1998–99 Port Vale F.C. season

Port Vale
1998–99 season
ChairmanBill Bell
ManagerJohn Rudge
(until 18 January)
Brian Horton
(from 22 January)
StadiumVale Park
Football League First Division21st (47 Points)
FA CupThird Round
(knocked out by Liverpool)
League CupFirst Round
(knocked out by Chester City)
Player of the YearMartin Foyle
Top goalscorerLeague: Martin Foyle (9)
All: Martin Foyle (9)
Highest home attendance16,557 vs. Liverpool, 3 January 1999
Lowest home attendance3,478 vs. Chester City, 11 August 1998
Average home league attendance6,991
Biggest win2–0 (three games)
Biggest defeat0–4 (twice)

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 16 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".[1] 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 15 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.[2]

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.[3] 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.[4] 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, which included a first career goal for 18-year old defender Anthony Gardner.[5] 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.[6]

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. Season ticket prices ranged between £228 and £257 fr adults, and matchday tickets were £12 and £13.50.[7]

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

Main article: 1998–99 Football League

Pos Team 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
Source:
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goals scored; 3) Goal difference
(R) Relegated

Results

Port Vale's score comes first

Football League First Division

Results by matchday

Round12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031323334353637383940414243444546
GroundHAHAHHAHAAHAHHAHAAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHHAHHA
ResultLLLDLWWLDLWWWWDLLLLLDLLWLLLLLWLWLWDLLLWDDWDLWL
Position23242424242219192123201815121313131516201922222020212223232222212120202121222122212020212021
Source: Statto[8]
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

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

Main article: 1998–99 FA Cup
Round Date Opponent Venue Result Attendance Goalscorers
R3 3 January 1999 Liverpool H 0–3 16,557

League Cup

Main article: 1998–99 Football 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 FA Cup League Cup Total
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 Nationality Name From Fee Ref.
June 1998 DF Brian McGlinchey Manchester City Free transfer [9]
June 1998 MF John McQuade Hamilton Academical Free transfer [9]
June 1998 GK Kevin Pilkington Manchester United Free transfer [9]
30 July 1998 DF Michael Walsh Scunthorpe United £100,000 [9]
July 1998 DF Dave Barnett Dunfermline Athletic Free transfer [9]
6 August 1998 FW Peter Beadle Bristol Rovers £300,000 [9]
28 August 1998 DF Paul Beesley Manchester City Free transfer [9]
August 1998 MF Neil Brisco Manchester City Free transfer [9]
September 1998 MF Simon Barker Queens Park Rangers Free transfer [9]
September 1998 DF Stéphane Pounewatchy Dundee Free transfer [9]
October 1998 FW Derek McGill Queen's Park Free transfer [9]
4 January 1999 MF Tony Rougier Hibernian £175,000 [9]
15 January 1999 FW Marcus Bent Crystal Palace £300,000 [9]
March 1999 MF Chris Allen Nottingham Forest Free transfer [9]
24 March 1999 MF Dave Brammer Wrexham £350,000 [9]
25 March 1999 DF Tony Butler Blackpool £115,000 [9]
25 March 1999 FW Carl Griffiths Leyton Orient £100,000 [9]
25 March 1999 MF Alex Smith Chester City £75,000 [9]

Transfers out

Date from Position Nationality Name To Fee Ref.
September 1998 DF Stéphane Pounewatchy Colchester United Free transfer [9]
3 November 1998 MF Gareth Ainsworth Wimbledon £2 million [9]
December 1998 FW Derek McGill Hamilton Academical Free transfer [9]
18 February 1999 FW Peter Beadle Notts County £250,000 [9]
February 1999 MF Jan Jansson IFK Norrköping Released [9]
February 1999 MF Rogier Koordes FC Oss Free transfer [9]
April 1999 MF John McQuade Raith Rovers Free transfer [9]
May 1999 DF Paul Beesley Stockport County Free transfer [9]
July 1999 DF Dave Barnett Lincoln City Free transfer [9]
July 1999 DF Paul Beesley Blackpool Free transfer [9]
August 1999 DF Brian McGlinchey Gillingham Released [9]
Summer 1999 DF Neil Aspin Darlington Free transfer [9]

Loans in

Date from Position Nationality Name From Date to Ref.
21 August 1998 MF Scott Mean West Ham United 23 August 1998 [9]
28 August 1998 FW Andy Clarke Wimbledon 1 October 1998 [9]
October 1998 MF Christophe Horlaville Le Havre January 1999 [9]
November 1998 MF Robin Berntsen Tromsø IL November 1998 [9]
19 November 1998 DF Des Lyttle Nottingham Forest 28 December 1998 [9]
29 January 1999 FW Craig Russell Manchester City End of season [9]
2 March 1999 FW Alan Lee Aston Villa End of season [9]
24 March 1999 MF Tommy Widdrington Grimsby Town May 1999 [9]

References

Specific
  1. ^ Baggaley, Mike (2 September 2024). "Problems to fix after a shaky start". Valiant's Substack. Retrieved 2 September 2024.
  2. ^ Brian, Horton; Rich, Tim (2020). Two Thousand Games: A Life in Football. Worthing: Pitch. p. 188. ISBN 978-1-78531-668-5.
  3. ^ Baggaley, Mike (6 February 2025). "Ready for Swindon challenge". Valiant's Substack. Retrieved 6 February 2025.
  4. ^ Baggaley, Mike (9 March 2025). "Vale rescue a point amid late drama". Valiant's Substack. Retrieved 9 March 2025.
  5. ^ Baggaley, Mike (1 May 2025). "Ready for a momentous day". Valiant's Substack. Retrieved 1 May 2025.
  6. ^ Baggaley, Mike (26 January 2017). "Port Vale talking points: Scouts, signings and likely game change". Stoke Sentinel. Retrieved 26 January 2017.
  7. ^ Kean, Roger (1 September 1998). Superclubs Soccer Yearbook 98/99. Depsey Parr. p. 7. ISBN 978-1840841060.
  8. ^ Port Vale 1998–1999 : Results & Fixtures. Statto Organisation. Retrieved 28 April 2012.
  9. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al "Port Vale FC Club Details | Transfers | Soccer Base". www.soccerbase.com. Retrieved 7 October 2016.
General
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