# 1983–84 Port Vale F.C. season

The 1983–84 season was Port Vale's 72nd season of football in the English Football League, and first (15th overall) back in the Third Division following their promotion from the Fourth Division. The club suffered a horrendous start, and John McGrath lost his job before Christmas; he was replaced by his assistant John Rudge. Rudge instigated an immense turnaround in results, but Vale still ended up relegated, six points shy of safety. Ireland international Eamonn O'Keefe was top-scorer and Player of the Year, and young Mark Bright showed his potential, though left at the end of the season.

## Overview
### Third Division

The pre-season saw John McGrath pay Wigan Athletic £10,000 for Ireland international Eamonn O'Keefe. He also brought in three players on free transfers: Tommy Gore (Bury), Gary Pollard (Chesterfield), and Chris Pearce (Rochdale). The club reported record season ticket sales, however, several players refused to sign new contracts. As a result, Barry Siddall, Russell Bromage, Geoff Hunter, and Terry Armstrong remained on weekly contracts.
The season began with McGrath's new attacking tactics failing miserably, despite a 2–0 win over Bristol Rovers in the fourth game of the programme. Fifteen league games without a win followed, keeping the club rooted at the foot of the table. The Sentinel's Chris Harper commented that "Vale cannot go on being applauded off the park as entertaining losers." Phil Sproson noted that the ongoing contract problems caused unrest in the camp. Siddall handed in his notice, whilst Bob Newton and £8,000 were traded to Chesterfield for the services of Martin Henderson. Bromage walked out on the club after they refused to give him a contract lasting beyond two years. On 31 October, McGrath had to use 41-year-old coach Alan Oakes in a 1–0 defeat to Plymouth Argyle. Chairman Jim Lloyd then blocked McGrath's attempt to sign defender Ken Fogarty, showing how little confidence the board had in their manager. McGrath complained in the media, only to be 'gagged', instructed only to speak to the media on team affairs. Supporters began organizing demonstrations against Lloyd, and in favour of McGrath. In November Siddall and Bromage returned to sign new contracts. Steve Fox was suspended by the club for a fortnight after he refused to play in defence, and on 26 November Burnley thrashed Vale 7–0 at Turf Moor in front of Granada TV cameras; Kevin Reeves scored a hat-trick as Burnley led by six goals at half-time. Starting December nine points adrift of safety, paying the third-highest wage bill in the division (£9,000 a week), and home gate receipts down to around £3,000, McGrath was suspended on full pay. The club received a flood of letters in protest, 'some just abusive', but McGrath left permanently after being compensated financially.
John Rudge was appointed caretaker manager, and made his first signing by taking midfielder Kevin Young on loan from Burnley. His side were defeated 4–0 at Deepdale by Preston North End, and finished the game with just nine men. By now thirteen points short of safety, and seven points from their nearest competitors, The Sentinel's Chris Harper believed them to be 'the poorest side in the Third Division by quite a long chalk'. The revival started the next day, with a 2–0 win over Sheffield United the first of four straight home wins that cut the gap to safety down to only four points, including a 2–0 win over promotion-chasing Wimbledon. O'Keefe and Henderson formed a potent striking partnership, whilst Young added balance to the midfield. Jim Steel was sold off to Wrexham for £10,000. Rudge said the battle to avoid relegation was as difficult a job as 'trying to climb Everest in a pair of pumps'. Struggling again in February, their 4–2 win over Newport County lifted them off the bottom spot following Rudge giving the team a stern talking to at half-time with the scores level; reporter Chris Harper likened Newport goalkeeper Mark Kendall to an octopus for the amount of saves he made during the match. Following a 4–3 win over Brentford on 3 March, Rudge was appointed as manager until the end of the season. He took Millwall's Andy Massey on loan, but failed to re-sign Bob Newton. On 19 March, Vale defeated fellow strugglers Southend United 2–1 at Roots Hall, their first away game of the league campaign, it took them out of the relegation zone. The job only got more difficult for Rudge however, as an injury crisis developed, and the team went nine games with just one victory. Young striker Mark Bright scored five times in the final six games, yet relegation was all but confirmed despite a 1–0 win over promotion-chasing Hull City. Just 2,299 turned up at Vale Park for a final day 1–0 victory over Millwall, yet a pitch invasion still ensued, with the invaders chanting "We'll be back".
They finished in 23rd place, ahead only of Exeter City. Only Exeter and Wigan Athletic scored fewer, and only Exeter conceded more goals. Player of the Year Eamonn O'Keefe was top-scorer with eleven goals, yet it was Mark Bright who was a revelation.

### Finances

On the financial side, a £50,601 profit was recorded with donations from the Development Fund of £146,177 and an income of £73,023 from the open market rents. Wages had been cut back to £310,542, whilst gate receipts rose to £180,504. The club's shirt sponsors were PMT. Steve Fox left for Chester City, and Gary Pollard joined Mansfield Town. However, Mark Bright signed with Leicester City against Rudge's wishes. A tribunal handed Vale £33,333 and top-up clauses. O'Keefe also requested a transfer, as he felt he would receive no further international caps playing in the fourth tier. Mick Cullerton, then Vale's commercial manager, later claimed that vast wage disparities in the squad caused discontent and reduced club morale.

### Cup competitions

In the FA Cup, Vale were eliminated in the First Round by Lincoln City.
In the League Cup, Vale 'ran riot' over Wrexham at the Racecourse Ground to go through to the Second Round 8–2 on aggregate. Coming up against Ron Atkinson's Manchester United, they were defeated 1–0 at home despite 'a workmanlike performance', and beaten 2–0 at Old Trafford in a 'credible' game. The home leg in Burslem saw a crowd of 19,855 – the highest crowd since the visit of West Ham United in 1973. This raised £45,873 in gate receipts for the club. However, a fifty-strong gang of Manchester thugs caused chaos in Burslem town centre, stabbing a man from Brown Edge.
In the Associate Members' Cup, Vale beat Fourth Division Hereford United 1–0 at Edgar Street. They were then beaten 2–0 at the Memorial Stadium by Bristol Rovers.

## League table

| Pos | Team v t e | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion or relegation |
| 20 | Brentford | 46 | 11 | 16 | 19 | 69 | 79 | −10 | 49 | |
| 21 | Scunthorpe United | 46 | 9 | 19 | 18 | 54 | 73 | −19 | 46 | Relegated |
| 22 | Southend United | 46 | 10 | 14 | 22 | 55 | 76 | −21 | 44 | Relegated |
| 23 | Port Vale | 46 | 11 | 10 | 25 | 51 | 83 | −32 | 43 | Relegated |
| 24 | Exeter City | 46 | 6 | 15 | 25 | 50 | 84 | −34 | 33 | Relegated |

## Results

Port Vale's score comes first

### Football League Third 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 | H | A | A | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | H | A | H | A | H | H | A | H | H | A | A | H | A | H | H | A | A | A | H | H | A | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | H |
| Result | D | L | L | W | L | L | D | L | L | L | L | L | L | D | L | L | L | L | L | W | L | W | W | D | W | L | D | L | W | L | W | D | L | W | L | L | W | D | D | D | L | L | D | W | L | W |
| Position | 13 | 17 | 18 | 16 | 18 | 21 | 19 | 21 | 23 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 23 | 23 | 22 | 21 | 21 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 23 |

#### Matches

| Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Scorers |
| 27 August 1983 | Scunthorpe United | H | 0–0 | 4,565 | |
| 3 September 1983 | Rotherham United | A | 1–2 | 4,847 | O'Keefe |
| 6 September 1983 | Millwall | A | 2–3 | 4,061 | Steel (2) |
| 10 September 1983 | Bristol Rovers | H | 2–0 | 4,308 | Sproson, Steel |
| 17 September 1983 | Wimbledon | A | 2–4 | 2,690 | Newton (2) |
| 24 September 1983 | Bradford City | H | 1–2 | 4,879 | Fox |
| 26 September 1983 | Wigan Athletic | H | 1–1 | 4,655 | Bromage |
| 1 October 1983 | Walsall | A | 0–2 | 3,757 | |
| 14 October 1983 | Orient | A | 0–3 | 3,207 | |
| 18 October 1983 | Brentford | A | 1–3 | 3,903 | Henderson |
| 22 October 1983 | Bolton Wanderers | H | 1–2 | 4,269 | Tartt |
| 29 October 1983 | Newport County | A | 1–2 | 3,829 | Ridley |
| 31 October 1983 | Plymouth Argyle | H | 0–1 | 3,466 | |
| 5 November 1983 | Exeter City | A | 1–1 | 3,301 | Armstrong |
| 12 November 1983 | Oxford United | H | 1–3 | 3,927 | O'Keefe |
| 26 November 1983 | Burnley | A | 0–7 | 6,385 | |
| 3 December 1983 | Gillingham | H | 0–1 | 3,086 | |
| 17 December 1983 | Lincoln City | H | 0–1 | 2,861 | |
| 26 December 1983 | Preston North End | A | 0–4 | 5,617 | |
| 27 December 1983 | Sheffield United | H | 2–0 | 7,034 | O'Keefe, Young |
| 31 December 1983 | Hull City | A | 0–1 | 8,736 | |
| 2 January 1984 | Bournemouth | H | 2–1 | 4,008 | O'Keefe, Henderson |
| 21 January 1984 | Wimbledon | H | 2–0 | 3,627 | O'Keefe, Bright |
| 28 January 1984 | Bristol Rovers | A | 0–0 | 6,142 | |
| 30 January 1984 | Southend United | H | 2–1 | 3,636 | Henderson, Ridley |
| 4 February 1984 | Walsall | H | 0–2 | 6,966 | |
| 11 February 1984 | Bradford City | A | 2–2 | 5,435 | Henderson, Gore (pen) |
| 14 February 1984 | Plymouth Argyle | A | 0–3 | 3,552 | |
| 18 February 1984 | Newport County | H | 4–2 | 3,437 | Henderson, Tartt, Young, Bright |
| 25 February 1984 | Bolton Wanderers | A | 0–2 | 5,818 | |
| 3 March 1984 | Brentford | H | 4–3 | 3,704 | O'Keefe (2), Gore (pen), Fox |
| 5 March 1984 | Exeter City | H | 2–2 | 4,338 | Henderson, Young |
| 10 March 1984 | Oxford United | A | 0–2 | 7,858 | |
| 19 March 1984 | Southend United | A | 2–1 | 2,596 | Bright, O'Keefe |
| 31 March 1984 | Wigan Athletic | A | 0–3 | 3,163 | |
| 2 April 1984 | Rotherham United | H | 2–3 | 3,705 | O'Keefe, Massey (pen) |
| 9 April 1984 | Orient | H | 2–0 | 3,169 | Henderson, Hunter |
| 14 April 1984 | Gillingham | A | 1–1 | 3,323 | Bright |
| 17 April 1984 | Scunthorpe United | A | 1–1 | 2,952 | Sproson |
| 21 April 1984 | Preston North End | H | 1–1 | 3,574 | O'Keefe (pen) |
| 24 April 1984 | Sheffield United | A | 1–3 | 14,385 | Bright |
| 28 April 1984 | Burnley | H | 2–3 | 3,061 | Bright, Young |
| 5 May 1984 | Bournemouth | A | 1–1 | 3,305 | Bright |
| 7 May 1984 | Hull City | H | 1–0 | 3,958 | Bright |
| 12 May 1984 | Lincoln City | A | 2–3 | 1,372 | Bright, Armstrong |
| 14 May 1984 | Millwall | H | 1–0 | 2,299 | Fox |

### FA Cup

| Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Goalscorers |
| R1 | 19 November 1983 | Lincoln City | H | 1–2 | 3,647 | Bright |

### League Cup

| Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Goalscorers |
| R1 1st Leg | 31 August 1983 | Wrexham | H | 3–1 | 3,916 | Sproson (2), O'Keefe (pen) |
| R1 2nd Leg | 13 September 1983 | Wrexham | A | 5–1 | 2,903 | Newton (2), Hunter, Gore, Steel |
| R2 1st Leg | 3 October 1983 | Manchester United | H | 0–1 | 19,855 | |
| R2 2nd Leg | 26 October 1983 | Manchester United | A | 0–2 | 23,589 | |

### Associate Members' Cup

| Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Goalscorers |
| R1 | 22 February 1984 | Hereford United | A | 1–0 | 1,605 | Tartt |
| R2 | 13 March 1984 | Bristol Rovers | A | 0–2 | 2,597 | |

## Player statistics
### Appearances and goals

| Pos. | Name | Football League | Football League | FA Cup | FA Cup | League Cup | League Cup | Associate Members' Cup | Associate Members' Cup | Total | Total |
| Pos. | Name | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| GK | Barry Siddall | 39 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 45 | 0 |
| GK | Chris Pearce | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 |
| DF | Phil Sproson | 38 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 44 | 4 |
| DF | Wayne Cegielski | 39 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 43 | 0 |
| DF | Max Thompson | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| DF | Gary Pollard | 18 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 22 | 0 |
| DF | Russell Bromage | 38 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 42 | 1 |
| MF | Terry Armstrong | 19 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 21 | 2 |
| MF | Colin Tartt | 22 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 29 | 3 |
| MF | Geoff Hunter | 42 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 49 | 2 |
| MF | John Ridley | 30 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 35 | 2 |
| MF | Robbie Earle | 12 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 0 |
| MF | Steve Fox | 40 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 47 | 3 |
| MF | Winston White | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| MF | Kevin Young | 28 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 30 | 4 |
| MF | Andy Massey | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 |
| MF | Alan Oakes | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| MF | Tommy Gore | 36 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 43 | 3 |
| FW | Andy Shankland | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 |
| FW | Mark Bright | 26 | 9 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 31 | 10 |
| FW | Jim Steel | 15 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 19 | 4 |
| FW | Bob Newton | 7 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 4 |
| FW | Eamonn O'Keefe | 37 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 43 | 11 |
| FW | Martin Henderson | 27 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 28 | 7 |

### Top scorers

| Place | Position | Nation | Name | Fourth Division | FA Cup | League Cup | Associate Members' Cup | Total |
| 1 | FW | Ireland | Eamonn O'Keefe | 10 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 11 |
| 2 | FW | England | Mark Bright | 9 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| 3 | FW | Scotland | Martin Henderson | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
| 4 | MF | England | Kevin Young | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| – | DF | England | Phil Sproson | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4 |
| – | FW | Scotland | Jim Steel | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 |
| – | FW | England | Bob Newton | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4 |
| 8 | MF | England | Steve Fox | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| – | MF | England | Tommy Gore | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
| – | MF | England | Colin Tartt | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 |
| 1 | MF | England | John Ridley | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| – | MF | England | Geoff Hunter | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| – | MF | England | Terry Armstrong | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 14 | MF | England | Andy Massey | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| – | DF | England | Russell Bromage | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| | | | TOTALS | 51 | 1 | 8 | 1 | 61 |

## Transfers
### Transfers in

| Date from | Position | Name | From | Fee |
| 1983 | MF | Alan Oakes | Northwich Victoria | Free transfer |
| June 1983 | GK | Chris Pearce | Rochdale | Free transfer |
| June 1983 | DF | Gary Pollard | Chesterfield | Free transfer |
| July 1983 | MF | Tommy Gore | Bury | Free transfer |
| July 1983 | MF | Eamonn O'Keefe | Wigan Athletic | £10,000 |
| October 1983 | FW | Martin Henderson | Chesterfield | Exchange |
| October 1983 | MF | Winston White | Chesterfield | Trial |

### Transfers out

| Date from | Position | Name | To | Fee |
| Summer 1983 | FW | Bob Newton | Chesterfield | Free transfer |
| October 1983 | MF | Winston White | Stockport County | Trial ended |
| December 1983 | MF | Alan Oakes | Sacked | Sacked |
| January 1984 | FW | Jim Steel | Wrexham | £10,000 |
| 1984 | MF | Steve Fox | Chester City | Free transfer |
| June 1984 | FW | Mark Bright | Leicester City | £33,333 |
| July 1984 | DF | Gary Pollard | Mansfield Town | Free transfer |
| Summer 1984 | FW | Martin Henderson | Spalding United | Sacked |

### Loans in

| Date from | Position | Name | From | Date to |
| November 1983 | DF | Max Thompson | Bournemouth | November 1983 |
| December 1983 | MF | Kevin Young | Burnley | End of season |
| March 1984 | MF | Andy Massey | Millwall | April 1984 |

### Loans out

| Date from | Position | Nationality | Name | To | Date to | Ref. |
| October 1983 | DF | | Russell Bromage | Oldham Athletic | October 1983 | |
| October 1983 | GK | | Barry Siddall | Blackpool | October 1983 | |