2003–04 Port Vale F.C. season

Overview

Second Division

The pre-season saw Brian Horton bring in three key players on free transfers: George Pilkington (Everton); Jonny Brain (Newcastle United); and Austrian Andreas Lipa (Skoda Xanthi). Meanwhile, promising keeper Mark Goodlad began a lengthy period on the sidelines with injuries. Optimism surrounded the club, after the rebuilding of the new squad appeared to had finished after the break-up of the club's previous team due to financial troubles.

On 23 August, Vale recorded a 4–3 home win over Colchester United after having twice come from a goal down. On 13 September, Vale came from a goal down to record a 3–1 win over Barnsley, with Rory Fallon's eighth-minute opener cancelled out by Lipa header 15 minutes later, with Pilkington and Adrian Littlejohn goals in the second half securing all three points. The season opened with seven wins in eleven games, earning Brian Horton the Manager of the Month award. The last of these victories was a 3–0 win over Peterborough United on 30 September, with McPhee scoring two goals after being to the central striker position from out wide. Though this was followed by a sequence of five defeats in eight games as the goals dried up, this run included a 5–1 thumping at home to Plymouth Argyle. They responded to this defeat with a 2–0 win over title-favourites Queens Park Rangers as goals from Paynter and McPhee secured the three points despite a red card for Rowland after he put in a two-footed challenge on Marcus Bean. In November, backup keeper Dean Delany joined Macclesfield Town on a two-month loan. On 27 January, Vale were beaten 5–2 at home by Hartlepool United as Sam Collins had a rare off night by giving away a goal and then being sent off.

Horton resigned in February, with the club in the play-offs. His replacement was Vale legend Martin Foyle, whose only previous experience was in the club's youth set-up. As his assistant he appointed former teammate, Dean Glover, another club legend. In March, Foyle made his first signing, bringing defender Craig James on loan from Sunderland, and after a few weeks he signed him permanently. Mark Boyd headed out of the club however, and was allowed to sign with Carlisle United. Vale lost just two of their final twelve games and ran close to a play-off place, only losing out due to their inferior goal difference. They won 2–0 at Rushden & Diamonds on the final day. However, Swindon Town and Hartlepool United played out a 1–1 draw to ensure they both finished in the play-offs instead of Vale.

They finished in seventh place with 73 points. They were level on points with Hartlepool United and Swindon Town but finished outside of the play-off zone due to their inferior goal difference. Stephen McPhee scored 27 goals to become the club's top-scorer, the highest tally since Andy Jones hit 37 in 1986–87. Other major contributions came from Billy Paynter (14), Steve Brooker (8), Marc Bridge-Wilkinson (7) and Adrian Littlejohn (7).

At the end of the season several players left the club: Neil Brisco (Rochdale); Liam Burns (Bristol Rovers); Adrian Littlejohn (Lincoln City); and Dean Delany (Shelbourne). Stephen McPhee also decided to leave the club, and though Chairman Bill Bratt had rejected offers of £100,000 for the player, McPhee exploited a loophole in his contract to join Portuguese side Beira-Mar. Marc Bridge-Wilkinson also turned down a new lower-paying contract, and instead signed with Stockport County. Player-coach Ian Brightwell also left Vale Park, having lost his assistant manager role to Glover, and joined Horton at Macclesfield Town. One boost was that Billy Paynter and George Pilkington put pen to paper on new long-term deals.

Finances

Peter Walker was appointed as Chief Executive in August 2003, having volunteered to work for free for six months. One feature of the season proved to be the long-running courtroom battle between former chairman Bill Bell and owners Valiant2001 over unpaid rent on the club shop. The club's finances were still worrying for supporters, though the problem appeared to have eased by the end of the season.

In December, a Peter Jackson-led consortium put a £150,000 investment into the club, which Bratt said "...ensures the future of the club is safe". The club also rejected other investment proposals from confidential sources. Vice-chairman Charles Machin recommended the board sell the club to Italian businessman Gianni Paladini for £530,000, but the board disagreed. In March 2004, Machin and director Geoff Wakefield were voted off the board, as the 'Jackson Five' clique elected Peter Jackson and Stan Meigh in their place. Machin said that "I will not go away. I will haunt the corridors of power like Marley's ghost". However, he was never elected back onto the board.

Cup competitions

In the FA Cup, Vale risked humiliation in a 2–2 draw with non-League Ford United at Vale Park. In the replay, Vale had led 1–0 before a last minute equaliser took the game into extra time. Despite having substitute Ian Armstrong's sent off, the "Valiants" escaped the lottery of the penalty shoot-out when on 114 minutes Ford scored an own goal. However, in the second round they were still eliminated by a non-League club, when Scarborough's Ashley Sestanovich scored an 80th-minute winner at Vale Park. This was the first time a League side had been beaten twice in the same season by the same non-League opponents.

In the League Cup, Vale faced First Division Nottingham Forest. They held Forest to a goalless draw but were eliminated 3–2 in the subsequent penalty shoot-out.

In the Football League Trophy, Vale travelled to the McCain Stadium, where they were defeated 2–1 by Conference club Scarborough.

Results

Football League Second Division

League table

Main article: 2003–04 Football League

Results by matchday

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Matches

FA Cup

Main article: 2003–04 FA Cup

League Cup

Main article: 2003–04 Football League Cup

Football League Trophy

Main article: 2003–04 Football League Trophy

Player statistics

Appearances and goals

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

|- |}

Top scorers

Transfers

Transfers in

Transfers out

Loans out

References

;Specific

;General

• Soccerbase

References

1. (24 June 2003). "Vale land Pilkington". [[BBC Sport]].
2. (22 August 2003). "Vale sign young keeper". [[BBC Sport]].
3. (9 June 2003). "Vale net Lipa". [[BBC Sport]].
4. (24 July 2003). "Goodlad blow for Vale". [[BBC Sport]].
5. (5 August 2003). "Port Vale season preview". [[BBC Sport]].
6. (15 February 2020). "Port Vale matchday programme v Colchester United". Port Vale FC.
7. (3 January 2026). "Match Preview {{!}} Port Vale vs Barnsley {{!}} Port Vale FC". Port Vale FC.
8. "Valiant Horton Picks Up Prize". LMA.
9. (30 September 2024). "Home comforts in a big week". Valiant's Substack.
10. (23 October 2024). "Vale make it four in a row". Valiant's Substack.
11. (27 January 2025). "In-form Vale ready for Colchester test". Valiant's Substack.
12. (12 February 2004). "Horton leaves Port Vale". [[BBC Sport]].
13. (13 February 2004). "Port Vale appoint Foyle". [[BBC Sport]].
14. (16 February 2004). "Glover back at Vale". [[BBC Sport]].
15. (19 March 2004). "James joins Vale on loan". [[BBC Sport]].
16. (2 April 2004). "James signs Vale contract". [[BBC Sport]].
17. (3 November 2025). "Plenty to ponder in league and cup as Vale land Bristol Rovers". Valiant's Substack.
18. (8 May 2025). "Taking a bow as League One beckons". Valiant's Substack.
19. (9 May 2024). "Why Vale are determined pitch investment will pay off". Valiant's Substack.
20. (11 May 2004). "Foyle releases Vale trio". [[BBC Sport]].
21. (4 June 2004). "Vale reject McPhee offer". [[BBC Sport]].
22. (17 June 2004). "McPhee moving to Portugal". [[BBC Sport]].
23. (8 June 2004). "Bridge-Wilkinson makes move". [[BBC Sport]].
24. (26 May 2004). "Vale search for new coach". [[BBC Sport]].
25. (25 May 2004). "Brightwell leaves Vale". [[BBC Sport]].
26. (4 March 2004). "Duo boost Port Vale". [[BBC Sport]].
27. (14 May 2004). "Financial boost for Vale". [[BBC Sport]].
28. (30 December 2003). "Consortium saves Port Vale". [[BBC Sport]].
29. (15 December 2003). "Vale set for takeover talks". [[BBC Sport]].
30. ''What If There Had Been No Port In The Vale?: Startling Port Vale Stories!'' p.179 (Witan Books, 2011, {{ISBN. 978-0-9529152-8-7)
31. (8 November 2003). "Port Vale 2-2 Ford Utd". [[BBC Sport]].
32. (19 November 2003). "Ford Utd 1-2 Port Vale (aet)". [[BBC Sport]].
33. (7 December 2003). "Port Vale 0-1 Scarborough". [[BBC Sport]].
34. (7 December 2023). "Injuries, plans and Exeter challenge for Port Vale". Valiant's Substack.
35. (14 October 2003). "Scarborough 2-1 Port Vale". [[BBC Sport]].
36. [http://www.statto.com/football/teams/port-vale/2003-2004/results Port Vale 2003–2004 : Results & Fixtures] {{Webarchive. link. (16 February 2016 . Statto Organisation. Retrieved 28 April 2012.)
37. "Port Vale FC Club Details {{!}} Transfers {{!}} Soccer Base".