1993–94 Port Vale F.C. season

Overview

Second Division

The pre-season saw John Rudge sign left-back Allen Tankard from Wigan Athletic for £87,500. Experienced forward Keith Houchen was allowed to join Hartlepool United on a free transfer, and Paul Kerr signed with Leicester City.

The season opened with a 2–1 defeat to Burnley at Turf Moor, a result which belied their tag as favourites for promotion. Though the season got going for the Vale with their opening home game, as they recorded a 6–0 win over Barnet despite an early sending off for Peter Billing, both Martin Foyle and Bernie Slaven bagging hat-tricks. The Association of Football Statisticians reported that it was the first time a Football LEageu club had scored six goals after receiving a red card. This, however, would be the only victory in the first seven league games. In September, Steve Livingstone joined the club on loan from Chelsea. Then, in October, Canadian Ollie Heald signed from Norvan, having impressed whilst on trial. On 2 October, Vale recorded a 3–0 home victory over Wrexham after scoring three goals in the first three minutes of the second half.

Vale shot up the table with eight victories in ten games. In January, Aidan Newhouse arrived on loan from Wimbledon but only played two games. Rudge made enquiries after Andy Saville, but the club could not afford the £350,000 expected by Birmingham City. On 5 February, Vale beat Reading 2–1 to record the first away league win for a club at Elm Park in 12 months. Bernie Slaven left the club in February for Darlington. The next month, Rudge brought Joe Allon to the club after Allon had left Brentford. He also signed winger David Lowe on loan from Leicester City. Vale picked up four clean sheets in the first five games of March but ended the month with two defeats.

Vale had a solid April, winning six of their eight games, with Foyle scoring a hat-trick past Leyton Orient at Brisbane Road on 4 April. On 26 April, the team won 1–0 away at Swansea City as opposition manager Frank Burrows admitted that "they battered us and nobody has dominated here so much this season". Four days later, Vale defeated Exeter City by three goals to one, two of which were scored by Foyle – including a diving header for his 20th of the season; a Vale Park pitch invasion ensued on the final whistle. Two victories from their final two games of the season ensured promotion. A 3–1 victory at Brighton & Hove Albion was witnessed by 15,423 people – the biggest crowd at the Goldstone Ground for six years. Glover opened the scoring and a brace from Foyle confirmed the victory despite the home side pulling a goal back from a Dean Wilkins free kick.

They finished second with 88 points, despite having finished third the previous season with 89 points. The top scorer was Martin Foyle with 18 goals, though Ian Taylor and Nicky Cross also hit double figures.

At the end of the season, star midfielder Ian Taylor was sold to Sheffield Wednesday for £1 million (plus add-ons). The club also sold Peter Swan to Plymouth Argyle for £300,000. Also leaving the club were Nicky Cross and Trevor Wood, who joined Hereford United and Walsall respectively.

Finances

The club's shirt sponsors were Tunstall Assurance.

Cup competitions

In the FA Cup, Vale brushed aside Blackpool (2–0) and Huddersfield Town (1–0). Drawn against Premier League Southampton in the third round, the "Valiants" earned a 1–1 draw at The Dell with an Andy Porter goal from a free kick, which helped to put more pressure on struggling opposition manager Ian Branfoot, which would have been worse still without Iain Dowie's equaliser. Back at Burslem, Vale achieved a giantkilling with a Bernie Slaven goal on a mud-filled Vale Park pitch; a clean sheet was achieved as Neil Aspin kept Matt Le Tissier quiet. In the fourth round they faced First Division Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux, and were defeated 2–0.

In the League Cup, Vale exited in the first round to Third Division Lincoln City on away goals, having drawn 2–2 at Vale Park and 0–0 at Sincil Bank.

In the Football League Trophy, Vale reached the Area Quarter-finalists. They would not enter the competition again until 2000–01.

Results

Football League Second Division

Main article: 1993–94 Football League

League table

Results by matchday

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Matches

FA Cup

Main article: 1993–94 FA Cup

League Cup

Main article: 1993–94 Football League Cup

Football League Trophy

Main article: 1993–94 Football League Trophy

Player statistics

Appearances and goals

:Key to positions: GK – Goalkeeper; DF – Defender; MF – Midfielder; FW – Forward

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Top scorers

Transfers

Transfers in

Transfers out

Loans in

Loans out

References

;Specific

;General

• Soccerbase

References

1. (11 August 2024). "Vale hit the ground running at Salford". Valiant's Substack.
2. (31 August 1993). "Valiant Review: The Official Matchday Magazine of Port Vale F.C.".
3. (22 January 2026). "Jon Brady and Vale plans". Valiant's Substack.
4. (10 July 2025). "Vale in Wales". Valiant's Substack.
5. (15 January 2024). "Vale chief executive talks ticketing, Railway, Hamil and plans". Valiant's Substack.
6. (5 February 2024). "What next for Port Vale after manager Andy Crosby is sacked". Valiant's Substack.
7. (30 January 2026). "Match Preview {{!}} Leyton Orient vs Port Vale {{!}} Port Vale FC". Port Vale FC.
8. (27 April 2025). "The Vale are going up". Valiant's Substack.
9. (28 January 2019). "Turn Back Time". Port Vale FC matchday programme.
10. (6 May 2024). "Targets and expectations as Vale prepare to start again". Valiant's Substack.
11. (18 January 2024). "Port Vale transfer window and injury updates ahead of Wycombe". Valiant's Substack.
12. [http://www.statto.com/football/teams/port-vale/1993-1994/results Port Vale 1993–1994 : Results & Fixtures] {{Webarchive. link. (4 March 2016 . Statto Organisation. Retrieved 28 April 2012.)
13. "Port Vale FC Club Details {{!}} Transfers {{!}} Soccer Base".