2023–24 Port Vale F.C. season
| 2023–24 season | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Owner | Synsol Holdings Limited | |||
| Chair | Carol Shanahan | |||
| Manager | Andy Crosby (until 5 February) Will Ryder, Matt Done & Danny Lloyd (joint-interim managers 6 – 13 February) Darren Moore (from 13 February) | |||
| Stadium | Vale Park | |||
| League One | 23rd (41 points) | |||
| FA Cup | Second round (knocked out by Stevenage) | |||
| EFL Cup | Quarter-final (knocked out by Middlesbrough) | |||
| EFL Trophy | Second round (knocked out by Bolton Wanderers) | |||
| Player of the Year | Ben Garrity | |||
| Top goalscorer | League: Ethan Chislett, Ben Garrity (9) All: Ben Garrity (12) | |||
| Highest home attendance | 12,006 vs. Middlesbrough, 19 December 2023 | |||
| Lowest home attendance | 1,197 vs. Newcastle United U21, 10 October 2023 | |||
| Average home league attendance | 6,600 | |||
| Biggest win | 3–0 vs. Blackpool, 29 December 2023 | |||
| Biggest defeat | 0–7 vs. Barnsley, 5 August 2023 | |||
|
| ||||
The 2023–24 season was Port Vale's 112th season of football in the English Football League (EFL) and their second consecutive season in League One. The season covers the period from 1 July 2023 to 30 June 2024.
Nine permanent and four loan signings were made to replace the eleven players sold or released in the summer transfer window. Only four new arrivals started on the opening day 7–0 defeat at Barnsley, the biggest opening day defeat for any team in the EFL in 60 years. The team recovered confidence immediately, winning ten of the remaining twelve points in August and progressing into the third round of the EFL Cup. The winning run extended to four games in the league, and although Vale progressed into the fourth round of the EFL Cup, they missed the opportunity to go top of the table in mid-September. Injuries then took their toll as Vale took only one point from five league games in October, though they continued their progress in the EFL Cup, beating Mansfield Town to reach the quarter-final stage for the first time in the club's history. However, the club's winless run in the league continued into eleven games. They exited all three cup competitions in December, though they picked up ten from a possible 15 points in the league.
Match abandonment and postponements meant only three games were played in January as the club slipped to just one place above the relegation zone. Loan players were recalled in the transfer window, including key players Ollie Arblaster and Alfie Devine, whilst four new loanees arrived to take their place. Manager Andy Crosby was sacked on 5 February. He was succeeded by Darren Moore, though the poor form continued as two points were gained from seven games in February. Just two points were earned from Moore's first seven games in charge, though the departure of director of football David Flitcroft coincided with back-to-back wins at the end of March to give Vale hope of avoiding relegation. However, just two points were gained from seven matches in April, and Vale were relegated with 41 points.