form that cost them. A dire financial situation meant seven players were released for 1975–76: John Woodward, Tony Lacey, Roy Cross, Bill Summerscales, Frank Sharp and Reg Edwards. Attempts to sign Wales internationals Mike England and Wyn Davies failed, and so Mick Cullerton, Terry Lees and Geoff Morris were the only new signings. Cullerton was in fine scoring form, though the promotion campaign fell away and Horton was sold to Brighton for £30,000, which led to a healthy profit on the season. For the club's centenary celebrations a match was held with Stoke City, which finished 1–1, an impressive result considering the "Potters" were going through one of the most successful periods in their history. The small squad barely changed for 1976–77; Kevin Kennerley and Ian Osborne replacing an outgoing Geoff Morris. The FA slapped the club with a £400 fine for poor discipline, the club therefore began fining players for unacceptable behaviour on the pitch. Terry Lees was sold to Sparta Rotterdam for £25,000. £12,000 of this money was spent on striker Ken Beamish. Former England international Bobby Thomson was also brought in and quickly made captain. The club continued in their physical footballing ways, opposition manager Jimmy McGuigan describing it as 'the worst example of football thuggery I have ever seen' and Burnley captain Peter Noble calling Vale 'a bunch of kickers'. In the FA Cup they lost at the Fifth Round to a crowd of nearly 50,000 at Villa Park. In the league they clung on to their third tier status, safe by only three points. Before the 1977–78 season began, Tommy McLaren was released, as was Eric Skeels, Ian Osborne and coach Roy Chapman. David Harris also refused a new contract, for the same reason Sammy Morgan's £12,000 return did not go through. The club's hierarchy displayed their dissatisfaction with manager Roy Sproson. He was sacked in October and never returned to Vale Park. After a spell under caretaker-manager Colin Harper, ex-Bury manager Bobby Smith was appointed to the job. He made Dennis Butler his assistant. In January, Neville Chamberlain became the club's first black professional. Colchester United's John Froggatt was also brought in for £10,000. Frugal spending out of the window, the club still almost managed to break even. However the club were relegated back into the Fourth Division in 21st place. Seven players were let go before the 1978–79 campaign. Manager Bobby Smith left