2023–24 Port Vale F.C. season

Port Vale's first signing of the summer was versatile midfielder Tom Sang, who would join on a free transfer from Cardiff City on 1 July, two days after his 24th birthday.[1] A change in the goalkeeping department was then announced, as 30 year-old Connor Ripley joined from Morecambe, whilst Aidan Stone was permitted to leave for League Two side Notts County on a free transfer.[2][3] Alex Iacovitti, a Scottish 25 year-old defender from Ross County, 28 year-old Plymouth Argyle midfielder Conor Grant, and 34 year-old former Canada international goalkeeper Jayson Leutwiler all arrived before the official start of the season on 1 July.[4][5][6] On 2 July, 24 year-old right-back Mitch Clark signed with the club for a record fourth spell following "lengthy negotiations".[7] Ethan Chislett, a 24-year-old South African midfielder from AFC Wimbledon, and 31 year-old Salford City midfielder Jason Lowe were announced the following day.[8][9] The first loanee to arrive was 22 year-old Crystal Palace defender Kofi Balmer, who had played for manager Andy Crosby in the Northern Ireland under-21 team.[10] A second loanee soon followed in 19 year-old central midfielder Oliver Arblaster from Sheffield United.[11] Crosby appointed a new club captain in 27 year-old stalwart Nathan Smith, with Funso Ojo as vice-captain.[12] In desperate need of a striker, Crosby signed 20 year-old Josh Thomas on a season-long loan from Swansea City, who was yet to make his professional debut but had impressed during pre-season friendlies with his parent club.[13] Two days before the season opener, defender Mal Benning joined Shrewsbury Town on a free transfer.[14] The following day, striker James Wilson, who had left the Vale on 14 May, returned to sign a six-month contract.[15]

Vale opened the season with a 7–0 defeat at Barnsley, with only four new signings in the first XI; Vale started well and were unfortunate to go into half-time two goals down, before a second half collapse allowed Devante Cole to score a hat-trick as Barnsley finished with seven goals.[16] It was the biggest opening day defeat for any team in the EFL since the 1962–63 season over 60 years ago.[17] They recovered to record a 1–0 win over Reading at Vale Park the following week, where Ripley saved a penalty kick from Andy Carroll in the first half, before Ben Garrity scored the game's only goal with a deflected strike on 72 minutes.[18] The team then claimed their first away point with a 0–0 draw at Blackpool, who like Reading had been relegated from the Championship the previous season.[19] Vale picked up their first away victory of the season by beating Charlton Athletic 3–2, coming from a goal down from a dubious penalty after goals from Wilson and Chislett in two second half minutes turned the game around, with Thomas providing Ojo with an assist for a late winner.[20] Recruitment continued with the arrival of Alfie Devine on a season-long from Tottenham Hotspur, who director of football David Flitcroft described as "one of our country's brightest young talents".[21] Devine was on the bench for the home tie with Carlisle United and by the time he made it onto the pitch Wilson had already scored the only goal of the game from the penalty spot.[22] As the transfer window drew to a close, Vale sold Ellis Harrison to Milton Keynes Dons and signed Ryan Loft from Bristol Rovers as his replacement.[23][24]

Vale beat Oxford United 2–1 in eventful fashion on 2 September. Iacovitti headed the ball home on the end of a Devine free kick to open the scoring, and in addition to assisting the opening goal, the Spurs loanee converted from the penalty spot to earn all three points for Vale in the ninth minute of stoppage time. The home side had both Mark Harris and their goalscorer Greg Leigh sent off for violent conduct and a second bookable offence respectively.[25] Garrity came off the bench to score the only goal of the game in a dominant performance against newly promoted Northampton Town to take Vale into second-place on 16 September.[26] Two days later, 22 year-old defender Jesse Debrah was signed to a two-year contract having left FC Halifax Town in the summer.[27] The re-arranged game at home to struggling Burton Albion allowed Vale the opportunity to go top of the table, though the visitors came away with a 3–2 win despite Vale dominating in both possession and shots on goal throughout. Garrity had given Vale parity at half-time after Beryly Lubala opened the scoring, but two Burton goals shortly after the break took the game away from Vale as a first senior goal from Arblaster in the dying minutes was not enough to salvage a draw.[28] Garrity went on to give the Vale a 1–0 lead at Cambridge United, though the home side came back to draw 1–1, with Ripley saving a late penalty.[29] A 1–0 defeat at home to Bolton Wanderers followed, with Dion Charles scoring the only goal of the game on a wet Saturday afternoon.[30]

On 3 October, Vale fell to a 3–0 defeat at Bristol Rovers after Debrah was sent off 38 minutes into his first league start following a second yellow card.[31] With the club looking short on attacking options, former loanee Uche Ikpeazu was signed on a short-term deal after returning to England from a spell in Turkey with Konyaspor.[32] However the team's poor form continued with a 2–0 defeat at league leaders Portsmouth, Colby Bishop scoring both of Pompey's goals; Crosby elected to play without any strikers, preferring Garrity to play up front.[33][34] The team recovered during the international break, though Alex Iacovitti, Conor Grant and James Wilson were all confirmed to be long-term absences as all three players had sustained calf injuries.[35] The team returned to action with a 0–0 draw at Stevenage, with Ikpeazu making his first appearance for the Vale in almost eight years.[36] A first half header from Ephron Mason-Clark gave visitors Peterborough United a 1–0 win, which extended the Vale's run of failing to score to five league games.[37]

Vale had a home tie with Burton Albion (League One) in the first round of the FA Cup.

Vale recovered from the heavy opening day league defeat to Barnsley by beating Fleetwood Town (League One) 3–2 in the first round of the EFL Cup; Chislett scored a brace and Thomas scored his first senior goal as Vale twice came from a goal down.[38] Nearby Crewe Alexandra (League Two) were the visitors to Vale Park in the second round, and after neither side could score a goal in ninety minutes, Vale went through 2–0 on penalties after Crewe missed all four of their kicks.[39] They advanced past Sutton United (League Two) thanks to goals from Thomas and Ojo, securing a place in the fourth round of the competition for the first time since 2006–07.[40]

The Group stage draw for the EFL Trophy saw Vale matched with Crewe Alexandra (League Two), Wrexham (League Two) and Newcastle United U21.[41] They recorded a 1–0 home win over Crewe in Vale's opening fixture of the competition thanks to a first-half strike from Garrity, in a game that also saw first senior appearances for academy prospects Baylee Dipepa and Liam Brazier.[42] Debrah's first goal for the club seemed to have given Vale another 1–0 home win in the competition until Newcastle United U21 equalised in the 89th-minute, though Vale went on to win the penalty shoot-out 3–2 to secure qualification into the next round with a game to spare.[43]

On 17 May, Port Vale announced their first pre-season friendly, against Kidsgrove Athletic.[44] In June, the club announced a second pre-season fixture, against Newcastle Town.[45] Four days later, a third friendly was added, against Doncaster Rovers.[46] A fourth friendly was confirmed, against Grimsby Town in Alicante.[47]

  Win   Draw   Loss   Fixtures

Burnley v Port Vale

11 July 2023 Friendly	Burnley	3–1	Port Vale	Gawthorpe Hall
14:00 BST	Brownhill Westley	Report	Harrison 21'	Stadium: Gawthorpe Training Ground Attendance: 0 (Behind closed doors)

Kidsgrove Athletic v Port Vale

15 July 2023 Friendly	Kidsgrove Athletic	0–2	Port Vale	Kidsgrove
13:30 BST		Report	Plant 37' Sang 60'	Stadium: Hollinwood Road

Port Vale v Grimsby Town

21 July 2023 Friendly	Port Vale	1–11	Grimsby Town	Alicante
10:00 CEST	Garrity	Report	Wilson	Stadium: Real Club de Golf Campoamor Resort Attendance: 60 (Port Vale supporters)

Doncaster Rovers v Port Vale

29 July 2023 Friendly	Doncaster Rovers	1–0	Port Vale	Doncaster
15:00 BST	Broadbent 69'	Report		Stadium: Eco-Power Stadium Attendance: 1,730

• ^ Game incorporated four-thirty minute quarters as opposed to using the traditional clock.

  Win   Draw   Loss   Fixtures

Barnsley v Port Vale

5 August 2023 1	Barnsley	7–0	Port Vale	Barnsley
15:00 BST	Cole 23', 47', 53' Jones 45' (og.) Kitching 60' Russell 64' Dallas 90+6'	Report		Stadium: Oakwell Attendance: 13,796 Referee: David Rock

Port Vale v Reading

12 August 2023 2	Port Vale	1–0	Reading	Burslem
15:00 BST	Garrity 72'	Report		Stadium: Vale Park Attendance: 8,789 Referee: Peter Wright

Charlton Athletic v Port Vale

19 August 2023 4	Charlton Athletic	2–3	Port Vale	Charlton, London
15:00 BST	May 10' (pen.) Kanu 71'	Report	Wilson 55' Chislett 56' Ojo 87'	Stadium: The Valley Attendance: 11,912 Referee: Sunny Sukhvir Gill

Port Vale v Carlisle United

26 August 2023 5	Port Vale	1–0	Carlisle United	Burslem
15:00 BST	Wilson 50' (pen.)	Report		Stadium: Vale Park Attendance: 6,997 Referee: Tom Reeves

Oxford United v Port Vale

2 September 2023 6	Oxford United	1–2	Port Vale	Oxford
15:00 BST	Leigh 90+3'	Report	Iacovitti 74' Devine 90+9' (pen.)	Stadium: Kassam Stadium Attendance: 8,835 Referee: Sam Purkiss

Port Vale v Northampton Town

16 September 2023 8	Port Vale	1–0	Northampton Town	Burslem
15:00 BST	Garrity 84'	Report		Stadium: Vale Park Attendance: 7,532 Referee: Scott Oldham

Port Vale v Burton Albion

19 September 2023 7[49]	Port Vale	2–3	Burton Albion	Burslem
19:45 BST	Garrity 40' Arblaster 86'		Lubala 11' Seddon 51' Baah 61'	Stadium: Vale Park Attendance: 5,993 Referee: Ben Toner
Note: Fixture was previously postponed due to international call-ups.[50]

Cambridge United v Port Vale

23 September 2023 9	Cambridge United	1–1	Port Vale	Cambridge
15:00 BST	Okenabirhie 66'	Report	Garrity 20'	Stadium: Abbey Stadium Attendance: 6,905 Referee: Christopher Pollard

Port Vale v Bolton Wanderers

30 September 2023 10	Port Vale	0–1	Bolton Wanderers	Burslem
15:00 BST		Report	Charles 43'	Stadium: Vale Park Attendance: 10,457 Referee: Declan Bourne

Bristol Rovers v Port Vale

3 October 2023 11	Bristol Rovers	3–0	Port Vale	Bristol
19:45 BST	McCormick 25' Hunt 45+2' Brown 85'	Report		Stadium: Memorial Stadium Attendance: 7,364 Referee: Ben Speedie

Portsmouth v Port Vale

7 October 2023 12	Portsmouth	2–0	Port Vale	Portsmouth
15:00 BST	Bishop 53', 58' (pen.)	Report		Stadium: Fratton Park Attendance: 17,847 Referee: Robert Madley

Port Vale v Peterborough United

24 October 2023 15	Port Vale	0–1	Peterborough United	Burslem
19:45 BST		Report	Mason-Clark 14'	Stadium: Vale Park Attendance: 5,299 Referee: Marc Edwards

  Win   Draw   Loss   Fixtures

  Win   Draw   Loss   Fixtures

Port Vale v Fleetwood Town

8 August 2023 First round	Port Vale	3–2	Fleetwood Town	Burslem
19:45 BST	Chislett 18', 72' Thomas 58'	Report	Hayes 5' Graydon 47'	Stadium: Vale Park Attendance: 2,743 Referee: Edward Duckworth

Port Vale v Crewe Alexandra

29 August 2023 Second round	Port Vale	0–0 (2–0 p)	Crewe Alexandra	Burslem
19:45 BST		Report		Stadium: Vale Park Attendance: 6,375 Referee: Seb Stockbridge
	Penalties
	Wilson Arblaster Sang		Nevitt Long Adebisi Tabiner

Port Vale v Sutton United

26 September 2023 Third round	Port Vale	2–1	Sutton United	Burslem
19:45 BST	Thomas 49' Ojo 83'	Report	Coley 70'	Stadium: Vale Park Attendance: 4,113 Referee: Will Finnie

  Win   Draw   Loss   Fixtures

Port Vale v Crewe Alexandra

5 September 2023 Group stage	Port Vale	1–0	Crewe Alexandra	Burslem
19:45 BST	Garrity 18'	Report		Stadium: Vale Park Attendance: 2,846 Referee: Steven Copeland

Port Vale v Newcastle United U21

10 October 2023 Group stage	Port Vale	1–1 (3–2 p)	Newcastle United U21	Burslem
19:45 BST	Debrah 17'	Report	Stanton 90'	Stadium: Vale Park Attendance: 1,197 Referee: Jacob Miles
	Penalties
	Garrity Lowe Shorrock Walters Clark		Diallo Stanton Crossley Huntley Ndiweni