# 1981–82 Port Vale F.C. season

The 1981–82 season was Port Vale's 70th season of football in the English Football League, and their fourth-successive season (tenth overall) in the Fourth Division. John McGrath led his team to a seventh-place finish, a big improvement on the previous two seasons. Top-scorer Ernie Moss and midfielder Mark Chamberlain proved to be the stars of the season. The season was notable for Vale Park's lowest-ever Football League attendance.

## Overview
### Fourth Division

The pre-season saw John McGrath make four new signings: defender Ray Deakin (Everton); midfielder Geoff Hunter (from Crewe Alexandra for £12,000); and forwards Ernie Moss (from Chesterfield for £12,000) and Jimmy Greenhoff (Toronto Blizzard). Attempts to re-sign Brian Horton failed. On 1 August, a heavy metal concert was held at Vale Park, headlined by local lad Lemmy's Motörhead. Some twenty thousand metal fans paid £7.50 admission each to boost club coffers. However, Vale failed to win any of their pre-season friendlies, and were embarrassed to lose 6–1 at home to local rivals Stoke City.
The season opened with four draws, which was ironic considering that McGrath stated that 'forwards are much more important now' after the Football League changed a win from earning two points to three points. On 12 September, their club-record run of six consecutive draws came to an end. Four victories in five games put Vale into seventh place, and Colin Tartt was signed from Chesterfield for £15,000. A 2–0 home defeat to Sheffield United in front of the television cameras was the first of a run of four defeats in five games and sent an injury-hit Vale down into mid-table. In November, Lee Harwood was forced to retire with a knee injury. On 28 November, Vale won 5–2 at home to Hartlepool United to go six games unbeaten and The Sentinel's Vale correspondent Chris Harper reported that Chamberlain had impressed the top-flight scouts in attendance and was "one of the most exciting 20 year olds in the league". Vale then went on a fifteen-match unbeaten run in the league, and between 20 January and 6 March, the team went on a club-record six consecutive home draws. Having drawn all four games in January, they went into a four-goal half-time lead at Northampton Town on 2 February, and though the hosts pulled three goals back it ended 5–3 as Greenhoff scored the final goal of the game eleven minutes from full=time
Stoke City offered £100,000 plus incentives for Mark Chamberlain, but Chairman Don Ratcliffe called the offer 'an insult' and rejected it out of hand. Instead Tony Sealy arrived on loan, this time from Queens Park Rangers. On 6 February Mark Chamberlain scored a memorable goal at Field Mill when he stood off the pitch to avoid being caught offside, then returned to tackle a startled Rod Arnold and tap the ball into an empty net. Mansfield Town manager Stuart Boam was so enraged that the goal stood that he raced onto the pitch to abuse the linesman verbally. In March, Johnny Miller had to retire with a knee injury. On 20 March, Mark Harrison conceded 'a crazy goal' from Hull City left-back Dennis Booth at Boothferry Park, whose 50 yards (46 m) free kick hit the back of the net after several bounces. Injuries hit the Vale squad and the promotion campaign faded away. On 1 May, Vale Park witnessed its lowest-ever Football League attendance when a mere 1,924 turned up against York City.
They finished in seventh place with seventy points, eighteen short of fourth-placed Bournemouth. With nine away victories and twelve home draws, McGrath stated that "we blew it at Burslem". Ernie Moss was the Player of the Year and top-scorer with seventeen goals; however, it was Mark Chamberlain who was selected in the PFA Fourth Division team and received a cheque for £250 when he was chosen as The Star's best player of the division.

### Finances

On the financial side, a loss of £65,000 was announced despite donations of £136,070. The overdraft stood at £235,452. Good news was that the club lottery had raised £750,000 in less than five years. McGrath released eight players and retained eleven. The club's first-ever shirt sponsors were NGR Copiers. Those departing included: Peter Farrell and Gerry Keenan (Rochdale); Paul Bowles (Stockport County); Trevor Brissett (Darlington); Andy Higgins (Hartlepool United); and Ray Deakin (Burnley).

### Cup competitions

In the FA Cup, Vale drew with Third Division Lincoln City at Sincil Bank and again in Burslem, and so had to play a second replay, which they won 2–0. Their clash with Stockport County was postponed seven times due to snow and fog, before the "Valiants" finally recorded a 4–1 victory on 2 January. Facing Second Division Shrewsbury Town in the Third Round, they lost by the odd goal at Gay Meadow, the "Shrews" scoring with the last kick of the match.
In the League Cup, a 1–1 draw at Edgar Street was followed by a 2–0 home win to knock Hereford United out 3–1 on aggregate. In the Second Round for the first time since 1972, they lost to Tranmere Rovers both at Prenton Park and Vale Park to exit the competition 4–1 on aggregate.

## League table

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
| 5 | Peterborough United | 46 | 24 | 10 | 12 | 71 | 57 | +14 | 82 |
| 6 | Colchester United | 46 | 20 | 12 | 14 | 82 | 57 | +25 | 72 |
| 7 | Port Vale | 46 | 18 | 16 | 12 | 56 | 49 | +7 | 70 |
| 8 | Hull City | 46 | 19 | 12 | 15 | 70 | 61 | +9 | 69 |
| 9 | Bury | 46 | 17 | 17 | 12 | 80 | 59 | +21 | 68 |

## 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 | H | A | A | H | H | A | H | A | H | H | A | A | A | H | H | A | A | H | A | H | H | A | A | H | H | A | A | A | H | A | H | H | A | H | A | A | H | H | A | H | H | A | A | H |
| Result | D | D | D | W | L | W | W | W | L | L | L | W | L | D | W | W | W | D | W | D | D | D | D | W | W | D | D | W | L | L | D | L | W | D | L | D | W | L | W | W | L | D | D | L | W | W |
| Position | 14 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 14 | 10 | 6 | 7 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 7 |

#### Matches

| Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Scorers |
| 29 August 1981 | Halifax Town | H | 0–0 | 3,382 | |
| 5 September 1981 | Darlington | A | 1–1 | 1,872 | Deakin (pen) |
| 12 September 1981 | Mansfield Town | H | 0–0 | 3,043 | |
| 19 September 1981 | Rochdale | A | 2–1 | 1,824 | Keenan, Deakin (pen) |
| 23 September 1981 | Wigan Athletic | A | 0–2 | 4,525 | |
| 26 September 1981 | Stockport County | H | 1–0 | 2,755 | Moss |
| 28 September 1981 | Colchester United | H | 2–1 | 3,351 | Sproson, Moss |
| 2 October 1981 | Crewe Alexandra | A | 2–0 | 4,604 | N.Chamberlain, M.Chamberlain |
| 10 October 1981 | Sheffield United | H | 0–2 | 7,289 | |
| 17 October 1981 | Bury | A | 2–3 | 3,565 | Bowles, Greenhoff |
| 19 October 1981 | Peterborough United | H | 1–3 | 2,844 | Deakin (pen) |
| 31 October 1981 | Hull City | H | 2–1 | 2,591 | Shankland, M.Chamberlain |
| 4 November 1981 | Bradford City | A | 0–1 | 4,043 | |
| 7 November 1981 | Bournemouth | A | 1–1 | 5,798 | Moss |
| 11 November 1981 | Blackpool | A | 3–2 | 4,785 | Tartt (2), N.Chamberlain |
| 14 November 1981 | Aldershot | H | 1–0 | 2,811 | Greenhoff |
| 28 November 1981 | Hartlepool United | H | 5–2 | 2,477 | Moss (2), M.Chamberlain, N.Chamberlain, Armstrong |
| 5 December 1981 | Scunthorpe United | A | 0–0 | 2,021 | |
| 19 December 1981 | Torquay United | A | 1–0 | 1,780 | M.Chamberlain |
| 20 January 1982 | Darlington | H | 2–2 | 3,529 | Hunter, Moss |
| 22 January 1982 | Halifax Town | A | 1–1 | 2,965 | M.Chamberlain |
| 25 January 1982 | Tranmere Rovers | H | 0–0 | 4,355 | |
| 30 January 1982 | Rochdale | H | 1–1 | 3,835 | Tartt |
| 2 February 1982 | Northampton Town | A | 5–3 | 1,644 | Hunter (2), Sproson, M.Chamberlain, Greenhoff |
| 6 February 1982 | Mansfield Town | A | 3–1 | 2,690 | M.Chamberlain, Moss, Sealy |
| 8 February 1982 | Wigan Athletic | H | 1–1 | 8,773 | Sealy (pen) |
| 13 February 1982 | Crewe Alexandra | H | 0–0 | 6,542 | |
| 19 February 1982 | Stockport County | A | 2–1 | 3,001 | Sealy (pen), Moss |
| 22 February 1982 | York City | A | 0–2 | 1,938 | |
| 27 February 1982 | Sheffield United | A | 1–2 | 13,813 | Sealy (pen) |
| 6 March 1982 | Bury | H | 0–0 | 3,733 | |
| 10 March 1982 | Peterborough United | A | 0–1 | 4,151 | |
| 13 March 1982 | Blackpool | H | 2–0 | 3,440 | N.Chamberlain, Moss |
| 15 March 1982 | Bradford City | H | 1–1 | 4,325 | Tartt |
| 20 March 1982 | Hull City | A | 1–3 | 5,506 | Deakin |
| 27 March 1982 | Bournemouth | H | 1–1 | 3,004 | Deakin (pen) |
| 3 April 1982 | Aldershot | A | 2–1 | 1,594 | o.g., Deakin |
| 10 April 1982 | Hereford United | A | 0–1 | 2,973 | |
| 12 April 1982 | Northampton Town | H | 1–0 | 3,014 | Sproson |
| 17 April 1982 | Scunthorpe United | H | 2–1 | 2,507 | Moss (2) |
| 24 April 1982 | Hartlepool United | A | 1–3 | 1,439 | M.Chamberlain |
| 26 April 1982 | Hereford United | H | 1–1 | 2,160 | Sproson |
| 1 May 1982 | York City | H | 0–0 | 1,924 | |
| 3 May 1982 | Colchester United | A | 0–1 | 1,570 | |
| 8 May 1982 | Tranmere Rovers | A | 2–1 | 1,524 | Moss (2) |
| 15 May 1982 | Torquay United | H | 2–0 | 2,007 | Bowles, Sproson |

### FA Cup

| Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Goalscorers |
| R1 | 21 November 1981 | Lincoln City | A | 2–2 | 3,950 | N.Chamberlain, M.Chamberlain |
| R1 Replay | 30 November 1981 | Lincoln City | H | 0–0 | 4,769 | |
| R1 Replay | 2 December 1981 | Lincoln City | H | 2–0 | 5,373 | Armstrong, N.Chamberlain |
| R2 | 2 January 1982 | Stockport County | H | 4–1 | 4,478 | Moss (2), N.Chamberlain (2) |
| R3 | 5 January 1982 | Shrewsbury Town | A | 0–1 | 7,230 | |

### League Cup

| Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Goalscorers |
| R1 1st Leg | 2 September 1981 | Hereford United | A | 1–1 | 2,817 | Moss |
| R1 2nd Leg | 14 September 1981 | Hereford United | H | 2–0 | 3,006 | Deakin (pen), Moss |
| R2 1st Leg | 5 October 1981 | Tranmere Rovers | A | 0–2 | 2,791 | |
| R2 2nd Leg | 28 October 1981 | Tranmere Rovers | H | 1–2 | 2,372 | N.Chamberlain |

## 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 | Mark Harrison | 46 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 55 | 0 |
| DF | Phil Sproson | 42 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 51 | 5 |
| DF | Gerry Keenan | 21 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 24 | 1 |
| DF | Paul Bowles | 44 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 53 | 2 |
| DF | Trevor Brissett | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 15 | 0 |
| DF | Andy Higgins | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 0 |
| DF | Ray Deakin | 23 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 27 | 7 |
| DF | Russell Bromage | 45 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 54 | 0 |
| MF | Mark Chamberlain | 46 | 8 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 55 | 8 |
| MF | Peter Farrell | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| MF | Terry Armstrong | 34 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 42 | 2 |
| MF | Paul Bennett | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| MF | Colin Tartt | 38 | 4 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 43 | 4 |
| MF | Geoff Hunter | 41 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 49 | 3 |
| FW | Neville Chamberlain | 30 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 37 | 9 |
| FW | Tony Sealy | 6 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 4 |
| FW | Andy Shankland | 12 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 13 | 1 |
| FW | Ernie Moss | 44 | 13 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 51 | 17 |
| FW | Jimmy Greenhoff | 33 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 38 | 3 |
| FW | Mark Bright | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |

### Top scorers

| Place | Position | Nation | Name | Fourth Division | FA Cup | League Cup | Total |
| 1 | FW | England | Ernie Moss | 13 | 2 | 2 | 17 |
| 2 | FW | England | Neville Chamberlain | 4 | 4 | 1 | 9 |
| – | MF | England | Mark Chamberlain | 8 | 1 | 0 | 9 |
| 4 | DF | England | Ray Deakin | 6 | 0 | 1 | 7 |
| 5 | DF | England | Phil Sproson | 5 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| 6 | FW | England | Tony Sealy | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| – | MF | England | Colin Tartt | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| 8 | FW | England | Jimmy Greenhoff | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| – | MF | England | Geoff Hunter | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 10 | DF | England | Paul Bowles | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| – | MF | England | Terry Armstrong | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| 12 | FW | England | Andy Shankland | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| – | DF | England | Gerry Keenan | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| – | – | – | Own goals | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| | | | TOTALS | 56 | 8 | 4 | 68 |

## Transfers
### Transfers in

| Date from | Position | Name | From | Fee |
| 1981 | DF | Ray Deakin | Everton | Free transfer |
| June 1981 | FW | Ernie Moss | Chesterfield | £12,000 |
| August 1981 | FW | Jimmy Greenhoff | Toronto Blizzard | Free transfer |
| August 1981 | MF | Geoff Hunter | Crewe Alexandra | £15,000 |
| October 1981 | FW | Mark Bright | Leek Town | Free transfer |
| November 1981 | MF | Colin Tartt | Chesterfield | £15,000 |

### Transfers out

| Date from | Position | Name | To | Fee |
| November 1981 | DF | Lee Harwood | Leatherhead | Retired |
| March 1982 | MF | Johnny Miller | Oakham United | Retired |
| May 1982 | MF | Paul Bennett | Northwich Victoria | Free transfer |
| May 1982 | DF | Paul Bowles | Stockport County | Free transfer |
| May 1982 | DF | Trevor Brissett | Darlington | Free transfer |
| May 1982 | DF | Ray Deakin | Bolton Wanderers | Free transfer |
| May 1982 | MF | Peter Farrell | Rochdale | Free transfer |
| May 1982 | DF | Andy Higgins | Hartlepool United | Free transfer |
| May 1982 | DF | Gerry Keenan | Rochdale | Free transfer |
| August 1982 | MF | Mark Chamberlain | Stoke City | £180,000 (combined) |
| August 1982 | GK | Mark Harrison | Stoke City | £180,000 (combined) |

### Loans in

| Date from | Position | Nationality | Name | From | Date to | Ref. |
| October 1981 | MF | | Colin Tartt | Chesterfield | November 1981 | |
| February 1982 | FW | | Tony Sealy | Queens Park Rangers | March 1982 | |

### Loans out

| Date from | Position | Name | To | Date to |
| Summer 1981 | GK | Mark Harrison | Stoke City | Summer 1981 |
| August 1981 | MF | Peter Farrell | Doncaster Rovers | August 1981 |
| October 1981 | MF | Peter Farrell | Shrewsbury Town | October 1981 |