2002–03 Port Vale F.C. season

Overview

Second Division

The pre-season saw Brian Horton make several free signings: Jon McCarthy (Birmingham City); Brett Angell (Rushden & Diamonds); Ian Brightwell (Walsall); Phil Charnock (Crewe Alexandra); Sam Collins (Bury); and Mark Boyd (Newcastle United). Midfielder Dean Keates had a trial at the club over the summer, but was not offered a contract.

The season started poorly, with four straight defeats. Only one goal scored from open play, causing fans to barrack Horton. Their form changed with a 1–0 win over Wigan Athletic at the JJB Stadium – the first in a sequence of five consecutive victories. Following this run, victories were sparse for the Vale, and they picked up just four league victories until the beginning of March. The club agreed to sell Stephen McPhee to Wigan Athletic for £300,000, though the deal fell through over personal terms. In October, Lee Ashcroft arrived on loan from Wigan Athletic. Meanwhile, Jon McCarthy was released, and signed with Doncaster Rovers. The next month Brett Angell also departed after rejecting a new deal with the club, and instead joined Queens Park Rangers.

A mini-revival began in the new year, as Vale were unbeaten in their three January league games. In February, defender Peter Clarke arrived on a three-month loan deal from Everton. Adrian Littlejohn also joined the club on a monthly contract, having left Lincoln City. On 1 March, Vale were beaten 4–1 away at Colchester United, with Gareth Williams scoring a hat-trick. There was a turnaround in form following a 1–0 win over Blackpool on 8 March, as 18 points from the final twelve games of the season were enough to see off the fan's fears of relegation. Horton remained unpopular with some sections of Vale's supporters. On 12 April, Vale came from behind to beat Northampton Town at home after Horton angrily remonstrated with a supporter in the crowd who demanded his resignation whilst the club were a goal down. They finished in 17th place with 53 points, just five points above Cheltenham Town in the relegation zone. They finished 33 points and 15 places behind Crewe, who were promoted as runners-up. The end-of-season table was unusual in that 15 points separated 7th and 8th, whilst 17 points separated 8th and 21st. Marc Bridge-Wilkinson was the club's top-scorer with just nine goals in all competitions.

At the end of the season, several players left the club on free transfers: Matt Carragher (Macclesfield Town); Paul Byrne (Barry Town); Phil Charnock (Bury); Sean McClare (Rochdale); John Durnin (Accrington Stanley); and Rae Ingram (Bangor City).

Finances, administration & a change of ownership

Talks of Bell selling the club circulated at the start of the season, as Staffordshire Police were forced to write off £100,000 worth of debt. Meanwhile, Marketing executive Terry Smith resigned after just six weeks in the job. Bell told the press that the Lorne Street stand would be open at the start of the season, though work never got going on the project. Director Jim Lloyd resigned in September, leaving the club with just Bell and two directors (only one of whom was allowed to vote; Bell had the casting vote in the event of a tie). The club's financial crisis came to a head in the season, with the club £2.4 million in debt and posting £500,000 a year in losses. On 25 November, Bell put his shares up for sale at £10 each.

The club entered administration on 16 December, with £600,000 owed to Inland Revenue and the Customs & Excise; Birmingham-based administration firm Poppleton & Appleby took control. Assistant manager Mark Grew and Ray Williams were both laid off to save money. The club approached millionaire pop star and Vale fan Robbie Williams, who rejected the opportunity to invest in the club. Rumours circulated of a possible merger with rivals Stoke City and a ground-share at the Britannia Stadium, fuelled by the belief that a 'mystery bidder' was the Icelandic owners of Stoke City. Stoke Holdings, the Icelandic company which owned Stoke City, offered Bill Bell £50,000 to buy his debt and thereby take control of the club by bypassing the administrators; however, Bell rejected the offer. Valiant2001 eventually agreed to rent the club shop off Bell as an incitement for him to accept their offer (his vote was needed as he was the club's biggest creditor). The administrators received a number of bids for the club, and received interest from Mo Chaudry (owner of WaterWorld), Summerbank Management (Tunstall based consultancy firm), and property developing duo Steve Ball and Iain McIntosh. A late bid from Gianni Paladini seemed likely to succeed, however, Bill Bratt's 'Valiant 2001' fan-based consortium's bid was accepted in March, and the group took control the following month. The group had had a £1 million bid rejected by Bell the previous year. The total cost of administration was £255,000, and Bratt said "It has been a ride of terror".

In May, the club announced a new two-year £200,000 shirt sponsorship deal with local mobile phone company Tricell, ending ten years of sponsorship from Tunstall Assurance. The new board also appointed former player Andy Porter as youth coach, and got the club's transfer embargo lifted in July.

Cup competitions

In the FA Cup, Vale were knocked out by nearby Crewe Alexandra with a Dean Ashton goal.

In the League Cup, Crewe made the first of their three visits to Vale Park (all of which they won) and advanced with a 2–0 victory, both goals scored by Rodney Jack.

In the Football League Trophy, Vale advanced through the opening rounds with home wins over Hull City and Chesterfield (after a penalty shoot-out). In the Northern Section Quarter-Finals, they faced Shrewsbury Town at Gay Meadow and lost 2–1.

Results

Football League Second Division

League table

Main article: 2002–03 Football League

Results by matchday

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Matches

FA Cup

Main article: 2002–03 FA Cup

League Cup

Main article: 2002–03 Football League Cup

Football League Trophy

Main article: 2002–03 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

References

;Specific

;General

• Soccerbase

References

1. (1 August 2002). "Vale seal double deal". [[BBC Sport]].
2. (26 June 2002). "Collins reunites with Horton". [[BBC Sport]].
3. (10 June 2002). "Horton moves for Collins". [[BBC Sport]].
4. (27 May 2002). "Boyd joins Vale". [[BBC Sport]].
5. (19 August 2002). "Horton will battle on". [[BBC Sport]].
6. (9 September 2002). "McPhee deal hitch". [[BBC Sport]].
7. (9 October 2002). "Vale set for Ashcroft signing". [[BBC Sport]].
8. (1 October 2002). "Vale release McCarthy". [[BBC Sport]].
9. Oliver, Pete. (9 October 2002). "McCarthy joins Doncaster". [[BBC Sport]].
10. (4 November 2002). "Angell rejects Vale deal". [[BBC Sport]].
11. (20 February 2003). "Vale take Clarke on loan". [[BBC Sport]].
12. (29 April 2003). "Clarke returns to Everton". [[BBC Sport]].
13. (25 March 2003). "Vale want pair for another month". [[BBC Sport]].
14. (2 March 2025). "Below par Vale stay unbeaten". Valiant's Substack.
15. (13 April 2003). "Horton refuses to back down". [[BBC Sport]].
16. (12 April 2024). "Vale injury news and talking points ahead of Exeter". Valiant's Substack.
17. (9 May 2003). "Carragher exits Vale". [[BBC Sport]].
18. (25 September 2002). "Vale takeover moves closer". [[BBC Sport]].
19. (11 June 2003). "Police ask Vale for cash upfront". BBC News.
20. (12 December 2002). "Vale fans group to bid". [[BBC Sport]].
21. (25 November 2002). "Bell to sell Vale shares". [[BBC Sport]].
22. (16 December 2002). "Vale go into administration". [[BBC Sport]].
23. (5 December 2002). "Vale near administration". [[BBC Sport]].
24. (18 December 2002). "Vale axe Grew". [[BBC Sport]].
25. (19 December 2002). "Vale in Robbie plea". BBC News.
26. (22 January 2003). "Robbie says 'no' to Port Vale". BBC News.
27. (31 January 2003). "Vale deny Potters merger". [[BBC Sport]].
28. (5 February 2003). "Vale Park fears rise". [[BBC Sport]].
29. (6 January 2003). "Vale bids flood in". [[BBC Sport]].
30. (19 February 2003). "Fans' group win control of Vale". BBC News.
31. "Jackson wins control". clubsincrisis.com.
32. (13 March 2003). "Fans bid for Port Vale accepted". [[BBC Sport]].
33. (7 April 2003). "Vale fans to take control". [[BBC Sport]].
34. (20 November 2002). "Vale fans table new offer". [[BBC Sport]].
35. (2 March 2012). "Port Vale: Vale owed 200 creditors £2.4m the last time the administrator came calling". [[The Sentinel (Staffordshire).
36. (29 May 2003). "Vale ink sponsorship deal". [[BBC Sport]].
37. (13 June 2003). "Porter wins Vale role". [[BBC Sport]].
38. (18 July 2003). "Vale embargo lifted". [[BBC Sport]].
39. (16 November 2002). "Port Vale 0-1 Crewe". [[BBC Sport]].
40. (10 September 2002). "Port Vale 0-2 Crewe". [[BBC Sport]].
41. (12 November 2002). "Port Vale 1-1 Chesterfield (4-3 pens)". [[BBC Sport]].
42. [http://www.statto.com/football/teams/port-vale/2002-2003/results Port Vale 2002–2003 : Results & Fixtures]. Statto Organisation. Retrieved 28 April 2012.
43. "Port Vale FC Club Details {{!}} Transfers {{!}} Soccer Base".