Five of the best – Port Vale comeback seasons after suffering relegation

Port Vale FC has a long history of bouncing up and (sadly) down in the lower divisions. Here’s some of the seasons where Vale have bounced back strongly after suffering relegation.

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1929-30

It was a long time ago which means it’s often overlooked but the 1929-30 season was one of the more remarkable in the club’s history. The Valiants had been relegated from the Second Division, the first such relegation in the club’s history and they followed it up by winning the Third Division title, the club’s first promotion in the Football League. However, it’s the circumstances which make the feat even more laudable. For one thing, Vale had to overcome the unthinkable as manager Joe Schofield passed away in September. The side were top of the table and undaunted, coach Tom Morgan took up the reigns and continued Schofield’s work by winning the title by a then record margin. A civic reception saw 2,000 fans celebrate at Burslem Town Hall.

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1992-93

John Rudge’s side has suffered relegation from the Second Division the previous season and came aching close to immediately bouncing back. A side boasting the likes of Bernie Slaven, Martin Foyle and, that season’s revelation, summer signing Ian Taylor lifted the Autoglass Trophy. However, their hopes of promotion were dashed the following week when West Brom won 3-0 in the play-off final. It was a disappointing end but at least the side did end up with a Trophy and with a squad that could stand them in good stead the following season. That proved to be the case as Vale did go up the following season – finishing in second place and avoiding the lottery of a second play-off defeat.

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2000-01

In echoes of the previous entry, Vale bounced back from relegation the previous season, not with promotion but with the consolation of a domestic trophy. Brian Horton’s side triumphed at the Millennium stadium to lift the LDV Vans Trophy. However, the side’ s League form had been middling with the team eventually ended in 11th place. It was a side with some talented performers – goalkeeper Mark Goodlad, midfielder Marc Bridge-Wilkinson and striker Steve Brooker to name just three. Sadly, unlike 1993, the side were unable to build on that cup success. The following season they slipped to 14th and then to 17th the next year.

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1984-85

OK, so a 12th place finish meant this wasn’t the immediate bounce back that some may have expected but this was a fantastic turnaround by the club as well as the dawn of a new era. To explain – Vale had been relegated in 1983. For most of the season John McGrath’s side had been hopelessly outclassed in the Third Division and only achieved some modicum of pride when assistant John Rudge pulled out a more than decent run in the final third of the season. Sadly, it was too little, too late as the club were relegated. However, the season had seen the dawn of the John Rudge era at the club and his first season saw the wily manager bring in Alan Webb, Robbie Earle and Ray Walker as he started to bring in his own players. It didn’t take long for Rudge to have an effect. The team were promoted the following season. It was the start of a golden age for the club.

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1936-37

Having been relegated to the Third Division, this wasn’t the most memorable season on the pitch (Vale finished 11th) but there were some significant developments off it. For one, the relegation had prompted a change of manager and Vale entered the “modern” era with the appointment of Warney Cresswell. Rather than a secretarial role, Cresswell was recognisably a modern manager – leading training sessions and scouring the country for new talent. It paid off with a run of thirteen games unbeaten in mid-season but it was not enough to see the club enter the promotion picture. It’s difficult to know if the club could have built on Cresswell’s work as the League was subsequently suspended after the outbreak of World War Two.

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