1992–93 Port Vale F.C. season
| 1992–93 season | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Chairman | Bill Bell | ||
| Manager | John Rudge | ||
| Stadium | Vale Park | ||
| Football League Second Division | 3rd (89 Points) play-off runners-up (knocked out by West Bromwich Albion) | ||
| FA Cup | Third Round (knocked out by Newcastle United) | ||
| League Cup | First Round (knocked out by Bolton Wanderers) | ||
| Football League Trophy | Winners | ||
| TNT Tournament | Winners | ||
| Player of the Year | Ian Taylor | ||
| Top goalscorer | League: Ian Taylor (15) All: Ian Taylor (19) | ||
| Highest home attendance | 20,373 vs. Stoke City, 31 March 1993 | ||
| Lowest home attendance | 3,851 vs. Fulham, 12 January 1993 | ||
| Average home league attendance | 8,092 | ||
| Biggest win | 4–0 (twice) | ||
| Biggest defeat | 0–4 vs. Newcastle United, 2 January 1993 | ||
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The 1992–93 season was Port Vale's 81st season of football in the English Football League, and fourth successive (36th overall) season in the Second Division. Under manager John Rudge and chairman Bill Bell, the club introduced key signings Ian Taylor and Paul Musselwhite for a combined fee of just £40,000, both of whom would prove pivotal. Vale won the pre‑season TNT Tournament and triumphed in the Football League Trophy, defeating Stockport County 2–1 in the final at Wembley. In the league, Vale secured third place with 89 points, narrowly missing out on automatic promotion to uphill rivals Stoke City and Bolton Wanderers, and subsequently lost the play‑off final 3–0 to West Bromwich Albion.
Cup runs outside the Football League Trophy were modest — they exited the FA Cup in the Third Round and the League Cup in the First Round. Vale played five fiercely contested Potteries derby fixtures — winning the Football League Trophy and the FA Cup ties (after a replay), though losing both league encounters.
Ian Taylor was the club's Player of the Year and leading goalscorer, netting 15 in the league and 19 across all competitions. The highest attendance at Vale Park was 20,373 for the match against Stoke City on 31 March 1993, while the lowest was 3,851 against Fulham on 12 January 1993; the average league attendance was 8,092. Vale recorded two biggest wins of 4–0, and endured their heaviest defeat of 4–0 to Newcastle United on 2 January 1993.
Vale's season was positively marked by a trophy win and encouraging individual performances from Taylor and Musselwhite but they failed to achieve promotion at Wembley.