2002–03 Port Vale F.C. season

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

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. It proved another difficult year under manager Brian Horton, as the side endured an inconsistent league campaign before narrowly avoiding relegation with a 17th‑place finish on 53 points. In December, the club entered administration amid mounting financial pressure, and in March the Valiant 2001 supporters' group completed a takeover, ending the regime of chairman Bill Bell.

Port Vale's cup adventures were brief. Both the FA Cup and League Cup ended at the First Round, each time following defeats to local rivals Crewe Alexandra — the FA Cup exit came courtesy of a Dean Ashton goal, and Crewe also knocked Vale out of the League Cup by a 2–0 scoreline. The club fared slightly better in the Football League Trophy, reaching the Northern Section Area Quarter‑Finals before being eliminated by Shrewsbury Town.

On the field, Marc Bridge-Wilkinson led the scoring charts for Vale with nine goals in all competitions, despite injury setbacks earlier in the season. The team recorded a season‑highlight result in April with a 5–1 victory over Huddersfield Town, but overall results remained erratic, and average attendance dipped to around 4,436. While the club ultimately survived in mid‑table, off-field challenges around debt, administration, and ownership change loomed large as the campaign closed.

Robbie Williams decided against purchasing the club.
John Durnin left the club at the end of the season.

Overview

Second Division

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. On 1 March, Vale were beaten 4–1 away at Colchester United, with Gareth Williams scoring a hat-trick.[14] There was a turnaround in form following a 1–0 win over Blackpool on 8 March, as 18 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.[15] 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.[16] They finished in 17th 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);[17] 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

Talks of Bell selling the club circulated at the start of the season,[18] as Staffordshire Police were forced to write off £100,000 worth of debt.[19] 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.[20] On 25 November, Bell put his shares up for sale at £10 each.[21]

The club entered administration on 16 December,[22] with £600,000 owed to Inland Revenue and the Customs & Excise;[23] Birmingham-based administration firm Poppleton & Appleby took control. Assistant manager Mark Grew and Ray Williams were both laid off to save money.[24] The club approached millionaire pop star and Vale fan Robbie Williams,[25] who rejected the opportunity to invest in the club.[26] Rumours circulated of a possible merger with rivals Stoke City and a ground-share at the Britannia Stadium,[27] fuelled by the belief that a 'mystery bidder' was the Icelandic owners of Stoke City.[28] 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,[29] and received interest from Mo Chaudry (owner of WaterWorld), Summerbank Management (Tunstall based consultancy firm), and property developing duo Steve Ball and Iain McIntosh.[30] A late bid from Gianni Paladini seemed likely to succeed,[31] however, Bill Bratt's 'Valiant 2001' fan-based consortium's bid was accepted in March,[32] and the group took control the following month.[33] The group had had a £1 million bid rejected by Bell the previous year.[34] The total cost of administration was £255,000, and Bratt said "It has been a ride of terror".[35]

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.[36] The new board also appointed former player Andy Porter as youth coach,[37] and got the club's transfer embargo lifted in July.[38]

Cup competitions

In the FA Cup, Vale were knocked out by nearby Crewe Alexandra with a Dean Ashton goal.[39]

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.[40]

In the Football League Trophy, Vale advanced through the opening rounds with home wins over Hull City and Chesterfield (after a penalty shoot-out[41]). In the Northern Section Quarter-Finals, they faced Shrewsbury Town at Gay Meadow and lost 2–1.

Results

Football League Second Division

League table

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: [42]
Rules for classification: In the Football League goals scored (GF) takes precedence over goal difference (GD).

Results by matchday

Round12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031323334353637383940414243444546
GroundHAAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAAHAHHAAAHAHHAHHAAHAHHAAHAHHA
ResultLLLLWWWWWLLDDDLWDDLWLLLLDWDLLWLDLLLWDWLDWWLDWL
Position2424242422191511910131212141412131316121415181917151516191517191920221920181919171619181617
Points0000369121515151617181821222323262626262627303131313434353535353839424243464949505353
Source: Statto[43]
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

Matches

10 August 2002 1 Port Vale 1–4 Tranmere Rovers Burslem
Brooker 26' Report Koumas 40'
Haworth 45', 81'
Allen 47'		 Stadium: Vale Park
Attendance: 5,629
Referee: Steve Baines
13 August 2002 2 Cardiff City 3–1 Port Vale Cardiff
Thorne 4'
Fortune-West 9'
Legg 69'		 Report Bridge-Wilkinson 40' (pen.) Stadium: Ninian Park
Attendance: 13,296
Referee: Paul Rejer
17 August 2002 3 Chesterfield 2–1 Port Vale Chesterfield, Derbyshire
Edwards 46'
Brandon 86'		 Report Angell 90' (pen.) Stadium: Saltergate
Attendance: 3,598
Referee: Roy Pearson
24 August 2002 4 Port Vale 0–1 Stockport County Burslem
Report Beckett 17' Stadium: Vale Park
Attendance: 4,070
Referee: Howard Webb
26 August 2002 5 Wigan Athletic 0–1 Port Vale Wigan
Report Armstrong 45' Stadium: JJB Stadium
Attendance: 6,532
Referee: Graham Frankland
31 August 2002 6 Port Vale 1–0 Peterborough United Burslem
Angell 85' Report Stadium: Vale Park
Attendance: 3,862
Referee: Graham Salisbury
7 September 2002 7 Swindon Town 1–2 Port Vale Swindon
13:30 BST Gurney 7' Report Bridge-Wilkinson 9', 68' Stadium: County Ground
Attendance: 5,029
Referee: Paul Taylor
14 September 2002 8 Port Vale 1–0 Colchester United Burslem
Collins 47' Report Stadium: Vale Park
Attendance: 3,328
Referee: Mike Ryan
17 September 2002 9 Port Vale 3–2 Notts County Burslem
Angell 6', 81'
Paynter 58'		 Report Bolland
Allsopp 		Stadium: Vale Park
Attendance: 3,505
Referee: Peter Walton
21 September 2002 10 Blackpool 3–2 Port Vale Blackpool
Murphy 63', 64'
Clarke 81'		 Report Collins 23'
Bridge-Wilkinson 71'		 Stadium: Bloomfield Road
Attendance: 7,756
Referee: George Cain
28 September 2002 11 Port Vale 2–3 Bristol City Burslem
Paynter 61'
Cummins 89'		 Report Beadle 18'
Murray 40'
Lita 90'		 Stadium: Vale Park
Attendance: 4,286
Referee: Ray Olivier
5 October 2002 12 Huddersfield Town 2–2 Port Vale Huddersfield
Smith 12'
Baldry 17'		 Report Collins 5'
Paynter 29'		 Stadium: Kirklees Stadium
Attendance: 9,091
Referee: Scott Mathieson
12 October 2002 13 Port Vale 1–1 Oldham Athletic Burslem
McPhee 66' Report Holden 49' Stadium: Vale Park
Attendance: 5,563
Referee: Dermot Gallagher
19 October 2002 14 Brentford 1–1 Port Vale Brentford, West London
Hunt 56' (pen.) Report Paynter 68' Stadium: Griffin Park
Attendance: 5,177
Referee: Paul Armstrong
26 October 2002 15 Port Vale 1–2 Crewe Alexandra Burslem
Angell 56' Report Hulse 32', 81' Stadium: Vale Park
Attendance: 6,374
Referee: Eddie Evans
29 October 2002 16 Cheltenham Town 0–1 Port Vale Cheltenham
Report Bridge-Wilkinson 33' (pen.) Stadium: Whaddon Road
Attendance: 3,852
Referee: Frazer Stretton
2 November 2002 17 Port Vale 0–0 Queens Park Rangers Burslem
Report Stadium: Vale Park
Attendance: 4,394
Referee: Alan Butler
9 November 2002 18 Luton Town 0–0 Port Vale Luton
Report Stadium: Kenilworth Road
Attendance: 6,112
Referee: Paul Robinson
23 November 2002 19 Northampton Town 3–0 Port Vale Northampton
Gabbiadini 38', 56'
Forrester 89'		 Report Stadium: Sixfields Stadium
Attendance: 4,357
Referee: George Cain
30 November 2002 20 Port Vale 4–2 Mansfield Town Burslem
Cummins 30', 33'
Armstrong 50'
Paynter 66'		 Report Corden 1'
Christie 67'		 Stadium: Vale Park
Attendance: 3,880
Referee: Tony Leake
14 December 2002 21 Wycombe Wanderers 3–1 Port Vale High Wycombe
Thomson 40'
Devine 75' (pen.), 90'		 Report Armstrong 49' Stadium: Adams Park
Attendance: 5,229
Referee: Joe Ross
21 December 2002 22 Port Vale 1–2 Plymouth Argyle Burslem
Brooker 26' Report Evans 2'
Keith 40'		 Stadium: Vale Park
Attendance: 4,892
Referee: Phil Prosser
26 December 2002 23 Port Vale 0–1 Wigan Athletic Burslem
Report de Vos 69' Stadium: Vale Park
Attendance: 6,395
Referee: Phil Joslin
28 December 2002 24 Barnsley 2–1 Port Vale Barnsley
Fallon 12'
Gibbs 79' (pen.)		 Report Bridge-Wilkinson 43' Stadium: Oakwell
Attendance: 9,291
Referee: George Cain
1 January 2003 25 Stockport County 1–1 Port Vale Stockport
Burgess 31' (pen.) Report Brooker 71' Stadium: Edgeley Park
Attendance: 4,390
Referee: Colin Webster
18 January 2003 26 Peterborough United 1–2 Port Vale Peterborough
Clarke 82' Report Brooker 73'
Bridge-Wilkinson 90'		 Stadium: London Road Stadium
Attendance: 4,770
Referee: Keith Hill
25 January 2003 27 Port Vale 0–0 Barnsley Burslem
Report Stadium: Vale Park
Attendance: 4,033
Referee: Mark Warren
1 February 2003 28 Tranmere Rovers 1–0 Port Vale Prenton
McClare 31' (og.) Report Stadium: Prenton Park
Attendance: 7,461
Referee: Paul Robinson
8 February 2003 29 Port Vale 1–2 Luton Town Burslem
Boyd 87' Report Thorpe 49'
Nicholls 76' (pen.)		 Stadium: Vale Park
Attendance: 4,714
Referee: Lee Mason
11 February 2003 30 Port Vale 5–2 Chesterfield Burslem
McPhee 2'
Boyd 10', 66'
Armstrong 14'
Brooker 18'		 Report Edwards 34'
Ebdon 45'		 Stadium: Vale Park
Attendance: 3,039
Referee: Carl Boyeson
15 February 2003 31 Queens Park Rangers 4–0 Port Vale Shepherd's Bush, West London
Shittu 52'
Furlong 61'
Padula 79'
Gallen 89'		 Report Stadium: Loftus Road
Attendance: 13,703
Referee: Steve Tomlin
22 February 2003 32 Port Vale 1–1 Swindon Town Burslem
Armstrong 46' Report Parkin 54' Stadium: Vale Park
Attendance: 4,085
Referee: Roy Pearson
25 February 2003 33 Port Vale 0–2 Cardiff City Burslem
Report Gordon 35'
Thorne 64'		 Stadium: Vale Park
Attendance: 3,831
Referee: Paul Taylor
1 March 2003 34 Colchester United 4–1 Port Vale Colchester
Williams 7', 36', 72'
Keith 		Report Bridge-Wilkinson Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 3,581
Referee: Scott Mathieson
4 March 2003 35 Notts County 1–0 Port Vale Nottingham
Stallard 59' Report Stadium: Meadow Lane
Attendance: 6,302
Referee: Colin Webster
8 March 2003 36 Port Vale 1–0 Blackpool Burslem
Bridge-Wilkinson 49' (pen.) Report Stadium: Vale Park
Attendance: 4,394
Referee: Andy Penn
15 March 2003 37 Crewe Alexandra 1–1 Port Vale Crewe
Sorvel 54' Report Brisco 73' Stadium: Gresty Road
Attendance: 8,146
Referee: Eddie Ilderton
18 March 2003 38 Port Vale 1–0 Brentford Burslem
Collins 36' Report Stadium: Vale Park
Attendance: 3,241
Referee: Graham Salisbury
22 March 2003 39 Port Vale 1–2 Cheltenham Town Burslem
McPhee 74' Report McCann 43'
Alsop 81'		 Stadium: Vale Park
Attendance: 4,800
Referee: Tony Leake
29 March 2003 40 Oldham Athletic 1–1 Port Vale Oldham
Eyres 28' Report Cummins 36' Stadium: Boundary Park
Attendance: 7,209
Referee: Paul Rejer
5 April 2003 41 Mansfield Town 0–1 Port Vale Mansfield
Report Durnin 45' Stadium: Field Mill
Attendance: 4,538
Referee: Paul Danson
12 April 2003 42 Port Vale 3–2 Northampton Town Burslem
Walsh 11'
Clarke 90'
Littlejohn 90'		 Report Gabbiadini 62'
Dudfield 89'		 Stadium: Vale Park
Attendance: 4,209
Referee: Trevor Parkes
19 April 2003 43 Plymouth Argyle 3–0 Port Vale Plymouth
Coughlan 56'
Norris 67'
Wotton 77'		 Report Stadium: Home Park
Attendance: 12,587
Referee: Mark Warren
21 April 2003 44 Port Vale 1–1 Wycombe Wanderers Burslem
Littlejohn 5' Report Harris 57' Stadium: Vale Park
Attendance: 3,590
Referee: Howard Webb
26 April 2003 45 Port Vale 5–1 Huddersfield Town Burslem
Armstrong 18', 59'
Littlejohn 31'
Collins 82'
Charnock 87'		 Report Gavin 45' Stadium: Vale Park
Attendance: 5,925
Referee: Phil Joslin
3 May 2003 46 Bristol City 2–0 Port Vale Ashton Gate, Bristol
Murray 31'
Peacock 43'		 Report Stadium: Ashton Gate
Attendance: 12,410
Referee: Mike Riley

FA Cup

Main article: 2002–03 FA Cup
16 November 2002 R1 Port Vale 0–1 Crewe Alexandra Burslem
Report Ashton 85' Stadium: Vale Park
Attendance: 5,507
Referee: Frazer Stretton

League Cup

Main article: 2002–03 Football League Cup
10 September 2002 R1 Port Vale 0–2 Crewe Alexandra Burslem
Report Jack 17', 20' Stadium: Vale Park
Attendance: 3,765
Referee: Graham Laws

Football League Trophy

Main article: 2002–03 Football League Trophy
22 October 2002 R1 Port Vale 3–1 Hull City Burslem
19:45 BST Angell 9', 34'
Carragher 79'		 Report Donaldson 72' Stadium: Vale Park
Attendance: 2,621
Referee: Howard Webb
12 November 2002 R2 Port Vale 1–1 (a.e.t.)
(4–3 p)		 Chesterfield Burslem
Armstrong 29' Report Brandon 8' Stadium: Vale Park
Attendance: 2,222
Referee: Mike Jones
Penalties
Collins soccer ball with check mark
Carragher soccer ball with check mark
Goodlad soccer ball with check mark
McPhee soccer ball with check mark
Durnin soccer ball with red X
Brooker soccer ball with red X
Boyd soccer ball with red X		 Howard soccer ball with check mark
Brandon soccer ball with check mark
Smith soccer ball with check mark
Payne soccer ball with red X
Dawson soccer ball with red X
O'Hare soccer ball with red X
Davies soccer ball with red X
Note: Penalty taker ordered is not sequenced.
10 December 2002 Northern Section Quarter-final Shrewsbury Town 2g–1 (a.e.t.) Port Vale Shrewsbury
Rodgers
Lowe 		Report Boyd 61' Stadium: Gay Meadow
Attendance: 2,597
Referee: Mark Cowburn

Player statistics

Appearances and goals

Key to positions: GK – Goalkeeper; DF – Defender; MF – Midfielder; FW – Forward
No. Pos Nat Player Total Second Division FA Cup League Cup Football League Trophy
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
1 GK England ENG Mark Goodlad 42 0 37 0 1 0 1 0 3 0
2 DF England ENG Matt Carragher 40 1 35 0 1 0 1 0 3 1
3 DF England ENG Rae Ingram 4 0 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
4 MF England ENG Sean McClare 20 0 17 0 1 0 0 0 2 0
5 DF England ENG Michael Walsh 18 1 17 1 0 0 1 0 0 0
6 DF England ENG Sam Collins 49 5 44 5 1 0 1 0 3 0
7 MF England ENG Neil Brisco 24 1 24 1 0 0 0 0 0 0
8 MF Republic of Ireland IRL Micky Cummins 35 4 30 4 1 0 1 0 3 0
9 FW England ENG Steve Brooker 30 5 26 5 1 0 1 0 2 0
10 FW Scotland SCO Stephen McPhee 45 3 40 3 1 0 1 0 3 0
11 MF England ENG Marc Bridge-Wilkinson 33 9 31 9 0 0 1 0 1 0
12 GK England ENG Dean Delany 10 0 10 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
13 MF England ENG Levi Reid 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
14 MF England ENG Mark Boyd 24 4 20 3 1 0 1 0 2 1
15 MF England ENG Ian Armstrong 34 8 29 7 1 0 1 0 3 1
16 DF Wales WAL Steve Rowland 27 0 25 0 0 0 0 0 2 0
17 DF South Africa RSA Paul Byrne 9 0 9 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
18 FW England ENG Billy Paynter 34 5 31 5 1 0 0 0 2 0
19 MF England ENG Phil Charnock 22 1 18 1 1 0 0 0 3 0
20 MF England ENG John Durnin 31 1 28 1 1 0 0 0 2 0
21 DF Northern Ireland NIR Liam Burns 19 0 16 0 1 0 0 0 2 0
22 DF England ENG Ryan Brown 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
23 DF England ENG Ian Brightwell 38 0 35 0 1 0 1 0 1 0
25 MF Trinidad and Tobago TRI Chris Birchall 2 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
26 FW England ENG Simon Eldershaw 2 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
27 MF England ENG Adrian Littlejohn 13 3 13 3 0 0 0 0 0 0
Players who featured but departed the club during the season:
22 FW England ENG Brett Angell 17 7 15 5 0 0 1 0 1 2
24 MF Northern Ireland NIR Jon McCarthy 9 0 8 0 0 0 1 0 0 0
24 FW England ENG Lee Ashcroft 4 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
24 DF England ENG Peter Clarke 13 1 13 1 0 0 0 0 0 0

Top scorers

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

References

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. ^ Baggaley, Mike (2 March 2025). "Below par Vale stay unbeaten". Valiant's Substack. Retrieved 2 March 2025.
  15. ^ "Horton refuses to back down". BBC Sport. 13 April 2003. Retrieved 19 January 2011.
  16. ^ Baggaley, Mike (12 April 2024). "Vale injury news and talking points ahead of Exeter". Valiant's Substack. Retrieved 13 April 2024.
  17. ^ "Carragher exits Vale". BBC Sport. 9 May 2003. Retrieved 19 January 2011.
  18. ^ "Vale takeover moves closer". BBC Sport. 25 September 2002. Retrieved 19 January 2011.
  19. ^ "Police ask Vale for cash upfront". BBC News. 11 June 2003. Retrieved 19 January 2011.
  20. ^ "Vale fans group to bid". BBC Sport. 12 December 2002. Retrieved 19 January 2011.
  21. ^ "Bell to sell Vale shares". BBC Sport. 25 November 2002. Retrieved 19 January 2011.
  22. ^ "Vale go into administration". BBC Sport. 16 December 2002. Retrieved 19 January 2011.
  23. ^ "Vale near administration". BBC Sport. 5 December 2002. Retrieved 19 January 2011.
  24. ^ "Vale axe Grew". BBC Sport. 18 December 2002. Retrieved 19 January 2011.
  25. ^ "Vale in Robbie plea". BBC News. 19 December 2002. Retrieved 19 January 2011.
  26. ^ "Robbie says 'no' to Port Vale". BBC News. 22 January 2003. Retrieved 19 January 2011.
  27. ^ "Vale deny Potters merger". BBC Sport. 31 January 2003. Retrieved 19 January 2011.
  28. ^ "Vale Park fears rise". BBC Sport. 5 February 2003. Retrieved 19 January 2011.
  29. ^ "Vale bids flood in". BBC Sport. 6 January 2003. Retrieved 19 January 2011.
  30. ^ "Fans' group win control of Vale". BBC News. 19 February 2003. Retrieved 19 January 2011.
  31. ^ "Jackson wins control". clubsincrisis.com. Archived from the original on 26 April 2012. Retrieved 4 December 2011.
  32. ^ "Fans bid for Port Vale accepted". BBC Sport. 13 March 2003. Retrieved 19 January 2011.
  33. ^ "Vale fans to take control". BBC Sport. 7 April 2003. Retrieved 19 January 2011.
  34. ^ "Vale fans table new offer". BBC Sport. 20 November 2002. Retrieved 19 January 2011.
  35. ^ "Port Vale: Vale owed 200 creditors £2.4m the last time the administrator came calling". The Sentinel. 2 March 2012. Retrieved 2 March 2012.
  36. ^ "Vale ink sponsorship deal". BBC Sport. 29 May 2003. Retrieved 19 January 2011.
  37. ^ "Porter wins Vale role". BBC Sport. 13 June 2003. Retrieved 19 January 2011.
  38. ^ "Vale embargo lifted". BBC Sport. 18 July 2003. Retrieved 19 January 2011.
  39. ^ "Port Vale 0-1 Crewe". BBC Sport. 16 November 2002. Retrieved 19 January 2011.
  40. ^ "Port Vale 0-2 Crewe". BBC Sport. 10 September 2002. Retrieved 19 January 2011.
  41. ^ "Port Vale 1-1 Chesterfield (4-3 pens)". BBC Sport. 12 November 2002. Retrieved 19 January 2011.
  42. ^ "League Division 2 end of season table for 2002-03 season". 11v11.com. Retrieved 22 June 2025.
  43. ^ Port Vale 2002–2003 : Results & Fixtures. Statto Organisation. Retrieved 28 April 2012.
  44. ^ 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
allikas: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2002%E2%80%9303_Port_Vale_F.C._season