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2002–03 Port Vale F.C. season

The 2002–03 season was Port Vale's 91st season of football in the English Football League and third-successive season (40th overall) in the Second Division. Another poor season, Brian Horton's side avoided relegation with a seventeenth-place finish. Vale exited both the FA Cup and the League Cup in the First Round with defeats to Crewe Alexandra and reached the Area Quarter-finals of the Football League Trophy. Financial issues were at the forefront of Vale fans' minds as the club entered administration in December. After a successful bid, Bill Bratt's Valiant 2001 group won control of the club, taking the club out of administration.

Port Vale
2002–03 season
OwnerValiant 2001 (March onwards)
ChairmanBill Bell
(until December)
Administrators
(December – March)
Bill Bratt
(from March)
ManagerBrian Horton
StadiumVale Park
Football League Second Division17th (53 Points)
FA CupFirst Round
(knocked out by Crewe Alexandra)
League CupFirst Round
(knocked out by Crewe Alexandra)
Football League TrophyArea Quarter-finalists
(knocked out by Shrewsbury Town)
Player of the YearSam Collins
Top goalscorerLeague: Marc Bridge-Wilkinson (9)
All: Marc Bridge-Wilkinson (9)
Highest home attendance6,395 vs. Wigan Athletic, 26 December 2002
Lowest home attendance2,222 vs. Chesterfield, 12 November 2002
Average home league attendance4,436
Biggest win5–1 vs. Huddersfield Town, 26 April 2003
Biggest defeat0–4 vs. Queens Park Rangers, 15 February 2003
Robbie Williams decided against purchasing the club.
John Durnin left the club at the end of the season.

Overview

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Second Division

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The pre-season saw Brian Horton make several free signings: Jon McCarthy (Birmingham City); Brett Angell (Rushden & Diamonds); Ian Brightwell (Walsall);[1] Phil Charnock (Crewe Alexandra); Sam Collins (Bury);[2][3] and Mark Boyd (Newcastle United).[4] Midfielder Dean Keates had a trial at the club over the summer, but was not offered a contract.

The season started poorly, with four straight defeats. Only one goal scored from open play, causing fans to barrack Horton.[5] Their form changed with a 1–0 win over Wigan Athletic at the JJB Stadium – the first in a sequence of five consecutive victories. Following this run, victories were sparse for the Vale, and they picked up just four league victories until the beginning of March. The club agreed to sell Stephen McPhee to Wigan Athletic for £300,000, though the deal fell through over personal terms.[6] In October, Lee Ashcroft arrived on loan from Wigan Athletic.[7] Meanwhile, Jon McCarthy was released,[8] and signed with Doncaster Rovers.[9] The next month Brett Angell also departed after rejecting a new deal with the club,[10] and instead joined Queens Park Rangers. A mini-revival began in the new year, as Vale were unbeaten in their three January league games. In February, defender Peter Clarke arrived on a three-month loan deal from Everton.[11][12] Adrian Littlejohn also joined the club on a monthly contract,[13] having left Lincoln City. There was a turnaround in form following a 1–0 win over Blackpool on 8 March, as eighteen points from the final twelve games of the season were enough to see off the fan's fears of relegation. Horton remained unpopular with some sections of Vale's supporters.[14] On 12 April, Vale came from behind to beat Northampton Town at home after Horton angrily remonstrated with a supporter in the crowd who demanded his resignation whilst the club were a goal down.[15] They finished in seventeenth place with 53 points, just five points above Cheltenham Town in the relegation zone. They finished 33 points and 15 places behind Crewe, who were promoted as runners-up. The end-of-season table was unusual in that 15 points separated 7th and 8th, whilst 17 points separated 8th and 21st. Marc Bridge-Wilkinson was the club's top-scorer with just nine goals in all competitions.

At the end of the season, several players left the club on free transfers: Matt Carragher (Macclesfield Town);[16] Paul Byrne (Barry Town); Phil Charnock (Bury); Sean McClare (Rochdale); John Durnin (Accrington Stanley); and Rae Ingram (Bangor City).

Finances, administration & a change of ownership

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Talks of Bell selling the club circulated at the start of the season,[17] as Staffordshire Police were forced to write off £100,000 worth of debt.[18] Meanwhile, Marketing executive Terry Smith resigned after just six weeks in the job. Bell told the press that the Lorne Street stand would be open at the start of the season, though work never got going on the project. Director Jim Lloyd resigned in September, leaving the club with just Bell and two directors (only one of whom was allowed to vote; Bell had the casting vote in the event of a tie). The club's financial crisis came to a head in the season, with the club £2.4 million in debt and posting £500,000 a year in losses.[19] On 25 November, Bell put his shares up for sale at £10 each.[20]

The club entered administration on 16 December,[21] with £600,000 owed to Inland Revenue and the Customs & Excise;[22] Birmingham-based administration firm Poppleton & Appleby took control. Assistant manager Mark Grew and Ray Williams were both laid off to save money.[23] The club approached millionaire pop star and Vale fan Robbie Williams,[24] who rejected the opportunity to invest in the club.[25] Rumours circulated of a possible merger with rivals Stoke City and a ground-share at the Britannia Stadium,[26] fuelled by the belief that a 'mystery bidder' was the Icelandic owners of Stoke City.[27] Stoke Holdings, the Icelandic company which owned Stoke City, offered Bill Bell £50,000 to buy his debt and thereby take control of the club by bypassing the administrators; however, Bell rejected the offer. Valiant2001 eventually agreed to rent the club shop off Bell as an incitement for him to accept their offer (his vote was needed as he was the club's biggest creditor). The administrators received a number of bids for the club,[28] and received interest from Mo Chaudry (owner of WaterWorld), Summerbank Management (Tunstall based consultancy firm), and property developing duo Steve Ball and Iain McIntosh.[29] A late bid from Gianni Paladini seemed likely to succeed,[30] however, Bill Bratt's 'Valiant 2001' fan-based consortium's bid was accepted in March,[31] and the group took control the following month.[32] The group had had a £1 million bid rejected by Bell the previous year.[33] The total cost of administration was £255,000, and Bratt said "It has been a ride of terror".[34]

In May, the club announced a new two-year £200,000 shirt sponsorship deal with local mobile phone company Tricell, ending ten years of sponsorship from Tunstall Assurance.[35] The new board also appointed former player Andy Porter as youth coach,[36] and got the club's transfer embargo lifted in July.[37]

Cup competitions

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In the FA Cup, Vale were knocked out by nearby Crewe Alexandra with a Dean Ashton goal.[38]

In the League Cup, Crewe made the first of their three visits to Vale Park (all of which they won) and advanced with a 2–0 victory, both goals scored by Rodney Jack.[39]

In the Football League Trophy, Vale advanced through the opening rounds with home wins over Hull City and Chesterfield (after a penalty shoot-out[40]). In the Northern Section Quarter-Finals, they faced Shrewsbury Town at Gay Meadow and lost 2–1.

League table

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Main article: 2002–03 Football League

Pos Team
 Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
15 Notts County 46 13 16 17 62 70 −8 55
16 Brentford 46 14 12 20 47 56 −9 54
17 Port Vale 46 14 11 21 54 70 −16 53
18 Wycombe Wanderers 46 13 13 20 59 66 −7 52
19 Barnsley 46 13 13 20 51 64 −13 52
Source: [citation needed]
Rules for classification: In the Football League goals scored (GF) takes precedence over goal difference (GD).

Results

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Port Vale's score comes first

Football League Second Division

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Results by matchday

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Round12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031323334353637383940414243444546
GroundHAAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAAHAHHAAAHAHHAHHAAHAHHAAHAHHA
ResultLLLLWWWWWLLDDDLWDDLWLLLLDWDLLWLDLLLWDWLDWWLDWL
Position2424242422191511910131212141412131316121415181917151516191517191920221920181919171619181617
Source: Statto[41]
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

Matches

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Date Opponent Venue Result Attendance Scorers
10 August 2002 Tranmere Rovers H 1–4 5,629 Brooker
13 August 2002 Cardiff City A 1–3 13,296 Bridge-Wilkinson (pen)
17 August 2002 Chesterfield A 1–2 3,598 Angell (pen)
24 August 2002 Stockport County H 0–1 4,070
26 August 2002 Wigan Athletic A 1–0 6,532 Armstrong
31 August 2002 Peterborough United H 1–0 3,862 Angell
7 September 2002 Swindon Town A 2–1 5,029 Bridge-Wilkinson (2)
14 September 2002 Colchester United H 1–0 3,328 Collins
17 September 2002 Notts County H 3–2 3,505 Angell (2), Paynter
21 September 2002 Blackpool A 2–3 7,756 Collins, Bridge-Wilkinson
28 September 2002 Bristol City H 2–3 4,286 Paynter, Cummins
5 October 2002 Huddersfield Town A 2–2 9,091 Collins, Paynter
12 October 2002 Oldham Athletic H 1–1 5,563 McPhee
19 October 2002 Brentford A 1–1 5,177 Paynter
26 October 2002 Crewe Alexandra H 1–2 6,374 Angell
29 October 2002 Cheltenham Town A 1–0 3,852 Bridge-Wilkinson (pen)
2 November 2002 Queens Park Rangers H 0–0 4,394
9 November 2002 Luton Town A 0–0 6,112
23 November 2002 Northampton Town A 0–3 4,357
30 November 2002 Mansfield Town H 4–2 3,880 Cummins (2), Armstrong, Paynter
14 December 2002 Wycombe Wanderers A 1–3 5,229 Armstrong
21 December 2002 Plymouth Argyle H 1–2 4,892 Brooker
26 December 2002 Wigan Athletic H 0–1 6,395
28 December 2002 Barnsley A 1–2 9,291 Bridge-Wilkinson
1 January 2003 Stockport County A 1–1 4,390 Brooker
18 January 2003 Peterborough United A 2–1 4,770 Brooker, Bridge-Wilkinson
25 January 2003 Barnsley H 0–0 4,033
1 February 2003 Tranmere Rovers A 0–1 7,461
8 February 2003 Luton Town H 1–2 4,714 Boyd
11 February 2003 Chesterfield H 5–2 3,039 Boyd (2), McPhee, Armstrong, Brooker
15 February 2003 Queens Park Rangers A 0–4 13,703
22 February 2003 Swindon Town H 1–1 4,085 Armstrong
25 February 2003 Cardiff City H 0–2 3,831
1 March 2003 Colchester United A 1–4 3,581 Bridge-Wilkinson
4 March 2003 Notts County A 0–1 6,302
8 March 2003 Blackpool H 1–0 4,394 Bridge-Wilkinson (pen)
15 March 2003 Crewe Alexandra A 1–1 8,146 Brisco
18 March 2003 Brentford H 1–0 3,241 Collins
22 March 2003 Cheltenham Town H 1–2 4,800 McPhee
29 March 2003 Oldham Athletic A 1–1 7,209 Cummins
5 April 2003 Mansfield Town A 1–0 4,538 Durnin
12 April 2003 Northampton Town H 3–2 4,209 Walsh, Clarke, Littlejohn
19 April 2003 Plymouth Argyle A 0–3 12,587
21 April 2003 Wycombe Wanderers H 1–1 3,590 Littlejohn
26 April 2003 Huddersfield Town H 5–1 5,925 Armstrong (2), Littlejohn, Collins, Charnock
3 May 2003 Bristol City A 0–2 12,410

FA Cup

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Main article: 2002–03 FA Cup
Round Date Opponent Venue Result Attendance Goalscorers
R1 16 November 2002 Crewe Alexandra H 0–1 5,507

League Cup

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Main article: 2002–03 Football League Cup
Round Date Opponent Venue Result Attendance Goalscorers
R1 10 September 2002 Crewe Alexandra H 0–2 3,765

Football League Trophy

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Main article: 2002–03 Football League Trophy
Round Date Opponent Venue Result Attendance Goalscorers
R1 22 October 2002 Hull City H 3–1 2,621 Angell (2), Carragher
R2 12 November 2002 Chesterfield H (4)1–1(3) 2,222 Armstrong
SQF 10 December 2002 Shrewsbury Town A 1–2 2,597 Boyd

Player statistics

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Appearances and goals

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Pos. # Name Football League FA Cup League Cup Football League Trophy Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
GK 1 England  Mark Goodlad 37 0 1 0 1 0 3 0 42 0
DF 2 England  Matt Carragher 35 0 1 0 1 0 3 1 40 1
DF 3 England  Rae Ingram 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 0
MF 4 England  Sean McClare 17 0 1 0 0 0 2 0 20 0
DF 5 England  Michael Walsh 17 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 18 1
DF 6 England  Sam Collins 44 5 1 0 1 0 3 0 49 5
MF 7 England  Neil Brisco 24 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 24 1
MF 8 Republic of Ireland  Micky Cummins 30 4 1 0 1 0 3 0 35 4
FW 9 England  Steve Brooker 26 5 1 0 1 0 2 0 30 5
FW 10 Scotland  Stephen McPhee 40 3 1 0 1 0 3 0 45 3
MF 11 England  Marc Bridge-Wilkinson 31 9 0 0 1 0 1 0 33 9
GK 12 England  Dean Delany 10 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 10 0
MF 13 England  Levi Reid 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
MF 14 England  Mark Boyd 20 3 1 0 1 0 2 1 24 4
MF 15 England  Ian Armstrong 29 7 1 0 1 0 3 1 34 8
DF 16 Wales  Steve Rowland 25 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 27 0
DF 17 South Africa  Paul Byrne 9 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 9 0
FW 18 England  Billy Paynter 31 5 1 0 0 0 2 0 34 5
MF 19 England  Phil Charnock 18 1 1 0 0 0 3 0 22 1
MF 20 England  John Durnin 28 1 1 0 0 0 2 0 31 1
DF 21 Northern Ireland  Liam Burns 16 0 1 0 0 0 2 0 19 0
DF 22 England  Ryan Brown 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
DF 23 England  Ian Brightwell 35 0 1 0 1 0 1 0 38 0
MF 25 Trinidad and Tobago  Chris Birchall 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0
FW 26 England  Simon Eldershaw 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0
MF 27 England  Adrian Littlejohn 13 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 13 3
Players that left the club mid-season:
FW 22 England  Brett Angell 15 5 0 0 1 0 1 2 17 7
MF 24 Northern Ireland  Jon McCarthy 8 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 9 0
FW 24 England  Lee Ashcroft 3 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 4 0
DF 24 England  Peter Clarke 13 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 13 1

Top scorers

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Place Position Nation Number Name Second Division FA Cup League Cup Football League Trophy Total
1 MF   England 11 Marc Bridge-Wilkinson 9 0 0 0 9
2 MF   England 15 Ian Armstrong 7 1 0 0 8
3 FW   England 22 Brett Angell 5 2 0 0 7
4 DF   England 6 Sam Collins 5 0 0 0 5
– FW   England 18 Billy Paynter 5 0 0 0 5
– FW   England 9 Steve Brooker 5 0 0 0 5
7 MF   Ireland 8 Micky Cummins 4 0 0 0 4
– MF   England 14 Mark Boyd 3 1 0 0 4
9 FW   England 10 Stephen McPhee 3 0 0 0 3
– MF   England 27 Adrian Littlejohn 3 0 0 0 3
11 DF   England 5 Michael Walsh 1 0 0 0 1
– DF   England 24 Peter Clarke 1 0 0 0 1
– MF   England 7 Neil Brisco 1 0 0 0 1
– MF   England 20 John Durnin 1 0 0 0 1
– MF   England 19 Phil Charnock 1 0 0 0 1
– DF   England 2 Matt Carragher 0 1 0 0 1
TOTALS 54 5 0 0 59

Transfers

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Transfers in

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Date from Position Nationality Name From Fee Ref.
May 2002 MF England  Mark Boyd Newcastle United Free transfer [42]
June 2002 DF England  Sam Collins Bury Free transfer [42]
August 2002 FW England  Brett Angell Rushden & Diamonds Free transfer [42]
August 2002 DF England  Ian Brightwell Stoke City Free transfer [42]
August 2002 MF England  Phil Charnock Crewe Alexandra Free transfer [42]
August 2002 MF Northern Ireland  Jon McCarthy Birmingham City Free transfer [42]
February 2003 MF England  Adrian Littlejohn Sheffield United Free transfer [42]

Transfers out

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Date from Position Nationality Name To Fee Ref.
October 2002 MF Northern Ireland  Jon McCarthy Doncaster Rovers Released [42]
November 2002 FW England  Brett Angell Queens Park Rangers Free transfer [42]
May 2003 DF England  Matt Carragher Stafford Rangers Released [42]
May 2003 MF England  John Durnin Accrington Stanley Released [42]
May 2003 DF England  Rae Ingram Wales  Bangor City Released [42]
May 2003 MF England  Sean McClare Rochdale Released [42]
July 2003 MF South Africa  Paul Byrne Wales  Barry Town Free transfer [42]
August 2003 MF England  Phil Charnock Bury Free transfer [42]

Loans in

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Date from Position Nationality Name From Date to Ref.
11 October 2002 FW England  Lee Ashcroft Wigan Athletic 27 October 2002 [42]
20 February 2003 DF England  Peter Clarke Everton 4 May 2003 [42]

References

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Specific
  1. ^ "Vale seal double deal". BBC Sport. 1 August 2002. Retrieved 19 January 2011.
  2. ^ "Collins reunites with Horton". BBC Sport. 26 June 2002. Retrieved 19 January 2011.
  3. ^ "Horton moves for Collins". BBC Sport. 10 June 2002. Retrieved 19 January 2011.
  4. ^ "Boyd joins Vale". BBC Sport. 27 May 2002. Retrieved 19 January 2011.
  5. ^ "Horton will battle on". BBC Sport. 19 August 2002. Retrieved 19 January 2011.
  6. ^ "McPhee deal hitch". BBC Sport. 9 September 2002. Retrieved 19 January 2011.
  7. ^ "Vale set for Ashcroft signing". BBC Sport. 9 October 2002. Retrieved 19 January 2011.
  8. ^ "Vale release McCarthy". BBC Sport. 1 October 2002. Retrieved 19 January 2011.
  9. ^ Oliver, Pete (9 October 2002). "McCarthy joins Doncaster". BBC Sport. Retrieved 19 January 2011.
  10. ^ "Angell rejects Vale deal". BBC Sport. 4 November 2002. Retrieved 19 January 2011.
  11. ^ "Vale take Clarke on loan". BBC Sport. 20 February 2003. Retrieved 19 January 2011.
  12. ^ "Clarke returns to Everton". BBC Sport. 29 April 2003. Retrieved 19 January 2011.
  13. ^ "Vale want pair for another month". BBC Sport. 25 March 2003. Retrieved 19 January 2011.
  14. ^ "Horton refuses to back down". BBC Sport. 13 April 2003. Retrieved 19 January 2011.
  15. ^ Baggaley, Mike (12 April 2024). "Vale injury news and talking points ahead of Exeter". Valiant's Substack. Retrieved 13 April 2024.
  16. ^ "Carragher exits Vale". BBC Sport. 9 May 2003. Retrieved 19 January 2011.
  17. ^ "Vale takeover moves closer". BBC Sport. 25 September 2002. Retrieved 19 January 2011.
  18. ^ "Police ask Vale for cash upfront". BBC News. 11 June 2003. Retrieved 19 January 2011.
  19. ^ "Vale fans group to bid". BBC Sport. 12 December 2002. Retrieved 19 January 2011.
  20. ^ "Bell to sell Vale shares". BBC Sport. 25 November 2002. Retrieved 19 January 2011.
  21. ^ "Vale go into administration". BBC Sport. 16 December 2002. Retrieved 19 January 2011.
  22. ^ "Vale near administration". BBC Sport. 5 December 2002. Retrieved 19 January 2011.
  23. ^ "Vale axe Grew". BBC Sport. 18 December 2002. Retrieved 19 January 2011.
  24. ^ "Vale in Robbie plea". BBC News. 19 December 2002. Retrieved 19 January 2011.
  25. ^ "Robbie says 'no' to Port Vale". BBC News. 22 January 2003. Retrieved 19 January 2011.
  26. ^ "Vale deny Potters merger". BBC Sport. 31 January 2003. Retrieved 19 January 2011.
  27. ^ "Vale Park fears rise". BBC Sport. 5 February 2003. Retrieved 19 January 2011.
  28. ^ "Vale bids flood in". BBC Sport. 6 January 2003. Retrieved 19 January 2011.
  29. ^ "Fans' group win control of Vale". BBC News. 19 February 2003. Retrieved 19 January 2011.
  30. ^ "Jackson wins control". clubsincrisis.com. Archived from the original on 26 April 2012. Retrieved 4 December 2011.
  31. ^ "Fans bid for Port Vale accepted". BBC Sport. 13 March 2003. Retrieved 19 January 2011.
  32. ^ "Vale fans to take control". BBC Sport. 7 April 2003. Retrieved 19 January 2011.
  33. ^ "Vale fans table new offer". BBC Sport. 20 November 2002. Retrieved 19 January 2011.
  34. ^ "Port Vale: Vale owed 200 creditors £2.4m the last time the administrator came calling". The Sentinel. 2 March 2012. Retrieved 2 March 2012.
  35. ^ "Vale ink sponsorship deal". BBC Sport. 29 May 2003. Retrieved 19 January 2011.
  36. ^ "Porter wins Vale role". BBC Sport. 13 June 2003. Retrieved 19 January 2011.
  37. ^ "Vale embargo lifted". BBC Sport. 18 July 2003. Retrieved 19 January 2011.
  38. ^ "Port Vale 0-1 Crewe". BBC Sport. 16 November 2002. Retrieved 19 January 2011.
  39. ^ "Port Vale 0-2 Crewe". BBC Sport. 10 September 2002. Retrieved 19 January 2011.
  40. ^ "Port Vale 1-1 Chesterfield (4-3 pens)". BBC Sport. 12 November 2002. Retrieved 19 January 2011.
  41. ^ Port Vale 2002–2003 : Results & Fixtures. Statto Organisation. Retrieved 28 April 2012.
  42. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q "Port Vale FC Club Details | Transfers | Soccer Base". www.soccerbase.com. Retrieved 7 October 2016.
General
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