1977–78 Port Vale F.C. season

The 1977–78 season was Port Vale's 66th season of football in the Football League, and their eighth successive season (14th overall) in the Third Division.^[1] A poor start led to the dismissal of long-standing manager Roy Sproson in October, followed by a brief caretaker spell by Colin Harper, before the appointment of Bobby Smith in mid‑November — though the managerial change failed to arrest the club's slide toward relegation. Vale finished 21st with 36 points, ensuring relegation to the Fourth Division.

Ken Beamish stood out as the club's league top scorer with 13 goals, and finished the season as overall top scorer with 16 in all competitions. In cup competitions, Vale reached the Second Round of the FA Cup, where they were eliminated by Walsall, and bowed out in the First Round of the League Cup. Support on the terraces remained modest: the average attendance was 3,947, with the highest home attendance of 7,051 coming against Walsall on 19 December 1977, and the lowest being 3,220 against Hereford United on 22 March 1978. The club's largest win was a 4–0 victory over Exeter City on 8 February 1978, while several three-goal losses marked their heaviest reversals.

A season of turmoil on and off the pitch culminated in Val's relegation, despite late efforts under Bobby Smith and dependable scoring from Ken Beamish.

The pre-season saw manager Roy Sproson attempt to re-sign Sammy Morgan for £12,000, however, Morgan refused personal terms.^[1] Former Player of the Year David Harris also refused terms and demanded a transfer, so Terry Alcock re-joined on a month's trial to take his place.^[1] Three players arrived on free transfers: Jeff Hemmerman and Grahame McGifford from Hull City, and Bill Bentley from Blackpool.^[1] At a board meeting on 28 June, Sproson was severely criticized for his poor judgement of players and his seeming to place greater priority on his newsagent business than the club.^[1] Sproson did not attend the meeting but was informed the board would review his position after 15 games.^[1] The Football Association also hit the club with a £500 fine for their continuing problem with player indiscipline, despite Sproson's argument that no Vale players had been sent off in the last two years.^[1]

The season began poorly with a 3–1 defeat at home to Chesterfield. Harris returned to the first XI and Alcock thus departed.^[1] Goalkeeper John Connaughton picked up a knee injury, whilst a reporter from The Sentinel was allegedly told "I'll kill you" by a club official after he criticised the team in the paper.^[1] The reporter noted that "there is disenchantment in the air".^[1] The situation was calmed on 27 September, when Vale beat league leaders Colchester United 3–2 at Layer Road, reserve keeper Trevor Dance making a double penalty save.^[1] This was only a reprieve for Sproson however, as Vale would go the next 14 league games without a victory, and the Vale Park faithful turned against the team.^[1] This run was not too damaging however, as eleven of the games were drawn.^[1] Included in this was a club record streak of six home draws, lasting from 10 October to 27 December. On 1 October, Vale lost 2–1 at home to third-placed Bury after a "dreadful performance" and a missed penalty.^[1]

Sproson complained of Mick Cullerton's attitude and had to endure speculation of former Stoke City manager Tony Waddington taking his job.^[1] Sproson was sacked in October, and he rejected the offer of an executive position at the club.^[1] Colin Harper was made caretaker manager.^[1] The board tried and failed to attract Bill McGarry to the vacant managerial position, and so advertised the position with a significant salary increase to attract applicants.^[1] On 17 November, Bobby Smith was sacked as Bury manager, and the next day walked into the Vale job.^[1] He appointed Dennis Butler as his assistant, as Harper left the club.^[1] Sproson also returned to Vale with an offer 'to help in any capacity'.^[1] Victory finally came on New Year's Eve with a 3–0 win over Rotherham United.^[1] Soon after this, the 'Vale Lottery' was introduced, which proved to be a real money-spinner, and a five-a-side pitch was built for training.^[1]

In January, veteran defender Graham Hawkins was signed as a player-coach from Blackburn Rovers for £6,000.^[1] Forward Neville Chamberlain also joined the club as a professional, becoming the club's first black pro.^[1] John Froggatt also joined the club, signing from Colchester United for £10,000.^[1] Chairman Arthur McPherson celebrated this abandonment of frugality by declaring that "we are going places".^[1] Chris Harper slated the board for their decisions, calling them 'berserk'. Froggatt scored 15 seconds into his debut in a 4–0 win over Exeter City.^[1] However, this would be as good as it got for both Froggatt and Vale this season. Smith decided to row back on his initial attacking philosophy at the club as "we do not have the players to attack".^[1]

In February, Vale beat Fort Lauderdale Strikers in a friendly, but also started a five-game sequence without a win.^[1] Midfielder Ged Stenson arrived the next month from Everton for a 'bargain' £3,000, and right-back John Lumsdon joined on loan from Stoke City.^[1] Vale improved, and were unbeaten in six of their seven March games, with Chamberlain scoring the only goal of the game against Swindon Town on his debut on 11 March.^[1] On 28 March, they started a club-record streak of twelve home games without a win that would continue into the following season. Encouragement came from the youth side, who reached the Quarter Finals of the FA Youth Cup.^[1] With four games to go, Vale were point clear of the drop; however, by losing all of their remaining games, they doomed themselves to the Fourth Division.^[1] Their nerves had been shredded during a 3–0 defeat to Colchester United on the penultimate day. They took the lead at Plymouth Argyle on the final day, though they ended up losing the match by three goals to two.^[1]

They finished in 21st place with 36 points, three short of Rotherham United and safety.^[1] Their tally of 46 goals scored was the third-lowest in the division.^[1] They had failed to keep a clean sheet on their travels all season, achieving just one away win.^[1] Player of the Year Ken Beamish hit 16 goals, far outscoring his rivals.^[1]

On the financial side, a loss of £1,575 was made.^[1] The massive transfer outlay was paid for by huge donations of £51,428 from the Sportsmen's Association and the Development Fund.^[1] The lottery also brought in £600 a week.^[1] Gate receipts had brought in £78,965, a downturn in attendance being outweighed by an increase in ticket prices.^[1] Seven players were handed free transfers, five of which were: Mick Cullerton and Grahame McGifford (Northwich Victoria); Derek Brownbill (Cleveland Cobras); Alan Lamb (Dundee); and Kevin Kennerley (Stafford Rangers).^[1] Manager Bobby Smith also departed, having taken the vacant position at Swindon Town – Vale received £10,500 in compensation.^[1] Dennis Butler rejected the opportunity to leave with him and instead was appointed as Smith's replacement at Vale.^[1] Graham Hawkins became Butler's assistant.^[1]

In the FA Cup, Smith's first game in charge was a goalless draw at Midland Counties League side Arnold.^[1] The replay in Burslem was won 5–2, the club's biggest win since January 1969.^[1] In the second round, Vale drew 1–1 with Walsall at Fellows Park before losing the replay 3–1 after Connaughton allowed a speculative shot from 25 yards (23 m) out to trickle through his hands.^[1] He later admitted, "I deserve to be strung up!".^[1]

In the League Cup, Vale beat Preston North End 2–1 in the home leg, though the fixture was unsettled by crowd violence.^[1] Preston won the return leg at Deepdale, and also the replay at Edgeley Park, Stockport.^[1]

Key to positions: GK – Goalkeeper; DF – Defender; MF – Midfielder; FW – Forward

Specific

General

• Kent, Jeff (1993). The Port Vale Record 1879-1993. Witan Books. ISBN 0-9508981-9-8.