1987–88 Port Vale F.C. season

The 1987–88 season was Port Vale's 76th season of football in the English Football League, and second-successive (17th overall) season in the Third Division.^[1] Under manager John Rudge and newly-appointed chairman Bill Bell, the club navigated a turbulent season, ultimately finishing 11th with 65 points, firmly mid-table.

The sale of prolific striker Andy Jones for a then‑club record fee of £350,000 temporarily derailed the side, but reinvestment in players such as Darren Beckford, David Riley, and Simon Mills helped steady the ship. Vale enjoyed a notable cup run, highlighted by a famous 2–1 victory over top-flight Tottenham Hotspur in the Fourth Round of the FA Cup, before bowing out in a replay to Watford in the Fifth Round. However, they suffered early exits in both the League Cup and the Associate Members' Cup, going out in the First Round of each competition.

Darren Beckford and David Riley finished as joint top scorers, with 10 goals each across all competitions. Ray Walker was a standout performer, earning the club's Player of the Year award and a place in the PFA Third Division Team of the Year. Attendances varied dramatically, with a high of 22,483 for the FA Cup tie against Watford and a low of 2,176 for the league match against Exeter City, averaging 3,847 over the season.

Despite the mid-season upheaval following Andy Jones's departure, Vale recuperated through shrewd signings and a memorable FA Cup run to maintain stability in the Third Division.

The pre-season saw Russell Bromage traded to Bristol City in exchange for Lawrie Pearson and £25,000.^[1] Jon Bowden was also sold to Wrexham for £12,500.^[1] The club also announced a new sponsorship deal with ABC Minolta, whilst the English Football League announced that midweek games would be played on Monday nights instead of Tuesday nights.^[1] John Rudge bought Darren Beckford from Manchester City for £15,000.^[1]

The season began with Andy Jones scoring all four goals in his 100th appearance for the club to beat Aldershot by four goals to two.^[1][2] With Pearson performing poorly, Darren Hughes was signed from Brighton & Hove Albion for a £10,000 fee.^[1] Paul Smith was also offloaded to non-League side Lincoln City for £40,000.^[1] Vale then won three consecutive games to go top of the table.^[1] The team won three consecutive games to go top of the table on 14 September, concluding with a 4–1 win over Southend United. After goal machine Andy Jones was sold to First Division club Charlton Athletic for £350,000 – a sale Rudge likened to 'cutting off my right arm' – Vale slid down the table.^[1] Alex Williams was also forced to retire with a back injury, leading to the return of a fit-again Mark Grew in goal.^[1] More injuries came as Chris Banks had his nose broken after a reserve team match at Barnsley when he was attacked by a gang of youths whilst waiting at a fish and chip shop.^[1] Alan Webb then suffered second-degree burns at Preston North End's plastic pitch at Deepdale.^[1]

In October, Rudge tried to replace Jones when he signed striker David Riley from Nottingham Forest for £20,000.^[1] Despite a good start, Riley soon entered a goal drought, as Vale went twelve league games without a win (including eight defeats).^[1] Robbie Earle missed much of this period with a hernia injury.^[1] In November, 26-year-old defender Kevin Steggles was signed from West Bromwich Albion for 'a small fee' to replace the still-injured Webb.^[1] More signings were made with former England international Peter Barnes arriving on loan from Manchester City, and 'hard-working' Simon Mills purchased from York City for £35,000.^[1] Barnes made his debut in a 4–0 loss at Mansfield Town on 20 December. Vale then found themselves sixth from the bottom after losing 3–1 at struggling Grimsby Town eight days later.^[1]

Rumours of a Rudge exit from Vale Park came after Alan Oakes quit in protest after being demoted to youth coach, and 'taskmaster' Mike Pejic was promoted in his place.^[1] Nevertheless, he signed winger Gary Ford from Leicester City for £36,000, whilst Pearson had his contract cancelled by mutual consent. Ford made his debut in a "bitterly disappointing" 1–0 defeat to Chesterfield. Michael Cole also arrived on loan from Ipswich Town.^[1] Rudge switched from a formation of 4–4–2 to 4–3–3 and only one defeat followed in the next 13 league games.^[1] As Barnes returned to Manchester, Richard O'Kelly was transferred to Walsall.^[1] Cole was replaced by another loanee in 19-year-old Dean Holdsworth (from Watford), who found greater success with Vale.^[1] However, Gary Hamson was forced to retire through injury.^[1]

On 13 February, Vale won 2–0 at home to Grimsby Town despite Ray Walker being sent off for stamping on a Grimsby defender's head – he was later fined £150 for bringing the game into disrepute. On 26 March, the team recorded a 2–1 victory over third-placed Walsall, and then thrashed Doncaster Rovers with five goals without reply the following week. A 5–0 win over Doncaster Rovers on 2 April helped the Vale into tenth place, giving Vale a faint hope of reaching the play-offs.^[1] Vale ended the season poorly however, winning just two of their final nine games.^[1]

They finished in eleventh place with 65 points, ten points short of play-off contenders Bristol City.^[1] Top-scorers Beckford and Riley had managed ten goals each, just four more than Jones had done in his eight games.^[1] Ray Walker was honoured with the club's Player of the Year award and was selected for the PFA's Third Division Team of the Year.^[1]

On the financial side, the cup run and sale of Jones had raised a record profit of £410,239.^[1] Match receipts had increased by 67% to £380,387, whilst advertising and broadcast revenues had more than doubled to £157,861.^[1] The wage bill had also fallen to £367,836.^[1] Three players were given free transfers at the season's end: Kevin Steggles (Bury Town), Chris Banks (Exeter City), and Paul Maguire (Northwich Victoria).^[1]

In the FA Cup, Vale put in their 'worst away performance of the season' in a 2–2 draw at Prenton Park.^[1] They managed to beat Tranmere Rovers 3–1 in the replay in Burslem. A 'splendid' performance then defeated Notts County 2–0.^[1] They overcame non-League Macclesfield Town with a lunging headed goal from Kevin Finney booking a fourth round home tie with Tottenham Hotspur after Macclesfield had come close to taking the lead when John Askey hit the post in the first half.^[3] Ground improvements increased Vale Park's capacity, though a watered-down pitch persuaded "Spurs" boss Terry Venables to leave star man Osvaldo Ardiles on the bench.^[4] Despite this, TV pundit Jimmy Greaves reckoned that "The only trouble Spurs will have at Port Vale, is finding the place."^[5] As it happened, 20,045 turned up to witness a 'famous' 2–1 victory.^[1][6] The "Valiants" were in 'another gear' as Ray Walker nailed a 'stunning' 25 yards (23 m) strike and Phil Sproson scored the second vital goal.^[1] The club received £80,000 for the game from the BBC, with the match also broadcast on radio in Australia.^[1] The fourth round held Watford, and 22,483 turned up for the original goalless tie in Stoke-on-Trent (the highest Vale Park attendance since the visit of Liverpool in 1964).^[1] Grew received a lot of praise for his clean sheet performance.^[7] A further £87,699 was taken from the game.^[1] At the replay three days later at Vicarage Road, Vale were eliminated 2–0, though Vale were delighted with their £175,000 winning cup run.^[1]

In the League Cup, 3,460 saw Vale's opening tie with Northampton Town fail 'to produce the passion of a schoolyard kickabout', though both sides had two players sent off in the 2–0 defeat.^[1] Vale were then thumped 4–0 at Sixfields to exit the tournament 6–0 on aggregate.^[1]

In the Associate Members' Cup, Fourth Division strugglers Newport County beat the Vale 2–0 at Somerton Park, though a 2–0 home win over Exeter City took the Vale through the group stage. They were then eliminated by Torquay United at Plainmoor with a 1–0 loss.^[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.