1993–94 Port Vale F.C. season
The 1993–94 season was Port Vale's eighty-second season of football in the Football League, and fifth successive (thirty-seventh overall) season in the Second Division. They won promotion to the First Division as the division's runners-up, just one point away from champions Reading. In the FA Cup, John Rudge's men caused an upset by defeating top-flight Southampton, before they exited at the Fourth Round. Vale were knocked out of the League Cup at the First Round, and the League Trophy at the Area Quarter-finals.
Overview
Second Division
The pre-season saw John Rudge sign left-back Allen Tankard from Wigan Athletic for £87,500. Experienced forward Keith Houchen was allowed to join Hartlepool United on a free transfer, and Paul Kerr signed with Leicester City.
The season opened with a 2–1 defeat to Burnley at the Underhill Stadium. Though the season really got going for the Vale with their opening home game, as they recorded a 6–0 win over Barnet, both Martin Foyle and Bernie Slaven bagging hat-tricks. This however would be the only victory in the first seven league games. In September, Steve Livingstone joined the club on loan from Chelsea. Then in October, Canadian Ollie Heald signed from Norvan, having impressed whilst on trial. Vale shot up the table with eight victories in ten games. In January, Aidan Newhouse arrived on loan from Wimbledon, but only played two games. In February, Bernie Slaven left the club for Darlington. The next month Rudge brought Joe Allon to the club after Allon left Brentford. He also signed winger David Lowe on loan from Leicester City. Vale picked up four clean sheets in the first five games of March, but ended the month with two defeats. They had a solid April, winning six of their eight games, with Foyle scoring a hat-trick past Leyton Orient at Brisbane Road on 4 April. Two victories from their final two games of the season ensured promotion.
They finished in second-placed with 88 points, despite having finished third the previous season with 89 points. Top-scorer was Martin Foyle with eighteen goals, though Ian Taylor and Nicky Cross also hit double figures.
At the end of the season, star midfielder Ian Taylor was sold to Sheffield Wednesday for £1 million (plus add-ons). The club also sold Peter Swan to Plymouth Argyle for £300,000. Also leaving the club were Nicky Cross and Trevor Wood, who joined Hereford United and Walsall respectively.
Cup competitions
In the FA Cup, Vale brushed aside Blackpool (2–0) and Huddersfield Town (1–0). Drawn against Premier League Southampton in the Third Round, the "Valiants" earned a 1–1 draw at The Dell with an Andy Porter goal. Back at Burslem, Vale achieved a giantkilling with a Bernie Slaven goal. In the Fourth Round they faced First Division Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux, and were defeated 2–0.
In the League Cup, Vale exited at the First Round to Third Division Lincoln City on away goals, having drawn 2–2 at Vale Park and 0–0 at Sincil Bank.
In the League Trophy, Vale reached the Area Quarter-finalists. They would not enter the competition again until 2000–01.
Final league table
P = Matches played; W = Matches won; D = Matches drawn; L = Matches lost; F = Goals for; A = Goals against; Pts = Points
Results
Port Vale's score comes first
Legend
Date |
Opponent |
Venue |
Result |
Attendance |
Scorers |
14 August 1993 |
Burnley |
A |
1–2 |
12,592 |
Taylor |
21 August 1993 |
Barnet |
H |
6–0 |
7,538 |
Foyle (3), Slaven (3) |
28 August 1993 |
Plymouth Argyle |
A |
0–2 |
6,072 |
|
31 August 1993 |
Cambridge United |
H |
2–2 |
6,484 |
Cross, Kerr |
4 September 1993 |
Cardiff City |
H |
2–2 |
8,140 |
Slaven (2) |
11 September 1993 |
Bristol Rovers |
A |
0–2 |
4,908 |
|
14 September 1993 |
Huddersfield Town |
A |
1–1 |
5,154 |
Slaven |
18 September 1993 |
Hartlepool United |
H |
1–0 |
7,279 |
Kerr |
25 September 1993 |
Brentford |
A |
2–1 |
5,106 |
Cross, van der Laan |
2 October 1993 |
Wrexham |
H |
3–0 |
8,722 |
Cross (2), Kerr |
9 October 1993 |
Hull City |
H |
2–1 |
9,459 |
Cross (2) |
16 October 1993 |
Blackpool |
A |
3–1 |
8,969 |
Cross (2), Taylor |
23 October 1993 |
Reading |
H |
0–4 |
9,252 |
|
30 October 1993 |
Rotherham United |
A |
2–0 |
4,786 |
Foyle, Taylor |
6 November 1993 |
Swansea City |
H |
3–0 |
7,854 |
Own goal, Glover, Taylor |
20 November 1993 |
Exeter City |
A |
1–1 |
3,908 |
van der Laan |
27 November 1993 |
Brighton & Hove Albion |
H |
4–0 |
7,261 |
Cross, Foyle (2), Taylor |
7 December 1993 |
Bournemouth |
A |
1–2 |
2,954 |
Jeffers |
11 December 1993 |
Barnet |
A |
3–2 |
3,100 |
Foyle, Kerr, Taylor |
18 December 1993 |
Burnley |
H |
1–1 |
10,710 |
Slaven |
27 December 1993 |
Fulham |
A |
0–0 |
5,760 |
|
29 December 1993 |
Leyton Orient |
H |
2–1 |
8,978 |
van der Laan (2) |
1 January 1994 |
York City |
A |
0–1 |
5,903 |
|
15 January 1994 |
Blackpool |
H |
2–0 |
7,915 |
Cross (2) |
22 January 1994 |
Hull City |
A |
0–0 |
6,918 |
|
5 February 1994 |
Reading |
A |
2–1 |
7,645 |
Foyle, Kent |
12 February 1994 |
Stockport County |
H |
1–1 |
10,628 |
Foyle |
19 February 1994 |
Plymouth Argyle |
H |
2–1 |
9,093 |
Lowe, Taylor |
22 February 1994 |
Cambridge United |
A |
0–1 |
2,543 |
|
1 March 1994 |
Bradford City |
H |
0–0 |
7,294 |
|
5 March 1994 |
Bristol Rovers |
H |
2–0 |
8,682 |
Taylor (2) |
12 March 1994 |
Hartlepool United |
A |
4–1 |
1,798 |
Aspin, Cross, Lowe |
15 March 1994 |
Huddersfield Town |
H |
1–0 |
7,010 |
Kent |
19 March 1994 |
Brentford |
H |
1–0 |
8,269 |
Taylor |
26 March 1994 |
Wrexham |
A |
1–2 |
7,202 |
van der Laan |
29 March 1994 |
Bradford City |
A |
1–2 |
5,776 |
Foyle |
2 April 1994 |
Fulham |
H |
2–2 |
7,380 |
Allon |
4 April 1994 |
Leyton Orient |
A |
3–2 |
3,412 |
Foyle (3) |
12 April 1994 |
Rotherham United |
H |
2–1 |
6,804 |
Griffiths |
16 April 1994 |
Bournemouth |
H |
2–1 |
7,603 |
Cross, Taylor |
19 April 1994 |
Stockport County |
A |
1–2 |
5,910 |
Lowe |
21 April 1994 |
York City |
H |
2–1 |
8,703 |
Glover, Lowe |
26 April 1994 |
Swansea City |
A |
1–0 |
4,252 |
Taylor |
30 April 1994 |
Exeter City |
H |
3–0 |
10,377 |
Foyle (2), Kent |
3 May 1994 |
Cardiff City |
A |
3–1 |
4,705 |
Kent, Lowe, Taylor |
7 May 1994 |
Brighton & Hove Albion |
A |
3–1 |
15,423 |
Foyle (2), Glover |
FA Cup
Main article:
1993–94 FA Cup
League Cup
League Trophy
Player statistics
Appearances
Scorers
All competitions
League
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