2003–04 Port Vale F.C. season

March 2015 March 2015 Port Vale 2003–04 Brian Horton(until 12 February)Martin Foyle(from 13 February) Valiant 2001 Bill Bratt Vale Park Football League Second Division 7th (73 points) FA Cup Second Round(eliminated by Scarborough) League Cup First Round(eliminated by Nottingham Forest) Football League Trophy First Round(eliminated by Scarborough) Player of the Year Stephen McPhee Stephen McPhee (25) Stephen McPhee (27) 7,958 vs. Sheffield Wednesday, 7 February 2004 4,016 vs. Ford United, 8 November 2003 5,810 5–1 vs. Grimsby Town, 17 January 2004 1–5 vs. Plymouth Argyle, 18 October 2003 _shoulder_stripes_black_stripes _collarblack _shoulder_stripes_black_stripes _color_3_stripes_white ffffff ffffff ffffff 000000 000000 ffff00 _foldedcollarblackshoulders ffff00 _blackshoulders _blackshoulders ffff00 ffff00 _hoops_black ffff00 _black_stripes2 2002–03 2004–05 The 2003–04 season was Port Vale's 92nd season of football in the English Football League and fourth-successive season (41st overall) in the Second Division. The campaign began under manager Brian Horton, but mid‑season setbacks led to his resignation in February. Martin Foyle was appointed in his place and guided the club to a seventh‑place finish with 73 points, missing out on a play‑off spot on goal difference in what was their highest league position of the era. In cup competitions, the Valiants struggled to make a mark. They exited the League Cup at the First Round, falling to Nottingham Forest, while the FA Cup run ended in the Second Round at the hands of Conference side Scarborough. Vale also suffered elimination from the Football League Trophy in the First Round, again losing to Scarborough. On the field, Stephen McPhee was the driving force for Vale, finishing as both club top scorer (25 in the league, 27 in total) and Player of the Year, before departing at the end of the season to play abroad. Despite the relative on‑pitch success, financial fragility persisted: chairman Bill Bratt continued to seek fan-backed investment but remained adamant none would hold a controlling share (over 50%) Overview Second Division The pre-season saw Brian Horton bring in three key players on free transfers: George Pilkington (Everton);http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/p/port_vale/3016642.stm Vale land Pilkington 24 June 2003 BBC Sport 19 January 2011 Jonny Brain (Newcastle United);http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/p/port_vale/3174421.stm Vale sign young keeper 22 August 2003 BBC Sport 19 January 2011 and Austrian Andreas Lipa (Skoda Xanthi).http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/p/port_vale/2974890.stm Vale net Lipa 9 June 2003 BBC Sport 19 January 2011 Meanwhile, promising keeper Mark Goodlad began a lengthy period on the sidelines with injuries.http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/p/port_vale/3091031.stm Goodlad blow for Vale 24 July 2003 BBC Sport 19 January 2011 Optimism surrounded the club, after the rebuilding of the new squad appeared to have finished after the break-up of the club's previous team due to financial troubles.http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/p/port_vale/3126571.stm Port Vale season preview 5 August 2003 BBC Sport 19 January 2011 On 23 August, Vale recorded a 4–3 home win over Colchester United after having twice come from a goal down.Sherwin Phil Port Vale matchday programme v Colchester United 15 February 2020 Port Vale FC 53 On 13 September, Vale came from a goal down to record a 3–1 win over Barnsley, with Rory Fallon's eighth-minute opener cancelled out by Lipa header 15 minutes later, with Pilkington and Adrian Littlejohn goals in the second half securing all three points.Match Preview Port Vale vs Barnsley https://www.port-vale.co.uk/news/match-preview-port-vale-vs-barnsley 3 January 2026 Port Vale FC 3 January 2026 en The season opened with seven wins in eleven games, earning Brian Horton the Manager of the Month award.Valiant Horton Picks Up Prize http://www.leaguemanagers.com/news/news-3890.html LMA 12 April 2012 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20131127064555/http://www.leaguemanagers.com/news/news-3890.html 27 November 2013 The last of these victories was a 3–0 win over Peterborough United on 30 September, with McPhee scoring two goals after being to the central striker position from out wide.Baggaley Mike Home comforts in a big week https://portvalethevaliant.substack.com/p/home-comforts-in-a-big-week 2 October 2024 Valiant's Substack 30 September 2024 Though this was followed by a sequence of five defeats in eight games as the goals dried up, this run included a 5–1 thumping at home to Plymouth Argyle. They responded to this defeat with a 2–0 win over title-favourites Queens Park Rangers as goals from Paynter and McPhee secured the three points despite a red card for Rowland after he put in a two-footed challenge on Marcus Bean.Baggaley Mike Vale make it four in a row https://portvalethevaliant.substack.com/p/vale-make-it-four-in-a-row 23 October 2024 Valiant's Substack 23 October 2024 In November, backup keeper Dean Delany joined Macclesfield Town on a two-month loan. On 27 January, Vale were beaten 5–2 at home by Hartlepool United as Sam Collins had a rare off night by giving away a goal and then being sent off.Baggaley Mike In-form Vale ready for Colchester test https://portvalethevaliant.substack.com/p/in-form-vale-ready-for-colchester 27 January 2025 Valiant's Substack 27 January 2025 Horton resigned in February, with the club in the play-offs.http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/p/port_vale/3483155.stm Horton leaves Port Vale 12 February 2004 BBC Sport 19 January 2011 His replacement was Vale legend Martin Foyle, whose only previous experience was in the club's youth set-up.http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/p/port_vale/3485687.stm Port Vale appoint Foyle 13 February 2004 BBC Sport 19 January 2011 As his assistant he appointed former teammate, Dean Glover, another club legend.http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/p/port_vale/3493347.stm Glover back at Vale 16 February 2004 BBC Sport 19 January 2011 In March, Foyle made his first signing, bringing defender Craig James on loan from Sunderland,http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/p/port_vale/3551307.stm James joins Vale on loan 19 March 2004 BBC Sport 19 January 2011 and after a few weeks he signed him permanently.http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/p/port_vale/3593249.stm James signs Vale contract 2 April 2004 BBC Sport 19 January 2011 Mark Boyd headed out of the club however, and was allowed to sign with Carlisle United. Vale lost just two of their final twelve games and ran close to a play-off place, only losing out due to their inferior goal difference. They won 2–0 at Rushden & Diamonds on the final day.Baggaley Mike Plenty to ponder in league and cup as Vale land Bristol Rovers https://portvalethevaliant.substack.com/p/plenty-to-ponder-in-league-and-cup 5 November 2025 Valiant's Substack 3 November 2025 However, Swindon Town and Hartlepool United played out a 1–1 draw to ensure they both finished in the play-offs instead of Vale.Baggaley Mike Taking a bow as League One beckons https://portvalethevaliant.substack.com/p/taking-a-bow-as-league-one-beckons 9 May 2025 Valiant's Substack 8 May 2025Baggaley Mike Why Vale are determined pitch investment will pay off https://portvalethevaliant.substack.com/p/why-vale-are-determined-pitch-investment 9 May 2024 Valiant's Substack 9 May 2024 They finished in seventh place with 73 points. They were level on points with Hartlepool United and Swindon Town but finished outside of the play-off zone due to their inferior goal difference. Stephen McPhee scored 27 goals to become the club's top-scorer, the highest tally since Andy Jones hit 37 in 1986–87. Other major contributions came from Billy Paynter (14), Steve Brooker (8), Marc Bridge-Wilkinson (7) and Adrian Littlejohn (7). At the end of the season several players left the club: Neil Brisco (Rochdale); Liam Burns (Bristol Rovers); Adrian Littlejohn (Lincoln City); and Dean Delany (Shelbourne).http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/p/port_vale/3704139.stm Foyle releases Vale trio 11 May 2004 BBC Sport 19 January 2011 Stephen McPhee also decided to leave the club, and though Chairman Bill Bratt had rejected offers of £100,000 for the player,http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/p/port_vale/3777091.stm Vale reject McPhee offer 4 June 2004 BBC Sport 19 January 2011 McPhee exploited a loophole in his contract to join Portuguese side Beira-Mar.http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/p/port_vale/3789833.stm McPhee moving to Portugal 17 June 2004 BBC Sport 19 January 2011 Marc Bridge-Wilkinson also turned down a new lower-paying contract, and instead signed with Stockport County.http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/s/stockport/3787473.stm Bridge-Wilkinson makes move 8 June 2004 BBC Sport 19 January 2011 Player-coach Ian Brightwell also left Vale Park, having lost his assistant manager role to Glover,http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/p/port_vale/3748983.stm Vale search for new coach 26 May 2004 BBC Sport 19 January 2011 and joined Horton at Macclesfield Town.http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/p/port_vale/3746877.stm Brightwell leaves Vale 25 May 2004 BBC Sport 19 January 2011 One boost was that Billy Paynter and George Pilkington put pen to paper on new long-term deals.http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/p/port_vale/3533937.stm Duo boost Port Vale 4 March 2004 BBC Sport 19 January 2011 Finances Peter Walker was appointed as Chief Executive in August 2003, having volunteered to work for free for six months. One feature of the season proved to be the long-running courtroom battle between former chairman Bill Bell and owners Valiant2001 over unpaid rent on the club shop. The club's finances were still worrying for supporters, though the problem appeared to have eased by the end of the season.http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/p/port_vale/3714243.stm Financial boost for Vale 14 May 2004 BBC Sport 19 January 2011 In December, a Peter Jackson-led consortium put a £150,000 investment into the club, which Bratt said "...ensures the future of the club is safe".http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/p/port_vale/3351007.stm Consortium saves Port Vale 30 December 2003 BBC Sport 19 January 2011 The club also rejected other investment proposals from confidential sources.http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/p/port_vale/3319777.stm Vale set for takeover talks 15 December 2003 BBC Sport 19 January 2011 Vice-chairman Charles Machin recommended the board sell the club to Italian businessman Gianni Paladini for £530,000, but the board disagreed.What If There Had Been No Port In The Vale?: Startling Port Vale Stories! p.179 (Witan Books, 2011, 978-0-9529152-8-7) In March 2004, Machin and director Geoff Wakefield were voted off the board, as the 'Jackson Five' clique elected Peter Jackson and Stan Meigh in their place. Machin said that "I will not go away. I will haunt the corridors of power like Marley's ghost". However, he was never elected back onto the board. Cup competitions In the FA Cup, Vale risked humiliation in a 2–2 draw with non-League Ford United at Vale Park.http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/fa_cup/3233093.stm Port Vale 2-2 Ford Utd 8 November 2003 BBC Sport 19 January 2011 In the replay, Vale had led 1–0 before a last minute equaliser took the game into extra time. Despite having substitute Ian Armstrong's sent off, the "Valiants" escaped the lottery of the penalty shoot-out when on 114 minutes Ford scored an own goal.http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/fa_cup/3273103.stm Ford Utd 1-2 Port Vale (aet) 19 November 2003 BBC Sport 19 January 2011 However, in the second round they were still eliminated by a non-League club, when Scarborough's Ashley Sestanovich scored an 80th-minute winner at Vale Park.http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/fa_cup/3248916.stm Port Vale 0-1 Scarborough 7 December 2003 BBC Sport 19 January 2011 This was the first time a League side had been beaten twice in the same season by the same non-League opponents.Baggaley Mike Injuries, plans and Exeter challenge for Port Vale https://portvalethevaliant.substack.com/p/injuries-plans-and-exeter-challenge 8 December 2023 Valiant's Substack 7 December 2023 In the League Cup, Vale faced First Division Nottingham Forest. They held Forest to a goalless draw but were eliminated 3–2 in the subsequent penalty shoot-out. In the Football League Trophy, Vale travelled to the McCain Stadium, where they were defeated 2–1 by Conference club Scarborough.http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/3187208.stm Scarborough 2-1 Port Vale 14 October 2003 BBC Sport 19 January 2011 Results Football League Second Division League table 2003–04 Football League Second Division y PTV Results by matchday table b Round Ground H/A/H/A/H/A/H/A/A/H/H/A/A/H/H/A/A/H/A/H/A/A/H/A/H/H/H/A/H/H/A/A/A/A/H/H/A/H/H/A/H/A/H/A/H/A Result W/W/W/L/W/D/W/L/W/D/W/L/L/L/W/D/L/W/L/D/D/W/D/L/W/W/L/L/W/W/L/W/L/L/D/W/D/W/D/L/W/L/D/W/W/W Position 8/2/1/4/1/3/1/1/1/1/1/3/3/6/3/4/7/5/7/7/5/7/8/12/6/4/9/9/7/5/7/5/7/9/9/7/9/7/6/7/7/7/7/7/7/7 Points 3p/6p/9p/9p/12p/13p/16p/16p/19p/20p/23p/23p/23p/23p/26p/27p/27p/30p/30p/31p/32p/35p/36p/36p/39p/42p/42p/42p/45p/48p/48p/51p/51p/51p/52p/55p/56p/59p/60p/60p/63p/63p/64p/67p/70p/73p Home Away green2 Win yellow2 Draw red2 Loss green1 red1 StattoPort Vale 2003–2004 : Results & Fixtures https://web.archive.org/web/20160216020843/http://www.statto.com/football/teams/port-vale/2003-2004/results 16 February 2016 . Statto Organisation. Retrieved 28 April 2012. Matches 1 9 August 2003 Port Vale 2–1 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-afc-bournemouth-09-august-2003-15934/ AFC Bournemouth McPhee 67 Littlejohn 87 Hayter 73 Vale Park Burslem Graham Salisbury 6,465 2 16 August 2003 Grimsby Town 1–2 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/grimsby-town-v-port-vale-16-august-2003-16084/ Port Vale Boulding 39 McPhee 65 Paynter 68 Blundell Park Cleethorpes Phil Prosser 4,816 3 23 August 2003 Port Vale 4–3 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-colchester-united-23-august-2003-16303/ Colchester United Collins 34 Paynter 58 Armstrong 71 McPhee 73 McGleish 26 38 Andrews 88 Vale Park Burslem Trevor Parkes 5,133 4 25 August 2003 Hartlepool United 2–0 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/hartlepool-united-v-port-vale-25-august-2003-16346/ Port Vale Robinson 2 Gabbiadini 88 pen. Victoria Park Hartlepool Paul Robinson 5,314 5 30 August 2003 Port Vale 1–0 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-brentford-30-august-2003-16387/ Brentford Paynter 63 Vale Park Burslem Mike Pike 5,257 6 6 September 2003 Stockport County 2–2 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/stockport-county-v-port-vale-06-september-2003-16427/ Port Vale Beckett 2 Ellison 40 Paynter 82 Collins 90 Edgeley Park Stockport Mark Warren 5,316 7 13 September 2003 Port Vale 3–1 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-barnsley-13-september-2003-16465/ Barnsley Lipa 23 Pilkington 55 Littlejohn 73 Fallon 8 Vale Park Burslem Mick Fletcher 7,809 8 16 September 2003 Luton Town 2–0 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/luton-town-v-port-vale-16-september-2003-16501/ Port Vale McSheffrey 31 Foley 71 Kenilworth Road Luton Joe Ross 5,079 9 20 September 2003 Bristol City 0–1 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/bristol-city-v-port-vale-20-september-2003-16609/ Port Vale Paynter 71 Ashton Gate Ashton Gate, Bristol Brian Curson 11,369 10 27 September 2003 Port Vale 1–1 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-wycombe-wanderers-27-september-2003-16846/ Wycombe Wanderers McPhee 44 Mapes 64 Vale Park Burslem Roy Pearson 6,822 11 30 September 2003 Port Vale 3–0 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-peterborough-united-30-september-2003-16970/ Peterborough United McPhee 12 67 Collins 86 Vale Park Burslem Phil Crossley 5,495 12 4 October 2003 Wrexham 2–1 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/wrexham-v-port-vale-04-october-2003-17118/ Port Vale Jones 33 78 pen. Paynter 20 Racecourse Ground Wrexham George Cain / Bob Pollock 5,822 13 11 October 2003 12:30 BST Oldham Athletic 2–1 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/oldham-athletic-v-port-vale-11-october-2003-17259/ Port Vale Killen 71 Eyres 87 Bridge-Wilkinson 78 pen. Boundary Park Oldham Mike Jones 6,913 14 18 October 2003 15:15 BST Port Vale 1–5 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-plymouth-argyle-18-october-2003-17699/ Plymouth Argyle McPhee 51 Keith 35 Friio 38 72 Adams 45 Wotton 46 Vale Park Burslem Lee Probert 5,786 15 21 October 2003 Port Vale 2–0 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-queens-park-rangers-21-october-2003-17732/ Queens Park Rangers Paynter 5 McPhee 9 Vale Park Burslem Frazer Stretton 5,243 16 25 October 2003 Swindon Town 0–0 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/swindon-town-v-port-vale-25-october-2003-17763/ Port Vale County Ground Swindon Trevor Kettle 5,313 17 1 November 2003 Chesterfield 1–0 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/chesterfield-v-port-vale-01-november-2003-17824/ Port Vale Robinson 60 Saltergate Chesterfield, Derbyshire Phil Joslin 4,088 18 15 November 2003 Port Vale 1–0 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-notts-county-15-november-2003-17961/ Notts County McPhee 56 Vale Park Burslem Steve Tanner 4,900 19 22 November 2003 Tranmere Rovers 1–0 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/tranmere-rovers-v-port-vale-22-november-2003-18010/ Port Vale Hume 68 Prenton Park Prenton Lee Mason 7,081 20 29 November 2003 Port Vale 1–1 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-rushden-and-diamonds-29-november-2003-18058/ Rushden & Diamonds Littlejohn 10 Benjamin 31 Vale Park Burslem Mark Cowburn 4,586 21 12 December 2003 Brighton & Hove Albion 1–1 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/brighton-and-hove-albion-v-port-vale-12-december-2003-18144/ Port Vale Knight 16 pen. Littlejohn 50 Withdean Stadium Brighton Rob Styles 5,811 22 26 December 2003 Sheffield Wednesday 2–3 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/sheffield-wednesday-v-port-vale-26-december-2003-18273/ Port Vale Robins 21 Lee 30 Littlejohn 25 Paynter 54 Brooker 89 Hillsborough Stadium Owlerton Roy Pearson 24,991 23 28 December 2003 Port Vale 2–2 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-stockport-county-28-december-2003-18311/ Stockport County McPhee 4 28 Barlow 6 Lynch 29 Vale Park Burslem Kevin Wright 6,237 24 10 January 2004 AFC Bournemouth 2–1 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/afc-bournemouth-v-port-vale-10-january-2004-18390/ Port Vale O'Connor 50 pen. Fletcher 55 McPhee 23 Dean Court Bournemouth Iain Williamson 5,926 25 14 January 2004 Port Vale 2–1 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-blackpool-14-january-2004-18442/ Blackpool Brooker 8 Bridge-Wilkinson 29 Sheron 73 Vale Park Burslem Andy Penn 4,523 26 17 January 2004 Port Vale 5–1 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-grimsby-town-17-january-2004-18464/ Grimsby Town Lipa 18 Collins 20 Bridge-Wilkinson 33 74 Paynter 45 Jevons 34 Vale Park Burslem Alan Kaye 5,133 27 27 January 2004 Port Vale 2–5 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-hartlepool-united-27-january-2004-18537/ Hartlepool United Brooker 8 Cummins 87 Shuker 6 Humphreys 31 Nelson 69 Williams 74 Clarke 83 Vale Park Burslem Scott Mathieson 4,845 28 31 January 2004 Brentford 3–2 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/brentford-v-port-vale-31-january-2004-18568/ Port Vale Tabb 2 Hunt 48 Rougier 56 McPhee 30 90 Griffin Park Brentford, West London Mike Thorpe 4,306 29 7 February 2004 Port Vale 3–0 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-sheffield-wednesday-07-february-2004-18619/ Sheffield Wednesday Littlejohn 42 McPhee 72 Brooker 90 Vale Park Burslem Mark Cooper 7,958 30 14 February 2004 Port Vale 1–0 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-oldham-athletic-14-february-2004-18672/ Oldham Athletic McPhee 46 Vale Park Burslem Steve Tomlin 6,035 31 21 February 2004 Plymouth Argyle 2–1 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/plymouth-argyle-v-port-vale-21-february-2004-18704/ Port Vale Phillips 80 Stonebridge 90 McPhee 53 Home Park Plymouth Lee Cable 11,330 32 24 February 2004 Colchester United 1–4 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/colchester-united-v-port-vale-24-february-2004-18742/ Port Vale McGleish 10 pen. Brooker 13 Brown 24 og. Cummins 27 Bridge-Wilkinson 73 Layer Road Colchester Paul Danson 2,539 33 2 March 2004 Queens Park Rangers 3–2 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/queens-park-rangers-v-port-vale-02-march-2004-18803/ Port Vale Bircham 64 Cureton 77 90 Brooker 2 Littlejohn 90 Loftus Road Shepherd's Bush, West London Grant Hegley 12,593 34 6 March 2004 Blackpool 2–1 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/blackpool-v-port-vale-06-march-2004-18824/ Port Vale Dinning 54 pen. Wellens 60 Paynter 4 Bloomfield Road Blackpool Martin Atkinson 6,878 35 13 March 2004 Port Vale 1–1 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-brighton-and-hove-albion-13-march-2004-19055/ Brighton & Hove Albion Paynter 26 Knight 11 pen. Vale Park Burslem Kevin Friend 5,646 36 16 March 2004 Port Vale 1–0 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-luton-town-16-march-2004-19131/ Luton Town Cummins 84 Vale Park Burslem George Cain 5,048 37 20 March 2004 Barnsley 0–0 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/barnsley-v-port-vale-20-march-2004-19483/ Port Vale Oakwell Barnsley Tony Leake 8,267 38 27 March 2004 Port Vale 2–1 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-bristol-city-27-march-2004-19543/ Bristol City Brooker 66 Bridge-Wilkinson 77 Peacock 90 Vale Park Burslem Keith Hill 6,724 39 30 March 2004 Port Vale 3–3 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-swindon-town-30-march-2004-19575/ Swindon Town Paynter 14 McPhee 41 58 Parkin 63 Hewlett 68 Fallon 83 Vale Park Burslem Eddie Ilderton 5,702 40 3 April 2004 Wycombe Wanderers 2–1 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/wycombe-wanderers-v-port-vale-03-april-2004-19617/ Port Vale Currie 42 pen. 74 McPhee 7 Adams Park High Wycombe Brian Curson 4,738 41 10 April 2004 Port Vale 1–0 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-wrexham-10-april-2004-19688/ Wrexham Cummins 52 Vale Park Burslem Colin Webster 5,892 42 12 April 2004 Peterborough United 3–1 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/peterborough-united-v-port-vale-12-april-2004-19713/ Port Vale Logan 45 Williams 55 Clarke 67 Bridge-Wilkinson 90 London Road Stadium Peterborough Phil Joslin 4,988 43 17 April 2004 Port Vale 1–1 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-chesterfield-17-april-2004-19770/ Chesterfield Paynter 74 Evatt 34 Vale Park Burslem Lee Mason 5,582 44 24 April 2004 Notts County 1–2 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/notts-county-v-port-vale-24-april-2004-19836/ Port Vale Heffernan 90 McPhee 4 Brooker 34 Meadow Lane Nottingham Phil Prosser 5,834 45 1 May 2004 Port Vale 2–1 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-tranmere-rovers-01-may-2004-19944/ Tranmere Rovers McPhee 10 90 Hall 24 Vale Park Burslem Lee Probert 6,806 46 8 May 2004 Rushden & Diamonds 0–2 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/rushden-and-diamonds-v-port-vale-08-may-2004-20083/ Port Vale McPhee 14 90 Nene Park Irthlingborough Paul Armstrong 5,240 FA Cup 2003–04 FA Cup R1 8 November 2003 Port Vale 2–2 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-ford-united-08-november-2003-17923/ Ford United McPhee 60 Burns 64 Abraham 20 Fiddes 74 Vale Park Burslem Tony Leake 4,016 Replay 19 November 2003 Ford United 1–2 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/ford-united-v-port-vale-19-november-2003-17979/ Port Vale Poole 90 Paynter 38 Chandler 114 og. Oakside Stadium Barkingside, Redbridge Lee Cable 4,016 yes R2 7 December 2003 Port Vale 0–1 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-scarborough-07-december-2003-18129/ Scarborough Sestanovich 80 Vale Park Burslem Frazer Stretton 4,651 League Cup 2003–04 Football League Cup R1 12 October 2003 19:45 BST Port Vale 0–0 2–3 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-nottingham-forest-12-august-2003-15968/ Nottingham Forest Vale Park Burslem Mark Cooper 4,950 yes McPhee Bridge-Wilkinson Paynter Lipa Collins Harewood Johnson Reid Bopp Sonner Football League Trophy 2003–04 Football League Trophy R1 14 October 2003 Scarborough 2–1 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/scarborough-v-port-vale-14-october-2003-17425/ Port Vale Senior 77 Kelly 89 McPhee 29 Athletic Ground Scarborough, North Yorkshire Nigel Miller 1,003 Squad statistics Appearances and goals Key to positions: GK – Goalkeeper; DF – Defender; MF – Midfielder; FW – Forward Second Division FA Cup League Cup Football League Trophy 1 GK ENG Mark Goodlad 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 DF ENG George Pilkington 44 1 3 0 1 0 1 0 3 DF ENG Ian Brightwell 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 4 DF AUT Andreas Lipa 30 2 2 0 1 0 0 0 5 DF ENG Michael Walsh 13 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 6 DF ENG Sam Collins 43 4 3 0 1 0 0 0 7 MF ENG Neil Brisco 27 0 2 0 0 0 1 0 8 MF IRL Micky Cummins 42 4 2 0 1 0 1 0 9 FW ENG Steve Brooker 32 8 1 0 1 0 0 0 10 FW SCO Stephen McPhee 46 25 3 1 1 0 1 1 11 MF ENG Marc Bridge-Wilkinson 32 7 2 0 1 0 1 0 12 GK ENG Dean Delany 14 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 13 MF ENG Levi Reid 11 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 15 MF ENG Ian Armstrong 20 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 16 DF WAL Steve Rowland 29 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 17 MF TRI Chris Birchall 10 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 18 FW ENG Billy Paynter 44 13 2 1 1 0 1 0 19 FW ENG Simon Eldershaw 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 20 MF ENG Adrian Littlejohn 36 7 3 0 1 0 1 0 21 DF NIR Liam Burns 27 0 3 1 0 0 0 0 22 DF ENG Ryan Brown 17 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 23 GK ENG Joe Molloy 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 24 GK ENG Jonny Brain 32 0 3 0 0 0 1 0 25 DF ENG Craig James 8 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 |- |colspan="14"|Players who featured but departed the club during the season: 14 MF ENG Mark Boyd 22 0 3 0 0 0 1 0 |} Top scorers PlacePositionNationNumberNameSecond DivisionFA CupLeague CupFootball League TrophyTotal1FWScotland10Stephen McPhee25101272FWEngland18Billy Paynter13100143FWEngland9Steve Brooker800084MFEngland11Marc Bridge-Wilkinson70007–MFEngland20Adrian Littlejohn700076MFIreland8Micky Cummins40004–DFEngland6Sam Collins400048DFAustria4Andreas Lipa200029DFEngland2George Pilkington10001–MFEngland15Ian Armstrong10001–DFNorthern Ireland21Liam Burns01001–––Own goals11002TOTALS7340178 Transfers Transfers in Date from Position Nationality Name From Fee Ref. June 2003 DF AUT Andreas Lipa GRE Skoda Xanthi Free transfer Port Vale FC Club Details Transfers Soccer Base http://www.soccerbase.com/teams/team.sd?team_id=2083&teamTabs=transfers www.soccerbase.com 7 October 2016 June 2003 DF ENG George Pilkington Everton Free transfer August 2003 GK ENG Jonny Brain Carlisle United Free transfer March 2004 DF ENG Craig James Sunderland Free transfer Transfers out Date from Position Nationality Name To Fee Ref. March 2004 MF ENG Mark Boyd Carlisle United Free transfer May 2004 DF ENG Ian Brightwell Macclesfield Town Free transfer May 2004 DF NIR Liam Burns Bristol Rovers Released May 2004 GK IRL Dean Delany IRL Shelbourne Free transfer June 2004 MF ENG Marc Bridge-Wilkinson Stockport County Rejected contract June 2004 MF ENG Neil Brisco Rochdale Free transfer June 2004 FW SCO Stephen McPhee POR Beira-Mar Bosman transfer August 2004 MF ENG Adrian Littlejohn Lincoln City Free transfer Loans out Date from Position Nationality Name To Date to Ref. 27 November 2003 GK IRL Dean Delany Macclesfield Town 14 January 2004 References Specific General Soccerbase Category:Port Vale F.C. seasons Port Vale