# 1989–90 Port Vale F.C. season

The 1989–90 season was Port Vale's 78th season of football in the English Football League and first (33rd overall) season back in the Second Division following their promotion from the Third Division. They were playing in the second tier, and at the same level as rivals Stoke City, for the first time since 1956–57. John Rudge led his side to a comfortable mid-table finish, whilst Stoke suffered relegation in bottom place despite the two derby matches finishing in draws. After beating top-flight Derby County, Vale exited the FA Cup in the Fourth Round with their biggest-ever loss in the competition, losing 6–0 to Aston Villa at Villa Park. They left both the League Cup and the Full Members Cup at the Second Round.

## Overview
### Second Division

The pre-season saw John Rudge sign solid young defender Neil Aspin from Leeds United for £150,000; 28-year-old forward Nicky Cross from Leicester City for £125,000; and veteran winger Ian Miller on a free transfer from Blackburn Rovers (as cover for an injured Gary Ford). The Burslem club had never previously spent anything close to the £275,000 spent in summer 1989. Yet, other clubs in the division far outspent the Vale. Vale Park was also upgraded at £250,000, though grants helped to halve the cost for the club itself. Inspectors closed the Bycars End down despite this effort due to safety issues. They reduced the stadium's capacity to 12,000 after cutting the capacity of the Railway Paddock by two-thirds. Season ticket sales more than doubled to 2,231. Phil Sproson attempted to return to the game, and so the club accepted a £50,000 transfer payment from Birmingham City. Meanwhile, the Vale were the bookmakers favourites for relegation, having started the season with six players out injured, including Ray Walker.
The season opened with a 2–2 draw with Bradford City at Valley Parade, missing out on all three points due to a late equaliser from Brian Tinnion. This was followed by a 2–1 home win over West Bromwich Albion the following week. The club soon scrapped their all-ticket rule after poor attendances in the first games. Vale went seven games without a win in the league, though on 23 September managed a 1–1 draw with Stoke at the Victoria Ground, some 27,004 fans in attendance. Rudge commented after the match that "[the result] proves that we have closed the gap on Stoke and are now competing on equal terms" On 7 October, Vale came from behind to beat Leicester City by two goals to one. The police bills for Vale games reached as much as £1.50 a head for some games, though the police went some way to justify this cost by arresting 85 people on the day of the Potteries derby. Rudge switched from a 4–4–2 formation to 4–3–3 so as to include Miller, and a mini-revival followed, ending with a 3–0 win over Barnsley at Oakwell. Six games without a win followed, and Alan Webb broke his leg during a 2–2 draw with Newcastle United at St James' Park. In November, Vale Park opened a new 48 seat disabled stand at a cost of £100,000. Ron Futcher was then sold to Fourth Division Burnley for £60,000, though an injury crisis in defence exposed the club's lack of squad depth. With Gary West out with damaged ligaments, big defender Tim Parkin was bought from Swindon Town for £60,000. The next month the Hamil End was reopened after £175,000 worth of renewal work. Rudge switched back to 4–4–2, utilizing Andy Porter in midfield.
Vale went six games unbeaten over the new year, beating Ipswich Town 5–0 (their biggest win in the division since 1932) and fighting to a goalless home draw with Stoke in the process. The Stoke game was a disappointment as City were adrift at the foot of the table, and the pitch was 'as lumpy as porridge'. The Bycars End reopened after a £90,000 investment, 22,075 fans turned up for the game – the biggest gate for a league game since the visit of Grimsby Town in 1960. On 10 February, Vale recorded a 1–0 home win over Watford as Paul Millar put in an excellent performance after having to replace Darren Beckford, who had been taken ill overnight. This moved Vale to within three points of the play-offs. A poor March dragged them down the table though, as the stadium's capacity was again reduced and the police bill spiralled. In April, Rudge sold David Riley to Peterborough United for £40,000, whilst £20,000 was spent bringing in Gary McKinstry from Portadown. On 11 April, Vale came from two goals down to win 3–2 at Middlesbrough with Beckford scoring a brace. The club's play-off dreams were killed off by a 2–1 defeat from Newcastle United, after which only two points were won from the final four games. Despite this the supporters held popular player Neil Aspin aloft following the team's final home game (a 2–1 defeat to Sunderland). The final game was a goalless draw with Oxford United at the Manor Ground, which was enough to ensure a top-half finish.
They finished in eleventh place with 61 points, their highest finish since 1933–34. Darren Beckford was top-scorer with 21 goals in all competitions, with Nicky Cross and Robbie Earle bagged 15 and 12 goals respectively. The average home attendance of 8,978 was the highest since 1963–64. The players were taken on a holiday to Spain as a reward for their efforts. Rudge retained the entire playing staff at the end of the season.

### Finances

The club's shirt sponsors were ABC Minolta Copiers.

### Cup competitions

In the FA Cup, Vale were drawn against top-flight Derby County in the Third Round and progressed 3–2 in the replay at The Baseball Ground having 'gave as good as they received' as they drew the original tie 1–1. The win was 'another famous cup victory' for the club, as three goals were put past Peter Shilton. Another difficult fixture awaited in the Fourth Round. On 27 January, Aston Villa inflicted Vale's biggest ever cup defeat with a 6–0 win in front of 36,532 fans at Villa Park. Nevertheless, the cup run raised £150,000.
In the League Cup, Vale overcame Third Division Walsall 3–1 on aggregate, having won 1–0 at home and 2–1 at Fellows Park. They then came unstuck against First Division Wimbledon, losing 2–1 at home before getting beat 3–0 at Plough Lane.
In the short-lived Full Members Cup, Vale made it past the First Round with a 2–1 win over Sunderland at Roker Park, with Walker and Cross getting the goals. They were then eliminated by Middlesbrough at the next stage, after losing 3–1 at Ayresome Park despite Rudge playing a strong side and the Vale holding a one goal lead at half-time.

## League table

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
| 9 | Ipswich Town | 46 | 19 | 12 | 15 | 67 | 66 | +1 | 69 |
| 10 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 46 | 18 | 13 | 15 | 67 | 60 | +7 | 67 |
| 11 | Port Vale | 46 | 15 | 16 | 15 | 62 | 57 | +5 | 61 |
| 12 | Portsmouth | 46 | 15 | 16 | 15 | 62 | 65 | −3 | 61 |
| 13 | Leicester City | 46 | 15 | 14 | 17 | 67 | 79 | −12 | 59 |

## 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 | A | H | H | A | A | H | A | H | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | A | H | A | H | H | H | A | H | A | A | H | A | H | H | A | H | A | A | H | A | H | H | A |
| Result | D | W | L | D | D | L | D | L | D | W | W | L | D | D | D | L | L | W | W | W | L | D | L | D | W | W | W | D | W | L | W | L | D | D | L | W | W | D | L | W | L | W | L | D | L | D |
| Position | 10 | 7 | 13 | 17 | 12 | 19 | 18 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 13 | 15 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 15 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 14 | 12 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 |

#### Matches

| Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Scorers |
| 19 August 1989 | Bradford City | A | 2–2 | 10,242 | Glover (pen), Beckford |
| 26 August 1989 | West Bromwich Albion | H | 2–1 | 7,695 | Glover (pen), Futcher |
| 2 September 1989 | Brighton & Hove Albion | A | 0–2 | 7,218 | |
| 9 September 1989 | Blackburn Rovers | H | 0–0 | 7,601 | |
| 12 September 1989 | Hull City | H | 1–1 | 6,168 | Earle |
| 16 September 1989 | Watford | A | 0–1 | 8,445 | |
| 23 September 1989 | Stoke City | A | 1–1 | 27,004 | Earle |
| 26 September 1989 | Bournemouth | A | 0–1 | 6,511 | |
| 30 September 1989 | Leeds United | H | 0–0 | 11,156 | |
| 7 October 1989 | Leicester City | H | 2–1 | 7,268 | Beckford, Cross |
| 14 October 1989 | Barnsley | A | 3–0 | 6,475 | Cross (2), Earle |
| 17 October 1989 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | A | 0–2 | 18,123 | |
| 21 October 1989 | West Ham United | H | 2–2 | 8,899 | o.g., Futcher |
| 28 October 1989 | Newcastle United | A | 2–2 | 17,824 | Earle, Futcher |
| 30 October 1989 | Middlesbrough | H | 1–1 | 7,708 | Glover (pen) |
| 4 November 1989 | Oxford United | H | 1–2 | 6,994 | Jeffers |
| 11 November 1989 | Portsmouth | A | 0–2 | 7,708 | |
| 18 November 1989 | Swindon Town | H | 2–0 | 7,393 | Beckford, Cross |
| 25 November 1989 | Plymouth Argyle | A | 2–1 | 7,034 | Cross (2) |
| 2 December 1989 | Bradford City | H | 3–2 | 6,762 | Earle (2), Beckford |
| 9 December 1989 | Hull City | A | 1–2 | 4,207 | Earle |
| 16 December 1989 | Sheffield United | H | 1–1 | 9,813 | Cross |
| 26 December 1989 | Oldham Athletic | A | 1–2 | 11,274 | Parkin |
| 30 December 1989 | Sunderland | A | 2–2 | 21,377 | o.g., Millar |
| 1 January 1990 | Ipswich Town | H | 5–0 | 8,617 | Beckford (2), Earle, Cross, Miller |
| 13 January 1990 | West Bromwich Albion | A | 3–2 | 13,575 | Cross, Beckford, Porter |
| 20 January 1990 | Brighton & Hove Albion | H | 2–1 | 8,666 | Cross (2) |
| 3 February 1990 | Stoke City | H | 0–0 | 22,075 | |
| 10 February 1990 | Watford | H | 1–0 | 7,064 | Earle |
| 17 February 1990 | Blackburn Rovers | A | 0–1 | 9,257 | |
| 24 February 1990 | Plymouth Argyle | H | 3–0 | 7,254 | Hughes, Beckford, Mills |
| 3 March 1990 | Swindon Town | A | 0–3 | 8,314 | |
| 7 March 1990 | Leeds United | A | 0–0 | 29,550 | |
| 10 March 1990 | Bournemouth | H | 1–1 | 7,131 | Millar |
| 17 March 1990 | Leicester City | A | 0–2 | 10,076 | |
| 19 March 1990 | Barnsley | H | 2–1 | 7,036 | o.g., Beckford |
| 24 March 1990 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | H | 3–1 | 12,506 | Millar, Beckford, Earle |
| 31 March 1990 | West Ham United | A | 2–2 | 20,507 | Beckford, Cross |
| 7 April 1990 | Newcastle United | H | 1–2 | 10,290 | Earle |
| 11 April 1990 | Middlesbrough | A | 3–2 | 14,973 | Beckford (2), Glover (pen) |
| 14 April 1990 | Ipswich Town | A | 2–3 | 10,652 | Earle, Cross (pen) |
| 16 April 1990 | Oldham Athletic | H | 2–0 | 11,451 | Beckford (2) |
| 21 April 1990 | Sheffield United | A | 1–2 | 16,809 | Beckford |
| 28 April 1990 | Portsmouth | H | 1–1 | 7,492 | Beckford |
| 1 May 1990 | Sunderland | H | 1–2 | 9,447 | Millar |
| 5 May 1990 | Oxford United | A | 0–0 | 4,708 | |

### FA Cup

| Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Goalscorers |
| R3 | 7 January 1990 | Derby County | H | 1–1 | 17,478 | Beckford |
| R3 Replay | 10 January 1990 | Derby County | A | 3–2 | 21,389 | o.g., Walker, Cross |
| R4 | 27 January 1990 | Aston Villa | A | 0–6 | 36,532 | |

### League Cup

| Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Goalscorers |
| R1 1st Leg | 22 August 1989 | Walsall | A | 2–1 | 4,774 | Beckford (2) |
| R1 2nd Leg | 28 August 1989 | Walsall | H | 1–0 | 4,441 | Beckford |
| R2 1st Leg | 18 September 1989 | Wimbledon | H | 1–2 | 5,827 | Futcher |
| R2 2nd Leg | 4 October 1989 | Wimbledon | A | 0–3 | 2,851 | |

### Full Members Cup

| Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Goalscorers |
| R1 | 14 November 1989 | Sunderland | A | 2–1 | 7,031 | Walker, Cross |
| R2 | 29 November 1989 | Middlesbrough | A | 1–3 | 6,691 | Jeffers |

## 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 | 43 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 51 | 0 |
| GK | Trevor Wood | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| DF | Alan Webb | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 18 | 0 |
| DF | Simon Mills | 45 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 54 | 1 |
| DF | Darren Hughes | 38 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 46 | 1 |
| DF | Gary West | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| DF | Dean Glover | 44 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 52 | 4 |
| DF | Tim Parkin | 12 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 1 |
| DF | Neil Aspin | 42 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 51 | 0 |
| MF | Robbie Earle | 43 | 12 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 52 | 12 |
| MF | Andy Porter | 36 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 44 | 1 |
| MF | Ray Walker | 40 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 47 | 1 |
| MF | Kevin Finney | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 0 |
| MF | John Jeffers | 40 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 46 | 2 |
| MF | Paul Millar | 23 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 26 | 4 |
| MF | Ian Miller | 21 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 24 | 1 |
| FW | Darren Beckford | 42 | 17 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 51 | 21 |
| FW | David Riley | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| FW | Ronnie Jepson | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 |
| FW | Ron Futcher | 11 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 4 |
| FW | Nicky Cross | 42 | 13 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 50 | 15 |

### Top scorers

| Place | Position | Nation | Name | Second Division | FA Cup | League Cup | Full Members Cup | Total |
| 1 | FW | England | Darren Beckford | 17 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 21 |
| 2 | FW | England | Nicky Cross | 13 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 15 |
| 3 | MF | Jamaica | Robbie Earle | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 |
| 4 | MF | Northern Ireland | Paul Millar | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| – | DF | England | Dean Glover | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| – | FW | England | Ron Futcher | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 |
| 7 | MF | England | John Jeffers | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| – | MF | England | Ray Walker | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| 9 | MF | England | Ian Miller | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| – | MF | England | Andy Porter | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| – | DF | England | Simon Mills | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| – | DF | England | Tim Parkin | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| – | FW | England | Darren Hughes | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| – | | – | Own goals | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| | | | TOTALS | 62 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 73 |

## Transfers
### Transfers in

| Date from | Position | Name | From | Fee |
| June 1989 | FW | Nicky Cross | Leicester City | £125,000 |
| June 1989 | MF | Ian Miller | Blackburn Rovers | Free transfer |
| 28 July 1989 | DF | Neil Aspin | Leeds United | £150,000 |
| 8 December 1989 | DF | Tim Parkin | Swindon Town | £60,000 |
| 3 April 1990 | FW | Gary McKinstrey | Portadown | |

### Transfers out

| Date from | Position | Name | To | Fee |
| 13 November 1989 | FW | Ron Futcher | Burnley | £60,000 |
| 3 April 1990 | FW | David Riley | Peterborough United | £40,000 |
| August 1990 | MF | Ian Miller | Scunthorpe United | Free transfer |

### Loans out

| Date from | Position | Name | To | Date to |
| 25 January 1990 | FW | Ronnie Jepson | Peterborough United | March 1990 |
| 1 March 1990 | FW | David Riley | Peterborough United | April 1990 |
| 16 March 1990 | MF | Paul Atkinson | Hartlepool United | End of season |
| 22 March 1990 | MF | Gary Ford | Walsall | End of season |