Ireland international Eamonn O'Keefe was top-scorer and Player of the Year, and young Mark Bright showed his potential, though left at the end of the season.

[1] He also brought in three players on free transfers: Tommy Gore (Bury), Gary Pollard (Chesterfield), and Chris Pearce (Rochdale).

[1] The season began with McGrath's new attacking tactics failing miserably, despite a 2–0 win over Bristol Rovers in the fourth game of the programme.

[1] Chairman Jim Lloyd then blocked McGrath's attempt to sign defender Ken Fogarty, showing how little confidence the board had in their manager.

[1] John Rudge was appointed caretaker manager, and made his first signing by taking midfielder Kevin Young on loan from Burnley.

[1] On 19 March, Vale defeated fellow strugglers Southend United 2–1 at Roots Hall, their first away game of the league campaign, it took them out of the relegation zone.

[1] Young striker Mark Bright scored five times in the final six games, yet relegation was all but confirmed despite a 1–0 win over promotion-chasing Hull City.

[1] Just 2,299 turned up at Vale Park for a final day 1–0 victory over Millwall, yet a pitch invasion still ensued, with the invaders chanting "We'll be back".

[1] Mick Cullerton, then Vale's commercial manager, later claimed that vast wage disparities in the squad caused discontent and reduced club morale.

[1] Coming up against Ron Atkinson's Manchester United, they were defeated 1–0 at home despite 'a workmanlike performance', and beaten 2–0 at Old Trafford in a 'credible' game.

[1] However, a fifty-strong gang of Manchester thugs caused chaos in Burslem town centre, stabbing a man from Brown Edge.