March 2015 March 2015 Port Vale 1987–88 John Rudge Bill Bell Vale Park Football League Third Division 11th (65 points) FA Cup Fifth Round(eliminated by Watford) League Cup First Round(eliminated by Northampton Town) Associate Members' Cup First Round(eliminated by Torquay United) Player of the Year Ray Walker Darren Beckford (9) Darren Beckford, David Riley (10 each) 22,483 vs. Watford, 20 February 1988 2,176 vs. Exeter City, 26 October 1987 3,847 5–0 vs. Doncaster Rovers, 2 April 1988 0–4 (twice) _blackpanel _collarblack _blackpanel _white stripes _color_3_stripes_black ffffff ffffff ffffff 000000 ffffff FFF400 FFF400 FFF400 008000 FFF400 1986–87 1988–89 The 1987–88 season was Port Vale's 76th season of football in the English Football League, and second-successive (17th overall) season in the Third 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 Under manager John Rudge and newly-appointed chairman Bill Bell, the club navigated a turbulent season, ultimately finishing 11th with 65 points, firmly mid-table. The sale of prolific striker Andy Jones for a then‑club record fee of £350,000 temporarily derailed the side, but reinvestment in players such as Darren Beckford, David Riley, and Simon Mills helped steady the ship. Vale enjoyed a notable cup run, highlighted by a famous 2–1 victory over top-flight Tottenham Hotspur in the Fourth Round of the FA Cup, before bowing out in a replay to Watford in the Fifth Round. However, they suffered early exits in both the League Cup and the Associate Members' Cup, going out in the First Round of each competition. Darren Beckford and David Riley finished as joint top scorers, with 10 goals each across all competitions. Ray Walker was a standout performer, earning the club's Player of the Year award and a place in the PFA Third Division Team of the Year. Attendances varied dramatically, with a high of 22,483 for the FA Cup tie against Watford and a low of 2,176 for the league match against Exeter City, averaging 3,847 over the season. Despite the mid-season upheaval following Andy Jones's departure, Vale recuperated through shrewd signings and a FA Cup run to maintain stability in the Third Division. Overview Third Division The pre-season saw Russell Bromage traded to Bristol City in exchange for Lawrie Pearson and £25,000. Jon Bowden was also sold to Wrexham for £12,500. The club also announced a new sponsorship deal with ABC Minolta, whilst the English Football League announced that midweek games would be played on Monday nights instead of Tuesday nights. John Rudge bought Darren Beckford from Manchester City for £15,000. The season began with Andy Jones scoring all four goals in his 100th appearance for the club to beat Aldershot by four goals to two.Baggaley Mike Defences on top in home opener https://portvalethevaliant.substack.com/p/defences-on-top-in-home-opener 18 August 2024 Valiant's Substack 18 August 2024 With Pearson performing poorly, Darren Hughes was signed from Brighton & Hove Albion for a £10,000 fee. Paul Smith was also offloaded to non-League side Lincoln City for £40,000. Vale then won three consecutive games to go top of the table. The team won three consecutive games to go top of the table on 14 September, concluding with a 4–1 win over Southend United. After goal machine Andy Jones was sold to First Division club Charlton Athletic for £350,000 – a sale Rudge likened to 'cutting off my right arm' – Vale slid down the table. Alex Williams was also forced to retire with a back injury, leading to the return of a fit-again Mark Grew in goal. More injuries came as Chris Banks had his nose broken after a reserve team match at Barnsley when he was attacked by a gang of youths whilst waiting at a fish and chip shop. Alan Webb then suffered second-degree burns at Preston North End's plastic pitch at Deepdale. In October, Rudge tried to replace Jones when he signed striker David Riley from Nottingham Forest for £20,000. Despite a good start, Riley soon entered a goal drought, as Vale went twelve league games without a win (including eight defeats). Robbie Earle missed much of this period with a hernia injury. In November, 26-year-old defender Kevin Steggles was signed from West Bromwich Albion for 'a small fee' to replace the still-injured Webb. More signings were made with former England international Peter Barnes arriving on loan from Manchester City, and 'hard-working' Simon Mills purchased from York City for £35,000. Barnes made his debut in a 4–0 loss at Mansfield Town on 20 December. Vale then found themselves sixth from the bottom after losing 3–1 at struggling Grimsby Town eight days later. Rumours of a Rudge exit from Vale Park came after Alan Oakes quit in protest after being demoted to youth coach, and 'taskmaster' Mike Pejic was promoted in his place. Nevertheless, he signed winger Gary Ford from Leicester City for £36,000, whilst Pearson had his contract cancelled by mutual consent. Ford made his debut in a "bitterly disappointing" 1–0 defeat to Chesterfield. Michael Cole also arrived on loan from Ipswich Town. Rudge switched from a formation of 4–4–2 to 4–3–3 and only one defeat followed in the next 13 league games. As Barnes returned to Manchester, Richard O'Kelly was transferred to Walsall. Cole was replaced by another loanee in 19-year-old Dean Holdsworth (from Watford), who found greater success with Vale. However, Gary Hamson was forced to retire through injury. On 13 February, Vale won 2–0 at home to Grimsby Town despite Ray Walker being sent off for stamping on a Grimsby defender's head – he was later fined £150 for bringing the game into disrepute. On 26 March, the team recorded a 2–1 victory over third-placed Walsall, and then thrashed Doncaster Rovers with five goals without reply the following week. A 5–0 win over Doncaster Rovers on 2 April helped the Vale into tenth place, giving Vale a faint hope of reaching the play-offs. Vale ended the season poorly however, winning just two of their final nine games. They finished in eleventh place with 65 points, ten points short of play-off contenders Bristol City. Top-scorers Beckford and Riley had managed ten goals each, just four more than Jones had done in his eight games. Ray Walker was honoured with the club's Player of the Year award and was selected for the PFA's Third Division Team of the Year. Finances On the financial side, the cup run and sale of Jones had raised a record profit of £410,239. Match receipts had increased by 67% to £380,387, whilst advertising and broadcast revenues had more than doubled to £157,861. The wage bill had also fallen to £367,836. Three players were given free transfers at the season's end: Kevin Steggles (Bury Town), Chris Banks (Exeter City), and Paul Maguire (Northwich Victoria). Cup competitions In the FA Cup, Vale put in their 'worst away performance of the season' in a 2–2 draw at Prenton Park. They managed to beat Tranmere Rovers 3–1 in the replay in Burslem. A 'splendid' performance then defeated Notts County 2–0. They overcame non-League Macclesfield Town with a lunging headed goal from Kevin Finney booking a fourth round home tie with Tottenham Hotspur after Macclesfield had come close to taking the lead when John Askey hit the post in the first half.Baggaley Mike Meeting challenges on and off the pitch https://portvalethevaliant.substack.com/p/meeting-challenges-on-and-off-the 9 January 2025 Valiant's Substack 9 January 2025 Ground improvements increased Vale Park's capacity, though a watered-down pitch persuaded "Spurs" boss Terry Venables to leave star man Osvaldo Ardiles on the bench.'All our players were fantastic that day' http://www.thisisstaffordshire.co.uk/Port-Vale-players-fantastic-day/story-18000633-detail/story.html 30 January 2013 The Sentinel 30 January 2013 Despite this, TV pundit Jimmy Greaves reckoned that "The only trouble Spurs will have at Port Vale, is finding the place."Spurs left grieving after being humbled by mighty Vale http://www.thisisstaffordshire.co.uk/Port-Vale-Spurs-left-grieving-humbled-mighty-Vale/story-18000588-detail/story.html 30 January 2013 The Sentinel 30 January 2013 As it happened, 20,045 turned up to witness a 'famous' 2–1 victory.Port Vale 2-1 Spurs 1988 http://www.onevalefan.co.uk/site/2012/01/vale-2-1-tottenham-hotspur-1989/ 10 November 2014 onevalefan.co.uk 30 January 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20150924060423/http://www.onevalefan.co.uk/site/2012/01/vale-2-1-tottenham-hotspur-1989/ 24 September 2015 dead dmy-all The "Valiants" were in 'another gear' as Ray Walker nailed a 'stunning' 25 yd strike and Phil Sproson scored the second vital goal. The club received £80,000 for the game from the BBC, with the match also broadcast on radio in Australia. The fourth round held Watford, and 22,483 turned up for the original goalless tie in Stoke-on-Trent (the highest Vale Park attendance since the visit of Liverpool in 1964). Grew received a lot of praise for his clean sheet performance.Baggaley Mike A huge home game, transfer and injury news https://portvalethevaliant.substack.com/p/a-huge-home-game-transfer-and-injury 22 February 2024 Valiant's Substack 22 February 2024 A further £87,699 was taken from the game. At the replay three days later at Vicarage Road, Vale were eliminated 2–0, though Vale were delighted with their £175,000 winning cup run. In the League Cup, 3,460 saw Vale's opening tie with Northampton Town fail 'to produce the passion of a schoolyard kickabout', though both sides had two players sent off in the 2–0 defeat. Vale were then thumped 4–0 at Sixfields to exit the tournament 6–0 on aggregate. In the Associate Members' Cup, Fourth Division strugglers Newport County beat the Vale 2–0 at Somerton Park, though a 2–0 home win over Exeter City took the Vale through the group stage. They were then eliminated by Torquay United at Plainmoor with a 1–0 loss. Results Football League Third Division 1987–88 Football League League table Third Division PVL Results by matchday table b Round Ground H/H/A/H/A/H/H/A/H/A/A/H/H/A/H/A/A/H/A/H/A/H/A/A/H/A/A/A/H/H/A/A/H/H/H/H/A/H/A/A/H/A/H/H/A/H Result W/D/L/W/W/W/D/L/W/L/L/W/W/L/D/L/D/D/L/L/L/D/L/L/L/W/D/W/W/W/L/W/W/D/W/W/W/D/L/L/D/L/W/L/W/D Position 2/11/13/13/9/1/7/11/2/10/12/9/4/9/9/13/13/13/14/15/17/17/19/19/19/18/18/16/16/16/17/15/14/13/13/12/10/10/10/11/11/13/10/12/11/11 Points 3p/4p/4p/7p/10p/13p/14p/14p/17p/17p/17p/20p/23p/23p/24p/24p/25p/26p/26p/26p/26p/27p/27p/27p/27p/30p/31p/34p/37p/40p/40p/43p/46p/47p/50p/53p/56p/57p/57p/57p/58p/58p/61p/61p/64p/65p Home Away green2 Win yellow2 Draw red2 Loss green1 red1 StattoPort Vale 1987–1988 : Results & Fixtures https://web.archive.org/web/20160304061208/http://www.statto.com/football/teams/port-vale/1987-1988/results 4 March 2016 . Statto Organisation. Retrieved 28 April 2012. Matches 1 15 August 1987 Port Vale 4–2 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-aldershot-15-august-1987-141336/ Aldershot Jones pen. Vale Park Burslem 3,160 2 29 August 1987 Port Vale 0–0 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-rotherham-united-29-august-1987-141357/ Rotherham United Vale Park Burslem 2,895 3 31 August 1987 Bristol City 1–0 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/bristol-city-v-port-vale-31-august-1987-141362/ Port Vale Ashton Gate Ashton Gate, Bristol 8,716 4 5 September 1987 Port Vale 2–1 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-york-city-05-september-1987-141381/ York City Jones Harper Vale Park Burslem 2,711 5 12 September 1987 Chesterfield 1–3 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/chesterfield-v-port-vale-12-september-1987-141388/ Port Vale Earle Jones O'Kelly Saltergate Chesterfield, Derbyshire 2,406 6 14 September 1987 Port Vale 4–1 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-southend-united-14-september-1987-141397/ Southend United Maguire Walker Harper Vale Park Burslem 3,670 7 19 September 1987 Port Vale 1–1 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-fulham-19-september-1987-141418/ Fulham Maguire pen. Vale Park Burslem 3,894 8 26 September 1987 15:00 BST Northampton Town 1–0 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/northampton-town-v-port-vale-26-september-1987-141427/ Port Vale Chard County Cricket Ground Northampton Colin Downey 5,072 9 28 September 1987 Port Vale 2–0 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-brighton-and-hove-albion-28-september-1987-141433/ Brighton & Hove Albion Beckford Hughes Vale Park Burslem 3,789 10 3 October 1987 Brentford 1–0 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/brentford-v-port-vale-03-october-1987-141446/ Port Vale Sinton Griffin Park Brentford, West London 4,007 11 10 October 1987 Preston North End 3–2 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/preston-north-end-v-port-vale-10-october-1987-141462/ Port Vale Walker Deepdale Preston, Lancashire 6,375 12 17 October 1987 Port Vale 1–0 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-bury-17-october-1987-141476/ Bury Beckford Vale Park Burslem 3,235 13 19 October 1987 Port Vale 2–1 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-bristol-rovers-19-october-1987-141479/ Bristol Rovers Maguire pen. Riley Vale Park Burslem 3,598 14 24 October 1987 Walsall 2–1 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/walsall-v-port-vale-24-october-1987-141502/ Port Vale Riley Fellows Park Walsall 6,083 15 31 October 1987 Port Vale 0–0 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-gillingham-31-october-1987-141510/ Gillingham Vale Park Burslem 3,495 16 4 November 1987 Chester City 1–0 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/chester-city-v-port-vale-04-november-1987-141524/ Port Vale Rimmer pen. Sealand Road Chester 2,825 17 7 November 1987 Doncaster Rovers 1–1 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/doncaster-rovers-v-port-vale-07-november-1987-141530/ Port Vale Sproson Belle Vue Doncaster 1,365 18 22 November 1987 Port Vale 0–0 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-blackpool-22-november-1987-141549/ Blackpool Vale Park Burslem 3,594 19 28 November 1987 Sunderland 2–1 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/sunderland-v-port-vale-28-november-1987-141558/ Port Vale Gates 19 MacPhail 38 Riley 73 Roker Park Sunderland David Allison 15,655 20 12 December 1987 Port Vale 1–3 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-notts-county-12-december-1987-141571/ Notts County Riley Vale Park Burslem 3,358 21 20 December 1987 Mansfield Town 4–0 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/mansfield-town-v-port-vale-20-december-1987-141586/ Port Vale Kent Field Mill Mansfield 3,173 22 26 December 1987 15:00 GMT Port Vale 1–1 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-northampton-town-26-december-1987-141597/ Northampton Town Hamson pen. Singleton Vale Park Burslem 4,446 23 28 December 1987 Grimsby Town 3–1 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/grimsby-town-v-port-vale-28-december-1987-141605/ Port Vale Hamson Blundell Park Cleethorpes 2,941 24 1 January 1988 Rotherham United 1–0 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/rotherham-united-v-port-vale-01-january-1988-141619/ Port Vale Millmoor Rotherham 3,911 25 2 January 1988 Port Vale 0–1 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-chesterfield-02-january-1988-141632/ Chesterfield Vale Park Burslem 3,495 26 16 January 1988 Fulham 1–2 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/fulham-v-port-vale-16-january-1988-141647/ Port Vale Mills Riley Craven Cottage Fulham, West London 3,792 27 22 January 1988 Southend United 3–3 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/southend-united-v-port-vale-22-january-1988-141654/ Port Vale Riley Ford Mills Roots Hall Southend-on-Sea 3,038 28 6 February 1988 York City 2–3 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/york-city-v-port-vale-06-february-1988-141677/ Port Vale Cole Sproson Mills Bootham Crescent York 2,420 29 13 February 1988 Port Vale 2–0 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-grimsby-town-13-february-1988-141687/ Grimsby Town Earle Vale Park Burslem 3,417 30 27 February 1988 Port Vale 1–0 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-brentford-27-february-1988-141716/ Brentford Beckford Vale Park Burslem 3,876 31 2 March 1988 Brighton & Hove Albion 2–0 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/brighton-and-hove-albion-v-port-vale-02-march-1988-141727/ Port Vale Goldstone Ground Hove 7,303 32 5 March 1988 Bury 0–1 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/bury-v-port-vale-05-march-1988-141733/ Port Vale Beckford Gigg Lane Bury, Greater Manchester 2,635 33 12 March 1988 Port Vale 3–2 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-preston-north-end-12-march-1988-141753/ Preston North End Sproson Walker og. Vale Park Burslem 4,647 34 19 March 1988 Gillingham 0–0 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/gillingham-v-port-vale-19-march-1988-141764/ Port Vale Priestfield Stadium Gillingham, Kent 3,367 35 26 March 1988 Port Vale 2–1 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-walsall-26-march-1988-141779/ Walsall Holdsworth Riley Vale Park Burslem 6,347 36 2 April 1988 Port Vale 5–0 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-doncaster-rovers-02-april-1988-141792/ Doncaster Rovers Beckford pen. Riley Walker Vale Park Burslem 3,680 37 4 April 1988 Blackpool 1–2 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/blackpool-v-port-vale-04-april-1988-141797/ Port Vale Taylor Ford Beckford Bloomfield Road Blackpool 5,516 38 9 April 1988 Port Vale 1–1 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-chester-city-09-april-1988-141816/ Chester City Holdsworth Lundon Vale Park Burslem 4,278 39 12 April 1988 Wigan Athletic 2–0 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/wigan-athletic-v-port-vale-12-april-1988-141821/ Port Vale Thompson Campbell Springfield Park Wigan 4,438 40 15 April 1988 Aldershot 3–0 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/aldershot-v-port-vale-15-april-1988-141822/ Port Vale Recreation Ground Aldershot 2,257 41 18 April 1988 Port Vale 1–1 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-bristol-city-18-april-1988-141827/ Bristol City Mills Vale Park Burslem 2,671 42 23 April 1988 Bristol Rovers 1–0 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/bristol-rovers-v-port-vale-23-april-1988-141831/ Port Vale Twerton Park Bath, Somerset 3,280 43 25 April 1988 Port Vale 2–1 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-wigan-athletic-25-april-1988-141841/ Wigan Athletic Ford Walker Hughes og. Vale Park Burslem 3,044 44 30 April 1988 Port Vale 0–1 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-sunderland-30-april-1988-141852/ Sunderland Gates 79 Vale Park Burslem Keith Cooper 7,569 45 2 May 1988 Notts County 1–2 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/notts-county-v-port-vale-02-may-1988-141864/ Port Vale Beckford Earle Meadow Lane Nottingham 7,702 46 7 May 1988 Port Vale 1–1 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-mansfield-town-07-may-1988-141874/ Mansfield Town Mills Owen Vale Park Burslem 3,617 FA Cup 1987–88 FA Cup R1 14 November 1987 Tranmere Rovers 2–2 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/tranmere-rovers-v-port-vale-14-november-1987-215823/ Port Vale Maguire og. Prenton Park Prenton 4,035 Replay 16 November 1987 Port Vale 3–1 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-tranmere-rovers-16-november-1987-215829/ Tranmere Rovers O'Kelly Hamson Riley Vale Park Burslem 4,097 R2 5 December 1987 Port Vale 2–0 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-notts-county-05-december-1987-215848/ Notts County Beckford Sproson Vale Park Burslem 5,039 R3 10 January 1988 Port Vale 1–0 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-macclesfield-town-10-january-1988-215894/ Macclesfield Town Finney Vale Park Burslem 10,808 R4 30 January 1988 Port Vale 2–1 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-tottenham-hotspur-30-january-1988-215919/ Tottenham Hotspur Walker Sproson Ruddock Vale Park Burslem 20,045 R5 20 February 1988 Port Vale 0–0 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-watford-20-february-1988-215930/ Watford Vale Park Burslem 22,483 Replay 23 February 1988 Watford 2–0 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/watford-v-port-vale-23-february-1988-215934/ Port Vale Senior Porter Vicarage Road Watford 18,539 League Cup 1987–88 Football League Cup R1 1st Leg 17 August 1987 19:30 BST Port Vale 0–1 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-northampton-town-17-august-1987-31634/ Northampton Town Longhurst Vale Park Burslem 3,460 R1 2nd Leg 2 September 1987 19:30 BST Northampton Town 4–0 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/northampton-town-v-port-vale-02-september-1987-31688/ Port Vale McPherson Morley County Cricket Ground Northampton Terry Holbrook 4,748 5–0 Associate Members' Cup 1987–88 Associate Members' Cup Preliminary 13 October 1987 Newport County 2–0 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/newport-county-v-port-vale-13-october-1987-291792/ Port Vale P. Giles Gibbins Somerton Park Newport, Wales 569 Preliminary 26 October 1987 Port Vale 2–0 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-exeter-city-26-october-1987-291793/ Exeter City O'Kelly Riley Vale Park Burslem 2,176 R1 19 January 1988 Torquay United 1–0 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/torquay-united-v-port-vale-19-january-1988-291818/ Port Vale Plainmoor Torquay 2,624 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 ENG Mark Grew 41 0 6 0 0 0 3 0 DF ENG Chris Banks 14 0 2 0 2 0 3 0 DF ENG Bob Hazell 43 0 6 0 1 0 2 0 DF ENG Darren Hughes 43 1 7 0 0 0 3 0 DF ENG Simon Mills 19 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 DF ENG Phil Sproson 44 3 7 2 2 0 1 0 DF ENG Kevin Steggles 20 0 5 0 0 0 1 0 DF ENG Alan Webb 26 0 1 0 2 0 0 0 MF ENG Steve Davies 6 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 MF JAM Robbie Earle 25 4 4 0 1 0 0 0 MF ENG Kevin Finney 15 0 4 1 0 0 3 0 MF ENG Gary Ford 23 3 4 0 0 0 1 0 MF ENG Steve Harper 21 2 0 0 2 0 2 0 MF SCO Paul Maguire 28 4 5 1 2 0 3 0 MF ENG Andy Porter 6 0 1 0 1 0 1 0 MF ENG Ray Walker 42 6 7 1 1 0 3 0 FW ENG Darren Beckford 40 9 6 1 2 0 2 0 FW ENG Dean Holdsworth 6 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 FW ENG David Riley 34 8 7 1 0 0 2 1 |- |colspan="14"|Players who featured but departed the club during the season: GK WAL Alan Simons 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 GK ENG Alex Williams 4 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 DF ENG Lawrie Pearson 3 0 0 0 2 0 1 0 MF ENG Gary Hamson 11 2 4 1 2 0 1 0 MF ENG Paul Smith 2 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 FW ENG Peter Barnes 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 FW ENG Michael Cole 4 1 3 0 0 0 1 0 FW WAL Andy Jones 6 6 0 0 2 0 0 0 FW ENG Richard O'Kelly 16 1 3 1 1 0 2 1 FW ENG Brian Palgrave 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 |} Top scorers PlacePositionNationNameThird DivisionFA CupLeague CupAssociate Members' CupTotal1FWEnglandDarren Beckford910010–FWEnglandDavid Riley8101103MFEnglandRay Walker610074FWWalesAndy Jones600065DFEnglandSimon Mills50005–MFScotlandPaul Maguire41005–DFEnglandPhil Sproson320058MFJamaicaRobbie Earle400049MFEnglandGary Ford30003–MFEnglandGary Hamson21003–FWEnglandRichard O'Kelly1101312MFEnglandSteve Harper20002–FWEnglandDean Holdsworth2000214FWEnglandMichael Cole10001–DFEnglandDarren Hughes10001–MFEnglandKevin Finney01001––Own goals11002TOTALS58100270 Transfers Transfers in Date from Position Nationality Name From Fee Ref. August 1987 DF ENG Lawrie Pearson Bristol City Exchange Kent Jeff Port Vale Personalities Witan Books 1996 0-9529152-0-0 September 1987 DF ENG Darren Hughes Brighton & Hove Albion £5,000 October 1987 FW ENG Brian Palgrave Walsall Trial 19 October 1987 FW ENG David Riley Nottingham Forest £20,000 28 November 1987 DF ENG Kevin Steggles West Bromwich Albion 'small' December 1987 MF ENG Steve Davies Congleton Town Free transfer 24 December 1987 DF ENG Simon Mills York City £35,000 31 December 1987 MF ENG Gary Ford Leicester City £35,000 Transfers out Date from Position Nationality Name To Fee Ref. 26 September 1987 FW WAL Andy Jones Charlton Athletic £350,000 September 1987 MF ENG Paul Smith Lincoln City £40,000 September 1987 GK ENG Alex Williams Retired January 1988 FW ENG Richard O'Kelly Walsall Free transfer January 1988 FW ENG Brian Palgrave Nuneaton Borough Trial ended January 1988 DF ENG Lawrie Pearson Whitley Bay Mutual consent March 1988 MF ENG Gary Hamson Retired March 1988 GK WAL Alan Simons Released May 1988 MF SCO Paul Maguire Northwich Victoria Free transfer May 1988 DF ENG Kevin Steggles Bury Town Free transfer June 1988 DF ENG Chris Banks Exeter City Free transfer Loans in Date from Position Nationality Name From Date to Ref. 2 September 1987 DF ENG Darren Hughes Brighton & Hove Albion September 1987 19 December 1987 MF ENG Peter Barnes Manchester City 1988 15 January 1988 FW ENG Michael Cole Ipswich Town 29 January 1988 18 March 1988 FW ENG Dean Holdsworth Watford End of season 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