The 2009–10 season was Port Vale's 98th season of football in the English Football League, and second successive season in League Two. Micky Adams received plaudits for his first full season in charge. He took a squad of players that had previously been near the bottom of the division and made them difficult to beat, taking them to a tenth-place finish, just outside the play-offs. In the League Cup Vale defeated two Championship sides to reach the Third Round stage. They also exited the League Trophy at the Third Round, and the FA Cup at the Second Round, whilst the reserve side finished as Staffordshire Senior Cup runners-up. Marc Richards hit 23 goals, whilst Player of the Year Anthony Griffith was also an essential part of the first eleven.