1998–99 Port Vale F.C. season

Port Vale
1998–99 season
Chairman	Bill Bell
Manager	John Rudge; (until 18 January); Brian Horton; (from 22 January)
Stadium	Vale Park
Football League First Division	21st (47 Points)
FA Cup	Third Round; (knocked out by Liverpool)
League Cup	First Round; (knocked out by Chester City)
Player of the Year	Martin Foyle
Top goalscorer	League: Martin Foyle (9); All: Martin Foyle (9)
Highest home attendance	16,557 vs. Liverpool, 3 January 1999
Lowest home attendance	3,478 vs. Chester City, 11 August 1998
Average home league attendance	6,991
Biggest win	2–0 (three games)
Biggest defeat	0–4 (twice)
Home colours	Away colours
	← 1997–98 1999–2000 →

The 1998–99 season was Port Vale's 87th season of football in the English Football League, and fifth-successive season in the First Division. It was the end of an era for the club, as manager of sixteen years John Rudge was sacked in January and was replaced by Brian Horton. As a testament to the upheaval at the club, a club record 43 players turned out for the Vale in the league throughout the season. The Vale just avoided relegation on goals scored, despite suffering a final day defeat to Bury, who were relegated having scored ten fewer goals. Liverpool knocked them out of the FA Cup in the Third Round, and Vale were also knocked out of the League Cup by fourth tier Chester City in the First Round. The sacking of Rudge spoiled what was supposed to be a happy season for Vale fans, as Vale competed in a division above rivals Stoke City for only the fourth time.

Overview

First Division

The pre-season saw John Rudge splash out £300,000 on Bristol Rovers forward Peter Beadle and £100,000 on Scunthorpe United defender Michael Walsh. He also signed Dave Barnett (Dunfermline Athletic); Brian McGlinchey and Paul Beesley (Manchester City); and John McQuade (Hamilton Academical) on free transfers. Stéphane Pounewatchy also became the first French player to play for the club when he was signed on a monthly contract from Dundee. Scott Mean was loaned to the club by West Ham United, though he went on to sustain a knee injury during his spell that would damage his career. Also, Andy Clarke was signed on loan from Wimbledon.

The season started poorly with three defeats, Lee Hughes scoring a hat-trick for West Bromwich Albion to finish this run-off. Two wins opened the month of September, including a 2–1 home victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers to which match reporter Martin Spinks said: "a result like this requires a wooden mallet to the forehead such was its unlikelihood".^[1] The month ended with former Valiant Lee Mills scoring a brace for Bradford City in a 4–0 win over Vale at Valley Parade. In October, Derek McGill signed from Queens Park Rangers, though he would move on to Hamilton Academical later in the year. On 29 October, Gareth Ainsworth became Vale's biggest ever transfer as he was sold to Wimbledon for £2 million. In November, Robin Berntsen became the first Norwegian to play for the Vale when he arrived on loan from Tromsø IL. In addition to this, French forward Christophe Horlaville joined on loan from Le Havre, and Des Lyttle also arrived on loan from Nottingham Forest. After winning the first four games in October, Vale then went on a streak of twelve defeats in fifteen games, though the sole victory of this run, a 1–0 win over Bury on 19 December, would prove to be crucial at the end of the season. The win was not enough for Rudge, who would get the sack in January after he made his final two signings: Trinidadian midfielder Tony Rougier from Hibernian for £175,000, and young striker Marcus Bent from Crystal Palace for a £375,000 fee. After Rudge was sacked by Chairman Bill Bell, highly distressed fans formed a "flat cap protest" (Rudge's headwear of choice) against the decision. Offered the role of Director of Football at the club, he instead took up the same position at rivals Stoke City. To replace him, Bell appointed experienced manager and former Vale player Brian Horton, paying Brighton & Hove Albion £80,000 in compensation.^[2]

In February, Peter Beadle was sold to Notts County for £250,000, representing a £50,000 loss. The month of March saw Horton make his first signings as manager, bringing in five new faces: Dave Brammer (£300,000 from Wrexham); Tony Butler (£115,000 from Blackpool); Carl Griffiths (£100,000 from Leyton Orient); Alex Smith (£75,000 from Chester City); and Chris Allen (free from Nottingham Forest). This cost the club a total of £590,000. He also took in striker Alan Lee on loan from Aston Villa, and Craig Russell on loan from Manchester City. His changes finally paid off in April, as Vale went on a five-game unbeaten run. Their penultimate game was a 2–0 victory over QPR, meaning a final day 1–0 defeat at fellow relegation candidates Bury was inconsequential.

They finished in 21st position with 47 points, ahead of Bury on goals scored, but behind both Portsmouth and Queens Park Rangers on goals scored. Had the goals difference rule been in effect, Vale would have been relegated instead of Bury. Crewe Alexandra finished three places and one position higher than the Vale. Vale suffered 25 defeats, more than any other club in the league, and only Grimsby and Bury had scored fewer goals. Player of the Year Martin Foyle was the club's top-scorer with nine goals, representing the lowest total tally for the club's top-scorer since 1964–65. Only Paul Musselwhite and Allen Tankard managed to hit forty appearances, as a club record 43 players managed to turn out for the club throughout the season.^[3]

At the end of the season, there was a complete clear-out, with ten players leaving: ten-year club veteran Neil Aspin (Darlington); Dave Barnett (Lincoln City); Brian McGlinchey (Gillingham); John McQuade (Raith Rovers); Chris Allen (Stockport County); Rogier Koordes (TOP Oss); Jan Jansson (IFK Norrköping); Paul Mahorn (Stevenage Borough); Stéphane Pounewatchy (Colchester United); and Paul Beesley (Blackpool).

Finances

The club's shirt sponsors were Tunstall Assurance.

Cup competitions

In the FA Cup, Vale hosted Premier League side Liverpool. The "Reds" left Burslem with a 3–0 victory, the goals scored by Michael Owen, Paul Ince, and Robbie Fowler.

In the League Cup, Third Division Chester City dispatched the Vale 2–1 at Vale Park, and held on to a 2–2 draw at the Deva Stadium to embarrass Vale fans with a minor giant-killing act.

League table

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification or relegation
19	Portsmouth	46	11	14	21	57	73	−16	47
20	Queens Park Rangers	46	12	11	23	52	61	−9	47
21	Port Vale	46	13	8	25	45	75	−30	47
22	Bury (R)	46	10	17	19	35	60	−25	47	Relegation to the Second Division
23	Oxford United (R)	46	10	14	22	48	71	−23	44	Relegation to the Second Division

Source: ^{[citation needed]}
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goals scored; 3) Goal difference
(R) Relegated

Results

Port Vale's score comes first

Football League First Division

Results by matchday

Round	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	21	22	23	24	25	26	27	28	29	30	31	32	33	34	35	36	37	38	39	40	41	42	43	44	45	46
Ground	H	A	H	A	H	H	A	H	A	A	H	A	H	H	A	H	A	A	H	A	H	A	A	H	A	H	A	H	A	H	A	H	A	A	H	A	H	A	H	A	H	H	A	H	H	A
Result	L	L	L	D	L	W	W	L	D	L	W	W	W	W	D	L	L	L	L	L	D	L	L	W	L	L	L	L	L	W	L	W	L	W	D	L	L	L	W	D	D	W	D	L	W	L
Position	23	24	24	24	24	22	19	19	21	23	20	18	15	12	13	13	13	15	16	20	19	22	22	20	20	21	22	23	23	22	22	21	21	20	20	21	21	22	21	22	21	20	20	21	20	21

Source: Statto^[4]
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

Matches

Date	Opponent	Venue	Result	Attendance	Scorers
8 August 1998	Birmingham City	H	0–2	10,465
15 August 1998	Huddersfield Town	A	1–2	10,030	Ainsworth
22 August 1998	West Bromwich Albion	H	0–3	8,146
29 August 1998	Swindon Town	A	1–1	7,800	Ainsworth
31 August 1998	Ipswich Town	H	0–3	5,485
8 September 1998	Wolverhampton Wanderers	H	2–1	8,087	Beadle, Naylor
12 September 1998	Crystal Palace	A	1–0	15,983	Beadle
19 September 1998	Portsmouth	H	0–2	5,992
26 September 1998	Grimsby Town	A	2–2	5,747	Naylor, Beesley
29 September 1998	Bradford City	A	0–4	13,245
3 October 1998	Norwich City	H	1–0	5,580	Ainsworth
11 October 1998	Barnsley	A	2–0	16,195	Foyle, Beadle
17 October 1998	Bristol City	H	3–2	6,691	Ainsworth (2), Beesley
20 October 1998	Crewe Alexandra	H	1–0	8,205	Beesley
24 October 1998	Watford	A	2–2	8,750	Foyle, Tankard
31 October 1998	Sheffield United	H	2–3	6,737	Foyle, Beadle
4 November 1998	Bolton Wanderers	A	1–3	13,324	Beadle
8 November 1998	Stockport County	A	2–4	7,612	Beadle, Flynn (o.g.)
14 November 1998	Sunderland	H	0–2	8,839
21 November 1998	Oxford United	A	1–2	5,964	McGlinchey
28 November 1998	Tranmere Rovers	H	2–2	5,216	Foyle (2)
5 December 1998	Queens Park Rangers	A	2–3	10,498	Foyle, Barker
12 December 1998	Sunderland	A	0–2	37,583
19 December 1998	Bury	H	1–0	6,425	Barker (pen)
26 December 1998	West Bromwich Albion	A	2–3	14,929	Naylor (2)
28 December 1998	Bolton Wanderers	H	0–2	8,201
9 January 1999	Birmingham City	A	0–1	18,632
16 January 1999	Swindon Town	H	0–1	5,405
30 January 1999	Ipswich Town	A	0–1	16,328
6 February 1999	Huddersfield Town	H	2–0	6,499	Foyle (2)
13 February 1999	Wolverhampton Wanderers	A	1–3	20,952	Bogie
20 February 1999	Crystal Palace	H	1–0	6,051	Tankard
27 February 1999	Portsmouth	A	0–4	12,838
9 March 1999	Norwich City	A	4–3	12,960	Tankard, Russell, Walsh, Bogie
13 March 1999	Stockport County	H	1–1	6,456	Allen
20 March 1999	Sheffield United	A	0–3	15,515
23 March 1999	Grimsby Town	H	0–1	4,980
3 April 1999	Bristol City	A	0–2	11,039
5 April 1999	Barnsley	H	1–0	5,968	Foyle
10 April 1999	Crewe Alexandra	A	0–0	5,606
13 April 1999	Bradford City	H	1–1	6,998	Lee
17 April 1999	Oxford United	H	1–0	7,393	Tankard
24 April 1999	Tranmere Rovers	A	1–1	7,770	Lee
27 April 1999	Watford	H	1–2	7,126	Widdrington
1 May 1999	Queens Park Rangers	H	2–0	9,851	Gardner, Griffiths
9 May 1999	Bury	A	0–1	7,567

FA Cup


Round	Date	Opponent	Venue	Result	Attendance	Goalscorers
R3	3 January 1999	Liverpool	H	0–3	16,557

League Cup


Round	Date	Opponent	Venue	Result	Attendance	Goalscorers
R1 1st Leg	11 August 1998	Chester City	H	1–2	3,478	Ainsworth
R1 2nd Leg	18 August 1998	Chester City	A	2–2	2,461	Naylor (2)

Player statistics

Appearances and goals

Pos.	Name	Football League		FA Cup		League Cup		Total
Pos.	Name	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
GK	Matthew Boswell	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
GK	Paul Musselwhite	38	0	0	0	2	0	40	0
GK	Kevin Pilkington	8	0	1	0	0	0	9	0
DF	Neil Aspin	30	0	1	0	1	0	32	0
DF	Allen Tankard	37	4	1	0	2	0	40	4
DF	Matt Carragher	10	0	0	0	2	0	12	0
DF	Paul Beesley	35	3	1	0	0	0	36	3
DF	Dave Barnett	27	0	1	0	0	0	28	0
DF	Liam Burns	4	0	0	0	0	0	4	0
DF	Mark Snijders	10	0	0	0	2	0	12	0
DF	Michael Walsh	19	1	1	0	2	0	22	1
DF	Tony Butler	4	0	0	0	0	0	4	0
DF	Anthony Gardner	15	1	0	0	0	0	15	1
DF	Des Lyttle	7	0	0	0	0	0	7	0
DF	Brian McGlinchey	15	1	1	0	1	0	17	1
DF	Stéphane Pounewatchy	2	0	0	0	0	0	2	0
DF	Alex Smith	8	0	0	0	0	0	8	0
MF	Ian Bogie	34	2	1	0	2	0	37	2
MF	Wayne Corden	14	0	1	0	1	0	16	0
MF	Stewart Talbot	33	0	0	0	2	0	35	0
MF	Rogier Koordes	17	0	0	0	1	0	18	0
MF	Jan Jansson	7	0	0	0	1	0	8	0
MF	Gareth Ainsworth	15	5	0	0	2	1	17	6
MF	Robin Berntsen	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	0
MF	Richard Eyre	11	0	0	0	0	0	11	0
MF	Tommy Widdrington	9	1	0	0	0	0	9	1
MF	Chris Allen	5	1	0	0	0	0	5	1
MF	Simon Barker	25	2	0	0	0	0	25	2
MF	Dave Brammer	9	0	0	0	0	0	9	0
MF	Neil Brisco	1	0	1	0	0	0	2	0
MF	John McQuade	3	0	0	0	0	0	3	0
MF	Scott Mean	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	0
MF	George O'Callaghan	4	0	1	0	0	0	5	0
MF	Tony Rougier	12	0	0	0	0	0	12	0
MF	Simon Armstrong	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
MF	Tony McShane	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
FW	Martin Foyle	35	9	0	0	2	0	37	9
FW	Tony Naylor	22	4	1	0	2	2	25	6
FW	Peter Beadle	23	6	1	0	2	0	26	6
FW	Marcus Bent	15	0	0	0	0	0	15	0
FW	Andy Clarke	6	0	0	0	0	0	6	0
FW	Carl Griffiths	3	1	0	0	0	0	3	1
FW	Christophe Horlaville	2	0	1	0	0	0	3	0
FW	Alan Lee	11	2	0	0	0	0	11	2
FW	Derek McGill	3	0	0	0	0	0	3	0
FW	Craig Russell	8	1	0	0	0	0	8	1
FW	Justin O'Reilly	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
FW	Steve Williams	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0

Top scorers

Place	Position	Nation	Name	First Division	League Cup	Total
1	FW	England	Martin Foyle	9	0	9
2	MF	England	Gareth Ainsworth	5	1	6
–	FW	England	Peter Beadle	6	0	6
–	FW	England	Tony Naylor	4	2	6
5	DF	England	Allen Tankard	4	0	4
6	DF	England	Paul Beesley	3	0	3
7	FW	Ireland	Alan Lee	2	0	2
–	MF	England	Simon Barker	2	0	2
–	MF	England	Ian Bogie	2	0	2
10	FW	England	Craig Russell	1	0	1
–	FW	England	Michael Walsh	1	0	1
–	FW	England	Anthony Gardner	1	0	1
–	FW	Northern Ireland	Brian McGlinchey	1	0	1
–	MF	England	Tommy Widdrington	1	0	1
–	MF	England	Chris Allen	1	0	1
–	FW	England	Carl Griffiths	1	0	1
–		–	Own goals	1	0	1
			TOTALS	45	3	48

Transfers

Transfers in

Date from	Position	Name	From	Fee	Ref.
June 1998	DF	Brian McGlinchey	Manchester City	Free transfer	^[5]
June 1998	MF	John McQuade	Hamilton Academical	Free transfer	^[5]
June 1998	GK	Kevin Pilkington	Manchester United	Free transfer	^[5]
30 July 1998	DF	Michael Walsh	Scunthorpe United	£100,000	^[5]
July 1998	DF	Dave Barnett	Dunfermline Athletic	Free transfer	^[5]
6 August 1998	FW	Peter Beadle	Bristol Rovers	£300,000	^[5]
28 August 1998	DF	Paul Beesley	Manchester City	Free transfer	^[5]
August 1998	MF	Neil Brisco	Manchester City	Free transfer	^[5]
September 1998	MF	Simon Barker	Queens Park Rangers	Free transfer	^[5]
September 1998	DF	Stéphane Pounewatchy	Dundee	Free transfer	^[5]
October 1998	FW	Derek McGill	Queen's Park	Free transfer	^[5]
4 January 1999	MF	Tony Rougier	Hibernian	£175,000	^[5]
15 January 1999	FW	Marcus Bent	Crystal Palace	£300,000	^[5]
March 1999	MF	Chris Allen	Nottingham Forest	Free transfer	^[5]
24 March 1999	MF	Dave Brammer	Wrexham	£350,000	^[5]
25 March 1999	DF	Tony Butler	Blackpool	£115,000	^[5]
25 March 1999	FW	Carl Griffiths	Leyton Orient	£100,000	^[5]
25 March 1999	MF	Alex Smith	Chester City	£75,000	^[5]

Transfers out

Date from	Position	Name	To	Fee	Ref.
September 1998	DF	Stéphane Pounewatchy	Colchester United	Free transfer	^[5]
3 November 1998	MF	Gareth Ainsworth	Wimbledon	£2 million	^[5]
December 1998	FW	Derek McGill	Hamilton Academical	Free transfer	^[5]
18 February 1999	FW	Peter Beadle	Notts County	£250,000	^[5]
February 1999	MF	Jan Jansson	IFK Norrköping	Released	^[5]
February 1999	MF	Rogier Koordes	FC Oss	Free transfer	^[5]
April 1999	MF	John McQuade	Raith Rovers	Free transfer	^[5]
May 1999	DF	Paul Beesley	Stockport County	Free transfer	^[5]
July 1999	DF	Dave Barnett	Lincoln City	Free transfer	^[5]
July 1999	DF	Paul Beesley	Blackpool	Free transfer	^[5]
August 1999	DF	Brian McGlinchey	Gillingham	Released	^[5]
Summer 1999	DF	Neil Aspin	Darlington	Free transfer	^[5]

Loans in

Date from	Position	Name	From	Date to	Ref.
21 August 1998	MF	Scott Mean	West Ham United	23 August 1998	^[5]
28 August 1998	FW	Andy Clarke	Wimbledon	1 October 1998	^[5]
October 1998	MF	Christophe Horlaville	Le Havre	January 1999	^[5]
November 1998	MF	Robin Berntsen	Tromsø IL	November 1998	^[5]
19 November 1998	DF	Des Lyttle	Nottingham Forest	28 December 1998	^[5]
29 January 1999	FW	Craig Russell	Manchester City	End of season	^[5]
2 March 1999	FW	Alan Lee	Aston Villa	End of season	^[5]
24 March 1999	MF	Tommy Widdrington	Grimsby Town	May 1999	^[5]

References

Specific

^ Baggaley, Mike (2 September 2024). "Problems to fix after a shaky start". Valiant's Substack. Retrieved 2 September 2024.
^ Brian, Horton; Rich, Tim (2020). Two Thousand Games: A Life in Football. Worthing: Pitch. p. 188. ISBN 978-1-78531-668-5.
^ Baggaley, Mike (26 January 2017). "Port Vale talking points: Scouts, signings and likely game change". Stoke Sentinel. Retrieved 26 January 2017.
^ Port Vale 1998–1999 : Results & Fixtures. Statto Organisation. Retrieved 28 April 2012.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k ^l ^m ⁿ ^o ^p ^q ^r ^s ^t ^u ^v ^w ^x ^y ^z ^aa ^ab ^ac ^ad ^ae ^af ^ag ^ah ^ai ^aj ^ak ^al "Port Vale FC Club Details | Transfers | Soccer Base". www.soccerbase.com. Retrieved 7 October 2016.

General

Soccerbase

[1] Baggaley, Mike (2 September 2024). "Problems to fix after a shaky start". Valiant's Substack. Retrieved 2 September 2024.

[2] Brian, Horton; Rich, Tim (2020). Two Thousand Games: A Life in Football. Worthing: Pitch. p. 188. ISBN 978-1-78531-668-5.

[3] Baggaley, Mike (26 January 2017). "Port Vale talking points: Scouts, signings and likely game change". Stoke Sentinel. Retrieved 26 January 2017.

[4] Port Vale 1998–1999 : Results & Fixtures. Statto Organisation. Retrieved 28 April 2012.

[soctransfer-5] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k ^l ^m ⁿ ^o ^p ^q ^r ^s ^t ^u ^v ^w ^x ^y ^z ^aa ^ab ^ac ^ad ^ae ^af ^ag ^ah ^ai ^aj ^ak ^al "Port Vale FC Club Details | Transfers | Soccer Base". www.soccerbase.com. Retrieved 7 October 2016.

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