The 2013-14 campaign was a triumphant return to League One for Port Vale, with The Valiants far exceeding their low expectations by finishing an impressive 9th in their first season back in the third tier. Leading the charge was the club's Player of the Year, local hero Tom Pope, whose 12 league goals (16 overall) anchored a side that also enjoyed a memorable run to the FA Cup Fourth Round. Despite a season of off-pitch drama and financial constraints, manager Micky Adams steered the team to a solid finish, cementing a significant chapter in the club's hard-fought resurgence