1990–91 Port Vale F.C. season
Port Vale 1990–91 football season
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The 1990–91 season was Port Vale's 79th season of football in the English Football League, and second-successive (34th overall) season in the Second Division.[1] For the first time since 1926–27 they played in a league above Potteries derby rivals Stoke City. Under manager John Rudge and chairman Bill Bell, the Valiants achieved a solid 15th‑place finish with 57 points, indicating a stable mid‑table performance.
| 1990–91 season | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Chairman | Bill Bell | ||
| Manager | John Rudge | ||
| Stadium | Vale Park | ||
| Football League Second Division | 15th (57 points) | ||
| FA Cup | Fourth Round (eliminated by Manchester City) | ||
| League Cup | Second Round (eliminated by Oxford United) | ||
| Full Members' Cup | First Round (eliminated by Notts County) | ||
| Player of the Year | Ray Walker | ||
| Top goalscorer | League: Darren Beckford (21) All: Darren Beckford (23) | ||
| Highest home attendance | 19,132 vs. Manchester City, 26 January 1991 | ||
| Lowest home attendance | 5,265 vs. Oxford United, 24 September 1990 | ||
| Average home league attendance | 8,092 | ||
| Biggest win | 5–1 vs. Plymouth Argyle, 1 December 1990 | ||
| Biggest defeat | 0–4 vs. Middlesbrough, 9 April 1991 | ||
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Their cup exploits were modest yet respectable: reaching the Fourth Round of the FA Cup (where they were knocked out by Manchester City), exiting in the Second Round of the League Cup at the hands of Oxford United, and seeing an early First Round departure in the Full Members' Cup, losing to Notts County. A highlight in the transfer market was the astute signing of Dutch midfielder Robin van der Laan for £80,000 — a move that exemplified Rudge's knack for unearthing underrated talent. Darren Beckford continued his scoring form, finishing as the club's top scorer with 21 league goals and 23 in all competitions, while Ray Walker earned the Player of the Year award.
Attendance figures reflected a passionate fan base: a season‑high of 19,132 saw Vale face off against Manchester City in the FA Cup on 26 January 1991, while the lowest turnout of 5,265 occurred in the League Cup tie against Oxford United on 24 September 1990; the average home league attendance stood at 8,092. The team's biggest win came in a commanding 5–1 victory over Plymouth Argyle on 1 December 1990, contrasting with their heaviest loss, a 4–0 defeat to Middlesbrough on 9 April 1991.
Vale consolidated their place in the Second Division through signings, consistent goal-scoring from Beckford, and solid cup performances, laying a stable foundation for the seasons ahead.
Overview
Second Division
The pre-season saw John Rudge follow up a recommendation by signing young Irish forward Derek Swan from Bohemians for £15,000.[1] Meanwhile, more than £250,000 was taken in by the club from season-ticket sales.[1] Much of this went on improving Vale Park, with 3,750 yellow and white seats fitted in the Railway Paddock and 1,121 seats added to the upper tier of the Bycars End.[1] The Bycars End roof was removed for safety reasons, whilst a police box was constructed between the Railway Paddock and the Hamil End.[1] Admission rates increased to £5 for a terrace place, £6 for a seat in the Paddock and £7 in the stand.[1] Season tickets ranged between £75 and £105. With police bills set to spiral upwards, a record five-figure shirt sponsorship deal was struck with Kalamazoo (a business systems company).[1] A 25,000 seater stadium was planned for Festival Park; however, Chairman Bill Bell was 'frightened to death by the cost', and the plans were binned.[1]
The season opened with two defeats, though a 2–0 win over Leicester City on 1 September kick-started the Vale's campaign. A week later they beat Portsmouth 4–2 at Fratton Park. However, their 3–2 win over Middlesbrough was followed by seven league games without a win. Left-back Colin Gibson scored on his debut, having arrived on loan from Manchester United; whilst future-Nigerian international Reuben Agboola also arrived on loan from Sunderland. On 29 September, Vale fell to a 3–2 defeat at Hull City, with Andy Payton scoring the winning goal in the last minute.[2] On 17 November, Vale won 1–0 at home to an Oldham Athletic side who were unbeaten in their 16 league games.[3] The streak ended when Ray Walker and Darren Beckford found their scoring form, firing the club to five victories in seven games, including a 5–1 home win over Plymouth Argyle which Rudge described as "the sort of game that, as a forward, you never want to end because there were so many chances".[4] On 15 December, Vale beat Oxford United after Beckford scored the only goal of the game, with Rudge saying his "goal was that of a £1m player".[5] The Vale lost their form around Christmastime however. They remained in indifferent form until the end of the season. Rudge took in Nick Platnauer on loan from Notts County, though results failed to pick up.
On 19 January, Vale recorded a 3–2 home victory over Portsmouth to end a run of poor form. Guy Whittingham put the visitors ahead following a mistake from Trevor Wood, then Neil Aspin scored his first goal for the club to equalise. Former Valiant Mark Chamberlain assisted Whittingham for another goal before late goals from Dean Glover and Beckford won the game.[6] In February, Ronnie Jepson was sold to Preston North End for £80,000, having previously been loaned out to Peterborough United. Gary West also spent much of the season away from Vale Park, spending time on loan at Gillingham and Lincoln City (signing permanently for Lincoln at the end of the season for a £25,000 fee). All of the money raised from Jepson's sale went on bringing Dutchman Robin van der Laan to Burslem from Wageningen. Right-back Paul West also arrived for a £3,800 fee from non-League Alcester Town. In March, Gary Ford and £80,000 were traded to Mansfield Town in exchange for Kevin Kent. Also of note during this spell was a hat-trick for Beckford in a 3–0 win over Blackburn Rovers on 9 March, and a run of four goals in the final four games for Robbie Earle.[7] Vale won their first away game in four months on 23 March, beating Charlton Athletic 1–0 at Selhurst Park; Van der Laan scored the goal, whilst Grew played excellently in goal and Porter played well in the absence of the injured Jeffers.[8] Striker Brian Mills made his debut in a final day win over Swindon Town, and would later be picked for the England squad for the 1991 FIFA World Youth Championship.
They finished in 15th place with 57 points, twelve points away from Middlesbrough in the play-offs, but nine points clear of relegated West Bromwich Albion. Beckford scored 23 goals in all competitions, whilst Earle contributed twelve goals.
Finances
The club's shirt sponsors were Kalamazoo.
Cup competitions
In the FA Cup, Vale advanced into the fourth round with a 2–1 victory over Fourth Division side Peterborough United amidst stormy conditions at Vale Park after Mick Halsall had put the visitors ahead on four minutes – Rudge said "it was a scrap, not a classic" as a Walker penalty and Beckford header secured the victory.[9] In the next round, they lost at home to First Division Manchester City in front of a season-high crowd of 19,132.
In the League Cup, the "Valiants" faced Oxford United. A 2–0 defeat on the home leg meant they were eliminated after a goalless draw at the Manor Ground.
In the short-lived Full Members' Cup, Vale lost 1–0 to Notts County at Meadow Lane to exit the competition at the first stage.
Results
Football League Second Division
League table
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13 | Bristol Rovers | 46 | 15 | 13 | 18 | 56 | 59 | −3 | 58 |
| 14 | Ipswich Town | 46 | 13 | 18 | 15 | 60 | 68 | −8 | 57 |
| 15 | Port Vale | 46 | 15 | 12 | 19 | 56 | 64 | −8 | 57 |
| 16 | Charlton Athletic | 46 | 13 | 17 | 16 | 57 | 61 | −4 | 56 |
| 17 | Portsmouth | 46 | 14 | 11 | 21 | 58 | 70 | −12 | 53 |
Results by matchday
Matches
| 25 August 1990 1 | Oxford United | 5–2 | Port Vale | Oxford |
Foster  8', 82' Stein 25', 53' Simpson 71' (pen.) |
Report | Jeffers 36' Earle 56' |
Stadium: Manor Ground Attendance: 4,837 |
| 28 August 1990 2 | Port Vale | 1–2 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | Burslem |
| Beckford 7' (pen.) |
Report | Bellamy 23' Bull 43' |
Stadium: Vale Park Attendance: 12,746 Referee: W Harrison |
| 1 September 1990 3 | Port Vale | 2–0 | Leicester City | Burslem |
| Earle Beckford |
Report | Stadium: Vale Park Attendance: 8,837 |
| 8 September 1990 4 | Portsmouth | 2–4 | Port Vale | Portsmouth |
| Aspinall (pen.) Kelly |
Report | Beckford Cross Earle |
Stadium: Fratton Park Attendance: 8,835 |
| 15 September 1990 5 | Port Vale | 0–1 | Newcastle United | Burslem |
| Report | Quinn 66' |
Stadium: Vale Park Attendance: 10,040 |
| 17 September 1990 6 | Port Vale | 3–1 | Middlesbrough | Burslem |
| Beckford Earle |
Report | Russell |
Stadium: Vale Park Attendance: 7,880 |
| 22 September 1990 7 | Barnsley | 1–1 | Port Vale | Barnsley |
| Report | Beckford |
Stadium: Oakwell Attendance: 8,533 |
| 29 September 1990 8 | Hull City | 3–2 | Port Vale | Kingston upon Hull |
| 15:00 BST | Palin 4' Payton 59', 90' |
Report | Gibson Cross |
Stadium: Boothferry Park Attendance: 5,185 |
| 1 October 1990 9 | Port Vale | 0–1 | Notts County | Burslem |
| Report | Stadium: Vale Park Attendance: 7,723 |
| 6 October 1990 10 | Port Vale | 1–1 | Charlton Athletic | Burslem |
| Beckford |
Report | Stadium: Vale Park Attendance: 6,706 |
| 13 October 1990 11 | Ipswich Town | 3–0 | Port Vale | Ipswich |
| Report | Stadium: Portman Road Attendance: 10,438 |
| 20 October 1990 12 | Sheffield Wednesday | 1–1 | Port Vale | Owlerton |
| Williams |
Report | Gibson |
Stadium: Hillsborough Stadium Attendance: 24,527 |
| 22 October 1990 13 | Port Vale | 1–2 | West Bromwich Albion | Burslem |
| Walker (pen.) |
Report | Stadium: Vale Park Attendance: 8,824 |
| 27 October 1990 14 | Port Vale | 3–2 | Bristol City | Burslem |
| Walker (pen.) Beckford |
Report | Smith (pen.) Allison |
Stadium: Vale Park Attendance: 7,451 |
| 3 November 1990 15 | Swindon Town | 1–2 | Port Vale | Swindon |
| Beckford 31' (og.) |
Report | Ford 71' Beckford 73' |
Stadium: County Ground Attendance: 8,364 Referee: R. Hamer |
| 10 November 1990 16 | Bristol Rovers | 2–0 | Port Vale | Bath, Somerset |
| Report | Stadium: Twerton Park Attendance: 5,661 |
| 17 November 1990 17 | Port Vale | 1–0 | Oldham Athletic | Burslem |
| Cross |
Report | Stadium: Vale Park Attendance: 11,384 |
| 23 November 1990 18 | Blackburn Rovers | 1–1 | Port Vale | Blackburn |
| Report | Walker (pen.) |
Stadium: Ewood Park Attendance: 8,061 |
| 1 December 1990 19 | Port Vale | 5–1 | Plymouth Argyle | Burslem |
| Beckford Jeffers Ford Walker |
Report | Ampadu |
Stadium: Vale Park Attendance: 6,717 |
| 15 December 1990 20 | Port Vale | 1–0 | Oxford United | Burslem |
| Beckford |
Report | Stadium: Vale Park Attendance: 5,953 |
| 22 December 1990 21 | Port Vale | 0–1 | Brighton & Hove Albion | Burslem |
| Report | Stadium: Vale Park Attendance: 6,750 |
| 26 December 1990 22 | Watford | 2–1 | Port Vale | Watford |
| Penrice Thomas |
Report | Earle |
Stadium: Vicarage Road Attendance: 8,084 |
| 29 December 1990 23 | West Ham United | 0–0 | Port Vale | Upton Park, London |
| Report | Stadium: Boleyn Ground Attendance: 23,603 |
| 12 January 1991 25 | Leicester City | 1–1 | Port Vale | Leicester |
| Oldfield |
Report | Earle |
Stadium: Filbert Street Attendance: 9,307 |
| 19 January 1991 26 | Port Vale | 3–2 | Portsmouth | Burslem |
| Aspin Glover Beckford |
Report | Whittingham |
Stadium: Vale Park Attendance: 6,314 |
| 2 February 1991 27 | Newcastle United | 2–0 | Port Vale | Newcastle upon Tyne |
| Quinn 4' Peacock 73' |
Report | Stadium: St James' Park Attendance: 14,480 |
| 16 February 1991 28 | Oldham Athletic | 2–0 | Port Vale | Oldham |
| Report | Stadium: Boundary Park Attendance: 12,907 |
| 23 February 1991 29 | Port Vale | 3–2 | Bristol Rovers | Burslem |
| Millar Beckford Walker (pen.) |
Report | Stadium: Vale Park Attendance: 7,166 |
| 26 February 1991 30 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 3–1 | Port Vale | Wolverhampton |
| Bull 30', 42' Mutch 70' |
Report | Earle 20' |
Stadium: Molineux Stadium Attendance: 15,919 Referee: K Morton |
| 2 March 1991 31 | Plymouth Argyle | 2–0 | Port Vale | Plymouth |
| Turner | Report | Stadium: Home Park Attendance: 5,145 |
| 9 March 1991 32 | Port Vale | 3–0 | Blackburn Rovers | Burslem |
| Beckford |
Report | Stadium: Vale Park Attendance: 7,004 |
| 12 March 1991 33 | Notts County | 1–1 | Port Vale | Nottingham |
| Report | Beckford |
Stadium: Meadow Lane Attendance: 6,305 |
| 16 March 1991 34 | Port Vale | 0–0 | Hull City | Burslem |
| 15:00 GMT | Report | Stadium: Vale Park Attendance: 6,103 |
| 18 March 1991 35 | Port Vale | 1–2 | Ipswich Town | Burslem |
| van der Laan |
Report | Stadium: Vale Park Attendance: 5,820 |
| 23 March 1991 36 | Charlton Athletic | 0–1 | Port Vale | Charlton, London |
| Report | van der Laan |
Stadium: The Valley Attendance: 5,225 |
| 3 April 1991 38 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 1–2 | Port Vale | Hove |
| Report | Beckford van der Laan |
Stadium: Goldstone Ground Attendance: 9,733 |
| 6 April 1991 39 | Port Vale | 0–1 | West Ham United | Burslem |
| Report | Bishop |
Stadium: Vale Park Attendance: 9,658 |
| 9 April 1991 40 | Middlesbrough | 4–0 | Port Vale | Middlesbrough |
| Baird Ripley Russell Wark |
Report | Stadium: Ayresome Park Attendance: 15,063 |
| 13 April 1991 41 | Millwall | 1–2 | Port Vale | New Cross, Lewisham |
| Report | van der Laan Beckford |
Stadium: The Den Attendance: 10,860 |
| 27 April 1991 43 | West Bromwich Albion | 1–1 | Port Vale | West Bromwich |
| Report | Earle |
Stadium: The Hawthorns Attendance: 13,650 |
| 4 May 1991 44 | Bristol City | 1–1 | Port Vale | Ashton Gate, Bristol |
| Allison |
Report | Earle |
Stadium: Ashton Gate Attendance: 11,555 |
| 6 May 1991 45 | Port Vale | 1–1 | Sheffield Wednesday | Burslem |
| Earle |
Report | Hirst |
Stadium: Vale Park Attendance: 13,317 |
| 11 May 1991 46 | Port Vale | 3–1 | Swindon Town | Burslem |
| Earle 21' Mills 29', 69' |
Report | Viveash 40' |
Stadium: Vale Park Attendance: 7,713 Referee: R.L. Bigger |
FA Cup
| 5 January 1991 R3 | Port Vale | 2–1 | Peterborough United | Burslem |
| Walker 44' (pen.) Beckford 81' |
Report | Halsall 4' |
Stadium: Vale Park Attendance: 7,490 Referee: T. Fitzharris |
| 26 January 1991 R4 | Port Vale | 1–2 | Manchester City | Burslem |
| Beckford |
Report | Stadium: Vale Park Attendance: 19,132 Referee: Jim Borrett |
League Cup
| 24 September 1990 R2 1st Leg | Port Vale | 0–2 | Oxford United | Burslem |
| Report | Foyle |
Stadium: Vale Park Attendance: 5,265 |
| 10 October 1990 R2 2nd Leg | Oxford United | 0–0 (2–0 agg.) | Port Vale | Oxford |
| Report | Stadium: Manor Ground Attendance: 2,333 |
Full Members' Cup
| 20 November 1990 R1 | Notts County | 1–0 | Port Vale | Nottingham |
| Report | Stadium: Meadow Lane Attendance: 2,320 |
Squad statistics
Appearances and goals
- Key to positions: GK – Goalkeeper; DF – Defender; MF – Midfielder; FW – Forward
| No. | Pos | Nat | Player | Total | Second Division | FA Cup | League Cup | Full Members' Cup | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||||
| GK |  ENG |
Mark Grew | 14 | 0 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| GK |  NIR |
Trevor Wood | 37 | 0 | 32 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| DF | ENG |
Neil Aspin | 46 | 1 | 41 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| DF | ENG |
Matt Booth | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| DF | ENG |
Dean Glover | 46 | 1 | 41 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| DF | ENG |
Darren Hughes | 18 | 0 | 17 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| DF | ENG |
Simon Mills | 45 | 0 | 41 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| DF | ENG |
Tim Parkin | 32 | 0 | 29 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| DF | ENG |
Wayne Simpson | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| DF | ENG |
Alan Webb | 6 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| DF | ENG |
Gary West | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| DF | ENG |
Paul West | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| MF |  JAM |
Robbie Earle | 37 | 11 | 35 | 11 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| MF | ENG |
Kevin Finney | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| MF | ENG |
John Jeffers | 36 | 2 | 31 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| MF | ENG |
Kevin Kent | 11 | 0 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| MF | NIR |
Paul Millar | 18 | 1 | 17 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| MF | ENG |
Andy Porter | 44 | 0 | 40 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| MF | ENG |
Glen Shepherd | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| MF | ENG |
Ray Walker | 50 | 7 | 45 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| MF |  NED |
Robin van der Laan | 18 | 4 | 18 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| FW | ENG |
Darren Beckford | 47 | 23 | 43 | 21 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| FW | ENG |
Nicky Cross | 22 | 3 | 19 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| FW | NIR |
Gary McKinstrey | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| FW | ENG |
Brian Mills | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Players who featured but departed the club during the season: | |||||||||||||
| DF |  NGR |
Reuben Agboola | 9 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| MF | ENG |
Paul Atkinson | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| MF | ENG |
Gary Ford | 35 | 2 | 30 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| MF | ENG |
Colin Gibson | 6 | 2 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| MF | ENG |
Nick Platnauer | 15 | 0 | 14 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| FW | ENG |
Ronnie Jepson | 19 | 0 | 15 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
Top scorers
| Place | Position | Nation | Name | Second Division | FA Cup | League Cup | Full Members' Cup | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | FW | England | Darren Beckford | 21 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 23 |
| 2 | MF | Jamaica | Robbie Earle | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11 |
| 3 | MF | England | Ray Walker | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
| 4 | MF | Netherlands | Robin van der Laan | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| 5 | FW | England | Nicky Cross | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 6 | MF | England | Colin Gibson | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| – | MF | England | Gary Ford | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| – | FW | England | Brian Mills | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| – | MF | England | John Jeffers | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 10 | MF | Northern Ireland | Paul Millar | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| – | DF | England | Neil Aspin | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| – | DF | England | Dean Glover | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| TOTALS | 56 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 59 | |||
Transfers
Transfers in
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Transfers out
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Loans in
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Loans out
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