2002–03 Port Vale F.C. season

March 2015 March 2015 Port Vale 2002–03 Brian Horton Valiant 2001 (March onwards) Bill Bell(until December)Administrators(December – March)Bill Bratt(from March) Vale Park Football League Second Division 17th (53 points) FA Cup First Round(eliminated by Crewe Alexandra) League Cup First Round(eliminated by Crewe Alexandra) Football League Trophy Area Quarter-finals(eliminated by Shrewsbury Town) Player of the Year Sam Collins Marc Bridge-Wilkinson (9) Marc Bridge-Wilkinson (9) 6,395 vs. Wigan Athletic, 26 December 2002 2,222 vs. Chesterfield, 12 November 2002 4,436 5–1 vs. Huddersfield Town, 26 April 2003 0–4 vs. Queens Park Rangers, 15 February 2003 _shoulder_stripes_black_stripes _collarblack _shoulder_stripes_black_stripes _white_stripes _black_hoops_color ffffff ffffff ffffff 000000 ffffff _bluebow 6495ED 6495ED 6495ED 191970 191970 2001–02 2003–04 The 2002–03 season was Port Vale's 91st season of football in the English Football League and third-successive season (40th overall) in the Second Division. It proved another difficult year under manager Brian Horton, as the side endured an inconsistent league campaign before narrowly avoiding relegation with a 17th‑place finish on 53 points. In December, the club entered administration amid mounting financial pressure, and in March the Valiant 2001 supporters' group completed a takeover, ending the regime of chairman Bill Bell. Port Vale's cup adventures were brief. Both the FA Cup and League Cup ended at the First Round, each time following defeats to local rivals Crewe Alexandra — the FA Cup exit came courtesy of a Dean Ashton goal, and Crewe also knocked Vale out of the League Cup by a 2–0 scoreline. The club fared slightly better in the Football League Trophy, reaching the Northern Section Area Quarter‑Finals before being eliminated by Shrewsbury Town. On the field, Marc Bridge-Wilkinson led the scoring charts for Vale with nine goals in all competitions, despite injury setbacks earlier in the season. The team recorded a season‑highlight result in April with a 5–1 victory over Huddersfield Town, but overall results remained erratic, and average attendance dipped to around 4,436. While the club ultimately survived in mid‑table, off-field challenges around debt, administration, and ownership change loomed large as the campaign closed. thumb|180px|Robbie Williams decided against purchasing the club. thumb|180px|John Durnin left the club at the end of the season. Overview Second Division The pre-season saw Brian Horton make several free signings: Jon McCarthy (Birmingham City); Brett Angell (Rushden & Diamonds); Ian Brightwell (Walsall);http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/p/port_vale/2165795.stm Vale seal double deal 1 August 2002 BBC Sport 19 January 2011 Phil Charnock (Crewe Alexandra); Sam Collins (Bury);http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/p/port_vale/2067948.stm Collins reunites with Horton 26 June 2002 BBC Sport 19 January 2011http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/p/port_vale/2036987.stm Horton moves for Collins 10 June 2002 BBC Sport 19 January 2011 and Mark Boyd (Newcastle United).http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/p/port_vale/2010850.stm Boyd joins Vale 27 May 2002 BBC Sport 19 January 2011 Midfielder Dean Keates had a trial at the club over the summer, but was not offered a contract. The season started poorly, with four straight defeats. Only one goal scored from open play, causing fans to barrack Horton.http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/p/port_vale/2203327.stm Horton will battle on 19 August 2002 BBC Sport 19 January 2011 Their form changed with a 1–0 win over Wigan Athletic at the JJB Stadium – the first in a sequence of five consecutive victories. Following this run, victories were sparse for the Vale, and they picked up just four league victories until the beginning of March. The club agreed to sell Stephen McPhee to Wigan Athletic for £300,000, though the deal fell through over personal terms.http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/w/wigan_athletic/2247148.stm McPhee deal hitch 9 September 2002 BBC Sport 19 January 2011 In October, Lee Ashcroft arrived on loan from Wigan Athletic.http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/p/port_vale/2313887.stm Vale set for Ashcroft signing 9 October 2002 BBC Sport 19 January 2011 Meanwhile, Jon McCarthy was released,http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/p/port_vale/2290531.stm Vale release McCarthy 1 October 2002 BBC Sport 19 January 2011 and signed with Doncaster Rovers.http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/d/doncaster/2312839.stm McCarthy joins Doncaster Oliver Pete 9 October 2002 BBC Sport 19 January 2011 The next month Brett Angell also departed after rejecting a new deal with the club,http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/p/port_vale/2381929.stm Angell rejects Vale deal 4 November 2002 BBC Sport 19 January 2011 and instead joined Queens Park Rangers. A mini-revival began in the new year, as Vale were unbeaten in their three January league games. In February, defender Peter Clarke arrived on a three-month loan deal from Everton.http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/p/port_vale/2784067.stm Vale take Clarke on loan 20 February 2003 BBC Sport 19 January 2011http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/e/everton/2982881.stm Clarke returns to Everton 29 April 2003 BBC Sport 19 January 2011 Adrian Littlejohn also joined the club on a monthly contract,http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/p/port_vale/2884227.stm Vale want pair for another month 25 March 2003 BBC Sport 19 January 2011 having left Lincoln City. On 1 March, Vale were beaten 4–1 away at Colchester United, with Gareth Williams scoring a hat-trick.Baggaley Mike Below par Vale stay unbeaten https://portvalethevaliant.substack.com/p/below-par-vale-stay-unbeaten 2 March 2025 Valiant's Substack 2 March 2025 There was a turnaround in form following a 1–0 win over Blackpool on 8 March, as 18 points from the final twelve games of the season were enough to see off the fan's fears of relegation. Horton remained unpopular with some sections of Vale's supporters.http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_2/2944413.stm Horton refuses to back down 13 April 2003 BBC Sport 19 January 2011 On 12 April, Vale came from behind to beat Northampton Town at home after Horton angrily remonstrated with a supporter in the crowd who demanded his resignation whilst the club were a goal down.Baggaley Mike Vale injury news and talking points ahead of Exeter https://portvalethevaliant.substack.com/p/vale-injury-news-and-talking-points 13 April 2024 Valiant's Substack 12 April 2024 The penultimate game of the season was a 5–1 home win over Huddersfield Town, with Ian Armstrong scoring a brace.Match Preview Port Vale vs Huddersfield Town https://www.port-vale.co.uk/news/match-preview-port-vale-vs-huddersfield-town 13 March 2026 Port Vale FC 13 March 2026 en They finished in 17th place with 53 points, just five points above Cheltenham Town in the relegation zone. They finished 33 points and 15 places behind Crewe, who were promoted as runners-up. The end-of-season table was unusual in that 15 points separated 7th and 8th, whilst 17 points separated 8th and 21st. Marc Bridge-Wilkinson was the club's top scorer with just nine goals in all competitions. At the end of the season, several players left the club on free transfers: Matt Carragher (Macclesfield Town);http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/p/port_vale/3014351.stm Carragher exits Vale 9 May 2003 BBC Sport 19 January 2011 Paul Byrne (Barry Town); Phil Charnock (Bury); Sean McClare (Rochdale); John Durnin (Accrington Stanley); and Rae Ingram (Bangor City). Finances, administration & a change of ownership Talks of Bell selling the club circulated at the start of the season,http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/p/port_vale/2281768.stm Vale takeover moves closer 25 September 2002 BBC Sport 19 January 2011 as Staffordshire Police were forced to write off £100,000 worth of debt.http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/staffordshire/2981964.stm Police ask Vale for cash upfront 11 June 2003 BBC News 19 January 2011 Meanwhile, Marketing executive Terry Smith resigned after just six weeks in the job. Bell told the press that the Lorne Street stand would be open at the start of the season, though work never got going on the project. Director Jim Lloyd resigned in September, leaving the club with just Bell and two directors (only one of whom was allowed to vote; Bell had the casting vote in the event of a tie). The club's financial crisis came to a head in the season, with the club £2.4 million in debt and posting £500,000 a year in losses.http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/p/port_vale/2570683.stm Vale fans group to bid 12 December 2002 BBC Sport 19 January 2011 On 25 November, Bell put his shares up for sale at £10 each.http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/p/port_vale/2512179.stm Bell to sell Vale shares 25 November 2002 BBC Sport 19 January 2011 The club entered administration on 16 December,http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/p/port_vale/2581571.stm Vale go into administration 16 December 2002 BBC Sport 19 January 2011 with £600,000 owed to Inland Revenue and the Customs & Excise;http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/p/port_vale/2546469.stm Vale near administration 5 December 2002 BBC Sport 19 January 2011 Birmingham-based administration firm Poppleton & Appleby took control. Assistant manager Mark Grew and Ray Williams were both laid off to save money.http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/p/port_vale/2587081.stm Vale axe Grew 18 December 2002 BBC Sport 19 January 2011 The club approached millionaire pop star and Vale fan Robbie Williams,http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/2591737.stm Vale in Robbie plea 19 December 2002 BBC News 19 January 2011 who rejected the opportunity to invest in the club.http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/2682589.stm Robbie says 'no' to Port Vale 22 January 2003 BBC News 19 January 2011 Rumours circulated of a possible merger with rivals Stoke City and a ground-share at the Britannia Stadium,http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/p/port_vale/2713971.stm Vale deny Potters merger 31 January 2003 BBC Sport 19 January 2011 fuelled by the belief that a 'mystery bidder' was the Icelandic owners of Stoke City.http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/p/port_vale/2730111.stm Vale Park fears rise 5 February 2003 BBC Sport 19 January 2011 Stoke Holdings, the Icelandic company which owned Stoke City, offered Bill Bell £50,000 to buy his debt and thereby take control of the club by bypassing the administrators; however, Bell rejected the offer. Valiant2001 eventually agreed to rent the club shop off Bell as an incitement for him to accept their offer (his vote was needed as he was the club's biggest creditor). The administrators received a number of bids for the club,http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/p/port_vale/2633227.stm Vale bids flood in 6 January 2003 BBC Sport 19 January 2011 and received interest from Mo Chaudry (owner of WaterWorld), Summerbank Management (Tunstall based consultancy firm), and property developing duo Steve Ball and Iain McIntosh.http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/2774457.stm Fans' group win control of Vale 19 February 2003 BBC News 19 January 2011 A late bid from Gianni Paladini seemed likely to succeed,Jackson wins control http://www.clubsincrisis.com/port_vale.html clubsincrisis.com 4 December 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20120426015831/http://www.clubsincrisis.com/port_vale.html 26 April 2012 dead dmy-all however, Bill Bratt's 'Valiant 2001' fan-based consortium's bid was accepted in March,http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/p/port_vale/2847743.stm Fans bid for Port Vale accepted 13 March 2003 BBC Sport 19 January 2011 and the group took control the following month.http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/p/port_vale/2904331.stm Vale fans to take control 7 April 2003 BBC Sport 19 January 2011 The group had had a £1 million bid rejected by Bell the previous year.http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/p/port_vale/2496811.stm Vale fans table new offer 20 November 2002 BBC Sport 19 January 2011 The total cost of administration was £255,000, and Bratt said "It has been a ride of terror".http://www.thisisstaffordshire.co.uk/Port-Vale-Vale-owed-200-creditors-pound-2-4m-time/story-15375725-detail/story.html Port Vale: Vale owed 200 creditors £2.4m the last time the administrator came calling 2 March 2012 The Sentinel 2 March 2012 In May, the club announced a new two-year £200,000 shirt sponsorship deal with local mobile phone company Tricell, ending ten years of sponsorship from Tunstall Assurance.http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/p/port_vale/2948330.stm Vale ink sponsorship deal 29 May 2003 BBC Sport 19 January 2011 The new board also appointed former player Andy Porter as youth coach,http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/p/port_vale/2987816.stm Porter wins Vale role 13 June 2003 BBC Sport 19 January 2011 and got the club's transfer embargo lifted in July.http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/p/port_vale/3077653.stm Vale embargo lifted 18 July 2003 BBC Sport 19 January 2011 Cup competitions In the FA Cup, Vale were knocked out by nearby Crewe Alexandra with a Dean Ashton goal.http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/fa_cup/2429733.stm Port Vale 0-1 Crewe 16 November 2002 BBC Sport 19 January 2011 In the League Cup, Crewe made the first of their three visits to Vale Park (all of which they won) and advanced with a 2–0 victory, both goals scored by Rodney Jack.http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/2239168.stm Port Vale 0-2 Crewe 10 September 2002 BBC Sport 19 January 2011 In the Football League Trophy, Vale advanced through the opening rounds with home wins over Hull City and Chesterfield (after a penalty shoot-outhttp://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/2430015.stm Port Vale 1-1 Chesterfield (4-3 pens) 12 November 2002 BBC Sport 19 January 2011). In the Northern Section Quarter-Finals, they faced Shrewsbury Town at Gay Meadow and lost 2–1. Results Football League Second Division League table 2002–03 Football League Second Division y PTV Results by matchday table b Round Ground H/A/A/H/A/H/A/H/H/A/H/A/H/A/H/A/H/A/A/H/A/H/H/A/A/A/H/A/H/H/A/H/H/A/A/H/A/H/H/A/A/H/A/H/H/A Result L/L/L/L/W/W/W/W/W/L/L/D/D/D/L/W/D/D/L/W/L/L/L/L/D/W/D/L/L/W/L/D/L/L/L/W/D/W/L/D/W/W/L/D/W/L Position 24/24/24/24/22/19/15/11/9/10/13/12/12/14/14/12/13/13/16/12/14/15/18/19/17/15/15/16/19/15/17/19/19/20/22/19/20/18/19/19/17/16/19/18/16/17 Points 0p/0p/0p/0p/3p/6p/9p/12p/15p/15p/15p/16p/17p/18p/18p/21p/22p/23p/23p/26p/26p/26p/26p/26p/27p/30p/31p/31p/31p/34p/34p/35p/35p/35p/35p/38p/39p/42p/42p/43p/46p/49p/49p/50p/53p/53p Home Away green2 Win yellow2 Draw red2 Loss green1 red1 StattoPort Vale 2002–2003 : Results & Fixtures. Statto Organisation. Retrieved 28 April 2012. Matches 1 10 August 2002 Port Vale 1–4 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-tranmere-rovers-10-august-2002-12966/ Tranmere Rovers Brooker 26 Koumas 40 Haworth 45 81 Allen 47 Vale Park Burslem Steve Baines 5,629 2 13 August 2002 Cardiff City 3–1 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/cardiff-city-v-port-vale-13-august-2002-13015/ Port Vale Thorne 4 Fortune-West 9 Legg 69 Bridge-Wilkinson 40 pen. Ninian Park Cardiff Paul Rejer 13,296 3 17 August 2002 Chesterfield 2–1 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/chesterfield-v-port-vale-17-august-2002-13090/ Port Vale Edwards 46 Brandon 86 Angell 90 pen. Saltergate Chesterfield, Derbyshire Roy Pearson 3,598 4 24 August 2002 Port Vale 0–1 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-stockport-county-24-august-2002-13172/ Stockport County Beckett 17 Vale Park Burslem Howard Webb 4,070 5 26 August 2002 Wigan Athletic 0–1 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/wigan-athletic-v-port-vale-26-august-2002-13245/ Port Vale Armstrong 45 JJB Stadium Wigan Graham Frankland 6,532 6 31 August 2002 Port Vale 1–0 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-peterborough-united-31-august-2002-13329/ Peterborough United Angell 85 Vale Park Burslem Graham Salisbury 3,862 7 7 September 2002 13:30 BST Swindon Town 1–2 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/swindon-town-v-port-vale-07-september-2002-13366/ Port Vale Gurney 7 Bridge-Wilkinson 9 68 County Ground Swindon Paul Taylor 5,029 8 14 September 2002 Port Vale 1–0 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-colchester-united-14-september-2002-13479/ Colchester United Collins 47 Vale Park Burslem Mike Ryan 3,328 9 17 September 2002 Port Vale 3–2 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-notts-county-17-september-2002-13561/ Notts County Angell 6 81 Paynter 58 Bolland Allsopp Vale Park Burslem Peter Walton 3,505 10 21 September 2002 Blackpool 3–2 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/blackpool-v-port-vale-21-september-2002-13587/ Port Vale Murphy 63 64 Clarke 81 Collins 23 Bridge-Wilkinson 71 Bloomfield Road Blackpool George Cain 7,756 11 28 September 2002 Port Vale 2–3 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-bristol-city-28-september-2002-13677/ Bristol City Paynter 61 Cummins 89 Beadle 18 Murray 40 Lita 90 Vale Park Burslem Ray Olivier 4,286 12 5 October 2002 Huddersfield Town 2–2 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/huddersfield-town-v-port-vale-05-october-2002-13789/ Port Vale Smith 12 Baldry 17 Collins 5 Paynter 29 Kirklees Stadium Huddersfield Scott Mathieson 9,091 13 12 October 2002 Port Vale 1–1 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-oldham-athletic-12-october-2002-13945/ Oldham Athletic McPhee 66 Holden 49 Vale Park Burslem Dermot Gallagher 5,563 14 19 October 2002 Brentford 1–1 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/brentford-v-port-vale-19-october-2002-13996/ Port Vale Hunt 56 pen. Paynter 68 Griffin Park Brentford, West London Paul Armstrong 5,177 15 26 October 2002 Port Vale 1–2 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-crewe-alexandra-26-october-2002-14108/ Crewe Alexandra Angell 56 Hulse 32 81 Vale Park Burslem Eddie Evans 6,374 16 29 October 2002 Cheltenham Town 0–1 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/cheltenham-town-v-port-vale-29-october-2002-14121/ Port Vale Bridge-Wilkinson 33 pen. Whaddon Road Cheltenham Frazer Stretton 3,852 17 2 November 2002 Port Vale 0–0 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-queens-park-rangers-02-november-2002-14193/ Queens Park Rangers Vale Park Burslem Alan Butler 4,394 18 9 November 2002 Luton Town 0–0 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/luton-town-v-port-vale-09-november-2002-14273/ Port Vale Kenilworth Road Luton Paul Robinson 6,112 19 23 November 2002 Northampton Town 3–0 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/northampton-town-v-port-vale-23-november-2002-14417/ Port Vale Gabbiadini 38 56 Forrester 89 Sixfields Stadium Northampton George Cain 4,357 20 30 November 2002 Port Vale 4–2 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-mansfield-town-30-november-2002-14500/ Mansfield Town Cummins 30 33 Armstrong 50 Paynter 66 Corden 1 Christie 67 Vale Park Burslem Tony Leake 3,880 21 14 December 2002 Wycombe Wanderers 3–1 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/wycombe-wanderers-v-port-vale-14-december-2002-14936/ Port Vale Thomson 40 Devine 75 pen. 90 Armstrong 49 Adams Park High Wycombe Joe Ross 5,229 22 21 December 2002 Port Vale 1–2 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-plymouth-argyle-21-december-2002-14976/ Plymouth Argyle Brooker 26 Evans 2 Keith 40 Vale Park Burslem Phil Prosser 4,892 23 26 December 2002 Port Vale 0–1 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-wigan-athletic-26-december-2002-15002/ Wigan Athletic de Vos 69 Vale Park Burslem Phil Joslin 6,395 24 28 December 2002 Barnsley 2–1 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/barnsley-v-port-vale-28-december-2002-15016/ Port Vale Fallon 12 Gibbs 79 pen. Bridge-Wilkinson 43 Oakwell Barnsley George Cain 9,291 25 1 January 2003 Stockport County 1–1 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/stockport-county-v-port-vale-01-january-2003-15046/ Port Vale Burgess 31 pen. Brooker 71 Edgeley Park Stockport Colin Webster 4,390 26 18 January 2003 Peterborough United 1–2 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/peterborough-united-v-port-vale-18-january-2003-15133/ Port Vale Clarke 82 Brooker 73 Bridge-Wilkinson 90 London Road Stadium Peterborough Keith Hill 4,770 27 25 January 2003 Port Vale 0–0 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-barnsley-25-january-2003-15234/ Barnsley Vale Park Burslem Mark Warren 4,033 28 1 February 2003 Tranmere Rovers 1–0 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/tranmere-rovers-v-port-vale-01-february-2003-15323/ Port Vale McClare 31 og. Prenton Park Prenton Paul Robinson 7,461 29 8 February 2003 Port Vale 1–2 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-luton-town-08-february-2003-15397/ Luton Town Boyd 87 Thorpe 49 Nicholls 76 pen. Vale Park Burslem Lee Mason 4,714 30 11 February 2003 Port Vale 5–2 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-chesterfield-11-february-2003-15456/ Chesterfield McPhee 2 Boyd 10 66 Armstrong 14 Brooker 18 Edwards 34 Ebdon 45 Vale Park Burslem Carl Boyeson 3,039 31 15 February 2003 Queens Park Rangers 4–0 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/queens-park-rangers-v-port-vale-15-february-2003-15472/ Port Vale Shittu 52 Furlong 61 Padula 79 Gallen 89 Loftus Road Shepherd's Bush, West London Steve Tomlin 13,703 32 22 February 2003 Port Vale 1–1 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-swindon-town-22-february-2003-15499/ Swindon Town Armstrong 46 Parkin 54 Vale Park Burslem Roy Pearson 4,085 33 25 February 2003 Port Vale 0–2 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-cardiff-city-25-february-2003-15518/ Cardiff City Gordon 35 Thorne 64 Vale Park Burslem Paul Taylor 3,831 34 1 March 2003 Colchester United 4–1 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/colchester-united-v-port-vale-01-march-2003-15526/ Port Vale Williams 7 36 72 Keith Bridge-Wilkinson Layer Road Colchester Scott Mathieson 3,581 35 4 March 2003 Notts County 1–0 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/notts-county-v-port-vale-04-march-2003-15555/ Port Vale Stallard 59 Meadow Lane Nottingham Colin Webster 6,302 36 8 March 2003 Port Vale 1–0 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-blackpool-08-march-2003-15580/ Blackpool Bridge-Wilkinson 49 pen. Vale Park Burslem Andy Penn 4,394 37 15 March 2003 Crewe Alexandra 1–1 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/crewe-alexandra-v-port-vale-15-march-2003-15610/ Port Vale Sorvel 54 Brisco 73 Gresty Road Crewe Eddie Ilderton 8,146 38 18 March 2003 Port Vale 1–0 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-brentford-18-march-2003-15636/ Brentford Collins 36 Vale Park Burslem Graham Salisbury 3,241 39 22 March 2003 Port Vale 1–2 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-cheltenham-town-22-march-2003-15660/ Cheltenham Town McPhee 74 McCann 43 Alsop 81 Vale Park Burslem Tony Leake 4,800 40 29 March 2003 Oldham Athletic 1–1 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/oldham-athletic-v-port-vale-29-march-2003-15690/ Port Vale Eyres 28 Cummins 36 Boundary Park Oldham Paul Rejer 7,209 41 5 April 2003 Mansfield Town 0–1 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/mansfield-town-v-port-vale-05-april-2003-15708/ Port Vale Durnin 45 Field Mill Mansfield Paul Danson 4,538 42 12 April 2003 Port Vale 3–2 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-northampton-town-12-april-2003-15735/ Northampton Town Walsh 11 Clarke 90 Littlejohn 90 Gabbiadini 62 Dudfield 89 Vale Park Burslem Trevor Parkes 4,209 43 19 April 2003 Plymouth Argyle 3–0 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/plymouth-argyle-v-port-vale-19-april-2003-15772/ Port Vale Coughlan 56 Norris 67 Wotton 77 Home Park Plymouth Mark Warren 12,587 44 21 April 2003 Port Vale 1–1 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-wycombe-wanderers-21-april-2003-15790/ Wycombe Wanderers Littlejohn 5 Harris 57 Vale Park Burslem Howard Webb 3,590 45 26 April 2003 Port Vale 5–1 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-huddersfield-town-26-april-2003-15817/ Huddersfield Town Armstrong 18 59 Littlejohn 31 Collins 82 Charnock 87 Gavin 45 Vale Park Burslem Phil Joslin 5,925 46 3 May 2003 Bristol City 2–0 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/bristol-city-v-port-vale-03-may-2003-15838/ Port Vale Murray 31 Peacock 43 Ashton Gate Ashton Gate, Bristol Mike Riley 12,410 FA Cup 2002–03 FA Cup R1 16 November 2002 Port Vale 0–1 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-crewe-alexandra-16-november-2002-14384/ Crewe Alexandra Ashton 85 Vale Park Burslem Frazer Stretton 5,507 League Cup 2002–03 Football League Cup R1 10 September 2002 Port Vale 0–2 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-crewe-alexandra-10-september-2002-13418/ Crewe Alexandra Jack 17 20 Vale Park Burslem Graham Laws 3,765 Football League Trophy 2002–03 Football League Trophy R1 22 October 2002 19:45 BST Port Vale 3–1 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-hull-city-22-october-2002-14029/ Hull City Angell 9 34 Carragher 79 Donaldson 72 Vale Park Burslem Howard Webb 2,621 R2 12 November 2002 Port Vale 1–1 4–3 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-chesterfield-12-november-2002-14309/ Chesterfield Armstrong 29 Brandon 8 Vale Park Burslem Mike Jones 2,222 yes Collins Carragher Goodlad McPhee Durnin Brooker Boyd Howard Brandon Smith Payne Dawson O'Hare Davies Penalty taker ordered is not sequenced. Northern Section Quarter-final 10 December 2002 Shrewsbury Town 2g–1 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/shrewsbury-town-v-port-vale-10-december-2002-14920/ Port Vale Rodgers Lowe Boyd 61 Gay Meadow Shrewsbury Mark Cowburn 2,597 yes 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 37 0 1 0 1 0 3 0 2 DF ENG Matt Carragher 35 0 1 0 1 0 3 1 3 DF ENG Rae Ingram 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 MF ENG Sean McClare 17 0 1 0 0 0 3 0 5 DF ENG Michael Walsh 17 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 6 DF ENG Sam Collins 44 5 1 0 1 0 3 0 7 MF ENG Neil Brisco 24 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 8 MF IRL Micky Cummins 30 4 1 0 1 0 3 0 9 FW ENG Steve Brooker 26 5 1 0 1 0 2 0 10 FW SCO Stephen McPhee 40 3 1 0 1 0 3 0 11 MF ENG Marc Bridge-Wilkinson 31 9 0 0 1 0 1 0 12 GK ENG Dean Delany 10 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 13 MF ENG Levi Reid 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 14 MF ENG Mark Boyd 20 3 1 0 1 0 2 1 15 MF ENG Ian Armstrong 29 7 1 0 1 0 3 1 16 DF WAL Steve Rowland 25 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 17 DF RSA Paul Byrne 9 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 18 FW ENG Billy Paynter 31 5 1 0 0 0 2 0 19 MF ENG Phil Charnock 18 1 1 0 0 0 3 0 20 MF ENG John Durnin 28 1 1 0 0 0 2 0 21 DF NIR Liam Burns 16 0 1 0 0 0 2 0 22 DF ENG Ryan Brown 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 23 DF ENG Ian Brightwell 35 0 1 0 1 0 1 0 25 MF TRI Chris Birchall 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 26 FW ENG Simon Eldershaw 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 27 MF ENG Adrian Littlejohn 13 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 |- |colspan="14"|Players who featured but departed the club during the season: 22 FW ENG Brett Angell 15 5 0 0 1 0 1 2 24 MF NIR Jon McCarthy 8 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 24 FW ENG Lee Ashcroft 3 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 24 DF ENG Peter Clarke 13 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 |} Top scorers PlacePositionNationNumberNameSecond DivisionFA CupLeague CupFootball League TrophyTotal1MFEngland11Marc Bridge-Wilkinson900092MFEngland15Ian Armstrong710083FWEngland22Brett Angell520074DFEngland6Sam Collins50005–FWEngland18Billy Paynter50005–FWEngland9Steve Brooker500057MFIreland8Micky Cummins40004–MFEngland14Mark Boyd310049FWEngland10Stephen McPhee30003–MFEngland27Adrian Littlejohn3000311DFEngland5Michael Walsh10001–DFEngland24Peter Clarke10001–MFEngland7Neil Brisco10001–MFEngland20John Durnin10001–MFEngland19Phil Charnock10001–DFEngland2Matt Carragher01001TOTALS5450059 Transfers Transfers in Date from Position Nationality Name From Fee Ref. May 2002 MF ENG Mark Boyd Newcastle United 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 2002 DF ENG Sam Collins Bury Free transfer August 2002 FW ENG Brett Angell Rushden & Diamonds Free transfer August 2002 DF ENG Ian Brightwell Stoke City Free transfer August 2002 MF ENG Phil Charnock Crewe Alexandra Free transfer August 2002 MF NIR Jon McCarthy Birmingham City Free transfer February 2003 MF ENG Adrian Littlejohn Sheffield United Free transfer Transfers out Date from Position Nationality Name To Fee Ref. October 2002 MF NIR Jon McCarthy Doncaster Rovers Released November 2002 FW ENG Brett Angell Queens Park Rangers Free transfer May 2003 DF ENG Matt Carragher Stafford Rangers Released May 2003 MF ENG John Durnin Accrington Stanley Released May 2003 DF ENG Rae Ingram WAL Bangor City Released May 2003 MF ENG Sean McClare Rochdale Released July 2003 MF RSA Paul Byrne WAL Barry Town Free transfer August 2003 MF ENG Phil Charnock Bury Free transfer Loans in Date from Position Nationality Name From Date to Ref. 11 October 2002 FW ENG Lee Ashcroft Wigan Athletic 27 October 2002 20 February 2003 DF ENG Peter Clarke Everton 29 April 2003 https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/e/everton/2982881.stm Clarke returns to Everton 29 April 2003 BBC Sport 14 May 2009 References Specific General Soccerbase Category:Port Vale F.C. seasons Port Vale