1919–20 Port Vale F.C. season

March 2015 March 2015 Port Vale 1919–20 Tom HolfordJoe Schofield(from March) Secretary-manager Frank Huntbach Old Recreation Ground Football League Second Division 13th (40 points) FA Cup First Round(eliminated by Manchester United) Staffordshire Senior Cup Winners North Staffordshire Infirmary Cup Winners(shared with Stoke) Bobby Blood (24) Bobby Blood (26) 22,697 vs Stoke, 6 March 1920 3,000 vs Stockport County, 8 April 1920 11,247+ 4–0 (three games) 0–4 vs. Fulham, 1 May 1920 _2 white stripes ffffff ffffff ffffff 000000 000000 1918–19 1920–21 The 1919–20 season was Port Vale's first season of football back in the English Football League (their 14th overall following their brief 1892–96 and 1898–1907 spells in the 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 Following Leeds City's expulsion in October 1919, the club was elected to fill their position in the Second Division. This season also saw the introduction of the club's nickname, "the Valiants," coined by chairman Frank Huntbach. Managed by Tom Holford until March, he was succeeded by Joe Schofield, who would go on to serve as secretary-manager throughout the decade. The team played their home matches at the Old Recreation Ground and finished 13th in the 22-team league, accumulating 40 points from 42 matches. A standout feature of the season was the prolific performance of forward Bobby Blood, who netted 24 league goals and 26 in all competitions, making him the club's top scorer. His contributions were instrumental in Vale's mid-table finish, providing a solid foundation in their first full season back in the league. The club also achieved success in cup competitions, lifting the Staffordshire Senior Cup and sharing the North Staffordshire Infirmary Cup with Potteries derby rivals Stoke. The season's highlights included three 4–0 victories, showcasing the team's attacking prowess. However, they also suffered a heavy 4–0 defeat to Fulham in their final match of the season, highlighting areas for improvement. Despite these fluctuations, the team's performance was commendable for a club re-establishing itself in the Football League. In terms of attendance, the club attracted an average home crowd of approximately 11,247, with the highest recorded attendance being 22,697 for the local derby against Stoke on 6 March 1920. This strong support underscored the community's enthusiasm for the club's return to league football. Overall, the 1919–20 season was a positive step in Port Vale's re-entry into the Football League, setting the stage for future growth and success. 400px|thumb|Back row (players only) Joe Brough, Alf Bourne, unknown, unknown, Peter Pursell Front row: unknown, unknown, Billy Briscoe, Tom Holford (player manager), unknown, unknown [[File:Frank Huntbach.JPG|200px|thumb|right|Chairman Frank Huntbach, who coined the Valiants''' nickname.]] 200px|thumb|right|Player-manager Tom Holford. Return to the Football League Following Port Vale's resignation from the English Football League in 1907 and Stoke's resignation the years after, Staffordshire had been without representation in the league for eleven years. Following the end of the Great War, the Football League was organised back into its national form. In March 1919, Stoke, West Ham United, South Shields, Rotherham County, and Coventry City all gained re-election to the league – Port Vale were short by just one vote. In the Central League, Vale had won five of their eight games against the reserve sides of Football League First Division clubs Aston Villa, Manchester United, Manchester City, Everton, Blackburn Rovers, and the reserve side of Second Division Huddersfield Town. They lost the match against Manchester United after a rail strike meant they travelled to Old Trafford in taxi cabs. On 13 October 1919, Leeds City were expelled from the Football League over illegal payments to their players. Port Vale were elected to fill their spot (ahead of a bid from Tranmere Rovers). The club who had competed their 1906–07 season in the North Staffordshire Church League had taken the Port Vale name and played their way to the second tier of the national league within twelve years. Port Vale's reserve side fulfilled the remaining fixtures in the Central League. Leeds City had already played their games against Blackpool, Coventry City, Hull City, and Wolverhampton Wanderers, leaving Vale with a solid starting point of ten points from eight matches. Overview The club had built a strong side for the 1919–20 Central League campaign, signing skilful forward William Aitken and former Scotland international Peter Pursell from Rangers. Second Division Back in the Second Division, the club faced a battle to register their players in time for the nine-hour trip to South Shields, where they lost 2–0. Two defeats to eventual champions Tottenham Hotspur followed, before the club scored their first goal, and picked up their first win against South Shields on 10 November thanks to an Aaron Lockett strike. The club signed Bobby Blood from Leek United for £50 to bolster their strike force. The player had one leg shorter than the other and was riddled with bullets from his valiant efforts in the First World War. Yet, he would still prove the doctors wrong who said he would never play football again. The win against South Shields initiated a run of three wins in five games. It was around this time that chairman Frank Huntbach instilled the club with the official nickname of "The Valiants". However, this was followed by a streak of seven games without victory. Vale had settled in the league by January, despite going four goals down at Fulham on New Year's Day, they pulled back three goals to make the final score respectable. Billy Fitchford was seen as a vital influence as the team recorded just one defeat in eight games from mid-January. The first away win came at Nottingham Forest on 18 February. Ten days later, Blood scored all four goals in a 4–2 victory over Rotherham County after having previously claimed a hat-trick in a 4–1 win over Nottingham Forest. They faced Potteries derby rivals Stoke for the first time in the Football League on 6 March, losing 3–0 in front of the biggest attendance in the history of the Old Recreation Ground. Seven days later, Vale went to Stoke to claim a point in front of 27,000 fans. Joe Schofield was hired as secretary-manager in March. They opened April with a 4–0 win at Stockport County, though they lost three of their final four games. At the end of the season, Vale finished with 40 points, 30 of which came from their efforts and 10 from Leeds City. Easily, the club's top scorer was Bobby Blood with 26 goals, 24 of which were in the league (Second Division). Blood was playing in the Football League for the first time at the age of 25. Billy Briscoe scored eight goals in seven Central League games but failed to transfer this success to the Football League. "The Placer", writing in The Staffordshire Sentinel, reported that the club had three outstanding players: goalscorer Blood, "consistently fine half-back" Tom Holford, and the skillful Peter Pursell. All first-team players were retained, except for Billy Aitken, who was sold to Newcastle United. Finances Financially, the club were on much better terms than twelve years ago, with even practice matches well attended and supporters groups busy raising cash to improve the Old Recreation Ground. Seats were priced between one and two shillings. The club had also made almost £700 on their 1918–19 Central League season. In 1919–20, they recorded a profit of almost £650. Cup competitions The club qualified for the FA Cup by easily dispatching Central Alliance side Loughborough Corinthians 4–0. In the first round the Vale put up a brave fight against Manchester United, going out 1–0 in front of almost 15,000 supporters – thanks in part due to a great performance from opposition keeper Jack Mew, who remained unfazed by constant attempts from the home fans to put him off his game. The club lifted the Staffordshire Senior Cup for the first time in their history, dispatching Stoke Reserves 1–0 in the first round, before an epic semi-final with West Bromwich Albion Reserves that was settled after three replays with a Bobby Blood penalty. Billy Fitchford scored the only goal in the final against Birmingham Reserves at the Victoria Ground. The annual North Staffordshire Infirmary Cup game finished goalless, so the trophy was shared with Stoke. The match raised £309 for the local hospital.Kent Jeff The Potteries Derbies Witan Books 118 November 1998 0-9529152-3-5 Results Central League Results by matchday 1 30 August 1919 Aston Villa Reserves 0–2 W Port Vale Aitken Briscoe 2 1 September 1919 Port Vale 3–0 W Huddersfield Town Reserves Aitken Wootton Old Recreation Ground Hanley 4,000 3 6 September 1919 Port Vale 2–2 D Aston Villa Reserves Briscoe Old Recreation Ground Hanley magnificent 4 13 September 1919 Everton Reserves 1–3 W Port Vale Briscoe Aitken 2,000 5 20 September 1919 Port Vale 4–0 W Everton Reserves Briscoe Fitchford Broadhouse Old Recreation Ground Hanley very good 6 22 September 1919 Port Vale 1–0 W Manchester City Reserves Briscoe Old Recreation Ground Hanley 5,000 7 27 September 1919 Manchester United Reserves 3–2 L Port Vale Holford 3,000 8 11 October 1919 Blackburn Rovers Reserves 2–1 L Port Vale Lockett Football League Second Division 1919–20 Football League League table Second Division y PTV Results by matchday 9 18 October 1919 South Shields 2–0 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/south-shields-afc-v-port-vale-18-october-1919-94528/ Port Vale Horsley Hill South Shields 14,000 10 27 October 1919 Port Vale 0–1 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-tottenham-hotspur-27-october-1919-94545/ Tottenham Hotspur Cantrell Old Recreation Ground Hanley 16,000 11 1 November 1919 Tottenham Hotspur 2–0 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/tottenham-hotspur-v-port-vale-01-november-1919-94554/ Port Vale Bliss Smith White Hart Lane Tottenham, London 35,000 12 10 November 1919 Port Vale 1–0 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-south-shields-afc-10-november-1919-94566/ South Shields Lockett Old Recreation Ground Hanley 8,000 13 15 November 1919 Clapton Orient 2–1 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/leyton-orient-v-port-vale-15-november-1919-94572/ Port Vale Briscoe Clapton Stadium Clapton, London 8,000 14 22 November 1919 Lincoln City 0–0 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/lincoln-city-v-port-vale-22-november-1919-94587/ Port Vale Sincil Bank Lincoln 4,000 15 24 November 1919 Port Vale 4–2 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-leyton-orient-24-november-1919-94590/ Clapton Orient Blood Brough og. Old Recreation Ground Hanley 7,000 16 29 November 1919 Port Vale 1–0 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-lincoln-city-29-november-1919-94596/ Bury Brough Old Recreation Ground Hanley 8,000 17 6 December 1919 Bury 2–1 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/bury-v-port-vale-06-december-1919-94604/ Port Vale Brough Gigg Lane Bury, Greater Manchester 6,000 18 13 December 1919 Port Vale 2–2 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-bury-13-december-1919-94619/ Bury Blood Old Recreation Ground Hanley 6,000 19 25 December 1919 Port Vale 0–2 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-barnsley-25-december-1919-94640/ Barnsley Old Recreation Ground Hanley 12,000 20 26 December 1919 Barnsley 1–0 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/barnsley-v-port-vale-26-december-1919-94643/ Port Vale Oakwell Barnsley 16,000 21 1 January 1920 Port Vale 3–4 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-fulham-01-january-1920-94667/ Fulham Hill Blood Perry Old Recreation Ground Hanley 8,000 22 3 January 1920 Huddersfield Town 4–1 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/huddersfield-town-v-port-vale-03-january-1920-94675/ Port Vale Taylor Swann Blood Leeds Road Huddersfield 8,500 23 24 January 1920 Bristol City 1–1 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/bristol-city-v-port-vale-24-january-1920-94691/ Port Vale Lockett Ashton Gate Ashton Gate, Bristol 12,000 24 26 January 1920 Port Vale 3–1 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-bristol-city-26-january-1920-94700/ Bristol City Blood Lockett Old Recreation Ground Hanley 7,000 25 31 January 1920 15:00 GMT Port Vale 4–1 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-nottingham-forest-31-january-1920-94704/ Nottingham Forest Blood Fitchford Jones 62 Old Recreation Ground Hanley JH Alderson 10,000 26 7 February 1920 West Ham United 3–1 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/west-ham-united-v-port-vale-07-february-1920-94715/ Port Vale Puddefoot Blood Boleyn Ground Upton Park, London 25,000 27 14 February 1920 Port Vale 1–0 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-west-ham-united-14-february-1920-94726/ West Ham United Aitken Old Recreation Ground Hanley 15,000 28 18 February 1920 15:00 GMT Nottingham Forest 0–1 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/nottingham-forest-v-port-vale-18-february-1920-94731/ Port Vale Blood City Ground West Bridgford E Pullan 5,000 29 21 February 1920 Rotherham County 2–2 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/rotherham-county-v-port-vale-21-february-1920-94736/ Port Vale Briscoe Blood Millmoor Rotherham 10,000 30 28 February 1920 Port Vale 4–2 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-rotherham-county-28-february-1920-94747/ Rotherham County Blood Old Recreation Ground Hanley 12,000 31 6 March 1920 Port Vale 0–3 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-stoke-06-march-1920-94758/ Stoke Whittingham Brown Watkin Old Recreation Ground Hanley 22,697 32 13 March 1920 Stoke 0–0 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/stoke-v-port-vale-13-march-1920-94772/ Port Vale Victoria Ground Stoke-upon-Trent 27,000 33 20 March 1920 Port Vale 2–1 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-grimsby-town-20-march-1920-94785/ Grimsby Town Blood Brough Old Recreation Ground Hanley 13,500 34 27 March 1920 Grimsby Town 2–0 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/grimsby-town-v-port-vale-27-march-1920-94793/ Port Vale Blundell Park Cleethorpes 7,000 35 29 March 1920 Port Vale 0–0 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-huddersfield-town-29-march-1920-94798/ Huddersfield Town Old Recreation Ground Hanley 10,000 36 2 April 1920 Stockport County 0–4 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/stockport-county-v-port-vale-02-april-1920-94804/ Port Vale Aitken Blood Edgeley Park Stockport 8,000 37 3 April 1920 Port Vale 1–3 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-birmingham-city-03-april-1920-94814/ Birmingham Fitchford Hampton Lane Elkes Old Recreation Ground Hanley 15,000 38 8 April 1920 Port Vale 2–0 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-stockport-county-08-april-1920-94830/ Stockport County Blood Old Recreation Ground Hanley 3,000 39 10 April 1920 Birmingham 3–0 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/birmingham-city-v-port-vale-10-april-1920-94831/ Port Vale Lane Elkes St Andrew's Birmingham 30,000 40 17 April 1920 Port Vale 1–2 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-leicester-city-17-april-1920-94851/ Leicester City Blood Douglas Parker Old Recreation Ground Hanley 14,000 41 24 April 1920 Leicester City 0–1 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/leicester-city-v-port-vale-24-april-1920-94862/ Port Vale Aitken Filbert Street Leicester 20,000 42 1 May 1920 Fulham 4–0 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/fulham-v-port-vale-01-may-1920-94878/ Port Vale Craven Cottage Fulham, West London 14,000 FA Cup 1919–20 FA Cup 6Q 20 December 1919 Port Vale 4–0 W Loughborough Corinthians Brough Blood Lyons pen. Old Recreation Ground Hanley 5,000 1R 10 January 1920 Port Vale 0–1 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-manchester-united-10-january-1920-206698/ Manchester United Toms Old Recreation Ground Hanley 14,549 Staffordshire Senior Cup 1R 20 October 1919 Port Vale 1–0 W Stoke Reserves Hill Old Recreation Ground Hanley 8,000+ Semi-final 1 December 1919 Port Vale 1–1 D West Bromwich Albion Reserves Lockett Old Recreation Ground Hanley 4,000+ Replay 15 December 1919 West Bromwich Albion Reserves 0–0 D Port Vale Fitchford 2,000 Replay 23 February 1920 Port Vale 1–1 D West Bromwich Albion Reserves Aitken Old Recreation Ground Hanley 7,000+ Replay 12 April 1920 West Bromwich Albion Reserves 0–1 W Port Vale Blood 2,000 Final 15 May 1920 Port Vale 1–0 W Birmingham Reserves Neutral 4,000+ North Staffordshire Infirmary Cup Final 3 May 1920 Stoke 0–0 D Port Vale Victoria Ground Stoke-upon-Trent 4,500 Squad statistics 200px|thumb|right|Joe Brough, 33, returned to the Football League after a seven-year absence. 200px|thumb|right|Young forward Billy Briscoe was prolific in The Central League. 200px|thumb|right|Bobby Blood scored 24 Second Division goals against all the odds. Appearances and goals Key to positions: GK – Goalkeeper; FB – Full back; HB – Half back; FW – Forward Second Division FA Cup Other GK ENG Alfred Bourne 32 0 2 0 6 0 GK ENG Jonathan Hammond 2 0 0 0 9 0 FB ENG Edgar Bentley 2 0 0 0 0 0 FB ENG Percy Ellis 12 0 0 0 3 0 FB ENG Tom Lyons 32 0 2 1 13 0 FB ENG Ben Marsden 0 0 0 0 0 0 FB SCO Peter Pursell 33 0 2 0 14 0 HB ENG Joe Brough 22 4 1 2 2 0 HB ENG Tom Holford 26 0 0 0 11 2 HB ENG Arthur McGarry 30 0 2 0 13 0 HB ENG Andie Newton 14 0 2 0 6 0 HB ENG Ernest Perry 26 1 2 0 6 0 HB ENG Tommy Sinclair 0 0 0 0 0 0 FW SCO William Aitken 30 4 1 0 13 5 FW ENG Bobby Blood 28 24 2 1 2 0 FW ENG Billy Briscoe 12 2 0 0 13 8 FW ENG Albert Broadhouse 4 0 2 0 8 1 FW ENG Dick Burgess 0 0 0 0 0 0 FW ENG Billy Fitchford 19 2 2 0 9 2 FW ENG James Hill 15 1 0 0 6 1 FW ENG Aaron Lockett 9 3 0 0 5 2 FW ENG Alfred Manning 1 0 0 0 0 0 FW ENG Albert Pearson 0 0 0 0 6 0 FW ENG George Shelton 2 0 0 0 0 0 FW ENG Robert Waine 0 0 0 0 1 0 FW ENG Harry Wainwright 4 0 0 0 0 0 FW ENG James Wootton 19 0 2 0 9 1 |- |colspan="14"|Players who featured but departed the club during the season:'' FW ENG Archie Dyke 0 0 0 0 2 0 |} Top scorers PlacePositionNationNameSecond DivisionFA CupOtherTotal1FWEnglandBobby Blood2411262FWEnglandBilly Briscoe208103FWScotlandWilliam Aitken40594HBEnglandJoe Brough42065FWEnglandAaron Lockett30256FWEnglandBilly Fitchford20247FWEnglandJames Hill1012–FWEnglandTom Holford00229FWAlbert Broadhouse0011–HBEnglandErnest Perry1001–FWEnglandJames Wootton0011–FWEnglandTom Lyons0101–––Leeds City170017–––Own goals1001TOTALS5942386 Transfers Transfers in Date from Position Nationality Name From Fee Ref. Summer 1919 FW ENG William Aitken SCO Rangers £500 Summer 1919 FB ENG Percy Ellis Walsall Free transfer August 1919 FW ENG Archie Dyke Aston Villa Free transfer August 1919 HB ENG Ernest Perry Stoke Free transfer August 1919 FB SCO Peter Pursell SCO Rangers £2,500 August 1919 FW ENG James Wootton Leek Alexandra Free transfer September 1919 FW ENG Aaron Lockett Stafford Rangers Free transfer November 1919 FW ENG Bobby Blood Leek United £50 December 1919 FW ENG Harry Wainwright Highfields Free transfer January 1920 FW John Davis Bredbury United Free transfer Kent Jeff Port Vale Personalities Witan Books 1996 0-9529152-0-0 April 1920 HB ENG Jack Mellor New Mills Free transfer Transfers out Date from Position Nationality Name To Fee Ref. October 1919 FW ENG Archie Dyke Stafford Rangers Free transfer May 1920 FW ENG William Aitken Newcastle United £2,500 Summer 1920 FB ENG Edgar Bentley Released Summer 1920 FW Albert Broadhouse Released Summer 1920 FW ENG Aaron Lockett Audley Released Summer 1920 FW Alfred Manning Shildon Free transfer Summer 1920 HB ENG Andie Newton Southend United Released Summer 1920 FW ENG George Shelton Released Summer 1920 FW ENG Harry Wainwright Highfields 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