2000–01 Port Vale F.C. season

The 2000–01 season was Port Vale's 89th season of football in the English Football League, and first season back (thirty-eighth overall) in the Second Division. A season of two halves, Vale were struggling at the bottom of the table when Isthmian League minnows Canvey Island knocked the Vale out of the FA Cup with a 2–1 victory at Vale Park in 'one of the great shocks in FA Cup history'.[1] They also exited the League Cup at the First Round. Things turned round in the second half of the season, as a twelve-game unbeaten run in the league was complemented with a League Trophy Final win over Brentford – the second time the club lifted the trophy. In the background of this was a financial crisis at the club, which motivated fan protests against Chairman Bill Bell.

Key player Marc Bridge-Wilkinson.

Port Vale
2000–01 season
ChairmanBill Bell
ManagerBrian Horton
StadiumVale Park
Football League Second Division11th (62 Points)
FA CupFirst Round
(knocked out by Canvey Island)
League CupFirst Round
(knocked out by Chesterfield)
League TrophyWinners
Player of the YearDave Brammer
Top goalscorerLeague: Tony Naylor (15)
All: Tony Naylor (21)
Highest home attendance8,948 vs. Stoke City, 17 September 2000
Lowest home attendance1,919 vs. Notts County, 9 January 2001
Average home league attendance4,458
Biggest win5–0 vs. Peterborough United, 10 March 2001
Biggest defeat0–4 vs. Cambridge United, 12 September 2000

Overview

Second Division

The pre-season saw Brian Horton sign Irish goalkeeper Dean Delany (Everton); midfielder Marc Bridge-Wilkinson (Derby County);[2] and Michael Twiss (Manchester United)[3] – all on free transfers. He also brought in David Freeman on a loan deal from Nottingham Forest, as well as David Beresford from Huddersfield Town. Horton also signed South African striker Sinclair Le Geyt on a one-month contract,[4] though he would not make a first team appearance. On the eve of the season, top scorer Tony Rougier was sold to Reading for £325,000.[5]

The season opened with a disappointing 4–1 defeat at Boundary Park to Oldham Athletic, though the Vale then recovered to record two 3–0 victories. Two points from the next seven games follow, turning hopes of promotion into fears of relegation, and putting pressure onto Horton.[6] During this run the Vale renewed hostilities with rivals Stoke City, recording a 1–1 draw at Burslem on 17 September. Their form stabilized with a four-game unbeaten run throughout November, but then no points were gained from any of the four December games. Horton attempted to sign Isaiah Rankin on loan from Bradford City, but Bill Bell rejected the move as he felt the wage bill was already too high. In January, young striker Steve Brooker was signed from Watford for a £15,000 fee. Jamaican international striker Onandi Lowe also arrived on a short-team deal, and Wayne Gray joined on loan from Wimbledon. Vale then found their feet in February, and managed to avoid defeat to Stoke at the Britannia Stadium, as they lost just three of their final 21 league games. In March, Jeff Minton was transferred to Rotherham United, and Ashley Dodd arrived at Vale Park on loan from Manchester United. The next month Richard Burgess also joined the club after leaving Bromsgrove Rovers. A cup run and numerous fixture postponements meant the club were forced to play eight games in April, of which only two ended in defeat; for this achievement Horton was named Manager of the Month.[7] The 1 May draw with Manor Ground was the final match in the stadium's 125-year history. Two days later, the final home game of the season, Billy Paynter made his debut aged only 16 years and 294 days.

They finished in eleventh place with 62 points, some distance from both the play-off and the relegation zones. They finished six places and fifteen points away from Stoke, who went on to lose in the play-offs. Tony Naylor was the club's top-scorer with 21 goals in all competitions, with new players Bridge-Wilkinson and Brooker also hitting double figures.

At the end of the season numerous players left the club: seven-year club legend and top-scorer Tony Naylor (Cheltenham Town); eight-year club veteran Allen Tankard (Mansfield Town);[8] former Player of the Year Tommy Widdrington (Hartlepool United);[9] Alex Smith (Reading);[10] Richard Eyre (Macclesfield Town); Dele Olaoye (Stafford Rangers); and Michael Twiss (Leigh RMI). Dave Brammer was also sold to Crewe Alexandra for £500,000 – a move that highly upset many Vale fans.[11]

Finances

Before the season began director Peter Wright quit the club, though Bell said he had in fact been sacked. Work on the Lorne Street stand ground to a halt, as the club ran out of money to complete the project. Vale were in a financial crisis, and fans protested against Chairman Bill Bell.[12] There were rumours of a merger with Stoke City,[13] as the media reported the possible financial collapse of the club.[14] A rare positive note was a £250,000 five-year sponsorship deal with the Bass Brewery.[15] Local barrister Charles Machin was appointed onto the club board in July 2000, and in November stated that "my 10-year ambition is to see the Vale in the top five clubs in Europe. It is my profound belief the power of God will help get the Vale to the top."[16] Machin handed Brian Horton a 60 section questionnaire on each player on the team every two weeks, and was branded as "belligerent, uncooperative and bizarre" by the League Managers Association.[16] Nevertheless, the director insists that he has the club's backing to sign players from Cameroon and Italy, and publicly berates rival club Stoke City, whilst Bell states that he is in negotiations for a player-exchange deal with Brazilian club Corinthian. In October, Machin tells the press that he would sack Brian Horton if the club had the money to pay for his severance package; meanwhile Marketing Manager Rob Edwards resigns after less than two months into the job. Machin quit the club in November, and two months later set up 'Valiant2001', a fan based consortium looking to buy the club off Bill Bell.[16] Former vice-chairman Mike Thompstone also attempted a takeover of the club, which was resisted by Bell.[16] The Valiant2001 project took off with Machin at the helm, who said he should be the new chairman as "I can't think of anyone I trust more than myself".[16] The project raised £73,000 by June, and Thompstone also pledged his support.[16] Ex-director Stephen Plant also sued the Bell and the club in November, and made a £100,000 settlement in May. Another director, shopkeeper Neil Hughes, resigned in February; he returned to the club the next month, only to resign for a second time in six weeks. Dave Jolley (who had previously resigned at Stockport County after proposing a move to Maine Road[17]) was appointed Chief Executive in February.[18] The club's shirt sponsors were Tunstall Assurance.

Cup competitions

In the FA Cup, Vale suffered humiliation. Leading 2–0 at half-time, they reached full-time with a 4–4 draw at non-league Canvey Island after two last-minute Canvey goals.[19] Back at Vale Park, the game was goalless after normal time, and Canvey scored two extra-time goals to win the match 2–1 after a last second strike from Naylor.[20] Vale responded to the humiliation by putting five players on the transfer list: Liam Burns, Ville Viljanen, Sagi Burton, Jeff Minton and Michael Twiss.[21]

In the League Cup, for the third consecutive season Vale lost in the First Round to a Third Division side, this time Chesterfield. After a 2–1 defeat at Saltergate, Chesterfield held on to a 2–2 draw in Burslem.

In the League Trophy, the Vale eased past Notts County with a 3–0 win.[22] They then faced Chester City of the Conference, who they defeated 2–0.[22] The area quarter-final also proved to be no challenge for Vale, as they triumphed 4–0 over Darlington.[22] The semi-final stage held a real challenge however, with the match against rivals Stoke City held at the Britannia Stadium despite the draw giving Vale a home tie.[22] Cummins put Vale ahead before Nicky Mohan equalized to take the match into extra-time.[22] A 105th minute Bridge-Wilkinson penalty put Vale into the regional final. It was a two-legged affair with Lincoln City, and Vale were the victors with a 2–0 win at Sincil Bank, thanks to goals from Bridge-Wilkinson and Naylor. Brentford awaited in the final at the Millennium Stadium.[23] Vale lifted the trophy for the second time with a 2–1 victory, Bridge-Wilkinson and Steve Brooker scoring the goals on a rainy day in front of 25,654 spectators at the Millennium Stadium; Brooker scored the game's opening goal from the penalty spot after Naylor was fouled by Darren Powell on 77 minutes, and it was also Naylor who provided the assist for Brooker's winner six minutes later.[24]

League table
Main article: 2000–01 Football League
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
9 Bristol City 46 18 14 14 70 56 +14 68
10 Wrexham 46 17 12 17 65 71 −6 63
11 Port Vale 46 16 14 16 55 49 +6 62
12 Peterborough United 46 15 14 17 61 66 −5 59
13 Wycombe Wanderers 46 15 14 17 46 53 −7 59
Source:
Rules for classification: In the Football League goals scored (GF) takes precedence over goal difference (GD).

Results

Port Vale's score comes first

Football League Second Division

Results by matchday
Round12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031323334353637383940414243444546
GroundAHHHAAHAHAHHAHAHHAHHAHAAAHAHHAAHHAAHHAAHAHAAHA
ResultLWWLDLDLLLWDLDWDWLLLLDWLLWDWDWWWDWDDWLDWWLWDLD
Position2410711121616172021181720201817182021212222202121202020191918181916171716171612131411111111
Source: Statto[25]
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

Matches
DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers
12 August 2000Oldham AthleticA1–45,639Twiss
19 August 2000Oxford UnitedH3–03,814Bridge-Wilkinson (2), Naylor
28 August 2000Swindon TownH3–03,926Naylor (2), Smith
2 September 2000ReadingH0–14,701
9 September 2000BournemouthA1–13,859Viljanen
12 September 2000Cambridge UnitedA0–43,660
17 September 2000Stoke CityH1–18,948Bridge-Wilkinson
23 September 2000BuryA0–23,176
30 September 2000Wycombe WanderersH0–13,615
8 October 2000Peterborough UnitedA0–24,752
14 October 2000Colchester UnitedH3–13,192Naylor (2), Tankard
17 October 2000Northampton TownH2–24,215Tankard, Viljanen
21 October 2000Wigan AthleticA0–16,275
24 October 2000BrentfordH1–13,338Widdrington
28 October 2000Swansea CityA1–03,715Cummins
4 November 2000MillwallH1–14,559Brammer
25 November 2000Luton TownH3–04,194Walsh, Naylor, Minton
2 December 2000WalsallA1–25,597O'Callaghan
16 December 2000Bristol CityH1–24,113Bridge-Wilkinson
22 December 2000Rotherham UnitedH0–24,110
26 December 2000WrexhamA0–14,941
6 January 2001Oldham AthleticH0–04,313
13 January 2001Swindon TownA1–05,175Widdrington
27 January 2001Rotherham UnitedA2–35,044Cummins, Brooker
3 February 2001ReadingA0–19,026
10 February 2001BournemouthH2–13,956Naylor, Brisco
17 February 2001Stoke CityA1–122,133Brammer
20 February 2001Cambridge UnitedH4–23,558Bridge-Wilkinson (pen), Lowe, Naylor, Brooker
24 February 2001BuryH1–14,331Bridge-Wilkinson
3 March 2001Wycombe WanderersA1–04,828Brooker
7 March 2001Colchester UnitedA1–02,579Brammer
10 March 2001Peterborough UnitedH5–04,787Naylor, Tankard, Smith, Bridge-Wilkinson (pen), Twiss
24 March 2001Wigan AthleticH0–05,017
27 March 2001Notts CountyA1–04,603Brooker
31 March 2001Bristol CityA1–111,782Brooker
3 April 2001WrexhamH1–14,234Naylor
9 April 2001Bristol RoversH1–03,962Naylor
11 April 2001MillwallA0–111,944
14 April 2001BrentfordA1–13,671Bridge-Wilkinson (pen)
16 April 2001Swansea CityH1–04,396Brooker
26 April 2001Northampton TownA2–04,775Naylor, Brooker
28 April 2001Notts CountyH2–35,236Brooker (2)
30 April 2001Bristol RoversA3–07,340Naylor (2), Bridge-Wilkinson
1 May 2001Oxford UnitedA1–17,080Naylor
3 May 2001WalsallH0–26,027
5 May 2001Luton TownA1–15,260Tankard

FA Cup
Main article: 2000–01 FA Cup
RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorers
R119 November 2000Canvey IslandA4–42,100Minton (2), Brammer, Bridge-Wilkinson
R128 November 2000Canvey IslandH1–23,566Naylor

League Cup
Main article: 2000–01 Football League Cup
RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorers
R1 1st Leg22 August 2000ChesterfieldA1–23,485Burton
R1 2nd Leg5 September 2000ChesterfieldH2–23,480Bridge-Wilkinson, Minton

League Trophy
Main article: 2000–01 Football League Trophy
RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorers
R19 January 2001Notts CountyH3–01,919Smith, Brooker, Naylor
R230 January 2001Chester CityH2–02,507Doughty (og), Naylor
RQF6 February 2001DarlingtonH4–02,480Naylor (2), Lowe, Tankard
RSF5 March 2001Stoke CityH2–111,323Cummins, Bridge-Wilkinson (pen)
RF Leg 113 March 2001Lincoln CityA2–04,813Bridge-Wilkinson, Naylor
RF Leg 220 March 2001Lincoln CityH0–05,172
F26 April 2001BrentfordN2–125,654Bridge-Wilkinson (pen), Brooker

Player statistics

Appearances
Pos. # Name Football League FA Cup League Cup League Trophy Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
GK1 Mark Goodlad 400202060500
DF2 Matt Carragher 450202070560
DF3 Allen Tankard 334102031395
MF4 Dave Brammer 353210070444
DF5 Michael Walsh 391100070471
DF6 Sagi Burton 290102150371
FW7 Onandi Lowe 5100001162
MF8 Micky Cummins 452202071563
FW9 Ville Viljanen 192102010232
FW10 Tony Naylor 42152120755321
MF11 Tommy Widdrington 352102030412
GK12 Dean Delany 90000010100
MF14 Richard Eyre 6000101080
MF15 Marc Bridge-Wilkinson 4292111735214
MF17 Neil Brisco 171000050221
MF18 George O'Callaghan 81100010101
DF19 Alex Smith 372200071463
DF20 Paul Donnelly 1000000010
DF21 Liam Burns 130100010150
DF22 Paul Taylor 0000000000
MF23 Michael Twiss 182202020242
FW24 Dele Olaoye 1000000010
FW25 Steve Brooker 2390000522811
MF26 Paul Byrne 1000000010
FW27 Richard Burgess 1000000010
MF28 Ashley Dodd 3000000030
FW29 Billy Paynter 1000000010
Players that left the club mid-season:
MF7 Tony Rougier 0000000000
MF7 David Freeman 3000000030
FW7 Wayne Gray 3000000030
MF13 David Beresford 4000000040
MF16 Jeff Minton 131222120194
FW Sinclair Le Geyt 0000000000

Top scorers
Place Position Nation Number Name Second Division FA Cup League Cup League Trophy Total
1FW England10Tony Naylor1510521
2FW England15Marc Bridge-Wilkinson911314
3FW England25Steve Brooker900211
4DF England3Allen Tankard40015
5MF England4Dave Brammer31004
–MF England16Jeff Minton12104
7DF England19Alex Smith20013
–MF Ireland8Micky Cummins20013
9MF England11Tommy Widdrington20002
–FW England23Michael Twiss20002
–FW Finland9Ville Viljanen20002
–FW Jamaica7Onandi Lowe10012
13MF England17Neil Brisco10001
–MF Ireland18George O'Callaghan10001
–DF England5Michael Walsh10001
–DF Saint Kitts and Nevis6Sagi Burton01001
–––Own goals00011
TOTALS 55 5 3 15 78

Transfers

Transfers in
Date from Position Nationality Name From Fee Ref.
May 2000MFMarc Bridge-WilkinsonDerby CountyFree transfer[26]
June 2000GKDean DelanyEvertonFree transfer[26]
July 2000MFMichael TwissManchester UnitedFree transfer[26]
July 2000FWSinclair Le GeytDerby CountyFree transfer[26]
January 2001FWSteve BrookerWatford£15,000[26]
April 2001FWRichard BurgessBromsgrove RoversFree transfer[26]

Transfers out
Date from Position Nationality Name To Fee Ref.
May 2001MFDele Olaoye Michigan BucksFree transfer[26]
June 2001DFAllen TankardMansfield TownReleased[26]
June 2001MFMichael TwissLeigh RMIFree transfer[26]
July 2001MFJeff MintonRotherham UnitedFree transfer[26]
July 2001MFAlex SmithReadingFree transfer[26]
July 2001FWVille Viljanen GAISFree transfer[26]
July 2001MFTommy WiddringtonHartlepool UnitedReleased[26]
August 2001MFDave BrammerCrewe Alexandra£500,000[26]
August 2001MFRichard EyreMacclesfield TownFree transfer[26]
Summer 2001FWTony NaylorCheltenham TownReleased[26]

Loans in
Date from Position Nationality Name From Date to Ref.
8 September 2000FWDavid FreemanNottingham Forest8 October 2000[26]
15 September 2000FWWayne GrayHuddersfield Town15 October 2000[26]
6 October 2000MFDavid BeresfordWimbledon6 November 2000[26]
1 January 2001FWOnandi Lowe Kansas City Wizards1 May 2001[26]
5 January 2001FWSteve BrookerWatford18 January 2001[26]
22 March 2001MFAshley DoddManchester United7 May 2001[26]
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References
Specific
  1. "Going Canvey crazy". BBC Sport. 29 November 2000. Retrieved 18 January 2011.
  2. "Trialist at Vale Park". BBC Sport. 5 July 2000. Retrieved 18 January 2011.
  3. "Vale sign Twiss from Man Utd". BBC Sport. 25 July 2000. Retrieved 18 January 2011.
  4. "Vale sign Derby youngster". BBC Sport. 10 July 2000. Retrieved 18 January 2011.
  5. "Reading snap up Rougier". BBC Sport. 11 August 2000. Retrieved 28 March 2012.
  6. "The strife of Brian". BBC Sport. 23 November 2000. Retrieved 18 January 2011.
  7. "Horton named manager of month". BBC Sport. 3 April 2001. Retrieved 2 June 2009.
  8. "Tankard's the toast of Field Mill". BBC Sport. 20 July 2001. Retrieved 18 January 2011.
  9. "Hartlepool sign trio". BBC Sport. 15 July 2001. Retrieved 18 January 2011.
  10. "Reading bag Vale's Smith". BBC Sport. 18 July 2001. Retrieved 18 January 2011.
  11. "Valiant 2001 critical of Brammer sale". web.archive.org. 10 August 2001. Archived from the original on 12 October 2002. Retrieved 6 January 2011.
  12. "Veiled threat for Vale". BBC Sport. 18 December 2000. Retrieved 18 January 2011.
  13. "Vale will not merge". BBC Sport. 26 September 2000. Retrieved 18 January 2011.
  14. "Port Vale not facing 'cash crisis'". BBC Sport. 29 December 2000. Retrieved 18 January 2011.
  15. "Vale get new Bass backing". BBC Sport. 30 June 2001. Retrieved 18 January 2011.
  16. What If There Had Been No Port In The Vale?: Startling Port Vale Stories! p. 175 (Witan Books, 2011, ISBN 978-0-9529152-8-7)
  17. "Stockport MD resigns over row". BBC Sport. 5 December 2000. Retrieved 7 April 2012.
  18. "He's A Jolley Good Fellow". port-vale.co.uk. 17 November 2004. Retrieved 7 April 2012.
  19. "Canvey Island 4-4 Port Vale". BBC Sport. 19 November 2000. Retrieved 18 January 2011.
  20. "Port Vale 1-2 Canvey Island (aet)". BBC Sport. 28 November 2000. Retrieved 18 January 2011.
  21. "Five up for sale at Vale". BBC Sport. 4 December 2000. Retrieved 18 January 2011.
  22. "Port Vale's route to Cardiff". BBC Sport. 18 April 2001. Retrieved 25 June 2009.
  23. "Vale vault Brentford to lift Vans trophy". BBC Sport. 22 April 2001. Retrieved 25 June 2009.
  24. Baggaley, Michael (22 April 2020). "'Brilliant!' Story of Port Vale's LDV Vans Trophy win at the Millennium Stadium". Stoke Sentinel. Retrieved 22 April 2020.
  25. Port Vale 2000–2001 : Results & Fixtures. Statto Organisation. Retrieved 28 April 2012.
  26. "Port Vale FC Club Details | Transfers | Soccer Base". www.soccerbase.com. Retrieved 7 October 2016.
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