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1976–77 Port Vale F.C. season

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Port Vale
1976–77 season
ChairmanMark Singer
ManagerRoy Sproson
StadiumVale Park
Football League Third Division19th (38 Points)
FA CupFifth Round
(knocked out by Aston Villa)
League CupFirst Round
(knocked out by Wrexham)
Debenhams CupRunners-up
(knocked out by Chester)
Player of the YearDavid Harris
Top goalscorerLeague: Ken Beamish (12)
All: Ken Beamish (18)
Highest home attendance18,068 vs. Burnley, 29 January 1977
Lowest home attendance2,984 vs. Portsmouth, 2 April 1977
Average home league attendance4,356
Biggest win3–0 and 4–1
Biggest defeat0–4 and 2–6

The 1976–77 season was Port Vale's 65th season of football in the Football League, and their seventh successive season (13th overall) in the Third Division.[1] In the FA Cup, Vale reached the Fifth Round for the first time since 1961–62, after progressing past two Second Division clubs. There, they were knocked out by Aston Villa at Villa Park in front of nearly fifty thousand spectators. Back in the league, Vale struggled to get by with an average home attendance of 4,356 and finished nineteenth, just three points from safety. Entered into the Debenhams Cup, they lost 4–3 to Chester.

Overview

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Third Division

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The pre-season saw manager Roy Sproson add two youngsters to his squad: forward Kevin Kennerley (Burnley) and defender Ian Osborne (Birmingham City).[1] The battle with Stoke-on-Trent City Council continued over the legality of Vale's market trading operation.[1] The club were also in trouble with The Football Association, who fined them £400 for the 47 bookings received in the previous campaign.[1] Vale decided to crack down on player indiscipline by fining players £25 for dissent and £50 for violence.[1] As 'a piece of good business' which 'could not be turned down', the club also sold star defender Terry Lees to Dutch side Sparta Rotterdam for £25,000.[1] Another late signing was Geoff Davies, who had returned from a spell in the United States.[1]

The season opened with a loss, a draw, and then a 2–0 win over Sheffield Wednesday.[1] Then only one point was gained in the next six matches.[1] To bolster the side in came Stoke City's veteran defender Eric Skeels, who was also returning from a spell in the USA.[1] Mick Cullerton then severed a cartilage, which meant five months out of action for the star striker.[1] To replace him, Sproson signed Blackburn Rovers' Ken Beamish (£12,000) and Wigan Athletic's John Rogers ('a small fee').[1] The club also informed other clubs that they would listen to any player offers, but there was little interest.[1] In October, former England and Wolves defender Bobby Thomson was another player returning from the States.[1] Signing with the Vale, he impressed so much that he was made club captain in his first week at Vale Park.[1] A club record run of 42 away games without a clean sheet began on 18 December and would last until 30 September 1978. The first of this run was a 1–1 draw with Rotherham United at Millmoor; after this match "Millers" boss Jimmy McGuigan stated that Vale showed 'the worst exhibition of football thuggery I have ever seen'.[1] Even though the defence struggled away from home, Beamish did not, as he scored his first ten goals for the club away from Burslem.[1] In a 4–2 win over Grimsby Town at Blundell Park on 3 January, Beamish scored a hat-trick.[1] Later in the month Geoff Davies had his contract cancelled by mutual consent.[1]

Vale's form tailed off, though Terry Alcock returned briefly to play a handful of games.[1] Thomson also returned to the US, Ray Williams was transferred to Northwich Victoria for 'a small fee', and Colin Tartt was sold to Chesterfield for £15,000.[1] In their places were new signings Alan Lamb (£5,000 from Preston North End) and Peter Sutcliffe (£3,000 from Stockport County), whilst a fit again Cullerton was like a new signing.[1] The club had drifted into the bottom four, but a six match unbeaten run with a prolific Cullerton took them to safety.[1] In the background was an ongoing power struggle in the boardroom.[1] In late-March they then received a 6–2 beating at Wrexham and then a 4–0 beating from Chesterfield at Saltergate.[1] The club suffered an injury crisis in April, with both Keith Chadwick and John Brodie having been forced to retire through injury.[1] Relegation was avoided however, with six points from the final five games.[1] The final game of the season was against Rotherham United, who needed a six-goal win margin to gain promotion.[1] The match saw three penalties, three bookings and crowd trouble, though United were four goals ahead they failed to find the remaining two, and instead the "Valiants" scored a late goal.[1]

They finished in nineteenth place with 38 points, three points above the drop.[1] Their 47 goals scored tally only lower than Grimsby's.[1] They only recorded two victories on their travels.[1] At the end of the season was the short-lived Debenhams Cup competition, Vale lost 4–3 to Chester over two legs, but still received a runners-up prize of £5,000.[1]

Finances

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On the financial side, a loss of £5,959 was made despite a donation of £23,860 from the Development Fund.[1] Gate receipts had risen to £60,115; however, wages and signing-on fees had risen to £139,012.[1] The bank overdraft stood at £15,000, though the club's total debt stood at £123,863.[1] On the coaching front, Roy Chapman was replaced by Colin Harper.[1] Meanwhile, three players were handed free transfers: ten-year club veteran Tommy McLaren (Telford United), Eric Skeels (Leek Town), and Ian Osborne (Hillingdon Borough).[1] Also John Rogers was sold to Altrincham for £2,000.[1]

Cup competitions

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In the FA Cup, Vale advanced past Fourth Division Southport with a John Rogers brace at Haig Avenue. A 3–0 win over Barnsley then put Vale into the Third Round, where they came up against Second Division Hull City. After a 1–1 draw at Boothferry Park, Vale knocked the "Tigers" out with a 3–1 win at Vale Park. The "Valiants" beat Burnley – another second-tier team – in the Fourth Round with a 2–1 home win. The Fifth Round held First Division Aston Villa at Villa Park. Villa won 3–0 in front of a crowd of 46,872. The score was 'flattering' to the "Villans" as they scored two late goals. The match was shown on television.[1]

The club's FA Cup run earned them a place in the Debenhams Cup final against Chester. A 2–0 home win in the first leg gave them a strong advantage heading to Sealand Road, but there they lost 4–1 and so had to be consoled with runners-up medals and £5,000 prize money.[2]

In the League Cup, Welsh club Wrexham knocked the Vale out 2–1 on aggregate, following a 1–1 draw in Burslem and a 1–0 win at the Racecourse Ground.

League table

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Main article: 1976–77 Football League

Pos Team
 Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion or relegation
17 Oxford United 46 12 15 19 55 65 −10 39
18 Chesterfield 46 14 10 22 56 64 −8 38
19 Port Vale 46 11 16 19 47 71 −24 38
20 Portsmouth 46 11 14 21 53 70 −17 36
21 Reading 46 13 9 24 49 73 −24 35 Relegated
Source: rsssf.com

Results

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Port Vale's score comes first

Football League Third Division

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Results by matchday

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Round12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031323334353637383940414243444546
GroundAHHAHAAHAHHAAHHAHAAHAAHAAHAHAHHHAHAAHAHHAHHAAH
ResultLDWLLLDLLWLDDWDLDDDLLWDLWLDWDDDWLWLLWLLDLWWDDL
Position1817718202320232318222121181819191921212220212219192121201817171917171816171921211918191819
Source: Statto[3]
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

Matches

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Date Opponent Venue Result Attendance Scorers
21 August 1976 Swindon Town A 0–1 6,336
23 August 1976 Chesterfield H 1–1 4,056 Williams
28 August 1976 Sheffield Wednesday H 2–0 5,033 Cullerton, Tartt
4 September 1976 Lincoln City A 0–2 6,059
11 September 1976 Gillingham H 1–2 3,015 Tartt
14 September 1976 Preston North End A 0–4 6,592
18 September 1976 Reading A 1–1 7,104 Brownbill
25 September 1976 Shrewsbury Town H 1–2 4,180 Beech
2 October 1976 Walsall A 1–3 5,459 Skeels
8 October 1976 Northampton Town H 2–1 3,962 Brownbill, Rogers
16 October 1976 Wrexham H 2–3 5,347 Cullerton, Tartt
23 October 1976 Portsmouth A 1–1 7,456 Beamish
25 October 1976 Tranmere Rovers A 1–1 3,578 Beamish
30 October 1976 Grimsby Town H 2–0 3,714 Rogers (2)
1 November 1976 Preston North End H 0–0 4,686
6 November 1976 York City A 0–1 2,153
13 November 1976 Brighton & Hove Albion H 2–2 6,449 Williams, Bailey
27 November 1976 Oxford United A 0–0 4,015
18 December 1976 Rotherham United A 1–1 5,012 Beamish
27 December 1976 Bury H 0–1 5,862
28 December 1976 Mansfield Town A 1–2 7,977 Beamish
3 January 1977 Grimsby Town A 4–2 5,870 Beamish (3), Kennerley
22 January 1977 Swindon Town H 2–2 4,446 Beech, Ridley
1 February 1977 Crystal Palace A 0–2 11,149
5 February 1977 Sheffield Wednesday A 2–1 13,105 Beamish, Rogers
7 February 1977 York City H 0–2 4,683
19 February 1977 Gillingham A 1–1 5,084 Rogers
28 February 1977 Reading H 1–0 4,212 Beech
5 March 1977 Shrewsbury Town A 1–1 4,236 Rogers
7 March 1977 Peterborough United H 1–1 4,417 Cullerton
11 March 1977 Walsall H 0–0 4,819
14 March 1977 Chester H 1–0 4,451 Cullerton (pen)
19 March 1977 Northampton Town A 0–3 5,808
21 March 1977 Lincoln City H 1–0 3,987 Cullerton
24 March 1977 Wrexham A 2–6 6,383 Beamish (2)
30 March 1977 Chesterfield A 0–4 3,426
2 April 1977 Portsmouth H 1–0 2,984 Cullerton
8 April 1977 Bury A 0–3 5,619
9 April 1977 Mansfield Town H 1–4 4,389 Beech
16 April 1977 Tranmere Rovers H 1–1 3,188 Dulson
23 April 1977 Brighton & Hove Albion A 0–1 23,482
26 April 1977 Crystal Palace H 4–1 3,990 o.g., Cullerton, Sutcliffe, Beamish
30 April 1977 Oxford United H 2–1 4,058 Bailey, o.g.
4 May 1977 Peterborough United A 1–1 3,883 Cullerton
7 May 1977 Chester A 1–1 2,978 Beamish
14 May 1977 Rotherham United H 1–4 4,271 Cullerton (pen)

FA Cup

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Main article: 1976–77 FA Cup
Round Date Opponent Venue Result Attendance Goalscorers
R1 20 November 1976 Southport A 2–1 4,102 Rogers (2)
R2 11 December 1976 Barnsley H 3–0 5,451 Williams, Griffiths, Beamish
R3 8 January 1977 Hull City A 1–1 9,694 Beamish
R3 Replay 10 January 1977 Hull City H 3–1 10,668 Beamish (2), Kennerley
R4 29 January 1977 Burnley H 2–1 18,068 Tartt, Brownbill
R5 26 February 1977 Aston Villa A 0–3 46,872

League Cup

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Main article: 1976–77 Football League Cup
Round Date Opponent Venue Result Attendance Goalscorers
R1 1st Leg 14 August 1976 Wrexham H 1–1 3,912 Cullerton (pen)
R1 2nd Leg 18 August 1976 Wrexham A 0–1 4,320

Debenhams Cup

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Round Date Opponent Venue Result Attendance Goalscorers
Final 1st Leg 16 May 1977 Chester H 2–0 3,459 Griffiths, Beamish
Final 2nd Leg 24 May 1977 Chester A 1–4 3,920 Beamish

Player statistics

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Appearances and goals

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Pos. Name Football League FA Cup League Cup Debenhams Cup Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
GK England John Connaughton 38 0 4 0 2 0 0 0 44 0
GK England Trevor Dance 8 0 2 0 0 0 2 0 12 0
DF England John Brodie 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 0
DF England Neil Griffiths 30 0 6 1 2 0 2 1 40 2
DF England David Harris 40 0 6 0 0 0 2 0 48 0
DF England Garry Dulson 28 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 29 1
DF England Bobby Thomson 18 0 6 0 0 0 0 0 24 0
DF England Eric Skeels 5 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 1
DF England Ian Osborne 15 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 17 0
DF England Andy Clements 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 0
DF England Terry Alcock 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
DF England Trevor Robson 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
MF Scotland Tommy McLaren 33 0 4 0 0 0 2 0 39 0
MF England Colin Tartt 25 3 4 1 2 0 0 0 31 4
MF England John Ridley 35 1 6 0 2 0 2 0 45 1
MF England Terry Bailey 39 2 6 0 2 0 2 0 49 2
MF England Kenny Beech 27 4 4 0 2 0 2 0 35 4
MF Scotland Alan Lamb 14 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 15 0
MF England Peter Sutcliffe 12 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 14 1
MF England Kevin Kennerley 23 1 4 1 2 0 1 0 30 2
MF England Chris Dangerfield 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0
MF England Geoff Davies 7 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 7 0
MF England Keith Chadwick 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
MF England Terry Lees 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
FW England Ray Williams 21 2 4 1 2 0 0 0 27 3
FW England Derek Brownbill 19 2 2 1 2 0 0 0 23 3
FW Scotland Mick Cullerton 25 9 0 0 1 1 2 0 28 10
FW England John Rogers 26 6 6 2 0 0 2 0 34 8
FW England Ken Beamish 37 12 5 4 0 0 2 2 44 18
FW England Dean Martin 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0

Top scorers

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Place Position Nation Name Third Division FA Cup League Cup Debenhams Cup Total
1 FW  England Ken Beamish 12 4 0 2 18
2 FW  Scotland Mick Cullerton 9 0 1 0 10
3 FW  England John Rogers 6 2 0 0 8
4 MF  England Kenny Beech 4 0 0 0 4
– MF  England Colin Tartt 3 1 0 0 4
6 FW  England Ray Williams 2 1 0 0 3
– FW  England Derek Brownbill 2 1 0 0 3
8 MF  England Terry Bailey 2 0 0 0 2
– DF  England Neil Griffiths 0 1 0 1 2
– MF  England Kevin Kennerley 1 1 0 0 2
11 DF  England Garry Dulson 1 0 0 0 1
– DF  England Eric Skeels 1 0 0 0 1
– MF  England John Ridley 1 0 0 0 1
– MF  England Peter Sutcliffe 1 0 0 0 1
– – – Own goals 2 0 0 0 2
TOTALS 47 11 1 3 62

Transfers

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Transfers in

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Date from Position Nationality Name From Fee Ref.
1976 MF England Geoff Davies United States Chicago Sting Free transfer [4]
1976 DF England Ian Osborne Birmingham City Free transfer [4]
25 May 1976 MF England Kevin Kennerley Burnley Free transfer [4]
July 1976 FW England Dean Martin Stoke City Trial [4]
August 1976 MF England Chris Dangerfield Wolverhampton Wanderers Trial [4]
September 1976 FW England Ken Beamish Blackburn Rovers £12,000 [4]
September 1976 DF England Eric Skeels Stoke City Free transfer [4]
October 1976 FW England John Rogers United States Portland Timbers Free transfer [4]
October 1976 DF England Bobby Thomson United States Hartford Bicentennials Free transfer [4]
February 1977 DF England Terry Alcock Blackpool Free transfer [4]
March 1977 MF Scotland Alan Lamb Preston North End £5,000 [4]
March 1977 MF England Peter Sutcliffe Stockport County £3,000 [4]

Transfers out

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Date from Position Nationality Name To Fee Ref.
August 1976 MF England Chris Dangerfield Coventry City Trial ended [4]
September 1976 FW England Dean Martin Stoke City Trial ended [4]
January 1977 MF England Geoff Davies United States San Jose Earthquakes Free transfer [4]
March 1977 MF England Keith Chadwick Retired [4]
March 1977 MF England Colin Tartt Chesterfield £15,000 [4]
March 1977 DF England Bobby Thomson United States Hartford Bicentennials Free transfer [4]
March 1977 FW England Ray Williams Northwich Victoria 'small' [4]
May 1977 MF Scotland Tommy McLaren Telford United Free transfer [4]
May 1977 DF England Ian Osborne Hillingdon Borough Free transfer [4]
May 1977 DF England Trevor Robson Released [4]
July 1977 FW England John Rogers Altrincham £2,000 [4]
Summer 1977 DF England Eric Skeels Leek Town Free transfer [4]

Loans in

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Date from Position Nationality Name From Date to Ref.
February 1977 DF England Andy Clements Bolton Wanderers April 1977 [4]

Loans out

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Date from Position Nationality Name To Date to Ref.
1976 MF England Geoff Davies Hartlepool United 1976 [4]
1977 DF England Terry Alcock United States Portland Timbers 1977 [4]

References

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Specific
  1. ^ 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 ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an Kent, Jeff (1990). "Surviving on a Shoestring (1969–1979)". The Valiants' Years: The Story of Port Vale. Witan Books. pp. 227–257. ISBN 0-9508981-4-7.
  2. ^ Harper, Chris. Sentinel Football Annual 1977-78. Stoke-on-Trent: The Sentinel. p. 21.
  3. ^ Port Vale 1976–1977 : Results & Fixtures Archived 2 October 2015 at the Wayback Machine. Statto Organisation. Retrieved 28 April 2012.
  4. ^ 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 Kent, Jeff (1996). Port Vale Personalities. Witan Books. ISBN 0-9529152-0-0.
General
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