1991–92 Port Vale F.C. season

March 2015 March 2015 Port Vale 1991–92 John Rudge Bill Bell Vale Park Football League Second Division 24th (45 points) FA Cup Third Round(eliminated by Sunderland) League Cup Third Round(eliminated by Liverpool) Full Members Cup Second Round(eliminated by Leicester City) Player of the Year Mark Grew Martin Foyle (11) Martin Foyle (16) 18,725 vs. Liverpool, 20 November 1991 4,722 vs. Notts County, 24 September 1991 7,382 2–0 (twice) 0–4 vs. Leicester City, 23 October 1991 _thinblackstripes _black_thin_stripes _thinblackstripes _whitesides _band_black ffffff ffffff ffffff 000000 ffffff _portvale2223a _portvale2223a _portvale2223a _portvale2223a add8e6 add8e6 add8e6 add8e6 add8e6 1990–91 1992–93 The 1991–92 season was Port Vale's 80th season of football in the English Football League, and third successive (35th overall) season in the Second Division. For only the third time in their history, they competed in a division above rivals Stoke City. Under manager John Rudge and chairman Bill Bell, the club endured a dismal campaign and finished bottom of the table with 45 points, falling five points short of safety and suffering relegation. In response to the departures of star forwards Darren Beckford and Robbie Earle — sold for a combined £1.7 million — Rudge reinvested £375,000 in Martin Foyle, who swiftly proved his worth by becoming the season's top scorer with 11 league goals and 16 in all competitions. The reliable goalkeeper Mark Grew earned the Player of the Year award for his consistently solid performances between the posts. Cup runs offered little solace: in the FA Cup, Vale bowed out in the Third Round, eliminated by Sunderland; in the League Cup, they earned a memorable 2–2 draw at Anfield with Liverpool, only to suffer defeat in the replay; and their Full Members' Cup campaign ended in the Second Round against Leicester City. Attendance figures reflected the season's inconsistent fortunes: the highest home crowd peaked at 18,725 against Liverpool on 20 November 1991, while the lowest was just 4,722 against Notts County on 24 September, culminating in an average home league attendance of 7,382. Vale's biggest wins were slim – 2–0 victories recorded twice – while their most significant loss came in a heavy 4–0 defeat to Leicester City on 23 October 1991. Vale's third-tier survival proved elusive, as the loss of key players and mounting inconsistency culminated in relegation despite Foyle's goals and Grew's heroic displays. Overview Second Division The pre-season saw John Rudge sign aged striker Keith Houchen from Hibernian for £100,000. He also spent £300,000 on Hull City defender Peter Swan. This money was raised through the sale of top-scorer Darren Beckford to Norwich City for £925,000 after a Football League tribunal (Vale had wanted £1.5 million). As well as losing his star striker, Rudge had to deal with the departure of his midfield dynamo, Robbie Earle having been sold to Wimbledon for £775,000. To replace Beckford, Rudge signed Martin Foyle from Oxford United for a fee of £375,000. The transfers of both Beckford and Foyle were club-records. The season started positively, with new man Foyle getting both goals in a 2–1 win over his former employers Oxford. In September, Houchen suffered a tear in his hamstring and struggled to regain his place upon his recovery. To replace him, Jason Beckford, younger brother of Darren, was brought in on loan from Manchester City. He proved somewhat less prolific than his sibling. The Vale only picked up one victory in nine league games, Houchen bagging a brace in a 2–0 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux. Heading into December, they had lost just three games in a sequence of ten league matches. Yet from 7 December to 21 March, they went on a club-record 17 games without a win (recording ten defeats). During this spell, Andy Williams played a handful of games after arriving on a loan deal from Leeds United. Colin West then joined the club on loan from West Bromwich Albion. In February, Rudge took forward Joe Allon on loan from Chelsea. The next month, winger David Lowe arrived on loan from Ipswich Town. Out went Ryan Kidd, signing for Preston North End on a free transfer. At the end of March, victories over Plymouth Argyle and Blackburn Rovers raised hopes of a last-minute escape. Picking up five points in the first four games of April, their fate rested in their hands. They failed to escape the drop, however, losing both to Cambridge United at the Abbey Stadium and to Grimsby Town at Vale Park. The final day defeat to Grimsby proved inconsequential as Oxford United picked up a result to leave them five points clear of the Vale at the final whistle.Baggaley Mike Getting on with plans after saying goodbye to League One https://portvalethevaliant.substack.com/p/getting-on-with-plans-after-saying 28 April 2024 Valiant's Substack 28 April 2024 They finished at the bottom of the table with 45 points, five points short of the safety of Oxford United. With 42 goals scored, Vale had the lowest tally in the division, along with Plymouth, although their 59 goals conceded were a respectable total. Foyle was the top scorer with eleven league goals and 16 in all competitions. At the end of the season, young right-back Paul West was permitted to join Bradford City on a free transfer. The team were judged to have a strong core of players regardless of relegation. Finances The club's shirt sponsors were Kalamazoo. Cup competitions In the FA Cup, Vale were easily dispatched by Sunderland, who recorded a 3–0 victory at Roker Park. In the League Cup, Vale advanced past Notts County on away goals with a 2–1 win at Vale Park and a 3–2 defeat at Meadow Lane. Facing First Division Liverpool in the third round, the "Valiants" achieved a 2–2 draw at Anfield against a first XI of eight internationals.Sherwin Phil Glory of Anfield draw will never be forgotten The Sentinel: The Way We Were 29 October 2011 Robin van der Laan put the Vale ahead on seven minutes after heading past Bruce Grobbelaar from a Simon Mills corner. Steve McManaman equalized three minutes later from a Mark Walters assist, and Liverpool took the lead on 65 minutes after Ian Rush headed in a McManaman flick on.Baggaley Mike Ready for Luton https://portvalethevaliant.substack.com/p/ready-for-luton 26 February 2026 Valiant's Substack 26 February 2026 Vale earned a replay on 73 minutes, when Martin Foyle hit the net from a Peter Swan header. Rudge said: "It was a night on which to be proud to be a Port Vale supporter and I am proud to be the manager".Baggaley Mike Mansfield awaits as Port Vale pick up pieces from Cheltenham defeat https://portvalethevaliant.substack.com/p/mansfield-awaits-as-port-vale-pick 31 October 2023 Valiant's Substack 30 October 2023 Yet they were knocked out of the competition as the "Reds" recorded a 4–1 win in Burslem in front of an 18,725 strong crowd. In the short-lived Full Members Cup, Vale progressed past Blackburn Rovers with a 1–0 win through a Foyle goal. They were then eliminated in the next round with a 4–0 defeat to Leicester City at Filbert Street. Results Football League Second Division 1991–92 Football League League table Second Division PVL Results by matchday table b Round Ground H/A/A/H/H/A/H/A/A/H/A/H/A/H/A/A/H/H/A/A/H/A/H/H/A/A/H/H/A/A/H/H/A/H/A/A/H/A/H/H/A/H/A/H/A/H Result W/L/L/D/D/W/D/L/L/D/L/W/W/D/L/D/W/L/L/W/W/D/D/D/D/L/L/L/D/D/L/L/D/L/L/L/L/L/W/W/L/W/D/D/L/L Position 4/10/14/13/10/5/7/13/16/18/19/17/10/14/14/17/14/15/15/14/12/11/11/12/11/14/17/17/19/18/20/20/19/21/21/24/24/24/24/24/24/22/22/23/23/24 Points 3p/3p/3p/4p/5p/8p/9p/9p/9p/10p/10p/13p/16p/17p/17p/18p/21p/21p/21p/24p/27p/28p/29p/30p/31p/31p/31p/31p/32p/33p/33p/33p/34p/34p/34p/34p/34p/34p/37p/40p/40p/43p/44p/45p/45p/45p Home Away green2 Win yellow2 Draw red2 Loss green1 red1 StattoPort Vale 1991–1992 : Results & Fixtures https://web.archive.org/web/20131105204129/http://www.statto.com/football/teams/port-vale/1991-1992/results 5 November 2013 . Statto Organisation. Retrieved 28 April 2012. Matches 1 17 August 1991 Port Vale 2–1 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-oxford-united-17-august-1991-124773/ Oxford United Foyle Magilton Vale Park Burslem 6,984 2 20 August 1991 Ipswich Town 2–1 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/ipswich-town-v-port-vale-20-august-1991-124781/ Port Vale Kiwomya Thompson Walker pen. Portman Road Ipswich 8,646 3 24 August 1991 Portsmouth 1–0 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/portsmouth-v-port-vale-24-august-1991-124793/ Port Vale Clarke Fratton Park Portsmouth 8,033 4 27 August 1991 Port Vale 0–0 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-barnsley-27-august-1991-124796/ Barnsley Vale Park Burslem 6,299 5 31 August 1991 Port Vale 1–1 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-bristol-city-31-august-1991-124803/ Bristol City S.Mills Morgan Vale Park Burslem 7,057 6 3 September 1991 Wolverhampton Wanderers 0–2 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/wolverhampton-wanderers-v-port-vale-03-september-1991-124814/ Port Vale Houchen 60 Madden 77 o.g. Molineux Stadium Wolverhampton R. Lewis 16,115 7 7 September 1991 Port Vale 2–2 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-swindon-town-07-september-1991-124827/ Swindon Town Foyle 69 88 White 54 MacLaren 82 Vale Park Burslem R. Dilkes 7,168 8 14 September 1991 Blackburn Rovers 1–0 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/blackburn-rovers-v-port-vale-14-september-1991-124835/ Port Vale Speedie Ewood Park Blackburn 10,225 9 18 September 1991 Brighton & Hove Albion 3–1 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/brighton-and-hove-albion-v-port-vale-18-september-1991-124855/ Port Vale Byrne Meade Robinson Houchen Goldstone Ground Hove 5,790 10 21 September 1991 Port Vale 0–0 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-southend-united-21-september-1991-124863/ Southend United Vale Park Burslem 5,988 11 28 September 1991 Charlton Athletic 2–0 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/charlton-athletic-v-port-vale-28-september-1991-124873/ Port Vale Nelson Leaburn The Valley Charlton, London 4,049 12 5 October 1991 Port Vale 1–0 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-cambridge-united-05-october-1991-124888/ Cambridge United Porter Vale Park Burslem 5,991 13 12 October 1991 Grimsby Town 1–2 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/grimsby-town-v-port-vale-12-october-1991-124899/ Port Vale S.Mills Beckford Blundell Park Cleethorpes 8,218 14 19 October 1991 Port Vale 3–3 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-sunderland-19-october-1991-124914/ Sunderland Swan 2 Foyle 52 van der Laan 56 Brady 59 71 Ball 71 Vale Park Burslem Vic Callow 7,525 15 26 October 1991 Middlesbrough 1–0 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/middlesbrough-v-port-vale-26-october-1991-124922/ Port Vale Kernaghan Ayresome Park Middlesbrough 11,403 16 2 November 1991 Bristol Rovers 3–3 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/bristol-rovers-v-port-vale-02-november-1991-124935/ Port Vale Foyle van der Laan Twerton Park Bath, Somerset 3,547 17 6 November 1991 Port Vale 1–0 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-derby-county-06-november-1991-124956/ Derby County Jalink Vale Park Burslem 8,589 18 9 November 1991 Port Vale 0–2 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-millwall-09-november-1991-124965/ Millwall Falco Vale Park Burslem 8,944 19 16 November 1991 Plymouth Argyle 1–0 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/plymouth-argyle-v-port-vale-16-november-1991-124977/ Port Vale Marshall Marshall Home Park Plymouth 4,363 20 23 November 1991 Leicester City 0–1 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/leicester-city-v-port-vale-23-november-1991-124986/ Port Vale Jeffers Filbert Street Leicester 11,450 21 30 November 1991 Port Vale 2–1 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-watford-30-november-1991-125003/ Watford Foyle van der Laan Porter Vale Park Burslem 5,777 22 7 December 1991 Newcastle United 2–2 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/newcastle-united-v-port-vale-07-december-1991-125012/ Port Vale Makel 40 Peacock 61 pen. Hughes 43 Glover 66 pen. St James' Park Newcastle upon Tyne 18,386 23 13 December 1991 Port Vale 1–1 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-tranmere-rovers-13-december-1991-125018/ Tranmere Rovers West Cooper Vale Park Burslem 6,426 24 21 December 1991 Port Vale 1–1 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-wolverhampton-wanderers-21-december-1991-125028/ Wolverhampton Wanderers van der Laan 87 Bull 13 Vale Park Burslem T West 8,480 25 26 December 1991 Barnsley 0–0 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/barnsley-v-port-vale-26-december-1991-125032/ Port Vale Oakwell Barnsley 8,843 26 28 December 1991 Bristol City 3–0 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/bristol-city-v-port-vale-28-december-1991-125045/ Port Vale Allison Osman Bent Ashton Gate Ashton Gate, Bristol 9,235 27 1 January 1992 Port Vale 1–2 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-ipswich-town-01-january-1992-125062/ Ipswich Town Hughes Kiwomya Vale Park Burslem 8,075 28 11 January 1992 Port Vale 0–2 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-portsmouth-11-january-1992-125074/ Portsmouth Powell Anderton Vale Park Burslem 5,925 29 18 January 1992 Oxford United 2–2 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/oxford-united-v-port-vale-18-january-1992-125089/ Port Vale Lewis Beauchamp Houchen Swan Manor Ground Oxford 4,199 30 1 February 1992 Sunderland 1–1 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/sunderland-v-port-vale-01-february-1992-125104/ Port Vale Armstrong 39 Foyle 1 Roker Park Sunderland John Kirkby 19,505 31 8 February 1992 Port Vale 1–2 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-middlesbrough-08-february-1992-125116/ Middlesbrough og. Hendrie Mustoe Vale Park Burslem 7,019 32 15 February 1992 Port Vale 1–2 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-leicester-city-15-february-1992-125129/ Leicester City Foyle Russell Vale Park Burslem 8,084 33 22 February 1992 Watford 0–0 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/watford-v-port-vale-22-february-1992-125141/ Port Vale Vicarage Road Watford 6,602 34 29 February 1992 Port Vale 0–1 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-newcastle-united-29-february-1992-125153/ Newcastle United Watson 18 Vale Park Burslem 10,321 35 6 March 1992 Tranmere Rovers 2–1 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/tranmere-rovers-v-port-vale-06-march-1992-125158/ Port Vale Harvey Aldridge Jeffers Prenton Park Prenton 8,477 36 11 March 1992 Derby County 3–1 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/derby-county-v-port-vale-11-march-1992-125174/ Port Vale Gabbiadini Williams Simpson Jeffers Baseball Ground Derby 15,345 37 14 March 1992 Port Vale 0–1 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-bristol-rovers-14-march-1992-125183/ Bristol Rovers Vale Park Burslem 5,861 38 21 March 1992 Millwall 1–0 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/millwall-v-port-vale-21-march-1992-125202/ Port Vale Allen The Den New Cross, Lewisham 6,148 39 28 March 1992 Port Vale 1–0 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-plymouth-argyle-28-march-1992-125214/ Plymouth Argyle Walker pen. Vale Park Burslem 5,310 40 31 March 1992 Port Vale 2–0 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-blackburn-rovers-31-march-1992-125222/ Blackburn Rovers van der Laan Foyle Vale Park Burslem 10,384 41 4 April 1992 Swindon Town 1–0 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/swindon-town-v-port-vale-04-april-1992-125240/ Port Vale Jones 5 County Ground Swindon Roger Milford 8,567 42 11 April 1992 Port Vale 2–1 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-brighton-and-hove-albion-11-april-1992-125253/ Brighton & Hove Albion Swan Lowe Gall Vale Park Burslem 6,441 43 15 April 1992 Southend United 0–0 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/southend-united-v-port-vale-15-april-1992-125265/ Port Vale Roots Hall Southend-on-Sea 4,462 44 21 April 1992 Port Vale 1–1 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-charlton-athletic-21-april-1992-125287/ Charlton Athletic B.Mills Gritt Vale Park Burslem 8,461 45 25 April 1992 Cambridge United 4–2 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/cambridge-united-v-port-vale-25-april-1992-125294/ Port Vale B.Mills Lowe Abbey Stadium Cambridge 7,599 46 2 May 1992 Port Vale 0–1 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-grimsby-town-02-may-1992-125313/ Grimsby Town Vale Park Burslem 8,678 FA Cup 1991–92 FA Cup R3 4 January 1992 Sunderland 3–0 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/sunderland-v-port-vale-04-january-1992-216529/ Port Vale Atkinson 10 Davenport 44 Byrne 72 Roker Park Sunderland Michael Peck 15,564 League Cup 1991–92 Football League Cup R2 1st Leg 24 September 1991 Port Vale 2–1 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-notts-county-24-september-1991-32351/ Notts County Foyle B.Mills Johnson Vale Park Burslem 4,722 R2 2nd Leg 9 October 1991 Notts County 3a–2 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/notts-county-v-port-vale-09-october-1991-32394/ Port Vale Bartlett Johnson pen. Foyle Houchen Meadow Lane Nottingham 4,419 4–3 yes R3 1st Leg 20 October 1991 Liverpool 2–2 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/liverpool-v-port-vale-29-october-1991-32406/ Port Vale McManaman 8 Rush 65 van der Laan 5 Foyle 75 Anfield Liverpool 21,553 R3 2nd Leg 20 November 1991 Port Vale 1–4 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-liverpool-20-november-1991-32420/ Liverpool Foyle 23 McManaman 21 Walters 29 Houghton 43 Saunders 62 Vale Park Burslem 18,725 3–6 Full Members Cup 1991–92 Full Members Cup R1 1 October 1991 Port Vale 1–0 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-blackburn-rovers-01-october-1991-291092/ Blackburn Rovers Foyle Vale Park Burslem 2,355 R2 23 October 1991 Leicester City 4–0 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/leicester-city-v-port-vale-23-october-1991-291111/ Port Vale Wright Kitson Gordon Filbert Street Leicester 4,858 Squad statistics Appearances and goals Key to positions: GK – Goalkeeper; DF – Defender; MF – Midfielder; FW – Forward Second Division FA Cup League Cup Full Members' Cup GK ENG Mark Grew 46 0 1 0 4 0 2 0 DF ENG Neil Aspin 42 0 1 0 2 0 2 0 DF ENG Dean Glover 46 1 1 0 4 0 2 0 DF ENG Darren Hughes 42 2 1 0 4 0 2 0 DF ENG Ryan Kidd 1 0 0 0 2 0 1 0 DF ENG Simon Mills 33 2 1 0 4 0 2 0 DF ENG Tim Parkin 7 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 DF ENG Peter Swan 33 3 0 0 4 0 2 0 DF ENG Alan Webb 3 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 DF ENG Paul West 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 MF ENG Ian Banks 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 MF ENG John Jeffers 33 3 1 0 3 0 1 0 MF ENG Kevin Kent 22 0 0 0 2 0 1 0 MF ENG David Lowe 9 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 MF ENG Andy Porter 32 1 1 0 4 0 2 0 MF ENG Dave Rushton 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 MF ENG Ray Walker 26 2 0 0 1 0 0 0 MF NLD Robin van der Laan 43 5 1 0 4 1 1 0 FW ENG Joe Allon 6 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 FW ENG Jason Beckford 5 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 FW ENG Chris Boswell 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 FW ENG Nicky Cross 8 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 FW ENG Martin Foyle 43 11 1 0 4 4 2 1 FW ENG Mike Harrison 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 FW ENG Keith Houchen 21 4 1 0 2 1 0 0 FW NIR Gary McKinstry 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 FW ENG Brian Mills 21 2 1 0 3 1 2 0 |- |colspan="14"|Players who featured but departed the club during the season: MF NLD Nico Jalink 28 1 1 0 2 0 1 0 MF ENG Andy Williams 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 FW ENG Colin West 5 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 |} Top scorers PlacePositionNationNameSecond DivisionFA CupLeague CupFull Members CupTotal1FWEnglandMartin Foyle11041162MFNetherlandsRobin van der Laan501063FWEnglandKeith Houchen401054DFEnglandPeter Swan30003–MFEnglandJohn Jeffers30003–DFEnglandDarren Hughes20003–FWEnglandBrian Mills201038DFEnglandSimon Mills200029MFEnglandRay Walker20002–MFEnglandDavid Lowe2000211FWNetherlandsNico Jalink10001–FWEnglandJason Beckford10001–FWEnglandColin West10001–DFEnglandDean Glover10001–MFEnglandAndy Porter10001––Own goals10001TOTALS4207150 Transfers Transfers in Date from Position Nationality Name From Fee Ref. 25 June 1991 FW ENG Martin Foyle Oxford United £375,000 Kent Jeff Port Vale Personalities Witan Books 1996 0-9529152-0-0 June 1991 MF NED Nico Jalink NED RKC Waalwijk Free transfer August 1991 FW ENG Keith Houchen SCO Hibernian £100,000 August 1991 DF ENG Peter Swan Hull City £300,000 Transfers out Date from Position Nationality Name To Fee Ref. March 1992 MF NED Nico Jalink NED RKC Waalwijk Released May 1992 GK ENG Mark Grew Cardiff City Free transfer May 1992 DF ENG Ryan Kidd Preston North End Free transfer May 1992 DF ENG Tim Parkin Darlington Free transfer May 1992 MF ENG Dave Rushton Released May 1992 DF ENG Paul West Bradford City £80,000 June 1992 DF ENG Alan Webb Retired Loans in Date from Position Nationality Name From Date to Ref. November 1991 FW ENG Colin West West Bromwich Albion November 1991 December 1991 MF ENG Andy Williams Leeds United February 1992 February 1992 FW ENG Joe Allon Chelsea End of season March 1992 MF ENG David Lowe Ipswich Town End of season References Specific General Kent, Jeff Jeff Kent (author) The Port Vale Record 1879-1993 Witan Books 1993 0-9508981-9-8 Category:Port Vale F.C. seasons Port Vale