2013–14 Port Vale F.C. season
| 2013–14 season | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chairman | Norman Smurthwaite | |||
| Manager | Micky Adams | |||
| Stadium | Vale Park | |||
| Football League One | 9th (61 points) | |||
| FA Cup | Fourth Round (knocked out by Brighton & Hove Albion) | |||
| League Cup | First Round (knocked out by Walsall) | |||
| Football League Trophy | Second Round (knocked out by Rochdale) | |||
| Player of the Year | Tom Pope | |||
| Top goalscorer | League: Tom Pope (12) All: Tom Pope (16) | |||
| Highest home attendance | 12,601 vs. Wolverhampton Wanderers, 31 August 2013 | |||
| Lowest home attendance | 2,351 vs. Bury, 3 September 2013 | |||
| Average home league attendance | 6,249 | |||
| Biggest win | 4–0 vs. Shortwood United, 11 November 2013 | |||
| Biggest defeat | 0–5 vs. Bristol City, 25 March 2014 | |||
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The 2013–14 season was Port Vale's 102nd season of football in the English Football League, and first season back in League One, following their promotion from League Two. Avoiding relegation was the aim set in pre-season, as the club had one of the lowest six budgets in the division.
The club enjoyed kind draws and a good run in the FA Cup, reaching the fourth round, where they were knocked out by Brighton & Hove Albion. They exited the League Cup in the first round, with Walsall the victors. They reached the second round of the Football League Trophy, losing out to Rochdale. The club overstretched itself financially, meaning that as they lay outside the play-offs in January manager Micky Adams could only sign largely untried youngsters on loan whilst releasing higher paid players either on free transfers or on loan. Their promotion push fell away, but they ended the season in ninth place – far exceeding their original aim.
Despite steady progress on the pitch, avoidable issues off the pitch continued to plague the club. Micky Adams was not offered a new contract until right at the end of the season, meaning that the season ended with the manager and most of the playing staff out of contract. The club also hit the headlines in April after Daniel Jones was sacked for attacking captain Doug Loft during a training ground session.