# 1990–91 Port Vale F.C. season

The 1990–91 season was Port Vale's 79th season of football in the English Football League, and second-successive (34th overall) season in the Second Division. For the first time since 1926–27 they played in a league above rivals Stoke City. Vale finished in mid-table, exiting the FA Cup in the Fourth Round, the League Cup in the Second Round, and the Full Members' Cup in the First Round. John Rudge continued to uncover hidden 'gems', signing Dutchman Robin van der Laan for £80,000. Darren Beckford was the top-scorer once again, though the club's Player of the Year award went to Ray Walker.

## Overview
### Second Division

The pre-season saw John Rudge follow up a recommendation by signing young Irish forward Derek Swan from Bohemians for £15,000. Meanwhile, more than £250,000 was taken in by the club from season-ticket sales. Much of this went on improving Vale Park, with 3,750 yellow and white seats fitted in the Railway Paddock and 1,121 seats added to the upper tier of the Bycars End. The Bycars End roof was removed for safety reasons, whilst a police box was constructed between the Railway Paddock and the Hamil End. Admission rates increased to £5 for a terrace place, £6 for a seat in the Paddock and £7 in the stand. Season tickets ranged between £75 and £105. With police bills set to spiral upwards, a record five-figure shirt sponsorship deal was struck with Kalamazoo (a business systems company). A 25,000 seater stadium was planned for Festival Park; however, Chairman Bill Bell was 'frightened to death by the cost', and the plans were binned.
The season opened with two defeats, though a 2–0 win over Leicester City on 1 September kick-started the Vale's campaign. A week later they beat Portsmouth 4–2 at Fratton Park. However, their 3–2 win over Middlesbrough was followed by seven league games without a win. Left-back Colin Gibson scored on his debut, having arrived on loan from Manchester United; whilst future-Nigerian international Reuben Agboola also arrived on loan from Sunderland. On 17 November, Vale won 1–0 at home to an Oldham Athletic side who were unbeaten in their 16 league games. The streak ended when Ray Walker and Darren Beckford found their scoring form, firing the club to five victories in seven games, including a 5–1 home win over Plymouth Argyle which Rudge described as "the sort of game that, as a forward, you never want to end because there were so many chances". On 15 December, Vale beat Oxford United after Beckford scored the only goal of the game, with Rudge saying his "goal was that of a £1m player". The Vale lost their form around Christmastime however. They remained in indifferent form until the end of the season. Rudge took in Nick Platnauer on loan from Notts County, though results failed to pick up.
On 19 January, Vale recorded a 3–2 home victory over Portsmouth to end a run of poor form. Guy Whittingham put the visitors ahead following a mistake from Trevor Wood, then Neil Aspin scored his first goal for the club to equalise. Former Valiant Mark Chamberlain assisted Whittingham for another goal before late goals from Dean Glover and Beckford won the game. In February, Ronnie Jepson was sold to Preston North End for £80,000, having previously been loaned out to Peterborough United. Gary West also spent much of the season away from Vale Park, spending time on loan at Gillingham and Lincoln City (signing permanently for Lincoln at the end of the season for a £25,000 fee). All of the money raised from Jepson's sale went on bringing Dutchman Robin van der Laan to Burslem from Wageningen. Right-back Paul West also arrived for a £3,800 fee from non-League Alcester Town. In March, Gary Ford and £80,000 were traded to Mansfield Town in exchange for Kevin Kent. Also of note during this spell was a hat-trick for Beckford in a 3–0 win over Blackburn Rovers on 9 March, and a run of four goals in the final four games for Robbie Earle. Striker Brian Mills made his debut in a final day win over Swindon Town, and would later be picked for the England squad for the 1991 FIFA World Youth Championship.
They finished in fifteenth place with 57 points, twelve points away from Middlesbrough in the play-offs, but nine points clear of relegated West Bromwich Albion. Beckford scored 23 goals in all competitions, whilst Earle contributed twelve goals.

### Finances

The club's shirt sponsors were Kalamazoo.

### Cup competitions

In the FA Cup, Vale advanced into the Fourth Round with a 2–1 victory over Fourth Division side Peterborough United amidst stormy conditions at Vale Park after Mick Halsall had put the visitors ahead on four minutes – Rudge said "it was a scrap, not a classic" as a Walker penalty and Beckford header secured the victory. In the next round, they lost at home to First Division Manchester City in front of a season-high crowd of 19,132.
In the League Cup, the "Valiants" faced Oxford United. A 2–0 defeat on the home leg meant they were eliminated after a goalless draw at the Manor Ground.
In the short-lived Full Members' Cup, Vale lost 1–0 to Notts County at Meadow Lane to exit the competition at the first stage.

## League table

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
| 13 | Bristol Rovers | 46 | 15 | 13 | 18 | 56 | 59 | −3 | 58 |
| 14 | Ipswich Town | 46 | 13 | 18 | 15 | 60 | 68 | −8 | 57 |
| 15 | Port Vale | 46 | 15 | 12 | 19 | 56 | 64 | −8 | 57 |
| 16 | Charlton Athletic | 46 | 13 | 17 | 16 | 57 | 61 | −4 | 56 |
| 17 | Portsmouth | 46 | 14 | 11 | 21 | 58 | 70 | −12 | 53 |

## 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 | H | A | H | H | A | A | H | H | A | A | H | H | A | A | H | A | H | H | H | A | A | H | A | H | A | A | H | A | A | H | A | H | H | A | H | A | H | A | A | H | A | A | H | H |
| Result | L | L | W | W | L | W | D | L | L | D | L | D | L | W | W | L | W | D | W | W | L | L | D | L | D | W | L | L | W | L | L | W | D | D | L | W | D | W | L | L | W | L | D | D | D | W |
| Position | 24 | 24 | 12 | 9 | 15 | 7 | 9 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 15 | 18 | 15 | 13 | 10 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 15 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 16 | 15 |

#### Matches

| Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Scorers |
| 25 August 1990 | Oxford United | A | 2–5 | 4,837 | Jeffers, Earle |
| 28 August 1990 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | H | 1–2 | 12,746 | Beckford (pen) |
| 1 September 1990 | Leicester City | H | 2–0 | 8,837 | Earle, Beckford |
| 8 September 1990 | Portsmouth | A | 4–2 | 8,835 | Beckford (2), Cross, Earle |
| 15 September 1990 | Newcastle United | H | 0–1 | 10,040 | |
| 17 September 1990 | Middlesbrough | H | 3–1 | 7,880 | Beckford (2), Earle |
| 22 September 1990 | Barnsley | A | 1–1 | 8,533 | Beckford |
| 29 September 1990 | Hull City | A | 2–3 | 5,185 | Gibson, Cross |
| 1 October 1990 | Notts County | H | 0–1 | 7,723 | |
| 6 October 1990 | Charlton Athletic | H | 1–1 | 6,706 | Beckford |
| 13 October 1990 | Ipswich Town | A | 0–3 | 10,438 | |
| 20 October 1990 | Sheffield Wednesday | A | 1–1 | 24,527 | Gibson |
| 22 October 1990 | West Bromwich Albion | H | 1–2 | 8,824 | Walker (pen) |
| 27 October 1990 | Bristol City | H | 3–2 | 7,451 | Walker (2 [1 pen]), Beckford |
| 3 November 1990 | Swindon Town | A | 2–1 | 8,364 | Ford, Beckford |
| 10 November 1990 | Bristol Rovers | A | 0–2 | 5,661 | |
| 17 November 1990 | Oldham Athletic | H | 1–0 | 11,384 | Cross |
| 23 November 1990 | Blackburn Rovers | A | 1–1 | 8,061 | Walker (pen) |
| 1 December 1990 | Plymouth Argyle | H | 5–1 | 6,717 | Beckford (2), Jeffers, Ford, Walker |
| 15 December 1990 | Oxford United | H | 1–0 | 5,953 | Beckford |
| 22 December 1990 | Brighton & Hove Albion | H | 0–1 | 6,750 | |
| 26 December 1990 | Watford | A | 1–2 | 8,084 | Earle |
| 29 December 1990 | West Ham United | A | 0–0 | 23,603 | |
| 1 January 1991 | Millwall | H | 0–2 | 8,418 | |
| 12 January 1991 | Leicester City | A | 1–1 | 9,307 | Earle |
| 19 January 1991 | Portsmouth | H | 3–2 | 6,314 | Aspin, Glover, Beckford |
| 2 February 1991 | Newcastle United | A | 0–2 | 14,480 | |
| 16 February 1991 | Oldham Athletic | A | 0–2 | 12,907 | |
| 23 February 1991 | Bristol Rovers | H | 3–2 | 7,166 | Millar, Beckford, Walker (pen) |
| 26 February 1991 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | A | 1–3 | 15,919 | Earle |
| 2 March 1991 | Plymouth Argyle | A | 0–2 | 5,145 | |
| 9 March 1991 | Blackburn Rovers | H | 3–0 | 7,004 | Beckford (3) |
| 12 March 1991 | Notts County | A | 1–1 | 6,305 | Beckford |
| 16 March 1991 | Hull City | H | 0–0 | 6,103 | |
| 18 March 1991 | Ipswich Town | H | 1–2 | 5,820 | van der Laan |
| 23 March 1991 | Charlton Athletic | A | 1–0 | 5,225 | van der Laan |
| 30 March 1991 | Watford | H | 0–0 | 6,661 | |
| 3 April 1991 | Brighton & Hove Albion | A | 2–1 | 9,733 | Beckford, van der Laan |
| 6 April 1991 | West Ham United | H | 0–1 | 9,658 | |
| 9 April 1991 | Middlesbrough | A | 0–4 | 15,063 | |
| 13 April 1991 | Millwall | A | 2–1 | 10,860 | van der Laan, Beckford |
| 15 April 1991 | Barnsley | H | 0–1 | 6,939 | |
| 27 April 1991 | West Bromwich Albion | A | 1–1 | 13,650 | Earle |
| 4 May 1991 | Bristol City | A | 1–1 | 11,555 | Earle |
| 6 May 1991 | Sheffield Wednesday | H | 1–1 | 13,317 | Earle |
| 11 May 1991 | Swindon Town | H | 3–1 | 7,713 | Mills (2), Earle |

### FA Cup

| Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Goalscorers |
| R3 | 5 January 1991 | Peterborough United | H | 2–1 | 7,490 | Walker (pen), Beckford |
| R4 | 26 January 1991 | Manchester City | H | 1–2 | 19,132 | Beckford |

### League Cup

| Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Goalscorers |
| R2 1st Leg | 24 September 1990 | Oxford United | H | 0–2 | 5,265 | |
| R2 2nd Leg | 10 October 1990 | Oxford United | A | 0–0 | 2,333 | |

### Full Members' Cup

| Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Goalscorers |
| R1 | 20 November 1990 | Notts County | A | 0–1 | 2,320 | |

## Player statistics
### Appearances and goals

| Pos. | Name | Football League | Football League | FA Cup | FA Cup | League Cup | League Cup | Full Members' Cup | Full Members' Cup | Total | Total |
| Pos. | Name | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| GK | Mark Grew | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 0 |
| GK | Trevor Wood | 32 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 37 | 0 |
| DF | Alan Webb | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 0 |
| DF | Simon Mills | 41 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 45 | 0 |
| DF | Darren Hughes | 17 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 18 | 0 |
| DF | Dean Glover | 41 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 46 | 1 |
| DF | Tim Parkin | 29 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 32 | 0 |
| DF | Neil Aspin | 41 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 46 | 1 |
| DF | Reuben Agboola | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 0 |
| DF | Paul West | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| DF | Gary West | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| DF | Matt Booth | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| DF | Wayne Simpson | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| MF | Robbie Earle | 35 | 11 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 37 | 11 |
| MF | Andy Porter | 40 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 44 | 0 |
| MF | Ray Walker | 45 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 50 | 7 |
| MF | Kevin Finney | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| MF | John Jeffers | 31 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 36 | 2 |
| MF | Paul Millar | 17 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 18 | 1 |
| MF | Robin van der Laan | 18 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 18 | 4 |
| MF | Nick Platnauer | 14 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 0 |
| MF | Gary Ford | 30 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 35 | 2 |
| MF | Colin Gibson | 6 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 2 |
| MF | Kevin Kent | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 0 |
| MF | Glen Shepherd | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| FW | Darren Beckford | 43 | 21 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 47 | 23 |
| FW | Ronnie Jepson | 15 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 19 | 0 |
| FW | Nicky Cross | 19 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 22 | 3 |
| FW | Brian Mills | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| FW | Gary McKinstrey | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |

### Top scorers

| Place | Position | Nation | Name | Second Division | FA Cup | League Cup | Full Members' Cup | Total |
| 1 | FW | England | Darren Beckford | 21 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 23 |
| 2 | MF | Jamaica | Robbie Earle | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11 |
| 3 | MF | England | Ray Walker | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
| 4 | MF | Netherlands | Robin van der Laan | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| 5 | FW | England | Nicky Cross | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 6 | MF | England | Colin Gibson | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| – | MF | England | Gary Ford | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| – | FW | England | Brian Mills | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| – | MF | England | John Jeffers | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 10 | MF | Northern Ireland | Paul Millar | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| – | DF | England | Neil Aspin | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| – | DF | England | Dean Glover | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| | | | TOTALS | 56 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 59 |

## Transfers
### Transfers in

| Date from | Position | Name | From | Fee |
| January 1991 | DF | Paul West | Alcester Town | £8,000 |
| February 1991 | MF | Robin van der Laan | FC Wageningen | £80,000 |
| March 1991 | MF | Kevin Kent | Mansfield Town | £80,000 |

### Transfers out

| Date from | Position | Name | To | Fee |
| January 1991 | MF | Paul Atkinson | Gateshead | Retired |
| February 1991 | FW | Ronnie Jepson | Preston North End | £80,000 |
| March 1991 | MF | Gary Ford | Mansfield Town | Exchange |
| May 1991 | MF | Kevin Finney | Lincoln City | Free transfer |
| June 1991 | FW | Darren Beckford | Norwich City | £925,000 |
| July 1991 | MF | Robbie Earle | Wimbledon | £775,000 |
| August 1991 | FW | Paul Millar | Cardiff City | £60,000 |
| August 1991 | GK | Gary West | Lincoln City | £25,000 |

### Loans in

| Date from | Position | Name | From | Date to |
| September 1990 | MF | Colin Gibson | Manchester United | October 1990 |
| November 1990 | DF | Reuben Agboola | Sunderland | December 1990 |
| January 1991 | FW | Nick Platnauer | Notts County | April 1991 |

### Loans out

| Date from | Position | Name | To | Date to |
| October 1990 | GK | Mark Grew | Blackburn Rovers | December 1990 |
| October 1990 | FW | Paul Millar | Hereford United | November 1990 |
| November 1990 | GK | Gary West | Gillingham | November 1990 |
| January 1991 | GK | Gary West | Lincoln City | January 1991 |