# 2004–05 Port Vale F.C. season

The 2004–05 season was Port Vale's 93rd season of football in the English Football League, and first in the newly created League One. Martin Foyle's first full season in charge, Vale survived a relegation dogfight to finish in eighteenth place, having struggled to compete with the departures of Stephen McPhee and Steve Brooker. His side exited both the FA Cup and the Football League Trophy in the second round and left the League Cup in the first round.

## Overview
### League One

The pre-season saw Martin Foyle add to his squad with a number of free signings: Lee Matthews (Bristol City); Jeff Smith (Bolton Wanderers); Dean Smith (Sheffield Wednesday); Daryl McMahon (West Ham United); and Robin Hulbert (Telford United). The pre-season saw Vale finish 5th in the Isle of Man tournament at The Bowl. They also managed to battle to a draw at home to La Liga club Racing de Santander.
The season started positively with ten points from five games, though until the end of the season, Vale failed to find form and picked up an average of one point a game despite only playing in five draws all season. On 14 August, Vale beat Hull City 3–2, with Brooker scoring two goals including a stoppage-time winner. At half-time at the opening game of the season at Vale Park, fans were surprised to hear an announcement over the public address system telling them not to sing songs deriding rivals Stoke City. Mark Goodlad picked up an injury, allowing Jonny Brain the chance to impress between the sticks. Teenage defender James O'Connor joined on loan from Aston Villa. O'Connor made his debut on 4 September as Vale picked up their first away of the season with a 2–0 victory at Bradford City. At the end of September, star midfielder Steve Brooker was sold to Bristol City for £225,000. The club failed to bring in Christian Roberts in return, though Marc Goodfellow was signed on a four-week loan deal the following month. In November, Andreas Lipa returned to his homeland to play for Austria Lustenau, after Foyle released the injury-plagued defender. McMahon also left the club to join Leyton Orient. Foyle brought a new signing to Vale Park though, with striker Nathan Lowndes joining on a free transfer from Plymouth Argyle. In December, defender Tyrone Loran joined on a one-month loan from Tranmere Rovers, though returned to Prenton Park when the loan deal was up, after Foyle failed to sign him permanently. Christian Hanson was also signed from non-League Billingham Synthonia. Foyle also signed Nigerian defender George Abbey, who had been released by Macclesfield Town.
On 3 January, Matthews scored both of the goals as Vale won 2–0 away at Blackpool, ending a run of six defeats in seven games. Dean Smith retired as a player and took up coaching at Leyton Orient. As a replacement, former Vale player Tommy Widdrington joined until the end of the season on non-contract terms. In February, veteran midfielder Danny Sonner joined on a one-month loan from Peterborough United. In March, club legend and former teammate of Foyle, Tony Naylor, joined on an emergency short-term contract, though never took to the field. Tony Dinning also was signed on loan from Bristol City. In addition to this, Mark Innes joined on a free transfer from Chesterfield. Sonner's loan deal was also extended until the end of the season, at which point he was signed permanently, as was Dinning. Vale lost to fellow relegation strugglers Torquay United and Wrexham in the last five games of the season, though a 5–0 win over Barnsley ensured the club's safety from the drop.
They finished in eighteenth place with 56 points, leaving them five points clear of relegated Torquay. Their 59 goals conceded was a highly respectable tally, however, they failed to score in almost half of their league games, and only recorded five draws all season. Vale lost more games and scored fewer goals than all clubs in the division other than Peterborough United and Stockport County, who were both cut adrift early in the season. Billy Paynter was the club's top-scorer with thirteen goals, with other contributions also coming from Lee Matthews and Chris Birchall.
At the end of the season teenage prodigy David Hibbert was snapped up by Preston North End, who paid Vale £35,000 after a tribunal. Four players were also released: Simon Eldershaw (Northwich Victoria); Christian Hanson (Billingham Synthonia); Levi Reid (Stafford Rangers); and Ryan Brown (Leek Town). Ian Armstrong also retired due to injury.

### Finances

On the financial front, Chairman Bill Bratt announced there was a 50-50 chance that an elderly American would put funds into the club. However, the investment did not come through. Bratt also went public with his idea of Reginald Mitchell Stadium in honour of the inventor of the Spitfire, hopeful that 85-year-old American billionaire Sidney Frank would thus be encouraged to invest in the club. Foyle was desperate for more funds to attract better players, and was forced to dismiss speculation that he would sell Billy Paynter to Crewe Alexandra. On 13 December, shareholders voted by a margin of 119 to 3 to limit individual holdings in the club to a maximum of 24.9% "to ensure that no single shareholder can acquire undue influence or control over the company", in the words of Bill Bratt. The club's shirt sponsorship came from mobile phone company Tricell. However, the firm could not afford to pay the club any money as they entered administration, worsening an already bleak financial picture for the "Valiants".

### Cup competitions

In the FA Cup, Vale avoided embarrassment by coming from behind to defeat local side Kidderminster Harriers 3–1. They then lost out to Blackpool in the second round with a 1–0 defeat at Bloomfield Road.
In the League Cup, Vale travelled to Belle Vue, where they were knocked out by Doncaster Rovers after a 3–1 defeat.
In the Football League Trophy, the "Valiants" advanced past Barnsley in front of a Vale Park crowd of just 1,970. However, they then exited at the second round after a 2–1 defeat to Tranmere Rovers at Prenton Park.

## League table

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
| 16 | Blackpool | 46 | 15 | 12 | 19 | 54 | 59 | −5 | 57 |
| 17 | Chesterfield | 46 | 14 | 15 | 17 | 55 | 62 | −7 | 57 |
| 18 | Port Vale | 46 | 17 | 5 | 24 | 49 | 59 | −10 | 56 |
| 19 | Oldham Athletic | 46 | 14 | 10 | 22 | 60 | 73 | −13 | 52 |
| 20 | Milton Keynes Dons | 46 | 12 | 15 | 19 | 54 | 68 | −14 | 51 |

## Results

Port Vale's score comes first

### Football League One
#### 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 | A | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | H | A | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | H | A | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | H |
| Result | L | W | W | D | W | L | W | L | L | L | L | W | L | W | D | L | W | L | L | W | L | W | L | L | L | W | L | L | L | W | W | L | L | W | L | D | D | W | D | L | W | L | W | L | L | W |
| Position | 15 | 11 | 4 | 9 | 4 | 6 | 3 | 6 | 13 | 16 | 17 | 13 | 15 | 13 | 14 | 16 | 13 | 15 | 17 | 16 | 18 | 16 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 18 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 16 | 17 | 17 | 18 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 17 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 |

#### Matches

| Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Scorers |
| 7 August 2004 | Walsall | A | 2–3 | 8,225 | Paynter, Matthews |
| 10 August 2004 | Milton Keynes Dons | H | 3–2 | 4,602 | Armstrong (2), Brooker |
| 14 August 2004 | Hull City | H | 3–2 | 6,736 | Brooker (2), Collins |
| 21 August 2004 | Wrexham | A | 1–1 | 5,005 | Brooker |
| 28 August 2004 | Bristol City | H | 3–0 | 5,377 | James, Brooker, Armstrong |
| 31 August 2004 | Chesterfield | A | 0–1 | 5,150 | |
| 4 September 2004 | Bradford City | A | 2–0 | 7,043 | Paynter, J.Smith |
| 11 September 2004 | Huddersfield Town | H | 0–3 | 6,298 | |
| 18 September 2004 | Brentford | A | 0–1 | 5,442 | |
| 25 September 2004 | Blackpool | H | 0–3 | 5,347 | |
| 2 October 2004 | Colchester United | A | 1–2 | 3,230 | Matthews |
| 8 October 2004 | Doncaster Rovers | H | 2–0 | 5,314 | Paynter, Collins |
| 16 October 2004 | Bournemouth | A | 0–4 | 6,119 | |
| 19 October 2004 | Swindon Town | H | 1–0 | 3,872 | Birchall |
| 23 October 2004 | Stockport County | H | 0–0 | 5,025 | |
| 30 October 2004 | Hartlepool United | A | 0–1 | 4,755 | |
| 6 November 2004 | Barnsley | A | 2–1 | 8,642 | Paynter, Williams (og) |
| 20 November 2004 | Torquay United | H | 1–2 | 4,763 | Cummins |
| 27 November 2004 | Peterborough United | A | 0–4 | 3,785 | |
| 7 December 2004 | Tranmere Rovers | H | 3–1 | 4,027 | Birchall (2), Paynter |
| 11 December 2004 | Luton Town | A | 0–1 | 6,974 | |
| 18 December 2004 | Oldham Athletic | H | 3–1 | 4,849 | Paynter, Birchall, Matthews (pen) |
| 26 December 2004 | Huddersfield Town | A | 1–2 | 12,243 | Eldershaw |
| 28 December 2004 | Sheffield Wednesday | H | 0–2 | 8,671 | |
| 1 January 2005 | Bradford City | H | 0–1 | 5,001 | |
| 3 January 2005 | Blackpool | A | 2–0 | 5,115 | Matthews (2 [1 pen]) |
| 8 January 2005 | Doncaster Rovers | A | 0–2 | 5,209 | |
| 15 January 2005 | Brentford | H | 0–1 | 4,230 | |
| 21 January 2005 | Sheffield Wednesday | A | 0–1 | 18,465 | |
| 5 February 2005 | Bournemouth | H | 2–1 | 4,186 | Paynter, Birchall |
| 12 February 2005 | Stockport County | A | 2–1 | 4,587 | Lowndes, Paynter |
| 19 February 2005 | Hartlepool United | H | 0–1 | 4,366 | |
| 23 February 2005 | Swindon Town | A | 0–1 | 4,724 | |
| 26 February 2005 | Luton Town | H | 3–1 | 5,353 | Hibbert (2), Matthews |
| 5 March 2005 | Oldham Athletic | A | 0–3 | 5,799 | |
| 8 March 2005 | Colchester United | H | 0–0 | 3,496 | |
| 12 March 2005 | Milton Keynes Dons | A | 1–1 | 4,676 | Matthews |
| 19 March 2005 | Walsall | H | 2–0 | 5,085 | Cummins, Matthews |
| 26 March 2005 | Hull City | A | 2–2 | 17,678 | Matthews, Delaney (og) |
| 2 April 2005 | Bristol City | A | 0–2 | 10,284 | |
| 9 April 2005 | Chesterfield | H | 1–0 | 4,489 | Matthews |
| 16 April 2005 | Torquay United | A | 0–1 | 3,592 | |
| 23 April 2005 | Barnsley | H | 5–0 | 4,324 | Dinning (2), Paynter (2), Birchall |
| 26 April 2005 | Wrexham | H | 0–2 | 4,151 | |
| 29 April 2005 | Tranmere Rovers | A | 0–1 | 8,940 | |
| 7 May 2005 | Peterborough United | H | 1–0 | 4,815 | Dinning |

### FA Cup

| Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Goalscorers |
| R1 | 12 November 2004 | Kidderminster Harriers | H | 3–1 | 4,141 | Paynter (2), Reid |
| R2 | 4 December 2004 | Blackpool | A | 0–1 | 4,669 | |

### League Cup

| Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Goalscorers |
| R1 | 24 August 2004 | Doncaster Rovers | A | 1–3 | 3,943 | D.Smith |

### Football League Trophy

| Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Goalscorers |
| R1 | 28 September 2004 | Barnsley | H | 1–0 | 1,970 | Paynter (pen) |
| R2 | 2 November 2004 | Tranmere Rovers | A | 1–2 | 3,735 | Birchall |

## Player statistics
### Appearances and goals

| Pos. | # | Name | League One | League One | FA Cup | FA Cup | League Cup | League Cup | Football League Trophy | Football League Trophy | Total | Total |
| Pos. | # | Name | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| GK | 1 | Mark Goodlad | 20 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 20 | 0 |
| DF | 2 | George Pilkington | 43 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 48 | 0 |
| DF | 3 | Craig James | 30 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 33 | 1 |
| MF | 4 | Danny Sonner | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 0 |
| DF | 5 | Michael Walsh | 23 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 25 | 0 |
| DF | 6 | Sam Collins | 33 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 37 | 2 |
| FW | 7 | Lee Matthews | 31 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 32 | 10 |
| MF | 8 | Micky Cummins | 39 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 43 | 2 |
| FW | 9 | Nathan Lowndes | 12 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 1 |
| FW | 10 | Billy Paynter | 45 | 10 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 50 | 13 |
| MF | 11 | Jeff Smith | 34 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 39 | 1 |
| MF | 12 | Tony Dinning | 7 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 3 |
| MF | 13 | Levi Reid | 30 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 34 | 1 |
| DF | 14 | Ryan Brown | 20 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 25 | 0 |
| MF | 15 | Ian Armstrong | 8 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 11 | 3 |
| DF | 16 | Steve Rowland | 24 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 26 | 0 |
| MF | 17 | Chris Birchall | 34 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 39 | 7 |
| FW | 19 | Simon Eldershaw | 13 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 1 |
| MF | 20 | Robin Hulbert | 24 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 27 | 0 |
| FW | 21 | David Hibbert | 9 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 10 | 2 |
| DF | 22 | George Abbey | 18 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 18 | 0 |
| GK | 23 | Joe Anyon | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| GK | 24 | Jonny Brain | 27 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 32 | 0 |
| DF | 25 | Christian Hanson | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| MF | 26 | Daniel Holmes | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| DF | 27 | Mark Innes | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| MF | 30 | Andy Porter | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Players that left the club mid-season: |||||||||||||
| DF | 4 | Andreas Lipa | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| DF | 4 | Tyrone Loran | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 |
| FW | 9 | Steve Brooker | 9 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 11 | 5 |
| DF | 12 | Dean Smith | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 15 | 1 |
| DF | 18 | Simon Robinson | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| DF | 22 | James O'Connor | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 0 |
| MF | 25 | Daryl McMahon | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 0 |
| MF | 26 | Marc Goodfellow | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| MF | 29 | Tommy Widdrington | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 |
| FW | | Tony Naylor | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |

### Top scorers

| Place | Position | Nation | Number | Name | League One | FA Cup | League Cup | Football League Trophy | Total |
| 1 | FW | England | 10 | Billy Paynter | 10 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 13 |
| 2 | FW | England | 7 | Lee Matthews | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| 3 | MF | Trinidad | 17 | Chris Birchall | 6 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 7 |
| 4 | FW | England | 9 | Steve Brooker | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| 5 | MF | England | 15 | Ian Armstrong | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| – | MF | England | 12 | Tony Dinning | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 7 | MF | Ireland | 8 | Micky Cummins | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| – | DF | England | 6 | Sam Collins | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| – | FW | England | 21 | David Hibbert | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 10 | DF | England | 3 | Craig James | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| – | MF | England | 11 | Jeff Smith | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| – | FW | England | 19 | Simon Eldershaw | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| – | FW | England | 9 | Nathan Lowndes | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| – | DF | England | 12 | Dean Smith | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| – | MF | England | 13 | Levi Reid | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| – | | – | – | Own goals | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| | | | | TOTALS | 49 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 55 |

## Transfers
### Transfers in

| Date from | Position | Name | From | Fee |
| June 2004 | FW | Lee Matthews | Bristol City | Free transfer |
| June 2004 | MF | Jeff Smith | Bolton Wanderers | Free transfer |
| July 2004 | MF | Robin Hulbert | Telford United | Free transfer |
| July 2004 | DF | Dean Smith | Sheffield Wednesday | Free transfer |
| September 2004 | MF | Daryl McMahon | West Ham United | Non-contract terms |
| November 2004 | FW | Nathan Lowndes | Plymouth Argyle | Free transfer |
| December 2004 | DF | Christian Hanson | Billingham Synthonia | Free transfer |
| December 2004 | MF | Andy Porter | Kidsgrove Athletic | Free transfer |
| January 2005 | MF | Tommy Widdrington | Hartlepool United | Non-contract terms |
| March 2005 | DF | Mark Innes | Chesterfield | Free transfer |

### Transfers out

| Date from | Position | Name | To | Fee |
| September 2004 | FW | Steve Brooker | Bristol City | £225,000 |
| November 2004 | DF | Andreas Lipa | Austria Lustenau | Free transfer |
| November 2004 | MF | Daryl McMahon | Leyton Orient | Free transfer |
| December 2004 | DF | George Abbey | Macclesfield Town | Free transfer |
| January 2005 | DF | Dean Smith | | Released |
| May 2005 | DF | Ryan Brown | Leek Town | Released |
| May 2005 | FW | Simon Eldershaw | Northwich Victoria | Released |
| May 2005 | DF | Christian Hanson | Billingham Synthonia | Released |
| May 2005 | MF | Levi Reid | Stafford Rangers | Released |
| May 2005 | MF | Tommy Widdrington | Salisbury City | Released |
| June 2005 | FW | David Hibbert | Preston North End | £35,000 |
| Summer 2005 | MF | Ian Armstrong | Retired | Retired |

### Loans in

| Date from | Position | Name | From | Date to |
| 4 September 2004 | DF | James O'Connor | Aston Villa | 4 December 2004 |
| 4 October 2004 | MF | Marc Goodfellow | Bristol City | 4 November 2004 |
| 2 December 2004 | DF | Tyrone Loran | Tranmere Rovers | 4 January 2005 |
| 21 February 2005 | MF | Danny Sonner | Peterborough United | 8 May 2005 |
| 22 March 2005 | MF | Tony Dinning | Bristol City | 8 May 2005 |