1985–86 Port Vale F.C. season

The 1985–86 season was Port Vale's 74th season of football in the English Football League, and second-successive (13th overall) season in the Fourth Division.^[1] John Rudge managed a Vale to a club record low of only one home league defeat all season, contributing to a fourth-place finish with 79 points and a return to the Third Division via promotion.

Building the team shrewdly, Rudge leaned on rookie striker Andy Jones — signed for just a few thousand pounds — to lead the scoring charts with 18 goals, while Robbie Earle added 15 strikes in the league, and Jim Arnold marshalled a resolute defence that earned him Player of the Year honors. In cup competitions, the team reached the Second Round in both the FA Cup and League Cup, and progressed to the Northern Section Semi-finals of the Associate Members' Cup.

A season of calculated recruitment, defensive consistency, and rising young stars such as Andy Jones and Robbie Earle culminated in a well-earned return to the Third Division — the first taste of Rudge’s managerial success.

The pre-season saw John Rudge sign big defender John Williams from Tranmere Rovers for £12,000, and powerful Welsh striker Andy Jones from Northern Premier League side Rhyl for £3,000.^[1] He also signed 35-year-old goalkeeper Jim Arnold (Everton); midfielder Paul Maguire (Tacoma Stars); hard-working midfielder Jeff Johnson (Gillingham); and Wayne Ebanks (who had played on loan from West Bromwich Albion the previous season).^[1] Meanwhile, new safety regulations reduced Vale Park's capacity down to 16,800, and later again to 16,300.^[1] The club set a £10 bonus for clean sheets and also set bonuses for promotion. Another late addition was Jon Bowden from Oldham Athletic for £5,000.^[1]

The season opened with a 1–0 defeat to Exeter City at St James Park on 17 August.^[1] They did, though, manage to win 2–1 at Burnley on 26 August, avenging the 7–0 defeat they had suffered at Turf Moor two seasons prior.^[2] Bowden made his debut in a 4–1 home win over Cambridge United on 14 September, though had his elbow dislocated in a sending off incident from opposition defender Geoff Scott. Vale continued in indifferent form, and three days later they played out a goalless draw with Aldershot at the Recreation Ground's lowest recorded Football League attendance of 1,027.^[1] At the end of the month, Vale went nine league games without a loss to fire the club into the promotion race, their run including three 4–0 wins in Burslem as they went clear at the top of the table.^[1] With John Williams sidelined with an ankle injury, Vale's form suffered with just two wins in the following eleven games, and Vale fell to fifth place.^[1] Williams picked up his injury on 26 October as Vale won 3–0 at home to Lou Macari's Swindon Town.^[3]

On 2 November, Vale went to the top of the table with a 1–0 victory at Preston North End after being gifted a dubious penalty.^[1] Their form suffered, though they did pick up a 3–0 home win over Crewe Alexandra on Boxing Day, with Ally Brown scoring a "spectacular overhead kick".^[1] Rudge looked at bringing in Niall Quinn as loan cover, but was denied after Arsenal had an injury to striker Tony Woodcock and needed Quin to stay as cover for their own team.^[4] Vale fell to a 4–1 defeat at second-placed Chester City on New Year's Day. They were also beaten on a snow-covered Vale Park pitch by one goal to nil by Preston North End three days later.

From 11 January to 26 April, the "Valiants" hit a run of 18 league games unbeaten (eight draws and ten wins), thus ensuring promotion.^[1] This run was built on the striking partnership of Robbie Earle and Andy Jones, as well as a solid defence and consistent displays from keeper Arnold.^[1] During this spell Rudge failed to re-sign Bob Newton from Chesterfield, though was cheered by completing the double over Dario Gradi's Crewe Alexandra at Gresty Road.^[1] A 1–1 draw at fourth-placed Hartlepool United in a "drab, lifeless" match was crucial. One low point was an attack by a Stockport gang on Russell Bromage following a 2–1 win over Stockport County at Edgeley Park.^[1] Vale broke into the top four for the first time with a 3–1 win over Aldershot on what was described as "a paddy-field of a pitch".^[5] They demonstrated their steel by securing a 0–0 at league leaders Swindon Town in the next match. On 31 March, Vale won 1–0 away at Crewe despite Brown being sent off on 53 minutes, ending the hosts' club record-equalling run of seven consecutive victories and start a sequence of five successive Vale victories.^[6]

Promotion was ensured with a comfortable 1–0 win over bottom club Torquay United at Plainmoor, in which the majority of the crowd were Vale fans.^[7] The Sentinel's Chris Harper said centre halves John Williams and Phil Sproson were outstanding in this game.^[8] Promotion was celebrated with a dinner dance at Keele University.^[9] However, with two defeats and a draw in their final three games, Rudge accused his players of lacking professionalism as they lost the chance to head into the Third Division as runners-up.^[1]

They finished in fourth place with 79 points, seven points clear of Orient.^[1] Preston North End were the only team to beat Vale on their ground in the league all season.^[1] Their 37 goals conceded was the lowest total in the division and a record excelled only by Manchester United in the First Division.^[1] Their 67 goals scored tally was not particularly impressive, though Earle and Jones' partnership provided almost half of these goals.^[1] Phil Sproson was selected for the PFA Fourth Division Team of the Year.^[1]

On the financial side, the season lost a disastrous sum of £79,474.^[1] The promotion bonuses meant the wage bill totalled at £413,471.^[1] Vale's average home attendance of 3,581 was the third-highest in the division.^[1] The club's shirt sponsors were ECI. Three players transferred at the end of the season were Peter Griffiths (Salisbury United), Chris Pearce (Wrexham), and Jeff Johnson (Barrow).^[1] Player of the Year Jim Arnold and Ally Brown retired, whilst Oshor Williams was sold to Preston North End for 'a small fee'.^[1]

In the FA Cup, Vale beat Mansfield Town 1–0 in a replay following a 1–1 draw at Field Mill two days previously.^[10] Vale Park saw a crowd of 11,736 for the second round goalless tie with Walsall, and were then eliminated following a 2–1 defeat at the Bescot Stadium.^[1]

In the League Cup, Vale advanced past Third Division side Wigan Athletic 3–2 on aggregate following at 2–0 win at Springfield Park. They were then knocked out by First Division club West Bromwich Albion, losing 1–0 at The Hawthorns, before giving an excellent account of themselves by battling back from 2–0 down at Vale Park to draw 2–2.^[1]

In the Associate Members' Cup, Vale advanced through the group stage with a 1–1 draw with Wrexham at the Racecourse Ground and a 2–0 home win over Blackpool. The next stage saw Vale triumph over Scunthorpe United at Glanford Park with a 4–3 win on penalties following a 1–1 draw. In the Area Semi-finals, they were then defeated by holders Wigan Athletic, though they still earned £1,250 in prize money.^[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.