1983–84 Port Vale F.C. season


The 1983–84 season was Port Vale's 72nd season of football in the English Football League, and first back in the Third Division following their promotion from the Fourth Division. The club suffered a horrendous start, and John McGrath lost his job before Christmas; he was replaced by his assistant John Rudge. Rudge instigated an immense turnaround in results, but Vale still ended up relegated, six points shy of safety. Ireland international Eamonn O'Keefe was top-scorer and Player of the Year, and young Mark Bright showed his potential, though left at the end of the season.

Overview

Third Division

The pre-season saw John McGrath pay Wigan Athletic £10,000 for Ireland international Eamonn O'Keefe. He also brought in three players on free transfers: Tommy Gore, Gary Pollard, and Chris Pearce. The club reported record season ticket sales, however several players refused to sign new contracts. As a result, Barry Siddall, Russell Bromage, Geoff Hunter, and Terry Armstrong remained on weekly contracts.
The season began with McGrath's new attacking tactics failing miserably, despite a 2–0 win over Bristol Rovers in the fourth game of the programme. Fifteen league games without a win followed, keeping the club rooted at the foot of the table. The Sentinel's Chris Harper commented that "Vale cannot go on being applauded off the park as entertaining losers." Phil Sproson noted that the ongoing contract problems caused unrest in the camp. Siddall handed in his notice, whilst Bob Newton and £8,000 were traded to Chesterfield for the services of Martin Henderson. Bromage walked out on the club after they refused to give him a contract lasting beyond two years. On 31 October, McGrath had to use 41-year-old coach Alan Oakes in a 1–0 defeat to Plymouth Argyle. Chairman Jim Lloyd then blocked McGrath's attempt to sign defender Ken Fogarty, showing how little confidence the board had in their manager. McGrath complained in the media, only to be 'gagged', instructed only to speak to the media on team affairs. Supporters began organizing demonstrations against Lloyd, and in favour of McGrath. In November Siddall and Bromage returned to sign new contracts. Steve Fox was suspended by the club for a fortnight after he refused to play in defence, and on 26 November Burnley thrashed Vale 7–0 at Turf Moor in front of Granada TV cameras. Starting December nine points adrift of safety, paying the third-highest wage bill in the division, and home gate receipts down to around £3,000, McGrath was suspended on full pay. The club received a flood of letters in protest, 'some just abusive', but McGrath left permanently after being compensated financially.
John Rudge was appointed caretaker-manager, and made his first signing by taking midfielder Kevin Young on loan from Burnley. His side were defeated 4–0 at Deepdale by Preston North End, and finished the game with just nine men. By now thirteen points short of safety, and seven points from their nearest competitors, The Sentinel's Chris Harper believed them to be 'the poorest side in the Third Division by quite a long chalk'. The revival started the next day, with a 2–0 win over Sheffield United the first of four straight home wins that cut the gap to safety down to only four points. O'Keefe and Henderson formed a potent striking partnership, whilst Young added balance to the midfield. Jim Steel was sold off to Wrexham for £10,000. Rudge said the battle to avoid relegation was as difficult a job as 'trying to climb Everest in a pair of pumps'. Struggling again in February, their 4–2 win over Newport County lifted them off the bottom spot. Following a 4–3 win over Brentford on 3 March, Rudge was appointed as manager until the end of the season. He took Millwall's Andy Massey on loan, but failed to re-sign Bob Newton. On 19 March, Vale defeated fellow strugglers Southend United 2–1 at Roots Hall, their first away game of the league campaign, it took them out of the relegation zone. The job only got more difficult for Rudge however, as an injury crisis developed, and the team went nine games with just one victory. Young striker Mark Bright scored five times in the final six games, yet relegation was all but confirmed despite a 1–0 win over promotion-chasing Hull City. Just 2,299 turned up at Vale Park for a final day 1–0 victory over Millwall, yet a pitch invasion still ensued, with the invaders chanting "We'll be back".
They finished in 23rd place, ahead only of Exeter City. Only Exeter and Wigan Athletic scored fewer, and only Exeter conceded more goals. Player of the Year Eamonn O'Keefe was top-scorer with eleven goals, yet it was Mark Bright who was a revelation.

Finances

On the financial side, a £50,601 profit was recorded with donations from the Development Fund of £146,177 and an income of £73,023 from the open market rents. Wages had been cut back to £310,542, whilst gate receipts rose to £180,504. The club's shirt sponsors were PMT. Steve Fox left for Chester City and Gary Pollard joined Mansfield Town. However Mark Bright signed with Leicester City against Rudge's wishes, and a tribunal handed Vale £33,333 and top-up clauses. O'Keefe also requested a transfer, as he felt he would receive no further international caps playing in the fourth tier. Mick Cullerton, then Vale's commercial manager, later claimed that vast wage disparities in the squad caused discontent and reduced club morale.

Cup competitions

In the FA Cup, Vale were eliminated at the First Round by Lincoln City.
In the League Cup, Vale 'ran riot' over Wrexham at the Racecourse Ground to go through to the Second Round 8–2 on aggregate. Coming up against Ron Atkinson's Manchester United, they were defeated 1–0 at home despite 'a workmanlike performance', and beaten 2–0 at Old Trafford in a 'credible' game. The home leg in Burslem saw a crowd of 19,855 – the highest crowd since the visit of West Ham United in 1973. This raised £45,873 in gate receipts for the club. However a fifty-strong gang of Manchester thugs caused chaos in Burslem town centre, stabbing a man from Brown Edge.
In the League Trophy, Vale beat Fourth Division Hereford United 1–0 at Edgar Street. They were then beaten 2–0 at the Memorial Stadium by Bristol Rovers.

League table

Results

Port Vale's score comes first

Football League Third Division

Results by matchday

Matches

DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers
27 August 1983Scunthorpe UnitedH0–04,565
3 September 1983Rotherham UnitedA1–24,847O'Keefe
6 September 1983MillwallA2–34,061Steel
10 September 1983Bristol RoversH2–04,308Sproson, Steel
17 September 1983WimbledonA2–42,690Newton
24 September 1983Bradford CityH1–24,879Fox
26 September 1983Wigan AthleticH1–14,655Bromage
1 October 1983WalsallA0–23,757
14 October 1983OrientA0–33,207
18 October 1983BrentfordA1–33,903Henderson
22 October 1983Bolton WanderersH1–24,269Tartt
29 October 1983Newport CountyA1–23,829Ridley
31 October 1983Plymouth ArgyleH0–13,466
5 November 1983Exeter CityA1–13,301Armstrong
12 November 1983Oxford UnitedH1–33,927O'Keefe
26 November 1983BurnleyA0–76,385
3 December 1983GillinghamH0–13,086
17 December 1983Lincoln CityH0–12,861
26 December 1983Preston North EndA0–45,617
27 December 1983Sheffield UnitedH2–07,034O'Keefe, Young
31 December 1983Hull CityA0–18,736
2 January 1984BournemouthH2–14,008O'Keefe, Henderson
21 January 1984WimbledonH2–03,627O'Keefe, Bright
28 January 1984Bristol RoversA0–06,142
30 January 1984Southend UnitedH2–13,636Henderson, Ridley
4 February 1984WalsallH0–26,966
11 February 1984Bradford CityA2–25,435Henderson, Gore
14 February 1984Plymouth ArgyleA0–33,552
18 February 1984Newport CountyH4–23,437Henderson, Tartt, Young, Bright
25 February 1984Bolton WanderersA0–25,818
3 March 1984BrentfordH4–33,704O'Keefe, Gore, Fox
5 March 1984Exeter CityH2–24,338Henderson, Young
10 March 1984Oxford UnitedA0–27,858
19 March 1984Southend UnitedA2–12,596Bright, O'Keefe
31 March 1984Wigan AthleticA0–33,163
2 April 1984Rotherham UnitedH2–33,705O'Keefe, Massey
9 April 1984OrientH2–03,169Henderson, Hunter
14 April 1984GillinghamA1–13,323Bright
17 April 1984Scunthorpe UnitedA1–12,952Sproson
21 April 1984Preston North EndH1–13,574O'Keefe
24 April 1984Sheffield UnitedA1–314,385Bright
28 April 1984BurnleyH2–33,061Bright, Young
5 May 1984BournemouthA1–13,305Bright
7 May 1984Hull CityH1–03,958Bright
12 May 1984Lincoln CityA2–31,372Bright, Armstrong
14 May 1984MillwallH1–02,299Fox

FA Cup

RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorers
R119 November 1983Lincoln CityH1–23,647Bright

League Cup

RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorers
R1 1st Leg31 August 1983WrexhamH3–13,916Sproson, O'Keefe
R1 2nd Leg13 September 1983WrexhamA5–12,903Newton, Hunter, Gore, Steel
R2 1st Leg3 October 1983Manchester UnitedH0–119,855
R2 2nd Leg26 October 1983Manchester UnitedA0–223,589

League Trophy

RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorers
R122 February 1984Hereford UnitedA1–01,605Tartt
R213 March 1984Bristol RoversA0–22,597

Player statistics

Appearances

Top scorers

Transfers

Transfers in

Transfers out

Loans in

Loans out