1986–87 Port Vale F.C. season
| 1986–87 season | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Chairman | Jim Lloyd | ||
| Manager | John Rudge | ||
| Stadium | Vale Park | ||
| Football League Third Division | 12th (57 Points) | ||
| FA Cup | Second Round (knocked out by Walsall) | ||
| League Cup | Second Round (knocked out by Manchester United) | ||
| Associate Members' Cup | Northern Section Quarter-finalists (knocked out by Gillingham) | ||
| Player of the Year | Andy Jones | ||
| Top goalscorer | League: Andy Jones (31) All: Andy Jones (37) | ||
| Highest home attendance | 10,568 vs. Manchester United, 7 October 1986 | ||
| Lowest home attendance | 994 vs. Hereford United, 22 December 1986 | ||
| Average home league attendance | 3,312 | ||
| Biggest win | 6–0 vs. Fulham, 28 March 1987 | ||
| Biggest defeat | 0–5 vs. Walsall, 6 December 1986 | ||
|
| |||
The 1986–87 season was Port Vale's 75th season of football in the English Football League, and first (16th overall) season back in the Third Division following promotion from the Fourth Division. Under the stewardship of manager John Rudge and chairman Jim Lloyd, the club secured a mid-table finish, ending the campaign in 12th place with 57 points.
Andy Jones, Rudge's signing, who also received the Player of the Year accolade, was the club's top scorer, netting 31 goals in the league and 37 in all competitions. Vale's cup runs were modest: they reached the Second Round of both the FA Cup (eliminated by Walsall) and the League Cup, and progressed to the Northern Quarter-final of the Associate Members' Cup, exiting against Gillingham. Vale Park witnessed its record lowest gate for a competitive match when only 994 supporters attended the Associate Members' Cup tie with Hereford United, while the season featured a club record largest away win of 6–0 against Fulham, and the heaviest defeat of 5–0 to Walsall. The season also saw significant squad developments, including the signing of Ray Walker and the debut of Andy Porter.
Stabilising in the third tier, Vale laid the groundwork for a promotion challenge that would materialise two years later.