The 2023–24 season was Port Vale's 112th season of football in the English Football League (EFL) and their second consecutive season in League One.
Nine permanent and four loan signings were made to replace the eleven players sold or released in the summer transfer window. Only four new arrivals started on the opening day 7–0 defeat at Barnsley, the biggest opening day defeat for any team in the EFL in 60 years. The team recovered confidence immediately, winning ten of the remaining twelve points in August and progressing into the third round of the EFL Cup. The winning run extended to four games in the league, and although Vale progressed into the fourth round of the EFL Cup, they missed the opportunity to go top of the table in mid-September. Injuries then took their toll as Vale took only one point from five league games in October, though they continued their progress in the EFL Cup, beating Mansfield Town to reach the quarter-final stage for the first time in the club's history. However, the club's winless run in the league continued into eleven games. They exited all three cup competitions in December, though they picked up ten from a possible 15 points in the league.
Match abandonment and postponements meant only three games were played in January as the club slipped to just one place above the relegation zone. Loan players were recalled in the transfer window, including key players Ollie Arblaster and Alfie Devine, whilst four new loanees arrived to take their place. Manager Andy Crosby was sacked on 5 February. He was succeeded by Darren Moore, though the poor form continued as two points were gained from seven games in February. Just two points were earned from Moore's first seven games in charge, though the departure of director of football David Flitcroft coincided with back-to-back wins at the end of March to give Vale hope of avoiding relegation. However, just two points were gained from seven matches in April, and Vale were relegated with 41 points.
Overview EFL League One Port Vale's first signing of the summer was versatile midfielder Tom Sang, who would join on a free transfer from Cardiff City on 1 July, two days after his 24th birthday. A change in the goalkeeping department was then announced, as 30 year-old Connor Ripley joined from Morecambe, whilst Aidan Stone was permitted to leave for League Two side Notts County on a free transfer. Alex Iacovitti, a Scottish 25-year-old defender from Ross County, 28-year-old Plymouth Argyle midfielder Conor Grant, and 34-year-old former Canada international goalkeeper Jayson Leutwiler all arrived before the official start of the season on 1 July. On 2 July, 24-year-old right-back Mitch Clark signed with the club for a record fourth spell following "lengthy negotiations". Ethan Chislett, a 24-year-old South African midfielder from AFC Wimbledon, and 31-year-old Salford City midfielder Jason Lowe were announced the following day. The first loanee to arrive was 22-year-old Crystal Palace defender Kofi Balmer, who had played for manager Andy Crosby in the Northern Ireland under-21 team. A second loanee soon followed in 19-year-old central midfielder Ollie Arblaster from Sheffield United. Crosby appointed a new club captain in 27-year-old stalwart Nathan Smith, with Funso Ojo as vice-captain. In desperate need of a striker, Crosby signed 20 year-old Josh Thomas on a season-long loan from Swansea City, who was yet to make his professional debut but had impressed during pre-season friendlies with his parent club. Two days before the season opener, defender Mal Benning joined Shrewsbury Town on a free transfer. The following day, striker James Wilson, who had left the Vale on 14 May, returned to sign a six-month contract.
Vale opened the season with a 7–0 defeat at Barnsley, with only four new signings in the first XI; Vale started well and were unfortunate to go into half-time two goals down before a second-half collapse allowed Devante Cole to score a hat-trick as Barnsley finished with seven goals. It was the biggest opening day defeat for any team in the EFL since the 1962–63 season over 60 years ago. They recovered to record a 1–0 win over Reading at Vale Park the following week, where Ripley saved a penalty kick from Andy Carroll in the first half, before Ben Garrity scored the game's only goal with a deflected strike on 72 minutes. The team then claimed their first away point with a 0–0 draw at Blackpool, who like Reading had been relegated from the Championship the previous season. Vale picked up their first away victory of the season by beating Charlton Athletic 3–2, coming from a goal down from a dubious penalty after goals from Wilson and Chislett in two second half minutes turned the game around, with Thomas providing Ojo with an assist for a late winner. Recruitment continued with the arrival of Alfie Devine on a season-long from Tottenham Hotspur, who director of football David Flitcroft described as "one of our country's brightest young talents". Devine was on the bench for the home tie with Carlisle United and by the time he made it onto the pitch Wilson had already scored the only goal of the game from the penalty spot. As the transfer window drew to a close, Vale sold Ellis Harrison to Milton Keynes Dons and signed Ryan Loft from Bristol Rovers as his replacement.
Vale beat Oxford United 2–1 in eventful fashion on 2 September. Iacovitti headed the ball home on the end of a Devine free kick to open the scoring, and in addition to assisting the opening goal, the Spurs loanee converted from the penalty spot to earn all three points for Vale in the ninth minute of stoppage time. The home side had both Mark Harris and their goalscorer Greg Leigh sent off for violent conduct and a second bookable offence respectively. Garrity came off the bench to score the only goal of the game in a dominant performance against newly promoted Northampton Town to take Vale into second-place on 16 September. Two days later, 22-year-old defender Jesse Debrah was signed to a two-year contract having left FC Halifax Town in the summer. The re-arranged game at home to struggling Burton Albion allowed Vale the opportunity to go top of the table. However, the visitors came away with a 3–2 win despite Vale dominating in both possession and shots on goal throughout. Garrity had given Vale parity at half-time after Beryly Lubala opened the scoring, but two Burton goals shortly after the break took the game away from Vale as a first senior goal from Arblaster in the dying minutes was not enough to salvage a draw. Garrity went on to give the Vale a 1–0 lead at Cambridge United, though the home side came back to draw 1–1, with Ripley saving a late penalty. A 1–0 defeat at home to Bolton Wanderers followed, with Dion Charles scoring the only goal of the game on a wet Saturday afternoon.
On 3 October, Vale fell to a 3–0 defeat at Bristol Rovers after Debrah was sent off 38 minutes into his first league start following a second yellow card. With the club looking short on attacking options, former loanee Uche Ikpeazu was signed on a short-term deal after returning to England from a spell in Turkey with Konyaspor. However, the team's poor form continued with a 2–0 defeat at league leaders Portsmouth, Colby Bishop scoring both of Pompey's goals; Crosby elected to play without any strikers, preferring Garrity to play up front. The team recovered during the international break. However, Alex Iacovitti, Conor Grant and James Wilson were all confirmed to be long-term absences as all three players had sustained calf injuries. The team returned to action with a 0–0 draw at Stevenage, with Ikpeazu making his first appearance for the Vale in almost eight years. A first-half header from Ephron Mason-Clark gave visitors Peterborough United a 1–0 win, which extended the Vale's run of failing to score to five league games. Former Vale manager Darrell Clarke led bottom club Cheltenham Town to a 2–1 victory at Vale Park that extended the home side's winless run to eight league games, with captain Sean Long scoring two goals to turn the game around following Devine's opener.
On 1 November, promising 19-year-old American Adeteye Gbadahan was signed on a short-term contract; however, the deal was later cancelled after the club revealed that the player's registration was rejected by "the relevant football authorities". Ten days later, Vale almost ended their winless streak in the league before former loanee Olamide Shodipo gave Lincoln City an equalising goal in the third minute of stoppage-time; Garrity had put the Vale ahead in the first-half, before each side were reduced to ten men following dismissals for Arblaster and Paudie O'Connor. Crosby gave a familiar post-match interview in which he praised his team's performances between the penalty areas, but bemoaned a lack of cutting edge in front of goal. A two-week break from league fixtures did not allow for an upturn in results, as Vale fell to a 2–1 defeat at Shrewsbury Town, with Garrity's second half header proving to be just a consolation goal. A second-half goal from Tyreece John-Jules then gave Derby County a 1–0 victory in a closely-contested match at Vale Park.
Vale faced a team in equally poor form in Exeter City on 9 December, played throughout a gale at St James Park. Vale won the game 1–0 thanks to a first-half strike from Arblaster, ending an 11-game winless run in the league. Journalist Mike Baggaley praised the players for their "grit, determination, organisation and bloody-minded refusal to yield". Chislett scored a hat-trick to beat Wigan Athletic 3–2 in what was a dominant performance by the Vale against a strong Latics team that had lost just one of their last nine league games. A late goal rescued a point in a 1–1 draw away at Wycombe Wanderers on 23 December. However, some visiting supporters had already strongly voiced their displeasure with the manager in the second half. On Boxing day, Vale were three goals down at home to Barnsley at half-time, though goals from Chislett and Jack Shorrock provided consolation in what was Vale's sixth defeat win seven home games; Shorrock's goal meant that he set a new record as the club's youngest goalscorer at 16 years and 242 days. The bad news continued as Sheffield United announced that they had recalled Arblaster from his loan spell after two goals and two assists in his 26 appearances in a Vale shirt. The year ended on a positive, however, as Crosby gave league starts to academy products Jack Shorrock and Ben Lomax as the Vale recorded a 3–0 home win over Blackpool.