The 1982–83 season was Port Vale's 71st season of football in the Football League, and their fifth successive season (11th overall) in the Fourth Division.John McGrath led the Vale to a club-record 88 points (equalled in 1993–94), which saw them win promotion in third place. This was some achievement considering McGrath had sold both the Chamberlain brothers and goalkeeper Mark Harrison to rivals Stoke City at the start of the season. Receiving £240,000 for these three players, he spent only £15,000 to bring top-scorer Bob Newton to Vale Park, and signed Player of the Year Wayne Cegielski for free.

The pre-season saw John McGrath try, and fail, to re-sign the League of Ireland's player of the year, Felix Healy. He instead signed four players on free transfers: John Ridley (a former Valiant), Wayne Cegielski (Wrexham), Les Lawrence (Torquay United), and Steve Waddington (Walsall). The club also signed a shirt sponsorship deal with PMT. In August, rivals Stoke City paid Vale £180,000 for Mark Chamberlain and Mark Harrison. Chamberlain would go on to play for England. McGrath acted quickly to sign replacement keeper Barry Siddall from Sunderland, and take winger Kevin Sheldon on loan from Wigan Athletic.