1984–85 Port Vale F.C. season

Port Vale 1984–85 football season

Port Vale

1984–85 season

Chairman

Jim Lloyd

Manager

John Rudge

Stadium

Vale Park

Football League Fourth Division

12th (60 Points)

FA Cup

Third Round
(knocked out by West Ham United)

League Cup

Second Round
(knocked out by Wolverhampton Wanderers)

Associate Members' Cup

Second Round
(knocked out by Bristol City)

Player of the Year

Alan Webb

Top goalscorer

League: Ally Brown (17)
All: Ally Brown (21)

Highest home attendance

6,949 vs. Wolverhampton Wanderers, 24 September 1984

Lowest home attendance

1,386 vs. Northampton Town, 29 January 1985

Average home league attendance

3,267

Biggest win

5–1 vs. Exeter City, 1 January 1985

Biggest defeat

0–4 vs. Bury, 26 December 1984

Home colours

Away colours

← 1983–84 1985–86 →

The 1984–85 season was Port Vale's 73rd season of football in the English Football League, and first (12th overall) back in the Fourth Division following their relegation from the Third Division. John Rudge's first full season in charge, the Vale finished in mid-table following a season of rebuilding the squad. Veteran striker Ally Brown was the top-scorer with 21 goals, whilst midfield dynamo Robbie Earle hit 19 goals. Defender Alan Webb was elected Player of the Year, whilst a young Ray Walker also spent a short period on loan at the club. Vale progressed to the Third Round of the FA Cup, and the Second Rounds of the League Cup and Associate Members' Cup.

Overview

Fourth Division

The pre-season saw four new arrivals: veteran striker Ally Brown (Walsall); winger Peter Griffiths (Stoke City); and both forward Derek Monaghan and reliable defender Alan Webb (West Bromwich Albion). This came after John Rudge stated that "Vale's reputation has been built on grit and determination and I will be looking to bring in the player who is willing to die for the cause". Attempts to re-sign Brian Horton failed once again, whilst Martin Henderson had his contract cancelled after failing to report for pre-season training – he later signed with Spalding United. Just before the season began Gary Brazil was signed on loan from Sheffield United.

The season opened with a 1–0 defeat to Mansfield Town. Tommy Gore soon announced his retirement due to a neck injury. The Vale then went five games unbeaten, as the club announced a new five-year shirt sponsorship deal with Trentham firm Eagle Delivery Service. Young winger Ray Walker also arrived on loan from Aston Villa. On 22 September, Vale defeated Tranmere Rovers 2–1, due in part to a superb performance from Robbie Earle. However, the fans chanted 'what a load of rubbish' on 1 October, as Vale lost 3–0 at home to struggling side Northampton Town. Rudge stated that 'In truth we were rubbish' and promptly cancelled the player's day off. Another five-game unbeaten run followed, as Brown showed his 'class' and Walker impressed. On 20 October, Vale won 1–0 away at Swindon Town, who were coached by player-manager Lou Macari. On 5 November, Eamonn O'Keefe scored a 'brilliant' hat-trick past Southend United in a 4–1 win. Rudge then signed Stockport County's outside-right Oshor Williams for £7,000. Vale's form then suffered after Walker returned to Villa Park. To remedy this Rudge signed Southend United midfielder Billy Kellock, who made 'a stunning impact' in his debut, playing a key part in the 5–1 victory over Exeter City on New Year's Day. This was the first of a sixteen-game unbeaten run, in which the team equalled a club-record six straight away draws between 19 January and 29 March.

On 2 February, Earle scored a hat-trick past Hereford United. Striker partner Ally Brown claimed "He is my brains and I am his legs". John Rudge received the Manager of the Month award for February. The next month Barry Siddall joined Stoke City on a free transfer, after Chris Pearce had established himself as the Vale's #1. Wayne Cegielski also signed with Blackpool and Eamonn O'Keefe followed him to Bloomfield Road for a £10,000 fee. Five victories in the opening six games of April took Vale sliding down the league, as Brown was out with a knee injury. Vale rallied to go through the final five games unbeaten.

They finished in twelfth place with sixty points, winning and losing fourteen games. Between them, Brown and Earle racked up a combined total of forty goals in all competitions. Yet it was Russell Bromage who was selected for the PFA Fourth Division team.

Finances

On the financial side, a loss was made of £7,793 due to a 20% drop in attendance figures. The wage bill stood at £389,341, whilst gate receipts took in £128,954 and the lottery raised £191,000. The club's shirt sponsors were EDS. Five players left on free transfers, most significant were the departures of: Terry Armstrong and Derek Monaghan (retired); Colin Tartt (Shepshed Charterhouse); and Ian Griffiths (Wigan Athletic). Billy Kellock also refused terms, and so joined Halifax Town, whilst John Ridley joined Stafford Rangers as a player-coach. Vale received £700 following a tribunal claim, becoming the first Football League club to take a non-League club to a tribunal.

Cup competitions

In the FA Cup, Vale beat Northern Premier League side Macclesfield Town 2–1 at Moss Rose. This game was overshadowed by a fence collapse that left thirteen injured and led to 21 arrests. Town Chairman Alan Brocklehurst blamed 'the hooligan element of the Vale support'; however, Vale Chairman Jim Lloyd laid the blame at the feet of the police. The next round saw Vale come from a goal down to claim a 4–1 home victory over Scunthorpe United in a Friday night game, with Brown's equalising goal changing the pattern of the game just before half-time. In the Third Round they travelled to West Ham United's Upton Park, where the First Division club beat the "Valiants" 4–1.

In the League Cup, Vale went past Bury on away goals, having scored one of their two goals at Gigg Lane. In the Second Round they lost 2–1 at home to Second Division Wolverhampton Wanderers, though they did earn a goalless draw at Molineux.

In the Associate Members' Cup, Vale eliminated Northampton Town in a 2–1 replay victory at Sixfields. The original match saw an attendance of just 1,386 at Vale Park. At the replay Ian Griffiths required a skin graft after getting his hand trapped in a toilet door. Vale were knocked out in the next round by Bristol City, losing 2–1 to the Third Division side at Ashton Gate.

League table

Main article: 1984–85 Football League

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts
10	Crewe Alexandra	46	18	12	16	65	69	−4	66
11	Peterborough United	46	16	14	16	54	53	+1	62
12	Port Vale	46	14	18	14	61	59	+2	60
13	Aldershot	46	17	8	21	56	63	−7	59
14	Mansfield Town	46	13	18	15	41	38	+3	57

Source:

Results

Port Vale's score comes first

Football League Fourth Division

Results by matchday

Round	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	21	22	23	24	25	26	27	28	29	30	31	32	33	34	35	36	37	38	39	40	41	42	43	44	45	46
Ground	H	A	H	A	A	H	A	H	H	A	A	H	H	A	H	A	H	A	H	H	A	A	H	A	H	H	H	A	A	H	A	H	A	H	A	A	H	A	H	A	A	H	H	A	H	A
Result	L	D	D	W	D	W	L	L	W	W	W	D	W	L	W	L	D	L	L	D	L	L	W	D	D	W	W	D	D	W	D	W	D	D	D	L	D	L	L	L	L	D	W	D	W	D
Position	18	18	19	13	13	9	10	12	11	8	6	6	7	11	6	9	8	9	11	12	14	14	13	13	13	11	13	12	12	12	12	12	12	12	12	12	12	12	12	12	13	13	13	12	12	12

Source: Statto
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

Matches

Date	Opponent	Venue	Result	Attendance	Scorers
25 August 1984	Mansfield Town	H	0–1	3,552
1 September 1984	Wrexham	A	1–1	1,849	Brazil
8 September 1984	Hartlepool United	H	1–1	3,232	Sproson
15 September 1984	Torquay United	A	3–1	1,692	Walker, Earle, Brown
18 September 1984	Blackpool	A	1–1	4,902	Brazil
22 September 1984	Tranmere Rovers	H	2–1	3,301	Brazil, Earle
29 September 1984	Hereford United	A	0–1	4,093
1 October 1984	Northampton Town	H	0–3	3,235
6 October 1984	Crewe Alexandra	H	2–0	4,145	Brown, P.Griffiths
13 October 1984	Rochdale	A	2–1	1,722	O'Keefe, Brown
20 October 1984	Swindon Town	A	1–0	3,056	O'Keefe
22 October 1984	Chesterfield	H	0–0	4,988
27 October 1984	Peterborough United	H	3–1	3,943	Brown (2), O'Keefe
3 November 1984	Stockport County	A	1–3	2,698	O'Keefe
5 November 1984	Southend United	H	4–1	2,989	O'Keefe (3), Earle
10 November 1984	Aldershot	A	0–1	2,188
23 November 1984	Chester City	H	0–0	3,391
30 November 1984	Halifax Town	A	1–2	1,689	Hunter
15 December 1984	Darlington	H	0–1	3,645
22 December 1984	Scunthorpe United	H	1–1	2,521	P.Griffiths
26 December 1984	Bury	A	0–4	4,664
28 December 1984	Colchester United	A	2–3	2,014	Brown, Smith
1 January 1985	Exeter City	H	5–1	3,306	Kellock (2 ), Brown (2), Earle
19 January 1985	Hartlepool United	A	2–2	2,285	Brown, Williams
26 January 1985	Torquay United	H	2–2	2,839	Hunter, Earle
2 February 1985	Hereford United	H	3–1	3,453	Earle (3)
23 February 1985	Stockport County	H	3–2	3,154	Brown (2), Bromage
2 March 1985	Peterborough United	A	0–0	2,817
5 March 1985	Chesterfield	A	0–0	3,480
9 March 1985	Swindon Town	H	2–0	3,300	Sproson, Brown
13 March 1985	Mansfield Town	H	1–1	2,161	Sproson
16 March 1985	Rochdale	H	3–1	2,788	P.Griffiths, Kellock (pen), Brown
22 March 1985	Crewe Alexandra	A	0–0	4,763
25 March 1985	Wrexham	H	0–0	2,964
29 March 1985	Southend United	A	1–1	2,407	Earle
1 April 1985	Tranmere Rovers	A	1–4	1,450	Earle
6 April 1985	Bury	H	0–0	3,544
8 April 1985	Exeter City	A	1–2	2,427	Earle
13 April 1985	Aldershot	H	1–2	2,562	Earle
17 April 1985	Northampton Town	A	0–1	1,311
20 April 1985	Chester City	A	0–2	1,575
22 April 1985	Blackpool	H	1–1	3,725	Brown
27 April 1985	Halifax Town	H	3–1	2,029	Brown, Earle, Williams
4 May 1985	Darlington	A	1–1	3,565	Earle
6 May 1985	Colchester United	H	3–2	2,526	Brown, Kellock, Earle (pen)
10 May 1985	Scunthorpe United	A	3–3	1,867	Brown, Tartt, Williams

FA Cup

Main article: 1984–85 FA Cup


Round	Date	Opponent	Venue	Result	Attendance	Goalscorers
R1	19 November 1984	Macclesfield Town	A	2–1	4,672	Brown, Earle
R2	7 December 1984	Scunthorpe United	H	4–1	4,268	Brown, O'Keefe (pen), Bromage, I.Griffiths
R3	5 January 1985	West Ham United	A	1–4	11,452	P.Griffiths

League Cup

Main article: 1984–85 Football League Cup


Round	Date	Opponent	Venue	Result	Attendance	Goalscorers
R1 1st Leg	28 August 1984	Bury	H	1–0	2,498	Earle
R1 2nd Leg	4 September 1984	Bury	A	1–2	2,257	Tartt
R2 1st Leg	24 September 1984	Wolverhampton Wanderers	H	1–2	6,949	Brown
R2 2nd Leg	9 October 1984	Wolverhampton Wanderers	A	0–0	5,964

Associate Members' Cup

Main article: 1984–85 Associate Members' Cup


Round	Date	Opponent	Venue	Result	Attendance	Goalscorers
R1	29 January 1985	Northampton Town	H	1–1	1,386	Williams
R1 Replay	5 February 1985	Northampton Town	A	2–1	1,405	Earle (2)
R2	18 March 1985	Bristol City	A	1–2	3,635	Brown

Player statistics

Appearances and goals

Pos.	Name	Football League		FA Cup		League Cup		Associate Members' Cup		Total
Pos.	Name	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
GK	Barry Siddall	9	0	1	0	1	0	1	0	12	0
GK	Chris Pearce	36	0	2	0	3	0	2	0	43	0
GK	Karl Austin	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0
DF	Phil Sproson	44	3	3	0	4	0	3	0	54	3
DF	Wayne Cegielski	8	0	1	0	1	0	0	0	10	0
DF	Alan Webb	46	0	3	0	4	0	3	0	56	0
DF	Wayne Ebanks	11	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	11	0
DF	Chris Banks	7	0	0	0	0	0	3	0	10	0
DF	Russell Bromage	37	1	3	1	4	0	2	0	46	2
MF	Terry Armstrong	4	0	0	0	2	0	0	0	6	0
MF	Colin Tartt	12	1	0	0	3	1	0	0	15	2
MF	Geoff Hunter	42	2	3	0	3	0	3	0	51	2
MF	John Ridley	43	0	2	0	4	0	2	0	51	0
MF	Robbie Earle	46	15	3	1	4	1	3	2	56	19
MF	Tommy Gore	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	1	0
MF	Ray Walker	15	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	15	1
MF	Martyn Smith	13	1	0	0	3	0	1	0	17	1
MF	Adrian Reeves-Jones	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	3	0
MF	Billy Kellock	11	4	0	0	0	0	2	0	13	4
MF	Wayne Kerrins	8	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	8	0
MF	Paul Lodge	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	3	0
MF	Ian Griffiths	12	0	1	1	0	0	2	0	15	1
MF	Peter Griffiths	31	3	2	1	4	0	2	0	39	4
FW	Eamonn O'Keefe	22	7	3	1	1	0	1	0	27	8
FW	Oshor Williams	17	3	3	0	0	0	2	1	22	4
FW	Derek Monaghan	7	0	0	0	1	0	1	0	9	0
FW	Ally Brown	40	17	3	2	4	1	2	1	49	21
FW	Gary Brazil	6	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	6	3

Top scorers

Place	Position	Nation	Name	Fourth Division	FA Cup	League Cup	Associate Members' Cup	Total
1	FW	Scotland	Ally Brown	17	2	1	1	21
2	MF	Jamaica	Robbie Earle	15	1	1	2	19
3	FW	Ireland	Eamonn O'Keefe	7	1	0	0	8
4	MF	Scotland	Billy Kellock	4	0	0	0	4
–	FW	England	Oshor Williams	3	0	1	0	4
–	MF	England	Peter Griffiths	3	1	0	0	4
7	FW	England	Gary Brazil	3	0	0	0	3
–	DF	England	Phil Sproson	3	0	0	0	3
9	MF	England	Geoff Hunter	2	0	0	0	2
–	MF	England	Colin Tartt	1	0	1	0	2
–	DF	England	Russell Bromage	1	1	0	0	2
12	MF	England	Ray Walker	1	0	0	0	1
–	MF	England	Martyn Smith	1	0	0	0	1
–	FW	England	Ian Griffiths	0	1	0	0	1
			TOTALS	61	7	3	4	75

Transfers

Transfers in

Date from	Position	Name	From	Fee
1984	MF	Oshor Williams	Stockport County	Free transfer
July 1984	FW	Alistair Brown	Walsall	Free transfer
July 1984	MF	Peter Griffiths	Stoke City	Free transfer
July 1984	FW	Derek Monaghan	West Bromwich Albion	Free transfer
July 1984	DF	Alan Webb	West Bromwich Albion	Free transfer
August 1984	MF	Martyn Smith	Leek Town	Free transfer
October 1984	MF	Ian Griffiths	Rochdale	Free transfer
December 1984	MF	Billy Kellock	Southend United	Free transfer
February 1985	GK	Karl Austin	Stafford Rangers	Non-contract

Transfers out

Date from	Position	Name	To	Fee
October 1984	MF	Tommy Gore	Retired
March 1985	DF	Wayne Cegielski	Blackpool	Free transfer
March 1985	MF	Eamonn O'Keefe	Blackpool	£17,500
March 1985	GK	Barry Siddall	Stoke City	Free transfer
May 1985	MF	Terry Armstrong	Nuneaton Borough	Free transfer
May 1985	FW	Derek Monaghan	Redditch United	Free transfer
May 1985	MF	Adrian Reeves-Jones	Leek Town	Free transfer
May 1985	MF	Martyn Smith	Macclesfield Town	Free transfer
May 1985	MF	Colin Tartt	Shepshed Charterhouse	Free transfer
June 1985	MF	Billy Kellock	Halifax Town	Free transfer
Summer 1985	GK	Karl Austin	Gresley Rovers	Free transfer
Summer 1985	MF	Ian Griffiths	Wigan Athletic	Free transfer
Summer 1985	MF	John Ridley	Stafford Rangers	£700

Loans in

Date from	Position	Name	From	Date to
August 1984	FW	Gary Brazil	Aston Villa	August 1984
August 1984	MF	Ray Walker	Aston Villa	End of season
November 1984	MF	Paul Lodge	Bolton Wanderers	January 1985
March 1985	DF	Wayne Ebanks	West Bromwich Albion	End of season
March 1985	MF	Wayne Kerrins	Fulham	End of season

Loans out

Date from	Position	Nationality	Name	To	Date to	Ref.
January 1985	GK		Barry Siddall	Stoke City	March 1985

References

Specific

^ Kent, Jeff (1990). "From Rags to Riches (1979–1990)". The Valiants' Years: The Story Of Port Vale. Witan Books. pp. 258–290. ISBN 0-9508981-4-7.
Baggaley, Mike (22 September 2024). "Vale's late drama". Valiant's Substack. Retrieved 22 September 2024.
Baggaley, Mike (20 October 2024). "Vale flying high". Valiant's Substack. Retrieved 20 October 2024.
Baggaley, Mike (8 December 2024). "Plenty to ponder after Walsall defeat". Valiant's Substack. Retrieved 8 December 2024.
Port Vale 1984–1985 : Results & Fixtures Archived 6 September 2015 at the Wayback Machine. Statto Organisation. Retrieved 28 April 2012.
^ Kent, Jeff (1996). Port Vale Personalities. Witan Books. ISBN 0-9529152-0-0.

General

Kent, Jeff (1993). The Port Vale Record 1879-1993. Witan Books. ISBN 0-9508981-9-8.

v t e Port Vale F.C. seasons
1880–81 1881–82 1882–83 1883–84 1884–85 1885–86 1886–87 1887–88 1888–89 1889–90
1890–91 1891–92 1892–93 1893–94 1894–95 1895–96 1896–97 1897–98 1898–99 1899–00
1900–01 1901–02 1902–03 1903–04 1904–05 1905–06 1906–07 1907–08 1908–09 1909–10
1910–11 1911–12 1912–13 1913–14 1914–15 1915–16 1916–17 1917–18 1918–19 1919–20
1920–21 1921–22 1922–23 1923–24 1924–25 1925–26 1926–27 1927–28 1928–29 1929–30
1930–31 1931–32 1932–33 1933–34 1934–35 1935–36 1936–37 1937–38 1938–39 1939–40
1940–41 1941–42 1942–43 1943–44 1944–45 1945–46 1946–47 1947–48 1948–49 1949–50
1950–51 1951–52 1952–53 1953–54 1954–55 1955–56 1956–57 1957–58 1958–59 1959–60
1960–61 1961–62 1962–63 1963–64 1964–65 1965–66 1966–67 1967–68 1968–69 1969–70
1970–71 1971–72 1972–73 1973–74 1974–75 1975–76 1976–77 1977–78 1978–79 1979–80
1980–81 1981–82 1982–83 1983–84 1984–85 1985–86 1986–87 1987–88 1988–89 1989–90
1990–91 1991–92 1992–93 1993–94 1994–95 1995–96 1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 1999–00
2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 2005–06 2006–07 2007–08 2008–09 2009–10
2010–11 2011–12 2012–13 2013–14 2014–15 2015–16 2016–17 2017–18 2018–19 2019–20
2020–21 2021–22 2022–23 2023–24 2024–25 2025–26 2026–27 2027–28 2028–29 2029–30

1984–85 in English football

« 1983–84 1985–86 »

National teams

League competitions

Levels 1–4	Football League (First Division, Second Division, Third Division, Fourth Division)
Level 5	Alliance Premier League
Levels 6–7	Isthmian League (Premier, One) Northern Premier League (level 6 only) Southern League (Premier, Midland, Southern)
Levels 8–9	Isthmian League (Two North, Two South) Combined Counties League (level 8 only) Eastern Counties League (level 8 only) Essex Senior League (level 8 only) Hellenic League (Premier, One) Kent League (level 8 only) London Spartan League (Premier, Senior) Midland Football Combination (level 8 only) North West Counties League (One, Two) Northern Counties East League (Premier, One North, One Central, One South ) Northern League (One, Two) South Midlands League (Premier, One) Sussex County League (One, Two) United Counties League (Premier, One) West Midlands (Regional) League (level 8 only) Western League (Premier, One)

Cup competitions

FA cups	FA Cup (qualifying rounds, final) Charity Shield FA Trophy (final)
Football League cups	League Cup (final) Associate Members' Cup (final)

European competitions

Other

Club seasons
First Division	Arsenal Aston Villa Chelsea Coventry City Everton Ipswich Town Leicester City Liverpool Luton Town Manchester United Newcastle United Norwich City Nottingham Forest Queens Park Rangers Sheffield Wednesday Southampton Stoke City Sunderland Tottenham Hotspur Watford West Bromwich Albion West Ham United
Second Division	Barnsley Birmingham City Blackburn Rovers Brighton & Hove Albion Cardiff City Carlisle United Charlton Athletic Crystal Palace Fulham Grimsby Town Huddersfield Town Leeds United Manchester City Middlesbrough Notts County Oldham Athletic Oxford United Portsmouth Sheffield United Shrewsbury Town Wimbledon Wolverhampton Wanderers
Third Division	Bolton Wanderers Bournemouth Bradford City Brentford Bristol City Bristol Rovers Burnley Cambridge United Derby County Doncaster Rovers Gillingham Hull City Lincoln City Millwall Newport County Orient Plymouth Argyle Preston North End Reading Rotherham United Swansea City Walsall Wigan Athletic York City
Fourth Division	Aldershot Blackpool Bury Chester City Chesterfield Colchester United Crewe Alexandra Darlington Exeter City Halifax Town Hartlepool United Hereford United Mansfield Town Northampton Town Peterborough United Port Vale Rochdale Scunthorpe United Southend United Southport Stockport County Swindon Town Torquay United Tranmere Rovers Wrexham

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