The 1984–85 season was Port Vale's 73rd season of football in the English Football League, and first (12th overall) back in the Fourth Division following their relegation from the Third Division. John Rudge led his first full campaign as manager, overseeing a period of rebuilding that resulted in a mid-table 12th‑place finish

Veteran striker Ally Brown emerged as both league and season top‑scorer with 17 and 21 goals respectively, while young midfield dynamo Robbie Earle added 19 goals, signalling the club's attacking promise for the future. Defender Alan Webb, solid and consistent at the back, was voted the club's Player of the Year. In cup competitions, Vale reached the Third Round of the FA Cup, were eliminated in the Second Round of the Associate Members' Cup, and made it to the Second Round of the League Cup. Off the pitch, the club recorded its largest league win of 5–1 against Exeter City on New Year's Day, suffered a heaviest defeat of 4–0 at Bury on Boxing Day, and averaged an attendance of 3,267 at Vale Park.

A season under John Rudge, with key players Brown, Earle, and Webb, laid the groundwork for future progress despite a return to the lower tier.

Overview

Fourth Division The pre-season saw four new arrivals: veteran striker Ally Brown (Walsall); winger Peter Griffiths (Stoke City); and both forward Derek Monaghan and reliable defender Alan Webb (West Bromwich Albion). This came after John Rudge stated that "Vale's reputation has been built on grit and determination and I will be looking to bring in the player who is willing to die for the cause". Attempts to re-sign Brian Horton failed once again, whilst Martin Henderson had his contract cancelled after failing to report for pre-season training – he later signed with Spalding United. Just before the season began Gary Brazil was signed on loan from Sheffield United.

The season opened with a 1–0 defeat to Mansfield Town. Tommy Gore soon announced his retirement due to a neck injury. The Vale then went five games unbeaten, starting with a 1–1 draw at Wrexham on 1 September. The club announced a new five-year shirt sponsorship deal with Trentham firm Eagle Delivery Service. Young winger Ray Walker also arrived on loan from Aston Villa. On 22 September, Vale defeated Tranmere Rovers 2–1, due in part to a superb performance from Robbie Earle. However, the fans chanted 'what a load of rubbish' on 1 October, as Vale lost 3–0 at home to struggling side Northampton Town. Rudge stated that 'In truth we were rubbish' and promptly cancelled the player's day off. Another five-game unbeaten run followed, as Brown showed his 'class' and Walker impressed. On 20 October, Vale won 1–0 away at Swindon Town, who were coached by player-manager Lou Macari.

On 5 November, Eamonn O'Keefe scored a 'brilliant' hat-trick past Southend United in a 4–1 win. Rudge then signed Stockport County's outside-right Oshor Williams for £7,000. Vale's form then suffered after Walker returned to Villa Park. To remedy this Rudge signed Southend United midfielder Billy Kellock, who made 'a stunning impact' in his debut, playing a key part in the 5–1 victory over Exeter City on New Year's Day. This was the first of a 16-game unbeaten run, in which the team equalled a club-record six straight away draws between 19 January and 29 March.

On 2 February, Earle scored a hat-trick past Hereford United. Striker partner Ally Brown claimed "He is my brains and I am his legs". John Rudge received the Manager of the Month award for February. The next month Barry Siddall joined Stoke City on a free transfer, after Chris Pearce had established himself as the Vale's #1. Wayne Cegielski also signed with Blackpool and Eamonn O'Keefe followed him to Bloomfield Road for a £10,000 fee. On 16 March, Vale celebrated Rudge's Manager of the Month award for February with a 3–1 home win over Rochdale. Five victories in the opening six games of April took Vale sliding down the league, as Brown was out with a knee injury. Vale rallied to go through the final five games unbeaten. The season concluded with a 3–3 draw at Scunthorpe United after a two-goal lead was lost and only a late Williams strike salvaged a draw.

They finished in twelfth place with sixty points, winning and losing 14 games. Between them, Brown and Earle racked up a combined total of 40 goals in all competitions. Yet it was Russell Bromage who was selected for the PFA Fourth Division team.

Finances On the financial side, a loss was made of £7,793 due to a 20% drop in attendance figures. The wage bill stood at £389,341, whilst gate receipts took in £128,954 and the lottery raised £191,000. The club's shirt sponsors were EDS. Five players left on free transfers, most significant were the departures of: Terry Armstrong and Derek Monaghan (retired); Colin Tartt (Shepshed Charterhouse); and Ian Griffiths (Wigan Athletic). Billy Kellock also refused terms, and so joined Halifax Town, whilst John Ridley joined Stafford Rangers as a player-coach. Vale received £700 following a tribunal claim, becoming the first Football League club to take a non-League club to a tribunal. The Sentinel's Vale reporter Chris Harper wrote that "Mr Rudge has shown himself to be a diligent, responsible type of manager and the Board could rest assured that he is not likely to pour money down the drain."

Cup competitions In the FA Cup, Vale beat Northern Premier League leaders Macclesfield Town by two goals to one at Moss Rose. This game was overshadowed by a fence collapse that left 13 injured and led to 21 arrests. Town Chairman Alan Brocklehurst blamed 'the hooligan element of the Vale support'; however, Vale Chairman Jim Lloyd laid the blame at the feet of the police. The next round saw Vale come from a goal down to claim a 4–1 home victory over Scunthorpe United in a Friday night game, with Brown's equalising goal changing the pattern of the game just before half-time. In the third round they travelled to West Ham United's Upton Park, where the First Division club beat the "Valiants" 4–1.

In the League Cup, Vale went past Bury on away goals, having scored one of their two goals at Gigg Lane. In the second round they lost 2–1 at home to Second Division Wolverhampton Wanderers, though they did earn a goalless draw at Molineux.

In the Associate Members' Cup, Vale eliminated Northampton Town in a 2–1 replay victory at Sixfields. The original match saw an attendance of just 1,386 at Vale Park. At the replay, Ian Griffiths required a skin graft after getting his hand trapped in a toilet door. Vale were knocked out in the next round by Bristol City, losing 2–1 to the Third Division side at Ashton Gate.

Results Football League Fourth Division

League table

Results by matchday

Matches

FA Cup

League Cup

Associate Members' Cup

Squad statistics

Appearances and goals Key to positions: GK – Goalkeeper; DF – Defender; MF – Midfielder; FW – Forward

|colspan="14"|Players who featured but departed the club during the season:

Top scorers PlacePositionNationNameFourth DivisionFA CupLeague CupAssociate Members' CupTotal1FWAlly Brown17211212MFRobbie Earle15112193FWEamonn O'Keefe710084MFBilly Kellock40004–FWOshor Williams30104–MFPeter Griffiths310047FWGary Brazil30003–DFPhil Sproson300039MFGeoff Hunter20002–MFColin Tartt10102–DFRussell Bromage1100212MFRay Walker10001–MFMartyn Smith10001–FWIan Griffiths01001TOTALS6173475

Transfers

Transfers in Date from Position Nationality Name From Fee Ref. 1984 MF Oshor Williams Stockport County Free transfer July 1984 FW Alistair Brown Walsall Free transfer July 1984 MF Peter Griffiths Stoke City Free transfer July 1984 FW Derek Monaghan West Bromwich Albion Free transfer July 1984 DF Alan Webb West Bromwich Albion Free transfer August 1984 MF Martyn Smith Leek Town Free transfer October 1984 MF Ian Griffiths Rochdale Free transfer December 1984 MF Billy Kellock Southend United Free transfer February 1985 GK Karl Austin Stafford Rangers Non-contract

Transfers out Date from Position Nationality Name To Fee Ref. October 1984 MF Tommy Gore Retired March 1985 DF Wayne Cegielski Blackpool Free transfer March 1985 MF Eamonn O'Keefe Blackpool £17,500 March 1985 GK Barry Siddall Stoke City Free transfer May 1985 MF Terry Armstrong Nuneaton Borough Free transfer May 1985 FW Derek Monaghan Redditch United Free transfer May 1985 MF Adrian Reeves-Jones Leek Town Free transfer May 1985 MF Martyn Smith Macclesfield Town Free transfer May 1985 MF Colin Tartt Shepshed Charterhouse Free transfer June 1985 MF Billy Kellock Halifax Town Free transfer Summer 1985 GK Karl Austin Gresley Rovers Free transfer Summer 1985 MF Ian Griffiths Wigan Athletic Free transfer Summer 1985 MF John Ridley Stafford Rangers £700

Loans in Date from Position Nationality Name From Date to Ref. August 1984 FW Gary Brazil Aston Villa August 1984 August 1984 MF Ray Walker Aston Villa End of season November 1984 MF Paul Lodge Bolton Wanderers January 1985 March 1985 DF Wayne Ebanks West Bromwich Albion End of season March 1985 MF Wayne Kerrins Fulham End of season

Loans out Date from Position Nationality Name To Date to Ref. January 1985 GK Barry Siddall Stoke City March 1985

References Specific

General