John Rudge found new stars by bringing both Ian Taylor and Paul Musselwhite to the club at a combined fee of just £40,000.

Beating De Graafschap 5–0, van der Laan scoring a brace, they then lost 4–3 to the Go Ahead Eagles on penalties, following a goalless draw.

John Rudge uncovered another 'gem' by signing midfielder Ian Taylor from non-League side Moor Green for a fee of just £15,000.

On 5 September, Trevor Wood conceded a penalty at Vetch Field in an 'off the ball' incident with a Swansea player and was subsequently dropped in favour of Musselwhite, who remained an ever-present in the Vale side for the rest of the season.

The first encounter with Stoke came in the league at the Victoria Ground on 24 October, when Mark Stein converted a controversial penalty he had won following a foul by Musselwhite to give the home side a 2–1 win.

[3] Mark Stein described an "electric" atmosphere, saying the hissing sound from the ground "was like something I had never known, I'd had derbies before for Luton against Watford, but Stoke–Vale was something different".

Facing the foes of their Football League Trophy final success, Stockport County, in the semi-finals, Vale drew 1–1 at Edgeley Park thanks to a Dean Glover goal.

They tasted defeat at Wembley for the first time as a crowd of 53,471 witnessed three subsequent West Brom goals, scored by Andy Hunt, Nicky Reid, and Kevin Donovan.

A 3–1 victory followed, with a Foyle brace and a third from Andy Porter; the game was best remembered for a patch of mud however, which stopped a certain goal from Dave Regis which would have levelled the score at 2–2.

Drawn against First Division Newcastle United at St James' Park in the Third Round, Vale were brushed aside 4–0 by the "Magpies".

In the Football League Trophy, Vale overcame Fulham with a 4–3 victory, despite going behind in extra time, Glover bagging a brace.

[11] They advanced past Exeter City with a 2–1 home win and a 1–1 draw at St James Park, with Slaven scoring the crucial third goal of the aggregate tie with 13 minutes left to play.