2006–07_Port_Vale_F.C._season

2006–07 Port Vale F.C. season

2006–07 Port Vale F.C. season

Port Vale 2006–07 football season

The 2006–07 season was Port Vale's 95th season of football in the English Football League, and third-successive season in League One. Martin Foyle's side again finished in mid-table, whilst exiting the FA Cup and the Football League Trophy at the Second Round. Vale, notoriously poor performers in the League Cup, managed to reach the Fourth Round for the first time, at which point they were beaten by top-flight Tottenham Hotspur. Strike partners Leon Constantine and Akpo Sodje put in a 42-goal partnership, with Sodje picking up the club's Player of the Year award. At the end of the season top-scorer Constantine left the club, as did senior midfielder Danny Sonner, scuppering Foyle's long-term plans.

Manager Martin Foyle.
Player of the Year Akpo Sodje.
Top-scorer Leon Constantine.

Quick Facts Owner, Chairman ...

Overview

League One

The pre-season saw Martin Foyle make a number of signings, including: Danny Sonner (Peterborough United);[1] Jason Talbot (Mansfield Town);[2] Paul Harsley (Macclesfield Town);[3] Richard Walker (Crewe Alexandra);[2] Danny Whitaker (Macclesfield Town); Colin Miles (Yeovil Town);[4] and Akpo Sodje (Darlington).[2] He also took Stefan Moore on loan from Queens Park Rangers,[5] and utility player Ritchie Humphreys from Hartlepool United.[6] Youth team player Danny Glover, son of assistant manager Dean Glover, was also given a squad number.

The season started with Vale in fine form, winning their first four games. His four goals meant Constantine was named the division's Player of the Month for August.[7] This run came to a halt with four defeats in the next five games, Vale scoring just three goals. In November, Ross Gardner was signed on loan from Nottingham Forest, and would join permanently in the January transfer window.[8] Foyle also signed defender Clayton Fortune on a season-long loan for a second time, this time from Leyton Orient.[9] Heading into December with just three wins in fifteen league games, they won their first four games, with Constantine hitting five of Vale's nine goals. In January, Foyle splashed out £30,000 on Crewe Alexandra striker Luke Rodgers. He also signed former teammate Paul Musselwhite as an emergency back-up goalkeeper following an injury to Mark Goodlad,[10] as well as Cardiff City midfielder Malvin Kamara.[11] He also turned down an offer from Barnsley of £200,000 (plus Marc Richards) for Constantine,[12] who claimed to be happy at Vale Park.[13] However, he did sell skilful winger Jeff Smith to Carlisle United for £60,000.[14] Also leaving Burslem was Louis Briscoe, who was allowed to join Leek Town.[15] Vale's form had left them once again, as they failed to pick up a win in a sequence of seven games. In February, defender Rhys Weston joined on a short-term contract, having left Norwegian club Viking FK.[16] On 10 March, Vale travelled to the Don Valley Stadium, and Sodje managed to hit four goals past the Rotherham United defence to give Vale a 5–1 win.[17] This gave Vale fans a sliver of hope of reaching the play-offs, but Vale failed to string two wins together in their final nine games, despite a 3–0 win over nearby Crewe Alexandra.

They finished in twelfth place with sixty points, a clear distance from both the play-off and the relegation zones. They again had the lowest numbers of draws in the division, recording just six stalemates. Constantine was the second-highest scorer in the division after Billy Sharp of Scunthorpe United. Player of the Year Sodje also hit sixteen goals. Captain George Pilkington and midfielder Danny Whitaker missed just two games between them all season.

At the end of the season a number of players were released: Nathan Lowndes (Chester City); George Abbey (Crewe Alexandra); Rhys Weston (Walsall); Michael Husbands (Macclesfield Town);[18] Christian Smith (Clyde); Ross Gardner (Ilkeston Town);[19] Malvin Kamara (Huddersfield Town);[20] Michael Walsh and Mark Soboljew. Leon Constantine also decided against signing a new contract at Vale, and instead joined Leeds United.[21] Danny Sonner also rejected his contract offer, and moved on to Walsall,[22] but not before making a parting shot at the club's leadership.[23]

Finances

The club had to make monthly repayments of around £19,000 for a £2.25 million loan taken out from the local council in 2005.[24] The club's shirt sponsorship came from local company BGC Gas.

Cup competitions

In the FA Cup, Vale advanced past League Two side Lincoln City with a 2–1 victory at Sincil Bank.[25] However, they then were on the end of a 4–0 hiding from Hereford United at Edgar Street in the Second Round.

In the League Cup, Vale faced Preston North End, who they defeated with goals from Sodje and Constantine.[26] The "Valiants" then vanquished Queens Park Rangers 3–2 in the Second Round.[27] This left them facing Norwich City, the third Championship club of the season to travel to Burslem in the League Cup. Vale against upset the odds by winning the penalty shoot-out 3–2 following a goalless draw against a strong "Canary" side.[28] Premier League Tottenham Hotspur awaited in the Fourth Round, who at White Hart Lane proved to be too much of a challenge for the Vale. Constantine put Vale into the lead, but a Tom Huddlestone goal took the game into extra time, before both Huddlestone and Jermain Defoe scored to give "Spurs" a 3–1 win, thus saving Martin Jol's blushes.[29] This represented the club's greatest achievement in the competition, as Vale had never reached the fourth round before, and would not do so again until 2023.[30]

In the Football League Trophy, Vale advanced past Scunthorpe United after winning on penalties at Glanford Park.[31] They then had a home tie with local rivals Crewe Alexandra. The "Railwaymen" won the game 3–2 despite a brace from Constantine.

League table

Main article: 2006–07 Football League

More information Pos, Pld ...
Source: [citation needed]
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 One

Results by matchday

More information Round, Ground ...
Source: Statto[32]
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

Matches

More information Date, Opponent ...

FA Cup

Main article: 2006–07 FA Cup
More information Round, Date ...

League Cup

Main article: 2006–07 Football League Cup
More information Round, Date ...

Football League Trophy

Main article: 2006–07 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]
    "Vale sign Posh midfielder Sonner". BBC Sport. 28 May 2005. Retrieved 23 April 2012.
  2. [2]
    "Boss adds trio to Port Vale squad". BBC Sport. 19 May 2006. Retrieved 11 August 2009.
  3. [3]
    "Harsley decides on Vale Park move". BBC Sport. 30 May 2006. Retrieved 31 May 2009.
  4. [4]
    "Vale snap up Miles and Whitaker". BBC Sport. 28 June 2006. Retrieved 16 July 2009.
  5. [5]
    "Vale capture QPR striker on loan". BBC Sport. 29 August 2006. Retrieved 2 August 2009.
  6. [6]
    "Humphreys leaves Pools". The Northern Echo. 8 September 2007. Retrieved 22 July 2007.
  7. [7]
    Coca-cola Manager of the Month 2006-07 Archived 14 October 2006 at the Wayback Machine Football League.co.uk. Retrieved on 24 March 2007
  8. [8]
    "Port Vale sign Forest's Gardner". BBC Sport. 8 November 2006. Retrieved 21 May 2009.
  9. [9]
    "Fortune signs Port Vale loan deal". BBC Sport. 22 November 2006. Retrieved 20 May 2009.
  10. [10]
    "Port Vale sign keeper Musselwhite". BBC Sport. 3 January 2007. Retrieved 9 August 2009.
  11. [11]
    "Port Vale capture winger Kamara". BBC Sport. 16 January 2007. Retrieved 8 June 2009.
  12. [12]
    "Constantine's Tykes move is off". BBC Sport. 18 January 2007. Retrieved 5 January 2010.
  13. [13]
    "Constantine content at Port Vale". BBC Sport. 14 February 2007. Retrieved 21 January 2011.
  14. [14]
    "Carlisle snap up Vale midfielder". BBC Sport. 25 January 2004. Retrieved 25 January 2007.
  15. [15]
    "Port Vale release striker Briscoe". BBC Sport. 23 January 2007. Retrieved 12 May 2009.
  16. [16]
    "Port Vale wrap up Weston transfer". BBC Sport. 12 February 2007. Retrieved 19 July 2009.
  17. [17]
    "Rotherham 1-5 Port Vale". BBC Sport. 10 March 2007. Retrieved 21 January 2011.
  18. [18]
    "Husbands makes Macclesfield move". BBC Sport. 11 July 2007. Retrieved 5 May 2012.
  19. [19]
    "Vale boss Foyle clears the decks". BBC Sport. 9 May 2007. Retrieved 21 May 2009.
  20. [20]
    "Huddersfield sign winger Kamara". BBC Sport. 18 June 2007. Retrieved 8 June 2009.
  21. [21]
    "Leeds complete triple acquisition". BBC Sport. 7 August 2007. Retrieved 7 August 2007.
  22. [22]
    "Veteran Sonner rejects Vale offer". BBC Sport. 17 May 2007. Retrieved 28 June 2009.
  23. [23]
    "Chairman responds to Sonner blast". BBC Sport. 24 May 2007. Retrieved 28 June 2009.
  24. [24]
    "Port Vale late with repayments of £2.25m council loan". BBC Sport. 8 February 2012. Retrieved 8 February 2012.
  25. [25]
    "Port Vale 2-1 Lincoln". BBC Sport. 11 November 2006. Retrieved 21 January 2011.
  26. [26]
    "Port Vale 2-1 Preston". BBC Sport. 24 August 2006. Retrieved 21 January 2011.
  27. [27]
    "Port Vale 3-2 QPR". BBC Sport. 19 September 2006. Retrieved 21 January 2011.
  28. [28]
    "Port Vale 0-0 Norwich (AET)". BBC Sport. 24 October 2006. Retrieved 21 January 2011.
  29. [29]
    "Tottenham 3-1 Port Vale (aet)". BBC Sport. 8 November 2006. Retrieved 21 January 2011.
  30. [30]
    "MATCH REPORT | PORT VALE 0-0 BURTON ALBION". Port Vale F.C. 4 November 2023. Retrieved 10 November 2023.
  31. [31]
    "Port Vale beat Iron on penalties". BBC Sport. 30 October 2006. Retrieved 21 January 2011.
  32. [32]
    Port Vale 2006–2007 : Results & Fixtures Archived 4 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine. Statto Organisation. Retrieved 28 April 2012.
  33. [33]
    "Port Vale FC Club Details | Transfers | Soccer Base". www.soccerbase.com. Retrieved 7 October 2016.
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