# 1993–94 Port Vale F.C. season

The 1993–94 season was Port Vale's 82nd season of football in the English Football League and fifth-successive (37th overall) season in the Second Division. They won promotion to the First Division as the division's runners-up, just one point away from champions Reading. In the FA Cup, John Rudge's men caused an upset by defeating top-flight Southampton, before they exited in the Fourth Round. Vale were knocked out of the League Cup in the First Round and the Football League Trophy in the Area Quarter-finals.

## 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. 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. 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. They 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 30 April, 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 eighteen 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 Ian 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.

## League table

| Pos | Team v t e | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion or relegation |
| 1 | Reading | 46 | 26 | 11 | 9 | 81 | 44 | +37 | 89 | Division Champions, promoted |
| 2 | Port Vale | 46 | 26 | 10 | 10 | 79 | 46 | +33 | 88 | Promoted |
| 3 | Plymouth Argyle | 46 | 25 | 10 | 11 | 88 | 56 | +32 | 85 | Participated in play-offs |
| 4 | Stockport County | 46 | 24 | 13 | 9 | 74 | 44 | +30 | 85 | Participated in play-offs |
| 5 | York City | 46 | 21 | 12 | 13 | 64 | 40 | +24 | 75 | Participated in play-offs |

## Results

Port Vale's score comes first

### Football League Second 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 | A | H | A | H | H | A | A | H | A | H | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | A | H | H | A | H | H | A | H | H | A | A | H | A | H | H | A | H | A | H | A | A |
| Result | L | W | L | D | D | L | D | W | W | W | W | W | L | W | W | D | W | L | W | D | D | W | L | W | D | W | D | W | L | D | W | W | W | W | L | L | D | W | W | W | L | W | W | W | W | W |
| Position | 16 | 9 | 14 | 14 | 16 | 18 | 21 | 18 | 13 | 9 | 9 | 7 | 8 | 5 | 7 | 8 | 6 | 7 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 2 |

#### Matches

| Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Scorers |
| 14 August 1993 | Burnley | A | 1–2 | 12,592 | Taylor |
| 21 August 1993 | Barnet | H | 6–0 | 7,538 | Foyle (3), Slaven (3) |
| 28 August 1993 | Plymouth Argyle | A | 0–2 | 6,072 | |
| 31 August 1993 | Cambridge United | H | 2–2 | 6,484 | Cross, Kerr |
| 4 September 1993 | Cardiff City | H | 2–2 | 8,140 | Slaven (2) |
| 11 September 1993 | Bristol Rovers | A | 0–2 | 4,908 | |
| 14 September 1993 | Huddersfield Town | A | 1–1 | 5,154 | Slaven |
| 18 September 1993 | Hartlepool United | H | 1–0 | 7,279 | Kerr |
| 25 September 1993 | Brentford | A | 2–1 | 5,106 | Cross, van der Laan |
| 2 October 1993 | Wrexham | H | 3–0 | 8,722 | Cross (2), Kerr |
| 9 October 1993 | Hull City | H | 2–1 | 9,459 | Cross (2) |
| 16 October 1993 | Blackpool | A | 3–1 | 8,969 | Cross (2), Taylor |
| 23 October 1993 | Reading | H | 0–4 | 9,252 | |
| 30 October 1993 | Rotherham United | A | 2–0 | 4,786 | Foyle, Taylor |
| 6 November 1993 | Swansea City | H | 3–0 | 7,854 | Cook (og), Glover, Taylor |
| 20 November 1993 | Exeter City | A | 1–1 | 3,908 | van der Laan |
| 27 November 1993 | Brighton & Hove Albion | H | 4–0 | 7,261 | Cross, Foyle (2), Taylor |
| 7 December 1993 | Bournemouth | A | 1–2 | 2,954 | Jeffers |
| 11 December 1993 | Barnet | A | 3–2 | 3,100 | Foyle, Kerr, Taylor |
| 18 December 1993 | Burnley | H | 1–1 | 10,710 | Slaven |
| 27 December 1993 | Fulham | A | 0–0 | 5,760 | |
| 29 December 1993 | Leyton Orient | H | 2–1 | 8,978 | van der Laan (2) |
| 1 January 1994 | York City | A | 0–1 | 5,903 | |
| 15 January 1994 | Blackpool | H | 2–0 | 7,915 | Briggs (og), Cross |
| 22 January 1994 | Hull City | A | 0–0 | 6,918 | |
| 5 February 1994 | Reading | A | 2–1 | 7,645 | Foyle, Kent |
| 12 February 1994 | Stockport County | H | 1–1 | 10,628 | Foyle |
| 19 February 1994 | Plymouth Argyle | H | 2–1 | 9,093 | Lowe, Taylor |
| 22 February 1994 | Cambridge United | A | 0–1 | 2,543 | |
| 1 March 1994 | Bradford City | H | 0–0 | 7,294 | |
| 5 March 1994 | Bristol Rovers | H | 2–0 | 8,682 | Taylor (2) |
| 12 March 1994 | Hartlepool United | A | 4–1 | 1,798 | Aspin, Cross, Gilchrist (og) Lowe |
| 15 March 1994 | Huddersfield Town | H | 1–0 | 7,010 | Kent |
| 19 March 1994 | Brentford | H | 1–0 | 8,269 | Taylor |
| 26 March 1994 | Wrexham | A | 1–2 | 7,202 | van der Laan |
| 29 March 1994 | Bradford City | A | 1–2 | 5,776 | Foyle |
| 2 April 1994 | Fulham | H | 2–2 | 7,380 | Allon (2) |
| 4 April 1994 | Leyton Orient | A | 3–2 | 3,412 | Foyle (3) |
| 12 April 1994 | Rotherham United | H | 2–1 | 6,804 | Griffiths (2) |
| 16 April 1994 | Bournemouth | H | 2–1 | 7,603 | Cross, Taylor |
| 19 April 1994 | Stockport County | A | 1–2 | 5,910 | Lowe |
| 21 April 1994 | York City | H | 2–1 | 8,703 | Glover, Lowe |
| 26 April 1994 | Swansea City | A | 1–0 | 4,252 | Taylor |
| 30 April 1994 | Exeter City | H | 3–0 | 10,377 | Foyle (2), Kent |
| 3 May 1994 | Cardiff City | A | 3–1 | 4,705 | Kent, Lowe, Taylor |
| 7 May 1994 | Brighton & Hove Albion | A | 3–1 | 15,423 | Foyle (2), Glover |

### FA Cup

| Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Goalscorers |
| R1 | 13 November 1993 | Blackpool | H | 2–0 | 8,211 | Foyle, Kerr |
| R2 | 3 December 1993 | Huddersfield Town | H | 1–0 | 8,602 | Tankard |
| R3 | 8 January 1994 | Southampton | A | 1–1 | 11,086 | Porter |
| R3 Replay | 18 January 1994 | Southampton | H | 1–0 | 12,042 | Slaven |
| R4 | 29 January 1994 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | H | 0–2 | 21,999 | |

### League Cup

| Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Goalscorers |
| R1 1st Leg | 17 August 1993 | Lincoln City | H | 2–2 | 5,175 | Slaven, Taylor |
| R1 2nd Leg | 24 August 1993 | Lincoln City | A | 0–0 | 3,642 | |

### Football League Trophy

| Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Goalscorers |
| R1 | 19 October 1993 | Shrewsbury Town | A | 2–2 | 2,192 | Kerr, Taylor |
| R1 | 9 November 1993 | Wrexham | H | 0–0 | 4,376 | |
| R2 | 30 November 1993 | Cambridge United | A | 4–2 | 1,648 | Foyle (2), Taylor, Cross |
| QF | 11 January 1994 | Swansea City | A | 0–1 | 2,630 | |

## Player statistics
### Appearances and goals

| Pos. | Name | Football League | Football League | FA Cup | FA Cup | League Cup/League Trophy | League Cup/League Trophy | Total | Total |
| Pos. | Name | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| GK | Paul Musselwhite | 46 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 57 | 0 |
| DF | Dean Glover | 46 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 57 | 3 |
| DF | Neil Aspin | 40 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 57 | 1 |
| DF | Peter Swan | 40 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 50 | 0 |
| DF | Bradley Sandeman | 9 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 0 |
| DF | Peter Billing | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 9 | 0 |
| DF | Gareth Griffiths | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 2 |
| DF | Dean Stokes | 21 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 25 | 0 |
| DF | Allen Tankard | 26 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 33 | 1 |
| MF | Andy Porter | 37 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 45 | 1 |
| MF | John Jeffers | 25 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 35 | 1 |
| MF | Robin van der Laan | 33 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 43 | 5 |
| MF | Kevin Kent | 30 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 36 | 4 |
| MF | Ian Taylor | 42 | 13 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 3 | 50 | 16 |
| MF | Paul Kerr | 25 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 6 | 1 | 34 | 6 |
| MF | Ray Walker | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| FW | Nicky Cross | 37 | 12 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 47 | 13 |
| FW | Martin Foyle | 37 | 17 | 3 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 45 | 20 |
| FW | Bernie Slaven | 23 | 7 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 31 | 9 |
| FW | Joe Allon | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 2 |
| FW | Ollie Heald | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| FW | Steve Livingstone | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| FW | David Lowe | 19 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 19 | 5 |
| FW | Aidan Newhouse | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |

### Top scorers

| Place | Position | Nation | Name | Second Division | FA Cup | League Cup | Football League Trophy | Total |
| 1 | FW | England | Martin Foyle | 17 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 20 |
| 2 | MF | England | Ian Taylor | 13 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 16 |
| 3 | FW | England | Nicky Cross | 12 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 13 |
| 4 | FW | Scotland | Bernie Slaven | 7 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 9 |
| 5 | MF | England | Paul Kerr | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 6 |
| 6 | FW | England | David Lowe | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| – | MF | Netherlands | Robin van der Laan | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| 8 | MF | England | Kevin Kent | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| 9 | DF | England | Dean Glover | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 10 | FW | England | Joe Allon | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| – | DF | England | Gareth Griffiths | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 12 | DF | England | Neil Aspin | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| – | MF | England | John Jeffers | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| – | DF | England | Allen Tankard | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| – | MF | England | Andy Porter | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| – | | – | Own goals | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| | | | TOTALS | 79 | 5 | 2 | 6 | 92 |

## Transfers
### Transfers in

| Date from | Position | Name | From | Fee |
| January 1993 | DF | Dean Stokes | Halesowen Town | Free transfer |
| February 1993 | DF | Gareth Griffiths | Rhyl | £1,000 |
| May 1993 | DF | Peter Billing | Coventry City | £35,000 |
| July 1993 | DF | Allen Tankard | Wigan Athletic | £87,500 |
| September 1993 | MF | Ollie Heald | Norvan | Free transfer |
| March 1994 | FW | Joe Allon | Brentford | Free transfer |

### Transfers out

| Date from | Position | Name | To | Fee |
| September 1993 | FW | Brian Mills | | Released |
| February 1994 | FW | Bernie Slaven | Darlington | Free transfer |
| May 1994 | FW | Nicky Cross | Hereford United | Free transfer |
| May 1994 | DF | Simon Mills | Boston United | Free transfer |
| May 1994 | GK | Trevor Wood | Walsall | Free transfer |
| 1 July 1994 | MF | Ian Taylor | Sheffield Wednesday | £1,000,000 |
| 23 July 1994 | DF | Peter Swan | Plymouth Argyle | £300,000 |
| Summer 1994 | MF | Paul Kerr | Wycombe Wanderers | Free transfer |

### Loans in

| Date from | Position | Name | From | Date to |
| September 1993 | FW | Steve Livingstone | Chelsea | September 1993 |
| January 1994 | FW | Aidan Newhouse | Wimbledon | January 1994 |
| February 1994 | MF | David Lowe | Leicester City | End of season |

### Loans out

| Date from | Position | Nationality | Name | To | Date to | Ref. |
| March 1994 | MF | | Paul Kerr | Leicester City | End of season | |