He joined Third Division Port Vale for £12,000 in September 1976 and went straight into the first team. He became the club's top scorer in the 1976–77 season with 18 goals in 44 games; three of these goals came against Grimsby Town at Blundell Park on 3 January. He was voted Player of the Year for his 16 goals in 49 games in the 1977–78 season; he scored ten goals more than his closest rival Jeff Hemmerman, as the club were relegated into the Fourth Division. He started the 1978–79 campaign with four goals in four consecutive games, before he was sold on to Third Division Bury for £35,000 in September 1978.