1976–77 Port Vale F.C. season
Encyclopedia
The 1976–77 season was Port Vale
Port Vale F.C.
Port Vale Football Club is an English football club currently playing in Football League Two. They are based in Burslem, Staffordshire — one of six towns that make up the city of Stoke-on-Trent. The club's traditional rivals in the city are Stoke City, and games between the two clubs are known as...

's sixty-fifth season of football in the Football League
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...

, and their seventh successive season (thirteenth overall) in the Third Division
Football League Third Division
The Football League Third Division was the 3 tier of English Football from 1920 until 1992 when after the formation of the Football Association Premier League saw the league renamed The Football League Division Two...

. In the FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...

, Vale reached the Fifth Round for the first time since 1961–62
1961–62 Port Vale F.C. season
The 1961–62 season was Port Vale's fiftieth season of football in the Football League, and their third season in the Third Division. The season was most notable for the win over Sunderland in the FA Cup, which followed a goalless draw at Roker Park in which the Vale defence prevented Brian Clough...

, after progressing past two Second Division
Football League Second Division
From 1892 until 1992, the Football League Second Division was the second highest division overall in English football.This ended with the creation of the FA Premier League, prior to the start of the 1992–93 season, which caused an administrative split between The Football League and the teams...

 clubs. There they were knocked out by Aston Villa
Aston Villa F.C.
Aston Villa Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Witton, Birmingham. The club was founded in 1874 and have played at their current home ground, Villa Park, since 1897. Aston Villa were founder members of The Football League in 1888. They were also founder...

 at Villa Park
Villa Park
Villa Park may mean:United Kingdom* Villa Park, an association football stadium in Birmingham, EnglandUnited States* Villa Park, California, a small city in Orange County* Villa Park, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago in DuPage County...

 in front of nearly fifty thousand spectators. Back in the league, Vale struggled to get by with an average home attendance of 4,356, and finished nineteenth, just three points from safety. Entered into the Debenhams Cup
Debenhams Cup
The Debenhams Cup was one of several short-lived football competitions introduced in the 1970s and 1980s, along with the Watney Cup, Texaco Cup, Anglo-Scottish Cup, the Screen Sport Super Cup and Simod Cup...

, they lost 4–3 to Chester
Chester City F.C.
Chester City Football Club was an English football team from Chester. The club was founded as Chester F.C., and joined the Football League in 1931, spending most of their time in the lower divisions. They changed their name to Chester City in 1983. Chester won their first league title in 2004, the...

.

Third Division

The pre-season saw manager Roy Sproson
Roy Sproson
Roy Sproson was an English footballer and football manager for Port Vale. A one-club man, he holds the all-time appearance record for Vale, making 837 starts for Vale between 1950 and 1972. This includes a run of 128 consecutive appearances between April 1954 and March 1957...

 add two youngsters to his squad: forward Kevin Kennerley
Kevin Kennerley
Kevin Robert Kennerley is an English former footballer who played as a midfielder. An FA Youth Cup winner with Arsenal, he played professional football for Burnley, Port Vale and Swansea City, before he played non-league football with Stafford Rangers, Nantwich Town and Droylsden.-Playing...

 (Burnley
Burnley F.C.
Burnley Football Club are a professional English Football League club based in Burnley, Lancashire. Nicknamed the Clarets, due to the dominant colour of their home shirts, they were founder members of the Football League in 1888...

) and defender Ian Osborne
Ian Osborne
Ian Leonard Osborne is an English former professional footballer who played in the Football League for Birmingham City and Port Vale....

 (Birmingham City
Birmingham City F.C.
Birmingham City Football Club is a professional association football club based in the city of Birmingham, England. Formed in 1875 as Small Heath Alliance, they became Small Heath in 1888, then Birmingham in 1905, finally becoming Birmingham City in 1943.They were relegated at the end of the...

). The battle with Stoke-on-Trent
Stoke-on-Trent
Stoke-on-Trent , also called The Potteries is a city in Staffordshire, England, which forms a linear conurbation almost 12 miles long, with an area of . Together with the Borough of Newcastle-under-Lyme Stoke forms The Potteries Urban Area...

 City Council continued over the legality of Vale's market trading operation. The club were also in trouble with The Football Association
The Football Association
The Football Association, also known as simply The FA, is the governing body of football in England, and the Crown Dependencies of Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man. It was formed in 1863, and is the oldest national football association...

, who fined them £400 for the 47 bookings received in the previous campaign. Vale decided to crack down on player indiscipline by fining players £25 for dissent and £50 for violence. As 'a piece of good business' which 'could not be turned down', the club also sold star defender Terry Lees
Terry Lees
Terence "Terry" Lees is an English former footballer who played in the Football League for Stoke City, Crewe Alexandra, Port Vale, Birmingham City, Newport County and Scunthorpe United, in the North American Soccer League for San Jose Earthquakes, and in the Eredivisie for Sparta Rotterdam, Roda...

 to Dutch
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...

 side Sparta Rotterdam
Sparta Rotterdam
Sparta Rotterdam is the oldest professional football team in the Netherlands, established on April 1, 1888. Sparta is one of three professional football clubs from Rotterdam, the others being Excelsior and Feyenoord , the latter playing in the Eredivisie.-History:Sparta was first founded in 1887....

 for £25,000. Another late singing was Geoff Davies
Geoff Davies
Geoffrey Peter "Geoff" Davies is an English retired professional footballer who played in England and the United States as a midfielder.-Playing career:...

, who had returned from a spell in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

.

The season opened with a loss, a draw, and then a 2–0 win over Sheffield Wednesday
Sheffield Wednesday F.C.
Sheffield Wednesday Football Club are a football club based in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England, who are currently competing in the Football League One in the 2011-12 season, in England. Sheffield Wednesday are one of the oldest professional clubs in the world and the fourth oldest in the...

. Then only one point was gained in the next six matches. To bolster the side in came Stoke City
Stoke City F.C.
Stoke City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire that plays in the Premier League. Founded in 1863, it is the oldest club in the Premier League, and considered to be the second oldest professional football club in the world, after Notts...

's veteran defender Eric Skeels
Eric Skeels
Eric Thomas Skeels is an English former footballer. He played 512 games in the Football League, 507 for Stoke City. He is Stoke's record appearance holder having played in 592 matches in all competitions.-Playing career:...

, who was also returning from a spell in the USA. Mick Cullerton
Mick Cullerton
Michael Joseph Cullerton is a former Scottish footballer. He is noted for his two spells with Port Vale, as well as for being Stafford Rangers' star forward as they were one of the elite non-league clubs in the 1970s....

 then severed a cartilage, which meant five months out of action for the star striker. To replace him Sproson signed Blackburn Rovers
Blackburn Rovers F.C.
Blackburn Rovers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the town of Blackburn, Lancashire. The team currently competes in the Premier League, the top tier of English football....

' Ken Beamish
Ken Beamish
Kenneth George "Ken" Beamish is an English former football player, coach and manager. In his playing days he was a forward, and he scored a total of 159 goals in 554 league games....

 (£12,000) and Wigan Athletic
Wigan Athletic F.C.
Wigan Athletic Football Club is an English Premier League Association football club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester, having been promoted from the Championship in 2005. Wigan's current spell in the Premier League is the only top flight run in the club's history.They have played at the DW...

's John Rogers
John Rogers (English footballer)
John Charles Rogers is an English former footballer who played as a centre-forward.He moved from Burscough to Wigan Athletic, then competing in the Northern Premier League, in 1972...

 ('a small fee'). The club also made other clubs aware that they would listen to any offers for players, but there was little in the way of interest. In October, former England
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...

 and Wolves
Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.
Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club that represents the city of Wolverhampton in the West Midlands region. They are members of the Premier League, the highest level of English football. The club was founded in 1877 and since 1889 has played at...

 defender Bobby Thomson
Bobby Thomson (footballer born 1943)
Robert Anthony "Bobby" Thomson was an English professional footballer. He made 478 appearances in the Football League and won eight caps for England....

 was another player returning from the States. Signing with the Vale, he impressed so much that he was made club captain in his first week at Vale Park
Vale Park
Vale Park is a football stadium in Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent, England. It is the home ground of Port Vale F.C., who have played at the ground since 1950....

. A club record run of 42 away games without a clean sheet began on 18 December, and would last until 30 September 1978. The first of this run was a 1–1 draw with Rotherham United
Rotherham United F.C.
Rotherham United Football Club are an English professional football club based in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, who compete in League Two, the fourth tier of English football. The club's colours have traditionally been red and white, although these have evolved through history...

 at Millmoor
Millmoor
Millmoor is a stadium in Rotherham, England. It was built and was used for football matches, and until the end of the 2007–08 season was the home ground of Rotherham United F.C., until a dispute over ownership forced them to move to the Don Valley Stadium in nearby Sheffield.The stadium was...

, after this match "Millers" boss Jimmy McGuigan
Jimmy McGuigan
James "Jimmy" McGuigan was a Scottish professional football player and manager.-Playing career:McGuigan, who played as a wing half, played junior football with Bonnyrigg Rose Athletic, before turning professional in 1946 with Hamilton Academical...

 stated that Vale showed 'the worst exhibition of football thuggery I have ever seen'. Even though the defence struggled away from home, Beamish did not, as he scored his first ten goals for the club away from Burslem
Burslem
The town of Burslem, known as the Mother Town, is one of the six towns that amalgamated to form the current city of Stoke-on-Trent, in the ceremonial county of Staffordshire, in the Midlands of England.-Topography:...

. In a 4–2 win over Grimsby Town
Grimsby Town F.C.
Grimsby Town Football Club is an English football club based in the seaside town of Cleethorpes, in North East Lincolnshire, England, who compete in the Conference National. They were formed in 1878 as Grimsby Pelham and later became Grimsby Town...

 at Blundell Park
Blundell Park
Blundell Park is a football ground in Cleethorpes, North East Lincolnshire, England and home to Grimsby Town Football Club. The stadium was built in 1898, but only one of the original stands remain. The current capacity of the ground is 9546, though with the introduction of all seating in the late...

 on 3 January, Beamish scored a hat-trick. Later in the month Geoff Davies had his contract cancelled by mutual consent.

Vale's form tailed off, though Terry Alcock
Terry Alcock
Terrence "Terry" Alcock is an English former professional football defender.He played for Port Vale from 1963 to 1967, before spending nine years with Blackpool. He played over 100 appearances for Port Vale in the Football League and almost 200 appearances for Blackpool...

 returned briefly to play a handful of games. Thomson also returned to the USA, Ray Williams
Ray Williams (footballer)
Raymond "Ray" Williams is an English former footballer who played as a striker. He now works as a commentator at BBC Radio Stoke....

 was transferred to Northwich Victoria
Northwich Victoria F.C.
Northwich Victoria Football Club are an English football club who play at the Victoria Stadium in Wincham, Northwich, Cheshire in the Northern Premier League Premier Division, the seventh tier of the English football league system.Northwich are an old club, founded in 1874 and named in honour of...

 for 'a small fee', and Colin Tartt
Colin Tartt
Colin Tartt is a former English footballer.-Playing career:Tartt joined Port Vale from Alsager College , initially on trial, in June 1972. His first appearance was as a substitute in a 7–0 drubbing at Rotherham United on 26 August 1972, his first full debut was on 26 September that year in a 4–0...

 was sold to Chesterfield
Chesterfield F.C.
Chesterfield Football Club is an English football club based in Chesterfield, Derbyshire. The club currently plays in Football League One, the third tier of English football. Despite being the fourth oldest Football League club in England, they have spent most of their existence in the lower...

 for £15,000. In their places were new signings Alan Lamb (£5,000 from Preston North End
Preston North End F.C.
Preston North End Football Club is an English professional football club located in the Deepdale area of the city of Preston, Lancashire, currently playing in the third tier of English league football, League One...

) and Peter Sutcliffe
Peter Sutcliffe (footballer)
Peter David Sutcliffe is a former English footballer.-Playing career:Sutcliffe played for Manchester United and Stockport County before he joined Port Vale for £3,000 in March 1977...

 (£3,000 from Stockport County
Stockport County F.C.
Stockport County Football Club is an English football club based in Stockport, Greater Manchester. The club formed in 1883 as Heaton Norris Rovers, shortly afterwards merging with Heaton Norris F.C., and adopted the current name on 24 May 1890 on the creation of the County Borough of Stockport...

), whilst a fit again Cullerton was like a new signing. The club had drifted into the bottom four, but a six match unbeaten run with a prolific Cullerton took them to safety. In the background was an ongoing power struggle in the boardroom. In late-March they then received a 6–2 beating at Wrexham and then a 4–0 beating from Chesterfield
Chesterfield F.C.
Chesterfield Football Club is an English football club based in Chesterfield, Derbyshire. The club currently plays in Football League One, the third tier of English football. Despite being the fourth oldest Football League club in England, they have spent most of their existence in the lower...

 at Saltergate. The club suffered an injury crisis in April, with both Keith Chadwick
Keith Chadwick
Keith Michael Chadwick is an English former footballer who played as a midfielder. After impressing at non-league Nantwich Town, he joined Third Division side Port Vale via Crewe Alexandra in August 1972. In five years he played 46 games in league and cup, scoring seven goals, before he was forced...

 and John Brodie
John Brodie (footballer born 1947)
John Brodie is a former English footballer.-Playing career:Brodie played for Whitley Bay, Carlisle United and Bradford Park Avenue before joining Port Vale for £250 in January 1971....

 having been forced to retire through injury. Relegation was avoided however with six points from the final five games. The final game of the season was against Rotherham United, who needed a six goal win margin to gain promotion. The match saw three penalties, three bookings and crowd trouble, though United were four goals ahead they failed to find the remaining two, and instead the "Valiants" scored a late goal.

They finished in nineteenth place with 38 points, three points above the drop. Their 47 goals scored tally was lower only than Grimsby's tally. They only recorded two victories on their travels. At the end of the season was the short-lived Debenhams Cup
Debenhams Cup
The Debenhams Cup was one of several short-lived football competitions introduced in the 1970s and 1980s, along with the Watney Cup, Texaco Cup, Anglo-Scottish Cup, the Screen Sport Super Cup and Simod Cup...

 competition, Vale lost 4–3 to Chester
Chester City F.C.
Chester City Football Club was an English football team from Chester. The club was founded as Chester F.C., and joined the Football League in 1931, spending most of their time in the lower divisions. They changed their name to Chester City in 1983. Chester won their first league title in 2004, the...

 over two legs, but still received a runners-up prize of £5,000.

Finances

On the financial side, a loss of £5,959 was made despite a donation of £23,860 from the Development Fund. Gate receipts had risen to £60,115, however wages and signing-on fees had risen to £139,012. The bank overdraft stood at £15,000, though the club's total debt stood at £123,863. On the coaching front, Roy Chapman was replaced by Colin Harper
Colin Harper (footballer)
Colin Harper is an English former professional footballer who played as a left-back.-Playing career:Harper started his career at Ipswich Town, where he made almost 150 appearances between 1964 and 1977. In 1976 he had a short loan spell with Grimsby Town and the following year made 15 league...

. Meanwhile three players were handed free transfers: ten year club veteran Tommy McLaren
Tommy McLaren
Thomas "Tommy" McLaren was a Scottish footballer who played as a midfielder.He moved from Berwick Rangers to Port Vale in November 1967. He spent ten years at Vale Park, racking up 369 league and cup appearances...

 (Telford United
Telford United F.C.
Telford United F.C. was an English football club based in Telford, Shropshire.The club existed under various names for a total of 132 years from its formation in 1872. The club was founder members of the Alliance Premier League in 1979 and played at this level for 25 years before being wound up in...

), Eric Skeels (Leek Town
Leek Town F.C.
Leek Town Football Club is an English football club based in Leek, Staffordshire, currently playing in the Northern Premier League Division One South...

), and Ian Osborne (Hillingdon Borough
Hillingdon Borough F.C.
Hillingdon Borough Football Club are a semi-professional football club based in Ruislip, in the London Borough of Hillingdon. It was also the name of a now-extinct club that existed between 1965 and 1987.-Historic club:...

). Also John Rogers
John Rogers (English footballer)
John Charles Rogers is an English former footballer who played as a centre-forward.He moved from Burscough to Wigan Athletic, then competing in the Northern Premier League, in 1972...

 was sold to Altrincham
Altrincham F.C.
Altrincham Football Club is an English association football club from Altrincham, Greater Manchester. They currently play in the Conference North, having been relegated from the Conference National at the end of the 2010–11 season.-History:...

 for £2,000.

Cup competitions

In the FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...

, Vale advanced past Fourth Division
Football League Fourth Division
The Fourth Division of The Football League was the fourth-highest division in the English football league system from the 1958–59 season until the creation of the Premier League prior to the 1992–93 season...

 Southport
Southport F.C.
Southport Football Club are an English football club, based in Southport, Merseyside. They are currently in the Conference National, and play their home matches at Haig Avenue, which has a capacity of 6,008...

 with a John Rogers
John Rogers (English footballer)
John Charles Rogers is an English former footballer who played as a centre-forward.He moved from Burscough to Wigan Athletic, then competing in the Northern Premier League, in 1972...

 brace at Haig Avenue
Haig Avenue
Haig Avenue is a football stadium in Southport, England and is the home ground of Southport F.C.-Location:The ground is situated to the east of Southport just off the A570, the main road to Ormskirk...

. A 3–0 win over Barnsley
Barnsley F.C.
Barnsley Football Club are a professional English football club based in the town of Barnsley, South Yorkshire. Nicknamed the Tykes, they were founded in 1887 under the name Barnsley St. Peter's...

 then put Vale into the Third Round, where they came up against Second Division
Football League Second Division
From 1892 until 1992, the Football League Second Division was the second highest division overall in English football.This ended with the creation of the FA Premier League, prior to the start of the 1992–93 season, which caused an administrative split between The Football League and the teams...

 Hull City
Hull City A.F.C.
Hull City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Kingston upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, founded in 1904. The club participates in the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football...

. After a 1–1 draw at Boothferry Park
Boothferry Park
Boothferry Park was a football stadium in Kingston upon Hull, and was home to the football club Hull City for over 50 years from 31 August 1946 until December 2002, when they moved to the Kingston Communications Stadium....

, Vale knocked the "Tigers" out with a 3–1 win at Vale Park. The "Valiants" beat Burnley
Burnley F.C.
Burnley Football Club are a professional English Football League club based in Burnley, Lancashire. Nicknamed the Clarets, due to the dominant colour of their home shirts, they were founder members of the Football League in 1888...

 – another second tier team – in the Fourth Round with a 2–1 home win. The Fifth Round held First Division
Football League First Division
The First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....

 Aston Villa
Aston Villa F.C.
Aston Villa Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Witton, Birmingham. The club was founded in 1874 and have played at their current home ground, Villa Park, since 1897. Aston Villa were founder members of The Football League in 1888. They were also founder...

 at Villa Park
Villa Park
Villa Park may mean:United Kingdom* Villa Park, an association football stadium in Birmingham, EnglandUnited States* Villa Park, California, a small city in Orange County* Villa Park, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago in DuPage County...

. Villa won 3–0 in front of a crowd of 46,872. The score was 'flattering' to the "Villans" as they scored two late goals. The match was shown on television.

In the League Cup
Football League Cup
The Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup or, from current sponsorship, the Carling Cup, is an English association football competition. Like the FA Cup, it is played on a knockout basis...

, Welsh club Wrexham knocked the Vale out 2–1 on aggregate, following a 1–1 draw in Burslem and a 1–0 win at the Racecourse Ground
Racecourse Ground
The Glyndŵr University Racecourse Stadium AKA The Racecourse Ground is a stadium located in Wrexham, North Wales. It is the home of Wrexham F.C. and, since 2010, the Crusaders Rugby League team who play in the engage Super League...

.

Final league table

P WDLFAGDPts
1 Mansfield Town
Mansfield Town F.C.
Mansfield Town Football Club is an English football club from the former mining town of Mansfield, Nottinghamshire. The club was formed in 1897 as Mansfield Wesleyans and changed its name to Mansfield Wesley in 1906 before settling on Mansfield Town in 1910...

46 28 8 10 78 42
36
64
2 Brighton & Hove Albion
Brighton & Hove Albion F.C.
Brighton & Hove Albion Football Club are an English association football club based in the coastal city of Brighton & Hove, East Sussex. They currently play in the Football League Championship, the second tier of the English football league system....

46 25 11 10 83 40
43
61
3 Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace F.C.
Crystal Palace Football Club are an English Football league club based in South Norwood, London. The team plays its home matches at Selhurst Park, where they have been based since 1924. The club currently competes in the second tier of English Football, The Championship.Crystal Palace was formed in...

46 23 13 10 68 40
28
59
4 Rotherham United
Rotherham United F.C.
Rotherham United Football Club are an English professional football club based in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, who compete in League Two, the fourth tier of English football. The club's colours have traditionally been red and white, although these have evolved through history...

46 22 15 9 69 44
25
59
5 Wrexham 46 24 10 12 80 54
26
58
6 Preston North End
Preston North End F.C.
Preston North End Football Club is an English professional football club located in the Deepdale area of the city of Preston, Lancashire, currently playing in the third tier of English league football, League One...

46 21 12 13 64 43
21
54
7 Bury
Bury F.C.
Bury Football Club is an association football team based in Bury, Greater Manchester. The team currently play in League One. The club's nickname is The Shakers which was bestowed upon them by club chairman JT Ingham, an industrialist and ironmonger of the late 1890s.-Formation of the club and the...

46 23 8 15 64 59
5
54
8 Sheffield Wednesday
Sheffield Wednesday F.C.
Sheffield Wednesday Football Club are a football club based in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England, who are currently competing in the Football League One in the 2011-12 season, in England. Sheffield Wednesday are one of the oldest professional clubs in the world and the fourth oldest in the...

46 22 9 15 65 55
10
53
9 Lincoln City
Lincoln City F.C.
Lincoln City Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Lincoln, Lincolnshire. The club are currently members of the Conference National in 2011–12 following relegation from the Football League....

46 19 14 13 77 70
7
52
10 Shrewsbury Town
Shrewsbury Town F.C.
Shrewsbury Town Football Club is an English Association football club based in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, who play in League Two, the fourth tier of English football. The club was formed in 1886 and has played in all the bottom three divisions in various guises since being elected into the Football...

46 18 11 17 65 59
6
47
11 Swindon Town
Swindon Town F.C.
Swindon Town Football Club are a team based in Swindon, Wiltshire. Currently in League Two, Swindon have been managed by Paolo Di Canio since 23 May 2011...

46 15 15 16 68 75
45
12 Gillingham
Gillingham F.C.
Gillingham Football Club is an English professional football club based in the town of Gillingham, Kent. The only Kent-based club in the Football League, they play their home matches at the Priestfield Stadium...

46 16 12 18 55 64
44
13 Chester
Chester City F.C.
Chester City Football Club was an English football team from Chester. The club was founded as Chester F.C., and joined the Football League in 1931, spending most of their time in the lower divisions. They changed their name to Chester City in 1983. Chester won their first league title in 2004, the...

46 18 8 20 48 58
44
14 Tranmere Rovers
Tranmere Rovers F.C.
Tranmere Rovers Football Club are an English team based in Birkenhead, Wirral. The club currently compete in League One, the third tier of the English football league system...

46 13 17 16 51 53
43
15 Walsall
Walsall F.C.
Walsall Football Club are an English association football club based in Walsall, West Midlands. They currently play in League One. The club was founded in 1888 as Walsall Town Swifts, an amalgamation of Walsall Town F.C. and Walsall Swifts F.C. The club was one of the founder members of the Second...

46 13 15 18 57 65
41
16 Peterborough United
Peterborough United F.C.
Peterborough United Football Club are a professional English football club based in Peterborough. Peterborough United formed in 1934 and played in the old Midland League, which they won six times; eventually being admitted to the Football League in 1960, replacing Gateshead. Their home ground is...

46 13 15 18 55 65
41
17 Oxford United
Oxford United F.C.
Oxford United Football Club is an English association football club based in Oxford, Oxfordshire. The club play in League Two, following promotion from the Conference National in May 2010. The club had been a non-League side since their relegation from the Football League in the 2005–06 season. The...

46 12 15 19 55 65
39
18 Chesterfield
Chesterfield F.C.
Chesterfield Football Club is an English football club based in Chesterfield, Derbyshire. The club currently plays in Football League One, the third tier of English football. Despite being the fourth oldest Football League club in England, they have spent most of their existence in the lower...

46 14 10 22 56 64
38
19 Port Vale
Port Vale F.C.
Port Vale Football Club is an English football club currently playing in Football League Two. They are based in Burslem, Staffordshire — one of six towns that make up the city of Stoke-on-Trent. The club's traditional rivals in the city are Stoke City, and games between the two clubs are known as...

46 11 16 19 47 71 -24 38
20 Portsmouth
Portsmouth F.C.
Portsmouth Football Club is an English football club based in the city of Portsmouth. The club is nicknamed Pompey. Portsmouth's home matches have been played at Fratton Park since the club's formation in 1898. The team currently play in the Football League Championship after being relegated from...

46 11 14 21 53 70
36
21 Reading
Reading F.C.
Reading Football Club is an English association football club based in the town of Reading, Berkshire who currently play in the Championship...

46 13 9 24 49 73
35
22 Northampton Town
Northampton Town F.C.
Northampton Town Football Club are an English professional football club based in Northampton, Northamptonshire. They currently play in Football League Two, the lowest league division, after being relegated from League One on the last day of the 2008–09 season...

46 13 8 25 60 75
34
23 Grimsby Town
Grimsby Town F.C.
Grimsby Town Football Club is an English football club based in the seaside town of Cleethorpes, in North East Lincolnshire, England, who compete in the Conference National. They were formed in 1878 as Grimsby Pelham and later became Grimsby Town...

46 12 9 25 45 69
33
24 York City
York City F.C.
York City Football Club is an English football club based in York, North Yorkshire. The club participates in the Conference National, the fifth tier of English football. Founded in 1922, they joined the Football League in 1929, and have spent most of their history in the lower divisions...

46 10 12 24 50 89
32


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

Legend

Win Draw Loss

Football League Third Division

DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers
21 August 1976 Swindon Town
Swindon Town F.C.
Swindon Town Football Club are a team based in Swindon, Wiltshire. Currently in League Two, Swindon have been managed by Paolo Di Canio since 23 May 2011...

|A 0–1 6,336
23 August 1976 Chesterfield
Chesterfield F.C.
Chesterfield Football Club is an English football club based in Chesterfield, Derbyshire. The club currently plays in Football League One, the third tier of English football. Despite being the fourth oldest Football League club in England, they have spent most of their existence in the lower...

|H 1–1 4,056 Williams
Ray Williams (footballer)
Raymond "Ray" Williams is an English former footballer who played as a striker. He now works as a commentator at BBC Radio Stoke....

28 August 1976 Sheffield Wednesday
Sheffield Wednesday F.C.
Sheffield Wednesday Football Club are a football club based in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England, who are currently competing in the Football League One in the 2011-12 season, in England. Sheffield Wednesday are one of the oldest professional clubs in the world and the fourth oldest in the...

|H 2–0 5,033 Cullerton
Mick Cullerton
Michael Joseph Cullerton is a former Scottish footballer. He is noted for his two spells with Port Vale, as well as for being Stafford Rangers' star forward as they were one of the elite non-league clubs in the 1970s....

, Tartt
Colin Tartt
Colin Tartt is a former English footballer.-Playing career:Tartt joined Port Vale from Alsager College , initially on trial, in June 1972. His first appearance was as a substitute in a 7–0 drubbing at Rotherham United on 26 August 1972, his first full debut was on 26 September that year in a 4–0...

4 September 1976 Lincoln City
Lincoln City F.C.
Lincoln City Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Lincoln, Lincolnshire. The club are currently members of the Conference National in 2011–12 following relegation from the Football League....

|A 0–2 6,059
11 September 1976 Gillingham
Gillingham F.C.
Gillingham Football Club is an English professional football club based in the town of Gillingham, Kent. The only Kent-based club in the Football League, they play their home matches at the Priestfield Stadium...

|H 1–2 3,015 Tartt
Colin Tartt
Colin Tartt is a former English footballer.-Playing career:Tartt joined Port Vale from Alsager College , initially on trial, in June 1972. His first appearance was as a substitute in a 7–0 drubbing at Rotherham United on 26 August 1972, his first full debut was on 26 September that year in a 4–0...

14 September 1976 Preston North End
Preston North End F.C.
Preston North End Football Club is an English professional football club located in the Deepdale area of the city of Preston, Lancashire, currently playing in the third tier of English league football, League One...

|A 0–4 6,592
18 September 1976 Reading
Reading F.C.
Reading Football Club is an English association football club based in the town of Reading, Berkshire who currently play in the Championship...

|A 1–1 7,104 Brownbill
Derek Brownbill
Derek Anthony Brownbill is a former English footballer who played as a forward. He played in the Football League for Liverpool and Port Vale between 1973 and 1978, before spells with American side Cleveland Cobras and English non-league clubs Wigan Athletic, Stafford Rangers, Oswestry Town,...

25 September 1976 Shrewsbury Town
Shrewsbury Town F.C.
Shrewsbury Town Football Club is an English Association football club based in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, who play in League Two, the fourth tier of English football. The club was formed in 1886 and has played in all the bottom three divisions in various guises since being elected into the Football...

|H 1–2 4,180 Beech
Kenny Beech
Kenneth "Kenny" Beech is a former English footballer. A midfielder, he played for Port Vale between 1976 and 1981, picking up the club's Player of the Year award in 1980, also playing on loan at American club Cleveland Cobras in 1978. In 1981 he was sold to Walsall, before he moved on to...

2 October 1976 Walsall
Walsall F.C.
Walsall Football Club are an English association football club based in Walsall, West Midlands. They currently play in League One. The club was founded in 1888 as Walsall Town Swifts, an amalgamation of Walsall Town F.C. and Walsall Swifts F.C. The club was one of the founder members of the Second...

|A 1–3 5,459 Skeels
Eric Skeels
Eric Thomas Skeels is an English former footballer. He played 512 games in the Football League, 507 for Stoke City. He is Stoke's record appearance holder having played in 592 matches in all competitions.-Playing career:...

8 October 1976 Northampton Town
Northampton Town F.C.
Northampton Town Football Club are an English professional football club based in Northampton, Northamptonshire. They currently play in Football League Two, the lowest league division, after being relegated from League One on the last day of the 2008–09 season...

|H 2–1 3,962 Brownbill
Derek Brownbill
Derek Anthony Brownbill is a former English footballer who played as a forward. He played in the Football League for Liverpool and Port Vale between 1973 and 1978, before spells with American side Cleveland Cobras and English non-league clubs Wigan Athletic, Stafford Rangers, Oswestry Town,...

, Rogers
John Rogers (English footballer)
John Charles Rogers is an English former footballer who played as a centre-forward.He moved from Burscough to Wigan Athletic, then competing in the Northern Premier League, in 1972...

16 October 1976 Wrexham |H 2–3 5,347 Cullerton
Mick Cullerton
Michael Joseph Cullerton is a former Scottish footballer. He is noted for his two spells with Port Vale, as well as for being Stafford Rangers' star forward as they were one of the elite non-league clubs in the 1970s....

, Tartt
Colin Tartt
Colin Tartt is a former English footballer.-Playing career:Tartt joined Port Vale from Alsager College , initially on trial, in June 1972. His first appearance was as a substitute in a 7–0 drubbing at Rotherham United on 26 August 1972, his first full debut was on 26 September that year in a 4–0...

23 October 1976 Portsmouth
Portsmouth F.C.
Portsmouth Football Club is an English football club based in the city of Portsmouth. The club is nicknamed Pompey. Portsmouth's home matches have been played at Fratton Park since the club's formation in 1898. The team currently play in the Football League Championship after being relegated from...

|A 1–1 7,456 Beamish
Ken Beamish
Kenneth George "Ken" Beamish is an English former football player, coach and manager. In his playing days he was a forward, and he scored a total of 159 goals in 554 league games....

25 October 1976 Tranmere Rovers
Tranmere Rovers F.C.
Tranmere Rovers Football Club are an English team based in Birkenhead, Wirral. The club currently compete in League One, the third tier of the English football league system...

|A 1–1 3,578 Beamish
Ken Beamish
Kenneth George "Ken" Beamish is an English former football player, coach and manager. In his playing days he was a forward, and he scored a total of 159 goals in 554 league games....

30 October 1976 Grimsby Town
Grimsby Town F.C.
Grimsby Town Football Club is an English football club based in the seaside town of Cleethorpes, in North East Lincolnshire, England, who compete in the Conference National. They were formed in 1878 as Grimsby Pelham and later became Grimsby Town...

|H 2–0 3,714 Rogers
John Rogers (English footballer)
John Charles Rogers is an English former footballer who played as a centre-forward.He moved from Burscough to Wigan Athletic, then competing in the Northern Premier League, in 1972...

 (2)
1 November 1976 Preston North End
Preston North End F.C.
Preston North End Football Club is an English professional football club located in the Deepdale area of the city of Preston, Lancashire, currently playing in the third tier of English league football, League One...

|H 0–0 4,686
6 November 1976 York City
York City F.C.
York City Football Club is an English football club based in York, North Yorkshire. The club participates in the Conference National, the fifth tier of English football. Founded in 1922, they joined the Football League in 1929, and have spent most of their history in the lower divisions...

|A 0–1 2,153
13 November 1976 Brighton & Hove Albion
Brighton & Hove Albion F.C.
Brighton & Hove Albion Football Club are an English association football club based in the coastal city of Brighton & Hove, East Sussex. They currently play in the Football League Championship, the second tier of the English football league system....

|H 2–2 6,449 Williams
Ray Williams (footballer)
Raymond "Ray" Williams is an English former footballer who played as a striker. He now works as a commentator at BBC Radio Stoke....

, Bailey
Terry Bailey
Terence "Terry" Bailey is a former English footballer who played as a midfielder. His son Mark Bailey also played professional football.After a brief association with Winsford United, he joined Stafford Rangers in 1968...

27 November 1976 Oxford United
Oxford United F.C.
Oxford United Football Club is an English association football club based in Oxford, Oxfordshire. The club play in League Two, following promotion from the Conference National in May 2010. The club had been a non-League side since their relegation from the Football League in the 2005–06 season. The...

|A 0–0 4,015
18 December 1976 Rotherham United
Rotherham United F.C.
Rotherham United Football Club are an English professional football club based in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, who compete in League Two, the fourth tier of English football. The club's colours have traditionally been red and white, although these have evolved through history...

|A 1–1 5,012 Beamish
Ken Beamish
Kenneth George "Ken" Beamish is an English former football player, coach and manager. In his playing days he was a forward, and he scored a total of 159 goals in 554 league games....

27 December 1976 Bury
Bury F.C.
Bury Football Club is an association football team based in Bury, Greater Manchester. The team currently play in League One. The club's nickname is The Shakers which was bestowed upon them by club chairman JT Ingham, an industrialist and ironmonger of the late 1890s.-Formation of the club and the...

|H 0–1 5,862
28 December 1976 Mansfield Town
Mansfield Town F.C.
Mansfield Town Football Club is an English football club from the former mining town of Mansfield, Nottinghamshire. The club was formed in 1897 as Mansfield Wesleyans and changed its name to Mansfield Wesley in 1906 before settling on Mansfield Town in 1910...

|A 1–2 7,977 Beamish
Ken Beamish
Kenneth George "Ken" Beamish is an English former football player, coach and manager. In his playing days he was a forward, and he scored a total of 159 goals in 554 league games....

3 January 1977 Grimsby Town
Grimsby Town F.C.
Grimsby Town Football Club is an English football club based in the seaside town of Cleethorpes, in North East Lincolnshire, England, who compete in the Conference National. They were formed in 1878 as Grimsby Pelham and later became Grimsby Town...

|A 4–2 5,870 Beamish
Ken Beamish
Kenneth George "Ken" Beamish is an English former football player, coach and manager. In his playing days he was a forward, and he scored a total of 159 goals in 554 league games....

 (3), Kennerley
Kevin Kennerley
Kevin Robert Kennerley is an English former footballer who played as a midfielder. An FA Youth Cup winner with Arsenal, he played professional football for Burnley, Port Vale and Swansea City, before he played non-league football with Stafford Rangers, Nantwich Town and Droylsden.-Playing...

22 January 1977 Swindon Town
Swindon Town F.C.
Swindon Town Football Club are a team based in Swindon, Wiltshire. Currently in League Two, Swindon have been managed by Paolo Di Canio since 23 May 2011...

|H 2–2 4,446 Beech
Kenny Beech
Kenneth "Kenny" Beech is a former English footballer. A midfielder, he played for Port Vale between 1976 and 1981, picking up the club's Player of the Year award in 1980, also playing on loan at American club Cleveland Cobras in 1978. In 1981 he was sold to Walsall, before he moved on to...

, Ridley
John Ridley (footballer)
John Ridley is an English former footballer. A versatile midfielder, he had a twelve year professional career in the Football League, playing for Port Vale and Chesterfield, as well as Leicester City. He also played for non-league Stafford Rangers and for American side Fort Lauderdale Strikers.He...

1 February 1977 Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace F.C.
Crystal Palace Football Club are an English Football league club based in South Norwood, London. The team plays its home matches at Selhurst Park, where they have been based since 1924. The club currently competes in the second tier of English Football, The Championship.Crystal Palace was formed in...

|A 0–2 11,149
5 February 1977 Sheffield Wednesday
Sheffield Wednesday F.C.
Sheffield Wednesday Football Club are a football club based in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England, who are currently competing in the Football League One in the 2011-12 season, in England. Sheffield Wednesday are one of the oldest professional clubs in the world and the fourth oldest in the...

|A 2–1 13,105 Beamish
Ken Beamish
Kenneth George "Ken" Beamish is an English former football player, coach and manager. In his playing days he was a forward, and he scored a total of 159 goals in 554 league games....

, Rogers
John Rogers (English footballer)
John Charles Rogers is an English former footballer who played as a centre-forward.He moved from Burscough to Wigan Athletic, then competing in the Northern Premier League, in 1972...

7 February 1977 York City
York City F.C.
York City Football Club is an English football club based in York, North Yorkshire. The club participates in the Conference National, the fifth tier of English football. Founded in 1922, they joined the Football League in 1929, and have spent most of their history in the lower divisions...

|H 0–2 4,683
19 February 1977 Gillingham
Gillingham F.C.
Gillingham Football Club is an English professional football club based in the town of Gillingham, Kent. The only Kent-based club in the Football League, they play their home matches at the Priestfield Stadium...

|A 1–1 5,084 Rogers
John Rogers (English footballer)
John Charles Rogers is an English former footballer who played as a centre-forward.He moved from Burscough to Wigan Athletic, then competing in the Northern Premier League, in 1972...

28 February 1977 Reading
Reading F.C.
Reading Football Club is an English association football club based in the town of Reading, Berkshire who currently play in the Championship...

|H 1–0 4,212 Beech
Kenny Beech
Kenneth "Kenny" Beech is a former English footballer. A midfielder, he played for Port Vale between 1976 and 1981, picking up the club's Player of the Year award in 1980, also playing on loan at American club Cleveland Cobras in 1978. In 1981 he was sold to Walsall, before he moved on to...

5 March 1977 Shrewsbury Town
Shrewsbury Town F.C.
Shrewsbury Town Football Club is an English Association football club based in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, who play in League Two, the fourth tier of English football. The club was formed in 1886 and has played in all the bottom three divisions in various guises since being elected into the Football...

|A 1–1 4,236 Rogers
John Rogers (English footballer)
John Charles Rogers is an English former footballer who played as a centre-forward.He moved from Burscough to Wigan Athletic, then competing in the Northern Premier League, in 1972...

7 March 1977 Peterborough United
Peterborough United F.C.
Peterborough United Football Club are a professional English football club based in Peterborough. Peterborough United formed in 1934 and played in the old Midland League, which they won six times; eventually being admitted to the Football League in 1960, replacing Gateshead. Their home ground is...

|H 1–1 4,417 Cullerton
Mick Cullerton
Michael Joseph Cullerton is a former Scottish footballer. He is noted for his two spells with Port Vale, as well as for being Stafford Rangers' star forward as they were one of the elite non-league clubs in the 1970s....

11 March 1977 Walsall
Walsall F.C.
Walsall Football Club are an English association football club based in Walsall, West Midlands. They currently play in League One. The club was founded in 1888 as Walsall Town Swifts, an amalgamation of Walsall Town F.C. and Walsall Swifts F.C. The club was one of the founder members of the Second...

|H 0–0 4,819
14 March 1977 Chester
Chester City F.C.
Chester City Football Club was an English football team from Chester. The club was founded as Chester F.C., and joined the Football League in 1931, spending most of their time in the lower divisions. They changed their name to Chester City in 1983. Chester won their first league title in 2004, the...

|H 1–0 4,451 Cullerton
Mick Cullerton
Michael Joseph Cullerton is a former Scottish footballer. He is noted for his two spells with Port Vale, as well as for being Stafford Rangers' star forward as they were one of the elite non-league clubs in the 1970s....

 (pen)
19 March 1977 Northampton Town
Northampton Town F.C.
Northampton Town Football Club are an English professional football club based in Northampton, Northamptonshire. They currently play in Football League Two, the lowest league division, after being relegated from League One on the last day of the 2008–09 season...

|A 0–3 5,808
21 March 1977 Lincoln City
Lincoln City F.C.
Lincoln City Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Lincoln, Lincolnshire. The club are currently members of the Conference National in 2011–12 following relegation from the Football League....

|H 1–0 3,987 Cullerton
Mick Cullerton
Michael Joseph Cullerton is a former Scottish footballer. He is noted for his two spells with Port Vale, as well as for being Stafford Rangers' star forward as they were one of the elite non-league clubs in the 1970s....

24 March 1977 Wrexham |A 2–6 6,383 Beamish
Ken Beamish
Kenneth George "Ken" Beamish is an English former football player, coach and manager. In his playing days he was a forward, and he scored a total of 159 goals in 554 league games....

 (2)
30 March 1977 Chesterfield
Chesterfield F.C.
Chesterfield Football Club is an English football club based in Chesterfield, Derbyshire. The club currently plays in Football League One, the third tier of English football. Despite being the fourth oldest Football League club in England, they have spent most of their existence in the lower...

|A 0–4 3,426
2 April 1977 Portsmouth
Portsmouth F.C.
Portsmouth Football Club is an English football club based in the city of Portsmouth. The club is nicknamed Pompey. Portsmouth's home matches have been played at Fratton Park since the club's formation in 1898. The team currently play in the Football League Championship after being relegated from...

|H 1–0 2,984 Cullerton
Mick Cullerton
Michael Joseph Cullerton is a former Scottish footballer. He is noted for his two spells with Port Vale, as well as for being Stafford Rangers' star forward as they were one of the elite non-league clubs in the 1970s....

8 April 1977 Bury
Bury F.C.
Bury Football Club is an association football team based in Bury, Greater Manchester. The team currently play in League One. The club's nickname is The Shakers which was bestowed upon them by club chairman JT Ingham, an industrialist and ironmonger of the late 1890s.-Formation of the club and the...

|A 0–3 5,619
9 April 1977 Mansfield Town
Mansfield Town F.C.
Mansfield Town Football Club is an English football club from the former mining town of Mansfield, Nottinghamshire. The club was formed in 1897 as Mansfield Wesleyans and changed its name to Mansfield Wesley in 1906 before settling on Mansfield Town in 1910...

|H 1–4 4,389 Beech
Kenny Beech
Kenneth "Kenny" Beech is a former English footballer. A midfielder, he played for Port Vale between 1976 and 1981, picking up the club's Player of the Year award in 1980, also playing on loan at American club Cleveland Cobras in 1978. In 1981 he was sold to Walsall, before he moved on to...

16 April 1977 Tranmere Rovers
Tranmere Rovers F.C.
Tranmere Rovers Football Club are an English team based in Birkenhead, Wirral. The club currently compete in League One, the third tier of the English football league system...

|H 1–1 3,188 Dulson
Garry Dulson
Garry Dulson is a former English footballer.-Playing career:Dulson played for Nottingham Forest before joining Port Vale on loan in October 1974 and signing permanently for £5,000 the next month. He enjoyed fairly regular football over the next four seasons but was loaned to Crewe Alexandra in...

23 April 1977 Brighton & Hove Albion
Brighton & Hove Albion F.C.
Brighton & Hove Albion Football Club are an English association football club based in the coastal city of Brighton & Hove, East Sussex. They currently play in the Football League Championship, the second tier of the English football league system....

|A 0–1 23,482
26 April 1977 Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace F.C.
Crystal Palace Football Club are an English Football league club based in South Norwood, London. The team plays its home matches at Selhurst Park, where they have been based since 1924. The club currently competes in the second tier of English Football, The Championship.Crystal Palace was formed in...

|H 4–1 3,990 o.g.
Own goal
An own net occurs in goal-scoring games when a player scores a goal that is registered against his or her own team. It is usually accidental, and may be a result of an attempt at defensive play that failed or was spoiled by opponents....

, Cullerton
Mick Cullerton
Michael Joseph Cullerton is a former Scottish footballer. He is noted for his two spells with Port Vale, as well as for being Stafford Rangers' star forward as they were one of the elite non-league clubs in the 1970s....

, Sutcliffe
Peter Sutcliffe (footballer)
Peter David Sutcliffe is a former English footballer.-Playing career:Sutcliffe played for Manchester United and Stockport County before he joined Port Vale for £3,000 in March 1977...

, Beamish
Ken Beamish
Kenneth George "Ken" Beamish is an English former football player, coach and manager. In his playing days he was a forward, and he scored a total of 159 goals in 554 league games....

30 April 1977 Oxford United
Oxford United F.C.
Oxford United Football Club is an English association football club based in Oxford, Oxfordshire. The club play in League Two, following promotion from the Conference National in May 2010. The club had been a non-League side since their relegation from the Football League in the 2005–06 season. The...

|H 2–1 4,058 Bailey
Terry Bailey
Terence "Terry" Bailey is a former English footballer who played as a midfielder. His son Mark Bailey also played professional football.After a brief association with Winsford United, he joined Stafford Rangers in 1968...

, o.g.
Own goal
An own net occurs in goal-scoring games when a player scores a goal that is registered against his or her own team. It is usually accidental, and may be a result of an attempt at defensive play that failed or was spoiled by opponents....

4 May 1977 Peterborough United
Peterborough United F.C.
Peterborough United Football Club are a professional English football club based in Peterborough. Peterborough United formed in 1934 and played in the old Midland League, which they won six times; eventually being admitted to the Football League in 1960, replacing Gateshead. Their home ground is...

|A 1–1 3,883 Cullerton
Mick Cullerton
Michael Joseph Cullerton is a former Scottish footballer. He is noted for his two spells with Port Vale, as well as for being Stafford Rangers' star forward as they were one of the elite non-league clubs in the 1970s....

7 May 1977 Chester
Chester City F.C.
Chester City Football Club was an English football team from Chester. The club was founded as Chester F.C., and joined the Football League in 1931, spending most of their time in the lower divisions. They changed their name to Chester City in 1983. Chester won their first league title in 2004, the...

|A 1–1 2,978 Beamish
Ken Beamish
Kenneth George "Ken" Beamish is an English former football player, coach and manager. In his playing days he was a forward, and he scored a total of 159 goals in 554 league games....

14 May 1977 Rotherham United
Rotherham United F.C.
Rotherham United Football Club are an English professional football club based in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, who compete in League Two, the fourth tier of English football. The club's colours have traditionally been red and white, although these have evolved through history...

|H 1–4 4,271 Cullerton
Mick Cullerton
Michael Joseph Cullerton is a former Scottish footballer. He is noted for his two spells with Port Vale, as well as for being Stafford Rangers' star forward as they were one of the elite non-league clubs in the 1970s....

 (pen)

FA Cup

RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorers
R1 20 November 1976 Southport
Southport F.C.
Southport Football Club are an English football club, based in Southport, Merseyside. They are currently in the Conference National, and play their home matches at Haig Avenue, which has a capacity of 6,008...

A 2–1 4,102 Rogers
John Rogers (English footballer)
John Charles Rogers is an English former footballer who played as a centre-forward.He moved from Burscough to Wigan Athletic, then competing in the Northern Premier League, in 1972...

 (2)
R2 11 December 1976 Barnsley
Barnsley F.C.
Barnsley Football Club are a professional English football club based in the town of Barnsley, South Yorkshire. Nicknamed the Tykes, they were founded in 1887 under the name Barnsley St. Peter's...

H 3–0 5,451 Williams
Ray Williams (footballer)
Raymond "Ray" Williams is an English former footballer who played as a striker. He now works as a commentator at BBC Radio Stoke....

, Griffiths
Neil Griffiths (footballer)
Neil Griffiths is a former English footballer.-Playing career:Griffiths joined Port Vale from Chester in exchange for £5,000 and Tony Loska in December 1973. He lined up against his old club in the final of the 1977 Debenhams Cup and scored an own goal in a 4–1 defeat...

, Beamish
Ken Beamish
Kenneth George "Ken" Beamish is an English former football player, coach and manager. In his playing days he was a forward, and he scored a total of 159 goals in 554 league games....

R3 8 January 1977 Hull City
Hull City A.F.C.
Hull City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Kingston upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, founded in 1904. The club participates in the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football...

A 1–1 9,694 Beamish
Ken Beamish
Kenneth George "Ken" Beamish is an English former football player, coach and manager. In his playing days he was a forward, and he scored a total of 159 goals in 554 league games....

R3 Replay 10 January 1977 Hull City
Hull City A.F.C.
Hull City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Kingston upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, founded in 1904. The club participates in the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football...

H 3–1 10,668 Beamish
Ken Beamish
Kenneth George "Ken" Beamish is an English former football player, coach and manager. In his playing days he was a forward, and he scored a total of 159 goals in 554 league games....

 (2), Kennerley
Kevin Kennerley
Kevin Robert Kennerley is an English former footballer who played as a midfielder. An FA Youth Cup winner with Arsenal, he played professional football for Burnley, Port Vale and Swansea City, before he played non-league football with Stafford Rangers, Nantwich Town and Droylsden.-Playing...

R4 29 January 1977 Burnley
Burnley F.C.
Burnley Football Club are a professional English Football League club based in Burnley, Lancashire. Nicknamed the Clarets, due to the dominant colour of their home shirts, they were founder members of the Football League in 1888...

H 2–1 18,068 Tartt
Colin Tartt
Colin Tartt is a former English footballer.-Playing career:Tartt joined Port Vale from Alsager College , initially on trial, in June 1972. His first appearance was as a substitute in a 7–0 drubbing at Rotherham United on 26 August 1972, his first full debut was on 26 September that year in a 4–0...

, Brownbill
Derek Brownbill
Derek Anthony Brownbill is a former English footballer who played as a forward. He played in the Football League for Liverpool and Port Vale between 1973 and 1978, before spells with American side Cleveland Cobras and English non-league clubs Wigan Athletic, Stafford Rangers, Oswestry Town,...

R5 26 February 1977 Aston Villa
Aston Villa F.C.
Aston Villa Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Witton, Birmingham. The club was founded in 1874 and have played at their current home ground, Villa Park, since 1897. Aston Villa were founder members of The Football League in 1888. They were also founder...

A 0–3 46,872

League Cup

RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorers
R1 1st Leg 14 August 1976 Wrexham H 1–1 3,912 Cullerton
Mick Cullerton
Michael Joseph Cullerton is a former Scottish footballer. He is noted for his two spells with Port Vale, as well as for being Stafford Rangers' star forward as they were one of the elite non-league clubs in the 1970s....

 (pen)
R1 2nd Leg 18 August 1976 Wrexham A 0–1 4,320

Appearances

Pos. Name Football League FA Cup League Cup Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
GK   John Connaughton
John Connaughton
Patrick John Connaughton is an English former professional football goalkeeper. He played 387 games in a sixteen year career. He also represented England at youth level on three occasions....

38 0 4 0 2 0 44 0
GK   Trevor Dance
Trevor Dance
Trevor Dance is a former English footballer.-Playing career:Dance joined Port Vale as an apprentice in August, signing his first professional forms in July 1976 and making his debut in a 2–1 defeat at Mansfield Town on 28 December 1976...

8 0 2 0 0 0 12 0
DF   John Brodie
John Brodie (footballer born 1947)
John Brodie is a former English footballer.-Playing career:Brodie played for Whitley Bay, Carlisle United and Bradford Park Avenue before joining Port Vale for £250 in January 1971....

3 0 0 0 0 0 3 0
DF   Neil Griffiths
Neil Griffiths (footballer)
Neil Griffiths is a former English footballer.-Playing career:Griffiths joined Port Vale from Chester in exchange for £5,000 and Tony Loska in December 1973. He lined up against his old club in the final of the 1977 Debenhams Cup and scored an own goal in a 4–1 defeat...

30 0 6 1 2 0 40 2
DF   David Harris
David Harris (footballer)
David Harris is a former English football defender who had a six year professional career in the Football League with Port Vale from 1973 to 1979. He was voted the club's Player of the Year in 1974 and 1977...

40 0 6 0 0 0 48 0
DF   Garry Dulson
Garry Dulson
Garry Dulson is a former English footballer.-Playing career:Dulson played for Nottingham Forest before joining Port Vale on loan in October 1974 and signing permanently for £5,000 the next month. He enjoyed fairly regular football over the next four seasons but was loaned to Crewe Alexandra in...

28 1 0 0 1 0 29 1
DF   Bobby Thomson
Bobby Thomson (footballer born 1943)
Robert Anthony "Bobby" Thomson was an English professional footballer. He made 478 appearances in the Football League and won eight caps for England....

18 0 6 0 0 0 24 0
DF   Eric Skeels
Eric Skeels
Eric Thomas Skeels is an English former footballer. He played 512 games in the Football League, 507 for Stoke City. He is Stoke's record appearance holder having played in 592 matches in all competitions.-Playing career:...

5 1 0 0 0 0 5 1
DF   Ian Osborne
Ian Osborne
Ian Leonard Osborne is an English former professional footballer who played in the Football League for Birmingham City and Port Vale....

15 0 0 0 2 0 17 0
DF   Andy Clements
Andy Clements
Andrew Paul Clements is a former English footballer.-Playing career:Clements started his career with Bolton Wanderers before joining...

3 0 0 0 0 0 3 0
DF   Terry Alcock
Terry Alcock
Terrence "Terry" Alcock is an English former professional football defender.He played for Port Vale from 1963 to 1967, before spending nine years with Blackpool. He played over 100 appearances for Port Vale in the Football League and almost 200 appearances for Blackpool...

1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
MF   Tommy McLaren
Tommy McLaren
Thomas "Tommy" McLaren was a Scottish footballer who played as a midfielder.He moved from Berwick Rangers to Port Vale in November 1967. He spent ten years at Vale Park, racking up 369 league and cup appearances...

33 0 4 0 0 0 39 0
MF   Colin Tartt
Colin Tartt
Colin Tartt is a former English footballer.-Playing career:Tartt joined Port Vale from Alsager College , initially on trial, in June 1972. His first appearance was as a substitute in a 7–0 drubbing at Rotherham United on 26 August 1972, his first full debut was on 26 September that year in a 4–0...

25 3 4 1 2 0 31 4
MF   John Ridley
John Ridley (footballer)
John Ridley is an English former footballer. A versatile midfielder, he had a twelve year professional career in the Football League, playing for Port Vale and Chesterfield, as well as Leicester City. He also played for non-league Stafford Rangers and for American side Fort Lauderdale Strikers.He...

35 1 6 0 2 0 45 1
MF   Terry Bailey
Terry Bailey
Terence "Terry" Bailey is a former English footballer who played as a midfielder. His son Mark Bailey also played professional football.After a brief association with Winsford United, he joined Stafford Rangers in 1968...

39 2 6 0 2 0 49 2
MF   Kenny Beech
Kenny Beech
Kenneth "Kenny" Beech is a former English footballer. A midfielder, he played for Port Vale between 1976 and 1981, picking up the club's Player of the Year award in 1980, also playing on loan at American club Cleveland Cobras in 1978. In 1981 he was sold to Walsall, before he moved on to...

27 4 4 0 2 0 35 4
MF   Alan Lamb 14 0 0 0 0 0 15 0
MF   Peter Sutcliffe
Peter Sutcliffe (footballer)
Peter David Sutcliffe is a former English footballer.-Playing career:Sutcliffe played for Manchester United and Stockport County before he joined Port Vale for £3,000 in March 1977...

12 1 0 0 0 0 14 1
MF   Kevin Kennerley
Kevin Kennerley
Kevin Robert Kennerley is an English former footballer who played as a midfielder. An FA Youth Cup winner with Arsenal, he played professional football for Burnley, Port Vale and Swansea City, before he played non-league football with Stafford Rangers, Nantwich Town and Droylsden.-Playing...

23 1 4 1 2 0 30 2
MF   Chris Dangerfield
Chris Dangerfield
Christopher George "Chris" Dangerfield is a retired English footballer. He began his career in England before playing ten seasons in the North American Soccer League and at least one in the Western Soccer Alliance....

2 0 0 0 0 0 2 0
MF   Geoff Davies
Geoff Davies
Geoffrey Peter "Geoff" Davies is an English retired professional footballer who played in England and the United States as a midfielder.-Playing career:...

7 0 0 0 0 0 7 0
FW   Ray Williams
Ray Williams (footballer)
Raymond "Ray" Williams is an English former footballer who played as a striker. He now works as a commentator at BBC Radio Stoke....

21 2 4 1 2 0 27 3
FW   Derek Brownbill
Derek Brownbill
Derek Anthony Brownbill is a former English footballer who played as a forward. He played in the Football League for Liverpool and Port Vale between 1973 and 1978, before spells with American side Cleveland Cobras and English non-league clubs Wigan Athletic, Stafford Rangers, Oswestry Town,...

19 2 2 1 2 0 23 3
FW   Mick Cullerton
Mick Cullerton
Michael Joseph Cullerton is a former Scottish footballer. He is noted for his two spells with Port Vale, as well as for being Stafford Rangers' star forward as they were one of the elite non-league clubs in the 1970s....

25 9 0 0 1 1 28 10
FW   John Rogers
John Rogers (English footballer)
John Charles Rogers is an English former footballer who played as a centre-forward.He moved from Burscough to Wigan Athletic, then competing in the Northern Premier League, in 1972...

26 6 6 2 0 0 34 8
FW   Ken Beamish
Ken Beamish
Kenneth George "Ken" Beamish is an English former football player, coach and manager. In his playing days he was a forward, and he scored a total of 159 goals in 554 league games....

37 12 5 4 0 0 44 18
FW   Dean Martin
Dean Martin (footballer born 1957)
Dean Paul Martin is an English former footballer.-Playing career:Martin played for Stoke City before joining local rivals Port Vale on trial in July 1976. He appeared as a substitute in a 1–0 defeat at Wrexham in a first round Football League Cup match on 18 August 1976. He wasn't selected again...

0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0


All competitions

Scorer Goals
  Ken Beamish
Ken Beamish
Kenneth George "Ken" Beamish is an English former football player, coach and manager. In his playing days he was a forward, and he scored a total of 159 goals in 554 league games....

18
  Mick Cullerton
Mick Cullerton
Michael Joseph Cullerton is a former Scottish footballer. He is noted for his two spells with Port Vale, as well as for being Stafford Rangers' star forward as they were one of the elite non-league clubs in the 1970s....

10
  John Rogers
John Rogers (English footballer)
John Charles Rogers is an English former footballer who played as a centre-forward.He moved from Burscough to Wigan Athletic, then competing in the Northern Premier League, in 1972...

8
  Kenny Beech
Kenny Beech
Kenneth "Kenny" Beech is a former English footballer. A midfielder, he played for Port Vale between 1976 and 1981, picking up the club's Player of the Year award in 1980, also playing on loan at American club Cleveland Cobras in 1978. In 1981 he was sold to Walsall, before he moved on to...

4
  Colin Tartt
Colin Tartt
Colin Tartt is a former English footballer.-Playing career:Tartt joined Port Vale from Alsager College , initially on trial, in June 1972. His first appearance was as a substitute in a 7–0 drubbing at Rotherham United on 26 August 1972, his first full debut was on 26 September that year in a 4–0...

  Ray Williams
Ray Williams (footballer)
Raymond "Ray" Williams is an English former footballer who played as a striker. He now works as a commentator at BBC Radio Stoke....

2
  Derek Brownbill
Derek Brownbill
Derek Anthony Brownbill is a former English footballer who played as a forward. He played in the Football League for Liverpool and Port Vale between 1973 and 1978, before spells with American side Cleveland Cobras and English non-league clubs Wigan Athletic, Stafford Rangers, Oswestry Town,...

  Terry Bailey
Terry Bailey
Terence "Terry" Bailey is a former English footballer who played as a midfielder. His son Mark Bailey also played professional football.After a brief association with Winsford United, he joined Stafford Rangers in 1968...

2
  Neil Griffiths
Neil Griffiths (footballer)
Neil Griffiths is a former English footballer.-Playing career:Griffiths joined Port Vale from Chester in exchange for £5,000 and Tony Loska in December 1973. He lined up against his old club in the final of the 1977 Debenhams Cup and scored an own goal in a 4–1 defeat...

  Kevin Kennerley
Kevin Kennerley
Kevin Robert Kennerley is an English former footballer who played as a midfielder. An FA Youth Cup winner with Arsenal, he played professional football for Burnley, Port Vale and Swansea City, before he played non-league football with Stafford Rangers, Nantwich Town and Droylsden.-Playing...

  Garry Dulson
Garry Dulson
Garry Dulson is a former English footballer.-Playing career:Dulson played for Nottingham Forest before joining Port Vale on loan in October 1974 and signing permanently for £5,000 the next month. He enjoyed fairly regular football over the next four seasons but was loaned to Crewe Alexandra in...

1
  Eric Skeels
Eric Skeels
Eric Thomas Skeels is an English former footballer. He played 512 games in the Football League, 507 for Stoke City. He is Stoke's record appearance holder having played in 592 matches in all competitions.-Playing career:...

  John Ridley
John Ridley (footballer)
John Ridley is an English former footballer. A versatile midfielder, he had a twelve year professional career in the Football League, playing for Port Vale and Chesterfield, as well as Leicester City. He also played for non-league Stafford Rangers and for American side Fort Lauderdale Strikers.He...

  Peter Sutcliffe
Peter Sutcliffe (footballer)
Peter David Sutcliffe is a former English footballer.-Playing career:Sutcliffe played for Manchester United and Stockport County before he joined Port Vale for £3,000 in March 1977...


League

Scorer Goals
  Ken Beamish
Ken Beamish
Kenneth George "Ken" Beamish is an English former football player, coach and manager. In his playing days he was a forward, and he scored a total of 159 goals in 554 league games....

12
  Mick Cullerton
Mick Cullerton
Michael Joseph Cullerton is a former Scottish footballer. He is noted for his two spells with Port Vale, as well as for being Stafford Rangers' star forward as they were one of the elite non-league clubs in the 1970s....

9
  John Rogers
John Rogers (English footballer)
John Charles Rogers is an English former footballer who played as a centre-forward.He moved from Burscough to Wigan Athletic, then competing in the Northern Premier League, in 1972...

6
  Kenny Beech
Kenny Beech
Kenneth "Kenny" Beech is a former English footballer. A midfielder, he played for Port Vale between 1976 and 1981, picking up the club's Player of the Year award in 1980, also playing on loan at American club Cleveland Cobras in 1978. In 1981 he was sold to Walsall, before he moved on to...

4
  Colin Tartt
Colin Tartt
Colin Tartt is a former English footballer.-Playing career:Tartt joined Port Vale from Alsager College , initially on trial, in June 1972. His first appearance was as a substitute in a 7–0 drubbing at Rotherham United on 26 August 1972, his first full debut was on 26 September that year in a 4–0...

3
  Ray Williams
Ray Williams (footballer)
Raymond "Ray" Williams is an English former footballer who played as a striker. He now works as a commentator at BBC Radio Stoke....

2
  Derek Brownbill
Derek Brownbill
Derek Anthony Brownbill is a former English footballer who played as a forward. He played in the Football League for Liverpool and Port Vale between 1973 and 1978, before spells with American side Cleveland Cobras and English non-league clubs Wigan Athletic, Stafford Rangers, Oswestry Town,...

  Terry Bailey
Terry Bailey
Terence "Terry" Bailey is a former English footballer who played as a midfielder. His son Mark Bailey also played professional football.After a brief association with Winsford United, he joined Stafford Rangers in 1968...

  Kevin Kennerley
Kevin Kennerley
Kevin Robert Kennerley is an English former footballer who played as a midfielder. An FA Youth Cup winner with Arsenal, he played professional football for Burnley, Port Vale and Swansea City, before he played non-league football with Stafford Rangers, Nantwich Town and Droylsden.-Playing...

1
  Garry Dulson
Garry Dulson
Garry Dulson is a former English footballer.-Playing career:Dulson played for Nottingham Forest before joining Port Vale on loan in October 1974 and signing permanently for £5,000 the next month. He enjoyed fairly regular football over the next four seasons but was loaned to Crewe Alexandra in...

  Eric Skeels
Eric Skeels
Eric Thomas Skeels is an English former footballer. He played 512 games in the Football League, 507 for Stoke City. He is Stoke's record appearance holder having played in 592 matches in all competitions.-Playing career:...

  John Ridley
John Ridley (footballer)
John Ridley is an English former footballer. A versatile midfielder, he had a twelve year professional career in the Football League, playing for Port Vale and Chesterfield, as well as Leicester City. He also played for non-league Stafford Rangers and for American side Fort Lauderdale Strikers.He...

  Peter Sutcliffe
Peter Sutcliffe (footballer)
Peter David Sutcliffe is a former English footballer.-Playing career:Sutcliffe played for Manchester United and Stockport County before he joined Port Vale for £3,000 in March 1977...

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