2005–06_Port_Vale_F.C._season

2005–06 Port Vale F.C. season

2005–06 Port Vale F.C. season

Port Vale 2005–06 football season

The 2005–06 season was Port Vale's 94th season of football in the English Football League, and second-successive season in League One. They finished in mid-table, and exited the League Cup at the First Round and the Football League Trophy at the Second Round. In the FA Cup, Vale made it to the Fourth Round, where they were knocked out 3–1 by top-flight Aston Villa. Foyle's efforts to build a promotion-winning team were boosted when Vale gained striker Leon Constantine, but his efforts were hindered with the sales of both Sam Collins and Billy Paynter.

Manager Martin Foyle.
Top scorer Leon Constantine.
Winger Chris Birchall had another solid season.

Quick Facts Owner, Chairman ...

Overview

League One

The pre-season saw Martin Foyle sign Micky Bell and Hector Sam on free transfers from Bristol City and Wrexham respectively.[1][2] He also took in promising young striker Chris Cornes on loan from Wolverhampton Wanderers, who would impress in a Vale shirt.[3]

The season started with fourteen points from seven games to launch the club's promotion bid. After three defeats the Vale then entered a long period of inconsistent form. In September, Darrell Clarke joined on loan from Hartlepool United,[4] though he would play just the one game for the club. Gary Mulligan also arrived on loan from Sheffield United,[5] and would find greater success in Burslem.[6] The next month Foyle added to the squad by signing Michael Husbands from Walsall. In November, Sam Togwell joined on loan from Scunthorpe United, in an initial six week deal that was extended until the end of the season.[7] Another long-term loan deal was struck with Leyton Orient for big defender Clayton Fortune,[8] who would later turn down a permanent transfer to Vale Park after failing to agree on personal terms.[9] Foyle also made possibly the best signing of his spell in charge at Vale, bringing striker Leon Constantine in from Torquay United for a £20,000 fee.[10] However, Foyle lost two big players, when key defender Sam Collins and promising striker Billy Paynter were sold to Hull City for £65,000 and £150,000 respectively, the pair leaving on loan deals until the January transfer window (when they would leave permanently). Four straight defeats followed this, emphasising the effect the sales had on the club's promotion bid. In January, Bell moved on to Cheltenham Town,[11] and Hector Sam joined Walsall. In came Jason Talbot on loan from Mansfield Town,[12] who joined the club permanently at the end of the season. Foyle also signed defender Mark McGregor from Blackpool,[13] and midfielder Sean Doherty from ADO Den Haag.[14] A sequence of two points in five games killed off the Vale's promotion hopes by April.

They finished in thirteenth place with sixty points, some distance from both promotion and relegation. Only the four relegated teams scored fewer goals than Vale, and Constantine was the club's top-scorer with twelve goals, closely followed by Cummins with eleven.

At the end of the season nine players departed the club: Lee Matthews (Crewe Alexandra);[15] Hector Sam (Walsall);[16] Steve Rowland (Southport);[17] Tony Dinning (Stockport County); Micky Cummins (Darlington);[18] Jonny Brain (Macclesfield Town);[19] Mark Innes (Hyde United); Sean Doherty (Accrington Stanley);[20] and Craig James (Darlington).[21] Andy Porter retired to concentrate on his coaching. With Dinning's departure, George Pilkington was appointed club captain.[22] World Cup international winger Chris Birchall was also sold to Coventry City for £325,000.[23]

Finances

On the financial side, Bill Bratt's cost-cutting measures had reduced the club's operating losses from £500,000 to £50,000.[24] Despite this, the club took out a £2.25 million loan from the local council, with monthly repayments of around £19,000.[25] Bratt continued to try and woo elderly North American millionaires, but Steve Stavro did not follow up his initial interest with any investment. In October 2005, the club turned down an investment group that wished to appoint Paul Gascoigne as manager.[26] Foyle said "We need a cup run, or an investor, to give us a kick-start because we aren't doing too badly".[27] He got his wish with an expected income of £250,000 from the Villa game.[28] In February, lifelong fan Robbie Williams bought £240,000 of the £250,000 worth of available shares in the club.[29] In April, the club announced a new record-breaking shirt sponsorship deal with BGC Gas.[30] The club also announced Bill Bratt would now be a paid chief executive.[31]

Cup competitions

In the FA Cup, Vale advanced past Wrexham to reach a Second Round encounter with Bristol Rovers. A late equaliser from Constantine earned Vale a replay,[32] and a Chris Birchall strike gave the "Valiants" victory at the Memorial Stadium.[33] They then made it to the Fourth Round after a 2–1 win over Doncaster Rovers thanks to a brace from loanee Sam Togwell.[34] They faced a trip to Villa Park to face Premier League Aston Villa, where they were defeated 3–1 after a brace from Milan Baroš.[35] A 7,500 strong contingent of Vale fans travelled to see the game and reworked the song (Is This the Way to) Amarillo into "Show me the way to Aston Villa" to mark the occasion.[36]

In the League Cup, Vale were knocked out 3–1 by Rotherham United at the Don Valley Stadium, with Hector Sam breaking his leg during the game.

In the Football League Trophy, Vale received a bye in the First Round, but in the Second Round were embarrassed to lose 2–1 to Conference club Hereford United at Edgar Street, after a Tamika Mkandawire header in extra time.[37]

League table

Main article: 2005–06 Football League

Results

Port Vale's score comes first

Football League One

Results by matchday

More information Round, Ground ...
Source: Statto[38]
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

Matches

More information Date, Opponent ...

FA Cup

Main article: 2005–06 FA Cup
More information Round, Date ...

League Cup

Main article: 2005–06 Football League Cup
More information Round, Date ...

Football League Trophy

Main article: 2005–06 Football League Trophy
More information Round, Date ...

Player statistics

Appearances

More information Pos., # ...

Top scorers

More information Place, Position ...

Transfers

Transfers in

More information Date from, Position ...

Transfers out

More information Date from, Position ...

Loans in

More information Date from, Position ...

Loans out

More information Date from, Position ...

References

Specific
  1. [1]
    "BELL BECOMES A VALIANT". bcfc.co.uk. 18 July 2005. Archived from the original on 6 April 2012. Retrieved 20 January 2011.
  2. [2]
    "Striker Sam makes switch to Vale". BBC Sport. 29 June 2005. Retrieved 20 January 2011.
  3. [3]
    "MK Dons 0-0 Port Vale". Soccerbase. 29 August 2005. Retrieved 14 January 2009.[permanent dead link]
  4. [4]
    "Vale sign Pools midfielder Clarke". BBC Sport. 27 September 2005. Retrieved 14 May 2009.
  5. [5]
    "Vale nab Blades striker on loan". BBC Sport. 22 September 2005. Retrieved 27 July 2009.
  6. [6]
    "Mulligan gets Vale loan extension". BBC Sport. 24 October 2005. Retrieved 27 July 2009.
  7. [7]
    "Foyle extends Togwell loan deal". BBC Sport. 25 January 2006. Retrieved 20 January 2011.
  8. [8]
    "Fortune joins Vale in loan switch". BBC Sport. 9 November 2005. Retrieved 20 May 2009.
  9. [9]
    "Fortune rejects Port Vale offer". BBC Sport. 26 April 2006. Retrieved 20 May 2009.
  10. [10]
    "Constantine leaves Gulls for Vale". BBC Sport. 4 November 2005. Retrieved 5 January 2010.
  11. [11]
    Henderson, Jamie (20 January 2006). "Mickey Bell signs for Cheltenham". cheltenhamtown-mad.co.uk. Retrieved 20 January 2011.
  12. [12]
    "Port Vale recruit Stags full-back". BBC Sport. 31 January 2006. Retrieved 20 January 2011.
  13. [13]
    "McGregor set for Port Vale switch". BBC Sport. 18 January 2006. Retrieved 30 May 2009.
  14. [14]
    "Foyle happy with Doherty capture". BBC Sport. 7 January 2006. Retrieved 13 May 2009.
  15. [15]
    "Striker Matthews signs for Crewe". BBC Sport. 31 August 2006. Retrieved 23 April 2012.
  16. [16]
    "Walsall sign ex-Vale striker Sam". BBC Sport. 21 July 2006. Retrieved 23 April 2012.
  17. [17]
    "Caersws swoop for ex-Port Vale defender". welsh-premier.com. 28 January 2010. Archived from the original on 30 August 2012. Retrieved 23 April 2012.
  18. [18]
    "Quakers complete double signing". BBC Sport. 27 May 2006. Retrieved 2 March 2008.
  19. [19]
    "Horton secures capture of Brain". BBC Sport. 14 June 2006. Retrieved 11 May 2009.
  20. [20]
    "Accrington get Doherty on board". BBC Sport. 19 May 2006. Retrieved 13 May 2009.
  21. [21]
    "Port Vale release defender James". BBC Sport. 10 May 2006. Retrieved 20 January 2011.
  22. [22]
    "Pilkington is handed Vale armband". BBC Sport. 26 May 2006. Retrieved 20 January 2011.
  23. [23]
    "Coventry bring in Vale's Birchall". BBC Sport. 5 August 2006. Retrieved 6 December 2009.
  24. [24]
    "Club's operating loss goes down". BBC News. 18 November 2005. Retrieved 20 January 2011.
  25. [25]
    "Port Vale late with repayments of £2.25m council loan". BBC Sport. 8 February 2012. Retrieved 8 February 2012.
  26. [26]
    "Vale reject 'Gazza' takeover bid". BBC Sport. 19 October 2005. Retrieved 20 January 2011.
  27. [27]
    Fletcher, Paul (11 October 2005). "Valiants cashing in on cutbacks". BBC Sport. Retrieved 20 January 2011.
  28. [28]
    "Vale see cash bonus in Cup match". BBC Sport. 9 January 2006. Retrieved 20 January 2011.
  29. [29]
    "Robbie buys into Vale", BBC Stoke & Staffordshire, 27 February 2006
  30. [30]
    "Vale secure record sponsor deal". BBC Sport. 4 April 2006. Retrieved 20 January 2011.
  31. [31]
    "Port Vale make Bratt appointment". BBC Sport. 24 May 2006. Retrieved 20 January 2011.
  32. [32]
    "Port Vale 1-1 Bristol Rovers". BBC Sport. 2 December 2005. Retrieved 20 January 2011.
  33. [33]
    "Bristol Rovers 0-1 Port Vale". BBC Sport. 13 December 2005. Retrieved 20 January 2011.
  34. [34]
    "Port Vale 2-1 Doncaster". BBC Sport. 7 January 2006. Retrieved 20 January 2011.
  35. [35]
    "Aston Villa 3-1 Port Vale". BBC Sport. 28 January 2006. Retrieved 20 January 2011.
  36. [36]
    Baggaley, Mike (28 January 2024). "Condemnation as referee is chased from pitch in Port Vale defeat". Valiant's Substack. Retrieved 28 January 2024.
  37. [37]
    "Hereford 2-1 Port Vale (aet)". BBC Sport. 21 November 2005. Retrieved 20 January 2011.
  38. [38]
    Port Vale 2005–2006 : Results & Fixtures. Statto Organisation. Retrieved 28 April 2012.
  39. [39]
    "Port Vale FC Club Details | Transfers | Soccer Base". www.soccerbase.com. Retrieved 7 October 2016.
General
Share this article:

This article uses material from the Wikipedia article 2005–06_Port_Vale_F.C._season, and is written by contributors. Text is available under a CC BY-SA 4.0 International License; additional terms may apply. Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.