1999–2000 Port Vale F.C. season

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Port Vale
1999–2000 season
ChairmanBill Bell
ManagerBrian Horton
StadiumVale Park
Football League First Division23rd (36 Points)
FA CupThird Round
(knocked out by Leeds United)
League CupFirst Round
(knocked out by Chester City)
Player of the YearTommy Widdrington
Top goalscorerLeague: Tony Rougier (8)
All: Tony Rougier (9)
Highest home attendance10,250 vs. Manchester City, 30 October 1999
Lowest home attendance2,625 vs. Chester City, 24 August 1999
Average home league attendance5,906
Biggest win2–0 (twice) and 3–1 (twice)
Biggest defeat0–3 vs. Ipswich Town, 8 April 2000

The 1999–2000 season was Port Vale's 88th season of football in the English Football League, and sixth-successive season in the First Division. Vale suffered relegation in 23rd place, some thirteen points adrift of safety. They also exited the FA Cup in the Third Round and were knocked out of the League Cup in the First Round by fourth tier Chester City for the second consecutive season. The club spent nothing on transfers, but sold young players for some £1.5 million – despite this, the club was heading towards bankruptcy. The club continued to gain one generation of players at the expense of the successful '90s generation; Martin Foyle, Paul Musselwhite and Ian Bogie departing, with fresh talent such as Micky Cummins and Mark Goodlad arriving in their place.

Overview

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First Division

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The pre-season saw Brian Horton sign Jeff Minton (Brighton & Hove Albion), Tommy Widdrington (Grimsby Town), and Steve Rimmer (Manchester City) on free transfers. He also took Andy Oakes in on loan from Derby County and Matt Glennon from Bolton Wanderers as back-up goalkeepers, and striker Martin Aldridge on loan from Blackpool.

The season started with a goalless draw at Ewood Park with Blackburn Rovers, but soon went downhill with two defeats. Vale then entered inconsistent form, winning three and losing three in a run of six games. On 5 September, Vale beat Grimsby Town by three goals to one, with Bent scoring his first goal for the club.[1] However, just two points from seven October games indicated Vale's future. Also in the month, striker Marcus Bent, signed by John Rudge nine months earlier for £375,000, was sold to Sheffield United for a bargain £300,000 and was later sold on by the "Blades" for a £1.7 million profit. The club set a record on 5 September, when just 3,737 turned up to see a 3–0 win over Grimsby Town – a division record low for a television match.[2] The Vale ended the year in solid form, unbeaten in seven games, despite just two victories (over rivals Crewe Alexandra and against Sheffield United at Bramall Lane).[2] In December, Carl Griffiths was sold back to former club Leyton Orient for £100,000.

In January, Horton signed defender Sagi Burton (Sheffield United) on a free transfer and signed Martin Bullock and Gareth Taylor on one-month loans from Barnsley and Manchester City respectively. Controversially, he also sold promising young defender Anthony Gardner to Tottenham Hotspur for £1 million.[2] The next month David Healy would arrive on loan from Manchester United for the remainder of the season. Also, former international Ville Viljanen became the first Fin to play for the club when he joined from Västra Frölunda IF. In March, Horton made two key signings, bringing two young players that would be with the club for several years to come: Irish midfielder Micky Cummins (Middlesbrough) and goalkeeper Mark Goodlad (Nottingham Forest). He also sold Tony Butler to West Bromwich Albion for £140,000. During this transfer activity, Vale won just once in a sequence of seventeen games. A 2–0 win over Portsmouth on 1 April raised hopes of Vale escaping the drop, but Horton's side gained just three points in their final eight games, thus dooming Vale to third-tier football.

They finished in 23rd place with 36 points, a massive thirteen points away from the safety of West Bromwich Albion, and only ahead of Swindon Town on goals scored. With just seven victories, they had the fewest wins in the division. Tony Rougier only needed nine goals to become the club's top-scorer. The relegation meant that Brian Horton lost his 'proud record' of never being relegated as a player or as a manager.[2]

At the end of the season numerous players were allowed to leave on free transfers: eight-year club veteran goalkeeper Paul Musselwhite (Hull City); five-year club favourite Ian Bogie (Kidderminster Harriers); Wayne Corden (Mansfield Town); Stewart Talbot (Rotherham United);[3] Mark Snijders (AFC '34); Kevin Pilkington (Aberystwyth Town); and Steve Rimmer (Marine). Legendary striker Martin Foyle also retired after nine years as Vale's star striker. Simon Barker also retired at the age of 35. Meanwhile, the club's board increased to five members: Bill Bell (chairman), Andrew Bellfield, Paul Wright, Neil Hughes, and Charles Machin.[4]

Finances

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The club's shirt sponsors were Tunstall Assurance.

Cup competitions

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In the FA Cup, Vale lost 2–0 to Premier League club Leeds United at Elland Road to exit the competition in the Third Round. Just 11,912 turned up for the game after the Vale board refused to allow a price reduction.[2]

In the League Cup, for the second successive season Third Division Chester City knocked the Vale out at the First Round. In the 2–1 defeat at the Deva Stadium, both sides finished the game with ten men, and as the return leg was a 4–4 draw, Chester achieved a 6–5 aggregate win.

League table

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Main article: 1999–2000 Football League

Pos Team
 Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
20 Grimsby Town 46 13 12 21 41 67 −26 51
21 West Bromwich Albion 46 10 19 17 43 60 −17 49
22 Walsall (R) 46 11 13 22 52 77 −25 46 Relegation to the Second Division
23 Port Vale (R) 46 7 15 24 48 69 −21 36
24 Swindon Town (R) 46 8 12 26 38 77 −39 36
Source: [citation needed]
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored
(R) Relegated

Results

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Port Vale's score comes first

Football League First Division

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Results by matchday

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Round12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031323334353637383940414243444546
GroundAHAHAHHAHAAHHAAHHAHAAHAAHAHHHAHAAHAHAHHAHAAHAH
ResultDLLWLWLLWLDLLDLLWDDWDDDLLDWDLLDLLLDLLWDLDLDLLL
Position12182319201316171517172123212424201920181918202121222223232323232323232323232323232323232323
Source: Statto[5]
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

Matches

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Date Opponent Venue Result Attendance Scorers
7 August 1999 Blackburn Rovers A 0–0 20,530
14 August 1999 West Bromwich Albion H 1–2 7,891 Minton (pen)
21 August 1999 Birmingham City A 2–4 18,089 Rougier, Naylor
28 August 1999 Tranmere Rovers H 1–0 4,657 Naylor
31 August 1999 Queens Park Rangers A 2–3 9,502 Minton (pen), Gardner
5 September 1999 Grimsby Town H 3–1 3,737 Bent, Naylor, Foyle
11 September 1999 Fulham H 0–2 6,130
18 September 1999 Stockport County A 0–1 7,632
25 September 1999 Swindon Town H 2–0 4,629 Carragher, Talia (og.)
2 October 1999 Manchester City A 1–2 31,608 Foyle
9 October 1999 Huddersfield Town A 2–2 11,885 Gardner, Foyle
16 October 1999 Norwich City H 0–1 5,790
19 October 1999 Nottingham Forest H 0–2 5,714
23 October 1999 Wolverhampton Wanderers A 2–2 20,488 Walsh, Rougier
26 October 1999 Swindon Town A 1–2 5,703 Rougier
30 October 1999 Manchester City H 1–2 10,250 Foyle
5 November 1999 Crewe Alexandra H 1–0 5,584 Rougier
12 November 1999 Walsall A 0–0 6,190
20 November 1999 Crystal Palace H 2–2 5,170 Rougier, Foyle
23 November 1999 Sheffield United A 3–2 8,965 Eyre, Tankard, Gardner
27 November 1999 Charlton Athletic A 2–2 19,266 Rougier, Foyle
4 December 1999 Blackburn Rovers H 0–0 6,084
18 December 1999 Portsmouth A 0–0 11,869
28 December 1999 Barnsley A 1–3 16,855 Minton
3 January 2000 Ipswich Town H 1–2 6,908 Naylor
15 January 2000 West Bromwich Albion A 0–0 10,831
22 January 2000 Birmingham City H 3–1 7,702 Naylor, Widdrington (pen), Rougier
5 February 2000 Queens Park Rangers H 1–1 5,493 Bullock
8 February 2000 Bolton Wanderers H 0–1 5,092
12 February 2000 Grimsby Town A 0–2 6,265
26 February 2000 Stockport County H 1–1 5,663 Widdrington
4 March 2000 Fulham A 1–3 10,418 Healy
7 March 2000 Crewe Alexandra A 1–2 8,044 Viljanen
11 March 2000 Sheffield United H 2–3 5,484 Healy, Rougier
18 March 2000 Crystal Palace A 1–1 18,954 Widdrington (pen)
21 March 2000 Walsall H 1–2 5,737 Cummins
25 March 2000 Bolton Wanderers A 1–2 12,292 Viljanen
1 April 2000 Portsmouth H 2–0 5,426 Viljanen, Widdrington (pen)
4 April 2000 Charlton Athletic H 2–2 4,513 Viljanen, Burton
8 April 2000 Ipswich Town A 0–3 19,663
15 April 2000 Barnsley H 2–2 5,918 Burton, Widdrington (pen)
18 April 2000 Tranmere Rovers A 1–2 5,602 Healy
22 April 2000 Norwich City A 0–0 15,526
24 April 2000 Huddersfield Town H 1–2 5,828 Naylor
29 April 2000 Nottingham Forest A 0–2 15,534
7 May 2000 Wolverhampton Wanderers H 0–1 8,525

FA Cup

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Main article: 1999–2000 FA Cup
Round Date Opponent Venue Result Attendance Goalscorers
R3 12 December 1999 Leeds United A 0–2 11,912

League Cup

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Main article: 1999–2000 Football League Cup
Round Date Opponent Venue Result Attendance Goalscorers
R1 1st Leg 10 August 1999 Chester City A 1–2 2,102 Rougier
R1 2nd Leg 24 August 1999 Chester City H 4–4 2,625 Naylor (2), Minton, Griffiths

Player statistics

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Appearances and goals

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Pos. # Name Football League FA Cup League Cup Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
GK 1 England Paul Musselwhite 30 0 1 0 1 0 32 0
DF 2 England Michael Walsh 12 1 0 0 2 0 14 1
DF 3 England Allen Tankard 35 1 1 0 1 0 37 1
MF 4 England Dave Brammer 29 0 0 0 2 0 31 0
FW 6 Finland Ville Viljanen 14 4 0 0 0 0 14 4
DF 7 England Alex Smith 13 0 0 0 2 0 15 0
MF 8 Republic of Ireland Micky Cummins 12 1 0 0 0 0 12 1
DF 9 Saint Kitts and Nevis Sagi Burton 20 2 0 0 0 0 22 2
MF 10 England Jeff Minton 23 3 1 0 2 1 26 4
MF 11 England Tommy Widdrington 38 5 1 0 0 0 39 5
FW 12 England Tony Naylor 36 6 1 0 2 2 39 8
GK 13 England Kevin Pilkington 15 0 0 0 1 0 16 0
MF 14 England Richard Eyre 30 1 1 0 2 0 33 1
FW 15 England Martin Foyle 22 6 1 0 1 0 24 6
MF 16 England Wayne Corden 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 0
MF 17 Trinidad and Tobago Tony Rougier 38 8 1 0 2 1 41 9
MF 18 Republic of Ireland George O'Callaghan 11 0 0 0 0 0 11 0
DF 19 England Matt Carragher 37 1 0 0 2 0 39 1
DF 20 England Steve Rimmer 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 0
DF 21 Northern Ireland Liam Burns 24 0 1 0 0 0 25 0
MF 22 England Neil Brisco 13 0 1 0 0 0 14 0
MF 23 England Stewart Talbot 6 0 0 0 0 0 6 0
FW 24 Northern Ireland David Healy 16 3 0 0 0 0 16 3
MF 25 England Ian Bogie 9 0 0 0 0 0 9 0
GK 26 England Mark Goodlad 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
DF 27 Netherlands Mark Snijders 21 0 1 0 0 0 22 0
DF 28 England Paul Donnelly 4 0 0 0 0 0 4 0
MF 29 England Stewart Clitheroe 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
FW 30 England Anthony Tarr 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
MF 31 England Paul Taylor 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
GK 32 England Chris Gowen 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Players that left the club mid-season:
DF 5 England Tony Butler 15 0 0 0 0 0 15 0
DF 6 England Anthony Gardner 26 3 1 0 2 0 29 3
FW 8 England Marcus Bent 8 1 0 0 1 0 9 1
MF 8 England Martin Bullock 6 1 0 0 0 0 6 1
FW 9 England Carl Griffiths 5 0 0 0 2 1 7 1
MF 24 England Simon Barker 5 0 0 0 1 0 6 0
DF 24 Wales Gareth Taylor 4 0 0 0 0 0 4 0
GK 26 England Andy Oakes 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
GK 26 England Matt Glennon 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
FW 33 England Martin Aldridge 3 0 0 0 0 0 3 0

Top scorers

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Place Position Nation Number Name First Division FA Cup League Cup Total
1 MF  Trinidad 17 Tony Rougier 8 0 1 9
2 FW  England 12 Tony Naylor 6 0 2 8
3 FW  England 15 Martin Foyle 6 0 0 6
4 MF  England 11 Tommy Widdrington 5 0 0 5
– FW  Finland 6 Ville Viljanen 4 0 0 4
6 MF  England 10 Jeff Minton 3 0 1 4
7 DF  England} 6 Anthony Gardner 3 0 0 3
– FW  Northern Ireland 24 David Healy 3 0 0 3
9 DF  Saint Kitts 9 Sagi Burton 2 0 0 2
10 MF  England 14 Richard Eyre 1 0 0 1
– DF  England 3 Allen Tankard 1 0 0 1
– DF  England 19 Matt Carragher 1 0 0 1
– FW  England 8 Marcus Bent 1 0 0 1
– DF  England 2 Michael Walsh 1 0 0 1
– MF  England 8 Martin Bullock 1 0 0 1
– MF  Ireland 8 Micky Cummins 1 0 0 1
– FW  England 9 Carl Griffiths 0 0 1 1
– – – Own goals 1 0 0 0
TOTALS 48 0 5 53

Transfers

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Transfers in

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Date from Position Nationality Name From Fee Ref.
June 1999 MF England Jeff Minton Brighton & Hove Albion Free transfer [6]
June 1999 DF England Steve Rimmer Manchester City Free transfer [6]
June 1999 MF England Tommy Widdrington Grimsby Town Free transfer [6]
January 2000 DF Saint Kitts and Nevis Sagi Burton Sheffield United Free transfer [6]
February 2000 FW Finland Ville Viljanen Sweden Västra Frölunda IF Free transfer [6]
March 2000 MF Republic of Ireland Micky Cummins Middlesbrough Free transfer [6]
March 2000 GK England Mark Goodlad Nottingham Forest Free transfer [6]

Transfers out

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Date from Position Nationality Name To Fee Ref.
October 1999 FW England Marcus Bent Sheffield United £375,000 [6]
December 1999 FW Wales Carl Griffiths Leyton Orient £100,000 [6]
January 2000 DF England Anthony Gardner Tottenham Hotspur £1 million [6]
March 2000 DF England Tony Butler West Bromwich Albion £140,000 [6]
April 2000 MF England Ian Bogie Kidderminster Harriers Free transfer [6]
May 2000 MF England Simon Barker Retired [6]
May 2000 DF England Steve Rimmer Marine Released [6]
July 2000 MF England Stewart Talbot Rotherham United Free transfer [6]
Summer 2000 MF England Wayne Corden Mansfield Town Free transfer [6]
Summer 2000 FW England Martin Foyle Retired [6]
Summer 2000 GK England Paul Musselwhite Sheffield Wednesday Free transfer [6]
Summer 2000 GK England Kevin Pilkington Wales Aberystwyth Town Free transfer [6]
Summer 2000 DF Netherlands Mark Snijders Netherlands AFC '34 Released [6]
11 August 2000 MF Trinidad and Tobago Tony Rougier Reading £325,000 [6]

Loans in

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Date from Position Nationality Name From Date to Ref.
20 August 1999 GK England Andy Oakes Derby County 10 September 1999 [6]
10 September 1999 GK England Matt Glennon Bolton Wanderers 20 October 1999 [6]
27 September 1999 FW England Martin Aldridge Blackpool 27 October 1999 [6]
11 January 2000 MF England Martin Bullock Barnsley 28 February 2000 [6]
19 January 2000 FW Wales Gareth Taylor Manchester City 16 February 2000 [6]
19 February 2000 MF Northern Ireland David Healy Manchester United 8 May 2000 [6]

References

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Specific
  1. ^ Baggaley, Mike (5 September 2024). "Options and injury news". Valiant's Substack. Retrieved 6 September 2024.
  2. ^ a b c d e "Vale slide into Division Two". BBC Sport. 28 June 2000. Retrieved 18 January 2011.
  3. ^ "Millers snap up Talbot". BBC Sport. 12 July 2000. Retrieved 18 January 2011.
  4. ^ "Board change at Vale". BBC Sport. 10 July 2000. Retrieved 18 January 2011.
  5. ^ Port Vale 1999–2000 : Results & Fixtures. Statto Organisation. Retrieved 28 April 2012.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa "Port Vale FC Club Details | Transfers | Soccer Base". www.soccerbase.com. Retrieved 7 October 2016.
General
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