1988–89 Port Vale F.C. season
| 1988–89 season | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Chairman | Bill Bell | ||
| Manager | John Rudge | ||
| Stadium | Vale Park | ||
| Football League Third Division | 3rd (84 Points) play-off winners | ||
| FA Cup | Third Round (knocked out by Norwich City) | ||
| League Cup | Second Round (knocked out by Ipswich Town) | ||
| Associate Members' Cup | Preliminary Round (knocked out by Wolverhampton Wanderers) | ||
| Player of the Year | Mark Grew | ||
| Top goalscorer | League: Darren Beckford (20) All: Darren Beckford (23) | ||
| Highest home attendance | 17,353 vs. Bristol Rovers, 3 June 1989 | ||
| Lowest home attendance | 1,893 vs. Hereford United, 21 November 1988 | ||
| Average home league attendance | 6,731 | ||
| Biggest win | 5–0 and 6–1 | ||
| Biggest defeat | 1–5 vs. Wolverhampton Wanderers, 13 December 1988 | ||
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The 1988–89 season was Port Vale's 77th season of football in the English Football League, and third-successive (18th overall) season in the Third Division. They achieved promotion to the Second Division with a 2–1 aggregate win over Bristol Rovers in the two-legged play-off final. This came after a long season in which Vale, who suffered an injury crisis in the second half of the season, were just pipped to the second automatic promotion spot by Sheffield United. The club also reached the third round of the FA Cup, the Second Round of the League Cup, and the preliminary round of the Associate Members' Cup. John Rudge's main stars were top-scorer Darren Beckford, strike partner Ron Futcher, defender Simon Mills, midfielders Ray Walker and Robbie Earle, and Player of the Year Mark Grew. Returning star Andy Jones was disappointing in his loan spell, but Andy Porter and Dean Glover both made their débuts in what was Phil Sproson's last season at the club.