Andy Jones (footballer)
Encyclopedia
Andrew Mark "Andy" Jones (born 9 January 1963) is a former Welsh
international
footballer. He gained six caps
at international level, to add to his 276 appearances in the Football League
. He scored one international goal and 89 domestic league goals.
After failing to make an impact at Wrexham, Jones found massive success in Welsh football with Rhyl
. This earned him a chance in the English leagues with Port Vale
in 1985. He took this chance in fine style, scoring 49 goals in 90 league appearances, helping the club to promotion out of the Fourth Division
in 1985–86
, and earning himself the club's Player of the Year
award in 1986–87
. His goal tally won him a £350,000 move to Charlton Athletic
in September 1987. However he did not find success at Charlton, and was loaned back to Port Vale and then to Bristol City
. In October 1990 he signed with Bournemouth
, before he moved on to his final club Leyton Orient
a year later.
, Wrexham and finally Rhyl
in the Northern Premier League
, before being bought by manager John Rudge
at English Fourth Division
side Port Vale
for a £3,000 fee in May 1985. He quickly became a regular in the squad and was the Vale's top-scorer in 1985–86
with eighteen goals, his strike partnership with Robbie Earle
helping the club win promotion to the Third Division
. One of his goals came against top-flight West Bromwich Albion
in a 2–2 draw at The Hawthorns
in the League Cup
.
He enhanced his growing reputation in the 1986–87
season, again top marksman with 37 goals (a post-World War II
club record); his 27 league goals made him the most prolific scorer outside of the First Division
(where Clive Allen
scored 33 for Tottenham Hotspur
). Jones scored twelve of his goals from the penalty spot, missing just three in the campaign; throughout his career at Vale Park
he scored 20 of his 23 penalties in competitive games – an all-time club record. He scored a brace in eight games, bagged a hat-trick against Fulham
at Craven Cottage
, and hit five past Newport County
at Vale Park. His goalscoring exploits made him an obvious winner for the club's Player of the Year
award.
He continued his scoring form into 1987–88
, hitting four past Aldershot
on the opening day of the season. Further strikes against York City
and Chesterfield
took him to six goals in eight games. In September 1987, First Division Charlton Athletic
broke Vale's transfer record when manager Lennie Lawrence
paid £350,000 for Jones's services, after Alex Ferguson
had unsuccessfully tried to sign him for Manchester United
. However his time with the "Addicks" was not a success – symbolised by a miss against Liverpool
a mere four yards from the goal.
Charlton avoided the relegation play-offs in 1987–88 after finishing ahead of Chelsea
on goal difference, Jones scoring six goals in 25 league games. However by 1988–89, Charlton were willing to sell Jones back to Port Vale for a £175,000 fee, but the striker refused the move. He did though agree to return to Vale on loan for four months in the latter half of the season
. He hit three goals in seventeen games before returning to Charlton before the play-off win
over Bristol Rovers
. Jones scored four goals in nine league games for Charlton in 1988–89, and also played four games on loan at Bristol City
. Charlton were relegated in 1989–90, with Jones scoring five goals in 25 games.
After seven Second Division
games with a goal in 1990–91, he transferred to Third Division Bournemouth
in October 1990. He scored eight goals in forty league games, and Harry Redknapp
's "Cherries" missed out on the play-offs by six points. He moved on to league rivals Leyton Orient
in 1991–92, as the club posted a tenth place finish. Orient missed out on the play-offs in 1992–93, finishing behind Stockport County
on goal difference. He scored thirteen goals in 59 league games for Orient. Jones later played for non-league sides Poole Town
and Havant Town
.
's strike partner on 1 April 1987 against Finland
at the Racecourse Ground
in his home town of Wrexham
. The Welsh
recorded a 4–1 victory, with Jones scoring one goal on the volley. He played the rest of the five games in the unsuccessful Euro qualification campaign
, making three appearances from the bench. Wales drew 1–1 with Czechoslovakia
at Wrexham and beat Denmark
at Cardiff City
's Ninian Park
, but were defeated at Copenhagen
and Prague
. Had they drawn in Denmark or beaten Czechoslovakia home or away then the Welsh would have qualified for Euro 1988. Jones made his sixth and final appearance for Wales against the Netherlands
on 11 October 1989, the Dutch winning 2–1, and ending Welsh hopes of qualification out of Group 4
at the 1990 FIFA World Cup
qualification stage
.
with Port Vale
Welsh people
The Welsh people are an ethnic group and nation associated with Wales and the Welsh language.John Davies argues that the origin of the "Welsh nation" can be traced to the late 4th and early 5th centuries, following the Roman departure from Britain, although Brythonic Celtic languages seem to have...
international
Wales national football team
The Wales national football team represents Wales in international football. It is controlled by the Football Association of Wales , the governing body for football in Wales, and the third oldest national football association in the world. The team have only qualified for a major international...
footballer. He gained six caps
Cap (sport)
In sports, a cap is a metaphorical term for a player's appearance on a select team, such as a national team. The term dates from the practice in the United Kingdom of awarding a cap to every player in an international match of association football...
at international level, to add to his 276 appearances 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...
. He scored one international goal and 89 domestic league goals.
After failing to make an impact at Wrexham, Jones found massive success in Welsh football with Rhyl
Rhyl F.C.
Rhyl Football Club is a Welsh football club, playing in the Cymru Alliance.The club was founded in 1882 and the team plays its home matches at Belle Vue, Rhyl, which can accommodate 3,000 spectators.- History :Few clubs in the Welsh Premier League have as distinguished a past as Rhyl's...
. This earned him a chance in the English leagues with 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...
in 1985. He took this chance in fine style, scoring 49 goals in 90 league appearances, helping the club to promotion out of the Fourth Division
Football League Fourth Division
The Fourth Division of The Football League was the fourth-highest division in the English football league system from the 1958–59 season until the creation of the Premier League prior to the 1992–93 season...
in 1985–86
1985–86 Port Vale F.C. season
The 1985–86 season was Port Vale's seventy-fourth season of football in the Football League, and second successive season in the Fourth Division. John Rudge achieved his first success as manager, leading Vale to promotion into the Third Division with a fourth place finish...
, and earning himself the club's Player of the Year
Port Vale F.C. Player of the Year
The Port Vale Player of the Year award is voted for annually by Port Vale's supporters in recognition of the best overall performance by an individual player throughout the football season. Towards the end of each season, fans are invited to cast their votes for this award.The inaugural award was...
award in 1986–87
1986–87 Port Vale F.C. season
The 1986–87 season was Port Vale's seventy-fifth season of football in the Football League, and first season back in the Third Division following promotion from the Fourth Division. John Rudge led to Vale to a mid-table finish, his Player of the Year signing Andy Jones scoring 37 goals in all...
. His goal tally won him a £350,000 move to Charlton Athletic
Charlton Athletic F.C.
Charlton Athletic Football Club is an English professional football club based in Charlton, in the London Borough of Greenwich. They compete in Football League One, the third tier of English football. The club was founded on 9 June 1905, when a number of youth clubs in the southeast London area,...
in September 1987. However he did not find success at Charlton, and was loaned back to Port Vale and then to Bristol City
Bristol City F.C.
Bristol City Football Club is one of two football league clubs in Bristol, England . They play at Ashton Gate, located in the south-west of the City...
. In October 1990 he signed with Bournemouth
A.F.C. Bournemouth
A.F.C. Bournemouth is an English football club currently playing in Football League One. The club plays at Dean Court in Kings Park, Boscombe, Bournemouth, Dorset and have been in existence since 1899....
, before he moved on to his final club Leyton Orient
Leyton Orient F.C.
Leyton Orient F.C. are an English professional football club in East London. They currently play in Football League One and are known to their fans as the O's.Leyton Orient have spent one season in the top flight of English football, in 1962–63...
a year later.
Playing style
A pacey goalscoring striker, he had fantastic shooting ability despite weakness with his touch and linking play.Club career
Jones played youth football in Wales for Ysgol Y, Berwyn, Bala TownBala Town F.C.
Bala Town Football Club are a Welsh football team that currently play in the Welsh Premier League. They play their games at Maes Tegid in Bala, Gwynedd, Wales...
, Wrexham and finally Rhyl
Rhyl F.C.
Rhyl Football Club is a Welsh football club, playing in the Cymru Alliance.The club was founded in 1882 and the team plays its home matches at Belle Vue, Rhyl, which can accommodate 3,000 spectators.- History :Few clubs in the Welsh Premier League have as distinguished a past as Rhyl's...
in the Northern Premier League
Northern Premier League
The Northern Premier League, is one of the regional English football leagues which sits directly below the Football Conference featuring semi-professional and amateur clubs. Geographically, the league covers all of Northern England, and the northern areas of the Midlands. Originally just one...
, before being bought by manager John Rudge
John Rudge
John Robert Rudge is an English former football player and football manager. He is currently working as the director of football at Stoke City....
at English Fourth Division
Football League Fourth Division
The Fourth Division of The Football League was the fourth-highest division in the English football league system from the 1958–59 season until the creation of the Premier League prior to the 1992–93 season...
side 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...
for a £3,000 fee in May 1985. He quickly became a regular in the squad and was the Vale's top-scorer in 1985–86
1985–86 Port Vale F.C. season
The 1985–86 season was Port Vale's seventy-fourth season of football in the Football League, and second successive season in the Fourth Division. John Rudge achieved his first success as manager, leading Vale to promotion into the Third Division with a fourth place finish...
with eighteen goals, his strike partnership with Robbie Earle
Robbie Earle
Robert Fitzgerald "Robbie" Earle MBE is an English-born Jamaican former international footballer who played as a midfielder. He played 578 league games in senior club football, scoring 136 goals....
helping the club win promotion to the Third Division
Football League Third Division
The Football League Third Division was the 3 tier of English Football from 1920 until 1992 when after the formation of the Football Association Premier League saw the league renamed The Football League Division Two...
. One of his goals came against top-flight 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...
in a 2–2 draw at The Hawthorns
The Hawthorns
The Hawthorns is an all-seater football stadium in West Bromwich, Sandwell, England, with a capacity of 26,484. It has been the home of West Bromwich Albion F.C. since 1900, when it became the sixth ground to be used by the club. The ground was the last Football League ground to be built in the...
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...
.
He enhanced his growing reputation in the 1986–87
1986–87 Port Vale F.C. season
The 1986–87 season was Port Vale's seventy-fifth season of football in the Football League, and first season back in the Third Division following promotion from the Fourth Division. John Rudge led to Vale to a mid-table finish, his Player of the Year signing Andy Jones scoring 37 goals in all...
season, again top marksman with 37 goals (a post-World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
club record); his 27 league goals made him the most prolific scorer outside of the First Division
Football League First Division
The First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
(where Clive Allen
Clive Allen
Clive Darren Allen is a retired English footballer, a prolific scorer for a number of clubs.Allen is the son of ex-Tottenham Hotspur forward Les Allen, who was a member of the legendary team which won the First Division title and FA Cup "double" in 1961...
scored 33 for Tottenham Hotspur
Tottenham Hotspur F.C.
Tottenham Hotspur Football Club , commonly referred to as Spurs, is an English Premier League football club based in Tottenham, north London. The club's home stadium is White Hart Lane....
). Jones scored twelve of his goals from the penalty spot, missing just three in the campaign; throughout his career at Vale Park
Vale Park
Vale Park is a football stadium in Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent, England. It is the home ground of Port Vale F.C., who have played at the ground since 1950....
he scored 20 of his 23 penalties in competitive games – an all-time club record. He scored a brace in eight games, bagged a hat-trick against 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...
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....
, and hit five past Newport County
Newport County A.F.C.
Newport County Association Football Club are a professional football club based in the city of Newport, south Wales, who currently play in the Conference National, the highest level of the National League System and fifth highest of the overall English football league system...
at Vale Park. His goalscoring exploits made him an obvious winner for the club's Player of the Year
Port Vale F.C. Player of the Year
The Port Vale Player of the Year award is voted for annually by Port Vale's supporters in recognition of the best overall performance by an individual player throughout the football season. Towards the end of each season, fans are invited to cast their votes for this award.The inaugural award was...
award.
He continued his scoring form into 1987–88
1987–88 Port Vale F.C. season
The 1987–88 season was Port Vale's seventy-sixth season of football in the Football League, and second successive season in the Third Division. John Rudge's side started the season well, but then suffered following the sale of star striker Andy Jones...
, hitting four past Aldershot
Aldershot F.C.
Aldershot Football Club was an English Football League club, which was wound up in the High Court in March 1992. They became the first Football League club since Accrington Stanley to resign from the League during the course of a season. The club was nicknamed the Shots for both the last syllable...
on the opening day of the season. Further strikes against York City
York City F.C.
York City Football Club is an English football club based in York, North Yorkshire. The club participates in the Conference National, the fifth tier of English football. Founded in 1922, they joined the Football League in 1929, and have spent most of their history in the lower divisions...
and 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...
took him to six goals in eight games. In September 1987, First Division Charlton Athletic
Charlton Athletic F.C.
Charlton Athletic Football Club is an English professional football club based in Charlton, in the London Borough of Greenwich. They compete in Football League One, the third tier of English football. The club was founded on 9 June 1905, when a number of youth clubs in the southeast London area,...
broke Vale's transfer record when manager Lennie Lawrence
Lennie Lawrence
Robin Michael Lawrence, commonly known as Lennie Lawrence, is a British football manager who is assistant manager of Crystal Palace. He has managed a number of English clubs and one Welsh club in a coaching career spanning over 30 years...
paid £350,000 for Jones's services, after Alex Ferguson
Alex Ferguson
Sir Alexander Chapman "Alex" Ferguson, CBE is a Scottish association football manager and former player, currently managing Manchester United, where he has been in charge since 1986...
had unsuccessfully tried to sign him for 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...
. However his time with the "Addicks" was not a success – symbolised by a miss against Liverpool
Liverpool F.C.
Liverpool Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Liverpool, Merseyside. Liverpool has won eighteen League titles, second most in English football, seven FA Cups and a record seven League Cups...
a mere four yards from the goal.
Charlton avoided the relegation play-offs in 1987–88 after finishing ahead of Chelsea
Chelsea F.C.
Chelsea Football Club are an English football club based in West London. Founded in 1905, they play in the Premier League and have spent most of their history in the top tier of English football. Chelsea have been English champions four times, FA Cup winners six times and League Cup winners four...
on goal difference, Jones scoring six goals in 25 league games. However by 1988–89, Charlton were willing to sell Jones back to Port Vale for a £175,000 fee, but the striker refused the move. He did though agree to return to Vale on loan for four months in the latter half of the season
1988–89 Port Vale F.C. season
The 1988–89 season was Port Vale's seventy-seventh season of football in the Football League, and third successive season in the Third Division. They achieved promotion to the Second Division with a 2–1 aggregate win over Bristol Rovers in the two-legged play-off Final...
. He hit three goals in seventeen games before returning to Charlton before the play-off win
1989 Football League Third Division play-off Final
The 1989 Football League Third Division play-off final was a two-legged football match played at on 31 May and 3 June 1989, to determine the third and final team to gain promotion from the Third Division to the Second Division of The Football League in the 1988–89 season. Port Vale faced Bristol...
over 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....
. Jones scored four goals in nine league games for Charlton in 1988–89, and also played four games on loan at Bristol City
Bristol City F.C.
Bristol City Football Club is one of two football league clubs in Bristol, England . They play at Ashton Gate, located in the south-west of the City...
. Charlton were relegated in 1989–90, with Jones scoring five goals in 25 games.
After seven Second Division
Football League Second Division
From 1892 until 1992, the Football League Second Division was the second highest division overall in English football.This ended with the creation of the FA Premier League, prior to the start of the 1992–93 season, which caused an administrative split between The Football League and the teams...
games with a goal in 1990–91, he transferred to Third Division Bournemouth
A.F.C. Bournemouth
A.F.C. Bournemouth is an English football club currently playing in Football League One. The club plays at Dean Court in Kings Park, Boscombe, Bournemouth, Dorset and have been in existence since 1899....
in October 1990. He scored eight goals in forty league games, and Harry Redknapp
Harry Redknapp
Henry James "Harry" Redknapp is a former English footballer who has enjoyed a long career in football management starting in 1983 with Bournemouth. He is the current manager of Tottenham Hotspur....
's "Cherries" missed out on the play-offs by six points. He moved on to league rivals Leyton Orient
Leyton Orient F.C.
Leyton Orient F.C. are an English professional football club in East London. They currently play in Football League One and are known to their fans as the O's.Leyton Orient have spent one season in the top flight of English football, in 1962–63...
in 1991–92, as the club posted a tenth place finish. Orient missed out on the play-offs in 1992–93, finishing behind 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 goal difference. He scored thirteen goals in 59 league games for Orient. Jones later played for non-league sides Poole Town
Poole Town F.C.
Poole Town F.C. is a football club based in Poole, England. They were established in 1890 and joined the Western League Division Two in 1930. They won the Western League title in 1957 and reached the First Round Proper of the FA Cup four times in their history. They are currently members of the...
and Havant Town
Havant & Waterlooville F.C.
Havant & Waterlooville Football Club are an English football club based in Havant, Hampshire. The club formed in 1998 after a merger between Havant Town and Waterlooville, and are currently members of the Conference South. Nicknamed The Hawks, they play at West Leigh Park.-History:In 1998 Havant...
.
International career
Jones made his international debut as Ian RushIan Rush
Ian James Rush, MBE, is a retired football player from Flint, Wales. He is best remembered as a player for Liverpool, where he was among the top strikers in the English game in the 1980s and 1990s. He also had spells playing at Chester City, Juventus, Leeds United, Newcastle United, Sheffield...
's strike partner on 1 April 1987 against Finland
Finland national football team
The Finland national football team represents Finland in international football competitions and is controlled by the Football Association of Finland....
at the Racecourse Ground
Racecourse Ground
The Glyndŵr University Racecourse Stadium AKA The Racecourse Ground is a stadium located in Wrexham, North Wales. It is the home of Wrexham F.C. and, since 2010, the Crusaders Rugby League team who play in the engage Super League...
in his home town of Wrexham
Wrexham
Wrexham is a town in Wales. It is the administrative centre of the wider Wrexham County Borough, and the largest town in North Wales, located in the east of the region. It is situated between the Welsh mountains and the lower Dee Valley close to the border with Cheshire, England...
. The Welsh
Wales national football team
The Wales national football team represents Wales in international football. It is controlled by the Football Association of Wales , the governing body for football in Wales, and the third oldest national football association in the world. The team have only qualified for a major international...
recorded a 4–1 victory, with Jones scoring one goal on the volley. He played the rest of the five games in the unsuccessful Euro qualification campaign
UEFA Euro 1988 qualifying Group 6
Standings and results for Group 6 of the 1988 UEFA European Football Championship qualifying tournament.Group 6 consisted of Czechoslovakia, Denmark, Finland and Wales...
, making three appearances from the bench. Wales drew 1–1 with Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia national football team
The Czechoslovakia national football team was the national association football team of Czechoslovakia from 1922 to 1993. At the dissolution of Czechoslovakia at the end of 1992, the team was participating in UEFA qualifying Group 4 for the 1994 World Cup; it completed this campaign under the name...
at Wrexham and beat Denmark
Denmark national football team
The Denmark national football team represents Denmark in association football and is controlled by the Danish Football Association , the governing body for the football clubs which are organized under DBU...
at Cardiff City
Cardiff City F.C.
Cardiff City Football Club are a Welsh professional football club based in Cardiff, Wales. The club competes in the English football pyramid and is currently playing in the Football League Championship. Cardiff City is the best supported football club in Wales, averaging approximately 22,500 for...
's Ninian Park
Ninian Park
Ninian Park was a football stadium in Leckwith, Cardiff, Wales. Until 2009, it was the home ground of Cardiff City F.C., who compete in the English Football League Championship...
, but were defeated at Copenhagen
Copenhagen
Copenhagen is the capital and largest city of Denmark, with an urban population of 1,199,224 and a metropolitan population of 1,930,260 . With the completion of the transnational Øresund Bridge in 2000, Copenhagen has become the centre of the increasingly integrating Øresund Region...
and Prague
Prague
Prague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. Situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava river, the city is home to about 1.3 million people, while its metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of over 2.3 million...
. Had they drawn in Denmark or beaten Czechoslovakia home or away then the Welsh would have qualified for Euro 1988. Jones made his sixth and final appearance for Wales against the Netherlands
Netherlands national football team
The Netherlands National Football Team represents the Netherlands in association football and is controlled by the Royal Dutch Football Association , the governing body for football in the Netherlands...
on 11 October 1989, the Dutch winning 2–1, and ending Welsh hopes of qualification out of Group 4
1990 FIFA World Cup qualification – UEFA Group 4
The 1990 FIFA World Cup qualification UEFA Group 4 was a UEFA qualifying group for the 1990 FIFA World Cup. The group comprised Finland, European champions the Netherlands, Wales and West Germany....
at the 1990 FIFA World Cup
1990 FIFA World Cup
The 1990 FIFA World Cup was the 14th FIFA World Cup, the quadrennial international football world championship tournament. It was held from 8 June to 8 July 1990 in Italy, the second country to host the event twice. Teams representing 116 national football associations from all six populated...
qualification stage
1990 FIFA World Cup qualification (UEFA)
The European zone of qualification for the 1990 FIFA World Cup saw 32 teams competing for 13 places at the finals. UEFA members Italy qualified automatically as hosts of the finals. The qualification process started on 21 May 1988 and ended on 18 November 1989.-Format:Teams were drawn into seven...
.
Honours
Individual- Port Vale F.C. Player of the YearPort Vale F.C. Player of the YearThe Port Vale Player of the Year award is voted for annually by Port Vale's supporters in recognition of the best overall performance by an individual player throughout the football season. Towards the end of each season, fans are invited to cast their votes for this award.The inaugural award was...
: 1986–871986–87 Port Vale F.C. seasonThe 1986–87 season was Port Vale's seventy-fifth season of football in the Football League, and first season back in the Third Division following promotion from the Fourth Division. John Rudge led to Vale to a mid-table finish, his Player of the Year signing Andy Jones scoring 37 goals in all...
with Port Vale
- Football League Fourth DivisionFootball League Fourth DivisionThe Fourth Division of The Football League was the fourth-highest division in the English football league system from the 1958–59 season until the creation of the Premier League prior to the 1992–93 season...
4th place finish (promoted): 1985–861985–86 Port Vale F.C. seasonThe 1985–86 season was Port Vale's seventy-fourth season of football in the Football League, and second successive season in the Fourth Division. John Rudge achieved his first success as manager, leading Vale to promotion into the Third Division with a fourth place finish...