1999–2000 Port Vale F.C. season

Port Vale
1999–2000 season
Chairman Bill Bell
Manager Brian Horton
Stadium Vale Park
Football League First Division 23rd
FA Cup Third Round
League Cup First Round
Player of the Year Tommy Widdrington
Top goalscorer League: Tony Rougier (8)
All: Tony Rougier (9)
Highest home attendance 10,250 vs. Manchester City (30 October 1999)
Lowest home attendance 2,625 vs. Chester City (24 August 1999)
Average home league attendance 5,906
Home colours

The 1999–2000 season was Port Vale's 88th season of football in the 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 at the Third Round, and were knocked out of the League Cup at 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

First Division

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. 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.[1] 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).[1] 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.[1] 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 in all competitions 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.[1]

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);[2] 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.[3]

Finances

The club's shirt sponsors were Tunstall Assurance.

Cup competitions

In the FA Cup, Vale lost 2–0 to Premier League outfit Leeds United at Elland Road, to exit the competition at the Third Round. Just 11,912 turned up for the game, after the Vale board refused to allow a price reduction.[1]

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.

Final league table

!PosTeamPWDLFAPts
1.Charlton Athletic4627109794591
2.Manchester City4626119784089
3.Ipswich Town4625129714287
4.Barnsley46241012886782
5.Birmingham City46221113654477
6.Bolton Wanderers46211312695076
7.Wolverhampton Wanderers46211114644874
8.Huddersfield Town46211114624974
9.Fulham46171613494167
10.Queens Park Rangers46161812625366
11.Blackburn Rovers46151714555162
12.Norwich City46141517455057
13.Tranmere Rovers46151219576857
14.Nottingham Forest46141418535556
15.Crystal Palace46131518576754
16.Sheffield United46131518596654
17.Stockport County46131518556754
18.Portsmouth46131221556651
19.Crewe Alexandra4614923466751
20.Grimsby Town46131221416751
21.West Bromwich Albion46101917436049
22.Walsall46111322527746
23.Port Vale4671524486936
24.Swindon Town4681226387736

P = Matches played; W = Matches won; D = Matches drawn; L = Matches lost; F = Goals for; A = Goals against; Pts = Points

Results

Port Vale's score comes first

Legend

Win Draw Loss
Round12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031323334353637383940414243444546
GroundAHAHAHHAHAAHHAAHHAHAAHAAHAHHHAHAAHAHAHHAHAAHAH
Result D L L W L W L L W L D L L D L L W D D W D D D L L D W D L L D L L L D L L W D L D L D L L L
Position 12 18 23 19 20 13 16 17 15 17 17 21 23 21 24 24 20 19 20 18 19 18 20 21 21 22 22 23 23 23 23 23 23 23 23 23 23 23 23 23 23 23 23 23 23 23

Sourced from Statto.[4]

Football League First Division

DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers
7 August 1999 Blackburn RoversA0–020,530
14 August 1999 West Bromwich AlbionH1–27,891Minton (pen)
21 August 1999 Birmingham CityA2–418,089Rougier, Naylor
28 August 1999 Tranmere RoversH1–04,657Naylor
31 August 1999 Queens Park RangersA2–39,502Minton (pen), Gardner
5 September 1999 Grimsby TownH3–13,737Bent, Naylor, Foyle
11 September 1999 FulhamH0–26,130
18 September 1999 Stockport CountyA0–17,632
25 September 1999 Swindon TownH2–04,629Carragher, own goal
2 October 1999 Manchester CityA1–231,608Foyle
9 October 1999 Huddersfield TownA2–211,885Gardner, Foyle
16 October 1999 Norwich CityH0–15,790
19 October 1999 Nottingham ForestH0–25,714
23 October 1999 Wolverhampton WanderersA2–220,488Walsh, Rougier
26 October 1999 Swindon TownA1–25,703Rougier
30 October 1999 Manchester CityH1–210,250Foyle
5 November 1999 Crewe AlexandraH1–03,500Rougier
12 November 1999 WalsallA0–06,190
20 November 1999 Crystal PalaceH2–25,170Rougier, Foyle
23 November 1999 Sheffield UnitedA3–28,965Eyre, Tankard, Gardner
27 November 1999 Charlton AthleticA2–219,266Rougier, Foyle
4 December 1999 Blackburn RoversH0–06,084
18 December 1999 PortsmouthA0–011,869
28 December 1999 BarnsleyA1–316,855Minton
3 January 2000 Ipswich TownH1–26,908Naylor
15 January 2000 West Bromwich AlbionA0–010,831
22 January 2000 Birmingham CityH3–17,702Naylor, Widdrington (pen), Rougier
5 February 2000 Queens Park RangersH1–15,493Bullock
8 February 2000 Bolton WanderersH0–15,092
12 February 2000 Grimsby TownA0–26,265
26 February 2000 Stockport CountyH1–15,663Widdrington
4 March 2000 FulhamA1–310,418Healy
7 March 2000 Crewe AlexandraA1–28,044Viljanen
11 March 2000 Sheffield UnitedH2–35,484Healy, Rougier
18 March 2000 Crystal PalaceA1–118,954Widdrington (pen)
21 March 2000 WalsallH1–25,737Cummins
25 March 2000 Bolton WanderersA1–212,292Viljanen
1 April 2000 PortsmouthH2–05,426Viljanen, Widdrington (pen)
4 April 2000 Charlton AthleticH2–24,513Viljanen, Burton
8 April 2000 Ipswich TownA0–319,663
15 April 2000 BarnsleyH2–25,918Burton, Widdrington (pen)
18 April 2000 Tranmere RoversA1–25,602Healy
22 April 2000 Norwich CityA0–015,526
24 April 2000 Huddersfield TownH1–25,828Naylor
29 April 2000 Nottingham ForestA0–215,534
7 May 2000 Wolverhampton WanderersH0–18,525

FA Cup

Main article: 1999–2000 FA Cup
RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorers
R312 December 1999 Leeds UnitedA0–211,912

League Cup

RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorers
R1 1st Leg10 August 1999 Chester CityA1–22,102Rougier
R1 2nd Leg24 August 1999 Chester CityH4–42,625Naylor (2), Minton, Griffiths

Player statistics

Appearances

Pos. Name Football League FA Cup League Cup Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
GKEngland Paul Musselwhite 3001010320
GKEngland Kevin Pilkington 1500010160
GKEngland Mark Goodlad 10000010
GKEngland Matt Glennon 00000000
GKEngland Andy Oakes 00000000
DFEngland Allen Tankard 3511010371
DFEngland Matt Carragher 3710020391
DFNorthern Ireland Liam Burns 2401000250
DFNetherlands Mark Snijders 2101000220
DFEngland Michael Walsh 1210020141
DFEngland Tony Butler 1500000150
DFEngland Anthony Gardner 2631020293
DFEngland Alex Smith 1300020150
DFSaint Kitts and Nevis Sagi Burton 2020000222
DFEngland Paul Donnelly 40000040
DFEngland Steve Rimmer 20000020
DFWales Gareth Taylor 40000040
MFEngland Ian Bogie 90000090
MFEngland Wayne Corden 20000020
MFEngland Stewart Talbot 60000060
MFEngland Richard Eyre 3011020331
MFEngland Tommy Widdrington 3851000395
MFEngland Simon Barker 50001060
MFEngland Dave Brammer 2900020310
MFEngland Neil Brisco 1301000140
MFRepublic of Ireland George O'Callaghan 1100000110
MFTrinidad and Tobago Tony Rougier 3881021419
MFEngland Martin Bullock 61000061
MFRepublic of Ireland Micky Cummins 1210000121
MFEngland Jeff Minton 2331021264
FWEngland Martin Foyle 2261010246
FWEngland Tony Naylor 3661022398
FWEngland Marcus Bent 81001091
FWEngland Carl Griffiths 50002171
FWEngland Martin Aldridge 30000030
FWNorthern Ireland David Healy 1630000163
FWFinland Ville Viljanen 1440000144

Scorers

All competitions

Scorer Goals
Trinidad and Tobago Tony Rougier 9
England Tony Naylor 8
England Martin Foyle 6
England Tommy Widdrington 5
Finland Ville Viljanen 4
England Jeff Minton
England Anthony Gardner 3
Northern Ireland David Healy
Saint Kitts and Nevis Sagi Burton 2
England Richard Eyre 1
England Allen Tankard
England Matt Carragher
Northern Ireland Brian McGlinchey
England Marcus Bent
England Michael Walsh
England Martin Bullock
Republic of Ireland Micky Cummins
England Carl Griffiths

League

Scorer Goals
Trinidad and Tobago Tony Rougier 8
England Martin Foyle 6
England Tony Naylor
England Tommy Widdrington 5
Finland Ville Viljanen 4
England Jeff Minton 3
England Anthony Gardner
Northern Ireland David Healy
Saint Kitts and Nevis Sagi Burton 2
England Richard Eyre 1
England Allen Tankard
England Matt Carragher
Northern Ireland Brian McGlinchey
England Marcus Bent
England Michael Walsh
England Martin Bullock
Republic of Ireland Micky Cummins

Transfers

Transfers in

Date from Position Nationality Name From Fee Ref.
1999 DF England Paul Donnelly Free transfer [5]
June 1999 MF England Jeff Minton Brighton & Hove Albion Free transfer [5]
June 1999 DF England Steve Rimmer Manchester City Free transfer [5]
June 1999 MF England Tommy Widdrington Grimsby Town Free transfer [5]
January 2000 DF Saint Kitts and Nevis Sagi Burton Sheffield United Free transfer [5]
February 2000 FW Finland Ville Viljanen Sweden Västra Frölunda IF Free transfer [5]
March 2000 MF Republic of Ireland Micky Cummins Middlesbrough Free transfer [5]
March 2000 GK England Mark Goodlad Nottingham Forest Free transfer [5]

Transfers out

Date from Position Nationality Name To Fee Ref.
October 1999 FW England Marcus Bent Sheffield United £375,000 [5]
December 1999 FW Wales Carl Griffiths Leyton Orient £100,000 [5]
January 2000 DF England Anthony Gardner Tottenham Hotspur £1 million [5]
March 2000 DF England Tony Butler West Bromwich Albion £140,000 [5]
April 2000 MF England Ian Bogie Kidderminster Harriers Free transfer [5]
May 2000 MF England Simon Barker Retired [5]
May 2000 DF England Steve Rimmer Marine Released [5]
July 2000 MF England Stewart Talbot Rotherham United Free transfer [5]
Summer 2000 MF England Wayne Corden Mansfield Town Free transfer [5]
Summer 2000 FW England Martin Foyle Retired [5]
Summer 2000 GK England Paul Musselwhite Sheffield Wednesday Free transfer [5]
Summer 2000 GK England Kevin Pilkington Wales Aberystwyth Town Free transfer [5]
Summer 2000 DF Netherlands Mark Snijders Netherlands AFC '34 Released [5]
August 2000 MF Trinidad and Tobago Tony Rougier Reading £325,000 [5]

Loans in

Date from Position Nationality Name From Date to Ref.
20 August 1999 GK England Andy Oakes Derby County 10 September 1999 [5]
10 September 1999 GK England Matt Glennon Bolton Wanderers 20 October 1999 [5]
27 September 1999 FW England Martin Aldridge Blackpool 27 October 1999 [5]
11 January 2000 MF England Martin Bullock Barnsley 28 February 2000 [5]
19 January 2000 FW Wales Gareth Taylor Manchester City 16 February 2000 [5]
19 February 2000 MF Northern Ireland David Healy Manchester United 8 May 2000 [5]

References

Specific
  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "Vale slide into Division Two". BBC Sport. 28 June 2000. Retrieved 18 January 2011.
  2. "Millers snap up Talbot". BBC Sport. 12 July 2000. Retrieved 18 January 2011.
  3. "Board change at Vale". BBC Sport. 10 July 2000. Retrieved 18 January 2011.
  4. Port Vale 1999–2000 : Results & Fixtures. Statto Organisation. Retrieved 28 April 2012.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 "Port Vale FC Club Details | Transfers | Soccer Base". www.soccerbase.com. Retrieved 7 October 2016.
General
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