2021–22 Port Vale F.C. season
The 2021–22 season was Port Vale's 110th season in the English Football League, and fifth consecutive season in EFL League Two. The season covers the period from 1 July 2021 to 30 June 2022. It was manager Darrell Clarke's first full season in charge of the club.
| 2021–22 season | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Owner | Synsol Holdings Limited | |||
| Chair | Carol Shanahan | |||
| Manager | Darrell Clarke (until 15 February) Andy Crosby (acting manager 15 February – 6 May) Darrell Clarke (from 6 May) | |||
| Stadium | Vale Park | |||
| League Two | 5th (78 points) play-off winners | |||
| FA Cup | Third round (knocked out by Brentford) | |||
| EFL Cup | First round (knocked out by Sunderland) | |||
| EFL Trophy | Second round | |||
| Player of the Year | Ben Garrity | |||
| Top goalscorer | League: Ben Garrity, Jamie Proctor (12) All: James Wilson (15) | |||
| Highest home attendance | 11,669 vs. Swindon Town, 19 May 2022 | |||
| Lowest home attendance | 1,727 vs. Rochdale, 5 October 2021 | |||
| Average home league attendance | 6,103 | |||
| Biggest win | 5–0 vs. Liverpool U21, 9 November 2021 | |||
| Biggest defeat | 1–4 vs. Brentford, 8 January 2022 | |||
| ||||
Clarke oversaw a complete overhaul of the playing squad, releasing 15 out-of-contract players and placing a further three contracted players on the transfer-list, whilst making 11 permanent signings and three loan signings. His new side got off to an indifferent start, winning one but losing just one of their opening five league games whilst exiting the EFL Cup in the first round. Three wins and one loss took them into the play-offs by the end of September and earned Clarke a Manager of the Month award. They took 13 out of a possible 18 points in October to establish themselves in second place and win Clarke a second-successive Manager of the Month award. However, injuries to joint top-scorers Jamie Proctor and James Wilson took their toll the following month as Vale dropped to fifth and exited the EFL Trophy at the second round. Victories over League One sides Accrington Stanley and Burton Albion took Vale into the third round of the FA Cup.
Following an enforced five-week break from the league, Vale's promotion push faltered with only four points gained from four January fixtures, whilst they were beaten by Premier League side Brentford in the FA Cup third round. The recruitment team were extremely busy, however, as eight players were signed and nine departed (including three loans cancelled early) to combat an ever-worsening injury crisis. Despite Clarke entering a period of bereavement leave, with assistant manager Andy Crosby left in charge of first-team affairs, the team ended February on an eight-match unbeaten run – though five of these games ended in draws. After a poor start to March with one point gained from two games, Vale went on to gain 28 points from a possible 30 to leave themselves in third place in mid-April. Three straight defeats saw them drop into the play-offs and Darrell Clarke returned to take charge for the final league game of the season. They defeated Swindon Town in the play-off semi-finals through a penalty shoot-out in dramatic circumstances. Promotion was secured at Wembley Stadium with a 3–0 victory over Mansfield Town in the final.