The 2007–08 season was Port Vale's 96th season of football in the English Football League, and fourth-successive season in League One. The season began under manager Martin Foyle, but following a series of disappointing results, he departed in September. Dean Glover briefly served as caretaker before Lee Sinnott took over in November. Despite several loan signings, Vale struggled throughout the season, finishing second-from-bottom with 38 points, resulting in relegation to League Two.
In cup competitions, the club faced early exits. They were eliminated in the Second Round of the FA Cup by Southern League side Chasetown, a club five divisions below Vale. In both the League Cup and the Football League Trophy, Vale were knocked out in the First Round, each time following a penalty shoot-out defeat. Throughout the season, there was a significant turnover of players as Sinnott attempted to rebuild the squad in preparation for a promotion push the following season.
On the field, Luke Rodgers emerged as the club's top scorer, netting 12 goals in all competitions, with 9 in the league. Midfielder Paul Harsley was named Player of the Year for his consistent performances. The season was marked by a 6–0 home defeat to Swindon Town in April, highlighting the challenges faced throughout the campaign. Average home league attendance stood at 4,417, with the highest being 7,908 against Leeds United in March, and the lowest at 2,730 against Morecambe in November.
Overview
League One The pre-season saw Martin Foyle sign Wolverhampton Wanderers defender Keith Lowe on a season-long loan, and both Paul Edwards and Craig Rocastle from Oldham Athletic. He also signed Marc Richards from Barnsley, as well as Shane Tudor and Justin Miller from Leyton Orient. Calum Willock also joined on a short-term deal, as did Southampton loanee David McGoldrick, and Chester City's veteran defender Ashley Westwood. However, an audacious attempt to land Liverpool legend Robbie Fowler failed.
The season started with just five points in the opening six games, with just one goal scored from open play. The solitary win came at AFC Bournemouth, with Luke Rodgers scoring the solitary goal of the game. A few games into the season Akpo Sodje was sold to Sheffield Wednesday for an undisclosed fee. With only two disappointing mid-table finishes to his name, and with Vale lying 23rd in the league, Foyle left the club by mutual consent on 26 September. Caretaker manager Dean Glover was disappointed with the players, comparing them to a pub team.
In October, Glover signed teenage midfielder Will Atkinson joined on loan from Hull City and left-back Adam Eckersley on loan from Manchester United. On 5 November, Farsley Celtic manager Lee Sinnott was appointed as the new Vale boss. This decision caused Dean Glover to consider his position at the club, though he eventually chose to remain as Sinnott's assistant. Sinnott warned of big changes at the club. Young defender Charlie O'Loughlin was then loaned out to Nantwich Town, and Shane Tudor was sent out on loan to Shrewsbury Town. Arriving at the club were midfielders Mark Salmon (Wolverhampton Wanderers) and Marc Laird (Manchester City) on short loan deals.
In January, goalkeeper Mark Goodlad was forced to retire due to injury, and young Joe Anyon faced criticism from the fans for his performances. Adam Eckersley then returned to the club after his release from Manchester United, as Sinnott's first non-loan signing. Sinnott then signed Dave Mulligan from Scunthorpe United on a short-term contract. Midfielder David Howland also arrived on loan from Birmingham City, and would join the club permanently at the end of the season. Fellow Birmingham player Krystian Pearce also signed on loan, though would impress enough to win a longer stay with Birmingham. Sinnott then raided another Birmingham club, this time Aston Villa, to bring Australian teenager Chris Herd on a one-month loan, as well as Swedish youngster Tobias Mikaelsson. He also allowed Rocastle to join Gillingham on a two-week loan. Sinnott also completed the signings of Chasetown pair Chris Slater and Kyle Perry, who left their jobs to become full-time professional footballers.
In February, O'Loughlin was loaned out to Hinckley United. On 2 February, Vale twice took the lead away at Bristol Rovers only to lose the game 3–2 from two late goals, whilst Herd was shown a straight red card shortly before full-time. After the club lost a 2–0 lead at Victoria Park to lose 3–2 against Hartlepool United, club legend Jon McCarthy questioned the team's mental strength. On 15 March, Vale played out a 3–3 draw with Leeds United after coming from two goals down at half-time and then equalising again from a Rodgers header in injury time.
Relegation could have been confirmed on 5 April; however, the team rallied to a 3–2 win at promotion-chasing Brighton & Hove Albion with Richards scoring a brace. Craig Rocastle's contract was terminated by mutual consent. He moved to play for Greek club Thrasyvoulos. Teenage goalkeeper Chris Martin made his debut on 19 April, as Vale were on the end of a 6–0 defeat by Swindon Town at The County Ground. Despite just two defeats in the final ten games of the season, Vale had long been relegated.
They finished in 23rd place with 38 points, above Luton Town only because the "Hatters" were hit with a ten-point deduction. Vale were twelve points behind Crewe Alexandra, who finished one place above the relegation zone. Luke Rodgers was the club's top scorer with twelve goals in all competitions. There was a distinct lack of goals in the side, though their goals conceded tally of 81 was the highest in the league.
At the end of the season there was an exodus of players: Robin Hulbert (Darlington); Colin Miles (Woking); Jason Talbot (Livingston); Mark McGregor (Altrincham); Joe Cardle (Airdrie United); Adam Eckersley (Horsens); Dave Mulligan (Wellington Phoenix); Justin Miller (Chelmsford City); Charlie O'Loughlin (Nantwich Town); as well as club captain George Pilkington (Luton Town). Sinnott claimed this cull was necessary to turn the club around. Danny Whitaker rejected Vale's contract offer, and their revised offer, to move off to Oldham Athletic. Player of the Year Paul Harsley also turned down a new deal, and instead signed with Chesterfield. Marc Richards discussed a £100,000 move to Cheltenham Town, though chose to stay in Burslem.
Finances The club had to make monthly repayments of around £19,000 for a £2.25 million loan from the local council in 2005. The club's shirt sponsorship came from Sennheiser.
Cup competitions In the FA Cup, Sinnott's first cup game in charge saw Vale take revenge on Morecambe with a 2–0 win at Vale Park, to give the "Valiants" what seemed to be an easy second round tie with Southern League side Chasetown (an eighth tier team 101 league places below them). Vale sacrificed a one-goal lead over the amateurs to limp to a 1–1 draw at Vale Park, after conceding from a free kick taken by trainee accountant Mark Branch. Chasetown then made a giant-killing with a late goal on their home ground, after Luke Rodgers missed two penalties.
In the League Cup, Vale exited in the first round after losing to League Two side Wrexham 5–3 on penalties, following a 1–1 home draw.
In the Football League Trophy, Vale were beaten on penalties by a League Two side for the second time in the season, this time after a 2–2 draw with Morecambe at Christie Park. Caretaker manager Dean Glover likened his side to a "pub team".
Results Football League One League table
Results by matchday
Matches
FA Cup
League Cup
Football League Trophy
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 PlacePositionNationNumberNameEFL League OneFA CupEFL CupEFL TrophyTotal1FW10Luke Rodgers9111122MF14Danny Whitaker700073MF8Paul Harsley50005–FW9Marc Richards500055FW24Calum Willock310046DF5Keith Lowe30003–DF2George Pilkington210038MF25Chris Herd20002–FW25David McGoldrick20002–MF11Paul Edwards2000211DF20Adam Eckersley10001–MF17Craig Rocastle10001–MF28Dave Mulligan10001–MF29Marc Laird10001–MF34David Howland10001–FW15Justin Miller00011–FW21Danny Glover10000––––Own goals10001TOTALS4731253
Transfers
Transfers in Date from Position Nationality Name From Fee Ref. May 2007 DF Justin Miller Leyton Orient Free transfer May 2007 MF Shane Tudor Leyton Orient Free transfer June 2007 DF Paul Edwards Oldham Athletic Free transfer June 2007 FW Marc Richards Barnsley Free transfer June 2007 FW Craig Rocastle Oldham Athletic Free transfer August 2007 FW Calum Willock Brentford Free transfer January 2008 DF Adam Eckersley Manchester United Free transfer January 2008 FW Dave Mulligan Scunthorpe United Free transfer January 2008 FW Kyle Perry Chasetown 'nominal' January 2008 DF Chris Slater Chasetown 'nominal'
Transfers out Date from Position Nationality Name To Fee Ref. August 2007 FW Akpo Sodje Sheffield Wednesday Undisclosed (£300,000) 2 January 2008 GK Mark Goodlad Retired January 2008 FW Luke Rodgers Yeovil Town Mutual consent January 2008 DF Richard Walker Macclesfield Town Released January 2008 FW Calum Willock Stevenage Borough Released April 2008 DF Adam Eckersley Horsens Free transfer April 2008 MF Robin Hulbert Darlington Released April 2008 DF Mark McGregor Altrincham Released April 2008 DF Colin Miles Woking Released April 2008 DF Justin Miller Chelmsford City Released April 2008 FW Dave Mulligan Wellington Phoenix Released April 2008 DF Charlie O'Loughlin Nantwich Town Released April 2008 FW Craig Rocastle Thrasyvoulos Mutual consent May 2008 MF Joe Cardle Airdrie United Released May 2008 MF Paul Harsley Chesterfield Bosman transfer June 2008 MF Danny Whitaker Oldham Athletic Bosman transfer July 2008 DF Jason Talbot Livingston Free transfer August 2008 DF George Pilkington Luton Town Free transfer
Loans in Date from Position Nationality Name From Date to Ref. 20 July 2007 DF Keith Lowe Wolverhampton Wanderers End of season 30 August 2007 DF Ashley Westwood Chester City 5 December 2007 31 August 2007 FW David McGoldrick Southampton 1 January 2008 12 October 2007 DF Adam Eckersley Manchester United 12 November 2007 31 August 2007 MF Chris Herd Aston Villa 12 March 2008 12 October 2007 MF Will Atkinson Hull City 12 November 2007 8 November 2007 MF Marc Laird Manchester City 1 January 2008 22 November 2007 MF Mark Salmon Wolverhampton Wanderers 6 January 2008 17 January 2008 MF Tobias Mikaelsson Aston Villa 17 February 2008 23 January 2008 MF David Howland Birmingham City End of season 31 January 2008 DF Krystian Pearce Birmingham City 18 April 2008 27 March 2008 DF Mitchell Hanson Derby County 29 April 2008
Loans out Date from Position Nationality Name To Date to Ref. 19 November 2007 MF Shane Tudor Shrewsbury Town 19 December 2007 November 2007 DF Charlie O'Loughlin Nantwich Town November 2007 2008 DF Luke Prosser Leigh RMI 2008 25 November 2007 FW Luke Rodgers Yeovil Town 9 January 2008 10 January 2008 FW Craig Rocastle Gillingham 27 January 2008 February 2008 DF Charlie O'Loughlin Hinckley United 2008
References Specific
General Soccerbase