1999–2000 Port Vale F.C. season

Port Vale

1999–2000 season
Chairman	Bill Bell
Manager	Brian Horton
Stadium	Vale Park
Football League First Division	23rd
FA Cup	Third Round
League Cup	First Round
Player of the Year	Tommy Widdrington
Top goalscorer	League: Tony Rougier (8) All: Tony Rougier (9)
Highest home attendance	10,250 vs. Manchester City (30 October 1999)
Lowest home attendance	2,625 vs. Chester City (24 August 1999)
Average home league attendance	5,906
Home colours
← 1998–99 2000–01 →

The 1999–2000 season was Port Vale's 88th season of football in the Football League, and sixth successive season in the First Division. Vale suffered relegation in 23rd place, some thirteen points adrift of safety. They also exited the FA Cup at the Third Round, and were knocked out of the League Cup at the First Round by fourth tier Chester City for the second consecutive season. The club spent nothing on transfers, but sold young players for some £1.5 million – despite this the club was heading towards bankruptcy. The club continued to gain one generation of players at the expense of the successful '90s generation; Martin Foyle, Paul Musselwhite and Ian Bogie departing, with fresh talent such as Micky Cummins and Mark Goodlad arriving in their place.

Overview

First Division

The pre-season saw Brian Horton sign Jeff Minton (Brighton & Hove Albion), Tommy Widdrington (Grimsby Town), and Steve Rimmer (Manchester City) on free transfers. He also took Andy Oakes in on loan from Derby County and Matt Glennon from Bolton Wanderers as back-up goalkeepers, and striker Martin Aldridge on loan from Blackpool.

The season started with a goalless draw at Ewood Park with Blackburn Rovers, but soon went downhill with two defeats. Vale then entered inconsistent form, winning three and losing three in a run of six games. However just two points from seven October games indicated Vale's future. Also in the month, striker Marcus Bent, signed by John Rudge nine months earlier for £375,000, was sold to Sheffield United for a bargain £300,000, and was later sold on by the "Blades" for a £1.7 million profit. The club set a record on 5 September, when just 3,737 turned up to see a 3–0 win over Grimsby Town – a division record low for a television match.^[1] The Vale ended the year in solid form, unbeaten in seven games, despite just two victories (over rivals Crewe Alexandra and against Sheffield United at Bramall Lane).^[1] In December, Carl Griffiths was sold back to former club Leyton Orient for £100,000.

In January, Horton signed defender Sagi Burton (Sheffield United) on a free transfer, and signed Martin Bullock and Gareth Taylor on one month loans from Barnsley and Manchester City respectively. Controversially, he also sold promising young defender Anthony Gardner to Tottenham Hotspur for £1 million.^[1] The next month David Healy would arrive on loan from Manchester United for the remainder of the season. Also, former international Ville Viljanen became the first Fin to play for the club, when he joined from Västra Frölunda IF. In March, Horton made two key signings, bringing two young players that would be with the club for several years to come: Irish midfielder Micky Cummins (Middlesbrough) and goalkeeper Mark Goodlad (Nottingham Forest). He also sold Tony Butler to West Bromwich Albion for £140,000. During this transfer activity Vale won just once in a sequence of seventeen games. A 2–0 win over Portsmouth on 1 April raised hopes of Vale escaping the drop, but Horton's side gained just three points in their final eight games, thus dooming Vale to third tier football.

They finished in 23rd place with 36 points, a massive thirteen points away from the safety of West Bromwich Albion, and only ahead of Swindon Town on goals scored. With just seven victories, they had the fewest wins in the division. Tony Rougier only needed nine goals in all competitions to become the club's top-scorer. The relegation meant that Brian Horton lost his 'proud record' of never being relegated as a player or as a manager.^[1]

At the end of the season numerous players were allowed to leave on free transfers: eight-year club veteran goalkeeper Paul Musselwhite (Hull City); five-year club favourite Ian Bogie (Kidderminster Harriers); Wayne Corden (Mansfield Town); Stewart Talbot (Rotherham United);^[2] Mark Snijders (AFC '34); Kevin Pilkington (Aberystwyth Town); and Steve Rimmer (Marine). Legendary striker Martin Foyle also retired, after nine years as Vale's star striker. Simon Barker also retired, at the age of 35. Meanwhile, the club's board increased to five members: Bill Bell (chairman), Andrew Bellfield, Paul Wright, Neil Hughes, and Charles Machin.^[3]

Finances

The club's shirt sponsors were Tunstall Assurance.

Cup competitions

In the FA Cup, Vale lost 2–0 to Premier League outfit Leeds United at Elland Road, to exit the competition at the Third Round. Just 11,912 turned up for the game, after the Vale board refused to allow a price reduction.^[1]

In the League Cup, for the second successive season Third Division Chester City knocked the Vale out at the First Round. In the 2–1 defeat at the Deva Stadium both sides finished the game with ten men, and as the return leg was a 4–4 draw, Chester achieved a 6–5 aggregate win.

Final league table

!Pos	Team	P	W	D	L	F	A	Pts
1.	Charlton Athletic	46	27	10	9	79	45	91
2.	Manchester City	46	26	11	9	78	40	89
3.	Ipswich Town	46	25	12	9	71	42	87
4.	Barnsley	46	24	10	12	88	67	82
5.	Birmingham City	46	22	11	13	65	44	77
6.	Bolton Wanderers	46	21	13	12	69	50	76
7.	Wolverhampton Wanderers	46	21	11	14	64	48	74
8.	Huddersfield Town	46	21	11	14	62	49	74
9.	Fulham	46	17	16	13	49	41	67
10.	Queens Park Rangers	46	16	18	12	62	53	66
11.	Blackburn Rovers	46	15	17	14	55	51	62
12.	Norwich City	46	14	15	17	45	50	57
13.	Tranmere Rovers	46	15	12	19	57	68	57
14.	Nottingham Forest	46	14	14	18	53	55	56
15.	Crystal Palace	46	13	15	18	57	67	54
16.	Sheffield United	46	13	15	18	59	66	54
17.	Stockport County	46	13	15	18	55	67	54
18.	Portsmouth	46	13	12	21	55	66	51
19.	Crewe Alexandra	46	14	9	23	46	67	51
20.	Grimsby Town	46	13	12	21	41	67	51
21.	West Bromwich Albion	46	10	19	17	43	60	49
22.	Walsall	46	11	13	22	52	77	46
23.	Port Vale	46	7	15	24	48	69	36
24.	Swindon Town	46	8	12	26	38	77	36

P = Matches played; W = Matches won; D = Matches drawn; L = Matches lost; F = Goals for; A = Goals against; Pts = Points

Results

Port Vale's score comes first

Legend

Win

Draw

Loss

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	A	H	A	H	A	H	H	A	H	A	A	H	H	A	A	H	H	A	H	A	A	H	A	A	H	A	H	H	H	A	H	A	A	H	A	H	A	H	H	A	H	A	A	H	A	H
Result	D	L	L	W	L	W	L	L	W	L	D	L	L	D	L	L	W	D	D	W	D	D	D	L	L	D	W	D	L	L	D	L	L	L	D	L	L	W	D	L	D	L	D	L	L	L
Position	12	18	23	19	20	13	16	17	15	17	17	21	23	21	24	24	20	19	20	18	19	18	20	21	21	22	22	23	23	23	23	23	23	23	23	23	23	23	23	23	23	23	23	23	23	23

Sourced from Statto.^[4]

Football League First Division

Date	Opponent	Venue	Result	Attendance	Scorers
7 August 1999	Blackburn Rovers	A	0–0	20,530
14 August 1999	West Bromwich Albion	H	1–2	7,891	Minton (pen)
21 August 1999	Birmingham City	A	2–4	18,089	Rougier, Naylor
28 August 1999	Tranmere Rovers	H	1–0	4,657	Naylor
31 August 1999	Queens Park Rangers	A	2–3	9,502	Minton (pen), Gardner
5 September 1999	Grimsby Town	H	3–1	3,737	Bent, Naylor, Foyle
11 September 1999	Fulham	H	0–2	6,130
18 September 1999	Stockport County	A	0–1	7,632
25 September 1999	Swindon Town	H	2–0	4,629	Carragher, own goal
2 October 1999	Manchester City	A	1–2	31,608	Foyle
9 October 1999	Huddersfield Town	A	2–2	11,885	Gardner, Foyle
16 October 1999	Norwich City	H	0–1	5,790
19 October 1999	Nottingham Forest	H	0–2	5,714
23 October 1999	Wolverhampton Wanderers	A	2–2	20,488	Walsh, Rougier
26 October 1999	Swindon Town	A	1–2	5,703	Rougier
30 October 1999	Manchester City	H	1–2	10,250	Foyle
5 November 1999	Crewe Alexandra	H	1–0	3,500	Rougier
12 November 1999	Walsall	A	0–0	6,190
20 November 1999	Crystal Palace	H	2–2	5,170	Rougier, Foyle
23 November 1999	Sheffield United	A	3–2	8,965	Eyre, Tankard, Gardner
27 November 1999	Charlton Athletic	A	2–2	19,266	Rougier, Foyle
4 December 1999	Blackburn Rovers	H	0–0	6,084
18 December 1999	Portsmouth	A	0–0	11,869
28 December 1999	Barnsley	A	1–3	16,855	Minton
3 January 2000	Ipswich Town	H	1–2	6,908	Naylor
15 January 2000	West Bromwich Albion	A	0–0	10,831
22 January 2000	Birmingham City	H	3–1	7,702	Naylor, Widdrington (pen), Rougier
5 February 2000	Queens Park Rangers	H	1–1	5,493	Bullock
8 February 2000	Bolton Wanderers	H	0–1	5,092
12 February 2000	Grimsby Town	A	0–2	6,265
26 February 2000	Stockport County	H	1–1	5,663	Widdrington
4 March 2000	Fulham	A	1–3	10,418	Healy
7 March 2000	Crewe Alexandra	A	1–2	8,044	Viljanen
11 March 2000	Sheffield United	H	2–3	5,484	Healy, Rougier
18 March 2000	Crystal Palace	A	1–1	18,954	Widdrington (pen)
21 March 2000	Walsall	H	1–2	5,737	Cummins
25 March 2000	Bolton Wanderers	A	1–2	12,292	Viljanen
1 April 2000	Portsmouth	H	2–0	5,426	Viljanen, Widdrington (pen)
4 April 2000	Charlton Athletic	H	2–2	4,513	Viljanen, Burton
8 April 2000	Ipswich Town	A	0–3	19,663
15 April 2000	Barnsley	H	2–2	5,918	Burton, Widdrington (pen)
18 April 2000	Tranmere Rovers	A	1–2	5,602	Healy
22 April 2000	Norwich City	A	0–0	15,526
24 April 2000	Huddersfield Town	H	1–2	5,828	Naylor
29 April 2000	Nottingham Forest	A	0–2	15,534
7 May 2000	Wolverhampton Wanderers	H	0–1	8,525

FA Cup

Round	Date	Opponent	Venue	Result	Attendance	Goalscorers
R3	12 December 1999	Leeds United	A	0–2	11,912

League Cup

Round	Date	Opponent	Venue	Result	Attendance	Goalscorers
R1 1st Leg	10 August 1999	Chester City	A	1–2	2,102	Rougier
R1 2nd Leg	24 August 1999	Chester City	H	4–4	2,625	Naylor (2), Minton, Griffiths

Player statistics

Appearances Pos. Name Football League FA Cup League Cup Total Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals GK Paul Musselwhite 30 0 1 0 1 0 32 0 GK Kevin Pilkington 15 0 0 0 1 0 16 0 GK Mark Goodlad 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 GK Matt Glennon 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 GK Andy Oakes 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 DF Allen Tankard 35 1 1 0 1 0 37 1 DF Matt Carragher 37 1 0 0 2 0 39 1 DF Liam Burns 24 0 1 0 0 0 25 0 DF Mark Snijders 21 0 1 0 0 0 22 0 DF Michael Walsh 12 1 0 0 2 0 14 1 DF Tony Butler 15 0 0 0 0 0 15 0 DF Anthony Gardner 26 3 1 0 2 0 29 3 DF Alex Smith 13 0 0 0 2 0 15 0 DF Sagi Burton 20 2 0 0 0 0 22 2 DF Paul Donnelly 4 0 0 0 0 0 4 0 DF Steve Rimmer 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 DF Gareth Taylor 4 0 0 0 0 0 4 0 MF Ian Bogie 9 0 0 0 0 0 9 0 MF Wayne Corden 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 MF Stewart Talbot 6 0 0 0 0 0 6 0 MF Richard Eyre 30 1 1 0 2 0 33 1 MF Tommy Widdrington 38 5 1 0 0 0 39 5 MF Simon Barker 5 0 0 0 1 0 6 0 MF Dave Brammer 29 0 0 0 2 0 31 0 MF Neil Brisco 13 0 1 0 0 0 14 0 MF George O'Callaghan 11 0 0 0 0 0 11 0 MF Tony Rougier 38 8 1 0 2 1 41 9 MF Martin Bullock 6 1 0 0 0 0 6 1 MF Micky Cummins 12 1 0 0 0 0 12 1 MF Jeff Minton 23 3 1 0 2 1 26 4 FW Martin Foyle 22 6 1 0 1 0 24 6 FW Tony Naylor 36 6 1 0 2 2 39 8 FW Marcus Bent 8 1 0 0 1 0 9 1 FW Carl Griffiths 5 0 0 0 2 1 7 1 FW Martin Aldridge 3 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 FW David Healy 16 3 0 0 0 0 16 3 FW Ville Viljanen 14 4 0 0 0 0 14 4

Scorers All competitions Scorer Goals Tony Rougier 9 Tony Naylor 8 Martin Foyle 6 Tommy Widdrington 5 Ville Viljanen 4 Jeff Minton Anthony Gardner 3 David Healy Sagi Burton 2 Richard Eyre 1 Allen Tankard Matt Carragher Brian McGlinchey Marcus Bent Michael Walsh Martin Bullock Micky Cummins Carl Griffiths League Scorer Goals Tony Rougier 8 Martin Foyle 6 Tony Naylor Tommy Widdrington 5 Ville Viljanen 4 Jeff Minton 3 Anthony Gardner David Healy Sagi Burton 2 Richard Eyre 1 Allen Tankard Matt Carragher Brian McGlinchey Marcus Bent Michael Walsh Martin Bullock Micky Cummins

Transfers

Transfers in

Date from	Position	Nationality	Name	From	Fee	Ref.
1999	DF		Paul Donnelly		Free transfer	[5]
June 1999	MF		Jeff Minton	Brighton & Hove Albion	Free transfer	[5]
June 1999	DF		Steve Rimmer	Manchester City	Free transfer	[5]
June 1999	MF		Tommy Widdrington	Grimsby Town	Free transfer	[5]
January 2000	DF		Sagi Burton	Sheffield United	Free transfer	[5]
February 2000	FW		Ville Viljanen	Västra Frölunda IF	Free transfer	[5]
March 2000	MF		Micky Cummins	Middlesbrough	Free transfer	[5]
March 2000	GK		Mark Goodlad	Nottingham Forest	Free transfer	[5]

Transfers out

Date from	Position	Nationality	Name	To	Fee	Ref.
October 1999	FW		Marcus Bent	Sheffield United	£375,000	[5]
December 1999	FW		Carl Griffiths	Leyton Orient	£100,000	[5]
January 2000	DF		Anthony Gardner	Tottenham Hotspur	£1 million	[5]
March 2000	DF		Tony Butler	West Bromwich Albion	£140,000	[5]
April 2000	MF		Ian Bogie	Kidderminster Harriers	Free transfer	[5]
May 2000	MF		Simon Barker		Retired	[5]
May 2000	DF		Steve Rimmer	Marine	Released	[5]
July 2000	MF		Stewart Talbot	Rotherham United	Free transfer	[5]
Summer 2000	MF		Wayne Corden	Mansfield Town	Free transfer	[5]
Summer 2000	FW		Martin Foyle		Retired	[5]
Summer 2000	GK		Paul Musselwhite	Sheffield Wednesday	Free transfer	[5]
Summer 2000	GK		Kevin Pilkington	Aberystwyth Town	Free transfer	[5]
Summer 2000	DF		Mark Snijders	AFC '34	Released	[5]
August 2000	MF		Tony Rougier	Reading	£325,000	[5]

Loans in

Date from	Position	Nationality	Name	From	Date to	Ref.
20 August 1999	GK		Andy Oakes	Derby County	10 September 1999	[5]
10 September 1999	GK		Matt Glennon	Bolton Wanderers	20 October 1999	[5]
27 September 1999	FW		Martin Aldridge	Blackpool	27 October 1999	[5]
11 January 2000	MF		Martin Bullock	Barnsley	28 February 2000	[5]
19 January 2000	FW		Gareth Taylor	Manchester City	16 February 2000	[5]
19 February 2000	MF		David Healy	Manchester United	8 May 2000	[5]

References

Specific

1. "Vale slide into Division Two". BBC Sport. 28 June 2000. Retrieved 18 January 2011.
2. "Millers snap up Talbot". BBC Sport. 12 July 2000. Retrieved 18 January 2011.
3. "Board change at Vale". BBC Sport. 10 July 2000. Retrieved 18 January 2011.
4. Port Vale 1999–2000 : Results & Fixtures. Statto Organisation. Retrieved 28 April 2012.
5. "Port Vale FC Club Details | Transfers | Soccer Base". www.soccerbase.com. Retrieved 7 October 2016.

General

• Soccerbase