- Seasons
- Key
- Notes
- References
- Further reading
{{Use British English|date=March 2015}}{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2012}}Port Vale F.C. is an English professional association football club based in Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, playing in EFL League Two, the fourth level of the English football league system, as of the 2018–19 season. The club was probably formed in 1879[1] and in 1884 took the name Burslem Port Vale F.C. The club folded in 1907 and the new club dropped 'Burslem' from its name. They played their home matches at the Athletic Ground between 1886 and 1913, at The Old Recreation Ground between 1913 and 1950, and at Vale Park from 1950 to the present day. The club joined the English Football League in 1892 as founder members of the Football League Second Division, resigning in 1907, only to return in 1919. Twice in the 20th century Port Vale came close to winning promotion to the highest tier of English football, in 1930–31; they finished fifth, eight points from automatic promotion. In 1996–97 they finished eighth, four points away from sixth place Crystal Palace (who went on to win promotion to the Premier League in the play-offs). However a decline then set in and by 2008 the club had plummeted to the Football League's basement division. They were promoted in 2012–13, before suffering relegation again in 2016–17. First team matches were recorded for the first time in 1882, meaning records go back over 125 years, friendlies are not included in this data (including goal tallies). As of the 2018–19 season, Port Vale have never played top-flight football, they have spent 41 seasons in the second tier, 46 seasons in the third tier, 20 seasons in the fourth tier of the Football League, as well as 16 seasons in non-league football. No team has played more Football League seasons (107) without ever reaching the top-flight. SeasonsSeason | League | FA Cup | EFL Cup{{ref label|LC|A| | Other | Top scorer{{ref label|GS|B| |
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Division | P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | Pos |
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1882–83 | Burslem Port Vale did not play league football | NSCCC winners | Enoch Hood | 2 |
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1883–84 | Burslem Port Vale did not play league football | SSC SF | Charles Simpson | 1 |
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1884–85 | Burslem Port Vale did not play league football | BCC winners | Ernie Payne | 5 |
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1885–86 | Burslem Port Vale did not play league football | R5 | NSCCC runners-up | Billy Reynolds | 7 |
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1886–87 | Burslem Port Vale did not play league football | R3 | SSC SF | 11 |
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1887–88 | Burslem Port Vale did not play league football | 1Q | SSC R3 | Harry Cookson | F|E|}} |
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1888–89 | The Combination | 26 | 7 | 4 | 15 | 40 | 57 | 22 | 2Q | NSCCC SF | Jimmy Ditchfield | 8 |
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1889–90 | Burslem Port Vale did not play league football | 2Q | SSC SF | Frank McGinnes | 2 |
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1890–91 | Midland League | 24 | 11 | 3 | 10 | 59 | 49 | 25 | 8th | 2Q | NSCCC winners | 19 |
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1891–92 | 21 | 12 | 1 | 8 | 52 | 33 | 25 | 3rd | 1Q | SCC winners | 19 |
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1892–93 | Second Division | 22 | 6 | 3 | 13 | 30 | 57 | 15 | 11th | 1Q | BSC 2R | Meshach Dean | 6 |
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1893–94 | 28 | 13 | 4 | 11 | 66 | 64 | 30 | 7th | 1Q | SSC 2R | Billy Beats | 20 |
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1894–95 | 30 | 7 | 4 | 19 | 39 | 77 | 18 | 15th | 1Q | SSC 2R | Meshach Dean | 8 |
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1895–96 | 30 | 7 | 4 | 19 | 43 | 78 | 18 | 14th | 2Q | SSC 1R | Ernest Beckett | 8 |
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1896–97 | Midland League | 28 | 14 | 3 | 11 | 64 | 56 | 31 | 7th | 5Q | SSCC winners | Dick Evans Danny Simpson | 14 |
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1897–98 | 22 | 10 | 3 | 7 | 46 | 32 | 23 | 5th | R2 | SSC winners | 11 |
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1898–99 | Second Division | 34 | 17 | 5 | 12 | 56 | 34 | 39 | 9th | 5Q | BSC runners-up | James Peake | 17 |
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1899–00 | 34 | 14 | 6 | 14 | 39 | 49 | 34 | 11th | 5Q | BSC runners-up | Howard Harvey | 17 |
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1900–01 | 34 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 45 | 47 | 33 | 9th | R1 | SSC QF | Adrian Capes | 11 |
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1901–02 | 34 | 10 | 9 | 15 | 43 | 59 | 29 | 12th | 5Q | SSC SF | 20 |
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1902–03 | 34 | 13 | 8 | 13 | 57 | 62 | 34 | 9th | 4Q | SSC R1 | 18 |
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1903–04 | 34 | 10 | 9 | 15 | 54 | 52 | 29 | 13th | R1 | SSC R1 | 17 |
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1904–05 | 34 | 10 | 7 | 17 | 47 | 72 | 27 | 16th | 6Q | BSC SF | Dick Allman | 8 |
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1905–06 | 38 | 12 | 4 | 22 | 49 | 82 | 28 | 17th | R1 | SSC SF | Harry Mountford | 15 |
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1906–07 | 38 | 12 | 7 | 19 | 60 | 83 | 31 | 16th | R2 | SSC SF | Billy Beats | 15 |
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1907–08 | North Staffordshire Federation League | 16 | 8 | 3 | 5 | 34 | 28 | 19 | 5th | NSFLC R6 | Bert Beech | 11 |
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1908–09 | North Staffordshire & District League | 26 | 11 | 3 | 12 | 57 | 51 | 25 | 8th | HC R2 | 17 |
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1909–10 | 26 | 21 | 1 | 4 | 89 | 25 | 43 | 1st | SJC winners | Joe Brough | 43 |
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1910–11 | 26 | 14 | 3 | 9 | 50 | 41 | 31 | 4th | NSNSC SF | J. Tunnicliffe | 11 |
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1911–12 | The Central League | 32 | 15 | 12 | 5 | 46 | 23 | 42 | 2nd | SSC winners | Frank Cannon | 18 |
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1912–13 | 38 | 19 | 7 | 12 | 55 | 38 | 45 | 4th | 3Q | BSC winners | Eli Adams | 20 |
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1913–14 | 38 | 17 | 11 | 10 | 78 | 62 | 45 | 4th | R1 | BSC runners-up | Chris Young | 37 |
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1914–15 | 38 | 25 | 3 | 10 | 84 | 42 | 53 | 3rd | 5Q | NSIC winners | 40 |
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No competitive football was played for the 1914–1915 season due to the First World War. | 1916–17 | Lancashire Regional Section | 30 | 7 | 7 | 16 | 50 | 40 | 21 | 15th | ST 12th | Jack Needham | 12 |
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1917–18 | 30 | 9 | 8 | 13 | 47 | 55 | 26 | 11th | ST 14th | David Bowcock | 7 |
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1918–19 | 30 | 10 | 4 | 16 | 39 | 78 | 24 | 12th | ST 4th | Harry Howell | 9 |
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1919–20 | Second Division | 42 | 16 | 8 | 18 | 59 | 62 | 40 | 13th | R1 | SSC winners | Bobby Blood | 26 |
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1920–21 | 42 | 11 | 14 | 17 | 43 | 49 | 36 | 17th | 6Q | NSIC runners-up | 20 |
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1921–22 | 42 | 14 | 8 | 20 | 43 | 57 | 36 | 18th | R1 | NSIC winners | Tom Page | 10 |
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1922–23 | 42 | 14 | 9 | 19 | 39 | 51 | 37 | 17th | 5Q | NSIC runners-up | Tom Butler | 9 |
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1923–24 | 42 | 13 | 12 | 17 | 50 | 66 | 38 | 16th | 5Q | NSIC runners-up | Billy Briscoe Tom Page | 10 |
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1924–25 | 42 | 17 | 8 | 17 | 48 | 56 | 42 | 8th | R1 | Wilf Kirkham | 33 |
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1925–26 | 42 | 19 | 6 | 17 | 79 | 69 | 44 | 8th | R3 | 35 |
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1926–27 | 42 | 16 | 13 | 13 | 88 | 78 | 45 | 8th | R4 | NSRIC runners-up | 41 |
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1927–28 | 42 | 18 | 8 | 16 | 68 | 57 | 44 | 9th | R5 | 14 |
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1928–29 | 42 | 15 | 4 | 23 | 71 | 86 | 34 | 21st | R3 | 15 |
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1929–30 | Third Division North | 42 | 30 | 7 | 5 | 103 | 37 | 67 | 1st | R2 | NSRIC runners-up | Sam Jennings | 21 |
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1930–31 | Second Division | 42 | 21 | 5 | 16 | 67 | 61 | 47 | 5th | R4 | 17 |
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1931–32 | 42 | 13 | 7 | 22 | 58 | 89 | 33 | 20th | R4 | NSRIC runners-up | Tom Nolan | 11 |
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1932–33 | 42 | 14 | 10 | 18 | 66 | 79 | 38 | 17th | R3 | Wilf Kirkham | 15 |
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1933–34 | 42 | 19 | 7 | 16 | 60 | 55 | 45 | 8th | R3 | Tom Nolan | 22 |
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1934–35 | 42 | 11 | 12 | 19 | 55 | 74 | 34 | 18th | R3 | 16 |
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1935–36 | 42 | 12 | 8 | 22 | 56 | 106 | 32 | 21st | R4 | Jack Roberts | 12 |
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1936–37 | Third Division North | 42 | 17 | 10 | 15 | 58 | 64 | 44 | 11th | R3 | NSC SF | Tommy Ward | 18 |
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1937–38 | 42 | 12 | 14 | 16 | 65 | 73 | 38 | 15th | R1 | NSC R1 | Jack Roberts | 28 |
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1938–39 | Third Division South | 42 | 14 | 9 | 19 | 52 | 58 | 37 | 18th | R2 | SoSC SF | Tom Nolan | 17 |
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LA|D| | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | P | FLWRT 8th | Jack Roberts | 13 |
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No competitive football was played between 1940 and 1944 due to the Second World War. | 1944–45 | Football League North | 18 | 5 | 2 | 11 | 22 | 36 | 12 | 45th | FLN2C 54th | Alf Bellis | 10 |
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1945–46 | Third Division (South) North Region | 20 | 9 | 6 | 5 | 34 | 25 | 24 | 3rd | R3 | TDSRC 8th | Bill Pointon | 19 |
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1946–47 | Third Division South | 42 | 17 | 9 | 16 | 68 | 63 | 43 | 10th | R4 | Morris Jones | 26 |
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1947–48 | 42 | 16 | 11 | 15 | 63 | 54 | 43 | 8th | R1 | Ronnie Allen | 13 |
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1948–49 | 42 | 14 | 11 | 17 | 51 | 54 | 39 | 13th | R1 | Walter Aveyard | 13 |
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1949–50 | 42 | 15 | 11 | 16 | 47 | 42 | 41 | 13th | R4 | Cliff Pinchbeck | 16 |
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1950–51 | 46 | 16 | 13 | 17 | 60 | 65 | 45 | 12th | R3 | 19 |
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1951–52 | 46 | 14 | 15 | 17 | 50 | 66 | 43 | 13th | R1 | Albert Mullard | 13 |
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1952–53 | Third Division North | 46 | 20 | 18 | 8 | 67 | 35 | 58 | 2nd | R2 | CC runners-up | Basil Hayward | 22 |
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1953–54 | 46 | 26 | 17 | 3 | 74 | 21 | 69 | 1st | SF | 25 |
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1954–55 | Second Division | 42 | 12 | 11 | 19 | 48 | 71 | 35 | 17th | R4 | Cyril Done | 13 |
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1955–56 | 42 | 16 | 13 | 13 | 60 | 58 | 45 | 12th | R4 | Len Stephenson | 14 |
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1956–57 | 42 | 8 | 6 | 28 | 57 | 101 | 22 | 22nd | R3 | Cyril Done | 9 |
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1957–58 | Third Division South | 46 | 16 | 10 | 20 | 67 | 58 | 42 | 15th | R2 | Stan Steele | 22 |
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1958–59 | Fourth Division | 42 | 26 | 12 | 8 | 110 | 58 | 64 | 1st | R1 | 22 |
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1959–60 | Third Division | 46 | 19 | 8 | 19 | 80 | 79 | 46 | 14th | R5 | SCT runners-up | Graham Barnett | 17 |
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1960–61 | 46 | 17 | 15 | 14 | 96 | 79 | 49 | 7th | R3 | R2 | SCT winners | Cliff Portwood | 26 |
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1961–62 | 46 | 17 | 11 | 18 | 65 | 58 | 45 | 12th | R5 | R1 | Bert Llewellyn Arthur Longbottom | 20 |
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1962–63 | 46 | 23 | 8 | 17 | 72 | 58 | 54 | 3rd | R4 | R2 | Tony Richards | 13 |
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1963–64 | 46 | 16 | 14 | 16 | 53 | 49 | 46 | 13th | R4 | R2 | 13 |
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1964–65 | 46 | 9 | 14 | 23 | 41 | 76 | 32 | 22nd | R2 | R1 | Albert Cheesebrough | 7 |
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1965–66 | Fourth Division | 46 | 15 | 9 | 22 | 48 | 59 | 39 | 19th | R3 | R1 | John Rowland | 23 |
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1966–67 | 46 | 14 | 15 | 17 | 55 | 58 | 43 | 13th | R2 | R1 | Mick Cullerton | 12 |
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1967–68 | 46 | 12 | 15 | 19 | 61 | 72 | 39 | 18th | R1 | R2 | Roy Chapman | 25 |
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1968–69 | 46 | 16 | 14 | 16 | 46 | 46 | 46 | 13th | R3 | R1 | 12 |
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1969–70 | 46 | 20 | 19 | 7 | 61 | 33 | 59 | 4th | R2 | R1 | John James | 17 |
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1970–71 | Third Division | 46 | 15 | 12 | 19 | 52 | 59 | 42 | 17th | R1 | R1 | 15 |
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1971–72 | 46 | 13 | 15 | 18 | 43 | 59 | 41 | 15th | R3 | R1 | Bobby Gough | 10 |
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1972–73 | 46 | 21 | 11 | 14 | 56 | 69 | 53 | 6th | R3 | R2 | Sammy Morgan Ray Williams | 11 |
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1973–74 | 46 | 14 | 14 | 18 | 52 | 58 | 42 | 20th | R3 | R1 | John Woodward | 18 |
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1974–75 | 46 | 18 | 15 | 13 | 61 | 54 | 51 | 6th | R1 | R1 | Terry Bailey Ray Williams | 14 |
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1975–76 | 46 | 15 | 16 | 15 | 55 | 54 | 46 | 12th | R2 | R1 | Mick Cullerton | 21 |
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1976–77 | 46 | 11 | 16 | 19 | 47 | 71 | 38 | 19th | R5 | R1 | DC runners-up | Ken Beamish | 18 |
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1977–78 | 46 | 8 | 20 | 18 | 46 | 67 | 36 | 21st | R2 | R1 | 16 |
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1978–79 | Fourth Division | 46 | 14 | 14 | 18 | 57 | 70 | 42 | 16th | R1 | R1 | Bernie Wright | 15 |
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1979–80 | 46 | 12 | 12 | 22 | 56 | 70 | 36 | 20th | R1 | R1 | Neville Chamberlain | 11 |
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1980–81 | 46 | 12 | 15 | 19 | 57 | 70 | 39 | 19th | R3 | R1 | 13 |
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1981–82 | 46 | 18 | 16 | 12 | 56 | 49 | 70 | 7th | R3 | R2 | Ernie Moss | 17 |
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1982–83 | 46 | 26 | 10 | 10 | 67 | 34 | 88 | 3rd | R1 | R1 | Robert Newton | 20 |
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1983–84 | Third Division | 46 | 11 | 10 | 25 | 51 | 83 | 43 | 23rd | R1 | R2 | FLT R2 | Eamonn O'Keefe | 11 |
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1984–85 | Fourth Division | 46 | 14 | 18 | 14 | 61 | 59 | 60 | 12th | R3 | R2 | FLT R2 | Alistair Brown | 21 |
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1985–86 | 46 | 21 | 16 | 9 | 67 | 37 | 79 | 4th | R2 | R2 | FLT ASF | Andy Jones | 18 |
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1986–87 | Third Division | 46 | 15 | 12 | 19 | 76 | 70 | 57 | 12th | R2 | R2 | FLT AQF | 37 |
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1987–88 | 46 | 18 | 11 | 17 | 58 | 56 | 65 | 11th | R5 | R1 | FLT R1 | Darren Beckford David Riley | 10 |
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1988–89 | 46 | 24 | 12 | 10 | 78 | 48 | 84 | 3rd | R3 | R2 | FLT P | Darren Beckford | 23 |
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1989–90 | Second Division | 46 | 15 | 16 | 15 | 62 | 57 | 61 | 11th | R4 | R2 | FMC R2 | 21 |
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1990–91 | 46 | 15 | 12 | 19 | 56 | 64 | 57 | 15th | R4 | R2 | FMC R1 | 23 |
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1991–92 | 46 | 10 | 15 | 27 | 42 | 59 | 45 | 24th | R3 | R3 | FMC R2 | Martin Foyle | 16 |
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1992–93 | 46 | 26 | 11 | 9 | 79 | 44 | 89 | 3rd | R3 | R1 | FLT winners | Ian Taylor | 19 |
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1993–94 | 46 | 26 | 10 | 10 | 79 | 46 | 88 | 2nd | R4 | R1 | FLT AQF | Martin Foyle | 18 |
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1994–95 | First Division | 46 | 15 | 13 | 18 | 58 | 64 | 58 | 17th | R2 | R2 | 20 |
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1995–96 | 46 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 59 | 66 | 60 | 12th | R5 | R1 | AIC runners-up | Tony Naylor | 12 |
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1996–97 | 46 | 17 | 16 | 13 | 58 | 55 | 67 | 8th | R3 | R3 | 20 |
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1997–98 | 46 | 13 | 10 | 23 | 56 | 55 | 49 | 19th | R3 | R1 | Lee Mills | 16 |
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1998–99 | 46 | 13 | 8 | 25 | 45 | 75 | 47 | 21st | R3 | R1 | Martin Foyle | 9 |
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1999–00 | 46 | 7 | 15 | 24 | 48 | 69 | 36 | 23rd | R3 | R1 | Tony Rougier | 9 |
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2000–01 | Second Division | 46 | 16 | 14 | 16 | 55 | 49 | 62 | 11th | R1 | R1 | FLT winners | Tony Naylor | 21 |
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2001–02 | 46 | 16 | 10 | 20 | 51 | 62 | 58 | 14th | R2 | R2 | FLT AQF | Stephen McPhee | 14 |
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2002–03 | 46 | 14 | 11 | 21 | 54 | 70 | 53 | 17th | R1 | R1 | FLT AQF | Marc Bridge-Wilkinson | 9 |
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2003–04 | 46 | 21 | 10 | 15 | 73 | 62 | 73 | 7th | R2 | R1 | FLT AR1 | Stephen McPhee | 27 |
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2004–05 | League One | 46 | 17 | 5 | 24 | 49 | 59 | 56 | 18th | R2 | R1 | FLT AR2 | Billy Paynter | 13 |
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2005–06 | 46 | 16 | 12 | 18 | 49 | 54 | 60 | 13th | R4 | R1 | FLT AR2 | Leon Constantine | 12 |
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2006–07 | 46 | 18 | 6 | 22 | 64 | 65 | 60 | 12th | R2 | R4 | FLT AR2 | 26 |
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2007–08 | 46 | 9 | 11 | 26 | 47 | 81 | 38 | 23rd | R2 | R1 | FLT P | Luke Rodgers | 12 |
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2008–09 | League Two | 46 | 13 | 9 | 24 | 44 | 66 | 48 | 18th | R2 | R1 | FLT R1 | Marc Richards | 11 |
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2009–10 | 46 | 17 | 17 | 12 | 61 | 50 | 68 | 10th | R2 | R3 | FLT R3 | 23 |
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2010–11 | 46 | 17 | 14 | 15 | 54 | 49 | 65 | 11th | R3 | R2 | FLT R2 | 20 |
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2011–12 | 46 | 20 | 9 | 17 | 68 | 60 | 59 | 12th | R1 | R1 | FLT R1 | 17 |
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2012–13 | 46 | 21 | 15 | 11 | 87 | 52 | 78 | 3rd | R2 | R1 | FLT R3 | Tom Pope | 33 |
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2013–14 | League One | 46 | 18 | 7 | 21 | 59 | 73 | 61 | 9th | R4 | R1 | FLT R2 | 16 |
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2014–15 | 46 | 15 | 9 | 22 | 55 | 65 | 54 | 18th | R1 | R2 | FLT R2 | 12 |
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2015–16 | 46 | 18 | 11 | 17 | 56 | 58 | 65 | 12th | R2 | R2 | FLT R2 | AJ Leitch-Smith | 13 |
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2016–17 | 46 | 12 | 13 | 21 | 45 | 70 | 49 | 21st | R3 | R1 | EFLT GS | Alex Jones | 10 |
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2017–18 | League Two | 46 | 11 | 14 | 21 | 49 | 67 | 47 | 20th | R1 | R1 | EFLT R2 | Tom Pope | 19 |
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KeyWinners | Runners up | Promoted | Relegated | {{col-begin}}{{col-3}}Key to league record:
P – games played
W – games won
D – games drawn
L – games lost
F – goals for
A – goals against
Pts – points
Pos – final position
{{col-3}}Key to rounds:
P – Preliminaries
1Q – first qualifying round
2Q – second qualifying round
3Q – third qualifying round
4Q – fourth qualifying round
5Q – fifth qualifying round
6Q – sixth qualifying round
R1 – first round
R2 – second round
R3 – third round
R4 – fourth round
R5 – fifth round
R6 – sixth round
QF – quarter-final
SF – semi-final
GS – group stage
AQF – Area quarter-finals
ASF – Area semi-finals
AF – Area final
{{col-3}}Key to cups:
AIC – Anglo-Italian Cup ASP – Associate Members' Cup
BSC – Birmingham Senior Cup
BBC – Burslem Challenge Cup
CC – Coronation Cup
DC – Debenhams Cup
FLT / EFLT – Football League Trophy / EFL Trophy
FLWRT – Football League Western Regional Tournament
FMC – Full Members Cup
HC – Hanley Cup
NSC – Northern Section Cup
SJC – Staffordshire Junior Cup
NSFLC – North Staffordshire Federation League Cup
NSIC / NSRIC – North Staffordshire (Royal) Infirmary Cup
NSNSC – North Staffordshire Nursing Society's Cup
SCT – Supporters' Clubs' Trophy
SoSC – Southern Section Cup
SSC – Staffordshire Senior Cup
SSCC – Staffordshire Senior Charity Cup
ST – Subsidiary Tournament (to league)
TDSRC – Third Division (South) North Region Cup
{{col-end}}NotesA. {{note|LC}} The EFL Cup competition did not start until the 1960–61 season.
B. {{note|GS}} Other than where stated, includes all senior competitive first-team matches.
C. {{note|champ}} The Second Division was renamed Football League One as part of a new sponsorship deal in the 2004–05 season.
D. {{note|LA}} League abandoned due to WW2.
E. {{note|F}} Friendly matches are the only recorded matches for this season References1. ^The Valiants' Years: The Story Of Port Vale, {{ISBN|0-9508981-4-7}}, 1990, pages 4-13, The Port Vale Record 1879-1993, {{ISBN|0-9508981-9-8}}, 1993, page 4, and What If There Had Been No Port In The Vale?: Startling Port Vale Stories, {{ISBN|978-0-952915-28-7}}, 2011, pages 18-33, all by Kent, Jeff.
Further reading- {{cite book|author=Kent, Jeff|title=The Port Vale Record 1879–1993|publisher=Witan Books|year=1993|isbn=0-9508981-9-8}}
{{Port Vale F.C.}}{{Port Vale F.C. seasons}}{{Lists of English football seasons}} 3 : English football club seasons|Port Vale F.C.|Port Vale F.C. seasons |