1922–23 Port Vale F.C. season

March 2015 March 2015 Port Vale 1922–23 Joe Schofield Secretary-manager Sampson Walker Old Recreation Ground Football League Second Division 17th (37 points) FA Cup Fifth Qualification Round(eliminated by Wrexham) North Staffordshire Infirmary Cup Runners-up(eliminated by Stoke) Tom Butler (9) Tom Butler (9) 16,022 vs Manchester United, 14 October 1922 5,000 vs Derby County, 26 February 1923 10,204+ 3–0 vs. South Shields, 25 December 1922 0–3 (three games) _collar_buttons _color_2_stripes_white ffffff ffffff ffffff 000000 000000 1921–22 1923–24 The 1922–23 season was Port Vale's fourth consecutive season of football (17th overall) in the English Football League.Kent Jeff The Valiants' Years The Story Of Port Vale Witan Books 1990 98–123 Keeping in Good Company (1919-1929) 0-9508981-4-7 They finished 17th in the Second Division with 37 points from 14 wins, 9 draws, and 19 losses. Under the management of Joe Schofield and chairmanship of Sampson Walker, the team played their home matches at the Old Recreation Ground. Despite finishing just above the relegation zone for the third successive season, the club continued to struggle with finding a consistent goalscorer following the sale of Bobby Blood. In cup competitions, Vale exited the FA Cup in the Fifth Qualifying Round, suffering a 5–1 defeat to Wrexham. In the North Staffordshire Infirmary Cup, the final against Stoke ended in a 0–0 draw, leading to the trophy being shared between the two clubs. The season also saw the club's finances come under strain, with a reported loss of £4,641, attributed to declining gate receipts and increased wage bills following the raising of the maximum wage limit. Forward Tom Butler was the team's top scorer, netting 9 goals in all competitions. The season concluded with the club narrowly avoiding relegation, setting the stage for future rebuilding efforts 200px|thumb|right|Veteran Tom Holford didn't make an appearance. 200px|thumb|right|Billy Briscoe was absent in just four games. thumb|Scottish midfielder Bob Connelly. Overview Second Division The releasing of numerous experienced players in pre-season necessitated the signing of numerous new attacking players, namely Millwall winger Patrick Donoghue; 'robust' inside-right Jack Gordon from Queen's Park; James Smith from Plymouth Argyle; and Tom Reid from Ayr United. The season opened with two defeats in August, and though things soon turned around, it became clear that goals were at a premium. To solve this problem experienced winger Billy Harrison was signed from Manchester United. He made his debut at the Old Recreation Ground in a 1–0 loss to Coventry City on 16 September, during which there was "persistent barracking" from a section of the crowd. James Smith badly twisted his knee the following week in a goalless draw at Clapton Orient. Three successive wins followed, however, which included a double over promotion-chasing Manchester United with a 2–1 win at Old Trafford and a 1–0 win at home thanks to a Harrison strike. Harrison suffered a broken ankle in November, though, and the team's form suffered. The following month, the club spent £100 to bring Tom Butler from Darlaston. By the end of the calendar year the club were at the top end of the table, however, a loss of form in January despite the return to fitness of Harrison caused them to slip back down the table. In February, young Arthur Prince was promoted from the reserves and helped the club go four games unbeaten. Particularly impressive was the 2–1 win at Derby County on 10 February, which ended the host's run of just over two months without conceding a goal at home. The Valiants remained in erratic form, losing the reverse fixture amid a thunderstorm before suffering a 2–1 defeat at home to relegation-threatened Bradford City. The weather was also held responsible for a 3–1 defeat at Southampton, with the hosts said to be more used to the sea air. The run of losses ended wth a 2–0 victory at league leaders Blackpool on 17 March. The Vale finished out the season on hot and cold spells and ended up narrowly avoiding relegation, securing their safety with a 1–0 win at Barnsley with three games left to play. At the end of the season, Vale had made slight progress, having finished on 37 points, improving their tally of the previous two seasons by a single point. Their shocking home record was better only than bottom-placed Wolverhampton Wanderers. Top scorer Tom Butler bagged nine goals in his 26 games, but no other player managed more than four goals. Six players were rarely out of the first XI: goalkeeper Teddy Peers; defenders Peter Pursell and Len Birks; midfielders Ernest Collinge and Jack Hampson; and forward Billy Briscoe. At the end of the season, Billy Harrison joined Welsh club Wrexham, Jack Gordon went back to Scotland to sign with Greenock Morton, Teddy Peers retired, and Billy Briscoe refused a pay-cut and instead signed with nearby Congleton Town. Finances Finances were poor as attendances were disappointing, with The Sentinel'''s "Spectator" commenting that "Port Vale is respected everywhere, except in its own district". The ongoing Shilling Fund was useful for raising revenue, whilst £1,100 was written off by creditors in a remarkably charitable fashion. Yet in June 1923, the club was in trouble when former trainer Billy Barr reported Port Vale to the English Football League, accusing the club of having made illegal payments to its players throughout the season. The club was found guilty and was fined £100, with manager Joe Schofield also picking up a £25 fine. Three other officials were fined £150 in total, whilst 17 players were each fined £1 each. This helped the club to report a loss of £2,400 on the season despite their tight spending. Gate receipts stood at just over £10,000, down almost 50% on 1920–21. Cup competitions Vale left the FA Cup at the fifth round of Qualifying after a disappointing 2–0 defeat by Third Division North Wrexham at the Old Recreation Ground. The end of season North Staffordshire Infirmary Cup Potteries derby bragging rights went to Stoke, which was scant consolation for a club who had just suffered relegation from the First Division. The match raised £250 for the local hospital.Kent Jeff The Potteries Derbies Witan Books 118 November 1998 0-9529152-3-5 Results Football League Second Division 1922–23 Football League League table Second Division y PTV Results by matchday table b Round Ground H/A/A/H/A/H/A/H/A/H/H/A/H/A/A/H/A/H/A/H/H/A/A/H/H/A/H/A/H/H/H/A/A/A/H/A/A/H/A/H/A/H Result L/L/D/W/W/L/D/W/W/W/D/L/W/L/L/D/W/W/L/W/L/L/L/L/L/D/W/W/D/L/L/L/L/W/W/L/L/D/W/D/L/D Position 19/21/19/15/14/15/16/11/10/8/8/10/8/10/13/10/10/9/12/10/12/12/14/15/15/15/15/13/13/13/14/15/17/15/14/15/16/16/16/15/17/17 Points 0p/0p/1p/3p/5p/5p/6p/8p/10p/12p/13p/13p/15p/15p/15p/16p/18p/20p/20p/22p/22p/22p/22p/22p/22p/23p/25p/27p/28p/28p/28p/28p/28p/30p/32p/32p/32p/33p/35p/36p/36p/37p Home Away green2 Win yellow2 Draw red2 Loss gold green1 red1 StattoPort Vale 1922–1923 : Results & Fixtures https://web.archive.org/web/20150906032830/http://www.statto.com/football/teams/port-vale/1922-1923/results 6 September 2015 . Statto Organisation. Retrieved 28 April 2012. Matches 1 26 August 1922 Port Vale 0–1 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-fulham-26-august-1922-95815/ Fulham Old Recreation Ground Hanley 14,136 2 28 August 1922 17:30 BST Hull City 3–0 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/hull-city-v-port-vale-28-august-1922-95824/ Port Vale Kitchen 42 Bleakley 70 Crawford 80 Anlaby Road Kingston upon Hull 6,000 3 2 September 1922 Fulham 1–1 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/fulham-v-port-vale-02-september-1922-95836/ Port Vale Smith Craven Cottage Fulham, West London 23,000 4 4 September 1922 17:30 BST Port Vale 1–0 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-hull-city-04-september-1922-95847/ Hull City Gordon Old Recreation Ground Hanley 10,000 5 9 September 1922 Coventry City 1–2 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/coventry-city-v-port-vale-09-september-1922-95855/ Port Vale Toms Smith Agnew Highfield Road Coventry 17,000 6 16 September 1922 Port Vale 0–1 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-coventry-city-16-september-1922-95871/ Coventry City Toms Old Recreation Ground Hanley 12,733 7 23 September 1922 Clapton Orient 0–0 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/leyton-orient-v-port-vale-23-september-1922-95882/ Port Vale Lea Bridge Stadium Leyton, East London 10,000 8 30 September 1922 Port Vale 3–1 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-leyton-orient-30-september-1922-95893/ Clapton Orient Harrison Gordon Connelly Old Recreation Ground Hanley 10,200 9 7 October 1922 Manchester United 1–2 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/manchester-united-v-port-vale-07-october-1922-95904/ Port Vale Spence Hampson Collinge Old Trafford Old Trafford 20,000 10 14 October 1922 Port Vale 1–0 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-manchester-united-14-october-1922-95915/ Manchester United Harrison Old Recreation Ground Hanley 16,022 11 21 October 1922 Port Vale 0–0 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-notts-county-21-october-1922-95925/ Notts County Old Recreation Ground Hanley 15,055 12 28 October 1922 Notts County 1–0 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/notts-county-v-port-vale-28-october-1922-95938/ Port Vale Meadow Lane Nottingham 12,000 13 4 November 1922 Port Vale 2–0 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-bury-04-november-1922-95947/ Bury Connelly Gordon Old Recreation Ground Hanley 8,822 14 11 November 1922 Bury 2–0 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/bury-v-port-vale-11-november-1922-95956/ Port Vale Gigg Lane Bury, Greater Manchester 11,000 15 18 November 1922 Rotherham County 3–1 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/rotherham-county-v-port-vale-18-november-1922-95972/ Port Vale Collinge pen. Millmoor Rotherham 10,000 16 25 November 1922 Port Vale 0–0 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-rotherham-county-25-november-1922-95982/ Rotherham County Old Recreation Ground Hanley 7,503 17 9 December 1922 Stockport County 0–2 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/stockport-county-v-port-vale-09-december-1922-96004/ Port Vale Orpe Hampson Edgeley Park Stockport 10,000 18 16 December 1922 Port Vale 2–0 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-crystal-palace-16-december-1922-96016/ Crystal Palace Butler Orpe Old Recreation Ground Hanley 10,000 19 23 December 1922 Crystal Palace 2–0 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/crystal-palace-v-port-vale-23-december-1922-96018/ Port Vale Croydon Common Old Recreation Ground Selhurst 9,000 20 25 December 1922 Port Vale 3–0 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-south-shields-afc-25-december-1922-96036/ South Shields Butler Davies Old Recreation Ground Hanley 9,254 21 30 December 1922 Port Vale 1–2 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-leeds-united-30-december-1922-96058/ Leeds United Hampson Whipp Old Recreation Ground Hanley 10,000 22 1 January 1923 South Shields 3–1 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/south-shields-afc-v-port-vale-01-january-1923-96061/ Port Vale Briscoe Horsley Hill South Shields 9,000 23 6 January 1923 Leeds United 2–1 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/leeds-united-v-port-vale-06-january-1923-96068/ Port Vale Whipp Butler Elland Road Beeston, Leeds 15,000 24 13 January 1923 Port Vale 0–2 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-stockport-county-13-january-1923-96076/ Stockport County Cousins Old Recreation Ground Hanley 9,500 25 20 January 1923 Port Vale 1–3 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-west-ham-united-20-january-1923-96083/ West Ham United Connelly Bishop Ruffell Richards Old Recreation Ground Hanley 10,000 26 27 January 1923 West Ham United 0–0 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/west-ham-united-v-port-vale-27-january-1923-96098/ Port Vale Boleyn Ground Upton Park, London 18,000 27 3 February 1923 Port Vale 2–0 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-blackpool-03-february-1923-96100/ Blackpool Thompson Collinge Old Recreation Ground Hanley 9,885 28 10 February 1923 Derby County 1–2 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/derby-county-v-port-vale-10-february-1923-96105/ Port Vale Lyons pen. Butler Baseball Ground Derby 10,000 29 17 February 1923 Port Vale 0–0 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-southampton-17-february-1923-96120/ Southampton Old Recreation Ground Hanley 12,275 30 26 February 1923 Port Vale 2–3 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-derby-county-26-february-1923-96134/ Derby County Thompson Butler Lyons Murphy Stokoe Old Recreation Ground Hanley 5,000 31 3 March 1923 Port Vale 1–2 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-bradford-city-03-march-1923-96141/ Bradford City Prince Old Recreation Ground Hanley 6,000 32 5 March 1923 Southampton 3–1 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/southampton-v-port-vale-05-march-1923-96146/ Port Vale McCall Johnson Rawlings Thompson The Dell Southampton 5,000 33 10 March 1923 Bradford City 2–0 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/bradford-city-v-port-vale-10-march-1923-96149/ Port Vale Valley Parade Bradford 9,000 34 17 March 1923 Blackpool 0–2 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/blackpool-v-port-vale-17-march-1923-96158/ Port Vale Briscoe Butler Bloomfield Road Blackpool 10,000 35 30 March 1923 Port Vale 1–0 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-wolverhampton-wanderers-30-march-1923-96186/ Wolverhampton Wanderers Page 59 Old Recreation Ground Hanley F Slater 15,000 36 31 March 1923 Leicester City 3–0 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/leicester-city-v-port-vale-31-march-1923-96195/ Port Vale Pynegar O'Brien Filbert Street Leicester 20,000 37 2 April 1923 Wolverhampton Wanderers 3–0 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/wolverhampton-wanderers-v-port-vale-02-april-1923-96208/ Port Vale Edmonds 20 23 70 Molineux Stadium Wolverhampton F Slater 15,000 38 7 April 1923 Port Vale 0–0 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-leicester-city-07-april-1923-96217/ Leicester City Old Recreation Ground Hanley 8,660 39 14 April 1923 Barnsley 0–1 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/barnsley-v-port-vale-14-april-1923-96225/ Port Vale Reid Oakwell Barnsley 8,000 40 21 April 1923 Port Vale 1–1 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-barnsley-21-april-1923-96244/ Barnsley Briscoe Old Recreation Ground Hanley 7,799 41 28 April 1923 The Wednesday 2–0 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/sheffield-wednesday-v-port-vale-28-april-1923-96257/ Port Vale Harron Smailes Hillsborough Stadium Owlerton 12,000 42 5 May 1923 Port Vale 2–2 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-sheffield-wednesday-05-may-1923-96266/ The Wednesday Hampson pen. Butler Petrie Old Recreation Ground Hanley 6,000 FA Cup 1922–23 FA Cup 5Q 2 December 1922 15:00 GMT Port Vale 0–2 L https://www.wrexhamafcarchive.co.uk/matchdetails.php?id=5327 Wrexham Jackson 20 50 Old Recreation Ground Hanley I Baker 7,200 North Staffordshire Infirmary Cup Final 7 May 1923 Stoke 3–1 L Port Vale Thompson Victoria Ground Stoke-upon-Trent Squad statistics Appearances and goals Key to positions: GK – Goalkeeper; FB – Full back; HB – Half back; FW – Forward Second Division FA Cup Other GK WAL 1807 Teddy Peers 41 0 1 0 0 0 GK Daniel Smith 1 0 0 0 0 0 FB ENG Len Birks 41 0 0 0 0 0 FB ENG William Lavery 0 0 1 0 0 0 FB SCO Peter Pursell 41 0 1 0 1 0 FB ENG Billy Twemlow 3 0 0 0 1 0 HB ENG Ernest Collinge 42 3 1 0 1 0 HB SCO Bob Connelly 29 3 0 0 0 0 HB WAL 1807 Jack Hampson 38 4 1 0 0 0 HB ENG Tom Holford 0 0 0 0 0 0 HB ENG David Richards 1 0 0 0 0 0 FW SCO Billy Agnew 11 1 1 0 0 0 FW ENG Billy Briscoe 38 3 1 0 0 0 FW ENG Tom Butler 25 9 0 0 1 0 FW ENG Harry Davies 12 1 0 0 0 0 FW Patrick Donoghue 3 0 0 0 0 0 FW ENG Billy Fitchford 20 0 1 0 0 0 FW SCO Jack Gordon 21 3 1 0 1 0 FW ENG Charles Hallam 1 0 1 0 0 0 FW ENG Billy Harrison 22 2 0 0 1 0 FW ENG Tom Orpe 8 2 0 0 0 0 FW ENG Arthur Prince 16 1 0 0 1 0 FW ENG Tom Page 24 1 1 0 0 0 FW SCO Tom Reid 6 1 0 0 1 0 FW Albert Spencer 3 0 0 0 0 0 FW ENG Jimmy Thompson 8 3 0 0 1 1 |- |colspan="14"|Players who featured but departed the club during the season:'' FW SCO James Smith 7 2 0 0 0 0 |} Top scorers PlacePositionNationNameSecond DivisionFA CupInfirmary CupTotal1FWEnglandTom Butler90092HBWales 1807Jack Hampson4004–FWEnglandJimmy Thompson30144HBEnglandErnest Collinge3003–HBScotlandBob Connelly3003–FWScotlandJack Gordon3003–FWEnglandBilly Briscoe30038FWEnglandTom Orpe2002–FWEnglandBilly Harrison2002–FWScotlandJames Smith200211FWEnglandArthur Prince1001–FWEnglandTom Page1001–FWEnglandHarry Davies1001–FWScotlandBilly Agnew1001–FWScotlandTom Reid1001TOTALS390140 Transfers Transfers in Date from Position Nationality Name From Fee Ref. May 1922 FW SCO James Smith Plymouth Argyle Free transfer Kent Jeff Port Vale Personalities Witan Books 1996 0-9529152-0-0 June 1922 FW ENG Harry Davies Chorley Free transfer August 1922 FW Patrick Donoghue Millwall Athletic Free transfer August 1922 FW SCO Jack Gordon SCO Queen's Park Free transfer August 1922 FW SCO Tom Reid SCO Ayr United Free transfer August 1922 HB ENG David Richards SCO Larkhall Thistle Free transfer September 1922 FW ENG Charles Hallam Sandford Hill Primitives Free transfer September 1922 FW ENG Billy Harrison Manchester United Free transfer October 1922 FW ENG Arthur Prince Bucknall Free transfer November 1922 FW ENG Tom Orpe Hanley Free transfer January 1923 FW ENG Tom Butler Darlaston £100 January 1923 FW ENG Jimmy Thompson Ashton National Gas Free transfer Transfers out Date from Position Nationality Name To Fee Ref. October 1922 FW SCO James Smith Fulham Mutual consent May 1923 GK WAL 1807 Teddy Peers Retired June 1923 FW ENG Billy Harrison Wrexham £300 June 1923 FW ENG Albert Spencer Wolverhampton Wanderers Free transfer Summer 1923 FW SCO Billy Agnew SCO Arthurlie Released Summer 1923 GK ENG Ernest Blackham Released Summer 1923 FW ENG Billy Briscoe Congleton Town Free transfer Summer 1923 FW ENG Harry Davies Chorley Released Summer 1923 FW Patrick Donoghue Released Summer 1923 FW SCO Jack Gordon SCO Greenock Morton Released Summer 1923 FB ENG William Lavery Released Summer 1923 FW ENG Billy Fitchford Glossop Released Summer 1923 FW ENG Harry Johnstone Released Summer 1923 FW ENG Tom Orpe Cheadle New Haden Released Summer 1923 HB ENG David Richards SCO Dundee United Released Summer 1923 GK Daniel Smith Released Summer 1923 FW ENG Jimmy Thompson Blackpool Released Summer 1923 FB ENG Billy Twemlow Macclesfield Released August 1923 FW ENG Charles Hallam Sandbach Ramblers Released References Specific General Kent Jeff The Port Vale Record 1879-1993 Witan Books 1993 0-9508981-9-8 Category:Port Vale F.C. seasons Port Vale