1946–47 Port Vale F.C. season

March 2015 March 2015 Port Vale 1946–47 Billy Frith(until 11 October)Gordon Hodgson(from October) William Holdcroft Old Recreation Ground Football League Third Division South 10th (43 points) FA Cup Fourth Round(eliminated by Blackburn Rovers) Morris Jones (23) Morris Jones (26) 14,490 vs. Exeter City, 7 September 1946 4,928 vs. Bournemouth, 10 March 1947 10,582 5–1 (three games) 0–4 vs. Cardiff City, 12 October 1946 1945–46 _collar_buttons_2 ffffff ffffff ffffff 000000 000000 1947–48 The 1946–47 season was Port Vale's 35th season of football in the English Football League and their second full season in the Third Division South.Kent Jeff The Valiants' Years: The Story Of Port Vale Witan Books 1990 151–171 Creating Sunshine from the Shadows (1939–1950) 0-9508981-4-7 Under the early stewardship of Billy Frith — who resigned in October amid disputes over transfers and board interference — and succeeded by Gordon Hodgson, the Valiants competed in the Third Division South, finishing 10th with 43 points. In the FA Cup, Vale advanced to the Fourth Round, following a replay victory over Watford in the Second Round and progress into later stages before elimination. Morris Jones was the standout striker, finishing as both league top scorer with 23 goals and season top scorer with 26 in all competitions. The campaign drew an average home attendance of 10,582, with the lowest turnout being 4,928 for the Bournemouth match on 10 March 1947. Vale also began a remarkable defensive run at home: from 19 October 1946 through 13 March 1948, opponents failed to keep a clean sheet in 33 consecutive home league games, a club record. Though mid-table in the league, Vale laid firm groundwork for future endeavours, introducing future legends Tommy Cheadle and Ronnie Allen to first-team duties and continuing work on their new stadium development, dubbed "The Wembley of the North". 200px|thumb|right|Manager Gordon Hodgson during his playing days. WWII Football Two games into a standard 1939–40 season, Vale were bottom of the Third Division South, and when war was initiated on 1 September all sports gatherings were prohibited and the season was cancelled. A week later and Stoke-on-Trent was one of many places to be permitted to host football matches. However, almost all of the club's players volunteered or were conscripted to fight Nazi Germany. Vale played numerous friendlies, as well as taking part in the regional war leagues. They finished eighth in the West League in 1939–40. Unable to raise sufficient finances from 1940 onwards, they only put forward an amateur side filled with young players in the North Staffordshire League, also entering cup competitions such as The Sentinel Cup. They recorded some very one-sided victories over local amateur teams such as Shelton Labour, Hanley Deep Pit, and Northwood Mission. Some of Vale's top professionals signed to sides such as Stoke City, Crewe Alexandra, and Manchester United. Players that guested for the club included names such as Peter Doherty, Micky Fenton, Frank Soo and Dennis Wilshaw. Guest players often made up half of the first XI, filling the gaps left by Vale's players on active service. The club came close to folding in the summer of 1943 when club president Mayor W.M.Huntbach died, leaving the club liable for £3,000 worth of debt, in addition to the £1,000 a year debit they recorded during the war. Appeals to The Football Association fell on deaf ears. The directors, therefore, agreed to a £13,500 sale of the Old Recreation Ground to Stoke-on-Trent Corporation (the local council). Their application to the council to rent the stadium back was rejected. The sale was agreed without the support of shareholders. However, the directors justified the sale by arguing that the stadium was a financial burden, especially as local vandals, hooligans and yobs regularly stole and trashed areas of the stadium. Nevertheless, Port Vale were then a club without any professional players or a stadium. In October 1943, the council relented and allowed rent to be paid until April 1944. The council agreed to rent the stadium for a longer term for £400 a year. The search for a new ground took them to Hamil Road, Burslem, opposite a site the club occupied between 1884 and 1886. The rough land used for fly-tipping was valued at £30,000. The Brownhills Estates Company and the Supporters' Club launched a New Ground Appeal. In September 1944, the land was acquired. Work began on a 70,000 capacity 'Wembley of the North'. These were ambitious plans for a club that had in the past recorded attendances as low as 3,000 from fair-weather fans. In the meantime the club took part in the 1944–45 Football League North league. Club director and former Northern Ireland international Jack Diffin took the position of manager. He was replaced by David Pratt in December 1944. For the 1945–46 season, they were placed in the Third Division South (North Region), with new manager Billy Frith. The Council agreed to allow the Vale to rent The Old Recreation Ground until 24 June 1950. Plans for the new stadium now were expanded to a massive 80,000 capacity. Three former Port Vale players known to have been killed in the war were Tom Cooper, Haydn Dackins, and Sam Jennings. Meanwhile, Jack Roberts became a hero without losing his life, rising to the rank of Sergeant, he was captured in Tunisia, however, managed to escape from a prisoner-of-war camp to return home.Kent Jeff Port Vale Personalities Witan Books 252 1996 0-9529152-0-0 https://www.amazon.ca/Port-Vale-Personalities-Jeff-Kent/dp/0952915200 Overview Third Division South Of the 1938–39 squad there were six who returned for the 1946–47 campaign: goalkeepers George Heppell and Arthur Jepson; defender Harry Griffiths; and midfielders Alf Bellis, Wilf Smith, and Don Triner. The rest had been recruited between 1939 and 1946. Three players specifically recruited in summer 1946 to help win promotion were experienced forward Colin Lyman (signed from Tottenham Hotspur for 'fairly substantial fee'); 'the assassin' Garth Butler (Derby County); and half-back Norman Hallam (Chelsea). Also £1,000 was spent on "The Rec", with 23 new barriers and six new turnstiles installed. Tickets were priced at £5 for a season, or one shilling on the day. The season started with a goalless draw at the Withdean Stadium before a 2–1 defeat by Exeter City in front of 14,490 home fans. This attendance was excellent, though it would not be bettered all season. With Heppell in fine form in goal, Jepson was sold to Stoke City for £3,750. On 23 September, Vale recorded a 4–1 win over Notts County, though only one point was gained from the following four games. With Vale in poor form at the bottom of the league, manager Billy Frith resigned on 11 October, detailing a list of complaints against the directors, generally accusing them of undermining him and failing to support him sufficiently. Soon Cardiff City won at "the Rec" by four goals to nil, after which Lyman put in a transfer request. On 17 October, the club bought Jimmy Todd from Blackpool for then-club record fee, on the recommendation of Stanley Matthews. Lyman was then sold to Nottingham Forest for a higher fee than was paid for him earlier in the year. Gordon Hodgson was then appointed manager ahead of forty other applicants. His first game was a 5–1 home victory over Reading, though a 4–1 loss at Walsall came a week later. Finding his team unconvincing away from home, he soon began to search for new players. Results soon turned around, and Hodgson's coaching and planning were credited with the success. A 4–1 victory over Mansfield Town on 18 January was the club's tenth game unbeaten in all competitions. However, many games were put on hold until May due to the exceptionally disruptive winter weather. Hodgson also helped set up a youth program, arranging visits to schools, trials, and running two junior sides. In March, he signed centre-half Eric Eastwood from Manchester City for a four-figure fee. Experimenting with the first eleven, from 10 March to 19 April the team went on a run of one victory in eight games and conceded 11 goals in the first three games of April. Promotion hopeless and re-election unlikely, the experiments proceeded into the postponed games in May, when high-scoring victories at home followed three consecutive away 1–0 defeats to Crystal Palace and Southend United. Also the experienced Jack Smith was brought in from Manchester United. They finished in tenth place with 43 points from 42 games. Top scorer Morris Jones hit a total of 26 goals, with double-figure hauls from Bill Pointon and Alf Bellis. Finances On the financial side, a profit of £4,133 was recorded, a club record. League football had brought £20,872 in gross gate receipts, with the wage bill at £8,927. Twenty-one players were retained, and Harry Griffiths's retirement was the only departure of note. FA Cup In the FA Cup, Vale beat amateur side Finchley by five goals to nil. They overcame league rivals Watford 2–1 in a "stern duel" after a replay. Hodgson organised a retreat to the old Royal Brine Baths in Stafford preparation for the third round tie with Second Division Millwall and was rewarded with a "grand display" as Vale ran out convincing 3–0 winners. They came unstuck in the fourth round with a 2–0 defeat at Ewood Park to First Division club Blackburn Rovers in front of 32,900 spectators. Results Football League Third Division South 1946–47 Football League League table Third Division South y PTV Results by matchday table b Round Ground A/H/H/A/A/H/H/A/A/H/H/A/H/A/H/A/A/A/A/H/H/A/H/H/A/H/A/H/H/A/H/H/A/A/H/A/H/A/A/A/H/H Result D/L/D/W/L/W/D/L/L/L/W/W/W/L/W/L/L/D/D/W/W/D/W/W/L/W/W/W/D/L/W/L/L/L/D/D/W/L/L/L/W/W Position 8/21/17/12/19/13/11/11/17/19/18/16/11/14/11/14/16/17/17/14/12/11/10/8/11/10/9/7/7/7/7/8/9/10/12/10/8/9/11/12/11/10 Points 1p/1p/2p/4p/4p/6p/7p/7p/7p/7p/9p/11p/13p/13p/15p/15p/15p/16p/17p/19p/21p/22p/24p/26p/26p/28p/30p/32p/33p/33p/35p/35p/35p/35p/36p/37p/39p/39p/39p/39p/41p/43p Home Away green2 Win yellow2 Draw red2 Loss green1 red1 StattoPort Vale 1946–1947 : Results & Fixtures https://web.archive.org/web/20160304064031/http://www.statto.com/football/teams/port-vale/1946-1947/results 4 March 2016 . Statto Organisation. Retrieved 28 April 2012. Matches 1 31 August 1946 Brighton & Hove Albion 0–0 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/brighton-and-hove-albion-v-port-vale-31-august-1946-167241/ Port Vale Goldstone Ground Hove 11,412 2 7 September 1946 Port Vale 1–2 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-exeter-city-07-september-1946-167266/ Exeter City M.Jones Regan Ebdon Old Recreation Ground Hanley 14,490 3 9 September 1946 Port Vale 1–1 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-northampton-town-09-september-1946-167274/ Northampton Town Lyman Old Recreation Ground Hanley 8,709 4 14 September 1946 Mansfield Town 0–3 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/mansfield-town-v-port-vale-14-september-1946-167289/ Port Vale Byrne Bellis M.Jones Field Mill Mansfield 11,207 5 21 September 1946 Bristol City 3–0 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/bristol-city-v-port-vale-21-september-1946-167303/ Port Vale Ashton Gate Ashton Gate, Bristol 21,284 6 23 September 1946 Port Vale 4–1 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-notts-county-23-september-1946-167314/ Notts County Bellis Byrne M.Jones Old Recreation Ground Hanley 8,574 7 28 September 1946 Port Vale 1–1 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-swindon-town-28-september-1946-167324/ Swindon Town M.Jones 36 Lloyd 55 Old Recreation Ground Hanley T.S. Norcott 12,900 8 3 October 1946 Notts County 3–2 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/notts-county-v-port-vale-03-october-1946-167328/ Port Vale Pointon Meadow Lane Nottingham 9,542 9 5 October 1946 Bournemouth 3–0 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/bournemouth-and-boscombe-athletic-v-port-vale-05-october-1946-167329/ Port Vale Dean Court Bournemouth 11,642 10 12 October 1946 Port Vale 0–4 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-cardiff-city-12-october-1946-167347/ Cardiff City Richards Clarke Rees Old Recreation Ground Hanley AT Ford 10,724 11 19 October 1946 Port Vale 2–1 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-torquay-united-19-october-1946-167361/ Torquay United Bellis M.Jones Old Recreation Ground Hanley 10,618 12 26 October 1946 Crystal Palace 1–2 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/crystal-palace-v-port-vale-26-october-1946-167364/ Port Vale Bellis Wootton Selhurst Park Selhurst, Croydon 14,492 13 2 November 1946 Port Vale 5–1 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-reading-02-november-1946-167383/ Reading Triner Bellis M.Jones Pointon Cheadle Old Recreation Ground Hanley 10,891 14 9 November 1946 Walsall 4–1 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/walsall-v-port-vale-09-november-1946-167394/ Port Vale Hallam Fellows Park Walsall 12,171 15 16 November 1946 Port Vale 3–0 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-watford-16-november-1946-167405/ Watford M.Jones Old Recreation Ground Hanley 9,539 16 23 November 1946 Ipswich Town 2–1 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/ipswich-town-v-port-vale-23-november-1946-167409/ Port Vale Bellis Portman Road Ipswich 13,001 17 7 December 1946 Queens Park Rangers 2–0 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/queens-park-rangers-v-port-vale-07-december-1946-167422/ Port Vale Harris Mills Loftus Road Shepherd's Bush, West London 14,251 18 21 December 1946 Bristol Rovers 0–0 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/bristol-rovers-v-port-vale-21-december-1946-167430/ Port Vale Eastville Stadium Bristol 5,750 19 25 December 1946 Aldershot 0–0 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/aldershot-v-port-vale-25-december-1946-167440/ Port Vale Recreation Ground Aldershot 3,449 20 26 December 1946 Port Vale 4–2 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-aldershot-26-december-1946-167455/ Aldershot Pointon Prince Triner Old Recreation Ground Hanley 14,076 21 28 December 1946 Port Vale 4–1 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-brighton-and-hove-albion-28-december-1946-167466/ Brighton & Hove Albion Prince M.Jones Triner Pointon Old Recreation Ground Hanley 12,061 22 4 January 1947 Exeter City 1–1 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/exeter-city-v-port-vale-04-january-1947-167476/ Port Vale Owen M.Jones St James Park Exeter 8,694 23 16 January 1947 Port Vale 2–1 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-leyton-orient-16-january-1947-167491/ Leyton Orient Cheadle M.Jones Old Recreation Ground Hanley 6,753 24 18 January 1947 Port Vale 4–1 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-mansfield-town-18-january-1947-167497/ Mansfield Town Pointon M.Jones Triner Harkin Old Recreation Ground Hanley 14,390 25 1 February 1947 Swindon Town 2–1 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/swindon-town-v-port-vale-01-february-1947-167523/ Port Vale Stephens 14 Owen 83 M.Jones 12 County Ground Swindon T.S. Norcott 9,935 26 17 February 1947 Port Vale 2–1 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-bristol-city-17-february-1947-167537/ Bristol City Pointon Triner Old Recreation Ground Hanley 8,264 27 8 March 1947 Reading 0–2 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/reading-v-port-vale-08-march-1947-167552/ Port Vale Pointon Triner Elm Park Reading, Berkshire 7,863 28 10 March 1947 Port Vale 1–0 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-bournemouth-and-boscombe-athletic-10-march-1947-167555/ Bournemouth M.Jones Old Recreation Ground Hanley 4,928 29 15 March 1947 Port Vale 2–2 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-walsall-15-march-1947-167565/ Walsall M.Jones Old Recreation Ground Hanley 10,787 30 22 March 1947 Watford 2–0 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/watford-v-port-vale-22-march-1947-167577/ Port Vale Davies Dunderdale Vicarage Road Watford 6,370 31 29 March 1947 Port Vale 1–0 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-ipswich-town-29-march-1947-167587/ Ipswich Town M.Jones Old Recreation Ground Hanley 10,426 32 4 April 1947 Port Vale 1–3 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-norwich-city-04-april-1947-167597/ Norwich City Cheadle Old Recreation Ground Hanley 13,978 33 5 April 1947 Leyton Orient 5–3 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/leyton-orient-v-port-vale-05-april-1947-167603/ Port Vale F.Jones Bellis Allen Brisbane Road Leyton, East London 12,371 34 7 April 1947 Norwich City 3–0 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/norwich-city-v-port-vale-07-april-1947-167616/ Port Vale Carrow Road Norwich 29,985 35 12 April 1947 Port Vale 2–2 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-queens-park-rangers-12-april-1947-167632/ Queens Park Rangers Bellis M.Jones Durrant Boxshall Old Recreation Ground Hanley 12,500 36 19 April 1947 Southend United 1–1 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/southend-united-v-port-vale-19-april-1947-167641/ Port Vale M.Jones Southend Stadium Southend-on-Sea 8,762 37 26 April 1947 Port Vale 2–1 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-bristol-rovers-26-april-1947-167653/ Bristol Rovers M.Jones Eastwood Old Recreation Ground Hanley 8,323 38 3 May 1947 Northampton Town 1–0 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/northampton-town-v-port-vale-03-may-1947-167662/ Port Vale County Cricket Ground Northampton 6,258 39 10 May 1947 Cardiff City 1–0 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/cardiff-city-v-port-vale-10-may-1947-167668/ Port Vale Richards Ninian Park Cardiff 36,732 40 24 May 1947 Torquay United 1–0 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/torquay-united-v-port-vale-24-may-1947-167688/ Port Vale Plainmoor Torquay 5,943 41 26 May 1947 Port Vale 4–2 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-crystal-palace-26-may-1947-167693/ Crystal Palace Allen Pointon Smith Old Recreation Ground Hanley 10,414 42 31 May 1947 Port Vale 5–1 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-southend-united-31-may-1947-167699/ Southend United M.Jones Allen Bellis Old Recreation Ground Hanley 8,879 FA Cup 1946–47 FA Cup R1 30 November 1946 Port Vale 5–1 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-finchley-30-november-1946-209394/ Finchley Bellis Pointon M.Jones Wootton Old Recreation Ground Hanley 8,756 R2 14 December 1946 Watford 1–1 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/watford-v-port-vale-14-december-1946-209429/ Port Vale Beckett M.Jones Vicarage Road Watford 8,498 Replay 16 December 1946 Port Vale 2–1 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-watford-17-december-1946-209430/ Watford M.Jones Wootton Evans Old Recreation Ground Hanley 7,342 R3 11 January 1947 Millwall 0–3 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/millwall-v-port-vale-11-january-1947-209456/ Port Vale Pointon Triner The Den New Cross, London 24,779 R4 25 January 1947 Blackburn Rovers 2–0 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/blackburn-rovers-v-port-vale-25-january-1947-209477/ Port Vale Ewood Park Blackburn 32,900 Squad statistics Appearances and goals Key to positions: GK – Goalkeeper; FB – Full back; HB – Half back; FW – Forward Third Division South FA Cup GK ENG George Heppell 42 0 5 0 FB ENG Garth Butler 12 0 0 0 FB ENG Jack Chew 9 0 3 0 FB ENG Fred Jones 12 1 0 0 FB SCO Bob Pursell 32 0 5 0 HB ENG Tommy Cheadle 32 3 5 0 HB ENG Eric Eastwood 6 1 0 0 HB ENG Harry Griffiths 8 0 0 0 HB ENG Norman Hallam 22 1 5 0 HB ENG Basil Hayward 2 0 0 0 HB ENG Alan Martin 14 0 0 0 HB ENG Bill McGarry 7 0 0 0 HB ENG Ted Oldfield 1 0 0 0 HB ENG Wilf Smith 26 0 2 0 HB NIR Jimmy Todd 30 0 5 0 FW ENG Ronnie Allen 18 5 0 0 FW ENG Alf Bellis 38 10 5 2 FW ENG Billy Byrne 15 2 1 0 FW ENG Morris Jones 39 23 5 3 FW ENG Bill Pointon 30 11 5 3 FW ENG Eric Prince 14 2 4 0 FW ENG Jack Smith 3 1 0 0 FW ENG Don Triner 20 6 2 1 |- |colspan="14"|Players who featured but departed the club during the season: HB ENG Arthur Cooper 4 0 0 0 HB ENG Ernie Willett 1 0 0 0 FW ENG Colin Lyman 11 1 0 0 FW ENG Eddie Davies 3 0 0 0 FW ENG Joe Dixon 1 0 0 0 FW ENG Len Wootton 10 1 3 2 |} Top scorers PlacePositionNationNameThird Division SouthFA CupTotal1FWEnglandMorris Jones233262FWEnglandBill Pointon113143FWEnglandAlf Bellis102124FWEnglandDon Triner6175FWEnglandRonnie Allen5056HBEnglandTommy Cheadle303–FWEnglandLen Wootton1238FWEnglandBilly Byrne202–FWEnglandEric Prince20210FWEnglandColin Lyman101–FBEnglandFred Jones101–HBEnglandEric Eastwood101–FWEnglandNorman Hallam101–FWEnglandJack Smith101TOTALS681179 Transfers Transfers in Date from Position Nationality Name From Fee Ref. May 1946 HB ENG Norman Hallam Chelsea Free transfer Kent Jeff Port Vale Personalities Witan Books 1996 0-9529152-0-0 May 1946 HB ENG Basil Hayward Northwood Mission Free transfer May 1946 FW ENG Colin Lyman Tottenham Hotspur 'fairly substantial' June 1946 FB ENG Garth Butler Derby County Free transfer June 1946 FB ENG Fred Jones South Liverpool Free transfer October 1946 FW ENG Joe Dixon Northampton Town Free transfer October 1946 HB NIR Jimmy Todd Blackpool 'club record four-figure fee' March 1947 HB ENG Eric Eastwood Manchester City 'four-figure fee' March 1947 FW ENG Jack Smith Blackburn Rovers 'four-figure fee' Transfers out Date from Position Nationality Name To Fee Ref. October 1946 FW ENG Colin Lyman Nottingham Forest 'substantial profit' November 1946 FW ENG Eddie Davies Witton Albion Free transfer January 1947 FW ENG Len Wootton SCO Queen of the South Free transfer March 1947 FW ENG Joe Dixon Witton Albion Free transfer March 1947 HB ENG Ernie Willett Witton Albion Free transfer April 1947 HB ENG Arthur Cooper Released July 1947 FW ENG Billy Byrne Crewe Alexandra Free transfer Summer 1947 FB ENG Jack Chew Released Summer 1947 HB ENG Harry Griffiths Released Summer 1947 FB ENG Fred Jones Released Summer 1947 HB ENG Ted Oldfield 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