1976–77 Port Vale F.C. season

October 2019 March 2015 Port Vale 1976–77 Roy Sproson Mark Singer(until 17 March)Arthur McPherson(from 17 March) Vale Park Football League Third Division 19th (38 points) FA Cup Fifth Round(eliminated by Aston Villa) League Cup First Round(eliminated by Wrexham) Debenhams Cup Runners-up(eliminated by Chester) Player of the Year David Harris Ken Beamish (12) Ken Beamish (18) 18,068 vs. Burnley, 29 January 1977 2,984 vs. Portsmouth, 2 April 1977 4,356 3–0 and 4–1 0–4 and 2–6 _blackline _vneck_shouldersonwhite_strip _blackline _black_stripes _color_3_stripes_white ffffff ffffff ffffff ffffff 000000 1975–76 1977–78 The 1976–77 season was Port Vale's 65th season of football in the Football League, and their seventh successive season (13th overall) in the Third Division.Kent Jeff The Valiants' Years: The Story of Port Vale Witan Books 1990 227–257 Surviving on a Shoestring (1969–1979) 0-9508981-4-7 Under the stewardship of Roy Sproson, the club endured a tense league campaign, finishing 19th with 38 points, just three points clear of relegation. Vale found greater success in cup competitions, reaching the Fifth Round of the FA Cup for the first time since the 1961–62 season before being eliminated by Aston Villa at Villa Park in front of nearly 50,000 spectators. In the League Cup, they exited in the First Round, knocked out by Wrexham. The season also saw them reach the final of the Debenhams Cup, where they finished as runners-up after a narrow defeat to Chester. Ken Beamish was a shining light up front, finishing as both league top scorer with 12 goals and season top scorer with 18 across all competitions. The club's average home attendance was 4,356, with the highest gate recorded at 18,068 against Burnley on 29 January 1977, and the lowest at 2,984 versus Portsmouth on 2 April 1977. The Player of the Year, as recognised by the club, was David Harris. Despite a challenging season in the Third Division, Port Vale achieved notable success in cup competitions, advancing to the FA Cup Fifth Round and finishing as runners-up in the Debenhams Cup, supported by Ken Beamish’s goal-scoring contributions and the leadership of Roy Sproson. Overview Third Division The pre-season saw manager Roy Sproson add two youngsters to his squad: 22-year-old forward Kevin Kennerley (Burnley) and 23-year-old defender Ian Osborne (Birmingham City). The battle with Stoke-on-Trent City Council continued over the legality of Vale's market trading operation. The club were also in trouble with The Football Association, who fined them £400 for the 47 bookings received in the previous campaign. Vale decided to crack down on player indiscipline by fining players £25 for dissent and £50 for violence. As 'a piece of good business' which 'could not be turned down', the club also sold star defender Terry Lees to Dutch side Sparta Rotterdam for £25,000. Another late signing was Geoff Davies, who had returned from a spell in the United States. The season opened with a loss, a draw, and then a 2–0 win over Sheffield Wednesday on 28 August. Then only one point was gained in the next six matches. To bolster the side in came Stoke City's veteran defender Eric Skeels, who was also returning from a spell in the USA. Mick Cullerton then severed a cartilage in a 1–1 draw at reading on 18 September, which meant five months out of action for the star striker. To replace him, Sproson signed Blackburn Rovers forward Ken Beamish (£12,000) and Wigan Athletic's top-scorer John Rogers ('a small fee'). The club also informed other clubs that they would listen to any player offers, but there was little interest. Rogers got off to a good start, scoring the winning goal in a 2–1 victory over Northampton Town on 8 October. Later in the month, former England and Wolves defender Bobby Thomson was another player returning from the States. Signing with the Vale, he impressed so much that he was made club captain in his first week at Vale Park after impressing in a 3–2 defeat to Wrexham. Vale ended the month in seventh place. On 6 November, Vale lost 1–0 at bottom club York City after a flu epidemic hit the squad. On 13 November, Vale faced former player Brian Horton for the first time in front of the television cameras against Brighton & Hove Albion, playing out an entertaining 2–2 draw.The Vale review https://www.townenders.com/images/programmes/1986-1987/PDF/1986-10-21%20Port%20Vale%20Vs%20Swindon%20Town.pdf townenders 2 March 2026 A club record run of 42 away games without a clean sheet began on 18 December and would last until 30 September 1978. The first of this run was a 1–1 draw with Rotherham United at Millmoor; after this match "Millers" boss Jimmy McGuigan stated that Vale showed 'the worst exhibition of football thuggery I have ever seen'. Even though the defence struggled away from home, Beamish did not, as he scored his first ten goals for the club away from Burslem. In a 4–2 win over Grimsby Town at Blundell Park on 3 January, Beamish scored a hat-trick. Later in the month Geoff Davies had his contract cancelled by mutual consent. The team were unbeaten throughout January, though only two of their five fixtures came in the league. Vale's form tailed off, though Terry Alcock returned briefly to play a handful of games. Thomson also returned to the US, Ray Williams was transferred to Northwich Victoria for 'a small fee', and Colin Tartt was sold to Chesterfield for £15,000. In their places were new signings Alan Lamb (£5,000 from Preston North End) and Peter Sutcliffe (£3,000 from Stockport County), whilst a fit again Cullerton was like a new signing. Vale lost 1–0 at Crystal Palace on 1 February, leading Roy Chapman to remark "it's no good being today's heroes and tomorrow's fools". Six days later, they fell to a 2–0 defeat at second-from-bottom York City. The club had drifted into the bottom four, but a six-match unbeaten run with a prolific Cullerton took them to safety. In the background was an ongoing power struggle in the boardroom. In late-March they then received a 6–2 beating at Wrexham and then a 4–0 beating from Chesterfield at Saltergate. The club suffered an injury crisis in April, with both Keith Chadwick and John Brodie having been forced to retire through injury. Relegation was avoided however, with six points from the final five games, beginning with a 4–1 victory over fourth-placed Crystal Palace. The final game of the season was against Rotherham United, who needed a six-goal win margin to gain promotion. The match saw three penalties, three bookings and crowd trouble, though United were four goals ahead they failed to find the remaining two, and instead the "Valiants" scored a late goal. They finished in 19th place with 38 points, three points above the drop. Their 47 goals scored tally only lower than Grimsby's. They only recorded two victories on their travels. At the end of the season was the short-lived Debenhams Cup competition, Vale lost 4–3 to Chester over two legs, but still received a runners-up prize of £5,000. Finances On the financial side, a loss of £5,959 was made despite a donation of £23,860 from the Development Fund. Gate receipts had risen to £60,115; however, wages and signing-on fees had risen to £139,012. The bank overdraft stood at £15,000, though the club's total debt stood at £123,863. On the coaching front, Roy Chapman was replaced by Colin Harper. Arthur McPherson replaced Mark Singer as chairman on 17 March. McPherson stated that "the guts were ripped out of the team when Brian Horton and Terry Lees were sold and they have not been replaced". Meanwhile, three players were handed free transfers: ten-year club veteran Tommy McLaren (Telford United), Eric Skeels (Leek Town), and Ian Osborne (Hillingdon Borough). Also John Rogers was sold to Altrincham for £2,000. Cup competitions In the FA Cup, Vale advanced past Fourth Division side Southport with a John Rogers brace at Haig Avenue.Baggaley Mike Countdown to the big kick off https://portvalethevaliant.substack.com/p/countdown-to-the-big-kick-off 29 July 2025 Valiant's Substack 28 July 2025 A 3–0 win over Barnsley, also of the Fourth Division, then put Vale into the third round. The Barnsley fixture survived two pitch inspections and a half-time warning from referee Roger Kirkpatrick that if the frostbitten pitch worsened any further than he would call the game off. Vale were one goal ahead at this stage thanks to Ray Williams, and second half goals from Neil Griffiths and Ken Beamish secured the victory. In the third round, they faced Second Division club Hull City, with whom they played out a 1–1 draw at Boothferry Park after Beamish equalised in stoppage time. Trevor Dance played well on his home debut in the return fixture, though Beamish was required the level the score again at 1–1, this time in the 85th minute. In extra-time, goals from Kevin Kennerley and Beamish again secured victory over a hull side led by Billy Bremner. Another Second Division club, Burnley, awaited in the fourth round and 18,068 – the biggest crowd at Vale Park in four years – witnessed Vale secure a 2–1 victory as 38th-minute Colin Tartt and 56th-minute Derek Brownbill goals gave Vale what proved to be an unassailable lead as Brian Flynn's 88th-minute goal proved a mere consolation. The fifth round held First Division club Aston Villa. Villa won 3–0 in front of a crowd of 46,872 at Villa Park. The score was 'flattering' to the "Villans" as they scored two late goals. The match was shown on television. The club's FA Cup run earned them a place in the Debenhams Cup final against Chester. A 2–0 home win in the first leg gave them a strong advantage heading to Sealand Road, but there they lost 4–1 and so had to be consoled with runners-up medals and £5,000 prize money.Harper Chris Sentinel Football Annual 1977-78 The Sentinel Stoke-on-Trent 21 In the League Cup, Welsh club Wrexham knocked the Vale out 2–1 on aggregate, following a 1–1 draw in Burslem and a 1–0 win at the Racecourse Ground. Results Football League Third Division 1976–77 Football League League table Third Division y PTV Results by matchday table b Round Ground A/H/H/A/H/A/A/H/A/H/H/A/A/H/H/A/H/A/A/H/A/A/H/A/A/H/A/H/A/H/H/H/A/H/A/A/H/A/H/H/A/H/H/A/A/H Result L/D/W/L/L/L/D/L/L/W/L/D/D/W/D/L/D/D/D/L/L/W/D/L/W/L/D/W/D/D/D/W/L/W/L/L/W/L/L/D/L/W/W/D/D/L Position 18/17/7/18/20/23/20/23/23/18/22/21/21/18/18/19/19/19/21/21/22/20/21/22/19/19/21/21/20/18/17/17/19/17/17/18/16/17/19/21/21/19/18/19/18/19 Points 0p/1p/3p/3p/3p/3p/4p/4p/4p/6p/6p/7p/8p/10p/11p/11p/12p/13p/14p/14p/14p/16p/17p/17p/19p/19p/20p/22p/23p/24p/25p/27p/27p/29p/29p/29p/31p/31p/31p/32p/32p/34p/36p/37p/38p/38p Home Away green2 Win yellow2 Draw red2 Loss green1 red1 StattoPort Vale 1976–1977 : Results & Fixtures https://web.archive.org/web/20151002221118/http://www.statto.com/football/teams/port-vale/1976-1977/results 2 October 2015 . Statto Organisation. Retrieved 28 April 2012. Matches 1 21 August 1976 Swindon Town 1–0 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/swindon-town-v-port-vale-21-august-1976-135264/ Port Vale Syrett 47 County Ground Swindon W. Harvey 6,336 2 23 August 1976 Port Vale 1–1 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-chesterfield-23-august-1976-135267/ Chesterfield Williams Vale Park Burslem 4,056 3 28 August 1976 Port Vale 2–0 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-sheffield-wednesday-28-august-1976-135278/ Sheffield Wednesday Cullerton Tartt Vale Park Burslem 5,033 4 4 September 1976 Lincoln City 2–0 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/lincoln-city-v-port-vale-04-september-1976-135291/ Port Vale Sincil Bank Lincoln 6,059 5 11 September 1976 Port Vale 1–2 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-gillingham-11-september-1976-135306/ Gillingham Tartt Vale Park Burslem 3,015 6 14 September 1976 Preston North End 4–0 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/preston-north-end-v-port-vale-14-september-1976-135314/ Port Vale Deepdale Preston, Lancashire 6,592 7 18 September 1976 Reading 1–1 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/reading-v-port-vale-18-september-1976-135324/ Port Vale Brownbill Elm Park Reading, Berkshire 7,104 8 25 September 1976 Port Vale 1–2 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-shrewsbury-town-25-september-1976-135333/ Shrewsbury Town Beech Vale Park Burslem 4,180 9 2 October 1976 Walsall 3–1 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/walsall-v-port-vale-02-october-1976-135352/ Port Vale Skeels Fellows Park Walsall 5,459 10 8 October 1976 15:00 BST Port Vale 2–1 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-northampton-town-08-october-1976-135356/ Northampton Town Brownbill Rogers Phillips Vale Park Burslem 3,962 11 16 October 1976 15:00 BST Port Vale 2–3 L https://www.wrexhamafcarchive.co.uk/matchdetails.php?id=989 Wrexham Cullerton 70 Tartt 90 Whittle 26 39 Ashcroft 58 Vale Park Burslem Alan Seville 5,347 12 23 October 1976 Portsmouth 1–1 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/portsmouth-v-port-vale-23-october-1976-135388/ Port Vale Pollock Beamish Fratton Park Portsmouth 7,456 13 25 October 1976 Tranmere Rovers 1–1 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/tranmere-rovers-v-port-vale-25-october-1976-135393/ Port Vale Beamish Prenton Park Prenton 3,578 14 30 October 1976 Port Vale 2–0 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-grimsby-town-30-october-1976-135403/ Grimsby Town Rogers Vale Park Burslem 3,714 15 1 November 1976 Port Vale 0–0 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-preston-north-end-01-november-1976-135411/ Preston North End Vale Park Burslem 4,686 16 6 November 1976 York City 1–0 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/york-city-v-port-vale-06-november-1976-135434/ Port Vale Bootham Crescent York 2,153 17 13 November 1976 Port Vale 2–2 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-brighton-and-hove-albion-13-november-1976-135442/ Brighton & Hove Albion Williams Bailey Vale Park Burslem 6,449 18 27 November 1976 Oxford United 0–0 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/oxford-united-v-port-vale-27-november-1976-135455/ Port Vale Manor Ground Oxford 4,015 19 18 December 1976 Rotherham United 1–1 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/rotherham-united-v-port-vale-18-december-1976-135478/ Port Vale Beamish Millmoor Rotherham 5,012 20 27 December 1976 Port Vale 0–1 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-bury-27-december-1976-135484/ Bury Vale Park Burslem 5,862 21 28 December 1976 Mansfield Town 2–1 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/mansfield-town-v-port-vale-28-december-1976-135494/ Port Vale Randall Moss Beamish Field Mill Mansfield 7,977 22 3 January 1977 Grimsby Town 2–4 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/grimsby-town-v-port-vale-03-january-1977-135504/ Port Vale Beamish Kennerley Blundell Park Cleethorpes 5,870 23 22 January 1977 Port Vale 2–2 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-swindon-town-22-january-1977-135524/ Swindon Town Beech 28 Ridley 65 McHale 12 Syrett 16 Vale Park Burslem R.W. Toseland 4,446 24 1 February 1977 Crystal Palace 2–0 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/crystal-palace-v-port-vale-01-february-1977-135543/ Port Vale Selhurst Park Selhurst, Croydon 11,149 25 5 February 1977 Sheffield Wednesday 1–2 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/sheffield-wednesday-v-port-vale-05-february-1977-135556/ Port Vale Wylde Beamish Rogers Hillsborough Stadium Owlerton 13,105 26 7 February 1977 Port Vale 0–2 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-york-city-07-february-1977-135559/ York City Vale Park Burslem 4,683 27 19 February 1977 Gillingham 1–1 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/gillingham-v-port-vale-19-february-1977-135580/ Port Vale Rogers Priestfield Stadium Gillingham, Kent 5,084 28 28 February 1977 Port Vale 1–0 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-reading-28-february-1977-135604/ Reading Beech Vale Park Burslem 4,212 29 5 March 1977 Shrewsbury Town 1–1 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/shrewsbury-town-v-port-vale-05-march-1977-135618/ Port Vale Rogers Gay Meadow Shrewsbury 4,236 30 7 March 1977 Port Vale 1–1 D https://www.theposhtrust.co.uk/match/1009/19770307- Peterborough United Cullerton 71 Lee 33 pen. Vale Park Burslem K. Baker 4,417 31 11 March 1977 Port Vale 0–0 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-walsall-11-march-1977-135627/ Walsall Vale Park Burslem 4,819 32 14 March 1977 Port Vale 1–0 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-chester-14-march-1977-135638/ Chester Cullerton pen. Vale Park Burslem 4,451 33 19 March 1977 15:00 GMT Northampton Town 3–0 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/northampton-town-v-port-vale-19-march-1977-135648/ Port Vale Best Stratford County Cricket Ground Northampton 5,808 34 21 March 1977 Port Vale 1–0 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-lincoln-city-21-march-1977-135655/ Lincoln City Cullerton Vale Park Burslem 3,987 35 24 March 1977 19:30 GMT Wrexham 6–2 L https://www.wrexhamafcarchive.co.uk/matchdetails.php?id=3436 Port Vale Whittle 8 28 42 86 Ridley 17 og. Lee 32 Beamish 22 84 Racecourse Ground Wrexham Joe Worral 6,383 36 30 March 1977 Chesterfield 4–0 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/chesterfield-v-port-vale-30-march-1977-135675/ Port Vale Saltergate Chesterfield, Derbyshire 3,426 37 2 April 1977 Port Vale 1–0 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-portsmouth-02-april-1977-135682/ Portsmouth Cullerton Vale Park Burslem 2,984 38 8 April 1977 Bury 3–0 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/bury-v-port-vale-08-april-1977-135690/ Port Vale Gigg Lane Bury, Greater Manchester 5,619 39 9 April 1977 Port Vale 1–4 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-mansfield-town-09-april-1977-135699/ Mansfield Town Beech Bird Foster Randall Vale Park Burslem 4,389 40 16 April 1977 Port Vale 1–1 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-tranmere-rovers-16-april-1977-135726/ Tranmere Rovers Dulson Vale Park Burslem 3,188 41 23 April 1977 Brighton & Hove Albion 1–0 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/brighton-and-hove-albion-v-port-vale-23-april-1977-135742/ Port Vale Goldstone Ground Hove 23,482 42 26 April 1977 Port Vale 4–1 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-crystal-palace-26-april-1977-135755/ Crystal Palace og. Cullerton Sutcliffe Beamish Vale Park Burslem 3,990 43 30 April 1977 Port Vale 2–1 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-oxford-united-30-april-1977-135761/ Oxford United Bailey og. Vale Park Burslem 4,058 44 4 May 1977 Peterborough United 1–1 D https://www.theposhtrust.co.uk/match/1009/19770504 Port Vale Robson 81 Cullerton 52 London Road Stadium Peterborough B. Homewood 3,883 45 7 May 1977 Chester 1–1 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/chester-v-port-vale-07-may-1977-135783/ Port Vale Delgado Beamish Sealand Road Chester 2,978 46 14 May 1977 Port Vale 1–4 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-rotherham-united-14-may-1977-135798/ Rotherham United Cullerton pen. Vale Park Burslem 4,271 FA Cup 1976–77 FA Cup R1 20 November 1976 Southport 1–2 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/southport-v-port-vale-20-november-1976-214032/ Port Vale Rogers Haig Avenue Southport 4,102 R2 11 December 1976 Port Vale 3–0 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-barnsley-11-december-1976-214074/ Barnsley Williams Griffiths Beamish Vale Park Burslem 5,451 R3 8 January 1977 15:00 GMT Hull City 1–1 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/hull-city-v-port-vale-08-january-1977-214105/ Port Vale Nisbet 87 Beamish Boothferry Park Kingston upon Hull 9,694 Replay 10 January 1977 19:30 GMT Port Vale 3–1 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-hull-city-10-january-1977-214125/ Hull City Beamish Kennerley Hemmerman 57 Vale Park Burslem 10,668 yes R4 29 January 1977 Port Vale 2–1 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-burnley-29-january-1977-214154/ Burnley Tartt Brownbill Vale Park Burslem 18,068 R5 26 February 1977 Aston Villa 3–0 L https://www.avfchistory.co.uk/game/3419 Port Vale Nicholl 18 Little 79 Deehan 86 Villa Park Birmingham Arthur Jones 46,872 League Cup 1976–77 Football League Cup R1 1st Leg 14 August 1976 15:00 BST Port Vale 1–1 D https://www.wrexhamafcarchive.co.uk/matchdetails.php?id=2373 Wrexham Cullerton 68 pen. Whittle 4 Vale Park Burslem G. Nolan 3,912 R1 2nd Leg 18 August 1976 19:30 BST Wrexham 1–0 L https://www.wrexhamafcarchive.co.uk/matchdetails.php?id=2374 Port Vale Ashcroft 81 Racecourse Ground Wrexham A.J.Hamil 4,320 2–1 Debenhams Cup Final 1st Leg 16 May 1977 Port Vale 2–0 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-chester-city-16-may-1977-361967/ Chester Griffiths Beamish Vale Park Burslem 3,459 Final 2nd Leg 24 May 1977 Chester 4–1 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/chester-city-v-port-vale-24-may-1977-361968/ Port Vale Beamish Sealand Road Chester 3,920 4–3 Squad statistics Appearances and goals Key to positions: GK – Goalkeeper; DF – Defender; MF – Midfielder; FW – Forward Third Division FA Cup League Cup Debenhams Cup GK ENG John Connaughton 38 0 4 0 2 0 0 0 GK ENG Trevor Dance 8 0 2 0 0 0 2 0 DF ENG Terry Alcock 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 DF ENG John Brodie 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 DF ENG Garry Dulson 28 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 DF ENG Neil Griffiths 30 0 6 1 2 0 2 1 DF ENG David Harris 40 0 6 0 0 0 2 0 DF ENG Ian Osborne 15 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 DF ENG Trevor Robson 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 DF ENG Eric Skeels 5 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 MF ENG Terry Bailey 39 2 6 0 2 0 2 0 MF ENG Kenny Beech 27 4 4 0 2 0 2 0 MF ENG Kevin Kennerley 23 1 4 1 2 0 1 0 MF SCO Alan Lamb 14 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 MF ENG Terry Lees 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 MF SCO Tommy McLaren 33 0 4 0 0 0 2 0 MF ENG John Ridley 35 1 6 0 2 0 2 0 MF ENG Peter Sutcliffe 12 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 FW ENG Ken Beamish 37 12 5 4 0 0 2 2 FW ENG Derek Brownbill 19 2 2 1 2 0 0 0 FW SCO Mick Cullerton 25 9 0 0 1 1 2 0 FW ENG John Rogers 26 6 6 2 0 0 2 0 |- |colspan="14"|Players who featured but departed the club during the season: DF ENG Andy Clements 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 DF ENG Bobby Thomson 18 0 6 0 0 0 0 0 MF ENG Keith Chadwick 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 MF ENG Chris Dangerfield 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 MF ENG Colin Tartt 25 3 4 1 2 0 0 0 MF ENG Geoff Davies 7 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 FW ENG Dean Martin 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 FW ENG Ray Williams 21 2 4 1 2 0 0 0 |} Top scorers PlacePositionNationNameThird DivisionFA CupLeague CupDebenhams CupTotal1FWEnglandKen Beamish12402182FWScotlandMick Cullerton9010103FWEnglandJohn Rogers620084MFEnglandKenny Beech40004–MFEnglandColin Tartt310046FWEnglandRay Williams21003–FWEnglandDerek Brownbill210038MFEnglandTerry Bailey20002–DFEnglandNeil Griffiths01012–MFEnglandKevin Kennerley1100211DFEnglandGarry Dulson10001–DFEnglandEric Skeels10001–MFEnglandJohn Ridley10001–MFEnglandPeter Sutcliffe10001–––Own goals20002TOTALS47111362 Transfers Transfers in Date from Position Nationality Name From Fee Ref. 1976 MF ENG Geoff Davies USA Chicago Sting Free transfer Kent Jeff Port Vale Personalities Witan Books 1996 0-9529152-0-0 1976 DF ENG Ian Osborne Birmingham City Free transfer 25 May 1976 MF ENG Kevin Kennerley Burnley Free transfer July 1976 FW ENG Dean Martin Stoke City Trial August 1976 MF ENG Chris Dangerfield Wolverhampton Wanderers Trial September 1976 FW ENG Ken Beamish Blackburn Rovers £12,000 September 1976 DF ENG Eric Skeels Stoke City Free transfer October 1976 FW ENG John Rogers USA Portland Timbers Free transfer October 1976 DF ENG Bobby Thomson USA Hartford Bicentennials Free transfer February 1977 DF ENG Terry Alcock Blackpool Free transfer March 1977 MF SCO Alan Lamb Preston North End £5,000 March 1977 MF ENG Peter Sutcliffe Stockport County £3,000 Transfers out Date from Position Nationality Name To Fee Ref. August 1976 MF ENG Chris Dangerfield Coventry City Trial ended September 1976 FW ENG Dean Martin Stoke City Trial ended January 1977 MF ENG Geoff Davies USA San Jose Earthquakes Free transfer March 1977 MF ENG Keith Chadwick Retired March 1977 MF ENG Colin Tartt Chesterfield £15,000 March 1977 DF ENG Bobby Thomson USA Hartford Bicentennials Free transfer March 1977 FW ENG Ray Williams Northwich Victoria 'small' May 1977 MF SCO Tommy McLaren Telford United Free transfer May 1977 DF ENG Ian Osborne Hillingdon Borough Free transfer May 1977 DF ENG Trevor Robson Released July 1977 FW ENG John Rogers Altrincham £2,000 Summer 1977 DF ENG Eric Skeels Leek Town Free transfer Loans in Date from Position Nationality Name From Date to Ref. February 1977 DF ENG Andy Clements Bolton Wanderers April 1977 Loans out Date from Position Nationality Name To Date to Ref. 1976 MF ENG Geoff Davies Hartlepool United 1976 1977 DF ENG Terry Alcock USA Portland Timbers 1977 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