2010–11 Port Vale F.C. season
Encyclopedia
The 2010–11 season
was Port Vale
's ninety-ninth season of football in the Football League
, and third successive season in League Two
. Vale enjoyed a solid start to the campaign, looking like good prospects for promotion. However Micky Adams
left the club in December to take charge of Sheffield United
, leaving the promotion push to be finished by new man Jim Gannon
. Gannon's traumatic reign ended after just two months; his exit confirmed after players, staff and fans turned against him. Vale exited the FA Cup
at the Third Round, and left both the League Cup
and the League Trophy
at the Second Round. In the background, numerous groups and individuals expressed their willingness to purchase the club. The board turned away these investors – to the anger of some fans, who formed a 'Black and Gold' campaign demanding that the club be sold.
The turbulence of Gannon's reign, typified by a bust-up on a pre-match journey that became known as 'busgate', and the boardroom battle between multi-millionaire Water World owner Mo Chaudry and Bill Bratt's Valiant 2001 led some to call the season a 'soap opera farce'. At the end of the campaign Micky Adams returned as manager, giving fans cause for optimism following a highly disappointing season.
would be approached by his former employers at Championship side Leicester City
, having impressed in his position at Port Vale. Adams continued to make his mark at Vale though, releasing nine players, and signing Sean Rigg, Stuart Tomlinson
, Justin Richards
, Ritchie Sutton
and Gary Roberts
. Lewis Haldane
was rushed into hospital after being bitten by an insect during a training session, forcing him to miss the first half of the season. Adams drafted in Reading
winger Abdulai Bell-Baggie
as a loan replacement for Haldane, and after an initial one month period then replaced Bell-Baggie with Milton Keynes Dons
loanee Jemal Johnson
.
After his side won their opening four away league fixtures for the first time in their history, talks began to extend Adams' contract beyond 2012 as early as September 2010. Five wins in five for September saw Adam's gifted the League Two Manager of the Month award, his team also boasting five clean sheets. In October, Anthony Malbon
was loaned out to Newcastle Town
, and was later released so as to allow him to join Leek Town
permanently. Taking Malbon's place on the bench was Jake Speight
, who joined on a two month loan from Bradford City
. Micky Adams was also handed the award for November, after his club advanced into the Third Round of the FA Cup and rose to the top of the League Two table on the back of five clean sheets in seven games. For his strong performances, John McCombe
was also nominated for the League Two player of the month award. Departing for his boyhood club Sheffield United
at the end of December 2010, Micky Adams left Vale in second position in League Two, though on a poor run of form.
Jim Gannon
was confirmed as manager on 6 January, signing a contract that lasted until summer 2012. Saying that finishing outside of the top seven would be a failure, the Cheshire
-based manager's first task after 'burying the hatchet' with Gareth Owen was to look for a new striker, as injuries struck down both Marc Richards
and Doug Loft
. Two weeks into his reign club captain Tommy Fraser
left the club by mutual consent, and signed with Barnet
. Marc Richards was handed the captaincy. Gannon brought in Romaine Sawyers
and Kayelden Brown
on loan from West Bromwich Albion
, Jay O'Shea on loan from Birmingham City
, Exodus Geohaghon
on loan from Peterborough United
, and striker Tom Pope
on loan from Rotherham United
. Losing four of his first five games in charge, Gannon was forced to respond to criticism over his team selections and substitutions, and announced plans to expand the club's non-playing staff. On 1 February the players met with the Chairman and rumours spread that Gannon had 'lost the dressing room', as comparisons were made with the tenure of Brian Clough
in The Damned United
. Yet the next day an O'Shea volley gave Vale a 1-0 win over promotion rivals Rotherham United
to give Gannon his first win in charge at the club.
However tension remained, as proven at the end of the month when it was reported that Gannon left the team bus on a pre-match journey after rowing with assistant manager Geoff Horsfield
(who had been appointed by Adams). Gannon had previously told the press his staff were 'underqualified', though insisted any changes would be 'implemented at a later stage' and that Horsfield was a 'great assistant'. This came on the same day that local paper The Sentinel]] (Staffordshire) ran an editorial that questioned his loan signings, his decision to drop Gary Roberts
and branded his tactics and team selections as baffling. After Horsfield was told to stay away from the club for two weeks he was invited back to his assistant role as before, with no disciplinary action taken against either party. As the club fell to seventh in the tale, Gannon made another loan signing by bringing Dominic Blizzard
in from Bristol Rovers
. Results continued to go against the Vale though, as on 19 March they lost 3–0 at Accrington Stanley
, and as a result dropped out of the play-off zone for the first time in the season. Ugly post-match scenes at the Crown Ground saw Geohaghon confront fans who singled him out for abuse, whilst Gannon was ushered quietly out of the back door. Roberts told the media "I don't think the manager likes me and, to be honest, I don't like him". Rumours circulated that Gannon would soon be on his way out. These rumours were proved accurate two days later, as Gannon's departure was confirmed by the club. Loan signing Blizzard also left. Mark Grew
took over as caretaker-manager, though following a 2 April defeat to leaders Chesterfield
he was forced to admit that automatic promotion was now out of reach. Later in the month Grew released Kristian Cox
, before a home defeat to bottom of the table Stockport County
on 23 April meant that winning their remaining three games no longer guaranteed them a play-off spot. Their penultimate game of the season was a 7–2 mauling of Morecambe
, which saw Louis Dodds
and Justin Richards score the first hat-tricks at Vale Park since Martin Foyle
hit three in 1994
. This was also the club's biggest home victory in more than fifty years
. The final game of the season saw a celebratory pitch invasion at Underhill
, as Barnet secured their Football League season with a 1–0 victory over Vale.
They finished in eleventh place with 65 points, one position and three points less than the previous campaign. Only Stevenage conceded fewer goals, though outside of the bottom two only Bradford City
and Hereford United
scored fewer goals. They finished three points short of the play-offs following a point deduction to Torquay United
, and finished behind Crewe Alexandra on goal difference. Marc Richards was top-scorer for the third successive season, this time netting twenty goals in all competitions. Justin Richards finished with fourteen goals, and no other player managed to hit double figures.
At the end of the season Doug Loft and Adam Yates signed new two year deals. Gareth Owen had announced a move to rivals Crewe Alexandra, however when Micky Adams signed a three year contract to return as manager, Owen reversed his decision and signed a two year deal as player-coach at Vale Park. Only full-back Kris Taylor
and youth team graduate Matthew Bell were not offered new contracts by Adams. Taylor moved on to Darlington
and Bell signed with Mansfield Town
- both Conference clubs. Defender Sutton also made the switch to Mansfield. However chief scout Ray Williams
did not have his contract renewed, after 39 years of service to the club, after falling out with the board.
claimed to be unhappy with Newton's policy of negotiating in public (who had by then upped his offer to £500,000), and so Bratt remained as chairman. Newton claimed that his "efforts to become chairman and to invest in the club have been hampered and made almost impossible" by Bratt and his board, and said that the reasons giving to reject his investment were "one long round of excuses". Bratt was forced to deny claims by Newton that the club were heading for administration
under his leadership. In September 2010 Bratt gave up his role as Chief Executive, but remained as Chairman, denying that this decision was influenced by the recent Newton takeover bid. By this time the club's debts were estimated at around £2m
, a level described by Bratt as "manageable". The nine man board's share total was valued at £359,400.
In December 2010 local businessman and Water World
owner Mo Chaudry went public with his investment proposal for the club, however Bratt said it was the first he had heard of the proposal, despite Chandry's legal advisor's claims they had spoken and that "it was made clear to me the club wasn't interested in selling to Mo Chaudry." The board swiftly and unanimously rejected the £1.3 million proposal. Following another anti-board protest from Vale supporters and the resignation of director Mike Thompstone, Bratt and his team decided to re-examine the Chaudry bid. In January 2011, another group of prospective investors, this time a group of Texas
businessmen, announced they had pulled out of talks with Bratt's board. The group said: "the deal is completely dead because the directors don't want to sell the club... we believe they [the Vale] are run by the wrong people... [and] we didn't get anything apart from a cup of tea before watching a game." Fans began a protest movement called "Black and Gold Until it's Sold" – inspired by Manchester United
's anti-Glazer scarf protest – in which fans wore black and gold scarves to symbolize their opposition to Bratt and the board.
By February, Chaudry had agreed to sign a confidentiality agreement, and face-to-face negotiations began. Chaudry was keen to accelerate the negotiations, accusing Bratt of stalling. Chaudry had the stadium revalued at £3.4m, some £2.3m less than stated in the board's accounts - Staffordshire University
academic Ian Jackson commented that these were a part of the "skirmishes of negotiation". Despite this Chaudry's 12 March takeover deadline passed without comment from the Vale board, though another director, Paul Humphreys, resigned his position. Chaudry then teamed up with another local businessmen, Mark Sims, in order to purchase the maximum allowed 24.9% of shares each (to give them a combined total of 49.8% control). In addition to the 'Black and Gold' campaign, two further fan-based organizations, 'Starve Em Out' and 'North London Valiants', attempted to oust Bratt and his directors out of power at the club. Simms and Chaudry withdrew their joint bid after the Vale directors refused to discuss the proposal, calling the duo's proposal "not at all valid". Further resignations took the Vale board down to just five members.
Facing an EGM, Chaudry's cause was boosted when Broxap CEO Robert Lee announced that he would sell his £50,000 worth of shares to Chaudry, making the board's removal at the EGM more likely (however Broxap later reversed their decision on the day of the EGM). However just ten days before the EGM Bratt announced a ten year £1.6 million sponsorship deal with Ameriturf Global Sports. A further twist came five days later, when Robbie Williams
handed his 24.9% worth of EGM proxy votes over to Port Vale Supporters' Club. Many believed this would ensure the end of Bratt's reign, despite his warning that fans should "look at other clubs who have gone down this line and they have no longer got their ground and are paying vast sums in rent". The result of the EGM was a vote of no confidence in the board; directors Peter Jackson and Stan Meigh were voted out, however the controversial '24.9% rule' survived - to Chaudry's disappointment. Also remaining were Chairman Bill Bratt
and directors Glenn Oliver and Mike Lloyd, three of the original nine that started the season. Each facing an individual vote, they received 51.07%, 50.64%, and 50.21% of the vote respectively. The three survived as Broxap sold their shares to an unnamed director at the last minute, not to Chaudry as they had originally promised. Speaking of the change of heart from Broxap, Chaudry stated that "the board have engaged in dirty tricks from day one and there have been more at the 11th hour." Many fans expressed disappointment at the result, though Chaudry again announced he "will not walk away". The future remained unclear, with both Bratt and Chaudry taking gains and losses from the EGM. The club's constitution required four directors for the board to be considered valid, and so the board welcomed new director Mark Sims, a Chaudry supporter, who was voted on to the board at the EGM after he was sponsored by Robbie Williams. Sims stated his intention of convincing the three original directors of the merits of Chaudry's bid. The board also invited supporters group North London Valiants to nominate a director. The EGM disrupted manager Micky Adams
' transfer plans as the club's constitution stipulated that at least four directors must be in place for financial transactions such as issuing new contracts to take place. In a shock move Adams announced that he intended to take up a directorship at the club, purchasing £50,000 worth of shares with his own money (though former director Stan Meigh later said that it was he who provided the money) he declared that "this is a purely footballing decision... I understand that the last few months have been difficult for everyone and am asking all of our supporters to put their differences aside, to support my candidacy for the Board and then to get behind the team in the coming season." Supporters' groups opposed to Bill Bratt
's chairmanship did not welcome the news.
, Vale nearly slipped up at Princes Park
to Conference South
Dartford
, and were saved only by a 84th minute John McCombe
header. Vale made no mistake in the replay, dispatching the "Darts" with a 4–0 win. They booked themselves a Third Round date at Turf Moor
with Championship club Burnley
with a 1–0 home win over Accrington Stanley
. The Burnley game was Gannon's first game in charge, and resulted in a 4–2 defeat.
In the League Cup
, Vale managed to defeat a Championship
side by slaying high-flying Queens Park Rangers
3–1 at Loftus Road
, new signing Richards scoring twice. Premier League opposition proved to be too much of a challenge however, as a strong Fulham
side destroyed the Vale 6–0 at Craven Cottage
– Zoltán Gera
and Bobby Zamora
both bagging braces.
In the League Trophy
, both the Richards strikers struck down Rochdale
with a 2–1 win. League One
Carlisle United
awaited in the Second Round at Brunton Park
, and vanquished the "Valiants" on penalties following a 2–2 draw.
*Torquay United deducted 1 point for fielding an unregistered player.
‡Hereford United deducted 3 points for fielding an unregistered player.
|}
2010–11 Football League
The Football League 2010–11, called the Npower Football League, was the 111th completed season of the Football League. It began in August 2010 and concluded in May 2011, with the promotion play-off finals....
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 ninety-ninth 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 third successive season in League Two
Football League Two
Football League Two is the third-highest division of The Football League and fourth-highest division overall in the English football league system....
. Vale enjoyed a solid start to the campaign, looking like good prospects for promotion. However Micky Adams
Micky Adams
Michael Richard "Micky" Adams is an English former professional footballer turned football manager who is in charge of League Two side Port Vale. As a player he was a full back, and made a total of 438 league appearances in a nineteen year professional career in the Football League, including five...
left the club in December to take charge of Sheffield United
Sheffield United F.C.
Sheffield United Football Club is a professional English football club based in the city of Sheffield, South Yorkshire.They were the first sporting team to use the name 'United' and are nicknamed 'The Blades', thanks to Sheffield's worldwide reputation for steel production...
, leaving the promotion push to be finished by new man Jim Gannon
Jim Gannon
James Paul "Jim" Gannon is a former footballer and football manager, who is now Director of football and manager of Conference National team Stockport County...
. Gannon's traumatic reign ended after just two months; his exit confirmed after players, staff and fans turned against him. Vale exited 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...
at the Third Round, and left both 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...
and the League Trophy
Football League Trophy
The Football League Trophy, currently known as the Johnstone's Paint Trophy for sponsorship reasons, is an annual English association football knock-out competition open to the 48 clubs in Football League One and Football League Two, the bottom two divisions in the four fully professional top...
at the Second Round. In the background, numerous groups and individuals expressed their willingness to purchase the club. The board turned away these investors – to the anger of some fans, who formed a 'Black and Gold' campaign demanding that the club be sold.
The turbulence of Gannon's reign, typified by a bust-up on a pre-match journey that became known as 'busgate', and the boardroom battle between multi-millionaire Water World owner Mo Chaudry and Bill Bratt's Valiant 2001 led some to call the season a 'soap opera farce'. At the end of the campaign Micky Adams returned as manager, giving fans cause for optimism following a highly disappointing season.
League Two
Before the start of the season there was speculation that manager Micky AdamsMicky Adams
Michael Richard "Micky" Adams is an English former professional footballer turned football manager who is in charge of League Two side Port Vale. As a player he was a full back, and made a total of 438 league appearances in a nineteen year professional career in the Football League, including five...
would be approached by his former employers at Championship side Leicester City
Leicester City F.C.
Leicester City Football Club , also known as The Foxes, is an English professional football club based at the King Power Stadium in Leicester...
, having impressed in his position at Port Vale. Adams continued to make his mark at Vale though, releasing nine players, and signing Sean Rigg, Stuart Tomlinson
Stuart Tomlinson
Stuart Charles Tomlinson is an English football goalkeeper who plays for League Two side Port Vale. Though a solid all-round keeper, he is a particularly strong shot-stopper....
, Justin Richards
Justin Richards (footballer)
Justin Donovan Richards is an English footballer who plays for League Two side Burton Albion. A striker, he has a tally of around one goal every three games, playing in the Conference and lower reaches of the Football League...
, Ritchie Sutton
Ritchie Sutton
Ritchie Aidan Sutton is an English footballer who plays for Mansfield Town as a defender. He can operative as a centre-back or a full-back....
and Gary Roberts
Gary Roberts (footballer born 1987)
Gary Steven Roberts is an English footballer who plays for League Two side Port Vale. A deep-lying playmaker, he has been praised for his vision and ball distribution skills...
. Lewis Haldane
Lewis Haldane
Lewis Oliver Haldane is a Welsh under-21 international football winger who plays for League Two side Port Vale....
was rushed into hospital after being bitten by an insect during a training session, forcing him to miss the first half of the season. Adams drafted in 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...
winger Abdulai Bell-Baggie
Abdulai Bell-Baggie
Abdulai Hindolo Bell-Baggie is a professional football winger, who plays for Football League One club Yeovil Town.Born in Sierra Leone, Bell-Baggie has represented both the England under-16 and England under-17 national teams...
as a loan replacement for Haldane, and after an initial one month period then replaced Bell-Baggie with Milton Keynes Dons
Milton Keynes Dons F.C.
.Milton Keynes Dons Football Club is an English professional football club founded in 2004 and based since 2007 at Stadium mk, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire...
loanee Jemal Johnson
Jemal Johnson
Jemal Jermaine Johnson is an Anglo-American soccer player who plays for English side Southend United in League Two.He started his career at Premier League Blackburn Rovers, making several appearances for the club between 2004 and 2006, having graduated through the club's academy. After a season at...
.
After his side won their opening four away league fixtures for the first time in their history, talks began to extend Adams' contract beyond 2012 as early as September 2010. Five wins in five for September saw Adam's gifted the League Two Manager of the Month award, his team also boasting five clean sheets. In October, Anthony Malbon
Anthony Malbon
Anthony Jordan Malbon is an English footballer who plays for Northern Premier League Division One South club Newcastle Town. He played for Port Vale between 2009–10, before he signed with Leek Town in summer 2010. He moved onto Newcastle the following year...
was loaned out to Newcastle Town
Newcastle Town F.C.
Newcastle Town F.C. are an English football club based in Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire. They play in the Northern Premier League First Division South. They are full members of the Staffordshire Football Association.-History:...
, and was later released so as to allow him to join 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...
permanently. Taking Malbon's place on the bench was Jake Speight
Jake Speight
Jake Carl Speight is an English football striker who plays for Conference club Wrexham.Starting his career working through the Sheffield United youth team, in 2005 he signed with Scarborough, and later Bury. He dropp down to Conference football between 2007 and 2010, playing for Northwich...
, who joined on a two month loan from Bradford City
Bradford City A.F.C.
Bradford City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Bradford, West Yorkshire, playing in League Two....
. Micky Adams was also handed the award for November, after his club advanced into the Third Round of the FA Cup and rose to the top of the League Two table on the back of five clean sheets in seven games. For his strong performances, John McCombe
John McCombe
John Paul McCombe is an English footballer who plays for League Two side Port Vale. His brother Jamie is also a professional footballer....
was also nominated for the League Two player of the month award. Departing for his boyhood club Sheffield United
Sheffield United F.C.
Sheffield United Football Club is a professional English football club based in the city of Sheffield, South Yorkshire.They were the first sporting team to use the name 'United' and are nicknamed 'The Blades', thanks to Sheffield's worldwide reputation for steel production...
at the end of December 2010, Micky Adams left Vale in second position in League Two, though on a poor run of form.
Jim Gannon
Jim Gannon
James Paul "Jim" Gannon is a former footballer and football manager, who is now Director of football and manager of Conference National team Stockport County...
was confirmed as manager on 6 January, signing a contract that lasted until summer 2012. Saying that finishing outside of the top seven would be a failure, the Cheshire
Cheshire
Cheshire is a ceremonial county in North West England. Cheshire's county town is the city of Chester, although its largest town is Warrington. Other major towns include Widnes, Congleton, Crewe, Ellesmere Port, Runcorn, Macclesfield, Winsford, Northwich, and Wilmslow...
-based manager's first task after 'burying the hatchet' with Gareth Owen was to look for a new striker, as injuries struck down both Marc Richards
Marc Richards
Marc John Richards is an English professional footballer who plays as striker. He is the captain of League Two side Port Vale....
and Doug Loft
Doug Loft
Douglas James "Doug" Loft is an English footballer who plays for League Two side Port Vale as a midfielder....
. Two weeks into his reign club captain Tommy Fraser
Tommy Fraser
Thomas Francis Peter "Tommy" Fraser is a professional footballer, who is without a club having departed Barnet in November 2011. A central midfielder, he can also play on the right wing....
left the club by mutual consent, and signed with Barnet
Barnet F.C.
Barnet Football Club is an English football team from High Barnet, London, England, currently playing in Football League Two. The ground is in the town of Barnet within the London Borough of Barnet....
. Marc Richards was handed the captaincy. Gannon brought in Romaine Sawyers
Romaine Sawyers
Romaine Theodore Sawyers is an English footballer playing as a midfielder for Premier League side West Bromwich Albion and internationally represents Saint Kitts and Nevis national football team, where he has played for the under-23s.-Club career:Sawyers first made the West Bromwich Albion...
and Kayelden Brown
Kayelden Brown
Kayelden Courtney L. Brown is an English-born Welsh footballer who plays as a midfielder for West Bromwich Albion.-Club career:...
on loan from West Bromwich Albion
West Bromwich Albion F.C.
West Bromwich Albion Football Club, also known as West Brom, The Baggies, The Throstles, Albion or WBA, are an English Premier League association football club based in West Bromwich in the West Midlands...
, Jay O'Shea on loan from 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...
, Exodus Geohaghon
Exodus Geohaghon
Exodus Isaac Geohaghon is an English footballer who plays as a defender for Football League Two club Dagenham & Redbridge on loan from Conference National club Darlington....
on loan from 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...
, and striker Tom Pope
Tom Pope
Thomas John "Tom" Pope is a professional English footballer who plays as a centre forward for League Two side Port Vale....
on loan from 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...
. Losing four of his first five games in charge, Gannon was forced to respond to criticism over his team selections and substitutions, and announced plans to expand the club's non-playing staff. On 1 February the players met with the Chairman and rumours spread that Gannon had 'lost the dressing room', as comparisons were made with the tenure of Brian Clough
Brian Clough
Brian Howard Clough, OBE was an English footballer and football manager. He is most notable for his success with Derby County and Nottingham Forest. His achievement of winning back-to-back European Cups with Nottingham Forest, a traditionally moderate provincial English club, is considered to be...
in The Damned United
The Damned United
The Damned United is a 2009 British sports drama film directed by Tom Hooper and adapted by Peter Morgan from David Peace's bestselling novel The Damned Utd, a largely fictional book based on the author's interpretation of Brian Clough's tenure as manager of Leeds United...
. Yet the next day an O'Shea volley gave Vale a 1-0 win over promotion rivals 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...
to give Gannon his first win in charge at the club.
However tension remained, as proven at the end of the month when it was reported that Gannon left the team bus on a pre-match journey after rowing with assistant manager Geoff Horsfield
Geoff Horsfield
Geoffrey Malcolm "Geoff" Horsfield is an English former professional footballer, now football coach. He made more than 300 appearances in the Football League playing as a striker. He is now a coach at Port Vale....
(who had been appointed by Adams). Gannon had previously told the press his staff were 'underqualified', though insisted any changes would be 'implemented at a later stage' and that Horsfield was a 'great assistant'. This came on the same day that local paper The Sentinel]] (Staffordshire) ran an editorial that questioned his loan signings, his decision to drop Gary Roberts
Gary Roberts (footballer born 1987)
Gary Steven Roberts is an English footballer who plays for League Two side Port Vale. A deep-lying playmaker, he has been praised for his vision and ball distribution skills...
and branded his tactics and team selections as baffling. After Horsfield was told to stay away from the club for two weeks he was invited back to his assistant role as before, with no disciplinary action taken against either party. As the club fell to seventh in the tale, Gannon made another loan signing by bringing Dominic Blizzard
Dominic Blizzard
Dominic John Blizzard is an English football midfielder who plays for League One side Yeovil Town....
in from Bristol Rovers
Bristol Rovers F.C.
Bristol Rovers Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Bristol, that competes in Football League Two. The team plays its home matches at the Memorial Stadium, in the Horfield area of the city....
. Results continued to go against the Vale though, as on 19 March they lost 3–0 at Accrington Stanley
Accrington Stanley F.C.
Accrington Stanley is an English association football club from Accrington in Lancashire, in the North West of England, who play in Football League Two, the fourth-highest division in the English football league system....
, and as a result dropped out of the play-off zone for the first time in the season. Ugly post-match scenes at the Crown Ground saw Geohaghon confront fans who singled him out for abuse, whilst Gannon was ushered quietly out of the back door. Roberts told the media "I don't think the manager likes me and, to be honest, I don't like him". Rumours circulated that Gannon would soon be on his way out. These rumours were proved accurate two days later, as Gannon's departure was confirmed by the club. Loan signing Blizzard also left. Mark Grew
Mark Grew
Mark Stuart Grew is an English former football goalkeeper, now assistant manager to Micky Adams at Port Vale. On three occasions he has also served as the club's caretaker-manager, most recently from March to May in 2011....
took over as caretaker-manager, though following a 2 April defeat to leaders 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...
he was forced to admit that automatic promotion was now out of reach. Later in the month Grew released Kristian Cox
Kristian Cox
Kristian Cox is an English football striker who was released by Port Vale in 2011.-Playing career:Cox started his career in the youth ranks at Port Vale. He was handed the number 23 shirt for the 2010–11 season, making his debut in a 2–1 defeat at Crewe Alexandra on 15 January 2011 under new...
, before a home defeat to bottom of the table 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...
on 23 April meant that winning their remaining three games no longer guaranteed them a play-off spot. Their penultimate game of the season was a 7–2 mauling of Morecambe
Morecambe F.C.
Morecambe Football Club is an English football club based in Morecambe, Lancashire. It plays its football in League Two, the fourth division of English football, having been promoted in 2007 for the first time in their history to the Football League. They played their home matches at Christie Park...
, which saw Louis Dodds
Louis Dodds
Louis Bartholomew Dodds is an English footballer who plays for League Two side Port Vale. He can play either as a midfielder or as a striker....
and Justin Richards score the first hat-tricks at Vale Park since Martin Foyle
Martin Foyle
Martin John Foyle is an English former footballer, turned football manager. In his 20 year playing career he played 533 League games, scoring 155 goals...
hit three in 1994
1994–95 Port Vale F.C. season
The 1994–95 season was Port Vale's eighty-third season of football in the Football League, and first ever season in the First Division following their promotion from the Second Division. John Rudge led his team to safety in the league, whilst reaching the Second Round of the FA Cup and League Cup...
. This was also the club's biggest home victory in more than fifty years
1960–61 Port Vale F.C. season
The 1960–61 season was Port Vale's forty-ninth season of football in the Football League, and their second season in the Third Division. Aiming for promotion, the club were disappointed with their eventual seventh place finish. The first season of the League Cup ended for Vale at the Second Round,...
. The final game of the season saw a celebratory pitch invasion at Underhill
Underhill Stadium
Underhill is the home of Barnet F.C. It is situated in Barnet in the London Borough of Barnet and has a capacity of 6,200. The stadium is famous for its slope from the North to South end. It is also used for Arsenal reserve games....
, as Barnet secured their Football League season with a 1–0 victory over Vale.
They finished in eleventh place with 65 points, one position and three points less than the previous campaign. Only Stevenage conceded fewer goals, though outside of the bottom two only Bradford City
Bradford City A.F.C.
Bradford City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Bradford, West Yorkshire, playing in League Two....
and Hereford United
Hereford United F.C.
Hereford United Football Club is an English professional football club based in the city of Hereford. Founded in 1924, they are competing in Football League Two in the 2011–12 season. Hereford have played at Edgar Street for their entire history and are nicknamed 'The Whites' or 'The Lilywhites',...
scored fewer goals. They finished three points short of the play-offs following a point deduction to Torquay United
Torquay United F.C.
Torquay United Football Club, nicknamed the Gulls, are an English association football club based in the tourist resort town of Torquay, Devon. They played in the Conference National in 2008–09, but were promoted to Football League Two after a 2–0 win over Cambridge United on 17 May 2009 at Wembley...
, and finished behind Crewe Alexandra on goal difference. Marc Richards was top-scorer for the third successive season, this time netting twenty goals in all competitions. Justin Richards finished with fourteen goals, and no other player managed to hit double figures.
At the end of the season Doug Loft and Adam Yates signed new two year deals. Gareth Owen had announced a move to rivals Crewe Alexandra, however when Micky Adams signed a three year contract to return as manager, Owen reversed his decision and signed a two year deal as player-coach at Vale Park. Only full-back Kris Taylor
Kris Taylor
Kris Taylor is an English footballer who plays for Conference National side Darlington.Never making the first team at Manchester United, he spent over three seasons at Walsall, after signing in February 2003. He spent two seasons at Hereford United from 2007 to 2009, before moving on to Port Vale...
and youth team graduate Matthew Bell were not offered new contracts by Adams. Taylor moved on to Darlington
Darlington F.C.
Darlington Football Club is a professional association football club based in Darlington, County Durham, currently playing in the Conference National. The club was founded in 1883, and originally played its games at Feethams, before moving to the Darlington Arena in 2003...
and Bell signed with 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...
- both Conference clubs. Defender Sutton also made the switch to Mansfield. However chief scout 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....
did not have his contract renewed, after 39 years of service to the club, after falling out with the board.
Finances & ownership issues
On the financial side, in the pre-season investor Mike Newton announced that he was willing to invest £400,000 in the club and take the chair of the board. Chairman Bill BrattBill Bratt
William Amos "Bill" Bratt MBE is the former chairman of Port Vale Football Club, who served the club in this post from 2003 to 2011....
claimed to be unhappy with Newton's policy of negotiating in public (who had by then upped his offer to £500,000), and so Bratt remained as chairman. Newton claimed that his "efforts to become chairman and to invest in the club have been hampered and made almost impossible" by Bratt and his board, and said that the reasons giving to reject his investment were "one long round of excuses". Bratt was forced to deny claims by Newton that the club were heading for administration
Administration (British football)
Sports clubs in the United Kingdom, most often in football, sometimes choose to enter administration when they are unable to pay off outstanding debts. Under the Insolvency Act 1986 a business will face a winding up order bringing them to court and if it is shown that a business cannot pay debts as...
under his leadership. In September 2010 Bratt gave up his role as Chief Executive, but remained as Chairman, denying that this decision was influenced by the recent Newton takeover bid. By this time the club's debts were estimated at around £2m
Million
One million or one thousand thousand, is the natural number following 999,999 and preceding 1,000,001. The word is derived from the early Italian millione , from mille, "thousand", plus the augmentative suffix -one.In scientific notation, it is written as or just 106...
, a level described by Bratt as "manageable". The nine man board's share total was valued at £359,400.
In December 2010 local businessman and Water World
Water World, Stoke-on-Trent
WaterWorld attracts 400,000 visitors per year. The park first opened in 1989 and is generally open year round, but is closed for a few days of the week during term time....
owner Mo Chaudry went public with his investment proposal for the club, however Bratt said it was the first he had heard of the proposal, despite Chandry's legal advisor's claims they had spoken and that "it was made clear to me the club wasn't interested in selling to Mo Chaudry." The board swiftly and unanimously rejected the £1.3 million proposal. Following another anti-board protest from Vale supporters and the resignation of director Mike Thompstone, Bratt and his team decided to re-examine the Chaudry bid. In January 2011, another group of prospective investors, this time a group of Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
businessmen, announced they had pulled out of talks with Bratt's board. The group said: "the deal is completely dead because the directors don't want to sell the club... we believe they [the Vale] are run by the wrong people... [and] we didn't get anything apart from a cup of tea before watching a game." Fans began a protest movement called "Black and Gold Until it's Sold" – inspired by Manchester United
Manchester United F.C.
Manchester United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, that plays in the Premier League. Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to Old Trafford in 1910.The 1958...
's anti-Glazer scarf protest – in which fans wore black and gold scarves to symbolize their opposition to Bratt and the board.
By February, Chaudry had agreed to sign a confidentiality agreement, and face-to-face negotiations began. Chaudry was keen to accelerate the negotiations, accusing Bratt of stalling. Chaudry had the stadium revalued at £3.4m, some £2.3m less than stated in the board's accounts - Staffordshire University
Staffordshire University
Staffordshire University is a university with its main campus based in the city of Stoke-on-Trent, and with other campuses in Stafford, Lichfield and Shrewsbury.- History :...
academic Ian Jackson commented that these were a part of the "skirmishes of negotiation". Despite this Chaudry's 12 March takeover deadline passed without comment from the Vale board, though another director, Paul Humphreys, resigned his position. Chaudry then teamed up with another local businessmen, Mark Sims, in order to purchase the maximum allowed 24.9% of shares each (to give them a combined total of 49.8% control). In addition to the 'Black and Gold' campaign, two further fan-based organizations, 'Starve Em Out' and 'North London Valiants', attempted to oust Bratt and his directors out of power at the club. Simms and Chaudry withdrew their joint bid after the Vale directors refused to discuss the proposal, calling the duo's proposal "not at all valid". Further resignations took the Vale board down to just five members.
Facing an EGM, Chaudry's cause was boosted when Broxap CEO Robert Lee announced that he would sell his £50,000 worth of shares to Chaudry, making the board's removal at the EGM more likely (however Broxap later reversed their decision on the day of the EGM). However just ten days before the EGM Bratt announced a ten year £1.6 million sponsorship deal with Ameriturf Global Sports. A further twist came five days later, when Robbie Williams
Robbie Williams
Robert Peter "Robbie" Williams is an English singer-songwriter, vocal coach and occasional actor. He is a member of the pop group Take That. Williams rose to fame in the band's first run in the early- to mid-1990s. After many disagreements with the management and certain group members, Williams...
handed his 24.9% worth of EGM proxy votes over to Port Vale Supporters' Club. Many believed this would ensure the end of Bratt's reign, despite his warning that fans should "look at other clubs who have gone down this line and they have no longer got their ground and are paying vast sums in rent". The result of the EGM was a vote of no confidence in the board; directors Peter Jackson and Stan Meigh were voted out, however the controversial '24.9% rule' survived - to Chaudry's disappointment. Also remaining were Chairman Bill Bratt
Bill Bratt
William Amos "Bill" Bratt MBE is the former chairman of Port Vale Football Club, who served the club in this post from 2003 to 2011....
and directors Glenn Oliver and Mike Lloyd, three of the original nine that started the season. Each facing an individual vote, they received 51.07%, 50.64%, and 50.21% of the vote respectively. The three survived as Broxap sold their shares to an unnamed director at the last minute, not to Chaudry as they had originally promised. Speaking of the change of heart from Broxap, Chaudry stated that "the board have engaged in dirty tricks from day one and there have been more at the 11th hour." Many fans expressed disappointment at the result, though Chaudry again announced he "will not walk away". The future remained unclear, with both Bratt and Chaudry taking gains and losses from the EGM. The club's constitution required four directors for the board to be considered valid, and so the board welcomed new director Mark Sims, a Chaudry supporter, who was voted on to the board at the EGM after he was sponsored by Robbie Williams. Sims stated his intention of convincing the three original directors of the merits of Chaudry's bid. The board also invited supporters group North London Valiants to nominate a director. The EGM disrupted manager Micky Adams
Micky Adams
Michael Richard "Micky" Adams is an English former professional footballer turned football manager who is in charge of League Two side Port Vale. As a player he was a full back, and made a total of 438 league appearances in a nineteen year professional career in the Football League, including five...
' transfer plans as the club's constitution stipulated that at least four directors must be in place for financial transactions such as issuing new contracts to take place. In a shock move Adams announced that he intended to take up a directorship at the club, purchasing £50,000 worth of shares with his own money (though former director Stan Meigh later said that it was he who provided the money) he declared that "this is a purely footballing decision... I understand that the last few months have been difficult for everyone and am asking all of our supporters to put their differences aside, to support my candidacy for the Board and then to get behind the team in the coming season." Supporters' groups opposed to Bill Bratt
Bill Bratt
William Amos "Bill" Bratt MBE is the former chairman of Port Vale Football Club, who served the club in this post from 2003 to 2011....
's chairmanship did not welcome the news.
Cup competitions
In the FA CupFA 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 nearly slipped up at Princes Park
Princes Park, Dartford
Princes Park is a football stadium in Dartford, Kent, England. It is the home of Dartford F.C., Millwall F.C. reserves and Dartford Roadrunners. The stadium's postcode is DA1 1RT, the closest possible representation of the word "Dart". DA1 1FC was unobtainable, as the letter C is not allocated for...
to Conference South
Conference South
Conference South is one of the second divisions of the Football Conference in England, taking its place immediately below the Conference National...
Dartford
Dartford F.C.
Dartford F.C. are an English football club based in Dartford, Kent. After finishing as champions of the Isthmian League Division One North in the 2007–08 season, they compete in the Isthmian League Premier Division. They finished in 8th position in their first season...
, and were saved only by a 84th minute John McCombe
John McCombe
John Paul McCombe is an English footballer who plays for League Two side Port Vale. His brother Jamie is also a professional footballer....
header. Vale made no mistake in the replay, dispatching the "Darts" with a 4–0 win. They booked themselves a Third Round date at Turf Moor
Turf Moor
Turf Moor is a football stadium in Burnley, Lancashire. It is the home ground of Burnley Football Club, which has played there since moving from its Calder Vale ground in 1883. The stadium, which is situated on Harry Potts Way, named so after the club's longest serving Manager, has a capacity of...
with Championship club 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...
with a 1–0 home win over Accrington Stanley
Accrington Stanley F.C.
Accrington Stanley is an English association football club from Accrington in Lancashire, in the North West of England, who play in Football League Two, the fourth-highest division in the English football league system....
. The Burnley game was Gannon's first game in charge, and resulted in a 4–2 defeat.
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...
, Vale managed to defeat a Championship
Football League Championship
The Football League Championship is the highest division of The Football League and second-highest division overall in the English football league system after the Premier League...
side by slaying high-flying Queens Park Rangers
Queens Park Rangers F.C.
Queens Park Rangers Football Club is an English professional football club, based in White City, Hammersmith and Fulham, west London. As the 2010-11 Football League Championship champions, they now play in the top tier of English football the Premier League, for the first time in 15 years...
3–1 at Loftus Road
Loftus Road
Loftus Road is a football stadium in Shepherd's Bush, London. It is home to the English football team Queens Park Rangers of the Premier League and has a capacity of around 18,500. The four stands are called the Loftus Road End , Ellerslie Road Stand, South Africa Road Stand and the School End,...
, new signing Richards scoring twice. Premier League opposition proved to be too much of a challenge however, as a strong Fulham
Fulham F.C.
Fulham Football Club is a professional English Premier League club based in southwest London Fulham, in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham. Founded in 1879, they play in the Premier League, their 11th current season...
side destroyed the Vale 6–0 at Craven Cottage
Craven Cottage
Craven Cottage is the name of a football stadium in the Hammersmith and Fulham area that has been the home ground of the association football team Fulham F.C. since 1896....
– Zoltán Gera
Zoltán Gera
Zoltán Gera is a Hungarian footballer who currently plays for West Bromwich Albion. He usually plays as an attacking midfielder, though he has also played on both the right and left wings throughout his career...
and Bobby Zamora
Bobby Zamora
Robert Lester "Bobby" Zamora is an English footballer who plays for Fulham and the England national football team. Zamora began his career at Football League club Bristol Rovers, but was soon signed by Brighton & Hove Albion, where he found first team success...
both bagging braces.
In the League Trophy
Football League Trophy
The Football League Trophy, currently known as the Johnstone's Paint Trophy for sponsorship reasons, is an annual English association football knock-out competition open to the 48 clubs in Football League One and Football League Two, the bottom two divisions in the four fully professional top...
, both the Richards strikers struck down Rochdale
Rochdale A.F.C.
Rochdale Association Football Club is an English professional football club based in Rochdale, Greater Manchester. They play their home matches at Spotland Stadium. Formed in 1907, they were accepted into the Football League in 1921...
with a 2–1 win. League One
Football League One
Football League One is the second-highest division of The Football League and third-highest division overall in the English football league system....
Carlisle United
Carlisle United F.C.
Carlisle United F.C. is an English football club based in Carlisle, Cumbria, where they play at Brunton Park. Formed in 1904, the club currently compete in League One, the third tier of the English football league system....
awaited in the Second Round at Brunton Park
Brunton Park
Brunton Park is a football stadium and the home of Carlisle United F.C. It is situated in the city of Carlisle, Cumbria and has a certified capacity for the 2011/2012 season of 18,202. The ground opened in 1909...
, and vanquished the "Valiants" on penalties following a 2–2 draw.
Final league table
*Torquay United deducted 1 point for fielding an unregistered player.
‡Hereford United deducted 3 points for fielding an unregistered player.
Legend
| Win | Draw | Loss |
|}
Football League Two
| Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Scorers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 August 2010 | 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 | 1–0 | 4,681 | Collins Lee Collins (footballer born 1988) Lee Harvey Collins is an English footballer who plays for League Two side Port Vale. He is a defender who can play as either a centre-back or as a full-back.... |
| 14 August 2010 | 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 | 6,444 | M.Richards Marc Richards Marc John Richards is an English professional footballer who plays as striker. He is the captain of League Two side Port Vale.... |
| 21 August 2010 | Southend United Southend United F.C. Southend United Football Club is an English football club based at Roots Hall Stadium, Prittlewell, Southend-on-Sea, Essex, who play in Football League Two. Their home ground is Roots Hall, and the club plan to move into a new 22,000-seater stadium located at Fossetts Farm.-Stadium:The club has had... |
A | 3–1 | 4,946 | J.Richards Justin Richards (footballer) Justin Donovan Richards is an English footballer who plays for League Two side Burton Albion. A striker, he has a tally of around one goal every three games, playing in the Conference and lower reaches of the Football League... , Dodds Louis Dodds Louis Bartholomew Dodds is an English footballer who plays for League Two side Port Vale. He can play either as a midfielder or as a striker.... , M.Richards Marc Richards Marc John Richards is an English professional footballer who plays as striker. He is the captain of League Two side Port Vale.... |
| 28 August 2010 | Torquay United Torquay United F.C. Torquay United Football Club, nicknamed the Gulls, are an English association football club based in the tourist resort town of Torquay, Devon. They played in the Conference National in 2008–09, but were promoted to Football League Two after a 2–0 win over Cambridge United on 17 May 2009 at Wembley... |
H | 1–2 | 5,750 | Griffith Anthony Griffith Anthony James Griffith is an English-born Montserrat international footballer who plays for League Two side Port Vale. He is also captain of his national team... |
| 4 September 2010 | Bradford City Bradford City A.F.C. Bradford City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Bradford, West Yorkshire, playing in League Two.... |
A | 2–0 | 10,834 | M.Richards Marc Richards Marc John Richards is an English professional footballer who plays as striker. He is the captain of League Two side Port Vale.... , J.Richards Justin Richards (footballer) Justin Donovan Richards is an English footballer who plays for League Two side Burton Albion. A striker, he has a tally of around one goal every three games, playing in the Conference and lower reaches of the Football League... |
| 11 September 2010 | Aldershot Town Aldershot Town F.C. Aldershot Town Football Club is an association football club based in Aldershot, Hampshire, England, founded in the spring of 1992 just after the closure of debt-ridden Fourth Division club Aldershot Football Club... |
H | 1–0 | 5,360 | Roberts Gary Roberts (footballer born 1987) Gary Steven Roberts is an English footballer who plays for League Two side Port Vale. A deep-lying playmaker, he has been praised for his vision and ball distribution skills... |
| 18 September 2010 | Macclesfield Town Macclesfield Town F.C. Macclesfield Town Football Club is an English football team. The club was formed in 1874 and is based in the town of Macclesfield in Cheshire. The team play its home games at the 6,355 capacity Moss Rose stadium... |
A | 3–0 | 3,915 | M.Richards Marc Richards Marc John Richards is an English professional footballer who plays as striker. He is the captain of League Two side Port Vale.... (2), Rigg Sean Rigg Sean Michael Rigg is an English footballer who plays for League Two side Port Vale. He can play on the wing or as a striker.Having graduated through the Bristol Academy of Sport, his professional career began at Bristol Rovers in 2006... |
| 25 September 2010 | Accrington Stanley Accrington Stanley F.C. Accrington Stanley is an English association football club from Accrington in Lancashire, in the North West of England, who play in Football League Two, the fourth-highest division in the English football league system.... |
H | 2–0 | 5,777 | M.Richards Marc Richards Marc John Richards is an English professional footballer who plays as striker. He is the captain of League Two side Port Vale.... , Dodds Louis Dodds Louis Bartholomew Dodds is an English footballer who plays for League Two side Port Vale. He can play either as a midfielder or as a striker.... |
| 28 September 2010 | 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 | 1–0 | 8,443 | Roberts Gary Roberts (footballer born 1987) Gary Steven Roberts is an English footballer who plays for League Two side Port Vale. A deep-lying playmaker, he has been praised for his vision and ball distribution skills... |
| 2 October 2010 | 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 | 1–2 | 7,947 | Owen |
| 9 October 2010 | Hereford United Hereford United F.C. Hereford United Football Club is an English professional football club based in the city of Hereford. Founded in 1924, they are competing in Football League Two in the 2011–12 season. Hereford have played at Edgar Street for their entire history and are nicknamed 'The Whites' or 'The Lilywhites',... |
A | 1–1 | 2,651 | M.Richards Marc Richards Marc John Richards is an English professional footballer who plays as striker. He is the captain of League Two side Port Vale.... (pen) |
| 16 October 2010 | 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 | 0–0 | 6,420 | |
| 23 October 2010 | Cheltenham Town Cheltenham Town F.C. Cheltenham Town Football Club is an English football club playing in League Two, the fourth tier of English football. Founded in 1887, the team has played at four different grounds, namely Agg-Gardner's Recreation Ground, Carter's Field and now the Abbey Business Stadium, although it is more... |
A | 0–0 | 3,167 | |
| 30 October 2010 | Crewe Alexandra Crewe Alexandra F.C. Crewe Alexandra Football Club is an English professional football club based in Crewe, Cheshire. Nicknamed The Railwaymen due to the town's links with the rail industry, they currently play in Football League Two, the fourth tier of English football, and are based at the Alexandra Stadium.The club... |
H | 2–1 | 8,607 | Dodds Louis Dodds Louis Bartholomew Dodds is an English footballer who plays for League Two side Port Vale. He can play either as a midfielder or as a striker.... , M.Richards Marc Richards Marc John Richards is an English professional footballer who plays as striker. He is the captain of League Two side Port Vale.... |
| 2 November 2010 | Burton Albion Burton Albion F.C. Burton Albion Football Club are a professional English football club based in the town of Burton upon Trent, Staffordshire. The club's home ground is the Pirelli Stadium, having moved from Eton Park in 2005... |
A | 0–0 | 4,027 | |
| 13 November 2010 | 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 | 0–0 | 4,612 | |
| 20 November 2010 | Wycombe Wanderers Wycombe Wanderers F.C. Wycombe Wanderers Football Club is an English professional football team from High Wycombe in Buckinghamshire, which has been promoted to Football League One after finishing third in Football League Two in the season 2010–11. The club's nicknames are "The Chairboys" and "The Blues", and they play... |
H | 2–1 | 5,587 | McCombe John McCombe John Paul McCombe is an English footballer who plays for League Two side Port Vale. His brother Jamie is also a professional footballer.... (2) |
| 23 November 2010 | 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... |
A | 5–0 | 4,571 | M.Richards Marc Richards Marc John Richards is an English professional footballer who plays as striker. He is the captain of League Two side Port Vale.... (2), J.Richards Justin Richards (footballer) Justin Donovan Richards is an English footballer who plays for League Two side Burton Albion. A striker, he has a tally of around one goal every three games, playing in the Conference and lower reaches of the Football League... , Rigg Sean Rigg Sean Michael Rigg is an English footballer who plays for League Two side Port Vale. He can play on the wing or as a striker.Having graduated through the Bristol Academy of Sport, his professional career began at Bristol Rovers in 2006... , Speight Jake Speight Jake Carl Speight is an English football striker who plays for Conference club Wrexham.Starting his career working through the Sheffield United youth team, in 2005 he signed with Scarborough, and later Bury. He dropp down to Conference football between 2007 and 2010, playing for Northwich... |
| 11 December 2010 | Morecambe Morecambe F.C. Morecambe Football Club is an English football club based in Morecambe, Lancashire. It plays its football in League Two, the fourth division of English football, having been promoted in 2007 for the first time in their history to the Football League. They played their home matches at Christie Park... |
A | 0–1 | 2,326 | |
| 28 December 2010 | 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 | 0–3 | 5,364 | |
| 1 January 2011 | 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 | 0–5 | 3,994 | |
| 3 January 2011 | Burton Albion Burton Albion F.C. Burton Albion Football Club are a professional English football club based in the town of Burton upon Trent, Staffordshire. The club's home ground is the Pirelli Stadium, having moved from Eton Park in 2005... |
H | 2–1 | 5,681 | McCombe John McCombe John Paul McCombe is an English footballer who plays for League Two side Port Vale. His brother Jamie is also a professional footballer.... , J.Richards Justin Richards (footballer) Justin Donovan Richards is an English footballer who plays for League Two side Burton Albion. A striker, he has a tally of around one goal every three games, playing in the Conference and lower reaches of the Football League... |
| 15 January 2011 | Crewe Alexandra Crewe Alexandra F.C. Crewe Alexandra Football Club is an English professional football club based in Crewe, Cheshire. Nicknamed The Railwaymen due to the town's links with the rail industry, they currently play in Football League Two, the fourth tier of English football, and are based at the Alexandra Stadium.The club... |
A | 1–2 | 7,183 | J.Richards Justin Richards (footballer) Justin Donovan Richards is an English footballer who plays for League Two side Burton Albion. A striker, he has a tally of around one goal every three games, playing in the Conference and lower reaches of the Football League... |
| 22 January 2011 | Cheltenham Town Cheltenham Town F.C. Cheltenham Town Football Club is an English football club playing in League Two, the fourth tier of English football. Founded in 1887, the team has played at four different grounds, namely Agg-Gardner's Recreation Ground, Carter's Field and now the Abbey Business Stadium, although it is more... |
H | 0–1 | 5,163 | |
| 25 January 2011 | Barnet Barnet F.C. Barnet Football Club is an English football team from High Barnet, London, England, currently playing in Football League Two. The ground is in the town of Barnet within the London Borough of Barnet.... |
H | 0–0 | 4,112 | |
| 29 January 2011 | 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 | 0–1 | 3,370 | |
| 1 February 2011 | 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 | 1–0 | 4,515 | O'Shea |
| 5 February 2011 | Wycombe Wanderers Wycombe Wanderers F.C. Wycombe Wanderers Football Club is an English professional football team from High Wycombe in Buckinghamshire, which has been promoted to Football League One after finishing third in Football League Two in the season 2010–11. The club's nicknames are "The Chairboys" and "The Blues", and they play... |
A | 1–1 | 4,173 | Own goal |
| 12 February 2011 | 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 | 1–1 | 5,321 | J.Richards Justin Richards (footballer) Justin Donovan Richards is an English footballer who plays for League Two side Burton Albion. A striker, he has a tally of around one goal every three games, playing in the Conference and lower reaches of the Football League... (pen) |
| 18 February 2011 | Bradford City Bradford City A.F.C. Bradford City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Bradford, West Yorkshire, playing in League Two.... |
H | 2–1 | 4,775 | Pope Tom Pope Thomas John "Tom" Pope is a professional English footballer who plays as a centre forward for League Two side Port Vale.... (2) |
| 22 February 2011 | Stevenage | H | 1–3 | 4,588 | Morsy Sam Morsy Samy Sayed "Sam" Morsy is an English footballer who plays for League Two side Port Vale as a midfielder.... |
| 26 February 2011 | Aldershot Town Aldershot Town F.C. Aldershot Town Football Club is an association football club based in Aldershot, Hampshire, England, founded in the spring of 1992 just after the closure of debt-ridden Fourth Division club Aldershot Football Club... |
A | 2–1 | 2,506 | M.Richards Marc Richards Marc John Richards is an English professional footballer who plays as striker. He is the captain of League Two side Port Vale.... , McCombe John McCombe John Paul McCombe is an English footballer who plays for League Two side Port Vale. His brother Jamie is also a professional footballer.... |
| 5 March 2011 | Macclesfield Town Macclesfield Town F.C. Macclesfield Town Football Club is an English football team. The club was formed in 1874 and is based in the town of Macclesfield in Cheshire. The team play its home games at the 6,355 capacity Moss Rose stadium... |
H | 2–1 | 5,459 | Collins Lee Collins (footballer born 1988) Lee Harvey Collins is an English footballer who plays for League Two side Port Vale. He is a defender who can play as either a centre-back or as a full-back.... , Dodds Louis Dodds Louis Bartholomew Dodds is an English footballer who plays for League Two side Port Vale. He can play either as a midfielder or as a striker.... |
| 8 March 2011 | 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 | 2–2 | 6,402 | M.Richards Marc Richards Marc John Richards is an English professional footballer who plays as striker. He is the captain of League Two side Port Vale.... (2) |
| 12 March 2011 | 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 | 1–2 | 5,661 | M.Richards Marc Richards Marc John Richards is an English professional footballer who plays as striker. He is the captain of League Two side Port Vale.... |
| 19 March 2011 | Accrington Stanley Accrington Stanley F.C. Accrington Stanley is an English association football club from Accrington in Lancashire, in the North West of England, who play in Football League Two, the fourth-highest division in the English football league system.... |
A | 0–3 | 2,413 | |
| 22 March 2011 | Hereford United Hereford United F.C. Hereford United Football Club is an English professional football club based in the city of Hereford. Founded in 1924, they are competing in Football League Two in the 2011–12 season. Hereford have played at Edgar Street for their entire history and are nicknamed 'The Whites' or 'The Lilywhites',... |
H | 1–1 | 4,869 | Pope Tom Pope Thomas John "Tom" Pope is a professional English footballer who plays as a centre forward for League Two side Port Vale.... |
| 26 March 2011 | 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 | 0–0 | 5,510 | |
| 29 March 2011 | 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 | 2–1 | 4,636 | M.Richards Marc Richards Marc John Richards is an English professional footballer who plays as striker. He is the captain of League Two side Port Vale.... , Loft Doug Loft Douglas James "Doug" Loft is an English footballer who plays for League Two side Port Vale as a midfielder.... |
| 2 April 2011 | 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 | 0–2 | 8,606 | |
| 9 April 2011 | Southend United Southend United F.C. Southend United Football Club is an English football club based at Roots Hall Stadium, Prittlewell, Southend-on-Sea, Essex, who play in Football League Two. Their home ground is Roots Hall, and the club plan to move into a new 22,000-seater stadium located at Fossetts Farm.-Stadium:The club has had... |
H | 1–1 | 5,108 | R.Taylor Rob Taylor (footballer) Robert James "Rob" Taylor is an English footballer who plays for League Two side Port Vale. He plays on the left flank and is known for his pace and dribbling ability.... |
| 16 April 2011 | Torquay United Torquay United F.C. Torquay United Football Club, nicknamed the Gulls, are an English association football club based in the tourist resort town of Torquay, Devon. They played in the Conference National in 2008–09, but were promoted to Football League Two after a 2–0 win over Cambridge United on 17 May 2009 at Wembley... |
A | 0–0 | 3,726 | |
| 23 April 2011 | 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... |
H | 1–2 | 5,334 | Rigg Sean Rigg Sean Michael Rigg is an English footballer who plays for League Two side Port Vale. He can play on the wing or as a striker.Having graduated through the Bristol Academy of Sport, his professional career began at Bristol Rovers in 2006... |
| 25 April 2011 | Stevenage | A | 0–1 | 3,146 | |
| 30 April 2011 | Morecambe Morecambe F.C. Morecambe Football Club is an English football club based in Morecambe, Lancashire. It plays its football in League Two, the fourth division of English football, having been promoted in 2007 for the first time in their history to the Football League. They played their home matches at Christie Park... |
H | 7–2 | 4,134 | J.Richards Justin Richards (footballer) Justin Donovan Richards is an English footballer who plays for League Two side Burton Albion. A striker, he has a tally of around one goal every three games, playing in the Conference and lower reaches of the Football League... (3), Dodds Louis Dodds Louis Bartholomew Dodds is an English footballer who plays for League Two side Port Vale. He can play either as a midfielder or as a striker.... (3), M.Richards Marc Richards Marc John Richards is an English professional footballer who plays as striker. He is the captain of League Two side Port Vale.... |
| 7 May 2011 | Barnet Barnet F.C. Barnet Football Club is an English football team from High Barnet, London, England, currently playing in Football League Two. The ground is in the town of Barnet within the London Borough of Barnet.... |
A | 0–1 | 4,478 |
FA Cup
| Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Goalscorers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| R1 | 6 November 2010 | Dartford Dartford F.C. Dartford F.C. are an English football club based in Dartford, Kent. After finishing as champions of the Isthmian League Division One North in the 2007–08 season, they compete in the Isthmian League Premier Division. They finished in 8th position in their first season... |
A | 1–1 | 3,679 | McCombe John McCombe John Paul McCombe is an English footballer who plays for League Two side Port Vale. His brother Jamie is also a professional footballer.... |
| R1 Replay | 16 November 2010 | Dartford Dartford F.C. Dartford F.C. are an English football club based in Dartford, Kent. After finishing as champions of the Isthmian League Division One North in the 2007–08 season, they compete in the Isthmian League Premier Division. They finished in 8th position in their first season... |
H | 4–0 | 3,590 | M.Richards Marc Richards Marc John Richards is an English professional footballer who plays as striker. He is the captain of League Two side Port Vale.... (2 [1 pen]), Rigg Sean Rigg Sean Michael Rigg is an English footballer who plays for League Two side Port Vale. He can play on the wing or as a striker.Having graduated through the Bristol Academy of Sport, his professional career began at Bristol Rovers in 2006... , J.Richards Justin Richards (footballer) Justin Donovan Richards is an English footballer who plays for League Two side Burton Albion. A striker, he has a tally of around one goal every three games, playing in the Conference and lower reaches of the Football League... |
| R2 | 26 November 2010 | Accrington Stanley Accrington Stanley F.C. Accrington Stanley is an English association football club from Accrington in Lancashire, in the North West of England, who play in Football League Two, the fourth-highest division in the English football league system.... |
H | 1–0 | 4,016 | J.Richards Justin Richards (footballer) Justin Donovan Richards is an English footballer who plays for League Two side Burton Albion. A striker, he has a tally of around one goal every three games, playing in the Conference and lower reaches of the Football League... |
| R3 | 8 January 2011 | 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... |
A | 2–4 | 9,442 | R.Taylor Rob Taylor (footballer) Robert James "Rob" Taylor is an English footballer who plays for League Two side Port Vale. He plays on the left flank and is known for his pace and dribbling ability.... (2) |
League Cup
| Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Goalscorers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| R1 | 10 August 2010 | Queens Park Rangers Queens Park Rangers F.C. Queens Park Rangers Football Club is an English professional football club, based in White City, Hammersmith and Fulham, west London. As the 2010-11 Football League Championship champions, they now play in the top tier of English football the Premier League, for the first time in 15 years... |
A | 3–1 | 6,619 | J.Richards Justin Richards (footballer) Justin Donovan Richards is an English footballer who plays for League Two side Burton Albion. A striker, he has a tally of around one goal every three games, playing in the Conference and lower reaches of the Football League... (2), Rigg Sean Rigg Sean Michael Rigg is an English footballer who plays for League Two side Port Vale. He can play on the wing or as a striker.Having graduated through the Bristol Academy of Sport, his professional career began at Bristol Rovers in 2006... |
| R2 | 25 August 2010 | Fulham Fulham F.C. Fulham Football Club is a professional English Premier League club based in southwest London Fulham, in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham. Founded in 1879, they play in the Premier League, their 11th current season... |
A | 0–6 | 9,031 |
League Trophy
| Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Goalscorers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| R1 | 31 August 2010 | Rochdale Rochdale A.F.C. Rochdale Association Football Club is an English professional football club based in Rochdale, Greater Manchester. They play their home matches at Spotland Stadium. Formed in 1907, they were accepted into the Football League in 1921... |
H | 2–1 | 2,442 | M.Richards Marc Richards Marc John Richards is an English professional footballer who plays as striker. He is the captain of League Two side Port Vale.... , J.Richards Justin Richards (footballer) Justin Donovan Richards is an English footballer who plays for League Two side Burton Albion. A striker, he has a tally of around one goal every three games, playing in the Conference and lower reaches of the Football League... |
| R2 | 5 October 2010 | Carlisle United Carlisle United F.C. Carlisle United F.C. is an English football club based in Carlisle, Cumbria, where they play at Brunton Park. Formed in 1904, the club currently compete in League One, the third tier of the English football league system.... |
A | (3)2–2(4) | 2,273 | Own goal Oliver Norwood Oliver James Norwood is an English-born Northern Irish footballer who plays as a midfielder for Scunthorpe United on loan from Manchester United... , M.Richards Marc Richards Marc John Richards is an English professional footballer who plays as striker. He is the captain of League Two side Port Vale.... |
Appearances
| Pos. | # | Name | Football League | FA Cup | League Cup | Total | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | |||
| GK | 1 |  Chris Martin |
14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 0 |
| DF | 2 | Adam Yates Adam Yates Adam Paul Yates is an English footballer who plays for League Two side Port Vale as a full back. He is a former semi-pro international with England.... |
46 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 54 | 0 |
| MF | 3 | Rob Taylor Rob Taylor (footballer) Robert James "Rob" Taylor is an English footballer who plays for League Two side Port Vale. He plays on the left flank and is known for his pace and dribbling ability.... |
36 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 41 | 3 |
| MF | 4 |  Anthony GriffithAnthony Griffith Anthony James Griffith is an English-born Montserrat international footballer who plays for League Two side Port Vale. He is also captain of his national team... |
40 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 45 | 1 |
| DF | 5 | John McCombe John McCombe John Paul McCombe is an English footballer who plays for League Two side Port Vale. His brother Jamie is also a professional footballer.... |
42 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 48 | 5 |
| DF | 6 |  Gareth Owen |
36 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 43 | 1 |
| MF | 7 | Doug Loft Doug Loft Douglas James "Doug" Loft is an English footballer who plays for League Two side Port Vale as a midfielder.... |
30 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 35 | 1 |
| MF | 8 | Louis Dodds Louis Dodds Louis Bartholomew Dodds is an English footballer who plays for League Two side Port Vale. He can play either as a midfielder or as a striker.... |
33 | 7 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 41 | 7 |
| FW | 9 | Marc Richards Marc Richards Marc John Richards is an English professional footballer who plays as striker. He is the captain of League Two side Port Vale.... |
40 | 16 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 46 | 20 |
| MF | 10 | Tommy Fraser Tommy Fraser Thomas Francis Peter "Tommy" Fraser is a professional footballer, who is without a club having departed Barnet in November 2011. A central midfielder, he can also play on the right wing.... |
12 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 20 | 0 |
| MF | 10 |  Jay O'Shea |
5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 1 |
| MF | 10 | Dominic Blizzard Dominic Blizzard Dominic John Blizzard is an English football midfielder who plays for League One side Yeovil Town.... |
1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| FW | 11 | Justin Richards Justin Richards (footballer) Justin Donovan Richards is an English footballer who plays for League Two side Burton Albion. A striker, he has a tally of around one goal every three games, playing in the Conference and lower reaches of the Football League... |
42 | 9 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 50 | 14 |
| GK | 12 | Stuart Tomlinson Stuart Tomlinson Stuart Charles Tomlinson is an English football goalkeeper who plays for League Two side Port Vale. Though a solid all-round keeper, he is a particularly strong shot-stopper.... |
36 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 42 | 0 |
| MF | 14 | Kris Taylor Kris Taylor Kris Taylor is an English footballer who plays for Conference National side Darlington.Never making the first team at Manchester United, he spent over three seasons at Walsall, after signing in February 2003. He spent two seasons at Hereford United from 2007 to 2009, before moving on to Port Vale... |
20 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 26 | 0 |
| DF | 15 | Lee Collins Lee Collins (footballer born 1988) Lee Harvey Collins is an English footballer who plays for League Two side Port Vale. He is a defender who can play as either a centre-back or as a full-back.... |
42 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 48 | 2 |
| MF | 16 | Lewis Haldane Lewis Haldane Lewis Oliver Haldane is a Welsh under-21 international football winger who plays for League Two side Port Vale.... |
23 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 27 | 0 |
| MF | 17 | Sean Rigg Sean Rigg Sean Michael Rigg is an English footballer who plays for League Two side Port Vale. He can play on the wing or as a striker.Having graduated through the Bristol Academy of Sport, his professional career began at Bristol Rovers in 2006... |
26 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 33 | 5 |
| MF | 18 | Sam Morsy Sam Morsy Samy Sayed "Sam" Morsy is an English footballer who plays for League Two side Port Vale as a midfielder.... |
16 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 17 | 1 |
| FW | 19 | Anthony Malbon Anthony Malbon Anthony Jordan Malbon is an English footballer who plays for Northern Premier League Division One South club Newcastle Town. He played for Port Vale between 2009–10, before he signed with Leek Town in summer 2010. He moved onto Newcastle the following year... |
2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| DF | 19 | Exodus Geohaghon Exodus Geohaghon Exodus Isaac Geohaghon is an English footballer who plays as a defender for Football League Two club Dagenham & Redbridge on loan from Conference National club Darlington.... |
12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 0 |
| DF | 20 | Matthew Bell |
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| DF | 21 | Ritchie Sutton Ritchie Sutton Ritchie Aidan Sutton is an English footballer who plays for Mansfield Town as a defender. He can operative as a centre-back or a full-back.... |
11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 0 |
| MF | 22 | Gary Roberts Gary Roberts (footballer born 1987) Gary Steven Roberts is an English footballer who plays for League Two side Port Vale. A deep-lying playmaker, he has been praised for his vision and ball distribution skills... |
35 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 43 | 2 |
| MF | 23 | Abdulai Bell-Baggie Abdulai Bell-Baggie Abdulai Hindolo Bell-Baggie is a professional football winger, who plays for Football League One club Yeovil Town.Born in Sierra Leone, Bell-Baggie has represented both the England under-16 and England under-17 national teams... |
3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| MF | 23 |  Jemal JohnsonJemal Johnson Jemal Jermaine Johnson is an Anglo-American soccer player who plays for English side Southend United in League Two.He started his career at Premier League Blackburn Rovers, making several appearances for the club between 2004 and 2006, having graduated through the club's academy. After a season at... |
6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 |
| FW | 23 | Jake Speight Jake Speight Jake Carl Speight is an English football striker who plays for Conference club Wrexham.Starting his career working through the Sheffield United youth team, in 2005 he signed with Scarborough, and later Bury. He dropp down to Conference football between 2007 and 2010, playing for Northwich... |
4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 |
| FW | 23 | Kristian Cox Kristian Cox Kristian Cox is an English football striker who was released by Port Vale in 2011.-Playing career:Cox started his career in the youth ranks at Port Vale. He was handed the number 23 shirt for the 2010–11 season, making his debut in a 2–1 defeat at Crewe Alexandra on 15 January 2011 under new... |
1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| GK | 24 | Sam Johnson |
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| DF | 25 | Joe Davis Joe Davis (footballer born 1993) Joe Davis is an English football defender who plays for Port Vale of League Two. He is son to former professional Steve Davis and brother to Harry Davis, another footballer.-Playing career:... |
1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| MF | 27 | Kayelden Brown Kayelden Brown Kayelden Courtney L. Brown is an English-born Welsh footballer who plays as a midfielder for West Bromwich Albion.-Club career:... |
4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| MF | 27 | Ryan Lloyd Ryan Lloyd Ryan Lloyd is an English football midfielder who plays for Port Vale of League Two.-Playing career:Born in Newcastle-under-Lyme, Lloyd started his career in the youth ranks at Port Vale, starting in the club's under-nine side... |
1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| MF | 28 | Romaine Sawyers Romaine Sawyers Romaine Theodore Sawyers is an English footballer playing as a midfielder for Premier League side West Bromwich Albion and internationally represents Saint Kitts and Nevis national football team, where he has played for the under-23s.-Club career:Sawyers first made the West Bromwich Albion... |
1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| FW | 29 | Tom Pope Tom Pope Thomas John "Tom" Pope is a professional English footballer who plays as a centre forward for League Two side Port Vale.... |
13 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 3 |
All competitions
| Scorer | Goals |
|---|---|
| Marc Richards Marc Richards Marc John Richards is an English professional footballer who plays as striker. He is the captain of League Two side Port Vale.... |
20 |
| Justin Richards Justin Richards (footballer) Justin Donovan Richards is an English footballer who plays for League Two side Burton Albion. A striker, he has a tally of around one goal every three games, playing in the Conference and lower reaches of the Football League... |
14 |
| Louis Dodds Louis Dodds Louis Bartholomew Dodds is an English footballer who plays for League Two side Port Vale. He can play either as a midfielder or as a striker.... |
7 |
| John McCombe John McCombe John Paul McCombe is an English footballer who plays for League Two side Port Vale. His brother Jamie is also a professional footballer.... |
5 |
| Sean Rigg Sean Rigg Sean Michael Rigg is an English footballer who plays for League Two side Port Vale. He can play on the wing or as a striker.Having graduated through the Bristol Academy of Sport, his professional career began at Bristol Rovers in 2006... |
|
| Tom Pope Tom Pope Thomas John "Tom" Pope is a professional English footballer who plays as a centre forward for League Two side Port Vale.... |
3 |
| Rob Taylor Rob Taylor (footballer) Robert James "Rob" Taylor is an English footballer who plays for League Two side Port Vale. He plays on the left flank and is known for his pace and dribbling ability.... |
|
| Gary Roberts Gary Roberts (footballer born 1987) Gary Steven Roberts is an English footballer who plays for League Two side Port Vale. A deep-lying playmaker, he has been praised for his vision and ball distribution skills... |
2 |
| Lee Collins Lee Collins (footballer born 1988) Lee Harvey Collins is an English footballer who plays for League Two side Port Vale. He is a defender who can play as either a centre-back or as a full-back.... |
|
| Gareth Owen |
1 |
| Anthony Griffith Anthony Griffith Anthony James Griffith is an English-born Montserrat international footballer who plays for League Two side Port Vale. He is also captain of his national team... |
|
| Jake Speight Jake Speight Jake Carl Speight is an English football striker who plays for Conference club Wrexham.Starting his career working through the Sheffield United youth team, in 2005 he signed with Scarborough, and later Bury. He dropp down to Conference football between 2007 and 2010, playing for Northwich... |
|
| Jay O'Shea |
|
| Sam Morsy Sam Morsy Samy Sayed "Sam" Morsy is an English footballer who plays for League Two side Port Vale as a midfielder.... |
|
| Doug Loft Doug Loft Douglas James "Doug" Loft is an English footballer who plays for League Two side Port Vale as a midfielder.... |
|
League
| Scorer | Goals |
|---|---|
| Marc Richards Marc Richards Marc John Richards is an English professional footballer who plays as striker. He is the captain of League Two side Port Vale.... |
16 |
| Justin Richards Justin Richards (footballer) Justin Donovan Richards is an English footballer who plays for League Two side Burton Albion. A striker, he has a tally of around one goal every three games, playing in the Conference and lower reaches of the Football League... |
9 |
| Louis Dodds Louis Dodds Louis Bartholomew Dodds is an English footballer who plays for League Two side Port Vale. He can play either as a midfielder or as a striker.... |
7 |
| John McCombe John McCombe John Paul McCombe is an English footballer who plays for League Two side Port Vale. His brother Jamie is also a professional footballer.... |
4 |
| Tom Pope Tom Pope Thomas John "Tom" Pope is a professional English footballer who plays as a centre forward for League Two side Port Vale.... |
3 |
| Sean Rigg Sean Rigg Sean Michael Rigg is an English footballer who plays for League Two side Port Vale. He can play on the wing or as a striker.Having graduated through the Bristol Academy of Sport, his professional career began at Bristol Rovers in 2006... |
|
| Gary Roberts Gary Roberts (footballer born 1987) Gary Steven Roberts is an English footballer who plays for League Two side Port Vale. A deep-lying playmaker, he has been praised for his vision and ball distribution skills... |
2 |
| Lee Collins Lee Collins (footballer born 1988) Lee Harvey Collins is an English footballer who plays for League Two side Port Vale. He is a defender who can play as either a centre-back or as a full-back.... |
|
| Gareth Owen |
1 |
| Anthony Griffith Anthony Griffith Anthony James Griffith is an English-born Montserrat international footballer who plays for League Two side Port Vale. He is also captain of his national team... |
|
| Jake Speight Jake Speight Jake Carl Speight is an English football striker who plays for Conference club Wrexham.Starting his career working through the Sheffield United youth team, in 2005 he signed with Scarborough, and later Bury. He dropp down to Conference football between 2007 and 2010, playing for Northwich... |
|
| Jay O'Shea |
|
| Sam Morsy Sam Morsy Samy Sayed "Sam" Morsy is an English footballer who plays for League Two side Port Vale as a midfielder.... |
|
| Doug Loft Doug Loft Douglas James "Doug" Loft is an English footballer who plays for League Two side Port Vale as a midfielder.... |
|
| Rob Taylor Rob Taylor (footballer) Robert James "Rob" Taylor is an English footballer who plays for League Two side Port Vale. He plays on the left flank and is known for his pace and dribbling ability.... |
|
Awards
| End of Season Awards | Winner |
|---|---|
| Player of the Year | John McCombe John McCombe John Paul McCombe is an English footballer who plays for League Two side Port Vale. His brother Jamie is also a professional footballer.... |
| Away Travel Player of the Year | John McCombe John McCombe John Paul McCombe is an English footballer who plays for League Two side Port Vale. His brother Jamie is also a professional footballer.... |
| Mr Shirt Off The Back | Louis Dodds Louis Dodds Louis Bartholomew Dodds is an English footballer who plays for League Two side Port Vale. He can play either as a midfielder or as a striker.... |
| Players' Player of the Year | John McCombe John McCombe John Paul McCombe is an English footballer who plays for League Two side Port Vale. His brother Jamie is also a professional footballer.... |
| Young Player of the Year | Sam Morsy Sam Morsy Samy Sayed "Sam" Morsy is an English footballer who plays for League Two side Port Vale as a midfielder.... |
| Youth Player of the Year | Charlie Raglan |
| Chairman's Player of the Year | Gareth Owen |
| Goal of the Season | Marc Richards Marc Richards Marc John Richards is an English professional footballer who plays as striker. He is the captain of League Two side Port Vale.... (vs Accrington Stanley Accrington Stanley F.C. Accrington Stanley is an English association football club from Accrington in Lancashire, in the North West of England, who play in Football League Two, the fourth-highest division in the English football league system.... , 25 September 2010) |
Transfers
| Players transferred in | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date | Pos. | Name | From | Fee | Ref. |
| 27 May 2010 | FW | Sean Rigg Sean Rigg Sean Michael Rigg is an English footballer who plays for League Two side Port Vale. He can play on the wing or as a striker.Having graduated through the Bristol Academy of Sport, his professional career began at Bristol Rovers in 2006... |
Bristol Rovers Bristol Rovers F.C. Bristol Rovers Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Bristol, that competes in Football League Two. The team plays its home matches at the Memorial Stadium, in the Horfield area of the city.... |
Free | |
| 29 May 2010 | GK | Stuart Tomlinson Stuart Tomlinson Stuart Charles Tomlinson is an English football goalkeeper who plays for League Two side Port Vale. Though a solid all-round keeper, he is a particularly strong shot-stopper.... |
Barrow Barrow A.F.C. Barrow A.F.C. are an English football club founded in 1901 based in the town of Barrow-in-Furness in Cumbria. Following promotion at the end of the 2007–08 season, they currently play in the Conference National. The club spent over fifty years in the Football League between 1921 and 1972, and have... |
Free (Bosman) | |
| 11 June 2010 | FW | Justin Richards Justin Richards (footballer) Justin Donovan Richards is an English footballer who plays for League Two side Burton Albion. A striker, he has a tally of around one goal every three games, playing in the Conference and lower reaches of the Football League... |
Cheltenham Town Cheltenham Town F.C. Cheltenham Town Football Club is an English football club playing in League Two, the fourth tier of English football. Founded in 1887, the team has played at four different grounds, namely Agg-Gardner's Recreation Ground, Carter's Field and now the Abbey Business Stadium, although it is more... |
Free (Bosman) | |
| 20 July 2010 | DF | Ritchie Sutton Ritchie Sutton Ritchie Aidan Sutton is an English footballer who plays for Mansfield Town as a defender. He can operative as a centre-back or a full-back.... |
Nantwich Town Nantwich Town F.C. Nantwich Town Football Club is a semi-professional football club based in Nantwich, Cheshire, England. The club was founded in 1884 and is nicknamed The Dabbers. The club is currently a member of the Northern Premier League Premier Division, with home matches played at the Weaver Stadium.Nantwich... |
Free | |
| 27 July 2010 | MF | Gary Roberts Gary Roberts (footballer born 1987) Gary Steven Roberts is an English footballer who plays for League Two side Port Vale. A deep-lying playmaker, he has been praised for his vision and ball distribution skills... |
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... |
Free | |
| Players loaned in | |||||
| Date from | Pos. | Name | From | Date to | Ref. |
| 13 August 2010 | MF | Abdulai Bell-Baggie Abdulai Bell-Baggie Abdulai Hindolo Bell-Baggie is a professional football winger, who plays for Football League One club Yeovil Town.Born in Sierra Leone, Bell-Baggie has represented both the England under-16 and England under-17 national teams... |
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... |
13 September 2010 | |
| 16 September 2010 | FW | Jemal Johnson Jemal Johnson Jemal Jermaine Johnson is an Anglo-American soccer player who plays for English side Southend United in League Two.He started his career at Premier League Blackburn Rovers, making several appearances for the club between 2004 and 2006, having graduated through the club's academy. After a season at... |
Milton Keynes Dons Milton Keynes Dons F.C. .Milton Keynes Dons Football Club is an English professional football club founded in 2004 and based since 2007 at Stadium mk, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire... |
16 October 2010 | |
| 29 October 2010 | FW | Jake Speight Jake Speight Jake Carl Speight is an English football striker who plays for Conference club Wrexham.Starting his career working through the Sheffield United youth team, in 2005 he signed with Scarborough, and later Bury. He dropp down to Conference football between 2007 and 2010, playing for Northwich... |
Bradford City Bradford City A.F.C. Bradford City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Bradford, West Yorkshire, playing in League Two.... |
4 January 2011 | |
| 20 January 2011 | FW | Jay O'Shea |
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... |
23 February 2011 | |
| 21 January 2011 | MF | Romaine Sawyers Romaine Sawyers Romaine Theodore Sawyers is an English footballer playing as a midfielder for Premier League side West Bromwich Albion and internationally represents Saint Kitts and Nevis national football team, where he has played for the under-23s.-Club career:Sawyers first made the West Bromwich Albion... |
West Bromwich Albion West Bromwich Albion F.C. West Bromwich Albion Football Club, also known as West Brom, The Baggies, The Throstles, Albion or WBA, are an English Premier League association football club based in West Bromwich in the West Midlands... |
23 February 2011 | |
| 21 January 2011 | MF | Kayelden Brown Kayelden Brown Kayelden Courtney L. Brown is an English-born Welsh footballer who plays as a midfielder for West Bromwich Albion.-Club career:... |
West Bromwich Albion West Bromwich Albion F.C. West Bromwich Albion Football Club, also known as West Brom, The Baggies, The Throstles, Albion or WBA, are an English Premier League association football club based in West Bromwich in the West Midlands... |
23 February 2011 | |
| 24 January 2011 | DF | Exodus Geohaghon Exodus Geohaghon Exodus Isaac Geohaghon is an English footballer who plays as a defender for Football League Two club Dagenham & Redbridge on loan from Conference National club Darlington.... |
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... |
End of season | |
| 28 January 2011 | FW | Tom Pope Tom Pope Thomas John "Tom" Pope is a professional English footballer who plays as a centre forward for League Two side Port Vale.... |
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... |
7 April 2011 | |
| 18 March 2011 | MF | Dominic Blizzard Dominic Blizzard Dominic John Blizzard is an English football midfielder who plays for League One side Yeovil Town.... |
Bristol Rovers Bristol Rovers F.C. Bristol Rovers Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Bristol, that competes in Football League Two. The team plays its home matches at the Memorial Stadium, in the Horfield area of the city.... |
End of season | |
| Players loaned out | |||||
| Date from | Pos. | Name | To | Date to | Ref. |
| 11 October 2010 | FW | Anthony Malbon Anthony Malbon Anthony Jordan Malbon is an English footballer who plays for Northern Premier League Division One South club Newcastle Town. He played for Port Vale between 2009–10, before he signed with Leek Town in summer 2010. He moved onto Newcastle the following year... |
Newcastle Town Newcastle Town F.C. Newcastle Town F.C. are an English football club based in Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire. They play in the Northern Premier League First Division South. They are full members of the Staffordshire Football Association.-History:... |
19 November 2010 | |
| Players released | |||||
| Date | Pos. | Name | Subsequent club | Join date | Ref. |
| 12 May 2010 | FW | Geoff Horsfield Geoff Horsfield Geoffrey Malcolm "Geoff" Horsfield is an English former professional footballer, now football coach. He made more than 300 appearances in the Football League playing as a striker. He is now a coach at Port Vale.... |
Became coach | ||
| 20 May 2010 | GK | Joe Anyon Joe Anyon Joseph "Joe" Anyon is an English football goalkeeper who plays for Conference National club Lincoln City.A youth player at Port Vale, he turned professional at the club in 2004, and was loaned out to non-league sides Stafford Rangers and Harrogate Town to gain experience... |
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.... |
1 July 2010 | |
| 21 June 2010 | GK | Daniel Lloyd-Weston |
Cheltenham Town Cheltenham Town F.C. Cheltenham Town Football Club is an English football club playing in League Two, the fourth tier of English football. Founded in 1887, the team has played at four different grounds, namely Agg-Gardner's Recreation Ground, Carter's Field and now the Abbey Business Stadium, although it is more... |
1 July 2010 | |
| 1 July 2010 | DF | Luke Prosser Luke Prosser Luke Barrie Prosser is an English footballer who plays as a defender for Southend United.A product of the Tottenham Hotspur youth academy, Prosser joined Port Vale in 2005. He spent five years at the club, also spending time on loan at Leigh RMI, Salisbury City, and Kidderminster Harriers... |
Southend United Southend United F.C. Southend United Football Club is an English football club based at Roots Hall Stadium, Prittlewell, Southend-on-Sea, Essex, who play in Football League Two. Their home ground is Roots Hall, and the club plan to move into a new 22,000-seater stadium located at Fossetts Farm.-Stadium:The club has had... |
31 July 2010 | |
| 1 July 2010 | FW | Danny Glover Danny Glover (footballer) Daniel "Danny" Glover is an English football striker who plays for Conference North club Nuneaton Town.... |
Worcester City Worcester City F.C. Worcester City Football Club is an English football club based in Worcester, Worcestershire. The club are currently members of the Conference North and play at St George's Lane.-History:... |
6 August 2010 | |
| 1 July 2010 | MF | Ross Davidson |
Stafford Rangers Stafford Rangers F.C. Stafford Rangers Football Club is a semi-professional English football team from Stafford which plays in the Northern Premier League Premier Division.The team wear black and white stripes with black shorts... |
? | |
| 19 November 2010 | FW | Anthony Malbon Anthony Malbon Anthony Jordan Malbon is an English footballer who plays for Northern Premier League Division One South club Newcastle Town. He played for Port Vale between 2009–10, before he signed with Leek Town in summer 2010. He moved onto Newcastle the following year... |
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... |
20 November 2010 | |
| 19 January 2011 | MF | Tommy Fraser Tommy Fraser Thomas Francis Peter "Tommy" Fraser is a professional footballer, who is without a club having departed Barnet in November 2011. A central midfielder, he can also play on the right wing.... |
Barnet Barnet F.C. Barnet Football Club is an English football team from High Barnet, London, England, currently playing in Football League Two. The ground is in the town of Barnet within the London Borough of Barnet.... |
20 January 2011 | |