1985–86 Port Vale F.C. season

March 2015 March 2015 Port Vale 1985–86 John Rudge Jim Lloyd Vale Park Football League Fourth Division 4th (79 points) FA Cup Second Round(eliminated by Walsall) League Cup Second Round(eliminated by West Bromwich Albion) Associate Members' Cup Northern Section Semi-finals(eliminated by Wigan Athletic) Player of the Year Jim Arnold Robbie Earle (15) Andy Jones (18) 11,736 vs. Walsall, 8 December 1985 1,584 vs. Blackpool, 10 February 1986 3,581 4–0 (three games) 1–4 vs. Chester City, 1 January 1986 _thinblackstripes _thinblackstripes _thinblackstripes _white stripes _color_3_stripes_black ffffff ffffff ffffff 000000 ffffff _greenborder _thingreenstripes _greenborder FFFF00 FFFF00 FFFF00 228B22 FFFF00 1984–85 1986–87 The 1985–86 season was Port Vale's 74th season of football in the English Football League, and second-successive (13th overall) season in the Fourth Division.Kent Jeff The Valiants' Years: The Story Of Port Vale Witan Books 1990 258–290 From Rags to Riches (1979–1990) 0-9508981-4-7 John Rudge managed a Vale to a club record low of only one home league defeat all season, contributing to a fourth-place finish with 79 points and a return to the Third Division via promotion. Building the team shrewdly, Rudge leaned on rookie striker Andy Jones — signed for just a few thousand pounds — to lead the scoring charts with 18 goals, while Robbie Earle added 15 strikes in the league, and Jim Arnold marshalled a resolute defence that earned him Player of the Year honors. In cup competitions, the team reached the Second Round in both the FA Cup and League Cup, and progressed to the Northern Section Semi-finals of the Associate Members' Cup. Overview Fourth Division The pre-season saw John Rudge sign big defender John Williams from Tranmere Rovers for £12,000, and powerful Welsh striker Andy Jones from Northern Premier League side Rhyl for £3,000. He also signed 35-year-old goalkeeper Jim Arnold (Everton); midfielder Paul Maguire (Tacoma Stars); hard-working midfielder Jeff Johnson (Gillingham); and Wayne Ebanks (who had played on loan from West Bromwich Albion the previous season). Meanwhile, new safety regulations reduced Vale Park's capacity down to 16,800, and later again to 16,300. The club set a £10 bonus for clean sheets and also set bonuses for promotion. Another late addition was Jon Bowden from Oldham Athletic for £5,000. The season opened with a 1–0 defeat to Exeter City at St James Park on 17 August. They did, though, manage to win 2–1 at Burnley on 26 August, avenging the 7–0 defeat they had suffered at Turf Moor two seasons prior.Baggaley Mike Learning lessons on and off the pitch https://portvalethevaliant.substack.com/p/learning-lessons-on-and-off-the-pitch 26 August 2024 Valiant's Substack 26 August 2024 Bowden made his debut in a 4–1 home win over Cambridge United on 14 September, though had his elbow dislocated in a sending off incident from opposition defender Geoff Scott. Vale continued in indifferent form, and three days later they played out a goalless draw with Aldershot at the Recreation Ground's lowest recorded Football League attendance of 1,027. At the end of the month, Vale went nine league games without a loss to fire the club into the promotion race, their run including three 4–0 wins in Burslem as they went clear at the top of the table. With John Williams sidelined with an ankle injury, Vale's form suffered with just two wins in the following eleven games, and Vale fell to fifth place. Williams picked up his injury on 26 October as Vale won 3–0 at home to Lou Macari's Swindon Town.Baggaley Mike Vale hold on to make history https://portvalethevaliant.substack.com/p/vale-hold-on-to-make-history 27 October 2024 Valiant's Substack 27 October 2024 On 2 November, Vale went to the top of the table with a 1–0 victory at Preston North End after being gifted a dubious penalty. Their form suffered, though they did pick up a 3–0 home win over Crewe Alexandra on Boxing Day, with Ally Brown scoring a "spectacular overhead kick". Rudge looked at bringing in Niall Quinn as loan cover, but was denied after Arsenal had an injury to striker Tony Woodcock and needed Quin to stay as cover for their own team.Fielding Rob Nearly Men 35: Niall Quinn, waiting at a platform for a Port Vale loan move that never happened… - onevalefan.co.uk https://www.onevalefan.co.uk/2025/11/nearly-men-35-niall-quinn-waiting-at-a-platform-for-a-port-vale-loan-move-that-never-happened/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=nearly-men-35-niall-quinn-waiting-at-a-platform-for-a-port-vale-loan-move-that-never-happened 18 November 2025 18 November 2025 Vale fell to a 4–1 defeat at second-placed Chester City on New Year's Day. They were also beaten on a snow-covered Vale Park pitch by one goal to nil by Preston North End three days later. From 11 January to 26 April, the "Valiants" hit a run of 18 league games unbeaten (eight draws and ten wins), thus ensuring promotion. This run was built on the striking partnership of Robbie Earle and Andy Jones, as well as a solid defence and consistent displays from keeper Arnold. During this spell Rudge failed to re-sign Bob Newton from Chesterfield, though was cheered by completing the double over Dario Gradi's Crewe Alexandra at Gresty Road. A 1–1 draw at fourth-placed Hartlepool United in a "drab, lifeless" match was crucial. One low point was an attack by a Stockport gang on Russell Bromage following a 2–1 win over Stockport County at Edgeley Park. Vale broke into the top four for the first time with a 3–1 win over Aldershot on what was described as "a paddy-field of a pitch".Baggaley Mike Analysing the Vale as odds mount against great escape https://portvalethevaliant.substack.com/p/analysing-the-vale-as-odds-mount 18 March 2024 Valiant's Substack 18 March 2024 They demonstrated their steel by securing a 0–0 at league leaders Swindon Town in the next match. On 31 March, Vale won 1–0 away at Crewe despite Brown being sent off on 53 minutes, ending the hosts' club record-equalling run of seven consecutive victories and start a sequence of five successive Vale victories.Baggaley Mike Bouncing back for a promotion clash https://portvalethevaliant.substack.com/p/bouncing-back-for-a-promotion-clash 27 March 2025 Valiant's Substack 27 March 2025 Promotion was ensured with a comfortable 1–0 win over bottom club Torquay United at Plainmoor, in which the majority of the crowd were Vale fans.Baggaley Michael Victory at Torquay clinches John Rudge's first promotion as Port Vale manager https://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/victory-torquay-clinches-john-rudges-4080036 26 April 2020 Stoke Sentinel 26 April 2020 The Sentinel's Chris Harper said centre halves John Williams and Phil Sproson were outstanding in this game.Baggaley Mike Tickets, prospects, Peterborough and more https://portvalethevaliant.substack.com/p/tickets-prospects-peterborough-and 19 December 2025 Valiant's Substack 18 December 2025 Promotion was celebrated with a dinner dance at Keele University.Baggaley Mike Vale slide closer to relegation with Lincoln loss https://portvalethevaliant.substack.com/p/vale-slide-closer-to-relegation-with 25 February 2024 Valiant's Substack 25 February 2024 However, with two defeats and a draw in their final three games, Rudge accused his players of lacking professionalism as they lost the chance to head into the Third Division as runners-up. They finished in fourth place with 79 points, seven points clear of Orient. Preston North End were the only team to beat Vale on their ground in the league all season. Their 37 goals conceded was the lowest total in the division and a record excelled only by Manchester United in the First Division. Their 67 goals scored tally was not particularly impressive, though Earle and Jones' partnership provided almost half of these goals. Phil Sproson was selected for the PFA Fourth Division Team of the Year. Finances On the financial side, the season lost a disastrous sum of £79,474. The promotion bonuses meant the wage bill totalled at £413,471. Vale's average home attendance of 3,581 was the third-highest in the division. The club's shirt sponsors were ECI. Three players transferred at the end of the season were Peter Griffiths (Salisbury United), Chris Pearce (Wrexham), and Jeff Johnson (Barrow). Player of the Year Jim Arnold and Ally Brown retired, whilst Oshor Williams was sold to Preston North End for 'a small fee'. Cup competitions In the FA Cup, Vale beat Mansfield Town 1–0 in a replay following a 1–1 draw at Field Mill two days previously.Baggaley Mike Tough choices and finding a way https://portvalethevaliant.substack.com/p/tough-choices-and-finding-a-way 18 November 2024 Valiant's Substack 18 November 2024 Vale Park saw a crowd of 11,736 for the second round goalless tie with Walsall, and were then eliminated following a 2–1 defeat at the Bescot Stadium. In the League Cup, Vale advanced past Third Division side Wigan Athletic 3–2 on aggregate following at 2–0 win at Springfield Park. They were then knocked out by First Division club West Bromwich Albion, losing 1–0 at The Hawthorns, before giving an excellent account of themselves by battling back from 2–0 down at Vale Park to draw 2–2. In the Associate Members' Cup, Vale advanced through the group stage with a 1–1 draw with Wrexham at the Racecourse Ground and a 2–0 home win over Blackpool. The next stage saw Vale triumph over Scunthorpe United at Glanford Park with a 4–3 win on penalties following a 1–1 draw. In the Area Semi-finals, they were then defeated by holders Wigan Athletic, though they still earned £1,250 in prize money. Results Football League Fourth Division 1985–86 Football League League table Fourth Division y PTV Results by matchday table b Round Ground A/H/A/H/A/H/A/H/A/H/H/A/H/A/H/A/A/H/A/A/H/A/H/A/H/A/H/A/H/H/H/H/A/A/H/H/A/H/A/H/A/H/A/A/H/A Result L/D/W/D/L/W/D/W/L/W/W/W/W/D/W/W/D/D/L/D/W/L/W/L/L/D/D/W/W/W/D/D/D/W/D/W/D/D/W/W/W/W/W/L/D/L Position 16/18/10/12/17/13/14/11/11/8/6/5/4/3/3/1/1/3/5/8/4/6/4/5/5/5/6/5/5/5/5/6/6/5/5/4/4/4/4/4/3/3/3/3/3/4 Points 0p/1p/4p/5p/5p/8p/9p/12p/12p/15p/18p/21p/24p/25p/28p/31p/32p/33p/33p/34p/37p/37p/40p/40p/40p/41p/42p/45p/48p/51p/52p/53p/54p/57p/58p/61p/62p/63p/66p/69p/72p/75p/78p/78p/79p/79p Home Away green2 Win yellow2 Draw red2 Loss green1 red1 StattoPort Vale 1985–1986 : Results & Fixtures https://web.archive.org/web/20160304061521/http://www.statto.com/football/teams/port-vale/1985-1986/results 4 March 2016 . Statto Organisation. Retrieved 28 April 2012. Matches 1 17 August 1985 Exeter City 1–0 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/exeter-city-v-port-vale-17-august-1985-48649/ Port Vale St James Park Exeter 2,868 2 24 August 1985 Port Vale 0–0 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-mansfield-town-24-august-1985-48664/ Mansfield Town Vale Park Burslem 2,930 3 26 August 1985 Burnley 1–2 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/burnley-v-port-vale-26-august-1985-48667/ Port Vale Taylor 26 Sproson Griffiths Turf Moor Burnley 3,995 4 31 August 1985 Port Vale 1–1 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-rochdale-31-august-1985-48686/ Rochdale Jones 65 Taylor 37 Vale Park Burslem K Cooper 3,043 5 7 September 1985 Orient 1–0 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/orient-v-port-vale-07-september-1985-48698/ Port Vale Brisbane Road Leyton, East London 2,455 6 14 September 1985 Port Vale 4–1 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-cambridge-united-14-september-1985-48710/ Cambridge United Maguire pen. Earle Brown Vale Park Burslem 2,674 7 17 September 1985 Aldershot 0–0 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/aldershot-v-port-vale-17-september-1985-48716/ Port Vale Recreation Ground Aldershot 1,027 8 21 September 1985 Port Vale 3–2 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-halifax-town-21-september-1985-48733/ Halifax Town Hunter Maguire Vale Park Burslem 2,754 9 27 September 1985 19:30 BST Colchester United 1–0 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/colchester-united-v-port-vale-27-september-1985-48737/ Port Vale Bowen 32 Layer Road Colchester Alan Gunn 3,110 10 30 September 1985 Port Vale 4–0 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-hartlepool-united-30-september-1985-48749/ Hartlepool United O.Williams 10 J.Williams 23 Jones 49 Maguire 85 Vale Park Burslem Bob Nixon 3,015 11 5 October 1985 15:00 BST Port Vale 4–0 W https://www.wrexhamafcarchive.co.uk/matchdetails.php?id=1596 Wrexham Maguire 1 85 pen. Johnson 50 Hooper 75 og. Vale Park Burslem R Guy G K Roderick, A Streets 3,351 12 12 October 1985 Tranmere Rovers 1–2 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/tranmere-rovers-v-port-vale-12-october-1985-48782/ Port Vale Earle Maguire Prenton Park Prenton 2,338 13 19 October 1985 Port Vale 4–0 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-southend-united-19-october-1985-48794/ Southend United Jones Webb Earle Vale Park Burslem 4,736 14 22 October 1985 Scunthorpe United 0–0 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/scunthorpe-united-v-port-vale-22-october-1985-48801/ Port Vale Old Show Ground Scunthorpe 1,888 15 26 October 1985 Port Vale 3–0 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-swindon-town-26-october-1985-48817/ Swindon Town O.Williams 33 Earle 47 Brown 83 Vale Park Burslem D. Scott 5,073 16 2 November 1985 Preston North End 0–1 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/preston-north-end-v-port-vale-02-november-1985-48829/ Port Vale Maguire pen. Deepdale Preston, Lancashire 4,536 17 6 November 1985 Hereford United 1–1 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/hereford-united-v-port-vale-06-november-1985-48841/ Port Vale Harvey 80 pen. Sproson 88 Edgar Street Hereford 3,308 18 9 November 1985 15:00 GMT Port Vale 1–1 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-stockport-county-09-november-1985-48852/ Stockport County Bowden 9 Leonard 38 Vale Park Burslem Alan Seville 5,248 19 23 November 1985 Peterborough United 1–0 L https://www.theposhtrust.co.uk/match/1009/19851123 Port Vale Worrall 6 London Road Stadium Peterborough D. Reeves 2,852 20 14 December 1985 15:00 GMT Northampton Town 2–2 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/northampton-town-v-port-vale-14-december-1985-48887/ Port Vale Morley Chard Sproson Earle County Cricket Ground Northampton 3,259 21 17 December 1985 Port Vale 1–0 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-torquay-united-17-december-1985-48892/ Torquay United Hunter Vale Park Burslem 3,421 22 22 December 1985 Mansfield Town 2–1 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/mansfield-town-v-port-vale-22-december-1985-48902/ Port Vale Kent Garner O. Williams Field Mill Mansfield 3,730 23 26 December 1985 Port Vale 3–0 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-crewe-alexandra-26-december-1985-48909/ Crewe Alexandra Maguire Brown Earle Vale Park Burslem 5,976 24 1 January 1986 Chester City 4–1 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/chester-city-v-port-vale-01-january-1986-48920/ Port Vale Houghton Richardson pen. Bennett Earle Sealand Road Chester 5,323 25 4 January 1986 Port Vale 0–1 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-preston-north-end-04-january-1986-48931/ Preston North End Vale Park Burslem 3,592 26 11 January 1986 Rochdale 3–3 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/rochdale-v-port-vale-11-january-1986-48942/ Port Vale Seasman 21Gamble 43Taylor 87 pen. Jones 50 83Brown 75 Spotland Stadium Rochdale KA Redfern 2,445 27 17 January 1986 Port Vale 0–0 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-exeter-city-17-january-1986-48946/ Exeter City Vale Park Burslem R. Guy 3,385 28 25 January 1986 Cambridge United 1–3 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/cambridge-united-v-port-vale-25-january-1986-48961/ Port Vale J.Williams Hunter Earle Abbey Stadium Cambridge 2,437 29 1 February 1986 Port Vale 2–0 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-orient-01-february-1986-48975/ Orient Earle Vale Park Burslem 3,074 30 3 February 1986 Port Vale 3–1 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-scunthorpe-united-03-february-1986-48978/ Scunthorpe United J.Williams Jones pen. Bromage Lawrence 86 Vale Park Burslem 2,977 31 24 February 1986 Port Vale 1–1 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-burnley-24-february-1986-49000/ Burnley Banks Vale Park Burslem 3,030 32 1 March 1986 Port Vale 1–1 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-colchester-united-01-march-1986-49009/ Colchester United Jones 77 Groves 68 Vale Park Burslem Peter Willis 2,726 33 5 March 1986 Hartlepool United 1–1 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/hartlepool-united-v-port-vale-05-march-1986-49017/ Port Vale Sproson 20 og. Bowden 42 Victoria Park Hartlepool Norman Glover 2,550 34 8 March 1986 15:00 GMT Wrexham 1–3 W https://www.wrexhamafcarchive.co.uk/matchdetails.php?id=3645 Port Vale Edwards 17 Shankland 43 Earle 84 Jones 87 pen. Racecourse Ground Wrexham T Mills E Lomas, J E Tong 2,614 35 15 March 1986 Port Vale 0–0 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-tranmere-rovers-15-march-1986-49044/ Tranmere Rovers Vale Park Burslem 3,527 36 18 March 1986 Port Vale 3–1 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-aldershot-18-march-1986-49050/ Aldershot Bowden Hunter Earle Vale Park Burslem 2,461 37 23 March 1986 Swindon Town 0–0 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/swindon-town-v-port-vale-23-march-1986-49067/ Port Vale County Ground Swindon J. Ashworth 10,147 38 29 March 1986 Port Vale 1–1 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-chester-city-29-march-1986-49083/ Chester City Sproson Greenough Vale Park Burslem 4,490 39 31 March 1986 Crewe Alexandra 0–1 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/crewe-alexandra-v-port-vale-31-march-1986-49089/ Port Vale Earle Gresty Road Crewe 4,986 40 5 April 1986 Port Vale 1–0 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-hereford-united-05-april-1986-49109/ Hereford United Jones 23 pen. Vale Park Burslem 3,344 41 11 April 1986 19:30 BST Stockport County 1–2 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/stockport-county-v-port-vale-11-april-1986-49120/ Port Vale Newton 2 Maguire 27 Brown 42 Edgeley Park Stockport Mark Scott 4,691 42 19 April 1986 Port Vale 2–0 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-peterborough-united-19-april-1986-49150/ Peterborough United Jones pen. Vale Park Burslem G. Tyson 3,765 43 26 April 1986 Torquay United 0–1 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/torquay-united-v-port-vale-26-april-1986-49169/ Port Vale Earle Plainmoor Torquay 1,898 44 29 April 1986 Halifax Town 2–0 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/halifax-town-v-port-vale-29-april-1986-49173/ Port Vale The Shay Halifax, West Yorkshire 1,389 45 3 May 1986 15:00 BST Port Vale 0–0 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-northampton-town-03-may-1986-49187/ Northampton Town Vale Park Burslem 3,873 46 5 May 1986 Southend United 2–1 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/southend-united-v-port-vale-05-may-1986-49192/ Port Vale Earle Roots Hall Southend-on-Sea 1,687 FA Cup 1985–86 FA Cup R1 16 November 1985 Mansfield Town 1–1 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/mansfield-town-v-port-vale-16-november-1985-215475/ Port Vale N. Chamberlain Earle Field Mill Mansfield 5,207 Replay 18 November 1985 Port Vale 1–0 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-mansfield-town-18-november-1985-215498/ Mansfield Town Maguire pen. Vale Park Burslem 6,749 R2 8 December 1985 Port Vale 0–0 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-walsall-08-december-1985-215528/ Walsall Vale Park Burslem 11,736 Replay 10 December 1985 Walsall 2–1 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/walsall-v-port-vale-10-december-1985-215534/ Port Vale Brown Fellows Park Walsall 5,671 League Cup 1985–86 Football League Cup R1 1st Leg 20 August 1985 Port Vale 1–2 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/wigan-athletic-v-port-vale-20-august-1985-31321/ Wigan Athletic Sproson Kelly Vale Park Burslem 2,620 R1 2nd Leg 2 September 1985 Wigan Athletic 0–2 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-wigan-athletic-02-september-1985-31342/ Port Vale Jones Earle Springfield Park Wigan 2,772 2–3 R2 1st Leg 24 September 1985 West Bromwich Albion 1–0 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/west-bromwich-albion-v-port-vale-24-september-1985-31376/ Port Vale The Hawthorns West Bromwich 6,218 R2 2nd Leg 7 October 1985 Port Vale 2–2 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-west-bromwich-albion-07-october-1985-31410/ West Bromwich Albion Jones Maguire Vale Park Burslem 7,985 2–3 Associate Members' Cup 1985–86 Associate Members' Cup R1 21 January 1986 19:30 GMT Wrexham 1–1 D https://www.wrexhamafcarchive.co.uk/matchdetails.php?id=205 Port Vale Steel 30 Jones 47 pen. Racecourse Ground Wrexham 992 R1 10 February 1986 Port Vale 3–1 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-blackpool-10-february-1986-291635/ Blackpool Maguire Hunter Jones Vale Park Burslem 1,584 Northern Area Quarter-final 10 March 1986 Scunthorpe United 1–1 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/scunthorpe-united-v-port-vale-10-march-1986-291661/ Port Vale Jones pen. Old Show Ground Scunthorpe 1,415 yes 3–4 Northern Area Semi-final 26 March 1986 Port Vale 1–2 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-wigan-athletic-26-march-1986-291668/ Wigan Athletic Jones pen. Barrow Aspinall Vale Park Burslem 4,832 Squad statistics Appearances and goals Key to positions: GK – Goalkeeper; DF – Defender; MF – Midfielder; FW – Forward Fourth Division FA Cup League Cup Associate Members' Cup GK ENG Jim Arnold 41 0 4 0 4 0 3 0 GK WAL Chris Pearce 5 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 DF ENG Chris Banks 19 1 0 0 0 0 3 0 DF ENG Russell Bromage 40 1 4 0 4 0 3 0 DF ENG Wayne Ebanks 12 0 2 0 0 0 1 0 DF ENG Phil Sproson 44 4 4 0 3 1 3 0 DF ENG Alan Webb 39 1 4 0 4 0 1 0 DF ENG John Williams 36 3 0 0 4 0 4 0 MF ENG Jon Bowden 36 3 4 0 1 0 3 0 MF JAM Robbie Earle 46 15 4 1 4 1 4 0 MF ENG Peter Griffiths 5 1 0 0 1 0 3 0 MF ENG Geoff Hunter 45 5 4 0 4 0 4 1 MF WAL Jeff Johnson 10 1 0 0 4 0 2 0 MF SCO Paul Maguire 45 10 4 1 4 1 4 1 MF ENG Eric Mountford 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 MF ENG Oshor Williams 32 3 4 0 3 0 1 0 FW SCO Ally Brown 27 5 4 1 2 0 0 0 FW WAL Andy Jones 41 12 3 0 4 2 4 4 FW ENG Andy Shankland 2 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 |- |colspan="14"|Players who featured but departed the club during the season: FW ENG Steve Biggins 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 FW ENG Steve Cammack 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 FW ENG Mick Perry 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 |} Top scorers PlacePositionNationNameFourth DivisionFA CupLeague CupAssociate Members' CupTotal1FWEnglandAndy Jones12024182MFJamaicaRobbie Earle15110173MFScotlandPaul Maguire10011134FWScotlandAlly Brown51006–MFEnglandGeoff Hunter500166DFEnglandPhil Sproson401057MFEnglandJon Bowden30003–DFEnglandJohn Williams30003–MFEnglandOshor Williams3000310DFEnglandAlan Webb10001–DFEnglandChris Banks10001–MFEnglandPeter Griffiths10001–MFWalesJeff Johnson10001–FWEnglandAndy Shankland10001–DFEnglandRussell Bromage10001––Own goals10001TOTALS6735681 Transfers Transfers in Date from Position Nationality Name From Fee Ref. May 1985 FW WAL Andy Jones WAL Rhyl £3,000 Kent Jeff Port Vale Personalities Witan Books 1996 0-9529152-0-0 June 1985 DF ENG Wayne Ebanks West Bromwich Albion Free transfer June 1985 MF WAL Jeff Johnson Gillingham Free transfer June 1985 MF SCO Paul Maguire USA Tacoma Stars Free transfer July 1985 DF ENG John Williams Tranmere Rovers £12,000 August 1985 GK ENG Jim Arnold Everton Free transfer September 1985 MF ENG Jon Bowden Oldham Athletic £5,000 October 1985 FW ENG Mick Perry Torquay United Trial Transfers out Date from Position Nationality Name To Fee Ref. February 1986 FW ENG Mick Perry Stafford Rangers Trial ended May 1986 FW SCO Alistair Brown Retired May 1986 MF ENG Peter Griffiths AUS Salisbury United Free transfer May 1986 MF WAL Jeff Johnson Barrow Free transfer May 1986 GK WAL Chris Pearce Wrexham Free transfer May 1986 FW ENG Andy Shankland Released Summer 1986 MF ENG Oshor Williams Preston North End £2,000 Loans in Date from Position Nationality Name From Date to Ref. December 1985 FW ENG Steve Cammack Scunthorpe United January 1986 1986 FW ENG Steve Biggins Derby County 1986 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