1890–91 Burslem Port Vale F.C. season

March 2015 March 2015 Burslem Port Vale 1890–91 Athletic Ground Midland League 8th (16 points) FA Cup Second Qualifying Round(eliminated by Walsall Town Swifts) Staffordshire Senior Cup Second Round(eliminated by Aston Villa) North Staffordshire Challenge Cup Winners(shared with Stoke) Frank McGinnes (15) Frank McGinnes (41) 3,000 vs. Preston North End, 6 October 1890 1,429 8–0 vs. Warwick County, 14 March 1891 0–12 vs. Aston Villa, 26 January 1890 1891–92 The 1890–91 season was Burslem Port Vale's first season in the newly formed Midland League.Kent Jeff The Valiants' Years: The Story Of Port Vale Witan Books 1990 26–50 Trying to make the Grade (1888-1898) 0-9508981-4-7 The club competed at their Athletic Ground in Cobridge. Under the amateur committee's direction, Vale finished eighth in the league with 16 points, demonstrating modest success in their first complete organised league venture. In cup competitions, they exited the FA Cup in the Second Qualifying Round at the hands of Walsall Town Swifts, and suffered a record 12–0 defeat to Aston Villa in the Second Round of the Staffordshire Senior Cup. However, they salvaged silverware by sharing the North Staffordshire Challenge Cup with Stoke after a final draw. The team's leading goalscorer was Frank McGinnes, who netted 15 league goals and 41 in total across all competitions. Attendances peaked at approximately 3,000 for the fixture against Preston North End on 6 October 1890, with an average crowd of around 1,429 throughout the season. Overview Midland League Burslem Port Vale became founder members of the Midland League along with 11 other clubs, including future Football League sides Gainsborough Trinity, Lincoln City, Rotherham Town and Sheffield United. The club's directors first had to deal with some legal issues, successfully defending themselves from a claim for lost wages by former player Jack Shields. To prepare for the new league the club signed three new players: 23-year-old Welsh winger Charlie Davies, 22-year-old inside-forward James Bryden from Hamilton Academicals and 21-year-old Scottish forward David Mackie; however, they lost both George Bateman and Lewis Ballham to Stoke. They opened the league campaign with three games at the Athletic Ground, beating Staveley and Long Eaton Rangers 2–1 and 7–2 respectively (Frank McGinnes scoring a hat-trick against Long Eaton Rangers), then coming to a disappointing 2–2 draw with Kidderminster. The Kidderminster draw was described as "one of the poorest displays of football ever witnessed on their enclosure" and criticism was made of the players' fitness levels, whilst McGinnes was said to be shooting as soon as he entered the opposition half. Two away defeats followed, with full-backs being described as the weak link, as Long Eaton Rangers avenged their earlier heavy defeat with a 5–2 victory at the Recreation Ground. Vale managed a highly respectable 1–1 draw with Sheffield United at Bramall Lane despite goalkeeper John Davies missing the train; however, the team would fail to avoid defeat on the road again until 28 February. Having beaten Derby Junction by three goals to one, the match was ordered to be replayed as the official referee failed to appear and Derby complained to The Football Association. Vale won the replayed fixture by three goals to none. Late December proved a disaster as they fell to 5–0 and 11–0 defeats at Lincoln City and Gainsborough Trinity; it was suggested the scoreline of the Boxing Day defeat to Gainsborough was such due to excessive drinking on Christmas Day. New members were assigned to the club's committee. They resolved to sign better players, telling the current squad to "train or take the consequences". They lost the return fixture at Derby Junction on 17 January, but appealed the result as Junction's home secretary officiated as the official referee failed to appear; the appeal was denied. Vale recorded home and away victories over Warwick County – winning 8–0 at home. McGinnes scored his second hat-trick of the season – but gained no points as County withdrew from the league. Their games were struck from the record. Home defeats to Gainsborough and Burton Wanderers followed, with the 3–1 defeat by Gainsborough being Vale's first defeat at home in the league, whilst the Burton Wanderers loss saw the referee having to be protected by the Vale players as angry youths accosted him. Still, Vale ended the league campaign in good form, beating Sheffield United and Staveley whilst taking a point from their visit to Lincoln. They finished the table in eighth place from the ten that completed the league programme, though they finished just five points off second-place Long Eaton Rangers. McGinnes finished as the club's top scorer with 15 league goals. The club's directors embarked on a locally based strategy, signing promising local players to five-year contracts. Charlie Davies was transferred to Newton and Joe Barr was allowed to sign with Accrington. Cup competitions Starting the FA Cup at the first qualification round, they progressed past Warwick County with a 3–1 away win but lost out 3–2 to Football Alliance side Walsall Town Swifts at the next stage. They faced disaster in the Staffordshire Senior Cup, being "completely outclassed" in a 12–0 defeat to Aston Villa at Wellington Road; the result remains the club's biggest ever margin of defeat. They fared much better in the North Staffordshire Challenge Cup, thrashing Burton Wanderers 7–0 in the semi-final to book their place in the final against Stoke; they drew the final 1–1, and the two teams shared the trophy after failing to arrange a replay. Results WinDrawLoss Midland League 1 6 September 1890 Burslem Port Vale 2–1 W Staveley McGinnes McCrindle Athletic Ground Cobridge thousands 2 13 September 1890 Burslem Port Vale 7–2 W Long Eaton Rangers McGinnes Ditchfield Mackie C.Davies Athletic Ground Cobridge 1,500 3 20 September 1890 Burslem Port Vale 2–2 D Kidderminster Mackie McGinnes Athletic Ground Cobridge 4 27 September 1890 Derby Midland 2–1 L Burslem Port Vale Ditchfield Midland Station Derby 1,500 5 11 October 1890 Long Eaton Rangers 5–2 L Burslem Port Vale McGinnes other Recreation Ground Long Eaton small 6 18 October 1890 Burslem Port Vale 4–0 W Derby Midland Ditchfield McGinnes Bryden Athletic Ground Cobridge poor 7 27 October 1890 Sheffield United 1–1 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/sheffield-united-v-burslem-port-vale-27-october-1890-306948/ Burslem Port Vale Robertson C.Davies Bramall Lane Sheffield 2,000 8 1 November 1890 Burslem Port Vale 3–1 W Derby Junction C.Davies Bryden Ditchfield Athletic Ground Cobridge 1,500 9 8 November 1890 Kidderminster 1–0 L Burslem Port Vale Aggborough Stadium Kidderminster large 10 29 November 1890 Burton Wanderers 4–0 L Burslem Port Vale Derby Turn Burton upon Trent 1,000 11 6 December 1890 Burslem Port Vale 3–0 W Derby Junction Ditchfield Curwen McGinnes Athletic Ground Cobridge 2,000 12 13 December 1890 Burslem Port Vale 3–0 W Rotherham Town McCrindle Ditchfield W.Jones Athletic Ground Cobridge 13 25 December 1890 Lincoln City 5–0 L Burslem Port Vale John O'Gaunts Lincoln 1,000 14 26 December 1890 Gainsborough Trinity 11–0 L Burslem Port Vale The Northolme Gainsborough, Lincolnshire 15 27 December 1890 Burslem Port Vale 1–2 L Rotherham Town og. Athletic Ground Cobridge very good 16 10 January 1891 Burslem Port Vale 3–1 W Lincoln City McGinnes C.Davies Athletic Ground Cobridge 1,500 17 17 January 1891 Derby Junction 3–2 L Burslem Port Vale scrimmage other Derby Arboretum Derby 1,000 18 28 February 1891 Warwick County 1–3 W Burslem Port Vale Ditchfield Draycott Edgbaston Birmingham average 19 14 March 1891 Burslem Port Vale 8–0 W Warwick County McGinnes Keeling og. Ditchfield Dean Athletic Ground Cobridge 2,000 20 28 March 1891 Burslem Port Vale 1–3 L Gainsborough Trinity McCrindle Athletic Ground Cobridge good 21 11 April 1891 Burslem Port Vale 1–2 L Burton Wanderers Keeling Athletic Ground Cobridge 1,500 22 13 April 1891 Burslem Port Vale 3–1 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/burslem-port-vale-v-sheffield-united-13-april-1891-306963/ Sheffield United C.Davies Elson other Watson Athletic Ground Cobridge 2,000 23 20 April 1891 Burslem Port Vale 1–1 D Lincoln City W.Jones Athletic Ground Cobridge 24 25 April 1891 Staveley 0–3 W Burslem Port Vale McGinnes Elson Recreation Ground Staveley, Derbyshire FA Cup 1890–91 FA Cup 1Q 4 October 1890 Warwick County 1–3 W Burslem Port Vale McCrindle Elson scrimmage Edgbaston Birmingham 2Q 25 October 1890 Burslem Port Vale 2–3 L Walsall Town Swifts McGinnes Coyle Athletic Ground Cobridge 1,500 Staffordshire Senior Cup 2R 26 January 1890 Aston Villa 12–0 L Burslem Port Vale Wellington Road Perry Barr 3,000 North Staffordshire Challenge Cup Semi-final 2 May 1890 Burton Wanderers 0–7 W Burslem Port Vale McGinnes Ditchfield Draycott Dean Derby Turn Burton upon Trent capital Final 9 May 1890 Stoke 1–1 D Burslem Port Vale Victoria Ground Stoke-upon-Trent Friendlies Friendly 1 September 1890 Newton Heath 5–1 L Burslem Port Vale McGinnes North Road Newton Heath 3,500 Friendly 8 September 1890 Burslem Port Vale 4–4 D Newton Heath McGinnes other Athletic Ground Cobridge 1,500 Friendly 15 September 1890 Burslem Port Vale 1–3 L Blackburn Rovers McGinnes Athletic Ground Cobridge 2,000 Friendly 22 September 1890 Burslem Port Vale 1–6 L Bolton Wanderers McGinnes Athletic Ground Cobridge Friendly 29 September 1890 Burslem Port Vale 1–2 L West Bromwich Albion McGinnes Athletic Ground Cobridge large Friendly 6 October 1890 Burslem Port Vale 2–6 L Preston North End McGinnes Athletic Ground Cobridge 3,000 Friendly 10 November 1890 Burslem Port Vale 0–3 L Everton Athletic Ground Cobridge 1,500 Friendly 15 November 1890 Small Heath 5–1 L Burslem Port Vale Hallam rush Wheldon W. Devey Muntz Street Small Heath 3,000 Friendly 22 November 1890 Middlesbrough Ironopolis 6–1 L Burslem Port Vale Nash Paradise Ground Middlesbrough 2,000 Friendly 24 November 1890 Burslem Port Vale 4–0 W London Casuals Matthews Curwen rush Ditchfield Athletic Ground Cobridge Friendly 20 December 1890 Burslem Port Vale 0–3 L Stoke Athletic Ground Cobridge Friendly 3 January 1891 Burslem Port Vale 7–0 W Leek McGinnes J.Davies McAlpine McCrindle Athletic Ground Cobridge Friendly 24 January 1891 Ardwick 3–2 L Burslem Port Vale McGinnes Hyde Road Gorton 1,000 Friendly 31 January 1891 Crewe Alexandra 2–3 W Burslem Port Vale McGinnes Dean W.Jones Alexandra Recreation Ground Crewe 1,500 Friendly 7 February 1891 Leek 1–2 W Burslem Port Vale scrimmage Ditchfield Westwood Lane Leek, Staffordshire 400 Friendly 14 February 1891 Burslem Port Vale 5–0 W Chirk Ditchfield og. Keeling W.Jones Athletic Ground Cobridge Friendly 16 February 1891 Burslem Port Vale 0–2 L Derby County Athletic Ground Cobridge 1,500 Friendly 7 March 1891 Burslem Port Vale 5–1 W Crewe Alexandra Ditchfield other Athletic Ground Cobridge 1,500 Friendly 9 March 1891 Burslem Port Vale 2–1 W Newton Heath Dean McGinnes Athletic Ground Cobridge 1,500 Friendly 17 March 1891 Bootle 2–1 L Burslem Port Vale Dean Hawthorne Road Bootle Friendly 30 March 1891 Stoke 1–1 D Burslem Port Vale McGinnes Victoria Ground Stoke-upon-Trent 3,000 Friendly 4 April 1891 Burslem Port Vale 5–0 W Northwich Victoria McGinnes McCrindle Athletic Ground Cobridge Friendly 6 April 1891 Burslem Port Vale 1–2 L Bootle McGinnes Athletic Ground Cobridge Friendly 18 April 1891 Macclesfield 0–1 W Burslem Port Vale rush Victoria Road Macclesfield 3,000 Friendly 27 April 1891 Stoke 1–0 L Burslem Port Vale Victoria Ground Stoke-upon-Trent 1,500 Squad statistics Appearances and goals Key to positions: GK – Goalkeeper; FB – Full back; HB – Half back; FW – Forward Midland League FA Cup Staffordshire Senior Cup Challenge Cup Friendlies GK Baker 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 GK John Davies 13 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 11 0 GK Levi Higginson 6 0 0 0 1 0 2 0 13 0 GK Nixon 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 FB SCO Joe Barr 22 0 2 0 1 0 2 0 21 0 FB ENG James Clutton 2 0 0 0 1 0 2 0 6 0 FB G Martin 5 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 4 0 FB Matthews 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 FB C. McAlpine 7 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 14 1 FB ENG Albert Skinner 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 HB ENG Billy Elson 20 2 2 1 1 0 2 0 21 0 HB SCO Bob McCrindle 22 3 2 1 1 0 2 0 21 2 HB ENG Billy Poulson 15 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 8 0 HB Sharp 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 HB Harry Slater 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 FW H Curwen 6 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 5 1 FW WAL 1807 Charlie Davies 20 5 1 0 0 0 2 0 18 0 FW J Davies 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 2 FW ENG Meshach Dean 8 1 0 0 1 0 2 1 14 3 FW ENG Billy Draycott 2 1 1 0 1 0 2 1 3 0 FW ENG Dick Danks 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 FW ENG Jimmy Ditchfield 18 11 2 0 1 0 2 2 21 9 FW W. Jones 14 2 1 0 1 0 0 0 11 2 FW J Keeling 4 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 8 1 FW SCO David Mackie 7 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 0 FW SCO Frank McGinnes 19 15 2 1 1 0 2 3 23 22 FW ENG John Nash 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 1 FW ENG Wally Owen 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 FW ENG Billy Reynolds 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 FW Fred Stokes 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 |- |colspan="14"|Players who featured but departed the club during the season: FB B Coyle 12 0 2 1 0 0 0 0 12 0 FB WAL 1807 Fred Jones 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 0 FW James Bryden 9 2 2 0 0 0 0 0 6 0 |} Top scorers PlacePositionNationNameMidland LeagueFA CupOtherTotal1FWScotlandFrank McGinnes15026412FWEnglandJimmy Ditchfield11010213HBScotlandBob McCrindle32384FWWales 1807Charlie Davies5005–FWEnglandMeshach Dean10456FWJ Keeling3014–HBW. Jones20248HBEnglandBilly Elson21039FWScotlandDavid Mackie2002–FWJames Bryden2002–FWH Curwen1012–FWEnglandBilly Draycott1012–FWJ Davies002214FWEnglandJohn Nash0011–FBEnglandB Coyle0101–FBEnglandC. McAlpine0011–FBEnglandMatthews0011–––Unknown3025–––Own goals2013–––Scrimmage1113TOTALS54557116 Transfers Transfers in Date from Position Nationality Name From Fee Ref. 1890 FW H Curwen Free transfer Kent Jeff Port Vale Personalities Witan Books 1996 0-9529152-0-0 1890 FW ENG Meshach Dean Free transfer 1890 GK ENG Levi Higginson Free transfer 1890 FW J Keeling Free transfer Summer 1890 FW James Bryden SCO Hamilton Academical Free transfer Summer 1890 FW ENG Billy Draycott Free transfer Summer 1890 FB WAL 1807 Fred Jones West Manchester Free transfer Summer 1890 FW W. Jones Free transfer Summer 1890 FW SCO David Mackie Free transfer Autumn 1890 FW ENG John Nash Free transfer December 1890 FB C. McAlpine Free transfer 1891 GK Nixon Free transfer Transfers out Date from Position Nationality Name To Fee Ref. September 1890 FB WAL 1807 Fred Jones Newton Heath Free transfer November 1890 FW James Bryden Released March 1891 FB B Coyle Released June 1891 FW ENG Billy Draycott Stoke Free transfer Summer 1891 HB ENG Billy Poulson Released 1891 FB SCO Joe Barr Accrington Free transfer 1891 FW H Curwen Released 1891 FW SCO David Mackie Released 1891 FW Fred Stokes Released 1891 FB G Martin Released 1891 FB Matthews Released References Specific General Kent, Jeff Jeff Kent (author) The Port Vale Record 1879-1993 Witan Books 1993 0-9508981-9-8 Category:Port Vale F.C. seasons Burslem Port Vale