1978–79 Port Vale F.C. season
Encyclopedia
The 1978–79 season was Port Vale
's sixty-seventh season of football in the Football League
, and their first season (seventh overall) back in the Fourth Division
following their relegation from the Third Division
. Bernie Wright
was highly impressive with his fifteen goals, though the rest of the team limped to a sixteenth place finish, and exited both cup competitions at the first stage. This occurred with unrest in the boardroom behind the scenes, unrest amongst fans on the terraces, and annoyance from Butler towards the fans for their abuse of his players. Butler broke club transfer-records in both signing players and selling them.
sign big striker Bernie Wright
from Bradford City
for £9,000 and right-back Neil Wilkinson
on a free transfer from Blackburn Rovers
. Butler also took the team on a three match tour of Scotland
. Just before the start of the season Ken Todd
was signed for a club-record £37,000, despite Todd having only made a handful of appearances for Wolverhampton Wanderers
. In the summer former Valiant Tommy McLaren
committed suicide, friend and teammate Ray Williams
said 'leaving the club shattered him'. On 2 October a Memorial Fund match was played, raising £3,000.
The season opened with just two victories in eleven league games, as both Todd and keeper John Connaughton
were sidelined with injuries. The two wins came away from home, 5–1 over rivals Crewe Alexandra
at Gresty Road
(Wright scoring a hat-trick) and 3–1 at Doncaster Rovers
at the Keepmoat Stadium. Butler then threw himself into the transfer market, selling John Froggatt
to Northampton Town
for £8,000, and then Mick Moore
and Terry Bailey
to Wigan Athletic
and Northwich Victoria respectively, both for £2,000. Another 'shrewd piece of business' came when star forward Ken Beamish
was sold to Bury
for £35,000, whilst Gerry Keenan
moved the other way for £15,000. In October, Felix Healy
was signed from Finn Harps
for £8,000, and Neil Wilkinson and £3,000 were traded to Crewe in exchange for outside-right Kevin Tully
. Winning five games in a sequence of eight, Todd was still a disappointment to fans, who began getting 'on his back'. Butler's signings did not stop however, and instead he sold John Ridley
to Leicester City
for a club-record £55,000. He then signed Andy Proudlove
from Buxton
for £1,000 – despite interest from Stafford Rangers
. Then in came midfielder Peter Farrell
from Bury for a new club-record £40,000. They ended their club-record streaks of 42 away games without keeping a clean sheet on 30 September, and of twelve home games without a win on 21 October.
Going into December four games unbeaten, Butler then splashed out £30,000 on Chester's Bob Delgado
. Despite this, Vale were thumped 6–2 by Barnsley
in front of 10,532 at Oakwell. In January, legendary England
goalkeeper Gordon Banks
was appointed as coach, and results began to pick up as Vale were lifted into eighth spot. Healy left the club in February, only to return two weeks later. Behind the scenes there was trouble when Arthur McPherson ruled that club shares could only be transferable to a male relation, in order 'to safeguard plans by the current directors'. More defeats came, and the big money signings were targeted by fans for abuse. Butler reacted by calling the fans 'a bunch of yobs'. From mid-March, Vale went seven games with only one victory and one goal scored. On 21 March violence returned to Vale Park
, when Portsmouth
keeper Peter Mellor
saved a penalty, floored Peter Farrell and made an 'assortment of gestures' to the Bycars End – he found himself attacked by a Vale fan on the pitch for his efforts. On 13 April, Vale surrendered a three goal lead at Springfield Park
to lose 5–3 to Wigan Athletic
. Danger of ending up in the re-election zone was ended with a late four game unbeaten spell, despite heavy defeats from Reading
and York City
.
They finished in sixteenth place with 42 points, with an awful defensive record of seventy goals conceded. Despite this their scoring tally away from Burslem
was the highest in the Football League, and they were given £2,125 as a reward. Player of the Year Bernie Wright
bagged fifteen goals in what was a poor season for the club.
(Halifax Town
) and Andy Proudlove
(Stafford Rangers
). Behind the scenes, long-time club servant and president Mark Singer was fired, though chairman Arthur McPherson made no comment to the press.
, a weeks preparation in Blackpool
failed to prevent Vale exiting at the first stage with a 1–0 defeat to Bradford City
at Valley Parade
.
In the League Cup
, Third Division
Chester
knocked the Vale out 4–1 on aggregate.
P = Matches played; W = Matches won; D = Matches drawn; L = Matches lost; F = Goals for; A = Goals against; GD = Goal difference; Pts = Points
Port Vale F.C.
Port Vale Football Club is an English football club currently playing in Football League Two. They are based in Burslem, Staffordshire — one of six towns that make up the city of Stoke-on-Trent. The club's traditional rivals in the city are Stoke City, and games between the two clubs are known as...
's sixty-seventh season of football in the Football League
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
, and their first season (seventh overall) back in the Fourth Division
Football League Fourth Division
The Fourth Division of The Football League was the fourth-highest division in the English football league system from the 1958–59 season until the creation of the Premier League prior to the 1992–93 season...
following their relegation from the Third Division
Football League Third Division
The Football League Third Division was the 3 tier of English Football from 1920 until 1992 when after the formation of the Football Association Premier League saw the league renamed The Football League Division Two...
. Bernie Wright
Bernie Wright
Bernard Peter "Bernie" Wright , nicknamed Bernie the Bolt, is an English former footballer. A tough centre-forward, he scored 78 goals in 320 league games in a nine year career in the Football League....
was highly impressive with his fifteen goals, though the rest of the team limped to a sixteenth place finish, and exited both cup competitions at the first stage. This occurred with unrest in the boardroom behind the scenes, unrest amongst fans on the terraces, and annoyance from Butler towards the fans for their abuse of his players. Butler broke club transfer-records in both signing players and selling them.
Fourth Division
The pre-season saw new manager Dennis ButlerDennis Butler
Dennis Anthony Butler is an English former footballer and football manager. He played as a winger for Bolton Wanderers between 1959 and 1968, before ending his playing career following a five year spell at Rochdale...
sign big striker Bernie Wright
Bernie Wright
Bernard Peter "Bernie" Wright , nicknamed Bernie the Bolt, is an English former footballer. A tough centre-forward, he scored 78 goals in 320 league games in a nine year career in the Football League....
from Bradford City
Bradford City A.F.C.
Bradford City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Bradford, West Yorkshire, playing in League Two....
for £9,000 and right-back Neil Wilkinson
Neil Wilkinson (footballer)
Neil Wilkinson is an English former footballer.-Playing career:Wilkinson played for Blackburn Rovers before playing in South Africa. He returned to England to join Port Vale in June 1978. He played nine competitive games for the club before being transferred to Crewe Alexandra, along with £3,000,...
on a free transfer from Blackburn Rovers
Blackburn Rovers F.C.
Blackburn Rovers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the town of Blackburn, Lancashire. The team currently competes in the Premier League, the top tier of English football....
. Butler also took the team on a three match tour of Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
. Just before the start of the season Ken Todd
Ken Todd
Kenneth Todd is an English former footballer.-Playing career:Todd played four league games for Wolverhampton Wanderers before Port Vale broke their club record fee to purchase him for £37,000 in August 1978. Expectations loomed large on the youngster as he struggled to live up to his price tag...
was signed for a club-record £37,000, despite Todd having only made a handful of appearances for Wolverhampton Wanderers
Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.
Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club that represents the city of Wolverhampton in the West Midlands region. They are members of the Premier League, the highest level of English football. The club was founded in 1877 and since 1889 has played at...
. In the summer former Valiant Tommy McLaren
Tommy McLaren
Thomas "Tommy" McLaren was a Scottish footballer who played as a midfielder.He moved from Berwick Rangers to Port Vale in November 1967. He spent ten years at Vale Park, racking up 369 league and cup appearances...
committed suicide, friend and teammate Ray Williams
Ray Williams (footballer)
Raymond "Ray" Williams is an English former footballer who played as a striker. He now works as a commentator at BBC Radio Stoke....
said 'leaving the club shattered him'. On 2 October a Memorial Fund match was played, raising £3,000.
The season opened with just two victories in eleven league games, as both Todd and keeper John Connaughton
John Connaughton
Patrick John Connaughton is an English former professional football goalkeeper. He played 387 games in a sixteen year career. He also represented England at youth level on three occasions....
were sidelined with injuries. The two wins came away from home, 5–1 over rivals Crewe Alexandra
Crewe Alexandra F.C.
Crewe Alexandra Football Club is an English professional football club based in Crewe, Cheshire. Nicknamed The Railwaymen due to the town's links with the rail industry, they currently play in Football League Two, the fourth tier of English football, and are based at the Alexandra Stadium.The club...
at Gresty Road
Alexandra Stadium
The Alexandra Stadium is a multi-use stadium in Crewe, England. It is currently used mostly for football matches and is the home ground of Crewe Alexandra...
(Wright scoring a hat-trick) and 3–1 at Doncaster Rovers
Doncaster Rovers F.C.
Doncaster Rovers Football Club is an English football club, based at the Keepmoat Stadium in Doncaster, South Yorkshire. The team currently competes in the Football League Championship, after being promoted via the League One play-offs in 2008, and have remained there since.The club was founded in...
at the Keepmoat Stadium. Butler then threw himself into the transfer market, selling John Froggatt
John Froggatt
John Lawrence Froggatt is an English former footballer.-Playing career:...
to Northampton Town
Northampton Town F.C.
Northampton Town Football Club are an English professional football club based in Northampton, Northamptonshire. They currently play in Football League Two, the lowest league division, after being relegated from League One on the last day of the 2008–09 season...
for £8,000, and then Mick Moore
Mick Moore
Michael "Mick" Moore is an English former footballer. A midfielder, he played for Preston North End and Port Vale, but made his name at both Southport and Wigan Athletic. He helped Southport to the Fourth Division title in 1972–73, and also played for Wigan in their first ever season in the...
and Terry Bailey
Terry Bailey
Terence "Terry" Bailey is a former English footballer who played as a midfielder. His son Mark Bailey also played professional football.After a brief association with Winsford United, he joined Stafford Rangers in 1968...
to Wigan Athletic
Wigan Athletic F.C.
Wigan Athletic Football Club is an English Premier League Association football club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester, having been promoted from the Championship in 2005. Wigan's current spell in the Premier League is the only top flight run in the club's history.They have played at the DW...
and Northwich Victoria respectively, both for £2,000. Another 'shrewd piece of business' came when star forward Ken Beamish
Ken Beamish
Kenneth George "Ken" Beamish is an English former football player, coach and manager. In his playing days he was a forward, and he scored a total of 159 goals in 554 league games....
was sold to Bury
Bury F.C.
Bury Football Club is an association football team based in Bury, Greater Manchester. The team currently play in League One. The club's nickname is The Shakers which was bestowed upon them by club chairman JT Ingham, an industrialist and ironmonger of the late 1890s.-Formation of the club and the...
for £35,000, whilst Gerry Keenan
Gerry Keenan
Gerard Patrick "Gerry" Keenan is an English former footballer.-Playing career:Keenan played for Liverpool, Skelmersdale United and Bury before signing for Port Vale in September 1978 for a £15,000 fee. After enjoying two seasons of regular football he suffered with knee injuries from September...
moved the other way for £15,000. In October, Felix Healy
Felix Healy
Felix Healy is a former Northern Ireland international footballer who played for Coleraine and then became a football manager...
was signed from Finn Harps
Finn Harps F.C.
Finn Harps Football Club are a professional Irish football club playing in the First Division of the League of Ireland. The club was founded in 1954 and elected to the league in 1969. They hail from Ballybofey, County Donegal and play their home matches at Finn Park. The club's colours are blue...
for £8,000, and Neil Wilkinson and £3,000 were traded to Crewe in exchange for outside-right Kevin Tully
Kevin Tully
Kevin Francis Tully is an English former footballer.-Playing career:Tully began his career with Prestwich Heys. In 1972 he joined a then-managerless Blackpool, for whom he went on to make eleven league appearances...
. Winning five games in a sequence of eight, Todd was still a disappointment to fans, who began getting 'on his back'. Butler's signings did not stop however, and instead he sold John Ridley
John Ridley (footballer)
John Ridley is an English former footballer. A versatile midfielder, he had a twelve year professional career in the Football League, playing for Port Vale and Chesterfield, as well as Leicester City. He also played for non-league Stafford Rangers and for American side Fort Lauderdale Strikers.He...
to Leicester City
Leicester City F.C.
Leicester City Football Club , also known as The Foxes, is an English professional football club based at the King Power Stadium in Leicester...
for a club-record £55,000. He then signed Andy Proudlove
Andy Proudlove
Andrew George Proudlove is an English former footballer.-Playing career:Proudlove played for Reading, Buxton , Sheffield Wednesday, Norwich City and Hereford United before joining Port Vale from Buxton for a £1,000 fee in November 1978...
from Buxton
Buxton F.C.
Buxton Football Club are an English football club based in Buxton, Derbyshire. They were established in 1877 and joined the Combination League in 1891. They then joined the Manchester League in 1899 and won the championship in 1932. They reached the 3rd round of the FA Cup in the 1951-52 season....
for £1,000 – despite interest from Stafford Rangers
Stafford Rangers F.C.
Stafford Rangers Football Club is a semi-professional English football team from Stafford which plays in the Northern Premier League Premier Division.The team wear black and white stripes with black shorts...
. Then in came midfielder Peter Farrell
Peter Farrell (English footballer)
Peter John Farrell is an English former football midfielder noted for his excellent technical ability. He is now a coach at Brentford....
from Bury for a new club-record £40,000. They ended their club-record streaks of 42 away games without keeping a clean sheet on 30 September, and of twelve home games without a win on 21 October.
Going into December four games unbeaten, Butler then splashed out £30,000 on Chester's Bob Delgado
Bob Delgado
Robert Allan Delgado is a Welsh footballer who played for most of his career in the 1970s, with the majority of his league appearances coming at Rotherham United and Chester.-Playing career:...
. Despite this, Vale were thumped 6–2 by Barnsley
Barnsley F.C.
Barnsley Football Club are a professional English football club based in the town of Barnsley, South Yorkshire. Nicknamed the Tykes, they were founded in 1887 under the name Barnsley St. Peter's...
in front of 10,532 at Oakwell. In January, legendary England
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
goalkeeper Gordon Banks
Gordon Banks
Gordon Banks, OBE is a retired English football goalkeeper. The IFFHS named Banks the second best goalkeeper of the 20th century – after Lev Yashin and ahead of Dino Zoff ....
was appointed as coach, and results began to pick up as Vale were lifted into eighth spot. Healy left the club in February, only to return two weeks later. Behind the scenes there was trouble when Arthur McPherson ruled that club shares could only be transferable to a male relation, in order 'to safeguard plans by the current directors'. More defeats came, and the big money signings were targeted by fans for abuse. Butler reacted by calling the fans 'a bunch of yobs'. From mid-March, Vale went seven games with only one victory and one goal scored. On 21 March violence returned to Vale Park
Vale Park
Vale Park is a football stadium in Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent, England. It is the home ground of Port Vale F.C., who have played at the ground since 1950....
, when Portsmouth
Portsmouth F.C.
Portsmouth Football Club is an English football club based in the city of Portsmouth. The club is nicknamed Pompey. Portsmouth's home matches have been played at Fratton Park since the club's formation in 1898. The team currently play in the Football League Championship after being relegated from...
keeper Peter Mellor
Peter Mellor
Peter Mellor is an English former professional footballer whose career spanned three decades. Born in Prestbury, Cheshire, Mellor won an England Youth cap whilst with his first club Witton Albion . Tall, fair haired and ever smiling Mellor was soon spotted by Burnley, and quickly became their...
saved a penalty, floored Peter Farrell and made an 'assortment of gestures' to the Bycars End – he found himself attacked by a Vale fan on the pitch for his efforts. On 13 April, Vale surrendered a three goal lead at Springfield Park
Springfield Park (Wigan)
Springfield Park was a multi-purpose stadium in Wigan, England. It was the home ground of Wigan Athletic F.C. until the club moved to the new JJB Stadium after the 1999 season. At its largest, the stadium held 40,000...
to lose 5–3 to Wigan Athletic
Wigan Athletic F.C.
Wigan Athletic Football Club is an English Premier League Association football club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester, having been promoted from the Championship in 2005. Wigan's current spell in the Premier League is the only top flight run in the club's history.They have played at the DW...
. Danger of ending up in the re-election zone was ended with a late four game unbeaten spell, despite heavy defeats from Reading
Reading F.C.
Reading Football Club is an English association football club based in the town of Reading, Berkshire who currently play in the Championship...
and York City
York City F.C.
York City Football Club is an English football club based in York, North Yorkshire. The club participates in the Conference National, the fifth tier of English football. Founded in 1922, they joined the Football League in 1929, and have spent most of their history in the lower divisions...
.
They finished in sixteenth place with 42 points, with an awful defensive record of seventy goals conceded. Despite this their scoring tally away from Burslem
Burslem
The town of Burslem, known as the Mother Town, is one of the six towns that amalgamated to form the current city of Stoke-on-Trent, in the ceremonial county of Staffordshire, in the Midlands of England.-Topography:...
was the highest in the Football League, and they were given £2,125 as a reward. Player of the Year Bernie Wright
Bernie Wright
Bernard Peter "Bernie" Wright , nicknamed Bernie the Bolt, is an English former footballer. A tough centre-forward, he scored 78 goals in 320 league games in a nine year career in the Football League....
bagged fifteen goals in what was a poor season for the club.
Finances
On the financial side, a record £52,000 loss was made despite a remarkable £225,000 income from the club's commercial department. Butler's transfer dealings had lost the club £36,000, whilst wages more than doubled from £113,000 to £259,000. The club's liabilities stood at £187,000. Despite all of this the club made 'surprisingly sparing use of the pruning knife', letting go just four players, most significantly David HarrisDavid Harris (footballer)
David Harris is a former English football defender who had a six year professional career in the Football League with Port Vale from 1973 to 1979. He was voted the club's Player of the Year in 1974 and 1977...
(Halifax Town
Halifax Town A.F.C.
Halifax Town Association Football Club were an English football team who most recently played in the Conference National, although prior to that they participated in the Football League for over eighty years...
) and Andy Proudlove
Andy Proudlove
Andrew George Proudlove is an English former footballer.-Playing career:Proudlove played for Reading, Buxton , Sheffield Wednesday, Norwich City and Hereford United before joining Port Vale from Buxton for a £1,000 fee in November 1978...
(Stafford Rangers
Stafford Rangers F.C.
Stafford Rangers Football Club is a semi-professional English football team from Stafford which plays in the Northern Premier League Premier Division.The team wear black and white stripes with black shorts...
). Behind the scenes, long-time club servant and president Mark Singer was fired, though chairman Arthur McPherson made no comment to the press.
Cup competitions
In the FA CupFA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
, a weeks preparation in Blackpool
Blackpool
Blackpool is a borough, seaside town, and unitary authority area of Lancashire, in North West England. It is situated along England's west coast by the Irish Sea, between the Ribble and Wyre estuaries, northwest of Preston, north of Liverpool, and northwest of Manchester...
failed to prevent Vale exiting at the first stage with a 1–0 defeat to Bradford City
Bradford City A.F.C.
Bradford City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Bradford, West Yorkshire, playing in League Two....
at Valley Parade
Valley Parade
Valley Parade, also known as the Coral Windows Stadium through sponsorship rights, is an all-seater football stadium in Bradford, West Yorkshire, England. It was built in 1886, and was the home of Manningham Rugby Football Club until 1903, when they changed code from rugby football to association...
.
In the League Cup
Football League Cup
The Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup or, from current sponsorship, the Carling Cup, is an English association football competition. Like the FA Cup, it is played on a knockout basis...
, Third Division
Football League Third Division
The Football League Third Division was the 3 tier of English Football from 1920 until 1992 when after the formation of the Football Association Premier League saw the league renamed The Football League Division Two...
Chester
Chester City F.C.
Chester City Football Club was an English football team from Chester. The club was founded as Chester F.C., and joined the Football League in 1931, spending most of their time in the lower divisions. They changed their name to Chester City in 1983. Chester won their first league title in 2004, the...
knocked the Vale out 4–1 on aggregate.
Final league table
| P | W | D | L | F | A | GD | Pts | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Reading Reading F.C. Reading Football Club is an English association football club based in the town of Reading, Berkshire who currently play in the Championship... |
46 | 26 | 13 | 7 | 76 | 35 | 65 | |
| 2 | Grimsby Town Grimsby Town F.C. Grimsby Town Football Club is an English football club based in the seaside town of Cleethorpes, in North East Lincolnshire, England, who compete in the Conference National. They were formed in 1878 as Grimsby Pelham and later became Grimsby Town... |
46 | 26 | 9 | 11 | 82 | 49 | 61 | |
| 3 | Wimbledon Wimbledon F.C. Wimbledon Football Club was an English professional association football club from Wimbledon, south-west London. Founded in 1889 as Wimbledon Old Central Football Club, the club spent most of its history in amateur and semi-professional non-League football before being elected to the Football... |
46 | 25 | 11 | 10 | 78 | 46 | 61 | |
| 4 | Barnsley Barnsley F.C. Barnsley Football Club are a professional English football club based in the town of Barnsley, South Yorkshire. Nicknamed the Tykes, they were founded in 1887 under the name Barnsley St. Peter's... |
46 | 24 | 13 | 9 | 73 | 42 | 61 | |
| 5 | Aldershot Aldershot F.C. Aldershot Football Club was an English Football League club, which was wound up in the High Court in March 1992. They became the first Football League club since Accrington Stanley to resign from the League during the course of a season. The club was nicknamed the Shots for both the last syllable... |
46 | 20 | 17 | 9 | 63 | 47 | 57 | |
| 6 | Wigan Athletic Wigan Athletic F.C. Wigan Athletic Football Club is an English Premier League Association football club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester, having been promoted from the Championship in 2005. Wigan's current spell in the Premier League is the only top flight run in the club's history.They have played at the DW... |
46 | 21 | 13 | 12 | 63 | 48 | 55 | |
| 7 | Portsmouth Portsmouth F.C. Portsmouth Football Club is an English football club based in the city of Portsmouth. The club is nicknamed Pompey. Portsmouth's home matches have been played at Fratton Park since the club's formation in 1898. The team currently play in the Football League Championship after being relegated from... |
46 | 20 | 12 | 14 | 62 | 48 | 52 | |
| 8 | Newport County Newport County A.F.C. Newport County Association Football Club are a professional football club based in the city of Newport, south Wales, who currently play in the Conference National, the highest level of the National League System and fifth highest of the overall English football league system... |
46 | 21 | 10 | 15 | 66 | 55 | 52 | |
| 9 | Huddersfield Town Huddersfield Town F.C. Huddersfield Town Football Club is an English football club formed in 1908 and based in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire. They currently play in League One... |
46 | 18 | 11 | 17 | 57 | 53 | 47 | |
| 10 | York City York City F.C. York City Football Club is an English football club based in York, North Yorkshire. The club participates in the Conference National, the fifth tier of English football. Founded in 1922, they joined the Football League in 1929, and have spent most of their history in the lower divisions... |
46 | 18 | 11 | 17 | 51 | 55 | ||
| 47 | |||||||||
| 11 | Torquay United Torquay United F.C. Torquay United Football Club, nicknamed the Gulls, are an English association football club based in the tourist resort town of Torquay, Devon. They played in the Conference National in 2008–09, but were promoted to Football League Two after a 2–0 win over Cambridge United on 17 May 2009 at Wembley... |
46 | 19 | 8 | 19 | 58 | 65 | ||
| 46 | |||||||||
| 12 | Scunthorpe United Scunthorpe United F.C. Scunthorpe United Football Club is an English association football team based in the town of Scunthorpe, North Lincolnshire, who play in the Football League One.... |
46 | 17 | 11 | 18 | 54 | 60 | ||
| 45 | |||||||||
| 13 | Hartlepool United Hartlepool United F.C. Hartlepool United Football Club is an English professional football club based in Hartlepool that currently play in League One. The team won promotion to League One in the 2006–07 season... |
46 | 13 | 18 | 15 | 57 | 66 | ||
| 44 | |||||||||
| 14 | Hereford United Hereford United F.C. Hereford United Football Club is an English professional football club based in the city of Hereford. Founded in 1924, they are competing in Football League Two in the 2011–12 season. Hereford have played at Edgar Street for their entire history and are nicknamed 'The Whites' or 'The Lilywhites',... |
46 | 15 | 13 | 18 | 53 | 53 | 43 | |
| 15 | Bradford City Bradford City A.F.C. Bradford City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Bradford, West Yorkshire, playing in League Two.... |
46 | 17 | 9 | 20 | 62 | 68 | ||
| 43 | |||||||||
| 16 | Port Vale Port Vale F.C. Port Vale Football Club is an English football club currently playing in Football League Two. They are based in Burslem, Staffordshire — one of six towns that make up the city of Stoke-on-Trent. The club's traditional rivals in the city are Stoke City, and games between the two clubs are known as... |
46 | 14 | 14 | 18 | 57 | 70 | -13 | 42 |
| 17 | Stockport County Stockport County F.C. Stockport County Football Club is an English football club based in Stockport, Greater Manchester. The club formed in 1883 as Heaton Norris Rovers, shortly afterwards merging with Heaton Norris F.C., and adopted the current name on 24 May 1890 on the creation of the County Borough of Stockport... |
46 | 14 | 12 | 20 | 58 | 60 | ||
| 40 | |||||||||
| 18 | Bournemouth A.F.C. Bournemouth A.F.C. Bournemouth is an English football club currently playing in Football League One. The club plays at Dean Court in Kings Park, Boscombe, Bournemouth, Dorset and have been in existence since 1899.... |
46 | 14 | 11 | 21 | 47 | 48 | ||
| 39 | |||||||||
| 19 | Northampton Town Northampton Town F.C. Northampton Town Football Club are an English professional football club based in Northampton, Northamptonshire. They currently play in Football League Two, the lowest league division, after being relegated from League One on the last day of the 2008–09 season... |
46 | 15 | 9 | 22 | 64 | 76 | ||
| 39 | |||||||||
| 20 | Rochdale Rochdale A.F.C. Rochdale Association Football Club is an English professional football club based in Rochdale, Greater Manchester. They play their home matches at Spotland Stadium. Formed in 1907, they were accepted into the Football League in 1921... |
46 | 15 | 9 | 22 | 47 | 64 | ||
| 39 | |||||||||
| 21 | Darlington Darlington F.C. Darlington Football Club is a professional association football club based in Darlington, County Durham, currently playing in the Conference National. The club was founded in 1883, and originally played its games at Feethams, before moving to the Darlington Arena in 2003... |
46 | 11 | 15 | 20 | 49 | 66 | ||
| 37 | |||||||||
| 22 | Doncaster Rovers Doncaster Rovers F.C. Doncaster Rovers Football Club is an English football club, based at the Keepmoat Stadium in Doncaster, South Yorkshire. The team currently competes in the Football League Championship, after being promoted via the League One play-offs in 2008, and have remained there since.The club was founded in... |
46 | 13 | 11 | 22 | 50 | 73 | ||
| 37 | |||||||||
| 23 | Halifax Town Halifax Town A.F.C. Halifax Town Association Football Club were an English football team who most recently played in the Conference National, although prior to that they participated in the Football League for over eighty years... |
46 | 9 | 8 | 29 | 39 | 72 | ||
| 26 | |||||||||
| 24 | Crewe Alexandra Crewe Alexandra F.C. Crewe Alexandra Football Club is an English professional football club based in Crewe, Cheshire. Nicknamed The Railwaymen due to the town's links with the rail industry, they currently play in Football League Two, the fourth tier of English football, and are based at the Alexandra Stadium.The club... |
46 | 6 | 14 | 26 | 43 | 90 | ||
| 26 |
P = Matches played; W = Matches won; D = Matches drawn; L = Matches lost; F = Goals for; A = Goals against; GD = Goal difference; Pts = Points
Legend
| Win | Draw | Loss |
Football League Fourth Division
| Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Scorers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19 August 1978 | Scunthorpe United Scunthorpe United F.C. Scunthorpe United Football Club is an English association football team based in the town of Scunthorpe, North Lincolnshire, who play in the Football League One.... |
|H | 2–2 | 3,027 | Wright Bernie Wright Bernard Peter "Bernie" Wright , nicknamed Bernie the Bolt, is an English former footballer. A tough centre-forward, he scored 78 goals in 320 league games in a nine year career in the Football League.... , Bromage Russell Bromage Russell Bromage is an English former footballer who played as a midfielder. In a fourteen year career in the Football League he made 400 league appearances, scoring 14 goals.... |
| 22 August 1978 | Wimbledon Wimbledon F.C. Wimbledon Football Club was an English professional association football club from Wimbledon, south-west London. Founded in 1889 as Wimbledon Old Central Football Club, the club spent most of its history in amateur and semi-professional non-League football before being elected to the Football... |
|A | 0–1 | 2,638 | |
| 25 August 1978 | Crewe Alexandra Crewe Alexandra F.C. Crewe Alexandra Football Club is an English professional football club based in Crewe, Cheshire. Nicknamed The Railwaymen due to the town's links with the rail industry, they currently play in Football League Two, the fourth tier of English football, and are based at the Alexandra Stadium.The club... |
|A | 5–1 | 4,413 | Wright Bernie Wright Bernard Peter "Bernie" Wright , nicknamed Bernie the Bolt, is an English former footballer. A tough centre-forward, he scored 78 goals in 320 league games in a nine year career in the Football League.... (3), Bloor Alan Bloor Alan Bloor is an English professional footballer and manager, now retired. He made close to 400 appearances in the Football League for both Potteries teams... , Beamish Ken Beamish Kenneth George "Ken" Beamish is an English former football player, coach and manager. In his playing days he was a forward, and he scored a total of 159 goals in 554 league games.... |
| 2 September 1978 | Rochdale Rochdale A.F.C. Rochdale Association Football Club is an English professional football club based in Rochdale, Greater Manchester. They play their home matches at Spotland Stadium. Formed in 1907, they were accepted into the Football League in 1921... |
|H | 1–1 | 3,222 | Beamish Ken Beamish Kenneth George "Ken" Beamish is an English former football player, coach and manager. In his playing days he was a forward, and he scored a total of 159 goals in 554 league games.... |
| 9 September 1978 | Aldershot Aldershot F.C. Aldershot Football Club was an English Football League club, which was wound up in the High Court in March 1992. They became the first Football League club since Accrington Stanley to resign from the League during the course of a season. The club was nicknamed the Shots for both the last syllable... |
|H | 1–1 | 3,045 | Beamish Ken Beamish Kenneth George "Ken" Beamish is an English former football player, coach and manager. In his playing days he was a forward, and he scored a total of 159 goals in 554 league games.... |
| 12 September 1978 | Doncaster Rovers Doncaster Rovers F.C. Doncaster Rovers Football Club is an English football club, based at the Keepmoat Stadium in Doncaster, South Yorkshire. The team currently competes in the Football League Championship, after being promoted via the League One play-offs in 2008, and have remained there since.The club was founded in... |
|A | 3–1 | 3,405 | Bromage Russell Bromage Russell Bromage is an English former footballer who played as a midfielder. In a fourteen year career in the Football League he made 400 league appearances, scoring 14 goals.... , Todd Ken Todd Kenneth Todd is an English former footballer.-Playing career:Todd played four league games for Wolverhampton Wanderers before Port Vale broke their club record fee to purchase him for £37,000 in August 1978. Expectations loomed large on the youngster as he struggled to live up to his price tag... , Beamish Ken Beamish Kenneth George "Ken" Beamish is an English former football player, coach and manager. In his playing days he was a forward, and he scored a total of 159 goals in 554 league games.... |
| 16 September 1978 | Portsmouth Portsmouth F.C. Portsmouth Football Club is an English football club based in the city of Portsmouth. The club is nicknamed Pompey. Portsmouth's home matches have been played at Fratton Park since the club's formation in 1898. The team currently play in the Football League Championship after being relegated from... |
|A | 0–2 | 9,937 | |
| 23 September 1978 | Bournemouth A.F.C. Bournemouth A.F.C. Bournemouth is an English football club currently playing in Football League One. The club plays at Dean Court in Kings Park, Boscombe, Bournemouth, Dorset and have been in existence since 1899.... |
|H | 1–2 | 3,140 | Griffiths Neil Griffiths (footballer) Neil Griffiths is a former English footballer.-Playing career:Griffiths joined Port Vale from Chester in exchange for £5,000 and Tony Loska in December 1973. He lined up against his old club in the final of the 1977 Debenhams Cup and scored an own goal in a 4–1 defeat... (pen) |
| 26 September 1978 | Northampton Town Northampton Town F.C. Northampton Town Football Club are an English professional football club based in Northampton, Northamptonshire. They currently play in Football League Two, the lowest league division, after being relegated from League One on the last day of the 2008–09 season... |
|H | 2–2 | 3,245 | N.Chamberlain Neville Chamberlain (footballer) Neville Patrick Chamberlain is a retired English footballer. His brother, Mark was also a footballer, and his nephew Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain plays for Arsenal.-Playing career:... (2) |
| 30 September 1978 | Hereford United Hereford United F.C. Hereford United Football Club is an English professional football club based in the city of Hereford. Founded in 1924, they are competing in Football League Two in the 2011–12 season. Hereford have played at Edgar Street for their entire history and are nicknamed 'The Whites' or 'The Lilywhites',... |
|A | 0–1 | 3,963 | |
| 7 October 1978 | Grimsby Town Grimsby Town F.C. Grimsby Town Football Club is an English football club based in the seaside town of Cleethorpes, in North East Lincolnshire, England, who compete in the Conference National. They were formed in 1878 as Grimsby Pelham and later became Grimsby Town... |
|H | 1–1 | 3,433 | N.Chamberlain Neville Chamberlain (footballer) Neville Patrick Chamberlain is a retired English footballer. His brother, Mark was also a footballer, and his nephew Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain plays for Arsenal.-Playing career:... |
| 14 October 1978 | Halifax Town Halifax Town A.F.C. Halifax Town Association Football Club were an English football team who most recently played in the Conference National, although prior to that they participated in the Football League for over eighty years... |
|A | 3–0 | 1,591 | Wright Bernie Wright Bernard Peter "Bernie" Wright , nicknamed Bernie the Bolt, is an English former footballer. A tough centre-forward, he scored 78 goals in 320 league games in a nine year career in the Football League.... (2), Tully Kevin Tully Kevin Francis Tully is an English former footballer.-Playing career:Tully began his career with Prestwich Heys. In 1972 he joined a then-managerless Blackpool, for whom he went on to make eleven league appearances... |
| 18 October 1978 | Bradford City Bradford City A.F.C. Bradford City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Bradford, West Yorkshire, playing in League Two.... |
|A | 3–2 | 4,136 | Sutcliffe Peter Sutcliffe (footballer) Peter David Sutcliffe is a former English footballer.-Playing career:Sutcliffe played for Manchester United and Stockport County before he joined Port Vale for £3,000 in March 1977... , Wright Bernie Wright Bernard Peter "Bernie" Wright , nicknamed Bernie the Bolt, is an English former footballer. A tough centre-forward, he scored 78 goals in 320 league games in a nine year career in the Football League.... , Healy Felix Healy Felix Healy is a former Northern Ireland international footballer who played for Coleraine and then became a football manager... |
| 21 October 1978 | Torquay United Torquay United F.C. Torquay United Football Club, nicknamed the Gulls, are an English association football club based in the tourist resort town of Torquay, Devon. They played in the Conference National in 2008–09, but were promoted to Football League Two after a 2–0 win over Cambridge United on 17 May 2009 at Wembley... |
|H | 1–2 | 4,108 | Todd Ken Todd Kenneth Todd is an English former footballer.-Playing career:Todd played four league games for Wolverhampton Wanderers before Port Vale broke their club record fee to purchase him for £37,000 in August 1978. Expectations loomed large on the youngster as he struggled to live up to his price tag... |
| 28 October 1978 | Darlington Darlington F.C. Darlington Football Club is a professional association football club based in Darlington, County Durham, currently playing in the Conference National. The club was founded in 1883, and originally played its games at Feethams, before moving to the Darlington Arena in 2003... |
|A | 0–4 | 1,793 | |
| 4 November 1978 | Hartlepool United Hartlepool United F.C. Hartlepool United Football Club is an English professional football club based in Hartlepool that currently play in League One. The team won promotion to League One in the 2006–07 season... |
|H | 2–0 | 3,195 | N.Chamberlain Neville Chamberlain (footballer) Neville Patrick Chamberlain is a retired English footballer. His brother, Mark was also a footballer, and his nephew Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain plays for Arsenal.-Playing career:... , Beech Kenny Beech Kenneth "Kenny" Beech is a former English footballer. A midfielder, he played for Port Vale between 1976 and 1981, picking up the club's Player of the Year award in 1980, also playing on loan at American club Cleveland Cobras in 1978. In 1981 he was sold to Walsall, before he moved on to... |
| 11 November 1978 | Rochdale Rochdale A.F.C. Rochdale Association Football Club is an English professional football club based in Rochdale, Greater Manchester. They play their home matches at Spotland Stadium. Formed in 1907, they were accepted into the Football League in 1921... |
|A | 1–0 | 1,882 | Keenan Gerry Keenan Gerard Patrick "Gerry" Keenan is an English former footballer.-Playing career:Keenan played for Liverpool, Skelmersdale United and Bury before signing for Port Vale in September 1978 for a £15,000 fee. After enjoying two seasons of regular football he suffered with knee injuries from September... |
| 18 November 1978 | Crewe Alexandra Crewe Alexandra F.C. Crewe Alexandra Football Club is an English professional football club based in Crewe, Cheshire. Nicknamed The Railwaymen due to the town's links with the rail industry, they currently play in Football League Two, the fourth tier of English football, and are based at the Alexandra Stadium.The club... |
|H | 2–2 | 4,607 | Farrell Peter Farrell (English footballer) Peter John Farrell is an English former football midfielder noted for his excellent technical ability. He is now a coach at Brentford.... (pen), Healy Felix Healy Felix Healy is a former Northern Ireland international footballer who played for Coleraine and then became a football manager... |
| 9 December 1978 | Stockport County Stockport County F.C. Stockport County Football Club is an English football club based in Stockport, Greater Manchester. The club formed in 1883 as Heaton Norris Rovers, shortly afterwards merging with Heaton Norris F.C., and adopted the current name on 24 May 1890 on the creation of the County Borough of Stockport... |
|H | 2–1 | 3,689 | Wright Bernie Wright Bernard Peter "Bernie" Wright , nicknamed Bernie the Bolt, is an English former footballer. A tough centre-forward, he scored 78 goals in 320 league games in a nine year career in the Football League.... , Farrell Peter Farrell (English footballer) Peter John Farrell is an English former football midfielder noted for his excellent technical ability. He is now a coach at Brentford.... (pen) |
| 26 December 1978 | Barnsley Barnsley F.C. Barnsley Football Club are a professional English football club based in the town of Barnsley, South Yorkshire. Nicknamed the Tykes, they were founded in 1887 under the name Barnsley St. Peter's... |
|A | 2–6 | 10,532 | Todd Ken Todd Kenneth Todd is an English former footballer.-Playing career:Todd played four league games for Wolverhampton Wanderers before Port Vale broke their club record fee to purchase him for £37,000 in August 1978. Expectations loomed large on the youngster as he struggled to live up to his price tag... , Keenan Gerry Keenan Gerard Patrick "Gerry" Keenan is an English former footballer.-Playing career:Keenan played for Liverpool, Skelmersdale United and Bury before signing for Port Vale in September 1978 for a £15,000 fee. After enjoying two seasons of regular football he suffered with knee injuries from September... |
| 30 December 1978 | Newport County Newport County A.F.C. Newport County Association Football Club are a professional football club based in the city of Newport, south Wales, who currently play in the Conference National, the highest level of the National League System and fifth highest of the overall English football league system... |
|A | 0–1 | 4,075 | |
| 1 January 1979 | Huddersfield Town Huddersfield Town F.C. Huddersfield Town Football Club is an English football club formed in 1908 and based in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire. They currently play in League One... |
|H | 1–0 | 4,021 | Wright Bernie Wright Bernard Peter "Bernie" Wright , nicknamed Bernie the Bolt, is an English former footballer. A tough centre-forward, he scored 78 goals in 320 league games in a nine year career in the Football League.... |
| 9 January 1979 | Wigan Athletic Wigan Athletic F.C. Wigan Athletic Football Club is an English Premier League Association football club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester, having been promoted from the Championship in 2005. Wigan's current spell in the Premier League is the only top flight run in the club's history.They have played at the DW... |
|H | 2–1 | 3,746 | Wright Bernie Wright Bernard Peter "Bernie" Wright , nicknamed Bernie the Bolt, is an English former footballer. A tough centre-forward, he scored 78 goals in 320 league games in a nine year career in the Football League.... , Todd Ken Todd Kenneth Todd is an English former footballer.-Playing career:Todd played four league games for Wolverhampton Wanderers before Port Vale broke their club record fee to purchase him for £37,000 in August 1978. Expectations loomed large on the youngster as he struggled to live up to his price tag... |
| 13 January 1979 | Aldershot Aldershot F.C. Aldershot Football Club was an English Football League club, which was wound up in the High Court in March 1992. They became the first Football League club since Accrington Stanley to resign from the League during the course of a season. The club was nicknamed the Shots for both the last syllable... |
|A | 1–1 | 3,708 | Sinclair Brian Sinclair (footballer) Brian William Sinclair is an English former footballer.-Playing career:Sinclair played for Bury and Blackpool before joining Port Vale, initially on trial, in August 1978. He impressed enough to be offered a contract and was a regular first team player from February to April 1979... |
| 16 January 1979 | Doncaster Rovers Doncaster Rovers F.C. Doncaster Rovers Football Club is an English football club, based at the Keepmoat Stadium in Doncaster, South Yorkshire. The team currently competes in the Football League Championship, after being promoted via the League One play-offs in 2008, and have remained there since.The club was founded in... |
|H | 1–3 | 3,381 | o.g. Own goal An own net occurs in goal-scoring games when a player scores a goal that is registered against his or her own team. It is usually accidental, and may be a result of an attempt at defensive play that failed or was spoiled by opponents.... |
| 6 February 1979 | Bournemouth A.F.C. Bournemouth A.F.C. Bournemouth is an English football club currently playing in Football League One. The club plays at Dean Court in Kings Park, Boscombe, Bournemouth, Dorset and have been in existence since 1899.... |
|A | 1–3 | 3,416 | o.g. Own goal An own net occurs in goal-scoring games when a player scores a goal that is registered against his or her own team. It is usually accidental, and may be a result of an attempt at defensive play that failed or was spoiled by opponents.... |
| 24 February 1979 | Halifax Town Halifax Town A.F.C. Halifax Town Association Football Club were an English football team who most recently played in the Conference National, although prior to that they participated in the Football League for over eighty years... |
|H | 0–1 | 3,117 | |
| 3 March 1979 | Torquay United Torquay United F.C. Torquay United Football Club, nicknamed the Gulls, are an English association football club based in the tourist resort town of Torquay, Devon. They played in the Conference National in 2008–09, but were promoted to Football League Two after a 2–0 win over Cambridge United on 17 May 2009 at Wembley... |
|A | 2–2 | 1,711 | Todd Ken Todd Kenneth Todd is an English former footballer.-Playing career:Todd played four league games for Wolverhampton Wanderers before Port Vale broke their club record fee to purchase him for £37,000 in August 1978. Expectations loomed large on the youngster as he struggled to live up to his price tag... , Wright Bernie Wright Bernard Peter "Bernie" Wright , nicknamed Bernie the Bolt, is an English former footballer. A tough centre-forward, he scored 78 goals in 320 league games in a nine year career in the Football League.... |
| 10 March 1979 | Darlington Darlington F.C. Darlington Football Club is a professional association football club based in Darlington, County Durham, currently playing in the Conference National. The club was founded in 1883, and originally played its games at Feethams, before moving to the Darlington Arena in 2003... |
|H | 2–1 | 2,566 | Hawkins Graham Hawkins Graham Norman Hawkins is an English former football player and manager.A defender, he began his career at Wolverhampton Wanderers in 1964, before he moved on to Preston North End three years later. In seven years with Preston he made 245 league appearances, and also served as their captain... , Beech Kenny Beech Kenneth "Kenny" Beech is a former English footballer. A midfielder, he played for Port Vale between 1976 and 1981, picking up the club's Player of the Year award in 1980, also playing on loan at American club Cleveland Cobras in 1978. In 1981 he was sold to Walsall, before he moved on to... |
| 13 March 1979 | Northampton Town Northampton Town F.C. Northampton Town Football Club are an English professional football club based in Northampton, Northamptonshire. They currently play in Football League Two, the lowest league division, after being relegated from League One on the last day of the 2008–09 season... |
|A | 0–1 | 1,572 | |
| 21 March 1979 | Portsmouth Portsmouth F.C. Portsmouth Football Club is an English football club based in the city of Portsmouth. The club is nicknamed Pompey. Portsmouth's home matches have been played at Fratton Park since the club's formation in 1898. The team currently play in the Football League Championship after being relegated from... |
|H | 0–0 | 2,738 | |
| 24 March 1979 | Wimbledon Wimbledon F.C. Wimbledon Football Club was an English professional association football club from Wimbledon, south-west London. Founded in 1889 as Wimbledon Old Central Football Club, the club spent most of its history in amateur and semi-professional non-League football before being elected to the Football... |
|H | 1–0 | 2,906 | Beech Kenny Beech Kenneth "Kenny" Beech is a former English footballer. A midfielder, he played for Port Vale between 1976 and 1981, picking up the club's Player of the Year award in 1980, also playing on loan at American club Cleveland Cobras in 1978. In 1981 he was sold to Walsall, before he moved on to... |
| 27 March 1979 | Scunthorpe United Scunthorpe United F.C. Scunthorpe United Football Club is an English association football team based in the town of Scunthorpe, North Lincolnshire, who play in the Football League One.... |
|A | 0–2 | 1,580 | |
| 31 March 1979 | Reading Reading F.C. Reading Football Club is an English association football club based in the town of Reading, Berkshire who currently play in the Championship... |
|A | 0–0 | 6,704 | |
| 3 April 1979 | Grimsby Town Grimsby Town F.C. Grimsby Town Football Club is an English football club based in the seaside town of Cleethorpes, in North East Lincolnshire, England, who compete in the Conference National. They were formed in 1878 as Grimsby Pelham and later became Grimsby Town... |
|A | 0–1 | 8,072 | |
| 7 April 1979 | York City York City F.C. York City Football Club is an English football club based in York, North Yorkshire. The club participates in the Conference National, the fifth tier of English football. Founded in 1922, they joined the Football League in 1929, and have spent most of their history in the lower divisions... |
|H | 0–0 | 2,712 | |
| 13 April 1979 | Wigan Athletic Wigan Athletic F.C. Wigan Athletic Football Club is an English Premier League Association football club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester, having been promoted from the Championship in 2005. Wigan's current spell in the Premier League is the only top flight run in the club's history.They have played at the DW... |
|A | 3–5 | 8,452 | Todd Ken Todd Kenneth Todd is an English former footballer.-Playing career:Todd played four league games for Wolverhampton Wanderers before Port Vale broke their club record fee to purchase him for £37,000 in August 1978. Expectations loomed large on the youngster as he struggled to live up to his price tag... (2), Wright Bernie Wright Bernard Peter "Bernie" Wright , nicknamed Bernie the Bolt, is an English former footballer. A tough centre-forward, he scored 78 goals in 320 league games in a nine year career in the Football League.... |
| 14 April 1979 | Barnsley Barnsley F.C. Barnsley Football Club are a professional English football club based in the town of Barnsley, South Yorkshire. Nicknamed the Tykes, they were founded in 1887 under the name Barnsley St. Peter's... |
|H | 3–2 | 5,226 | N.Chamberlain Neville Chamberlain (footballer) Neville Patrick Chamberlain is a retired English footballer. His brother, Mark was also a footballer, and his nephew Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain plays for Arsenal.-Playing career:... , Wright Bernie Wright Bernard Peter "Bernie" Wright , nicknamed Bernie the Bolt, is an English former footballer. A tough centre-forward, he scored 78 goals in 320 league games in a nine year career in the Football League.... , Todd Ken Todd Kenneth Todd is an English former footballer.-Playing career:Todd played four league games for Wolverhampton Wanderers before Port Vale broke their club record fee to purchase him for £37,000 in August 1978. Expectations loomed large on the youngster as he struggled to live up to his price tag... |
| 16 April 1979 | Huddersfield Town Huddersfield Town F.C. Huddersfield Town Football Club is an English football club formed in 1908 and based in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire. They currently play in League One... |
|A | 2–3 | 3,236 | M.Chamberlain Mark Chamberlain Mark Valentine Chamberlain is an English retired international footballer. He is the younger brother of Neville Chamberlain, and the father of Arsenal and England U21 player Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.... , Beech Kenny Beech Kenneth "Kenny" Beech is a former English footballer. A midfielder, he played for Port Vale between 1976 and 1981, picking up the club's Player of the Year award in 1980, also playing on loan at American club Cleveland Cobras in 1978. In 1981 he was sold to Walsall, before he moved on to... |
| 21 April 1979 | Newport County Newport County A.F.C. Newport County Association Football Club are a professional football club based in the city of Newport, south Wales, who currently play in the Conference National, the highest level of the National League System and fifth highest of the overall English football league system... |
|H | 1–1 | 2,444 | Wright Bernie Wright Bernard Peter "Bernie" Wright , nicknamed Bernie the Bolt, is an English former footballer. A tough centre-forward, he scored 78 goals in 320 league games in a nine year career in the Football League.... |
| 24 April 1979 | Bradford City Bradford City A.F.C. Bradford City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Bradford, West Yorkshire, playing in League Two.... |
|H | 2–1 | 2,264 | Farrell Peter Farrell (English footballer) Peter John Farrell is an English former football midfielder noted for his excellent technical ability. He is now a coach at Brentford.... , N.Chamberlain Neville Chamberlain (footballer) Neville Patrick Chamberlain is a retired English footballer. His brother, Mark was also a footballer, and his nephew Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain plays for Arsenal.-Playing career:... |
| 27 April 1979 | Stockport County Stockport County F.C. Stockport County Football Club is an English football club based in Stockport, Greater Manchester. The club formed in 1883 as Heaton Norris Rovers, shortly afterwards merging with Heaton Norris F.C., and adopted the current name on 24 May 1890 on the creation of the County Borough of Stockport... |
|A | 0–0 | 3,345 | |
| 1 May 1979 | Hereford United Hereford United F.C. Hereford United Football Club is an English professional football club based in the city of Hereford. Founded in 1924, they are competing in Football League Two in the 2011–12 season. Hereford have played at Edgar Street for their entire history and are nicknamed 'The Whites' or 'The Lilywhites',... |
|H | 1–1 | 2,160 | Hawkins Graham Hawkins Graham Norman Hawkins is an English former football player and manager.A defender, he began his career at Wolverhampton Wanderers in 1964, before he moved on to Preston North End three years later. In seven years with Preston he made 245 league appearances, and also served as their captain... |
| 5 May 1979 | Reading Reading F.C. Reading Football Club is an English association football club based in the town of Reading, Berkshire who currently play in the Championship... |
|H | 0–3 | 3,603 | |
| 7 May 1979 | York City York City F.C. York City Football Club is an English football club based in York, North Yorkshire. The club participates in the Conference National, the fifth tier of English football. Founded in 1922, they joined the Football League in 1929, and have spent most of their history in the lower divisions... |
|A | 0–4 | 2,344 | |
| 10 May 1979 | Hartlepool United Hartlepool United F.C. Hartlepool United Football Club is an English professional football club based in Hartlepool that currently play in League One. The team won promotion to League One in the 2006–07 season... |
|A | 2–1 | 2,007 | Sinclair Brian Sinclair (footballer) Brian William Sinclair is an English former footballer.-Playing career:Sinclair played for Bury and Blackpool before joining Port Vale, initially on trial, in August 1978. He impressed enough to be offered a contract and was a regular first team player from February to April 1979... , Farrell Peter Farrell (English footballer) Peter John Farrell is an English former football midfielder noted for his excellent technical ability. He is now a coach at Brentford.... |
FA Cup
| Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Goalscorers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| R1 | 25 November 1978 | Bradford City Bradford City A.F.C. Bradford City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Bradford, West Yorkshire, playing in League Two.... |
A | 0–1 | 5,625 |
League Cup
| Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Goalscorers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| R1 1st Leg | 12 August 1978 | Chester Chester City F.C. Chester City Football Club was an English football team from Chester. The club was founded as Chester F.C., and joined the Football League in 1931, spending most of their time in the lower divisions. They changed their name to Chester City in 1983. Chester won their first league title in 2004, the... |
H | 0–3 | 2,819 | |
| R1 2nd Leg | 16 August 1978 | Chester Chester City F.C. Chester City Football Club was an English football team from Chester. The club was founded as Chester F.C., and joined the Football League in 1931, spending most of their time in the lower divisions. They changed their name to Chester City in 1983. Chester won their first league title in 2004, the... |
A | 1–1 | 3,741 | Wright Bernie Wright Bernard Peter "Bernie" Wright , nicknamed Bernie the Bolt, is an English former footballer. A tough centre-forward, he scored 78 goals in 320 league games in a nine year career in the Football League.... |
Appearances
| Pos. | Name | Football League | FA Cup | League Cup | Total | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| GK |  John ConnaughtonJohn Connaughton Patrick John Connaughton is an English former professional football goalkeeper. He played 387 games in a sixteen year career. He also represented England at youth level on three occasions.... |
19 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 22 | 0 |
| GK | Trevor Dance Trevor Dance Trevor Dance is a former English footballer.-Playing career:Dance joined Port Vale as an apprentice in August, signing his first professional forms in July 1976 and making his debut in a 2–1 defeat at Mansfield Town on 28 December 1976... |
27 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 27 | 0 |
| DF | Neil Griffiths Neil Griffiths (footballer) Neil Griffiths is a former English footballer.-Playing career:Griffiths joined Port Vale from Chester in exchange for £5,000 and Tony Loska in December 1973. He lined up against his old club in the final of the 1977 Debenhams Cup and scored an own goal in a 4–1 defeat... |
26 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 27 | 1 |
| DF | David Harris David Harris (footballer) David Harris is a former English football defender who had a six year professional career in the Football League with Port Vale from 1973 to 1979. He was voted the club's Player of the Year in 1974 and 1977... |
11 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 13 | 0 |
| DF | Phil Sproson Phil Sproson Phillip Jess "Phil" Sproson is a former English footballer who played as a central defender. He played in 500 matches for Port Vale and scored 41 goals , this places him third highest in the list of appearances for Port Vale... |
23 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 25 | 0 |
| DF | Graham Hawkins Graham Hawkins Graham Norman Hawkins is an English former football player and manager.A defender, he began his career at Wolverhampton Wanderers in 1964, before he moved on to Preston North End three years later. In seven years with Preston he made 245 league appearances, and also served as their captain... |
43 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 46 | 2 |
| DF | Bill Bentley Bill Bentley William John "Bill" Bentley is an English former professional football player. He played as a left-back.... |
31 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 34 | 0 |
| DF | Neil Wilkinson Neil Wilkinson (footballer) Neil Wilkinson is an English former footballer.-Playing career:Wilkinson played for Blackburn Rovers before playing in South Africa. He returned to England to join Port Vale in June 1978. He played nine competitive games for the club before being transferred to Crewe Alexandra, along with £3,000,... |
7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 9 | 0 |
| DF | Gerry Keenan Gerry Keenan Gerard Patrick "Gerry" Keenan is an English former footballer.-Playing career:Keenan played for Liverpool, Skelmersdale United and Bury before signing for Port Vale in September 1978 for a £15,000 fee. After enjoying two seasons of regular football he suffered with knee injuries from September... |
32 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 33 | 2 |
| DF |  Bob DelgadoBob Delgado Robert Allan Delgado is a Welsh footballer who played for most of his career in the 1970s, with the majority of his league appearances coming at Rotherham United and Chester.-Playing career:... |
24 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 24 | 0 |
| MF | John Ridley John Ridley (footballer) John Ridley is an English former footballer. A versatile midfielder, he had a twelve year professional career in the Football League, playing for Port Vale and Chesterfield, as well as Leicester City. He also played for non-league Stafford Rangers and for American side Fort Lauderdale Strikers.He... |
7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 |
| MF | Terry Bailey Terry Bailey Terence "Terry" Bailey is a former English footballer who played as a midfielder. His son Mark Bailey also played professional football.After a brief association with Winsford United, he joined Stafford Rangers in 1968... |
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| MF | Kenny Beech Kenny Beech Kenneth "Kenny" Beech is a former English footballer. A midfielder, he played for Port Vale between 1976 and 1981, picking up the club's Player of the Year award in 1980, also playing on loan at American club Cleveland Cobras in 1978. In 1981 he was sold to Walsall, before he moved on to... |
23 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 24 | 4 |
| MF | Peter Sutcliffe Peter Sutcliffe (footballer) Peter David Sutcliffe is a former English footballer.-Playing career:Sutcliffe played for Manchester United and Stockport County before he joined Port Vale for £3,000 in March 1977... |
8 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 1 |
| MF | Mick Moore Mick Moore Michael "Mick" Moore is an English former footballer. A midfielder, he played for Preston North End and Port Vale, but made his name at both Southport and Wigan Athletic. He helped Southport to the Fourth Division title in 1972–73, and also played for Wigan in their first ever season in the... |
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| MF | Russell Bromage Russell Bromage Russell Bromage is an English former footballer who played as a midfielder. In a fourteen year career in the Football League he made 400 league appearances, scoring 14 goals.... |
20 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 21 | 2 |
| MF | Andy Proudlove Andy Proudlove Andrew George Proudlove is an English former footballer.-Playing career:Proudlove played for Reading, Buxton , Sheffield Wednesday, Norwich City and Hereford United before joining Port Vale from Buxton for a £1,000 fee in November 1978... |
5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| MF | Ged Stenson Ged Stenson Gerard Patrick Stenson is an English former footballer.-Playing career:Stenson played for Everton before joining Third Division Port Vale in March 1978. The club were relegated that season, but Stenon's debut came on 12 August 1978, in a League Cup round one 3–0 home defeat to Chester... |
11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 13 | 0 |
| MF | Ken Todd Ken Todd Kenneth Todd is an English former footballer.-Playing career:Todd played four league games for Wolverhampton Wanderers before Port Vale broke their club record fee to purchase him for £37,000 in August 1978. Expectations loomed large on the youngster as he struggled to live up to his price tag... |
41 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 41 | 8 |
| MF | Kevin Tully Kevin Tully Kevin Francis Tully is an English former footballer.-Playing career:Tully began his career with Prestwich Heys. In 1972 he joined a then-managerless Blackpool, for whom he went on to make eleven league appearances... |
8 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 1 |
| MF | Mark Chamberlain Mark Chamberlain Mark Valentine Chamberlain is an English retired international footballer. He is the younger brother of Neville Chamberlain, and the father of Arsenal and England U21 player Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.... |
8 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 1 |
| MF | Peter Farrell Peter Farrell (English footballer) Peter John Farrell is an English former football midfielder noted for his excellent technical ability. He is now a coach at Brentford.... |
28 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 29 | 4 |
| MF | Ian Elsby Ian Elsby Ian Christopher Elsby is an English former footballer. His uncle is the former footballer Jim Elsby.-Playing career:Elsby graduated from the Port Vale youth team to sign as a professional in May 1978. He was immediately sent out to the USA on loan with the Cleveland Cobras, but returned by August... |
5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| MF | Alan Bloor Alan Bloor Alan Bloor is an English professional footballer and manager, now retired. He made close to 400 appearances in the Football League for both Potteries teams... |
6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 1 |
| MF |  Felix HealyFelix Healy Felix Healy is a former Northern Ireland international footballer who played for Coleraine and then became a football manager... |
23 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 24 | 2 |
| FW | Ken Beamish Ken Beamish Kenneth George "Ken" Beamish is an English former football player, coach and manager. In his playing days he was a forward, and he scored a total of 159 goals in 554 league games.... |
6 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 4 |
| FW | John Froggatt John Froggatt John Lawrence Froggatt is an English former footballer.-Playing career:... |
2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| FW | Neville Chamberlain Neville Chamberlain (footballer) Neville Patrick Chamberlain is a retired English footballer. His brother, Mark was also a footballer, and his nephew Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain plays for Arsenal.-Playing career:... |
26 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 28 | 6 |
| FW | Bernie Wright Bernie Wright Bernard Peter "Bernie" Wright , nicknamed Bernie the Bolt, is an English former footballer. A tough centre-forward, he scored 78 goals in 320 league games in a nine year career in the Football League.... |
46 | 14 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 48 | 15 |
| FW | Brian Sinclair Brian Sinclair (footballer) Brian William Sinclair is an English former footballer.-Playing career:Sinclair played for Bury and Blackpool before joining Port Vale, initially on trial, in August 1978. He impressed enough to be offered a contract and was a regular first team player from February to April 1979... |
18 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 18 | 2 |
All competitions
| Scorer | Goals |
|---|---|
| Bernie Wright Bernie Wright Bernard Peter "Bernie" Wright , nicknamed Bernie the Bolt, is an English former footballer. A tough centre-forward, he scored 78 goals in 320 league games in a nine year career in the Football League.... |
15 |
| Ken Todd Ken Todd Kenneth Todd is an English former footballer.-Playing career:Todd played four league games for Wolverhampton Wanderers before Port Vale broke their club record fee to purchase him for £37,000 in August 1978. Expectations loomed large on the youngster as he struggled to live up to his price tag... |
8 |
| Neville Chamberlain Neville Chamberlain (footballer) Neville Patrick Chamberlain is a retired English footballer. His brother, Mark was also a footballer, and his nephew Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain plays for Arsenal.-Playing career:... |
6 |
| Kenny Beech Kenny Beech Kenneth "Kenny" Beech is a former English footballer. A midfielder, he played for Port Vale between 1976 and 1981, picking up the club's Player of the Year award in 1980, also playing on loan at American club Cleveland Cobras in 1978. In 1981 he was sold to Walsall, before he moved on to... |
4 |
| Peter Farrell Peter Farrell (English footballer) Peter John Farrell is an English former football midfielder noted for his excellent technical ability. He is now a coach at Brentford.... |
|
| Ken Beamish Ken Beamish Kenneth George "Ken" Beamish is an English former football player, coach and manager. In his playing days he was a forward, and he scored a total of 159 goals in 554 league games.... |
|
| Graham Hawkins Graham Hawkins Graham Norman Hawkins is an English former football player and manager.A defender, he began his career at Wolverhampton Wanderers in 1964, before he moved on to Preston North End three years later. In seven years with Preston he made 245 league appearances, and also served as their captain... |
2 |
| Gerry Keenan Gerry Keenan Gerard Patrick "Gerry" Keenan is an English former footballer.-Playing career:Keenan played for Liverpool, Skelmersdale United and Bury before signing for Port Vale in September 1978 for a £15,000 fee. After enjoying two seasons of regular football he suffered with knee injuries from September... |
|
| Felix Healy Felix Healy Felix Healy is a former Northern Ireland international footballer who played for Coleraine and then became a football manager... |
|
| Brian Sinclair Brian Sinclair (footballer) Brian William Sinclair is an English former footballer.-Playing career:Sinclair played for Bury and Blackpool before joining Port Vale, initially on trial, in August 1978. He impressed enough to be offered a contract and was a regular first team player from February to April 1979... |
|
| Russell Bromage Russell Bromage Russell Bromage is an English former footballer who played as a midfielder. In a fourteen year career in the Football League he made 400 league appearances, scoring 14 goals.... |
|
| Kevin Tully Kevin Tully Kevin Francis Tully is an English former footballer.-Playing career:Tully began his career with Prestwich Heys. In 1972 he joined a then-managerless Blackpool, for whom he went on to make eleven league appearances... |
1 |
| Mark Chamberlain Mark Chamberlain Mark Valentine Chamberlain is an English retired international footballer. He is the younger brother of Neville Chamberlain, and the father of Arsenal and England U21 player Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.... |
|
| Alan Bloor Alan Bloor Alan Bloor is an English professional footballer and manager, now retired. He made close to 400 appearances in the Football League for both Potteries teams... |
|
| Peter Sutcliffe Peter Sutcliffe (footballer) Peter David Sutcliffe is a former English footballer.-Playing career:Sutcliffe played for Manchester United and Stockport County before he joined Port Vale for £3,000 in March 1977... |
|
| Neil Griffiths Neil Griffiths (footballer) Neil Griffiths is a former English footballer.-Playing career:Griffiths joined Port Vale from Chester in exchange for £5,000 and Tony Loska in December 1973. He lined up against his old club in the final of the 1977 Debenhams Cup and scored an own goal in a 4–1 defeat... |
|
League
| Scorer | Goals |
|---|---|
| Bernie Wright Bernie Wright Bernard Peter "Bernie" Wright , nicknamed Bernie the Bolt, is an English former footballer. A tough centre-forward, he scored 78 goals in 320 league games in a nine year career in the Football League.... |
14 |
| Ken Todd Ken Todd Kenneth Todd is an English former footballer.-Playing career:Todd played four league games for Wolverhampton Wanderers before Port Vale broke their club record fee to purchase him for £37,000 in August 1978. Expectations loomed large on the youngster as he struggled to live up to his price tag... |
8 |
| Neville Chamberlain Neville Chamberlain (footballer) Neville Patrick Chamberlain is a retired English footballer. His brother, Mark was also a footballer, and his nephew Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain plays for Arsenal.-Playing career:... |
6 |
| Kenny Beech Kenny Beech Kenneth "Kenny" Beech is a former English footballer. A midfielder, he played for Port Vale between 1976 and 1981, picking up the club's Player of the Year award in 1980, also playing on loan at American club Cleveland Cobras in 1978. In 1981 he was sold to Walsall, before he moved on to... |
4 |
| Peter Farrell Peter Farrell (English footballer) Peter John Farrell is an English former football midfielder noted for his excellent technical ability. He is now a coach at Brentford.... |
|
| Ken Beamish Ken Beamish Kenneth George "Ken" Beamish is an English former football player, coach and manager. In his playing days he was a forward, and he scored a total of 159 goals in 554 league games.... |
|
| Graham Hawkins Graham Hawkins Graham Norman Hawkins is an English former football player and manager.A defender, he began his career at Wolverhampton Wanderers in 1964, before he moved on to Preston North End three years later. In seven years with Preston he made 245 league appearances, and also served as their captain... |
2 |
| Gerry Keenan Gerry Keenan Gerard Patrick "Gerry" Keenan is an English former footballer.-Playing career:Keenan played for Liverpool, Skelmersdale United and Bury before signing for Port Vale in September 1978 for a £15,000 fee. After enjoying two seasons of regular football he suffered with knee injuries from September... |
|
| Felix Healy Felix Healy Felix Healy is a former Northern Ireland international footballer who played for Coleraine and then became a football manager... |
|
| Brian Sinclair Brian Sinclair (footballer) Brian William Sinclair is an English former footballer.-Playing career:Sinclair played for Bury and Blackpool before joining Port Vale, initially on trial, in August 1978. He impressed enough to be offered a contract and was a regular first team player from February to April 1979... |
|
| Russell Bromage Russell Bromage Russell Bromage is an English former footballer who played as a midfielder. In a fourteen year career in the Football League he made 400 league appearances, scoring 14 goals.... |
|
| Kevin Tully Kevin Tully Kevin Francis Tully is an English former footballer.-Playing career:Tully began his career with Prestwich Heys. In 1972 he joined a then-managerless Blackpool, for whom he went on to make eleven league appearances... |
1 |
| Mark Chamberlain Mark Chamberlain Mark Valentine Chamberlain is an English retired international footballer. He is the younger brother of Neville Chamberlain, and the father of Arsenal and England U21 player Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.... |
|
| Alan Bloor Alan Bloor Alan Bloor is an English professional footballer and manager, now retired. He made close to 400 appearances in the Football League for both Potteries teams... |
|
| Peter Sutcliffe Peter Sutcliffe (footballer) Peter David Sutcliffe is a former English footballer.-Playing career:Sutcliffe played for Manchester United and Stockport County before he joined Port Vale for £3,000 in March 1977... |
|
| Neil Griffiths Neil Griffiths (footballer) Neil Griffiths is a former English footballer.-Playing career:Griffiths joined Port Vale from Chester in exchange for £5,000 and Tony Loska in December 1973. He lined up against his old club in the final of the 1977 Debenhams Cup and scored an own goal in a 4–1 defeat... |
|