1993–94 Port Vale F.C. season

The 1993–94 season was Port Vale's 82nd season of football in the English Football League and fifth-successive (37th overall) season in the Second Division. Under the guidance of manager John Rudge and chairman Bill Bell, Vale secured promotion to the First Division by finishing as runners-up, narrowly missing the title by just a single point behind Reading, amassing 88 points in total

A memorable moment in the FA Cup saw Vale cause an upset by eliminating top-flight Southampton before being knocked out in the Fourth Round, while their League Cup run ended at the First Round and their Football League Trophy journey concluded at the Area Quarter-finals. Martin Foyle led the line with distinction, finishing as both league (17) and season top scorer with 18 goals across all competitions, while Neil Aspin earned the Player of the Year award. Support from the terraces was solid, with a highest home attendance of 12,042 (versus Southampton), a low of 5,175 (against Lincoln City), and a league average of 8,377 spectators. Port Vale's most emphatic league victory came in a 6–0 win over Hartlepool United, while their heaviest defeat was a 4–0 loss to Reading.

A season of resurgence, Vale combined cup heroics with an explosive front‑line and solid support to earn a well‑deserved return to the First Division.

The pre-season saw John Rudge sign left-back Allen Tankard from Wigan Athletic for £87,500. Experienced forward Keith Houchen was allowed to join Hartlepool United on a free transfer, and Paul Kerr signed with Leicester City.

The season opened with a 2–1 defeat to Burnley at Turf Moor, a result which belied their tag as favourites for promotion.^[1] Though the season got going for the Vale with their opening home game, as they recorded a 6–0 win over Barnet despite an early sending off for Peter Billing, both Martin Foyle and Bernie Slaven bagging hat-tricks.^[2] This, however, would be the only victory in the first seven league games. In September, Steve Livingstone joined the club on loan from Chelsea. Then, in October, Canadian Ollie Heald signed from Norvan, having impressed whilst on trial. On 2 October, Vale recorded a 3–0 home victory over Wrexham after scoring three goals in the first three minutes of the second half.^[3]

Vale shot up the table with eight victories in ten games. In January, Aidan Newhouse arrived on loan from Wimbledon but only played two games. Rudge made enquiries after Andy Saville, but the club could not afford the £350,000 expected by Birmingham City.^[4] On 5 February, Vale beat Reading 2–1 to record the first away league win for a club at Elm Park in 12 months.^[5] Bernie Slaven left the club in February for Darlington. The next month, Rudge brought Joe Allon to the club after Allon had left Brentford. He also signed winger David Lowe on loan from Leicester City. Vale picked up four clean sheets in the first five games of March but ended the month with two defeats.

Vale had a solid April, winning six of their eight games, with Foyle scoring a hat-trick past Leyton Orient at Brisbane Road on 4 April. On 26 April, the team won 1–0 away at Swansea City as opposition manager Frank Burrows admitted that "they battered us and nobody has dominated here so much this season".^[6] Four days later, Vale defeated Exeter City by three goals to one, two of which were scored by Foyle – including a diving header for his 20th of the season; a Vale Park pitch invasion ensued on the final whistle.^[7] Two victories from their final two games of the season ensured promotion. A 3–1 victory at Brighton & Hove Albion was witnessed by 15,423 people – the biggest crowd at the Goldstone Ground for six years. Glover opened the scoring and a brace from Foyle confirmed the victory despite the home side pulling a goal back from a Dean Wilkins free kick.^[8]

They finished second with 88 points, despite having finished third the previous season with 89 points. The top scorer was Martin Foyle with 18 goals, though Ian Taylor and Nicky Cross also hit double figures.

At the end of the season, star midfielder Ian Taylor was sold to Sheffield Wednesday for £1 million (plus add-ons). The club also sold Peter Swan to Plymouth Argyle for £300,000. Also leaving the club were Nicky Cross and Trevor Wood, who joined Hereford United and Walsall respectively.

The club's shirt sponsors were Tunstall Assurance.

In the FA Cup, Vale brushed aside Blackpool (2–0) and Huddersfield Town (1–0). Drawn against Premier League Southampton in the third round, the "Valiants" earned a 1–1 draw at The Dell with an Andy Porter goal from a free kick, which helped to put more pressure on struggling opposition manager Ian Branfoot, which would have been worse still without Iain Dowie's equaliser.^[9] Back at Burslem, Vale achieved a giantkilling with a Bernie Slaven goal on a mud-filled Vale Park pitch; a clean sheet was achieved as Neil Aspin kept Matt Le Tissier quiet.^[9] In the fourth round they faced First Division Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux, and were defeated 2–0.

In the League Cup, Vale exited in the first round to Third Division Lincoln City on away goals, having drawn 2–2 at Vale Park and 0–0 at Sincil Bank.

In the Football League Trophy, Vale reached the Area Quarter-finalists. They would not enter the competition again until 2000–01.

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

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