1982–83 Port Vale F.C. season

The 1982–83 season was Port Vale's 71st season of football in the English Football League, and their fifth-successive season (11th overall) in the Fourth Division.^[1] Under the stewardship of manager John McGrath, Vale played consistently, amassing a club record 88 points (a total equalled only in 1993–94), to secure promotion by finishing third in the division.

At the start of the campaign, McGrath sold both Chamberlain brothers and goalkeeper Mark Harrison to local rivals Stoke City for a combined fee of £240,000, before signing Bob Newton for just £15,000, who would go on to be the league's top scorer for Vale with 20 goals, and bringing in Wayne Cegielski on a free transfer, who was eventually voted Player of the Year. Their defensive solidity was pivotal — they conceded just 34 league goals, the best across the top four tiers, sharing that record with Hull City. In the cup competitions, Vale suffered first-round exits, losing to Bradford City in the FA Cup and going out to Rochdale in the League Cup, the latter by a 2–1 aggregate scoreline. The club enjoyed a robust average home attendance of 4,806, the second-highest in the division, and recorded a highest gate of 8,241 versus Crewe Alexandra, highlighting solid local support.

A finely balanced campaign of frugal rebuilding, sharp recruitment, strong defending and consistency culminated in a triumphant promotion.

The pre-season saw John McGrath try, and fail, to re-sign the League of Ireland's Player of the Year, Felix Healy.^[1] He instead signed four players on free transfers: John Ridley (a former Valiant), 26-year-old defender Wayne Cegielski (Wrexham), striker Les Lawrence (Torquay United), and midfielder Steve Waddington (Walsall).^[1] The club also signed a shirt sponsorship deal with PMT.^[1] In August, rivals Stoke City paid Vale £180,000 for Mark Chamberlain and Mark Harrison.^[1] Chamberlain would go on to play for England.^[1] McGrath acted quickly to sign replacement goalkkeeper Barry Siddall from Sunderland, and take winger Kevin Sheldon on loan from Wigan Athletic.^[1]

The season started with five players making their débuts in a 1–0 defeat to Swindon Town at The County Ground on 28 August.^[1] Waddington damaged his cartilages in this game.^[1] McGrath attempted to sign Norwich City's former England international striker Mick Channon, but failed.^[1] Instead he took Bob Newton from Hartlepool United for £15,000.^[1] Stoke then took Neville Chamberlain to the Victoria Ground for £40,000.^[1] On 28 September, Vale won 4–1 away at seventh-placed Aldershot after going two goals up within the opening two minutes. They did, however, then lose 3–2 at home to Stockport County after conceding "three beauties" in the final 27 minutes of the match. Vale's form did not suffer, and they instead won five straight games in October, taking them into third place.^[1] Also Chairman Don Ratcliffe was replaced by Jim Lloyd.^[1] Winger Steve Fox also arrived from Welsh club Wrexham on a free transfer.^[1] During the club's 2–1 win over Crewe Alexandra on 22 October at Gresty Road a petrol bomb was thrown at the 3,000 strong Vale crowd, though it was extinguished by police without doing 'any real damage'.^[1]

On 6 November, Vale were losing 3–0 to Rochdale at Spotland and The Sentinel headlined their report with "Heavy defeat for Port Vale".^[1][2] This proved to be an inaccurate headline, as substitute Jimmy Greenhoff inspired a Vale fightback, and the match finished 3–3.^[1] In December, Colin Tartt was transfer listed following 'a bust-up with McGrath'.^[1] They built on this result with a 1–0 home win over Hull City, with Russell Bromage doing an excellent job of man-marking Brian Marwood whilst goalscorer Phil Sproson helped the defence to keep both Les Mutrie and Billy Whitehurst from scoring.^[3] Following only one win in a run of five games, Tranmere Rovers' players told the Vale players "see you next season" after picking up a 1–0 win at Vale Park.^[1]

A 1–0 win over promotion rivals Wimbledon started a run of ten wins in 12 games, despite having to sign Everton's Neville Southall on loan following a knee injury to Siddall sustained in a 3–1 win at bottom club Bristol City on 27 December.^[1] On 3 January, Greenhoff scored a volley from 30 yards (27 m)s out in a 2–1 win over York City.^[4] Five days later, Southall showed his ability with a "magnificent save" to ensure a 1–0 victory at Bury. The team's one blip was a 1–0 loss at Chester on 22 January, which also saw Vale fans cause damage to Sealand Road. On 29 January, Vale recorded a 4–1 home win over Mansfield Town as correspondent Chris Harper reported that "Fox's old-fashioned skills on the wing were all too much for managerless Mansfield".^[5] Their run put them nine points clear at the top of the table.^[1]

At the end of February, Southall was recalled, and Stoke refused to loan back Harrison as cover.^[1] Wolverhampton Wanderers goalkeeper Andy Poole proved to be an inadequate replacement and the team slipped to third in the table.^[1] Vale then lost Greenhoff to Rochdale, who offered him the vacant management post.^[1] Lol Hamlett's last match as trainer (he retired due to illness) was a 2–0 defeat to Blackpool at Bloomfield Road, as Vale were in danger of failing to win promotion.^[1] McGrath decided to sign striker Jim Steel from Oldham Athletic for £10,000, and loaned Mark Lawrence from Hartlepool United.^[1] Newton scored a hat-trick in a 4–0 win over Rochdale on 19 March. Siddall returned and so did Vale's form, as they recorded five victories in seven games.^[1] Ernie Moss left for Lincoln City for a £1,500 fee, McGrath saying 'age caught up with him'.^[1]

On 4 April, Vale only managed a draw at Bristol City, with McGrath commenting that striker Newton was "going through one of those spells when he could not hit the back of a bus". Four days later, Newton opened the scoring in a 2–0 win at Tranmere Rovers.^[6] On 12 April, Vale inflicted Colchester United's first home defeat of the season. Wimbledon then beat Vale at Plough Lane and ran away with the championship, though Vale managed to secure promotion with a "ruthlessly efficient" 2–0 victory over Stockport County at Edgeley Park on 6 May.^[7][1] The crowd of 5,516 was Stockport's biggest gate of the season.^[8] The jubilant players seemed distracted in the final two games, and their two defeats allowed Hull City to take the runners-up spot.^[1] McGrath signed a new two-year contract.^[1]

They finished in third place with 88 points, seven points clear of fifth-placed Bury.^[1] Conceding just 34 goals, theirs was the best defensive record in the top four divisions, along with Hull.^[1] Bob Newton was top-scorer with twenty goals, whilst four players were chosen for the PFA Fourth Division team – Phil Sproson, Russell Bromage, Geoff Hunter, and Steve Fox.^[1]

On the financial side, a record £100,888 profit was announced, their first profitable season since 1975–76.^[1] The lottery brought in £142,324, the open market rents took in £51,462, whilst Vale's average home attendance was the second-highest in the division.^[1] Total liabilities stood at £236,850 and the bank overdraft was £128,123.^[1] Two players departing at the end of the season were Les Lawrence (Aldershot) and Steve Waddington (Chesterfield), who had not established themselves in the first team.^[1]

In the FA Cup, they were knocked out by Third Division side Bradford City 1–0 in the first round.^[1]

In the League Cup, Vale lost out 2–1 on aggregate to Rochdale, following a 2–0 defeat at Spotland.^[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.