1976–77 Port Vale F.C. season

Port Vale
1976–77 season
ChairmanMark Singer
(until 17 March)
Arthur McPherson
(from 17 March)
ManagerRoy Sproson
StadiumVale Park
Football League Third Division19th (38 Points)
FA CupFifth Round
(knocked out by Aston Villa)
League CupFirst Round
(knocked out by Wrexham)
Debenhams CupRunners-up
(knocked out by Chester)
Player of the YearDavid Harris
Top goalscorerLeague: Ken Beamish (12)
All: Ken Beamish (18)
Highest home attendance18,068 vs. Burnley, 29 January 1977
Lowest home attendance2,984 vs. Portsmouth, 2 April 1977
Average home league attendance4,356
Biggest win3–0 and 4–1
Biggest defeat0–4 and 2–6

The 1976–77 season was Port Vale's 65th season of football in the Football League, and their seventh successive season (13th overall) in the Third Division.[1] Under the stewardship of Roy Sproson, the club endured a tense league campaign, finishing 19th with 38 points, just three points clear of relegation.

Vale found greater success in cup competitions, reaching the Fifth Round of the FA Cup for the first time since the 1961–62 season before being eliminated by Aston Villa at Villa Park in front of nearly 50,000 spectators. In the League Cup, they exited in the First Round, knocked out by Wrexham. The season also saw them reach the final of the Debenhams Cup, where they finished as runners-up after a narrow defeat to Chester. Ken Beamish was a shining light up front, finishing as both league top scorer with 12 goals and season top scorer with 18 across all competitions. The club's average home attendance was 4,356, with the highest gate recorded at 18,068 against Burnley on 29 January 1977, and the lowest at 2,984 versus Portsmouth on 2 April 1977. The Player of the Year, as recognised by the club, was David Harris.

Despite a precarious struggle in the Third Division, Port Vale delivered memorable cup runs — notably reaching the FA Cup Fifth Round and narrowly missing out in the Debenhams Cup final — buoyed by Ken Beamish's goal tally and sustained under Roy Sproson's guidance.

Overview

Third Division

The pre-season saw manager Roy Sproson add two youngsters to his squad: 22-year-old forward Kevin Kennerley (Burnley) and 23-year-old defender Ian Osborne (Birmingham City).[1] The battle with Stoke-on-Trent City Council continued over the legality of Vale's market trading operation.[1] The club were also in trouble with The Football Association, who fined them £400 for the 47 bookings received in the previous campaign.[1] Vale decided to crack down on player indiscipline by fining players £25 for dissent and £50 for violence.[1] As 'a piece of good business' which 'could not be turned down', the club also sold star defender Terry Lees to Dutch side Sparta Rotterdam for £25,000.[1] Another late signing was Geoff Davies, who had returned from a spell in the United States.[1]

The season opened with a loss, a draw, and then a 2–0 win over Sheffield Wednesday on 28 August.[1] Then only one point was gained in the next six matches.[1] To bolster the side in came Stoke City's veteran defender Eric Skeels, who was also returning from a spell in the USA.[1] Mick Cullerton then severed a cartilage in a 1–1 draw at reading on 18 September, which meant five months out of action for the star striker.[1] To replace him, Sproson signed Blackburn Rovers forward Ken Beamish (£12,000) and Wigan Athletic's top-scorer John Rogers ('a small fee').[1] The club also informed other clubs that they would listen to any player offers, but there was little interest.[1] Rogers got off to a good start, scoring the winning goal in a 2–1 victory over Northampton Town on 8 October. Later in the month, former England and Wolves defender Bobby Thomson was another player returning from the States.[1] Signing with the Vale, he impressed so much that he was made club captain in his first week at Vale Park after impressing in a 3–2 defeat to Wrexham.[1] Vale ended the month in seventh place.[1]

On 6 November, Vale lost 1–0 at bottom club York City after a flu epidemic hit the squad. A club record run of 42 away games without a clean sheet began on 18 December and would last until 30 September 1978. The first of this run was a 1–1 draw with Rotherham United at Millmoor; after this match "Millers" boss Jimmy McGuigan stated that Vale showed 'the worst exhibition of football thuggery I have ever seen'.[1] Even though the defence struggled away from home, Beamish did not, as he scored his first ten goals for the club away from Burslem.[1] In a 4–2 win over Grimsby Town at Blundell Park on 3 January, Beamish scored a hat-trick.[1] Later in the month Geoff Davies had his contract cancelled by mutual consent.[1] The team were unbeaten throughout January, though only two of their five fixtures came in the league.[1] Vale's form tailed off, though Terry Alcock returned briefly to play a handful of games.[1] Thomson also returned to the US, Ray Williams was transferred to Northwich Victoria for 'a small fee', and Colin Tartt was sold to Chesterfield for £15,000.[1] In their places were new signings Alan Lamb (£5,000 from Preston North End) and Peter Sutcliffe (£3,000 from Stockport County), whilst a fit again Cullerton was like a new signing.[1]

Vale lost 1–0 at Crystal Palace on 1 February, leading Roy Chapman to remark "it's no good being today's heroes and tomorrow's fools". Six days later, they fell to a 2–0 defeat at second-from-bottom York City. The club had drifted into the bottom four, but a six-match unbeaten run with a prolific Cullerton took them to safety.[1] In the background was an ongoing power struggle in the boardroom.[1] In late-March they then received a 6–2 beating at Wrexham and then a 4–0 beating from Chesterfield at Saltergate.[1] The club suffered an injury crisis in April, with both Keith Chadwick and John Brodie having been forced to retire through injury.[1] Relegation was avoided however, with six points from the final five games, beginning with a 4–1 victory over fourth-placed Crystal Palace.[1] The final game of the season was against Rotherham United, who needed a six-goal win margin to gain promotion.[1] The match saw three penalties, three bookings and crowd trouble, though United were four goals ahead they failed to find the remaining two, and instead the "Valiants" scored a late goal.[1]

They finished in 19th place with 38 points, three points above the drop.[1] Their 47 goals scored tally only lower than Grimsby's.[1] They only recorded two victories on their travels.[1] At the end of the season was the short-lived Debenhams Cup competition, Vale lost 4–3 to Chester over two legs, but still received a runners-up prize of £5,000.[1]

Finances

On the financial side, a loss of £5,959 was made despite a donation of £23,860 from the Development Fund.[1] Gate receipts had risen to £60,115; however, wages and signing-on fees had risen to £139,012.[1] The bank overdraft stood at £15,000, though the club's total debt stood at £123,863.[1] On the coaching front, Roy Chapman was replaced by Colin Harper.[1] Arthur McPherson replaced Mark Singer as chairman on 17 March. McPherson stated that "the guts were ripped out of the team when Brian Horton and Terry Lees were sold and they have not been replaced". Meanwhile, three players were handed free transfers: ten-year club veteran Tommy McLaren (Telford United), Eric Skeels (Leek Town), and Ian Osborne (Hillingdon Borough).[1] Also John Rogers was sold to Altrincham for £2,000.[1]

Cup competitions

In the FA Cup, Vale advanced past Fourth Division side Southport with a John Rogers brace at Haig Avenue.[2] A 3–0 win over Barnsley, also of the Fourth Division, then put Vale into the third round.[2] The Barnsley fixture survived two pitch inspections and a half-time warning from referee Roger Kirkpatrick that if the frostbitten pitch worsened any further than he would call the game off.[2] Vale were one goal ahead at this stage thanks to Ray Williams, and second half goals from Neil Griffiths and Ken Beamish secured the victory.[2] In the third round, they faced Second Division club Hull City, with whom they played out a 1–1 draw at Boothferry Park after Beamish equalised in stoppage time.[2] Trevor Dance played well on his home debut in the return fixture, though Beamish was required the level the score again at 1–1, this time in the 85th minute.[2] In extra-time, goals from Kevin Kennerley and Beamish again secured victory over a hull side led by Billy Bremner.[2] Another Second Division club, Burnley, awaited in the fourth round and 18,068 – the biggest crowd at Vale Park in four years – witnessed Vale secure a 2–1 victory as 38th-minute Colin Tartt and 56th-minute Derek Brownbill goals gave Vale what proved to be an unassailable lead as Brian Flynn's 88th-minute goal proved a mere consolation.[2] The fifth round held First Division club Aston Villa. Villa won 3–0 in front of a crowd of 46,872 at Villa Park. The score was 'flattering' to the "Villans" as they scored two late goals. The match was shown on television.[1]

The club's FA Cup run earned them a place in the Debenhams Cup final against Chester. A 2–0 home win in the first leg gave them a strong advantage heading to Sealand Road, but there they lost 4–1 and so had to be consoled with runners-up medals and £5,000 prize money.[3]

In the League Cup, Welsh club Wrexham knocked the Vale out 2–1 on aggregate, following a 1–1 draw in Burslem and a 1–0 win at the Racecourse Ground.[1]

League table

Main article: 1976–77 Football League

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion or relegation
17 Oxford United 46 12 15 19 55 65 −10 39
18 Chesterfield 46 14 10 22 56 64 −8 38
19 Port Vale 46 11 16 19 47 71 −24 38
20 Portsmouth 46 11 14 21 53 70 −17 36
21 Reading (R) 46 13 9 24 49 73 −24 35 Relegation to the Fourth Division
Source: rsssf.com
(R) Relegated

Results

Port Vale's score comes first

Football League Third Division

Results by matchday

Round12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031323334353637383940414243444546
GroundAHHAHAAHAHHAAHHAHAAHAAHAAHAHAHHHAHAAHAHHAHHAAH
ResultLDWLLLDLLWLDDWDLDDDLLWDLWLDWDDDWLWLLWLLDLWWDDL
Position1817718202320232318222121181819191921212220212219192121201817171917171816171921211918191819
Points0133334446678101111121314141416171719192022232425272729292931313132323436373838
Source: Statto[4]
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

Matches

Date Opponent Venue Result Attendance Scorers
21 August 1976 Swindon Town A 0–1 6,336
23 August 1976 Chesterfield H 1–1 4,056 Williams
28 August 1976 Sheffield Wednesday H 2–0 5,033 Cullerton, Tartt
4 September 1976 Lincoln City A 0–2 6,059
11 September 1976 Gillingham H 1–2 3,015 Tartt
14 September 1976 Preston North End A 0–4 6,592
18 September 1976 Reading A 1–1 7,104 Brownbill
25 September 1976 Shrewsbury Town H 1–2 4,180 Beech
2 October 1976 Walsall A 1–3 5,459 Skeels
8 October 1976 Northampton Town H 2–1 3,962 Brownbill, Rogers
16 October 1976 Wrexham H 2–3 5,347 Cullerton, Tartt
23 October 1976 Portsmouth A 1–1 7,456 Beamish
25 October 1976 Tranmere Rovers A 1–1 3,578 Beamish
30 October 1976 Grimsby Town H 2–0 3,714 Rogers (2)
1 November 1976 Preston North End H 0–0 4,686
6 November 1976 York City A 0–1 2,153
13 November 1976 Brighton & Hove Albion H 2–2 6,449 Williams, Bailey
27 November 1976 Oxford United A 0–0 4,015
18 December 1976 Rotherham United A 1–1 5,012 Beamish
27 December 1976 Bury H 0–1 5,862
28 December 1976 Mansfield Town A 1–2 7,977 Beamish
3 January 1977 Grimsby Town A 4–2 5,870 Beamish (3), Kennerley
22 January 1977 Swindon Town H 2–2 4,446 Beech, Ridley
1 February 1977 Crystal Palace A 0–2 11,149
5 February 1977 Sheffield Wednesday A 2–1 13,105 Beamish, Rogers
7 February 1977 York City H 0–2 4,683
19 February 1977 Gillingham A 1–1 5,084 Rogers
28 February 1977 Reading H 1–0 4,212 Beech
5 March 1977 Shrewsbury Town A 1–1 4,236 Rogers
7 March 1977 Peterborough United H 1–1 4,417 Cullerton
11 March 1977 Walsall H 0–0 4,819
14 March 1977 Chester H 1–0 4,451 Cullerton (pen)
19 March 1977 Northampton Town A 0–3 5,808
21 March 1977 Lincoln City H 1–0 3,987 Cullerton
24 March 1977 Wrexham A 2–6 6,383 Beamish (2)
30 March 1977 Chesterfield A 0–4 3,426
2 April 1977 Portsmouth H 1–0 2,984 Cullerton
8 April 1977 Bury A 0–3 5,619
9 April 1977 Mansfield Town H 1–4 4,389 Beech
16 April 1977 Tranmere Rovers H 1–1 3,188 Dulson
23 April 1977 Brighton & Hove Albion A 0–1 23,482
26 April 1977 Crystal Palace H 4–1 3,990 o.g., Cullerton, Sutcliffe, Beamish
30 April 1977 Oxford United H 2–1 4,058 Bailey, o.g.
4 May 1977 Peterborough United A 1–1 3,883 Cullerton
7 May 1977 Chester A 1–1 2,978 Beamish
14 May 1977 Rotherham United H 1–4 4,271 Cullerton (pen)

FA Cup

Main article: 1976–77 FA Cup
Round Date Opponent Venue Result Attendance Goalscorers
R1 20 November 1976 Southport A 2–1 4,102 Rogers (2)
R2 11 December 1976 Barnsley H 3–0 5,451 Williams, Griffiths, Beamish
R3 8 January 1977 Hull City A 1–1 9,694 Beamish
R3 Replay 10 January 1977 Hull City H 3–1 10,668 Beamish (2), Kennerley
R4 29 January 1977 Burnley H 2–1 18,068 Tartt, Brownbill
R5 26 February 1977 Aston Villa A 0–3 46,872

League Cup

Main article: 1976–77 Football League Cup
Round Date Opponent Venue Result Attendance Goalscorers
R1 1st Leg 14 August 1976 Wrexham H 1–1 3,912 Cullerton (pen)
R1 2nd Leg 18 August 1976 Wrexham A 0–1 4,320

Debenhams Cup

Round Date Opponent Venue Result Attendance Goalscorers
Final 1st Leg 16 May 1977 Chester H 2–0 3,459 Griffiths, Beamish
Final 2nd Leg 24 May 1977 Chester A 1–4 3,920 Beamish

Player statistics

Appearances and goals

Key to positions: GK – Goalkeeper; DF – Defender; MF – Midfielder; FW – Forward
Pos. Name Football League FA Cup League Cup Debenhams Cup Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
GK England John Connaughton 38 0 4 0 2 0 0 0 44 0
GK England Trevor Dance 8 0 2 0 0 0 2 0 12 0
DF England John Brodie 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 0
DF England Neil Griffiths 30 0 6 1 2 0 2 1 40 2
DF England David Harris 40 0 6 0 0 0 2 0 48 0
DF England Garry Dulson 28 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 29 1
DF England Bobby Thomson 18 0 6 0 0 0 0 0 24 0
DF England Eric Skeels 5 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 1
DF England Ian Osborne 15 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 17 0
DF England Andy Clements 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 0
DF England Terry Alcock 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
DF England Trevor Robson 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
MF Scotland Tommy McLaren 33 0 4 0 0 0 2 0 39 0
MF England Colin Tartt 25 3 4 1 2 0 0 0 31 4
MF England John Ridley 35 1 6 0 2 0 2 0 45 1
MF England Terry Bailey 39 2 6 0 2 0 2 0 49 2
MF England Kenny Beech 27 4 4 0 2 0 2 0 35 4
MF Scotland Alan Lamb 14 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 15 0
MF England Peter Sutcliffe 12 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 14 1
MF England Kevin Kennerley 23 1 4 1 2 0 1 0 30 2
MF England Chris Dangerfield 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0
MF England Geoff Davies 7 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 7 0
MF England Keith Chadwick 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
MF England Terry Lees 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
FW England Ray Williams 21 2 4 1 2 0 0 0 27 3
FW England Derek Brownbill 19 2 2 1 2 0 0 0 23 3
FW Scotland Mick Cullerton 25 9 0 0 1 1 2 0 28 10
FW England John Rogers 26 6 6 2 0 0 2 0 34 8
FW England Ken Beamish 37 12 5 4 0 0 2 2 44 18
FW England Dean Martin 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0

Top scorers

Place Position Nation Name Third Division FA Cup League Cup Debenhams Cup Total
1 FW  England Ken Beamish 12 4 0 2 18
2 FW  Scotland Mick Cullerton 9 0 1 0 10
3 FW  England John Rogers 6 2 0 0 8
4 MF  England Kenny Beech 4 0 0 0 4
– MF  England Colin Tartt 3 1 0 0 4
6 FW  England Ray Williams 2 1 0 0 3
– FW  England Derek Brownbill 2 1 0 0 3
8 MF  England Terry Bailey 2 0 0 0 2
– DF  England Neil Griffiths 0 1 0 1 2
– MF  England Kevin Kennerley 1 1 0 0 2
11 DF  England Garry Dulson 1 0 0 0 1
– DF  England Eric Skeels 1 0 0 0 1
– MF  England John Ridley 1 0 0 0 1
– MF  England Peter Sutcliffe 1 0 0 0 1
– – – Own goals 2 0 0 0 2
TOTALS 47 11 1 3 62

Transfers

Transfers in

Date from Position Nationality Name From Fee Ref.
1976 MF England Geoff Davies United States Chicago Sting Free transfer [5]
1976 DF England Ian Osborne Birmingham City Free transfer [5]
25 May 1976 MF England Kevin Kennerley Burnley Free transfer [5]
July 1976 FW England Dean Martin Stoke City Trial [5]
August 1976 MF England Chris Dangerfield Wolverhampton Wanderers Trial [5]
September 1976 FW England Ken Beamish Blackburn Rovers £12,000 [5]
September 1976 DF England Eric Skeels Stoke City Free transfer [5]
October 1976 FW England John Rogers United States Portland Timbers Free transfer [5]
October 1976 DF England Bobby Thomson United States Hartford Bicentennials Free transfer [5]
February 1977 DF England Terry Alcock Blackpool Free transfer [5]
March 1977 MF Scotland Alan Lamb Preston North End £5,000 [5]
March 1977 MF England Peter Sutcliffe Stockport County £3,000 [5]

Transfers out

Date from Position Nationality Name To Fee Ref.
August 1976 MF England Chris Dangerfield Coventry City Trial ended [5]
September 1976 FW England Dean Martin Stoke City Trial ended [5]
January 1977 MF England Geoff Davies United States San Jose Earthquakes Free transfer [5]
March 1977 MF England Keith Chadwick Retired [5]
March 1977 MF England Colin Tartt Chesterfield £15,000 [5]
March 1977 DF England Bobby Thomson United States Hartford Bicentennials Free transfer [5]
March 1977 FW England Ray Williams Northwich Victoria 'small' [5]
May 1977 MF Scotland Tommy McLaren Telford United Free transfer [5]
May 1977 DF England Ian Osborne Hillingdon Borough Free transfer [5]
May 1977 DF England Trevor Robson Released [5]
July 1977 FW England John Rogers Altrincham £2,000 [5]
Summer 1977 DF England Eric Skeels Leek Town Free transfer [5]

Loans in

Date from Position Nationality Name From Date to Ref.
February 1977 DF England Andy Clements Bolton Wanderers April 1977 [5]

Loans out

Date from Position Nationality Name To Date to Ref.
1976 MF England Geoff Davies Hartlepool United 1976 [5]
1977 DF England Terry Alcock United States Portland Timbers 1977 [5]

References

Specific
  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq Kent, Jeff (1990). "Surviving on a Shoestring (1969–1979)". The Valiants' Years: The Story of Port Vale. Witan Books. pp. 227–257. ISBN 0-9508981-4-7.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h Baggaley, Mike (28 July 2025). "Countdown to the big kick off". Valiant's Substack. Retrieved 29 July 2025.
  3. ^ Harper, Chris. Sentinel Football Annual 1977-78. Stoke-on-Trent: The Sentinel. p. 21.
  4. ^ Port Vale 1976–1977 : Results & Fixtures Archived 2 October 2015 at the Wayback Machine. Statto Organisation. Retrieved 28 April 2012.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa 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.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 unless otherwise noted. Additional terms may apply for the media files.