2005–06 Port Vale F.C. season

Overview

League One

The pre-season saw Martin Foyle sign Micky Bell and Hector Sam on free transfers from Bristol City and Wrexham respectively. He also took in promising young striker Chris Cornes on loan from Wolverhampton Wanderers, who would impress in a Vale shirt.

The season started with 14 points from seven games to launch the club's promotion bid. After three defeats, the Vale entered a long period of inconsistent form. In September, Darrell Clarke joined on loan from Hartlepool United, though he would play just the one game for the club. Gary Mulligan also arrived on loan from Sheffield United, and would find greater success in Burslem. The next month Foyle added to the squad by signing Michael Husbands from Walsall. Vale lost 1–0 to Yeovil Town, who had Steve Thompson in his first match in caretaker charge and suummer signing Matt Harrold scoring his first goal for the club.

In November, Sam Togwell joined on loan from Scunthorpe United in an initial six-week deal that was extended until the end of the season. Another long-term loan deal was struck with Leyton Orient for big defender Clayton Fortune, who would later turn down a permanent transfer to Vale Park after failing to agree on personal terms. Foyle also made possibly the best signing of his spell in charge at Vale, bringing striker Leon Constantine in from Torquay United for a £20,000 fee. However, Foyle lost two big players, when key defender Sam Collins and promising striker Billy Paynter were sold to Hull City for £65,000 and £150,000 respectively, the pair leaving on loan deals until the January transfer window (when they would leave permanently). Four straight defeats followed this, emphasising the sales' effect on the club's promotion bid.

In January, Bell moved on to Cheltenham Town, and Hector Sam joined Walsall. In came Jason Talbot on loan from Mansfield Town, who joined the club permanently at the end of the season. Foyle also signed defender Mark McGregor from Blackpool, and midfielder Sean Doherty from ADO Den Haag. Vale avenged their loss to Yeovil by winning one goal to nil at home. A sequence of two points in five games killed off the Vale's promotion hopes by April.

They finished in 13th place with sixty points, some distance from promotion and relegation. Only the four relegated teams scored fewer goals than Vale, and Constantine was the club's top-scorer with twelve goals, closely followed by Cummins with eleven.

At the end of the season nine players departed the club: Lee Matthews (Crewe Alexandra); Hector Sam (Walsall); Steve Rowland (Southport); Tony Dinning (Stockport County); Micky Cummins (Darlington); Jonny Brain (Macclesfield Town); Mark Innes (Hyde United); Sean Doherty (Accrington Stanley); and Craig James (Darlington). Andy Porter retired to concentrate on his coaching. With Dinning's departure, George Pilkington was appointed club captain. World Cup international winger Chris Birchall was also sold to Coventry City for £325,000.

Finances

On the financial side, Bill Bratt's cost-cutting measures had reduced the club's operating losses from £500,000 to £50,000. Despite this, the club took out a £2.25 million loan from the local council, with monthly repayments of around £19,000. Bratt continued to try and woo elderly North American millionaires, but Steve Stavro did not follow up his initial interest with any investment. In October 2005, the club turned down an investment group that wished to appoint Paul Gascoigne as manager. Foyle said "We need a cup run, or an investor, to give us a kick-start because we aren't doing too badly". He got his wish with an expected income of £250,000 from the Villa game. In February, lifelong fan Robbie Williams bought £240,000 of the £250,000 worth of available shares in the club. In April, the club announced a new record-breaking shirt sponsorship deal with BGC Gas. The club also announced Bill Bratt would now be a paid chief executive.

Cup competitions

In the FA Cup, Vale advanced past Wrexham to reach a second round encounter with Bristol Rovers. A late equaliser from Constantine earned Vale a replay, and a Chris Birchall strike gave the "Valiants" victory at the Memorial Stadium. They then made it to the fourth round after a 2–1 win over Doncaster Rovers thanks to a brace from loanee Sam Togwell. They faced a trip to Villa Park to face Premier League Aston Villa, where they were defeated 3–1 after a brace from Milan Baroš. A 7,500 strong contingent of Vale fans travelled to see the game and reworked the song (Is This the Way to) Amarillo into "Show me the way to Aston Villa" to mark the occasion. This was the club's largest away following in 15 years.

In the League Cup, Vale were knocked out 3–1 by Rotherham United at the Don Valley Stadium, with Hector Sam breaking his leg during the game.

In the Football League Trophy, Vale received a bye in the first round, but in the second round were embarrassed to lose 2–1 to Conference club Hereford United at Edgar Street, after a Tamika Mkandawire header in extra time.

Results

Football League One

League table

Main article: 2005–06 Football League

Results by matchday

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Matches

5

FA Cup

Main article: 2005–06 FA Cup

League Cup

Main article: 2005–06 Football League Cup

Football League Trophy

Main article: 2005–06 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 in

Loans out

References

;Specific

;General

• Soccerbase

References

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2. (29 June 2005). "Striker Sam makes switch to Vale". [[BBC Sport]].
3. (29 August 2005). "MK Dons 0-0 Port Vale". Soccerbase.
4. (27 September 2005). "Vale sign Pools midfielder Clarke". [[BBC Sport]].
5. (22 September 2005). "Vale nab Blades striker on loan". [[BBC Sport]].
6. (24 October 2005). "Mulligan gets Vale loan extension". [[BBC Sport]].
7. (24 September 2005). "Yeovil 1–0 Port Vale". British Broadcasting Corporation.
8. (25 January 2006). "Foyle extends Togwell loan deal". [[BBC Sport]].
9. (9 November 2005). "Fortune joins Vale in loan switch". [[BBC Sport]].
10. (26 April 2006). "Fortune rejects Port Vale offer". [[BBC Sport]].
11. (4 November 2005). "Constantine leaves Gulls for Vale". [[BBC Sport]].
12. Henderson, Jamie. (20 January 2006). "Mickey Bell signs for Cheltenham". cheltenhamtown-mad.co.uk.
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15. (7 January 2006). "Foyle happy with Doherty capture". [[BBC Sport]].
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19. (28 January 2010). "Caersws swoop for ex-Port Vale defender". welsh-premier.com.
20. (27 May 2006). "Quakers complete double signing". [[BBC Sport]].
21. (14 June 2006). "Horton secures capture of Brain". [[BBC Sport]].
22. (19 May 2006). "Accrington get Doherty on board". [[BBC Sport]].
23. (10 May 2006). "Port Vale release defender James". [[BBC Sport]].
24. (26 May 2006). "Pilkington is handed Vale armband". [[BBC Sport]].
25. (5 August 2006). "Coventry bring in Vale's Birchall". [[BBC Sport]].
26. (18 November 2005). "Club's operating loss goes down". BBC News.
27. (8 February 2012). "Port Vale late with repayments of £2.25m council loan". [[BBC Sport]].
28. (19 October 2005). "Vale reject 'Gazza' takeover bid". [[BBC Sport]].
29. Fletcher, Paul. (11 October 2005). "Valiants cashing in on cutbacks". [[BBC Sport]].
30. (9 January 2006). "Vale see cash bonus in Cup match". [[BBC Sport]].
31. [https://www.bbc.co.uk/stoke/content/articles/2006/02/27/robbie_williams_vale_stake_feature.shtml "Robbie buys into Vale"], BBC Stoke & Staffordshire, 27 February 2006
32. (4 April 2006). "Vale secure record sponsor deal". [[BBC Sport]].
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34. (2 December 2005). "Port Vale 1-1 Bristol Rovers". [[BBC Sport]].
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36. (7 January 2006). "Port Vale 2-1 Doncaster". [[BBC Sport]].
37. (28 January 2006). "Aston Villa 3-1 Port Vale". [[BBC Sport]].
38. (28 January 2024). "Condemnation as referee is chased from pitch in Port Vale defeat". Valiant's Substack.
39. (26 January 2025). "Ten-man Vale have to settle for a point". Valiant's Substack.
40. (21 November 2005). "Hereford 2-1 Port Vale (aet)". [[BBC Sport]].
41. [http://www.statto.com/football/teams/port-vale/2005-2006/results Port Vale 2005–2006 : Results & Fixtures]. Statto Organisation. Retrieved 28 April 2012.
42. "Port Vale FC Club Details {{!}} Transfers {{!}} Soccer Base".