1979–80 Port Vale F.C. season explained

Club:Port Vale
Season:1979–80
Manager:Dennis Butler
(until 30 August)
Alan Bloor
(30 August to 1 December)
Bill Bentley
(caretaker in December)
John McGrath
(from December)
Chairman:Arthur McPherson
Stadium:Vale Park
League:Football League Fourth Division
League Result:20th (36 Points)
Cup1:FA Cup
Cup1 Result:First Round
Cup2:League Cup
Cup2 Result:First Round
(knocked out by Tranmere Rovers)
Cup3 Result:Kenny Beech
League Topscorer:Neville Chamberlain (11)
Season Topscorer:Neville Chamberlain (11)
Highest Attendance:6,756 vs. Walsall, 8 March 1980
Lowest Attendance:2,338 vs. Doncaster Rovers, 3 May 1980
Average Attendance:3,462
Largest Loss:1–7 vs. Huddersfield Town, 22 September 1979
Pattern La1:_blackflair
Pattern B1:_collarblack
Pattern Ra1:_blackflair
Pattern Sh1:_whitesides
Pattern So1:_color_3_stripes_white
Leftarm1:ffffff
Body1:ffffff
Rightarm1:ffffff
Shorts1:000000
Socks1:000000
Prevseason:1978–79
Nextseason:1980–81

The 1979–80 season was Port Vale's 68th season of football in the Football League, and their second-successive season (eighth overall) in the Fourth Division.[1] One of the club's worst ever seasons, Vale finished twentieth in the league and exited both cup competitions at the first stage. They also lost a tremendous amount of money. There was also a managerial merry-go-round, with Dennis Butler replaced by Alan Bloor, who was in turn replaced by John McGrath, with Bill Bentley also spending a short period as caretaker manager.

Overview

Fourth Division

The pre-season saw manager Dennis Butler sign three players on free transfers: Terry Owen (Rochdale), Alan Woolfall (Bury), and Steve Jones (Manchester United). Meanwhile, the club was fined £500 by The Football Association for the team's ongoing poor disciplinary record.

The season began with four straight league defeats, which resulted in the dismissal of Butler as manager. Alan Bloor took over as caretaker manager, who threatened the players with a place on the bench if they failed to deliver in the first XI, to prove his point he replaced Bernie Wright with Neville Chamberlain. Chamberlain rewarded him with both goals in a 2–0 victory over Crewe Alexandra at Gresty Road. A 5–0 thrashing of Northampton Town followed eight days later, with both Chamberlain and Wright claiming a brace. However, the following week they were 'massacred' 7–1 at high-flying Huddersfield Town's Leeds Road. Despite this, Trevor Dance retained his place in goal, with John Connaughton 'in a huff' with the club. By the end of September, Bloor was made manager on a permanent basis. Vale celebrated with a 5–1 beating of Rochdale, whilst Ken Todd was sold to Portsmouth for £20,000. Ged Stenson had his contract cancelled, and signed with Morecambe. Losing five of their seven games in October, Vale drifted to third-from-bottom. Bloor spent £30,000 on Crewe Alexandra defender Paul Bowles. Undefeated in November in the league, Vale then lost 5–1 to York City at Bootham Crescent. Later in the month, Vale became the first Fourth Division club to strike a shirt advertising deal, signing a deal with TI Creda for £5,000. A surprise came though when Bloor resigned his position, stating that "I do not have what it takes". Gordon Banks was also dismissed, and he blamed the players for his downfall, claiming they did not like hard work. Bill Bentley was appointed as caretaker manager, as the club approached numerous managers – including former player Ronnie Allen. The job went to John McGrath, who had been working as a coach at Southampton. He appointed Torquay United coach John Rudge as his second in command.

Finding his new team to be undisciplined, McGrath said 'the holiday is over', and began fining players for various reasons. He offloaded Connaughton to Altrincham, loaned Paul Bowles to Southampton, and discovered that Wright was no longer willing to play for the club. In February, McGrath signed goalkeeper Mark Harrison and defender Lee Harwood from Southampton, as well as forward Tony Sealy on loan from Crystal Palace. He also placed fifteen players on the transfer list, after which the Vale went on a six-game unbeaten run. Harwood and Phil Sproson made a solid defensive pair, whilst young Mark Chamberlain (brother of Neville) was used in midfield. The end of their run was a 2–2 draw with league leaders Walsall. In March John Fleming arrived on loan from Lincoln City, and the club went on a run of one win in twelve games, ending with a 2–1 defeat at Vale Park to fellow strugglers York City. In April, Felix Healy left the club to return to his native Northern Ireland. A Sealy goal earned Vale two points in their penultimate game with Stockport County at Edgeley Park, and their final game was a 3–0 win over Doncaster Rovers in front of just 2,338 supporters. These wins took Vale out of the re-election zone on goal difference.

They finished in twentieth place with 36 points, finishing ahead of Hereford United in the re-election zone on goals scored.

Finances

On the financial side, a loss of £82,069 was recorded. The financial picture led Chairman Arthur McPherson to describe 1979–80 as 'probably the worst season in the club's history'. Leaving the club at the end of the season were: Bernie Wright (Kidderminster Harriers); Bill Bentley (Stafford Rangers); Terry Owen (Northwich Victoria); Bob Delgado (Miami Americans); and Kevin Tully (Chorley). Several players remained in Burslem on virtue of having extended contracts.

Cup competitions

In the FA Cup, Vale were knocked out in the First Round after losing 3–1 at home to Doncaster Rovers.

In the League Cup, Vale were defeated by Tranmere Rovers 3–1 on aggregate.

League table

See main article: 1979–80 Football League.

Results

Port Vale's score comes first

Football League Fourth Division

Matches

DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers
18 August 1979 Newport CountyA1–24,008Tully
20 August 1979 Hereford UnitedH0–12,744
25 August 1979 AldershotA1–32,538Todd
1 September 1979 Peterborough UnitedH0–12,794
7 September 1979 Crewe AlexandraA2–04,539Chamberlain (2)
15 September 1979 Northampton TownH5–02,847Chamberlain (2), Wright (2), Sproson
17 September 1979 Bradford CityH1–24,724Sproson
22 September 1979 Huddersfield TownA1–74,299Chamberlain
29 September 1979 RochdaleH5–12,835Wright (2), Farrell, Owen
3 October 1979 Bradford CityA0–24,393
6 October 1979 Lincoln CityH1–23,127Wright
10 October 1979 Hereford UnitedA0–02,741
13 October 1979 Hartlepool UnitedA1–22,441Wright
20 October 1979 DarlingtonH2–02,618Beech, Farrell
22 October 1979 Tranmere RoversH0–12,990
27 October 1979 WalsallA1–24,976Woolfall
3 November 1979 Newport CountyH2–02,980Farrell, o.g.
10 November 1979 Halifax TownA0–01,798
12 November 1979 Tranmere RoversA1–12,140Wright
17 November 1979 Torquay UnitedH1–12,643Wright
1 December 1979 York CityA1–52,402Chamberlain
7 December 1979 Stockport CountyH1–22,799Chamberlain
21 December 1979 PortsmouthA2–212,022Griffiths (2)
26 December 1979 Scunthorpe UnitedH1–03,433Wright
29 December 1979 AldershotH0–22,559
5 January 1980 BournemouthH1–12,875o.g.
12 January 1980 Doncaster RoversA3–23,859Chamberlain (2), Sproson
26 January 1980 Peterborough UnitedA0–33,287
2 February 1980 Northampton TownA1–31,946Woolfall
9 February 1980 Huddersfield TownH1–15,143Elsby
15 February 1980 RochdaleA2–01,784Sealy, Beech
20 February 1980 Crewe AlexandraH2–06,655Sealy, Farrell
23 February 1980 Hartlepool UnitedH1–13,702Chamberlain
1 March 1980 DarlingtonA1–12,102Sealy
8 March 1980 WalsallH2–26,756Griffiths (pen), Chamberlain
15 March 1980 Lincoln CityA0–32,969
22 March 1980 Halifax TownH1–02,993o.g.
26 March 1980 Wigan AthleticA1–34,854Beech
29 March 1980 Torquay UnitedA1–12,109Keenan
1 April 1980 PortsmouthH2–33,614Harwood, Sealy
5 April 1980 Scunthorpe UnitedA0–11,981
7 April 1980 Wigan AthleticH1–13,814Sealy
12 April 1980 BournemouthA1–32,863Owen
19 April 1980 York CityH1–22,640Owen
25 April 1980 Stockport CountyA1–02,404Sealy
3 May 1980 Doncaster RoversH3–02,338Jones, Griffiths (pen), Bromage

FA Cup

See main article: 1979–80 FA Cup.

!Round!!Date!!Opponent!!Venue!!Result!!Attendance!!Goalscorers
R123 November 1979 Doncaster RoversH1–34,973Beech

League Cup

See main article: 1979–80 Football League Cup.

!Round!!Date!!Opponent!!Venue!!Result!!Attendance!!Goalscorers
R1 1st Leg11 August 1979 Tranmere RoversH1–23,213
R1 2nd Leg15 August 1979 Tranmere RoversA0–13,026Woolfall

Player statistics

Appearances

Pos.NameFootball LeagueFA CupLeague CupTotal
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
GK John Connaughton70002090
GK Trevor Dance3901000400
DF Neil Griffiths4041000414
DF Phil Sproson3931000403
DF Graham Hawkins30000030
DF Bill Bentley3201020350
DF Gerry Keenan4111020441
DF Bob Delgado1702000190
DF Lee Harwood1510000151
DF Billy Leese10000010
DF Paul Bowles1001000110
DF Russell Bromage2910010301
MF Kenny Beech4631120494
MF Ged Stenson10000010
MF Ken Todd31000031
MF Kevin Tully51002071
MF Mark Chamberlain1100000110
MF Peter Farrell3251000335
MF Ian Elsby2110010221
MF Felix Healy1800020200
MF John Fleming30000030
FW Neville Chamberlain351100003511
FW Bernie Wright3091020339
FW Alan Woolfall721021103
FW Tony Sealy1760000176
FW Terry Owen1730020193
FW Steve Jones1511000161

Top scorers

width=60Placewidth=60Positionwidth=180Nationwidth=150Namewidth=80Fourth Divisionwidth=80FA Cupwidth=80League Cupwidth=80Total
1FWNeville Chamberlain110011
2FWBernie Wright9009
3FWTony Sealy6006
4MFPeter Farrell5005
5DFNeil Griffiths4004
MFKenny Beech3104
7DFPhil Sproson3003
FWTerry Owen3003
9FWAlan Woolfall2013
10DFGerry Keenan1001
DFLee Harwood1001
MFKen Todd1001
MFKevin Tully1001
MFIan Elsby1001
FWSteve Jones1001
DFRussell Bromage1001
Own goals3003
TOTALS561158

Transfers

Transfers in

Date fromPositionNationalityNameFromFeeRef.
May 1979 FW Free transfer [2]
Summer 1979 FW Free transfer
August 1979 FW Free transfer
25 October 1979 DF £30,000
11 February 1980 GK Free transfer
7 February 1980 DF Free transfer

Transfers out

Date fromPositionNationalityNameToFeeRef.
August 1979 FW Sacked
October 1979 DF Retired
October 1979 MF Released
5 October 1979 MF £20,000
1980 GK Free transfer
1980 FW Free transfer
February 1980 MF Released
May 1980 DF Free transfer
May 1980 DF Released
July 1980 FW Free transfer
Summer 1980 DF Retired
Summer 1980 FW Free transfer

Loans in

Date fromPositionNationalityNameFromDate toRef.
7 February 1980 FW May 1980
March 1980 MF March 1980

Loans out

References

Specific
General

Notes and References

  1. Book: 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.
  2. Book: Kent, Jeff. Port Vale Personalities. Witan Books. 1996. 0-9529152-0-0.