Fairly sure that is correct. I seem to remember a bit in SR about Thomas, Cooper and the others putting Earle into their little black book for the return fixture...
We lost at home to Port Vale 3-0 that season, if you recall the salt was firmly rubbed in as Port Vale wore our dark blue away kit in the process.
The ravages of time eh.! I am reliably informed that I have been to Vale Park and what's more I've been twice.!!! It's Stokes old ground I never went to. I remember now. Vale Park was surrounded by open grassland and we were in a stand behind the goal with lots of little separate odd buildings to our right. I wasn't driving us there on the 19th March 1990 so it didn't register because when I drive anywhere I usually remember every detail. It's right, Wardle did in fact break his leg that day and I'm told what I now remember was the reception he got from the Ponte End when he played at Oakwell in the 1-1 draw at Oakwell in 1990 for what he'd done to Wardle in the March. Next time I was there apparently, was 29th October 1996 when we won at Vale Park 3-1. John Hendrie, Arjan De Zeeuw and Clint Marcelle scored. Excusing my senior moment over the 1990 game, I'll never ever forget Season 1996/97. The 1-0 win at Bramhall Lane at Christmas was a very pleasing standout moment for me. If I remember correctly Super John's goal put us top didn't it. Tremendous days.