1996–97 Port Vale F.C. season
| 1996–97 season | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Chairman | Bill Bell | ||
| Manager | John Rudge | ||
| Stadium | Vale Park | ||
| Football League First Division | 8th (67 Points) | ||
| FA Cup | Third Round (knocked out by Blackburn Rovers) | ||
| League Cup | Third Round (knocked out by Oxford United) | ||
| Player of the Year | Lee Mills | ||
| Top goalscorer | League: Tony Naylor (17) All: Tony Naylor (20) | ||
| Highest home attendance | 15,186 vs. Bradford City, 28 January 1997 | ||
| Lowest home attendance | 3,505 vs. Carlisle United, 17 September 1996 | ||
| Average home league attendance | 7,840 | ||
| Biggest win | 6–1 vs. Norwich City, 21 December 1996 | ||
| Biggest defeat | 0–3 (twice) | ||
|
| |||
The 1996–97 season was Port Vale's 85th season of football in the English Football League, and third-successive season in the First Division. John Rudge led the club to its joint-second-highest ever league finish, as Vale finished in eighth spot, four points from the play-offs. Vale exited both the FA Cup and the League Cup at the Third Round.