Season Review

Port Vale started the 2009/10 season not quite knowing what to expect. The arrival of Micky Adams over the close season had sparked new optimism amongst fans, but a string of defeats to non-league opposition in pre season left a lot of questions.



August

The Valiants kicked off the season with a steady start in the opening few games. Vale fired themselves into the second round of the Carling Cup with a 2-1 win over Sheffield United.
A trip to Macclesfield left a travelling band of 2,200 Vale fans disappointed with a 2-0 defeat.

September
It saw Vale back in cup action with a win over their second Yorkshire side in the form of Sheffield Wednesday. The game saw former England international Francis Jeffers sent off for attempting to head butt Vale skipper Tommy Fraser.
Vale eventually bowed out out the competition away at Scunthorpe, losing 3-1 in extra time.



Vale rounded off the month with a heavy defeat at promotion chasing Notts County. It put Vale on the map and made them the talking point of League Two as Adams was so disappointed with the nature of the defeat he placed evey player on the transfer list.

October
Adams side started the month with another scalp, beating League One opposition in the form of Stockport County in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy.
Local trips to rivals Shrewsbury and Crewe Alexandra meant that Vale fans travelled in great numbers with bragging rights at stake.
Vale took them on both occassions winning 1-0 and 2-1 respectively.



November
Vale fans have been very much the 12th man on various occassions throughout the season and boss Micky Adams paid tribute to their efforts, he said:"I can't believe the reaction we've got for finishing 10th. I dread to think what it would have been liked if we'd done it."
Thanks to free buses put on by shirt sponsors Harlequin. Vale took just under a thousand fans to take on Bradford in the second round of the Johnstone's Paint Trophy on a cold Tuesday night. You would have believed Vale had lost on penalties from the reaction of the crowd.



Vale were handed a potential banana skin when they drew Conference side Stevenage Borough out of the hat for the first round of the FA Cup. A 1-1 draw at Vale Park meant a trip down to Essex for a replay. Once again sponsors Harlequin came up trumps with more free transport meaning a bumper crowd saw Vale run out as winners and those that didn't make it watched it broadcast live on the internet.
Round Two was a home tie to Huddersfield, there was no magic of the FA Cup for the Valiants. While last year's FA Cup come back against the same opponents would go down in black and white history the 3-1 defeat this year certainly wouldn't.

December
Vale were hit with some free weekends in this month thanks to the dismal British weather.
It will certainly be a month to forget for defender John McCombe, who was sent off in the away fixture at Northampton. The game also saw three penalties three penalties handed out.
Vale only played one game over the fextive period with the others falling foul to the weather. The trip to Grimsby was well worth it with Vale winning 2-1. Sean Rigg took the starig role in that game and brought him to the attention of the fans. Boss Micky Adams saw enough to take him on-loan until the end of the season and offered him a one year contract at the end of it.