# 1998–99 Port Vale F.C. season

The 1998–99 season was Port Vale's 87th season of football in the English Football League, and fifth-successive season in the First Division. It was the end of an era for the club, as manager of sixteen years John Rudge was sacked in January and was replaced by Brian Horton. As a testament to the upheaval at the club, a club record 43 players turned out for the Vale in the league throughout the season. The Vale just avoided relegation on goals scored, despite suffering a final day defeat to Bury, who were relegated having scored ten fewer goals. Liverpool knocked them out of the FA Cup in the Third Round, and Vale were also knocked out of the League Cup by fourth tier Chester City in the First Round. The sacking of Rudge spoiled what was supposed to be a happy season for Vale fans, as Vale competed in a division above rivals Stoke City for only the fourth time.

## Overview
### First Division

The pre-season saw John Rudge splash out £300,000 on Bristol Rovers forward Peter Beadle and £100,000 on Scunthorpe United defender Michael Walsh. He also signed Dave Barnett (Dunfermline Athletic); Brian McGlinchey and Paul Beesley (Manchester City); and John McQuade (Hamilton Academical) on free transfers. Stéphane Pounewatchy also became the first French player to play for the club when he was signed on a monthly contract from Dundee. Scott Mean was loaned to the club by West Ham United, though he went on to sustain a knee injury during his spell that would damage his career. Also, Andy Clarke was signed on loan from Wimbledon.
The season started poorly with three defeats, Lee Hughes scoring a hat-trick for West Bromwich Albion to finish this run-off. Two wins opened the month of September, including a 2–1 home victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers to which match reporter Martin Spinks said: "a result like this requires a wooden mallet to the forehead such was its unlikelihood". The month ended with former Valiant Lee Mills scoring a brace for Bradford City in a 4–0 win over Vale at Valley Parade. In October, Derek McGill signed from Queens Park Rangers, though he would move on to Hamilton Academical later in the year. On 29 October, Gareth Ainsworth became Vale's biggest ever transfer as he was sold to Wimbledon for £2 million. In November, Robin Berntsen became the first Norwegian to play for the Vale when he arrived on loan from Tromsø IL. In addition to this, French forward Christophe Horlaville joined on loan from Le Havre, and Des Lyttle also arrived on loan from Nottingham Forest. After winning the first four games in October, Vale then went on a streak of twelve defeats in fifteen games, though the sole victory of this run, a 1–0 win over Bury on 19 December, would prove to be crucial at the end of the season. The win was not enough for Rudge, who would get the sack in January after he made his final two signings: Trinidadian midfielder Tony Rougier from Hibernian for £175,000, and young striker Marcus Bent from Crystal Palace for a £375,000 fee. After Rudge was sacked by Chairman Bill Bell, highly distressed fans formed a "flat cap protest" (Rudge's headwear of choice) against the decision. Offered the role of Director of Football at the club, he instead took up the same position at rivals Stoke City. To replace him, Bell appointed experienced manager and former Vale player Brian Horton, paying Brighton & Hove Albion £80,000 in compensation.
In February, Peter Beadle was sold to Notts County for £250,000, representing a £50,000 loss. On 6 February, Vale recorded a 2–0 home win over Huddersfield Town as Foyle claimed a brace. On 9 March, Vale won 4–3 at Norwich City to end a run of ten consecutive away defeats with what was voted as the performance of the week by the League Managers Association. The month of March saw Horton make his first signings as manager, bringing in five new faces: Dave Brammer (£300,000 from Wrexham); Tony Butler (£115,000 from Blackpool); Carl Griffiths (£100,000 from Leyton Orient); Alex Smith (£75,000 from Chester City); and Chris Allen (free from Nottingham Forest). This cost the club a total of £590,000. He also took in striker Alan Lee on loan from Aston Villa, and Craig Russell on loan from Manchester City. His changes finally paid off in April, as Vale went on a five-game unbeaten run. Their penultimate game was a 2–0 victory over QPR, meaning a final day 1–0 defeat at fellow relegation candidates Bury was inconsequential.
They finished in 21st position with 47 points, ahead of Bury on goals scored, but behind both Portsmouth and Queens Park Rangers on goals scored. Had the goals difference rule been in effect, Vale would have been relegated instead of Bury. Crewe Alexandra finished three places and one position higher than the Vale. Vale suffered 25 defeats, more than any other club in the league, and only Grimsby and Bury had scored fewer goals. Player of the Year Martin Foyle was the club's top-scorer with nine goals, representing the lowest total tally for the club's top-scorer since 1964–65. Only Paul Musselwhite and Allen Tankard managed to hit forty appearances, as a club record 43 players managed to turn out for the club throughout the season.
At the end of the season, there was a complete clear-out, with ten players leaving: ten-year club veteran Neil Aspin (Darlington); Dave Barnett (Lincoln City); Brian McGlinchey (Gillingham); John McQuade (Raith Rovers); Chris Allen (Stockport County); Rogier Koordes (TOP Oss); Jan Jansson (IFK Norrköping); Paul Mahorn (Stevenage Borough); Stéphane Pounewatchy (Colchester United); and Paul Beesley (Blackpool).

### Finances

The club's shirt sponsors were Tunstall Assurance.

### Cup competitions

In the FA Cup, Vale hosted Premier League side Liverpool. The "Reds" left Burslem with a 3–0 victory, the goals scored by Michael Owen, Paul Ince, and Robbie Fowler.
In the League Cup, Third Division Chester City dispatched the Vale 2–1 at Vale Park, and held on to a 2–2 draw at the Deva Stadium to embarrass Vale fans with a minor giant-killing act.

## League table

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
| 19 | Portsmouth | 46 | 11 | 14 | 21 | 57 | 73 | −16 | 47 | |
| 20 | Queens Park Rangers | 46 | 12 | 11 | 23 | 52 | 61 | −9 | 47 | |
| 21 | Port Vale | 46 | 13 | 8 | 25 | 45 | 75 | −30 | 47 | |
| 22 | Bury (R) | 46 | 10 | 17 | 19 | 35 | 60 | −25 | 47 | Relegation to the Second Division |
| 23 | Oxford United (R) | 46 | 10 | 14 | 22 | 48 | 71 | −23 | 44 | Relegation to the Second Division |

## Results

Port Vale's score comes first

### Football League First 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 | H | H | A | H | A | A | H | A | H | H | A | H | A | A | H | A | H | A | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | H | A | H | H | A |
| Result | L | L | L | D | L | W | W | L | D | L | W | W | W | W | D | L | L | L | L | L | D | L | L | W | L | L | L | L | L | W | L | W | L | W | D | L | L | L | W | D | D | W | D | L | W | L |
| Position | 23 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 22 | 19 | 19 | 21 | 23 | 20 | 18 | 15 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 15 | 16 | 20 | 19 | 22 | 22 | 20 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 23 | 22 | 22 | 21 | 21 | 20 | 20 | 21 | 21 | 22 | 21 | 22 | 21 | 20 | 20 | 21 | 20 | 21 |

#### Matches

| Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Scorers |
| 8 August 1998 | Birmingham City | H | 0–2 | 10,465 | |
| 15 August 1998 | Huddersfield Town | A | 1–2 | 10,030 | Ainsworth |
| 22 August 1998 | West Bromwich Albion | H | 0–3 | 8,146 | |
| 29 August 1998 | Swindon Town | A | 1–1 | 7,800 | Ainsworth |
| 31 August 1998 | Ipswich Town | H | 0–3 | 5,485 | |
| 8 September 1998 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | H | 2–1 | 8,087 | Beadle, Naylor |
| 12 September 1998 | Crystal Palace | A | 1–0 | 15,983 | Beadle |
| 19 September 1998 | Portsmouth | H | 0–2 | 5,992 | |
| 26 September 1998 | Grimsby Town | A | 2–2 | 5,747 | Naylor, Beesley |
| 29 September 1998 | Bradford City | A | 0–4 | 13,245 | |
| 3 October 1998 | Norwich City | H | 1–0 | 5,580 | Ainsworth |
| 11 October 1998 | Barnsley | A | 2–0 | 16,195 | Foyle, Beadle |
| 17 October 1998 | Bristol City | H | 3–2 | 6,691 | Ainsworth (2), Beesley |
| 20 October 1998 | Crewe Alexandra | H | 1–0 | 8,205 | Beesley |
| 24 October 1998 | Watford | A | 2–2 | 8,750 | Foyle, Tankard |
| 31 October 1998 | Sheffield United | H | 2–3 | 6,737 | Foyle, Beadle |
| 4 November 1998 | Bolton Wanderers | A | 1–3 | 13,324 | Beadle |
| 8 November 1998 | Stockport County | A | 2–4 | 7,612 | Beadle, Flynn (o.g.) |
| 14 November 1998 | Sunderland | H | 0–2 | 8,839 | |
| 21 November 1998 | Oxford United | A | 1–2 | 5,964 | McGlinchey |
| 28 November 1998 | Tranmere Rovers | H | 2–2 | 5,216 | Foyle (2) |
| 5 December 1998 | Queens Park Rangers | A | 2–3 | 10,498 | Foyle, Barker |
| 12 December 1998 | Sunderland | A | 0–2 | 37,583 | |
| 19 December 1998 | Bury | H | 1–0 | 6,425 | Barker (pen) |
| 26 December 1998 | West Bromwich Albion | A | 2–3 | 14,929 | Naylor (2) |
| 28 December 1998 | Bolton Wanderers | H | 0–2 | 8,201 | |
| 9 January 1999 | Birmingham City | A | 0–1 | 18,632 | |
| 16 January 1999 | Swindon Town | H | 0–1 | 5,405 | |
| 30 January 1999 | Ipswich Town | A | 0–1 | 16,328 | |
| 6 February 1999 | Huddersfield Town | H | 2–0 | 6,499 | Foyle (2) |
| 13 February 1999 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | A | 1–3 | 20,952 | Bogie |
| 20 February 1999 | Crystal Palace | H | 1–0 | 6,051 | Tankard |
| 27 February 1999 | Portsmouth | A | 0–4 | 12,838 | |
| 9 March 1999 | Norwich City | A | 4–3 | 12,960 | Tankard, Russell, Walsh, Bogie |
| 13 March 1999 | Stockport County | H | 1–1 | 6,456 | Allen |
| 20 March 1999 | Sheffield United | A | 0–3 | 15,515 | |
| 23 March 1999 | Grimsby Town | H | 0–1 | 4,980 | |
| 3 April 1999 | Bristol City | A | 0–2 | 11,039 | |
| 5 April 1999 | Barnsley | H | 1–0 | 5,968 | Foyle |
| 10 April 1999 | Crewe Alexandra | A | 0–0 | 5,606 | |
| 13 April 1999 | Bradford City | H | 1–1 | 6,998 | Lee |
| 17 April 1999 | Oxford United | H | 1–0 | 7,393 | Tankard |
| 24 April 1999 | Tranmere Rovers | A | 1–1 | 7,770 | Lee |
| 27 April 1999 | Watford | H | 1–2 | 7,126 | Widdrington |
| 1 May 1999 | Queens Park Rangers | H | 2–0 | 9,851 | Gardner, Griffiths |
| 9 May 1999 | Bury | A | 0–1 | 7,567 | |

### FA Cup

| Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Goalscorers |
| R3 | 3 January 1999 | Liverpool | H | 0–3 | 16,557 | |

### League Cup

| Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Goalscorers |
| R1 1st Leg | 11 August 1998 | Chester City | H | 1–2 | 3,478 | Ainsworth |
| R1 2nd Leg | 18 August 1998 | Chester City | A | 2–2 | 2,461 | Naylor (2) |

## 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 | Matthew Boswell | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| GK | Paul Musselwhite | 38 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 40 | 0 |
| GK | Kevin Pilkington | 8 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 0 |
| DF | Neil Aspin | 30 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 32 | 0 |
| DF | Allen Tankard | 37 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 40 | 4 |
| DF | Matt Carragher | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 12 | 0 |
| DF | Paul Beesley | 35 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 36 | 3 |
| DF | Dave Barnett | 27 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 28 | 0 |
| DF | Liam Burns | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| DF | Mark Snijders | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 12 | 0 |
| DF | Michael Walsh | 19 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 22 | 1 |
| DF | Tony Butler | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| DF | Anthony Gardner | 15 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 1 |
| DF | Des Lyttle | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 |
| DF | Brian McGlinchey | 15 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 17 | 1 |
| DF | Stéphane Pounewatchy | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| DF | Alex Smith | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 |
| MF | Ian Bogie | 34 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 37 | 2 |
| MF | Wayne Corden | 14 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 16 | 0 |
| MF | Stewart Talbot | 33 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 35 | 0 |
| MF | Rogier Koordes | 17 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 18 | 0 |
| MF | Jan Jansson | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 0 |
| MF | Gareth Ainsworth | 15 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 17 | 6 |
| MF | Robin Berntsen | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| MF | Richard Eyre | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 0 |
| MF | Tommy Widdrington | 9 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 1 |
| MF | Chris Allen | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 1 |
| MF | Simon Barker | 25 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 25 | 2 |
| MF | Dave Brammer | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 0 |
| MF | Neil Brisco | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| MF | John McQuade | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| MF | Scott Mean | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| MF | George O'Callaghan | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| MF | Tony Rougier | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 0 |
| MF | Simon Armstrong | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| MF | Tony McShane | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| FW | Martin Foyle | 35 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 37 | 9 |
| FW | Tony Naylor | 22 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 25 | 6 |
| FW | Peter Beadle | 23 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 26 | 6 |
| FW | Marcus Bent | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 0 |
| FW | Andy Clarke | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 |
| FW | Carl Griffiths | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 |
| FW | Christophe Horlaville | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| FW | Alan Lee | 11 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 2 |
| FW | Derek McGill | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| FW | Craig Russell | 8 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 1 |
| FW | Justin O'Reilly | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| FW | Steve Williams | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |

### Top scorers

| Place | Position | Nation | Name | First Division | FA Cup | League Cup | Total |
| 1 | FW | England | Martin Foyle | 9 | 0 | 0 | 9 |
| 2 | MF | England | Gareth Ainsworth | 5 | 0 | 1 | 6 |
| – | FW | England | Peter Beadle | 6 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| – | FW | England | Tony Naylor | 4 | 0 | 2 | 6 |
| 5 | DF | England | Allen Tankard | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| 6 | DF | England | Paul Beesley | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 7 | FW | Ireland | Alan Lee | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| – | MF | England | Simon Barker | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| – | MF | England | Ian Bogie | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 10 | FW | England | Craig Russell | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| – | FW | England | Michael Walsh | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| – | FW | England | Anthony Gardner | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| – | FW | Northern Ireland | Brian McGlinchey | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| – | MF | England | Tommy Widdrington | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| – | MF | England | Chris Allen | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| – | FW | England | Carl Griffiths | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| – | | – | Own goals | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| | | | TOTALS | 45 | 0 | 3 | 48 |

## Transfers
### Transfers in

| Date from | Position | Name | From | Fee |
| June 1998 | DF | Brian McGlinchey | Manchester City | Free transfer |
| June 1998 | MF | John McQuade | Hamilton Academical | Free transfer |
| June 1998 | GK | Kevin Pilkington | Manchester United | Free transfer |
| 30 July 1998 | DF | Michael Walsh | Scunthorpe United | £100,000 |
| July 1998 | DF | Dave Barnett | Dunfermline Athletic | Free transfer |
| 6 August 1998 | FW | Peter Beadle | Bristol Rovers | £300,000 |
| 28 August 1998 | DF | Paul Beesley | Manchester City | Free transfer |
| August 1998 | MF | Neil Brisco | Manchester City | Free transfer |
| September 1998 | MF | Simon Barker | Queens Park Rangers | Free transfer |
| September 1998 | DF | Stéphane Pounewatchy | Dundee | Free transfer |
| October 1998 | FW | Derek McGill | Queen's Park | Free transfer |
| 4 January 1999 | MF | Tony Rougier | Hibernian | £175,000 |
| 15 January 1999 | FW | Marcus Bent | Crystal Palace | £300,000 |
| March 1999 | MF | Chris Allen | Nottingham Forest | Free transfer |
| 24 March 1999 | MF | Dave Brammer | Wrexham | £350,000 |
| 25 March 1999 | DF | Tony Butler | Blackpool | £115,000 |
| 25 March 1999 | FW | Carl Griffiths | Leyton Orient | £100,000 |
| 25 March 1999 | MF | Alex Smith | Chester City | £75,000 |

### Transfers out

| Date from | Position | Name | To | Fee |
| September 1998 | DF | Stéphane Pounewatchy | Colchester United | Free transfer |
| 3 November 1998 | MF | Gareth Ainsworth | Wimbledon | £2 million |
| December 1998 | FW | Derek McGill | Hamilton Academical | Free transfer |
| 18 February 1999 | FW | Peter Beadle | Notts County | £250,000 |
| February 1999 | MF | Jan Jansson | IFK Norrköping | Released |
| February 1999 | MF | Rogier Koordes | FC Oss | Free transfer |
| April 1999 | MF | John McQuade | Raith Rovers | Free transfer |
| May 1999 | DF | Paul Beesley | Stockport County | Free transfer |
| July 1999 | DF | Dave Barnett | Lincoln City | Free transfer |
| July 1999 | DF | Paul Beesley | Blackpool | Free transfer |
| August 1999 | DF | Brian McGlinchey | Gillingham | Released |
| Summer 1999 | DF | Neil Aspin | Darlington | Free transfer |

### Loans in

| Date from | Position | Name | From | Date to |
| 21 August 1998 | MF | Scott Mean | West Ham United | 23 August 1998 |
| 28 August 1998 | FW | Andy Clarke | Wimbledon | 1 October 1998 |
| October 1998 | MF | Christophe Horlaville | Le Havre | January 1999 |
| November 1998 | MF | Robin Berntsen | Tromsø IL | November 1998 |
| 19 November 1998 | DF | Des Lyttle | Nottingham Forest | 28 December 1998 |
| 29 January 1999 | FW | Craig Russell | Manchester City | End of season |
| 2 March 1999 | FW | Alan Lee | Aston Villa | End of season |
| 24 March 1999 | MF | Tommy Widdrington | Grimsby Town | May 1999 |