2002–03 Port Vale F.C. season
Encyclopedia
The 2002–03 season was Port Vale
's ninety-first season of football in the Football League
, and third successive season (fortieth overall) in the Second Division
. Another poor season, Brian Horton
's side avoided relegation with a seventeenth place finish. Vale exited both the FA Cup
and the League Cup
at the First Round with defeats to Crewe Alexandra
, and reached the Area Quarter-finals of the League Trophy
. Financial issues were at the forefront in the minds of Vale fans, as the club entered administration in December. After a successful bid, Bill Bratt
's Valiant 2001 group won control of the club, taking the club out of administration.
make several free signings: Jon McCarthy
(Birmingham City
); Brett Angell
(Rushden & Diamonds
); Ian Brightwell
(Walsall
); Phil Charnock
(Crewe Alexandra
); Sam Collins (Bury
); and Mark Boyd
(Newcastle United
).
The season started poorly with four straight defeats and only one goal scored from open play, causing fans to barrack Horton. Their form changed with a 1–0 win over Wigan Athletic
at the JJB Stadium – the first in a sequence of five consecutive victories. Following this run victories were sparse for the Vale, and they picked up just four league victories until the beginning of March. The club agreed to sell Stephen McPhee
to Wigan Athletic
, though the deal fell through over personal terms. In October, Lee Ashcroft
arrived on loan from Wigan Athletic
. Meanwhile Jon McCarthy was released, and signed with Doncaster Rovers
. The next month Brett Angell also departed after rejecting a new deal with the club, and instead joined Queens Park Rangers
. A mini-revival began in the new year, as Vale were unbeaten in their three January league games. In February, defender Peter Clarke
arrived on a three month loan deal from Everton
. Adrian Littlejohn
also joined the club on a monthly contract, having left Lincoln City
. There was a turnaround in form following a 1–0 win over Blackpool
on 8 March, as eighteen points from the final twelve games of the season were enough to see off the fan's fears of relegation. Horton still remained unpopular with some sections of the Vale's supporters.
They finished in seventeenth place with 53 points, just five points above Cheltenham Town
in the relegation zone. They finished 33 points and 15 places behind Crewe, who were promoted as runners-up. Marc Bridge-Wilkinson
was the club's top-scorer with just nine goals in all competitions.
At the end of the season a number of players left the club on free transfers: Matt Carragher
(Macclesfield Town
); Paul Byrne
(Barry Town
); Phil Charnock
(Bury
); Sean McClare
(Rochdale
); John Durnin
(Accrington Stanley
); and Rae Ingram
(Bangor City
).
were forced to write off £100,000 worth of debt. The club's financial crisis came to a head in the season, the club £2.4 million in debt and posting £500,000 a year losses. Bell put his shares up for sale at £10 each. The club entered administration
in December, with £600,000 owed to Inland Revenue
and the Customs & Excise. Assistant manager Mark Grew
and Ray Williams
were both laid off in order to save money. The club approached millionaire pop star and Vale fan Robbie Williams
, who rejected the opportunity to invest in the club. Rumours circulated of a possible merger with rivals
Stoke City
and a ground-share at the Britannia Stadium
, fuelled by the belief that a 'mystery bidder' was in fact the Icelandic owners of Stoke City. The administrators received a number of bids for the club, and received interest from Mo Chaudry (owner of WaterWorld
), Summerbank Management, and property developer Steve Ball. Bill Bratt
's 'Valiant 2001' fan-based consortium's bid was accepted in March, and the group took control the following month. The group had had a £1 million bid rejected by Bell the previous year. In May, the club announced a new two year £200,000 shirt sponsorship deal with local mobile phone company Tricell. The new board also appointed former player Andy Porter
as youth coach, and got the club's transfer embargo lifted in July.
, Vale were knocked out by nearby Crewe Alexandra with a Dean Ashton
goal.
In the League Cup
, Crewe made the first of their three visits to Vale Park
(all of which they won), and advanced with a 2–0 victory, both goals scored by Rodney Jack
.
In the League Trophy
, Vale advanced through the opening rounds with home wins over Hull City
and Chesterfield
(after a penalty shootout). In the Northern Section Quarter-Finals they faced Shrewsbury Town
at Gay Meadow
, and lost 2–1.
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 ninety-first 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 third successive season (fortieth overall) in the Second Division
Football League Second Division
From 1892 until 1992, the Football League Second Division was the second highest division overall in English football.This ended with the creation of the FA Premier League, prior to the start of the 1992–93 season, which caused an administrative split between The Football League and the teams...
. Another poor season, Brian Horton
Brian Horton
Brian Horton is an English former footballer and manager, who is working as Phil Brown's assistant at Preston North End.Horton played for Hednesford Town, Port Vale, Brighton & Hove Albion, Luton Town and Hull City as a midfielder...
's side avoided relegation with a seventeenth place finish. Vale exited both the FA Cup
FA 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...
and 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...
at the First Round with defeats to 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...
, and reached the Area Quarter-finals of the League Trophy
Football League Trophy
The Football League Trophy, currently known as the Johnstone's Paint Trophy for sponsorship reasons, is an annual English association football knock-out competition open to the 48 clubs in Football League One and Football League Two, the bottom two divisions in the four fully professional top...
. Financial issues were at the forefront in the minds of Vale fans, as the club entered administration in December. After a successful bid, Bill Bratt
Bill Bratt
William Amos "Bill" Bratt MBE is the former chairman of Port Vale Football Club, who served the club in this post from 2003 to 2011....
's Valiant 2001 group won control of the club, taking the club out of administration.
Second Division
The pre-season saw Brian HortonBrian Horton
Brian Horton is an English former footballer and manager, who is working as Phil Brown's assistant at Preston North End.Horton played for Hednesford Town, Port Vale, Brighton & Hove Albion, Luton Town and Hull City as a midfielder...
make several free signings: Jon McCarthy
Jon McCarthy
Jonathan David "Jon" McCarthy is a former footballer who played over 500 games in his career, many of which were in the Football League....
(Birmingham City
Birmingham City F.C.
Birmingham City Football Club is a professional association football club based in the city of Birmingham, England. Formed in 1875 as Small Heath Alliance, they became Small Heath in 1888, then Birmingham in 1905, finally becoming Birmingham City in 1943.They were relegated at the end of the...
); Brett Angell
Brett Angell
Brett Ashley Mark Angell is an English association football coach and former player, now coaching in New Zealand. His brother Darren also played football professionally....
(Rushden & Diamonds
Rushden & Diamonds F.C.
Rushden & Diamonds Football Club was an association football club based in Irthlingborough, Northamptonshire, England. Formed by a merger of Rushden Town and Irthlingborough Diamonds in 1992, the club played in the Conference National following a short spell in the Football League at the start of...
); Ian Brightwell
Ian Brightwell
Ian Robert Brightwell is an English former footballer, he played for six clubs, most notably spending twelve years with Manchester City...
(Walsall
Walsall F.C.
Walsall Football Club are an English association football club based in Walsall, West Midlands. They currently play in League One. The club was founded in 1888 as Walsall Town Swifts, an amalgamation of Walsall Town F.C. and Walsall Swifts F.C. The club was one of the founder members of the Second...
); Phil Charnock
Phil Charnock
Philip Anthony Charnock is an English former footballer.-Playing career:Charnock began his career with Liverpool, and made his debut in 1992 in a Cup Winners' Cup game against Apollon Limassol...
(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...
); Sam Collins (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...
); and Mark Boyd
Mark Boyd
Mark Edward Boyd is an English football midfielder who plays for Conference North side Workington.Beginning his career with Newcastle United, he never made the first team and instead signed with Port Vale in 2002. After two years with the Vale he moved north to Scottish side Gretna via Carlisle...
(Newcastle United
Newcastle United F.C.
Newcastle United Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear. The club was founded in 1892 by the merger of Newcastle East End and Newcastle West End, and has played at its current home ground, St James' Park, since the merger...
).
The season started poorly with four straight defeats and only one goal scored from open play, causing fans to barrack Horton. Their form changed with a 1–0 win over 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...
at the JJB Stadium – the first in a sequence of five consecutive victories. Following this run victories were sparse for the Vale, and they picked up just four league victories until the beginning of March. The club agreed to sell Stephen McPhee
Stephen McPhee
Stephen McPhee is a Scottish former footballer. In a ten year career he has played for clubs in Scotland, England and Portugal. And has been capped for his country at under-21 level. A forward, he scored 55 goals in 249 games in all competitions.Starting his career at Coventry City, following a...
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...
, though the deal fell through over personal terms. In October, Lee Ashcroft
Lee Ashcroft
Lee Ashcroft is a former footballer turned manager who is currently managing Northern Premier League side Kendal Town. In his playing career he played as a striker for Preston North End, West Bromwich Albion and Grimsby Town, having also played for Notts County, Wigan Athletic, Port Vale,...
arrived on loan from 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...
. Meanwhile Jon McCarthy was released, and signed with 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...
. The next month Brett Angell also departed after rejecting a new deal with the club, and instead joined Queens Park Rangers
Queens Park Rangers F.C.
Queens Park Rangers Football Club is an English professional football club, based in White City, Hammersmith and Fulham, west London. As the 2010-11 Football League Championship champions, they now play in the top tier of English football the Premier League, for the first time in 15 years...
. A mini-revival began in the new year, as Vale were unbeaten in their three January league games. In February, defender Peter Clarke
Peter Clarke (footballer)
Peter Michael Clarke is an English professional footballer who plays as a centre back for Huddersfield Town, where he is club captain....
arrived on a three month loan deal from Everton
Everton F.C.
Everton Football Club are an English professional association football club from the city of Liverpool. The club competes in the Premier League, the highest level of English football...
. Adrian Littlejohn
Adrian Littlejohn
Adrian Sylvester Littlejohn is an English former footballer, who played as a midfielder and a striker.-Playing career:...
also joined the club on a monthly contract, having left Lincoln City
Lincoln City F.C.
Lincoln City Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Lincoln, Lincolnshire. The club are currently members of the Conference National in 2011–12 following relegation from the Football League....
. There was a turnaround in form following a 1–0 win over Blackpool
Blackpool F.C.
Blackpool Football Club are an English football club founded in 1887 from the Lancashire seaside town of Blackpool. They are competing in the 2011–12 season of the The Championship, the second tier of professional football in England, having been relegated from the Premier League at the end of the...
on 8 March, as eighteen points from the final twelve games of the season were enough to see off the fan's fears of relegation. Horton still remained unpopular with some sections of the Vale's supporters.
They finished in seventeenth place with 53 points, just five points above Cheltenham Town
Cheltenham Town F.C.
Cheltenham Town Football Club is an English football club playing in League Two, the fourth tier of English football. Founded in 1887, the team has played at four different grounds, namely Agg-Gardner's Recreation Ground, Carter's Field and now the Abbey Business Stadium, although it is more...
in the relegation zone. They finished 33 points and 15 places behind Crewe, who were promoted as runners-up. Marc Bridge-Wilkinson
Marc Bridge-Wilkinson
Marc Bridge-Wilkinson is an English footballer who plays for Conference National club Darlington. He is a left-sided midfielder and also a winger, and is known for his goal-scoring ability....
was the club's top-scorer with just nine goals in all competitions.
At the end of the season a number of players left the club on free transfers: Matt Carragher
Matt Carragher
Matthew Carragher is a former English footballer who played 362 games over twelve years in the Football League for Wigan Athletic, Port Vale, and Macclesfield Town.-Playing career:...
(Macclesfield Town
Macclesfield Town F.C.
Macclesfield Town Football Club is an English football team. The club was formed in 1874 and is based in the town of Macclesfield in Cheshire. The team play its home games at the 6,355 capacity Moss Rose stadium...
); Paul Byrne
Paul Byrne (footballer born 1982)
Paul Byrne is a South African-born former professional footballer, currently playing for Skelmersdale United.-Playing career:...
(Barry Town
Barry Town F.C.
Barry Town FC are a football team based in Barry. They dominated the League of Wales during the 1990s, but finished bottom in 2003-04 and were relegated...
); Phil Charnock
Phil Charnock
Philip Anthony Charnock is an English former footballer.-Playing career:Charnock began his career with Liverpool, and made his debut in 1992 in a Cup Winners' Cup game against Apollon Limassol...
(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...
); Sean McClare
Sean McClare
Sean McClare is an English former footballer.-Playing career:McClare began his career with Barnsley, making over fifty first team appearances between 1993 and 2001. During this time he also had a loan spell with Rochdale in April 2000 and Port Vale in November 2001...
(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...
); John Durnin
John Durnin
John Paul Durnin is an English footballer, now retired, who scored 100 goals in 475 league appearances over a career spanning close to two decades....
(Accrington Stanley
Accrington Stanley F.C.
Accrington Stanley is an English association football club from Accrington in Lancashire, in the North West of England, who play in Football League Two, the fourth-highest division in the English football league system....
); and Rae Ingram
Rae Ingram
Rae Ingram is an English football defender.-Playing career:Ingram started his career at Manchester City, after signing professional forms in July 1993 he went on to play 21 league games for City , before joining Macclesfield Town in March 1998...
(Bangor City
Bangor City F.C.
Bangor City Football Club are a semi-professional Welsh football club from the City of Bangor. The club compete in the Welsh Premier League, being ever present since the league was founded in 1992....
).
Finances, administration & a change of ownership
Talks of Bell selling the club circulated at the start of the season, as Staffordshire PoliceStaffordshire Police
Staffordshire Police is the territorial police force responsible for policing Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent in the West Midlands of England...
were forced to write off £100,000 worth of debt. The club's financial crisis came to a head in the season, the club £2.4 million in debt and posting £500,000 a year losses. Bell put his shares up for sale at £10 each. The club entered administration
Administration (British football)
Sports clubs in the United Kingdom, most often in football, sometimes choose to enter administration when they are unable to pay off outstanding debts. Under the Insolvency Act 1986 a business will face a winding up order bringing them to court and if it is shown that a business cannot pay debts as...
in December, with £600,000 owed to Inland Revenue
Inland Revenue
The Inland Revenue was, until April 2005, a department of the British Government responsible for the collection of direct taxation, including income tax, national insurance contributions, capital gains tax, inheritance tax, corporation tax, petroleum revenue tax and stamp duty...
and the Customs & Excise. Assistant manager Mark Grew
Mark Grew
Mark Stuart Grew is an English former football goalkeeper, now assistant manager to Micky Adams at Port Vale. On three occasions he has also served as the club's caretaker-manager, most recently from March to May in 2011....
and 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....
were both laid off in order to save money. The club approached millionaire pop star and Vale fan Robbie Williams
Robbie Williams
Robert Peter "Robbie" Williams is an English singer-songwriter, vocal coach and occasional actor. He is a member of the pop group Take That. Williams rose to fame in the band's first run in the early- to mid-1990s. After many disagreements with the management and certain group members, Williams...
, who rejected the opportunity to invest in the club. Rumours circulated of a possible merger with rivals
Potteries derby
The Potteries derby is the football local derby in Stoke-on-Trent between Port Vale and Stoke City. The fans of each club both consider the other to be their main rivals; this has led to a heated atmosphere at these matches, especially with the rise of football hooliganism and the 'Naughty Forty'...
Stoke City
Stoke City F.C.
Stoke City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire that plays in the Premier League. Founded in 1863, it is the oldest club in the Premier League, and considered to be the second oldest professional football club in the world, after Notts...
and a ground-share at the Britannia Stadium
Britannia Stadium
The Britannia Stadium is an all-seater football stadium in Stoke-on-Trent, England and the home of Premier League club Stoke City Football Club. With space for 27,598 spectators . The name is taken from the sponsors of the Stadium the Britannia Co-operative Bank...
, fuelled by the belief that a 'mystery bidder' was in fact the Icelandic owners of Stoke City. The administrators received a number of bids for the club, and received interest from Mo Chaudry (owner of WaterWorld
Water World, Stoke-on-Trent
WaterWorld attracts 400,000 visitors per year. The park first opened in 1989 and is generally open year round, but is closed for a few days of the week during term time....
), Summerbank Management, and property developer Steve Ball. Bill Bratt
Bill Bratt
William Amos "Bill" Bratt MBE is the former chairman of Port Vale Football Club, who served the club in this post from 2003 to 2011....
's 'Valiant 2001' fan-based consortium's bid was accepted in March, and the group took control the following month. The group had had a £1 million bid rejected by Bell the previous year. In May, the club announced a new two year £200,000 shirt sponsorship deal with local mobile phone company Tricell. The new board also appointed former player Andy Porter
Andy Porter (footballer)
Andrew Michael "Andy" Porter is an English former footballer, turned coach and manager, who is now a youth team coach at Stockport County...
as youth coach, and got the club's transfer embargo lifted in July.
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...
, Vale were knocked out by nearby Crewe Alexandra with a Dean Ashton
Dean Ashton
Dean Ashton is a former English professional footballer. He made over 240 appearances as a forward in the Football League and Premier League for Crewe Alexandra, Norwich City and , and was also capped by England. He was highly praised as a talented centre forward, but had a career frustrated by...
goal.
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...
, Crewe made the first of their three visits 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....
(all of which they won), and advanced with a 2–0 victory, both goals scored by Rodney Jack
Rodney Jack
Rodney Jack is a professional football player from Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. He is best known for his spells with Torquay United and Crewe Alexandra and also his long-term friendship with singer/songwriter Ash Cherrington...
.
In the League Trophy
Football League Trophy
The Football League Trophy, currently known as the Johnstone's Paint Trophy for sponsorship reasons, is an annual English association football knock-out competition open to the 48 clubs in Football League One and Football League Two, the bottom two divisions in the four fully professional top...
, Vale advanced through the opening rounds with home wins over Hull City
Hull City A.F.C.
Hull City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Kingston upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, founded in 1904. The club participates in the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football...
and Chesterfield
Chesterfield F.C.
Chesterfield Football Club is an English football club based in Chesterfield, Derbyshire. The club currently plays in Football League One, the third tier of English football. Despite being the fourth oldest Football League club in England, they have spent most of their existence in the lower...
(after a penalty shootout). In the Northern Section Quarter-Finals they faced Shrewsbury Town
Shrewsbury Town F.C.
Shrewsbury Town Football Club is an English Association football club based in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, who play in League Two, the fourth tier of English football. The club was formed in 1886 and has played in all the bottom three divisions in various guises since being elected into the Football...
at Gay Meadow
Gay Meadow
The Gay Meadow is the former home ground of Shrewsbury Town FC, a football club in England. It was situated just outside the town centre of Shrewsbury, on the banks of the River Severn and it opened in August 1910....
, and lost 2–1.
Final league table
| Pos | Team | Pl | W | D | L | F | A | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | 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 | 29 | 13 | 4 | 68 | 25 | +43 | 100 |
| 2. | 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 | 25 | 11 | 10 | 76 | 40 | +36 | 86 |
| 3. | Bristol City Bristol City F.C. Bristol City Football Club is one of two football league clubs in Bristol, England . They play at Ashton Gate, located in the south-west of the City... |
46 | 24 | 11 | 11 | 79 | 48 | +31 | 83 |
| 4. | Queens Park Rangers Queens Park Rangers F.C. Queens Park Rangers Football Club is an English professional football club, based in White City, Hammersmith and Fulham, west London. As the 2010-11 Football League Championship champions, they now play in the top tier of English football the Premier League, for the first time in 15 years... |
46 | 24 | 11 | 11 | 69 | 45 | +24 | 83 |
| 5. | Oldham Athletic Oldham Athletic A.F.C. Oldham Athletic Association Football Club is an English association football club based at Boundary Park, on Sheepfoot Lane in Oldham, Greater Manchester. The club currently competes in the Football League One, the third tier of the English league... |
46 | 22 | 16 | 8 | 68 | 38 | +30 | 82 |
| 6. | Cardiff City Cardiff City F.C. Cardiff City Football Club are a Welsh professional football club based in Cardiff, Wales. The club competes in the English football pyramid and is currently playing in the Football League Championship. Cardiff City is the best supported football club in Wales, averaging approximately 22,500 for... |
46 | 23 | 12 | 11 | 68 | 43 | +25 | 81 |
| 7. | Tranmere Rovers Tranmere Rovers F.C. Tranmere Rovers Football Club are an English team based in Birkenhead, Wirral. The club currently compete in League One, the third tier of the English football league system... |
46 | 23 | 11 | 12 | 66 | 57 | +9 | 80 |
| 8. | Plymouth Argyle Plymouth Argyle F.C. Plymouth Argyle Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Plymouth, Devon, that plays in Football League Two.Since becoming professional in 1903, the club has won five Football League titles, five Southern League titles and one Western League title. The 2009–10 season was the... |
46 | 17 | 14 | 15 | 63 | 52 | +11 | 65 |
| 9. | Luton Town Luton Town F.C. Luton Town Football Club is an English professional football club based since 1905 at Kenilworth Road, Luton, Bedfordshire. The club currently competes in the fifth tier of English football, the Conference National, for the third consecutive season during the 2011–12 season.Formed in 1885, it was... |
46 | 17 | 14 | 15 | 67 | 62 | +5 | 65 |
| 10. | |Swindon Town Swindon Town F.C. Swindon Town Football Club are a team based in Swindon, Wiltshire. Currently in League Two, Swindon have been managed by Paolo Di Canio since 23 May 2011... |
46 | 16 | 12 | 18 | 59 | 63 | -4 | 60 |
| 11. | Peterborough United Peterborough United F.C. Peterborough United Football Club are a professional English football club based in Peterborough. Peterborough United formed in 1934 and played in the old Midland League, which they won six times; eventually being admitted to the Football League in 1960, replacing Gateshead. Their home ground is... |
46 | 14 | 16 | 16 | 51 | 54 | -3 | 58 |
| 12. | Colchester United Colchester United F.C. Colchester United Football Club is an English football club based in Colchester. The club was formed in 1937, and briefly shared their old Layer Road home with now defunct side Colchester Town who had previously used the ground from 1910.... |
46 | 14 | 16 | 16 | 52 | 56 | -4 | 58 |
| 13. | Blackpool Blackpool F.C. Blackpool Football Club are an English football club founded in 1887 from the Lancashire seaside town of Blackpool. They are competing in the 2011–12 season of the The Championship, the second tier of professional football in England, having been relegated from the Premier League at the end of the... |
46 | 15 | 13 | 18 | 56 | 64 | -8 | 58 |
| 14. | 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 | 15 | 10 | 21 | 65 | 70 | -5 | 55 |
| 15. | Notts County Notts County F.C. Notts County Football Club are an English professional football club based in Nottingham. They are the oldest of all the clubs in the world that are now professional, having been formed in 1862. They currently play in League One of The Football League, the third tier of the English football system... |
46 | 13 | 16 | 17 | 62 | 70 | -8 | 55 |
| 16. | Brentford Brentford F.C. Brentford Football Club are a professional English football club based in Brentford in the London Borough of Hounslow. They are currently playing in Football League One.... |
46 | 14 | 12 | 20 | 47 | 56 | -9 | 54 |
| 17. | 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 | 11 | 21 | 54 | 70 | -16 | 53 |
| 18. | Wycombe Wanderers Wycombe Wanderers F.C. Wycombe Wanderers Football Club is an English professional football team from High Wycombe in Buckinghamshire, which has been promoted to Football League One after finishing third in Football League Two in the season 2010–11. The club's nicknames are "The Chairboys" and "The Blues", and they play... |
46 | 13 | 13 | 20 | 59 | 66 | -7 | 52 |
| 19. | 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 | 13 | 13 | 20 | 51 | 64 | -13 | 52 |
| 20. | Chesterfield Chesterfield F.C. Chesterfield Football Club is an English football club based in Chesterfield, Derbyshire. The club currently plays in Football League One, the third tier of English football. Despite being the fourth oldest Football League club in England, they have spent most of their existence in the lower... |
46 | 14 | 8 | 24 | 43 | 73 | -30 | 50 |
| 21. | Cheltenham Town Cheltenham Town F.C. Cheltenham Town Football Club is an English football club playing in League Two, the fourth tier of English football. Founded in 1887, the team has played at four different grounds, namely Agg-Gardner's Recreation Ground, Carter's Field and now the Abbey Business Stadium, although it is more... |
46 | 10 | 18 | 18 | 53 | 68 | -15 | 48 |
| 22. | 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 | 11 | 12 | 23 | 39 | 61 | -22 | 45 |
| 23. | Mansfield Town Mansfield Town F.C. Mansfield Town Football Club is an English football club from the former mining town of Mansfield, Nottinghamshire. The club was formed in 1897 as Mansfield Wesleyans and changed its name to Mansfield Wesley in 1906 before settling on Mansfield Town in 1910... |
46 | 12 | 8 | 26 | 66 | 97 | -31 | 44 |
| 24. | 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 | 10 | 9 | 27 | 40 | 79 | -39 | 39 |
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 Second Division
| Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Scorers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 August 2002 | Tranmere Rovers Tranmere Rovers F.C. Tranmere Rovers Football Club are an English team based in Birkenhead, Wirral. The club currently compete in League One, the third tier of the English football league system... |
H | 1–4 | 5,629 | Brooker Steve Brooker Stephen Michael "Steve" Brooker is an English football striker. In a twelve years professional career he has scored 86 goals in 294 games.... |
| 13 August 2002 | Cardiff City Cardiff City F.C. Cardiff City Football Club are a Welsh professional football club based in Cardiff, Wales. The club competes in the English football pyramid and is currently playing in the Football League Championship. Cardiff City is the best supported football club in Wales, averaging approximately 22,500 for... |
A | 1–3 | 13,296 | Bridge-Wilkinson Marc Bridge-Wilkinson Marc Bridge-Wilkinson is an English footballer who plays for Conference National club Darlington. He is a left-sided midfielder and also a winger, and is known for his goal-scoring ability.... (pen) |
| 17 August 2002 | Chesterfield Chesterfield F.C. Chesterfield Football Club is an English football club based in Chesterfield, Derbyshire. The club currently plays in Football League One, the third tier of English football. Despite being the fourth oldest Football League club in England, they have spent most of their existence in the lower... |
A | 1–2 | 3,598 | Angell Brett Angell Brett Ashley Mark Angell is an English association football coach and former player, now coaching in New Zealand. His brother Darren also played football professionally.... (pen) |
| 24 August 2002 | 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 | 0–1 | 4,070 | |
| 26 August 2002 | 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 | 1–0 | 6,532 | Armstrong Ian Armstrong (footballer) Ian Armstrong was an English footballer who played mainly as a winger or an attacking midfielder. He played 101 league and cup games for Port Vale between 2002 and 2005, before injury forced his early retirement, at the age of 23... |
| 31 August 2002 | Peterborough United Peterborough United F.C. Peterborough United Football Club are a professional English football club based in Peterborough. Peterborough United formed in 1934 and played in the old Midland League, which they won six times; eventually being admitted to the Football League in 1960, replacing Gateshead. Their home ground is... |
H | 1–0 | 3,862 | Angell Brett Angell Brett Ashley Mark Angell is an English association football coach and former player, now coaching in New Zealand. His brother Darren also played football professionally.... |
| 7 September 2002 | Swindon Town Swindon Town F.C. Swindon Town Football Club are a team based in Swindon, Wiltshire. Currently in League Two, Swindon have been managed by Paolo Di Canio since 23 May 2011... |
A | 2–1 | 5,029 | Bridge-Wilkinson Marc Bridge-Wilkinson Marc Bridge-Wilkinson is an English footballer who plays for Conference National club Darlington. He is a left-sided midfielder and also a winger, and is known for his goal-scoring ability.... (2) |
| 14 September 2002 | Colchester United Colchester United F.C. Colchester United Football Club is an English football club based in Colchester. The club was formed in 1937, and briefly shared their old Layer Road home with now defunct side Colchester Town who had previously used the ground from 1910.... |
H | 1–0 | 3,328 | Collins |
| 17 September 2002 | Notts County Notts County F.C. Notts County Football Club are an English professional football club based in Nottingham. They are the oldest of all the clubs in the world that are now professional, having been formed in 1862. They currently play in League One of The Football League, the third tier of the English football system... |
H | 3–2 | 3,505 | Angell Brett Angell Brett Ashley Mark Angell is an English association football coach and former player, now coaching in New Zealand. His brother Darren also played football professionally.... (2), Paynter Billy Paynter William Paul "Billy" Paynter is a professional footballer who plays for Brighton & Hove Albion on loan from Leeds United in the Football League Championship as a striker.... |
| 21 September 2002 | Blackpool Blackpool F.C. Blackpool Football Club are an English football club founded in 1887 from the Lancashire seaside town of Blackpool. They are competing in the 2011–12 season of the The Championship, the second tier of professional football in England, having been relegated from the Premier League at the end of the... |
A | 2–3 | 7,756 | Collins, Bridge-Wilkinson Marc Bridge-Wilkinson Marc Bridge-Wilkinson is an English footballer who plays for Conference National club Darlington. He is a left-sided midfielder and also a winger, and is known for his goal-scoring ability.... |
| 28 September 2002 | Bristol City Bristol City F.C. Bristol City Football Club is one of two football league clubs in Bristol, England . They play at Ashton Gate, located in the south-west of the City... |
H | 2–3 | 4,286 | Paynter Billy Paynter William Paul "Billy" Paynter is a professional footballer who plays for Brighton & Hove Albion on loan from Leeds United in the Football League Championship as a striker.... , Cummins Michael Cummins Michael Thomas 'Micky' Cummins is an Irish footballer who plays for Gateshead. He has also appeared for the Republic of Ireland under-21 team.... |
| 5 October 2002 | 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 | 2–2 | 9,091 | Collins, Paynter Billy Paynter William Paul "Billy" Paynter is a professional footballer who plays for Brighton & Hove Albion on loan from Leeds United in the Football League Championship as a striker.... |
| 12 October 2002 | Oldham Athletic Oldham Athletic A.F.C. Oldham Athletic Association Football Club is an English association football club based at Boundary Park, on Sheepfoot Lane in Oldham, Greater Manchester. The club currently competes in the Football League One, the third tier of the English league... |
H | 1–1 | 5,563 | McPhee Stephen McPhee Stephen McPhee is a Scottish former footballer. In a ten year career he has played for clubs in Scotland, England and Portugal. And has been capped for his country at under-21 level. A forward, he scored 55 goals in 249 games in all competitions.Starting his career at Coventry City, following a... |
| 19 October 2002 | Brentford Brentford F.C. Brentford Football Club are a professional English football club based in Brentford in the London Borough of Hounslow. They are currently playing in Football League One.... |
A | 1–1 | 5,177 | Paynter Billy Paynter William Paul "Billy" Paynter is a professional footballer who plays for Brighton & Hove Albion on loan from Leeds United in the Football League Championship as a striker.... |
| 26 October 2002 | 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 | 1–2 | 6,374 | Angell Brett Angell Brett Ashley Mark Angell is an English association football coach and former player, now coaching in New Zealand. His brother Darren also played football professionally.... |
| 29 October 2002 | Cheltenham Town Cheltenham Town F.C. Cheltenham Town Football Club is an English football club playing in League Two, the fourth tier of English football. Founded in 1887, the team has played at four different grounds, namely Agg-Gardner's Recreation Ground, Carter's Field and now the Abbey Business Stadium, although it is more... |
A | 1–0 | 3,852 | Bridge-Wilkinson Marc Bridge-Wilkinson Marc Bridge-Wilkinson is an English footballer who plays for Conference National club Darlington. He is a left-sided midfielder and also a winger, and is known for his goal-scoring ability.... |
| 2 November 2002 | Queens Park Rangers Queens Park Rangers F.C. Queens Park Rangers Football Club is an English professional football club, based in White City, Hammersmith and Fulham, west London. As the 2010-11 Football League Championship champions, they now play in the top tier of English football the Premier League, for the first time in 15 years... |
H | 0–0 | 4,394 | |
| 9 November 2002 | Luton Town Luton Town F.C. Luton Town Football Club is an English professional football club based since 1905 at Kenilworth Road, Luton, Bedfordshire. The club currently competes in the fifth tier of English football, the Conference National, for the third consecutive season during the 2011–12 season.Formed in 1885, it was... |
A | 0–0 | 6,112 | |
| 23 November 2002 | 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 | 0–3 | 4,357 | |
| 30 November 2002 | Mansfield Town Mansfield Town F.C. Mansfield Town Football Club is an English football club from the former mining town of Mansfield, Nottinghamshire. The club was formed in 1897 as Mansfield Wesleyans and changed its name to Mansfield Wesley in 1906 before settling on Mansfield Town in 1910... |
H | 4–2 | 3,880 | Cummins Michael Cummins Michael Thomas 'Micky' Cummins is an Irish footballer who plays for Gateshead. He has also appeared for the Republic of Ireland under-21 team.... (2), Armstrong Ian Armstrong (footballer) Ian Armstrong was an English footballer who played mainly as a winger or an attacking midfielder. He played 101 league and cup games for Port Vale between 2002 and 2005, before injury forced his early retirement, at the age of 23... , Paynter Billy Paynter William Paul "Billy" Paynter is a professional footballer who plays for Brighton & Hove Albion on loan from Leeds United in the Football League Championship as a striker.... |
| 14 December 2002 | Wycombe Wanderers Wycombe Wanderers F.C. Wycombe Wanderers Football Club is an English professional football team from High Wycombe in Buckinghamshire, which has been promoted to Football League One after finishing third in Football League Two in the season 2010–11. The club's nicknames are "The Chairboys" and "The Blues", and they play... |
A | 1–3 | 5,229 | Armstrong Ian Armstrong (footballer) Ian Armstrong was an English footballer who played mainly as a winger or an attacking midfielder. He played 101 league and cup games for Port Vale between 2002 and 2005, before injury forced his early retirement, at the age of 23... |
| 21 December 2002 | Plymouth Argyle Plymouth Argyle F.C. Plymouth Argyle Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Plymouth, Devon, that plays in Football League Two.Since becoming professional in 1903, the club has won five Football League titles, five Southern League titles and one Western League title. The 2009–10 season was the... |
H | 1–2 | 4,892 | Brooker Steve Brooker Stephen Michael "Steve" Brooker is an English football striker. In a twelve years professional career he has scored 86 goals in 294 games.... |
| 26 December 2002 | 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 | 0–1 | 6,395 | |
| 28 December 2002 | 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 | 1–2 | 9,291 | Bridge-Wilkinson Marc Bridge-Wilkinson Marc Bridge-Wilkinson is an English footballer who plays for Conference National club Darlington. He is a left-sided midfielder and also a winger, and is known for his goal-scoring ability.... |
| 1 January 2003 | 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 | 1–1 | 4,390 | Brooker Steve Brooker Stephen Michael "Steve" Brooker is an English football striker. In a twelve years professional career he has scored 86 goals in 294 games.... |
| 18 January 2003 | Peterborough United Peterborough United F.C. Peterborough United Football Club are a professional English football club based in Peterborough. Peterborough United formed in 1934 and played in the old Midland League, which they won six times; eventually being admitted to the Football League in 1960, replacing Gateshead. Their home ground is... |
A | 2–1 | 4,770 | Brooker Steve Brooker Stephen Michael "Steve" Brooker is an English football striker. In a twelve years professional career he has scored 86 goals in 294 games.... , Bridge-Wilkinson Marc Bridge-Wilkinson Marc Bridge-Wilkinson is an English footballer who plays for Conference National club Darlington. He is a left-sided midfielder and also a winger, and is known for his goal-scoring ability.... |
| 25 January 2003 | 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 | 0–0 | 4,033 | |
| 1 February 2003 | Tranmere Rovers Tranmere Rovers F.C. Tranmere Rovers Football Club are an English team based in Birkenhead, Wirral. The club currently compete in League One, the third tier of the English football league system... |
A | 0–1 | 7,461 | |
| 8 February 2003 | Luton Town Luton Town F.C. Luton Town Football Club is an English professional football club based since 1905 at Kenilworth Road, Luton, Bedfordshire. The club currently competes in the fifth tier of English football, the Conference National, for the third consecutive season during the 2011–12 season.Formed in 1885, it was... |
H | 1–2 | 4,714 | Boyd Mark Boyd Mark Edward Boyd is an English football midfielder who plays for Conference North side Workington.Beginning his career with Newcastle United, he never made the first team and instead signed with Port Vale in 2002. After two years with the Vale he moved north to Scottish side Gretna via Carlisle... |
| 11 February 2003 | Chesterfield Chesterfield F.C. Chesterfield Football Club is an English football club based in Chesterfield, Derbyshire. The club currently plays in Football League One, the third tier of English football. Despite being the fourth oldest Football League club in England, they have spent most of their existence in the lower... |
H | 5–2 | 3,039 | Boyd Mark Boyd Mark Edward Boyd is an English football midfielder who plays for Conference North side Workington.Beginning his career with Newcastle United, he never made the first team and instead signed with Port Vale in 2002. After two years with the Vale he moved north to Scottish side Gretna via Carlisle... (2), McPhee Stephen McPhee Stephen McPhee is a Scottish former footballer. In a ten year career he has played for clubs in Scotland, England and Portugal. And has been capped for his country at under-21 level. A forward, he scored 55 goals in 249 games in all competitions.Starting his career at Coventry City, following a... , Armstrong Ian Armstrong (footballer) Ian Armstrong was an English footballer who played mainly as a winger or an attacking midfielder. He played 101 league and cup games for Port Vale between 2002 and 2005, before injury forced his early retirement, at the age of 23... , Brooker Steve Brooker Stephen Michael "Steve" Brooker is an English football striker. In a twelve years professional career he has scored 86 goals in 294 games.... |
| 15 February 2003 | Queens Park Rangers Queens Park Rangers F.C. Queens Park Rangers Football Club is an English professional football club, based in White City, Hammersmith and Fulham, west London. As the 2010-11 Football League Championship champions, they now play in the top tier of English football the Premier League, for the first time in 15 years... |
A | 0–4 | 13,703 | |
| 22 February 2003 | Swindon Town Swindon Town F.C. Swindon Town Football Club are a team based in Swindon, Wiltshire. Currently in League Two, Swindon have been managed by Paolo Di Canio since 23 May 2011... |
H | 1–1 | 4,085 | Armstrong Ian Armstrong (footballer) Ian Armstrong was an English footballer who played mainly as a winger or an attacking midfielder. He played 101 league and cup games for Port Vale between 2002 and 2005, before injury forced his early retirement, at the age of 23... |
| 25 February 2003 | Cardiff City Cardiff City F.C. Cardiff City Football Club are a Welsh professional football club based in Cardiff, Wales. The club competes in the English football pyramid and is currently playing in the Football League Championship. Cardiff City is the best supported football club in Wales, averaging approximately 22,500 for... |
H | 0–2 | 3,831 | |
| 1 March 2003 | Colchester United Colchester United F.C. Colchester United Football Club is an English football club based in Colchester. The club was formed in 1937, and briefly shared their old Layer Road home with now defunct side Colchester Town who had previously used the ground from 1910.... |
A | 1–4 | 3,581 | Bridge-Wilkinson Marc Bridge-Wilkinson Marc Bridge-Wilkinson is an English footballer who plays for Conference National club Darlington. He is a left-sided midfielder and also a winger, and is known for his goal-scoring ability.... |
| 4 March 2003 | Notts County Notts County F.C. Notts County Football Club are an English professional football club based in Nottingham. They are the oldest of all the clubs in the world that are now professional, having been formed in 1862. They currently play in League One of The Football League, the third tier of the English football system... |
A | 0–1 | 6,302 | |
| 8 March 2003 | Blackpool Blackpool F.C. Blackpool Football Club are an English football club founded in 1887 from the Lancashire seaside town of Blackpool. They are competing in the 2011–12 season of the The Championship, the second tier of professional football in England, having been relegated from the Premier League at the end of the... |
H | 1–0 | 4,394 | Bridge-Wilkinson Marc Bridge-Wilkinson Marc Bridge-Wilkinson is an English footballer who plays for Conference National club Darlington. He is a left-sided midfielder and also a winger, and is known for his goal-scoring ability.... (pen) |
| 15 March 2003 | 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 | 1–1 | 8,146 | Brisco Neil Brisco Neil Brisco is an English former footballer. A versatile player, he was comfortable both in defence and in midfield.A former Manchester City trainee, he made his name in a six year spell with Port Vale between 1998 and 2004, lifting the Football League Trophy in 2001... |
| 18 March 2003 | Brentford Brentford F.C. Brentford Football Club are a professional English football club based in Brentford in the London Borough of Hounslow. They are currently playing in Football League One.... |
H | 1–0 | 3,241 | Collins |
| 22 March 2003 | Cheltenham Town Cheltenham Town F.C. Cheltenham Town Football Club is an English football club playing in League Two, the fourth tier of English football. Founded in 1887, the team has played at four different grounds, namely Agg-Gardner's Recreation Ground, Carter's Field and now the Abbey Business Stadium, although it is more... |
H | 1–2 | 4,800 | McPhee Stephen McPhee Stephen McPhee is a Scottish former footballer. In a ten year career he has played for clubs in Scotland, England and Portugal. And has been capped for his country at under-21 level. A forward, he scored 55 goals in 249 games in all competitions.Starting his career at Coventry City, following a... |
| 29 March 2003 | Oldham Athletic Oldham Athletic A.F.C. Oldham Athletic Association Football Club is an English association football club based at Boundary Park, on Sheepfoot Lane in Oldham, Greater Manchester. The club currently competes in the Football League One, the third tier of the English league... |
A | 1–1 | 7,209 | Cummins Michael Cummins Michael Thomas 'Micky' Cummins is an Irish footballer who plays for Gateshead. He has also appeared for the Republic of Ireland under-21 team.... |
| 5 April 2003 | Mansfield Town Mansfield Town F.C. Mansfield Town Football Club is an English football club from the former mining town of Mansfield, Nottinghamshire. The club was formed in 1897 as Mansfield Wesleyans and changed its name to Mansfield Wesley in 1906 before settling on Mansfield Town in 1910... |
A | 1–0 | 4,538 | Durnin John Durnin John Paul Durnin is an English footballer, now retired, who scored 100 goals in 475 league appearances over a career spanning close to two decades.... |
| 12 April 2003 | 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 | 3–2 | 4,209 | Walsh, Clarke Peter Clarke (footballer) Peter Michael Clarke is an English professional footballer who plays as a centre back for Huddersfield Town, where he is club captain.... , Littlejohn Adrian Littlejohn Adrian Sylvester Littlejohn is an English former footballer, who played as a midfielder and a striker.-Playing career:... |
| 19 April 2003 | Plymouth Argyle Plymouth Argyle F.C. Plymouth Argyle Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Plymouth, Devon, that plays in Football League Two.Since becoming professional in 1903, the club has won five Football League titles, five Southern League titles and one Western League title. The 2009–10 season was the... |
A | 0–3 | 12,587 | |
| 21 April 2003 | Wycombe Wanderers Wycombe Wanderers F.C. Wycombe Wanderers Football Club is an English professional football team from High Wycombe in Buckinghamshire, which has been promoted to Football League One after finishing third in Football League Two in the season 2010–11. The club's nicknames are "The Chairboys" and "The Blues", and they play... |
H | 1–1 | 3,590 | Littlejohn Adrian Littlejohn Adrian Sylvester Littlejohn is an English former footballer, who played as a midfielder and a striker.-Playing career:... |
| 26 April 2003 | 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 | 5–1 | 5,925 | Armstrong Ian Armstrong (footballer) Ian Armstrong was an English footballer who played mainly as a winger or an attacking midfielder. He played 101 league and cup games for Port Vale between 2002 and 2005, before injury forced his early retirement, at the age of 23... (2), Littlejohn Adrian Littlejohn Adrian Sylvester Littlejohn is an English former footballer, who played as a midfielder and a striker.-Playing career:... , Collins, Charnock Phil Charnock Philip Anthony Charnock is an English former footballer.-Playing career:Charnock began his career with Liverpool, and made his debut in 1992 in a Cup Winners' Cup game against Apollon Limassol... |
| 3 May 2003 | Bristol City Bristol City F.C. Bristol City Football Club is one of two football league clubs in Bristol, England . They play at Ashton Gate, located in the south-west of the City... |
A | 0–2 | 12,410 |
FA Cup
| Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Goalscorers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| R1 | 16 November 2002 | 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 | 0–1 | 5,507 |
League Cup
| Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Goalscorers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| R1 | 10 September 2002 | 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 | 0–2 | 3,765 |
League Trophy
| Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Goalscorers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| R1 | 22 October 2002 | Hull City Hull City A.F.C. Hull City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Kingston upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, founded in 1904. The club participates in the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football... |
H | 3–1 | 2,621 | Angell Brett Angell Brett Ashley Mark Angell is an English association football coach and former player, now coaching in New Zealand. His brother Darren also played football professionally.... (2), Carragher Matt Carragher Matthew Carragher is a former English footballer who played 362 games over twelve years in the Football League for Wigan Athletic, Port Vale, and Macclesfield Town.-Playing career:... |
| R2 | 12 November 2002 | Chesterfield Chesterfield F.C. Chesterfield Football Club is an English football club based in Chesterfield, Derbyshire. The club currently plays in Football League One, the third tier of English football. Despite being the fourth oldest Football League club in England, they have spent most of their existence in the lower... |
H | (4)1–1(3) | 2,222 | Armstrong Ian Armstrong (footballer) Ian Armstrong was an English footballer who played mainly as a winger or an attacking midfielder. He played 101 league and cup games for Port Vale between 2002 and 2005, before injury forced his early retirement, at the age of 23... |
| SQF | 10 December 2002 | Shrewsbury Town Shrewsbury Town F.C. Shrewsbury Town Football Club is an English Association football club based in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, who play in League Two, the fourth tier of English football. The club was formed in 1886 and has played in all the bottom three divisions in various guises since being elected into the Football... |
A | 1–2 | 2,597 | Boyd Mark Boyd Mark Edward Boyd is an English football midfielder who plays for Conference North side Workington.Beginning his career with Newcastle United, he never made the first team and instead signed with Port Vale in 2002. After two years with the Vale he moved north to Scottish side Gretna via Carlisle... |
Appearances
| Pos. | Name | Football League | FA Cup | League Cup | Total | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| GK |  Mark GoodladMark Goodlad Mark Goodlad is a former professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper. Leaving Nottingham Forest for Port Vale in 2000 , he became the Vale's first choice keeper for a number of seasons until he was forced to retire due to injury in 2008... |
37 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 42 | 0 |
| GK | Dean Delany |
10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 0 |
| DF | Matt Carragher Matt Carragher Matthew Carragher is a former English footballer who played 362 games over twelve years in the Football League for Wigan Athletic, Port Vale, and Macclesfield Town.-Playing career:... |
35 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 40 | 1 |
| DF |  Liam BurnsLiam Burns Liam Burns is a Northern Irish professional footballer who currently plays as a central defender for Bohemians in the League of Ireland Premier Division.-Playing career:... |
16 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 19 | 0 |
| DF | Michael Walsh |
17 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 18 | 1 |
| DF |  Steve RowlandSteve Rowland (footballer) Stephen John Rowland is a Welsh former professional football defender.Playing for English side Port Vale between 2001 and 2006, he made 136 appearances. He then spent a season with Southport before heading into Welsh football with Gresford Athletic... |
25 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 27 | 0 |
| DF | Rae Ingram Rae Ingram Rae Ingram is an English football defender.-Playing career:Ingram started his career at Manchester City, after signing professional forms in July 1993 he went on to play 21 league games for City , before joining Macclesfield Town in March 1998... |
4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| DF | Peter Clarke Peter Clarke (footballer) Peter Michael Clarke is an English professional footballer who plays as a centre back for Huddersfield Town, where he is club captain.... |
13 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 1 |
| DF | Sam Collins |
44 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 49 | 5 |
| DF | Ian Brightwell Ian Brightwell Ian Robert Brightwell is an English former footballer, he played for six clubs, most notably spending twelve years with Manchester City... |
35 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 38 | 0 |
| MF | Neil Brisco Neil Brisco Neil Brisco is an English former footballer. A versatile player, he was comfortable both in defence and in midfield.A former Manchester City trainee, he made his name in a six year spell with Port Vale between 1998 and 2004, lifting the Football League Trophy in 2001... |
24 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 24 | 1 |
| MF | Michael Cummins Michael Cummins Michael Thomas 'Micky' Cummins is an Irish footballer who plays for Gateshead. He has also appeared for the Republic of Ireland under-21 team.... |
30 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 35 | 4 |
| MF | Marc Bridge-Wilkinson Marc Bridge-Wilkinson Marc Bridge-Wilkinson is an English footballer who plays for Conference National club Darlington. He is a left-sided midfielder and also a winger, and is known for his goal-scoring ability.... |
31 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 33 | 9 |
| MF | Sean McClare Sean McClare Sean McClare is an English former footballer.-Playing career:McClare began his career with Barnsley, making over fifty first team appearances between 1993 and 2001. During this time he also had a loan spell with Rochdale in April 2000 and Port Vale in November 2001... |
17 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 20 | 1 |
| MF | John Durnin John Durnin John Paul Durnin is an English footballer, now retired, who scored 100 goals in 475 league appearances over a career spanning close to two decades.... |
28 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 31 | 1 |
| MF | Ian Armstrong Ian Armstrong (footballer) Ian Armstrong was an English footballer who played mainly as a winger or an attacking midfielder. He played 101 league and cup games for Port Vale between 2002 and 2005, before injury forced his early retirement, at the age of 23... |
29 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 34 | 8 |
| MF |  Chris BirchallChris Birchall Christopher "Chris" Birchall CM is an English-born Trinidadian footballer who currently plays in midfield for Major League Soccer side Los Angeles Galaxy.... |
2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| MF | Levi Reid Levi Reid Levi Stanley Junior Reid is an English football midfielder who plays for Northern Premier League Premier Division side Chasetown, on loan from Conference National club Telford United.... |
1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| MF | Jon McCarthy Jon McCarthy Jonathan David "Jon" McCarthy is a former footballer who played over 500 games in his career, many of which were in the Football League.... |
8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 9 | 0 |
| MF | Adrian Littlejohn Adrian Littlejohn Adrian Sylvester Littlejohn is an English former footballer, who played as a midfielder and a striker.-Playing career:... |
13 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 3 |
| MF | Phil Charnock Phil Charnock Philip Anthony Charnock is an English former footballer.-Playing career:Charnock began his career with Liverpool, and made his debut in 1992 in a Cup Winners' Cup game against Apollon Limassol... |
18 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 24 | 1 |
| MF | Mark Boyd Mark Boyd Mark Edward Boyd is an English football midfielder who plays for Conference North side Workington.Beginning his career with Newcastle United, he never made the first team and instead signed with Port Vale in 2002. After two years with the Vale he moved north to Scottish side Gretna via Carlisle... |
20 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 24 | 4 |
| FW | Billy Paynter Billy Paynter William Paul "Billy" Paynter is a professional footballer who plays for Brighton & Hove Albion on loan from Leeds United in the Football League Championship as a striker.... |
31 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 34 | 5 |
| FW | Steve Brooker Steve Brooker Stephen Michael "Steve" Brooker is an English football striker. In a twelve years professional career he has scored 86 goals in 294 games.... |
26 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 30 | 5 |
| FW |  Stephen McPheeStephen McPhee Stephen McPhee is a Scottish former footballer. In a ten year career he has played for clubs in Scotland, England and Portugal. And has been capped for his country at under-21 level. A forward, he scored 55 goals in 249 games in all competitions.Starting his career at Coventry City, following a... |
40 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 45 | 3 |
| FW | Simon Eldershaw Simon Eldershaw Simon Eldershaw is an English former professional footballer, now with non-league side Stone Dominoes.-Playing career:Eldershaw started his career with Port Vale, where he gained his first senior goal in a 2-1 reverse at Huddersfield Town on Boxing Day 2004... |
2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| FW | Brett Angell Brett Angell Brett Ashley Mark Angell is an English association football coach and former player, now coaching in New Zealand. His brother Darren also played football professionally.... |
15 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 17 | 7 |
| FW | Lee Ashcroft Lee Ashcroft Lee Ashcroft is a former footballer turned manager who is currently managing Northern Premier League side Kendal Town. In his playing career he played as a striker for Preston North End, West Bromwich Albion and Grimsby Town, having also played for Notts County, Wigan Athletic, Port Vale,... |
3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
All competitions
| Scorer | Goals |
|---|---|
| Marc Bridge-Wilkinson Marc Bridge-Wilkinson Marc Bridge-Wilkinson is an English footballer who plays for Conference National club Darlington. He is a left-sided midfielder and also a winger, and is known for his goal-scoring ability.... |
9 |
| Ian Armstrong Ian Armstrong (footballer) Ian Armstrong was an English footballer who played mainly as a winger or an attacking midfielder. He played 101 league and cup games for Port Vale between 2002 and 2005, before injury forced his early retirement, at the age of 23... |
8 |
| Brett Angell Brett Angell Brett Ashley Mark Angell is an English association football coach and former player, now coaching in New Zealand. His brother Darren also played football professionally.... |
7 |
| Sam Collins |
5 |
| Billy Paynter Billy Paynter William Paul "Billy" Paynter is a professional footballer who plays for Brighton & Hove Albion on loan from Leeds United in the Football League Championship as a striker.... |
|
| Steve Brooker Steve Brooker Stephen Michael "Steve" Brooker is an English football striker. In a twelve years professional career he has scored 86 goals in 294 games.... |
|
| Michael Cummins Michael Cummins Michael Thomas 'Micky' Cummins is an Irish footballer who plays for Gateshead. He has also appeared for the Republic of Ireland under-21 team.... |
4 |
| Mark Boyd Mark Boyd Mark Edward Boyd is an English football midfielder who plays for Conference North side Workington.Beginning his career with Newcastle United, he never made the first team and instead signed with Port Vale in 2002. After two years with the Vale he moved north to Scottish side Gretna via Carlisle... |
|
| Stephen McPhee Stephen McPhee Stephen McPhee is a Scottish former footballer. In a ten year career he has played for clubs in Scotland, England and Portugal. And has been capped for his country at under-21 level. A forward, he scored 55 goals in 249 games in all competitions.Starting his career at Coventry City, following a... |
3 |
| Adrian Littlejohn Adrian Littlejohn Adrian Sylvester Littlejohn is an English former footballer, who played as a midfielder and a striker.-Playing career:... |
|
| Michael Walsh |
1 |
| Peter Clarke Peter Clarke (footballer) Peter Michael Clarke is an English professional footballer who plays as a centre back for Huddersfield Town, where he is club captain.... |
|
| Neil Brisco Neil Brisco Neil Brisco is an English former footballer. A versatile player, he was comfortable both in defence and in midfield.A former Manchester City trainee, he made his name in a six year spell with Port Vale between 1998 and 2004, lifting the Football League Trophy in 2001... |
|
| John Durnin John Durnin John Paul Durnin is an English footballer, now retired, who scored 100 goals in 475 league appearances over a career spanning close to two decades.... |
|
| Phil Charnock Phil Charnock Philip Anthony Charnock is an English former footballer.-Playing career:Charnock began his career with Liverpool, and made his debut in 1992 in a Cup Winners' Cup game against Apollon Limassol... |
|
| Sean McClare Sean McClare Sean McClare is an English former footballer.-Playing career:McClare began his career with Barnsley, making over fifty first team appearances between 1993 and 2001. During this time he also had a loan spell with Rochdale in April 2000 and Port Vale in November 2001... |
|
| Matt Carragher Matt Carragher Matthew Carragher is a former English footballer who played 362 games over twelve years in the Football League for Wigan Athletic, Port Vale, and Macclesfield Town.-Playing career:... |
|
League
| Scorer | Goals |
|---|---|
| Marc Bridge-Wilkinson Marc Bridge-Wilkinson Marc Bridge-Wilkinson is an English footballer who plays for Conference National club Darlington. He is a left-sided midfielder and also a winger, and is known for his goal-scoring ability.... |
9 |
| Ian Armstrong Ian Armstrong (footballer) Ian Armstrong was an English footballer who played mainly as a winger or an attacking midfielder. He played 101 league and cup games for Port Vale between 2002 and 2005, before injury forced his early retirement, at the age of 23... |
7 |
| Brett Angell Brett Angell Brett Ashley Mark Angell is an English association football coach and former player, now coaching in New Zealand. His brother Darren also played football professionally.... |
5 |
| Sam Collins |
|
| Billy Paynter Billy Paynter William Paul "Billy" Paynter is a professional footballer who plays for Brighton & Hove Albion on loan from Leeds United in the Football League Championship as a striker.... |
|
| Steve Brooker Steve Brooker Stephen Michael "Steve" Brooker is an English football striker. In a twelve years professional career he has scored 86 goals in 294 games.... |
|
| Michael Cummins Michael Cummins Michael Thomas 'Micky' Cummins is an Irish footballer who plays for Gateshead. He has also appeared for the Republic of Ireland under-21 team.... |
4 |
| Mark Boyd Mark Boyd Mark Edward Boyd is an English football midfielder who plays for Conference North side Workington.Beginning his career with Newcastle United, he never made the first team and instead signed with Port Vale in 2002. After two years with the Vale he moved north to Scottish side Gretna via Carlisle... |
3 |
| Stephen McPhee Stephen McPhee Stephen McPhee is a Scottish former footballer. In a ten year career he has played for clubs in Scotland, England and Portugal. And has been capped for his country at under-21 level. A forward, he scored 55 goals in 249 games in all competitions.Starting his career at Coventry City, following a... |
|
| Adrian Littlejohn Adrian Littlejohn Adrian Sylvester Littlejohn is an English former footballer, who played as a midfielder and a striker.-Playing career:... |
|
| Michael Walsh |
1 |
| Peter Clarke Peter Clarke (footballer) Peter Michael Clarke is an English professional footballer who plays as a centre back for Huddersfield Town, where he is club captain.... |
|
| Neil Brisco Neil Brisco Neil Brisco is an English former footballer. A versatile player, he was comfortable both in defence and in midfield.A former Manchester City trainee, he made his name in a six year spell with Port Vale between 1998 and 2004, lifting the Football League Trophy in 2001... |
|
| John Durnin John Durnin John Paul Durnin is an English footballer, now retired, who scored 100 goals in 475 league appearances over a career spanning close to two decades.... |
|
| Phil Charnock Phil Charnock Philip Anthony Charnock is an English former footballer.-Playing career:Charnock began his career with Liverpool, and made his debut in 1992 in a Cup Winners' Cup game against Apollon Limassol... |
|