# 1980–81 Port Vale F.C. season

The 1980–81 season was Port Vale's 69th season of football in the English Football League and their third-successive season (ninth overall) in the Fourth Division. A difficult season, by February the club were bottom of the Football League. However, they rallied to finish in nineteenth place, thus avoiding a re-election campaign. Advancing to the Third Round of the FA Cup, there they were humiliated by a 3–0 defeat to non-League side Enfield in front of the TV cameras. They exited the League Cup in the First Round. Despite poor crowd figures and a poor league place, John McGrath had overseen the worst of the club's dire spell, whilst new Chairman Don Ratcliffe stabilized the finances by cutting expenditure. A bleak financial picture led McGrath to focus on youth, and the Chamberlain brothers (Mark and Neville) in particular developed well to leave the club with a more optimistic future.

## Overview
### Fourth Division

The pre-season saw John McGrath sign two news players – Leicester City's John Allen and Stoke City's Trevor Brissett. These newcomers were all the Vale could afford. Vale ominously failed to win any of their pre-season friendlies. The club also received a £600 fine for the disciplinary record of the previous season (by now an annual occurrence).
The season opened with a 3–0 win over Doncaster Rovers, but then Vale travelled to Roots Hall, where they were beaten 5–1 by Southend United. This defeat was the first of a run of six games in which the "Valiants" picked up just a solitary point. The Vale consistently lost away from home, but turned Vale Park into a fortress with four successive wins in Burslem. Despite this, attendances remained barely above 2,000. Injuries piled up; Gerry Keenan with ligament damage, Steve Jones with a collarbone injury, whereas Paul Bowles played on as captain despite being overweight. The club in the re-election zone, unable to attract fans, and losing £1,000 a week, Arthur MacPherson resigned as chairman on 2 October, and was replaced by Don Ratcliffe. Mark Chamberlain was then utilized, and scored four goals in his first four games and also created goals for others. Former top-flight winger Johnny Miller then joined the club after his release from Mansfield Town. Miller's crossing ability had not diminished. He became a key player. Young keeper Mark Harrison in good form, McGrath felt able to sell Trevor Dance to Stafford Rangers for £10,000. Their upturn in form tailed off, and their 4–0 defeat at Plainmoor on 5 November was played in front of a then Torquay United record-low crowd of 1,227 fans. A 1–0 victory over league leaders Southend United was the only win in a sequence of fourteen league games, with John Allen scoring the goal.
In December, John Rudge was upgraded from coach to assistant manager. However, poor league form continued; on 27 December Vale lost 5–1 to Northampton Town at the County Ground, and Phil Sproson was sent off for swearing at teammate Russell Bromage. More away defeats came, with the Vale defence insistent on playing dangerous balls on the outside of their penalty area. On 24 January, they lost 5–0 at Field Mill to Mansfield Town; this left them at the foot of the league, four points adrift of safety. McGrath brought in two new signings: big defender Andy Higgins from Chesterfield and midfielder Terry Armstrong; Higgins was restricted mainly to away matches as there the team needed the added strength and height that he provided. He also signed keeper Brian Lloyd on loan from Chester City, and the former Wales international proved to be a revelation. McGrath then installed a five-man defence away from home; the tactic proved a success, as Vale avoided defeat in all but two of their final eight away games. McGrath later reflected that "that Mansfield match was a dreadful experience; I simply could not wait any longer before taking some action; we had to get some better players." Vale went on a streak of seven games unbeaten, recording a 4–0 win over fellow strugglers Hereford United. On 26 April, the club started a club-record run of six consecutive draws, which would end on 12 September the next season. Their goalless draw with Crewe Alexandra at Gresty Road assured them of safety from re-election.
They finished nineteenth place with 39 points, three points clear of the re-election places. For the third consecutive season, they had conceded seventy goals, and only Tranmere Rovers and Halifax Town conceded more. The Chamberlain brothers were the top scorers in the league with nine goals, whilst Neville scored thirteen in all competitions. McGrath said "it has taken time, but the attitude [of the team] is slowly changing."

### Finances

On the financial side, a £12,496 loss was announced. Income was supplemented by an intake of £174,890 from the commercial department. An average home attendance of 2,738 was the lowest since the club regained their Football League status in 1921. Nevertheless, spending had been slashed to bring finances under control. Six players left at the end of the season on free transfers, most significantly: Neil Griffiths (Crewe Alexandra), Steve Jones, Alan Woolfall (Marine), and John Allen (Hinckley Athletic). Loanee Lloyd also returned to his club, despite the fans demands to sign him up. Kenny Beech was sold to Walsall for £10,000.

### Cup competitions

In the FA Cup, Vale advanced past Bradford City with a 4–2 win, the Chamberlain brothers in deadly form. "Bantams" manager George Mulhall said "it could have been ten!". With Harrison injured, Vale then used Derby County loanee keeper Steve Cherry in a 'magnificent' 1–1 draw with Burnley at Turf Moor. Vale then finished off the Third Division club at home with a 2–0 win in front of a season-high crowd of 7,722. Drawn against Isthmian League side Enfield in the Third Round, they drew 1–1 at Vale Park before they 'died in shame' with a 3–0 defeat in the replay. This was the first time the Vale had been knocked out of the competition by a non-League club since Gainsborough Trinity beat them 2–1 in 1937. Port Vale were Enfield's third scalp of the season after Barnsley and Hereford United. The loss came in front of the television cameras. It was particularly humiliating as Enfield's keeper had a quiet afternoon, and Cherry gifted Enfield their second goal with a horrible miskick.
In the League Cup, Neville Chamberlain scored after only fifty seconds in a 3–2 home defeat by Tranmere Rovers. Vale then beat 1–0 at Prenton Park to exit the competition on away goals.

## League table

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion |
| 17 | Torquay United | 46 | 18 | 5 | 23 | 55 | 63 | −8 | 41 | |
| 18 | Crewe Alexandra | 46 | 13 | 14 | 19 | 48 | 61 | −13 | 40 | |
| 19 | Port Vale | 46 | 12 | 15 | 19 | 57 | 70 | −13 | 39 | |
| 20 | Stockport County | 46 | 16 | 7 | 23 | 44 | 57 | −13 | 39 | |
| 21 | Tranmere Rovers | 46 | 13 | 10 | 23 | 59 | 73 | −14 | 36 | Re-elected |

## Results

Port Vale's score comes first

### Football League Fourth Division
#### Results by matchday

| Round | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 35 | 36 | 37 | 38 | 39 | 40 | 41 | 42 | 43 | 44 | 45 | 46 |
| Ground | H | A | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | H | A | A | H | H | A | A | H | H | A | H | A | H | A | A | A | H | A | H | H | A | H | H | H | A | A | H | A | H | H | A | H | A | A |
| Result | W | L | L | D | L | L | L | W | L | W | L | W | W | L | W | D | L | D | L | D | W | L | D | D | L | L | L | L | L | D | W | L | D | D | W | W | W | D | D | L | W | D | L | D | D | D |
| Position | 2 | 8 | 17 | 16 | 20 | 21 | 21 | 22 | 24 | 18 | 22 | 19 | 16 | 20 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 18 | 20 | 21 | 17 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 23 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 21 | 20 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 20 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 20 | 20 | 19 |

#### Matches

| Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Scorers |
| 16 August 1980 | Doncaster Rovers | H | 3–0 | 2,846 | Jones, Griffiths, N.Chamberlain |
| 18 August 1980 | Southend United | A | 1–5 | 4,190 | N.Chamberlain |
| 23 August 1980 | Wimbledon | A | 0–1 | 1,775 | |
| 30 August 1980 | Mansfield Town | H | 0–0 | 2,558 | |
| 6 September 1980 | Wigan Athletic | A | 0–1 | 4,666 | |
| 13 September 1980 | Aldershot | H | 0–1 | 2,370 | |
| 15 September 1980 | Stockport County | A | 1–2 | 3,480 | N.Chamberlain |
| 20 September 1980 | Darlington | H | 4–2 | 2,158 | Keenan (2), Allen, Farrell |
| 27 September 1980 | Bury | A | 1–2 | 2,341 | Keenan |
| 29 September 1980 | Stockport County | H | 2–0 | 2,835 | Beech, Allen |
| 4 October 1980 | York City | A | 1–4 | 2,025 | Griffiths |
| 6 October 1980 | Torquay United | H | 3–1 | 2,091 | o.g., Beech, Griffiths (pen) |
| 11 October 1980 | Tranmere Rovers | H | 5–1 | 2,820 | Bromage (2), M.Chamberlain (2), Allen |
| 18 October 1980 | Bradford City | A | 1–2 | 2,843 | Bromage |
| 22 October 1980 | Hereford United | A | 3–2 | 2,101 | M.Chamberlain (2), Beech |
| 25 October 1980 | Hartlepool United | H | 1–1 | 3,072 | Bromage |
| 27 October 1980 | Bournemouth | H | 0–2 | 3,009 | |
| 1 November 1980 | Peterborough United | A | 1–1 | 3,648 | o.g. |
| 5 November 1980 | Torquay United | A | 0–4 | 1,227 | |
| 8 November 1980 | Rochdale | H | 1–1 | 2,774 | Bowles |
| 10 November 1980 | Southend United | H | 1–0 | 2,780 | Allen |
| 15 November 1980 | Doncaster Rovers | A | 0–2 | 2,422 | |
| 5 December 1980 | Crewe Alexandra | H | 2–2 | 4,154 | Beech, N.Chamberlain |
| 20 December 1980 | Halifax Town | A | 2–2 | 1,215 | o.g., Woolfall |
| 26 December 1980 | Lincoln City | H | 0–1 | 4,239 | |
| 27 December 1980 | Northampton Town | A | 1–5 | 2,978 | N.Chamberlain |
| 10 January 1981 | Hartlepool United | A | 0–3 | 3,116 | |
| 24 January 1981 | Mansfield Town | A | 0–5 | 3,864 | |
| 31 January 1981 | Wimbledon | H | 2–3 | 2,372 | Miller (2 [1 pen]) |
| 7 February 1981 | Aldershot | A | 0–0 | 2,598 | |
| 14 February 1981 | Wigan Athletic | H | 3–0 | 3,214 | Miller, Sproson, N.Chamberlain |
| 21 February 1981 | Bury | H | 1–3 | 2,831 | N.Chamberlain |
| 24 February 1981 | Scunthorpe United | A | 1–1 | 1,878 | M.Chamberlain |
| 3 March 1981 | Scunthorpe United | H | 2–2 | 2,277 | Miller, M.Chamberlain |
| 7 March 1981 | York City | H | 2–0 | 2,319 | Bennett (pen), M.Chamberlain |
| 16 March 1981 | Hereford United | H | 4–0 | 2,379 | Bowles (2), M.Chamberlain, Armstrong |
| 24 March 1981 | Tranmere Rovers | A | 2–1 | 1,422 | Beech, N.Chamberlain |
| 28 March 1981 | Bournemouth | A | 0–0 | 4,665 | |
| 4 April 1981 | Peterborough United | H | 1–1 | 2,982 | Armstrong |
| 12 April 1981 | Rochdale | A | 1–2 | 2,590 | Bowles |
| 14 April 1981 | Bradford City | H | 2–1 | 2,221 | N.Chamberlain, Sproson |
| 18 April 1981 | Northampton Town | H | 1–1 | 2,371 | Sproson |
| 20 April 1981 | Lincoln City | A | 0–1 | 3,784 | |
| 26 April 1981 | Halifax Town | H | 0–0 | 2,301 | |
| 1 May 1981 | Crewe Alexandra | A | 0–0 | 4,634 | |
| 5 May 1981 | Darlington | A | 1–1 | 1,576 | M.Chamberlain |

### FA Cup

| Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Goalscorers |
| R1 | 22 November 1980 | Bradford City | H | 4–2 | 4,022 | N.Chamberlain (2), Bennett (pen), Beech |
| R2 | 13 December 1980 | Burnley | A | 1–1 | 7,497 | Miller |
| R2 Replay | 16 December 1980 | Burnley | H | 2–0 | 7,722 | Farrell, M.Chamberlain |
| R3 | 3 January 1981 | Enfield | H | 1–1 | 5,538 | Beech |
| R3 Replay | 6 January 1981 | Enfield | A | 0–3 | 6,499 | |

### League Cup

| Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Goalscorers |
| R1 1st Leg | 9 August 1980 | Tranmere Rovers | H | 2–3 | 2,651 | N.Chamberlain (2) |
| R1 2nd Leg | 12 August 1980 | Tranmere Rovers | A | 1–0 | 2,386 | Bromage |

## Player statistics
### Appearances and goals

| Pos. | Name | Football League | Football League | FA Cup | FA Cup | League Cup | League Cup | Total | Total |
| Pos. | Name | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| GK | Trevor Dance | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| GK | Steve Cherry | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 |
| GK | Mark Harrison | 24 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 25 | 0 |
| GK | Brian Lloyd | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 0 |
| DF | Neil Griffiths | 21 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 25 | 3 |
| DF | Phil Sproson | 44 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 50 | 3 |
| DF | Gerry Keenan | 12 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 13 | 3 |
| DF | Lee Harwood | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 0 |
| DF | Paul Bowles | 44 | 4 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 49 | 4 |
| DF | Trevor Brissett | 41 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 45 | 0 |
| DF | Andy Higgins | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 0 |
| DF | Russell Bromage | 45 | 4 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 52 | 5 |
| MF | Kenny Beech | 45 | 5 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 52 | 7 |
| MF | Mark Chamberlain | 31 | 9 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 36 | 10 |
| MF | Peter Farrell | 25 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 30 | 2 |
| MF | Ian Elsby | 17 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 23 | 0 |
| MF | Johnny Miller | 26 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 31 | 5 |
| MF | Terry Armstrong | 17 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 17 | 2 |
| MF | Paul Bennett | 26 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 30 | 2 |
| MF | Lee Jenkins | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 0 |
| FW | Neville Chamberlain | 35 | 9 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 42 | 13 |
| FW | Alan Woolfall | 11 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 1 |
| FW | Steve Jones | 10 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 14 | 1 |
| FW | John Allen | 18 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 20 | 4 |

### Top scorers

| Place | Position | Nation | Name | Fourth Division | FA Cup | League Cup | Total |
| 1 | FW | England | Neville Chamberlain | 9 | 2 | 2 | 13 |
| 2 | MF | England | Mark Chamberlain | 9 | 1 | 0 | 10 |
| 3 | MF | England | Kenny Beech | 5 | 2 | 0 | 7 |
| 4 | DF | England | Russell Bromage | 4 | 0 | 1 | 5 |
| – | MF | England | Johnny Miller | 4 | 1 | 0 | 5 |
| 6 | FW | England | John Allen | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| – | DF | England | Paul Bowles | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| 8 | DF | England | Neil Griffiths | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| – | DF | England | Phil Sproson | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| – | DF | England | Gerry Keenan | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 11 | MF | England | Terry Armstrong | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| – | MF | England | Peter Farrell | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| – | MF | England | Paul Bennett | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| 14 | FW | England | Alan Woolfall | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| – | FW | England | Steve Jones | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| – | – | – | Own goals | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| | | | TOTALS | 57 | 8 | 3 | 68 |

## Transfers
### Transfers in

| Date from | Position | Name | From | Fee |
| May 1980 | FW | John Allen | Leicester City | Free transfer |
| May 1980 | DF | Trevor Brissett | Stoke City | Free transfer |
| September 1980 | MF | Johnny Miller | Mansfield Town | Free transfer |
| November 1980 | MF | Lee Jenkins | Aston Villa | Free transfer |
| February 1981 | MF | Terry Armstrong | Huddersfield Town | Free transfer |
| February 1981 | DF | Andy Higgins | Chesterfield | Free transfer |

### Transfers out

| Date from | Position | Name | To | Fee |
| October 1980 | GK | Trevor Dance | Stafford Rangers | £10,000 |
| April 1981 | FW | John Allen | Hinckley Athletic | Free transfer |
| April 1981 | MF | Lee Jenkins | RoPS | Free transfer |
| April 1981 | FW | Steve Jones | | Released |
| May 1981 | MF | Ian Elsby | Macclesfield Town | Free transfer |
| May 1981 | DF | Neil Griffiths | Crewe Alexandra | Free transfer |
| May 1981 | FW | Alan Woolfall | Marine | Free transfer |
| August 1981 | MF | Kenny Beech | Walsall | £10,000 |

### Loans in

| Date from | Position | Nationality | Name | From | Date to | Ref. |
| November 1980 | GK | | Steve Cherry | Derby County | January 1981 | |
| February 1981 | GK | | Brian Lloyd | Chester City | Summer 1981 | |

### Loans out

| Date from | Position | Nationality | Name | To | Date to | Ref. |
| September 1980 | GK | | Trevor Dance | Stafford Rangers | October 1980 | |