1986–87 Port Vale F.C. season

The 1986–87 season was Port Vale's 75th season of football in the English Football League, and first (16th overall) season back in the Third Division following promotion from the Fourth Division.^[1] Under the stewardship of manager John Rudge and chairman Jim Lloyd, the club secured a mid-table finish, ending the campaign in 12th place with 57 points.

Andy Jones, Rudge's signing, who also received the Player of the Year accolade, was the club's top scorer, netting 31 goals in the league and 37 in all competitions. Vale's cup runs were modest: they reached the Second Round of both the FA Cup (eliminated by Walsall) and the League Cup, and progressed to the Northern Quarter-final of the Associate Members' Cup, exiting against Gillingham. Vale Park witnessed its record lowest gate for a competitive match when only 994 supporters attended the Associate Members' Cup tie with Hereford United, while the season featured a club record largest away win of 6–0 against Fulham, and the heaviest defeat of 5–0 to Walsall. The season also saw significant squad developments, including the signing of Ray Walker and the debut of Andy Porter.

Stabilising in the third tier, Vale laid the groundwork for a promotion challenge that would materialise two years later.

The pre-season saw John Rudge bring 28-year-old goalkeeper Mark Grew to the club from Ipswich Town.^[1] He also bought Aston Villa's Ray Walker for £12,000 following his successful loan spell the previous season; Sheffield United winger Paul Smith for £10,000; and Walsall's 'cultured' striker Richard O'Kelly for £6,000.^[1] Rudge was connected with the vacant management position at Preston North End, but declared himself happy at Vale Park.^[1] The season would see its midweek games played on a Tuesday, rather than the traditional Monday and the play-offs were also introduced.^[1]

The season opened with a 2–2 draw at crisis club Middlesbrough, who were forced to play the fixture at Hartlepool, after finding themselves kicked out of Ayresome Park.^[1] Vale also drew their opening home match the following week against Rotherham United, and Grew was forced off with a knee injury and Alan Webb split his shinbone.^[1] Jim Arnold, now a full-tiem policeman, agreed to return to the club on non-contract terms to replace the injured Grew.^[1] Playing a 'fluent, passing game', Vale defeated bogey-team Walsall, who had maintained a 21-game unbeaten league run against the "Valiants" since 1965.^[1] Ageing Arnold failed to maintain his fitness and Vale struggled around the foot of the table following a 4–3 reverse to Swindon Town on 21 October.^[1] Rudge signed 'giant' Alex Williams on loan from Manchester City.^[1] Despite Andy Jones leading the scoring charts, Vale still suffered. Rudge's attempts to sign Steve Bull from West Bromwich Albion failed.^[1] On 9 November, Vale Park hosted an American football match, in which Locomotive Derby beat the Stoke Spitfires 13–8.^[1] By the end of the month, Vale were cut four points adrift at the bottom of the league.^[1] The next month John Williams was sold to Bournemouth for £30,000, having been in poor form for Vale.^[1] Rudge then splashed out £5,000 on Bristol City's Gary Hamson.^[1] He also brought Bob Hazell in from Reading on a free transfer.^[1] The team fell to a 3–2 defeat at Darlington on 19 December.^[1]

Hazell successfully shored up the Vale defence, as in his first three games, the Vale kept three clean sheets.^[1] O'Kelly required a knee operation in January, but good news came as Alex Williams was signed permanently for £10,000.^[1] The team achieved a "handsome" 4–1 victory over Brentford on 24 January, which led to Brentford manager Frank McLintock getting the sack.^[2] Three days later, Robbie Earle made his 142nd consecutive appearance in a 1–1 draw with Rotherham United at Millmoor, picking up a groin injury that put him into the treatment room.^[1] The next week, a 4–2 win over Doncaster Rovers was the last of a streak of six games unbeaten that took the Vale up to 14th in the table.^[1] Rudge attempted to sign Don Goodman, who was transfer listed at Bradford City, but ended his interest after being quoted £100,000.^[3] A bad February saw a 4–1 loss at Notts County and ended with a 6–1 capitulation at home to Blackpool, Vale's biggest home defeat since March of the disastrous 1956–57 season.^[1] They responded positively, despite a number of players playing injured, with a 2–0 home win over Bury in front of a season-low crowd of 2,261 in freezing temperatures.^[4] Vale picked up eleven of a possible 18 points in March, with Rudge also signing Darren Beckford on loan from Manchester City.^[1] On 28 March, the club recorded their biggest ever away win by thumping Fulham 6–0 at Craven Cottage, with Jones bagging a hat-trick.^[1]

On 1 April, Jones was selected for the Wales squad, and scored past Finland.^[5] On 14 April, Jones was one of four goalscorers in a 4–1 victory at York City with what The Sentinel's Chris Harper reported was possibly their best performance of the season.^[6] Vale lost five of their seven April games, including home losses to the bottom two clubs, Carlisle United and Darlington, and a 5–2 defeat at Walsall. They ensured their safety by ripping apart Newport County on 4 May, with Jones hitting five goals.^[1] Scouts from Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea were present to witness him become the first player to score five in a Football League game that season.^[7]

They finished in twelfth spot with 57 points, twelve points clear of Bolton Wanderers.^[1] Andy Jones scored 37 goals in all competitions.^[1]

On the financial side, a £53,373 loss was recorded.^[1] Match receipts earned £228,422, whilst the market rents raised £100,614.^[1] The bank overdraft stood at £216,453, whilst the club's total debts were £363,878.^[1] The club's shirt sponsors were Browns Transport. Both Geoff Hunter and Wayne Ebanks left on free transfers, Hunter joining Wrexham.^[1] Chairman Jim Lloyd also resigned due to his deteriorated relationship with the board.^[1] He was replaced by garage owner Bill Bell, who was one of many men to have worked on building Vale Park in the 1940s.^[1] Bell stated that he was unafraid to cut loose any deadwood.^[1] Ticket prices were £2.50 for the terrace and £3.50 for the stand, with season tickets available for £45 terracing and £66 seats; matchday attendances dropped off significantly following a 50 pence price rise in February.^[7]

In the FA Cup, the first round tie with non-League neighbours Stafford Rangers attracted a healthy crowd of 5,738, the second-highest attendance of the season, and Vale advanced with a 1–0 win despite Jones being sent off after 26 minutes. Travelling to Walsall for the second round, they were on the end of a 5–0 drubbing at the Bescot Stadium. Jim Lloyd called the 'tame surrender' a 'disgrace', and Rudge ordered extra training for the players.^[1]

In the League Cup, Vale advanced past Notts County 7–1 on aggregate following wins both at home and at Meadow Lane. They then faced Ron Atkinson's First Division Manchester United in the second round, just as they had in 1983. United picked up a 3–0 victory at Old Trafford before eliminating the Vale with a 5–2 win in Stoke-on-Trent.^[1]

In the Associate Members' Cup, the opening match against Fourth Division Hereford United set a club-record for the lowest-ever attendance for a competitive first-team game, as only 994 fans turned up at Vale Park on 22 December to witness Vale win through a Jones goal.^[1] The missing fans only missed 'a long yawn in freezing conditions'.^[1] A 2–1 defeat to Newport County at Somerton Park failed to prevent Vale from advancing to the first round. Vale then eliminated Exeter City with a 1–0 win at St James Park. However, Gillingham defeated Vale 4–3 on penalties after a 3–3 draw in Burslem.^[1] Gillingham scored all five of their penalties, and then Ron Hillyard saved Vale's final penalty.^[8]

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.