1950–51 Port Vale F.C. season

March 2015 March 2015 Port Vale 1950–51 Gordon Hodgson William Holdcroft Vale Park Football League Third Division South 12th (45 points) FA Cup Third Round(eliminated by Stoke City) Cliff Pinchbeck (16) Cliff Pinchbeck (19) 30,196 vs. Newport County, 24 August 1950 2,630 vs. Exeter City, 30 April 1951 10,832 3–0 vs. Exeter City, 10 February 1951 0–3 (twice) _band_white ffffff ffffff ffffff 000000 000000 1949–50 1951–52 The 1950–51 season was Port Vale's 39th season of football in the English Football League, and their sixth full season in the Third Division South.Kent Jeff The Valiants' Years: The Story Of Port Vale Witan Books 1990 171–196 Fame and Fortune (1950–1959) 0-9508981-4-7 It was the first at the newly-built Vale Park, which replaced the Old Recreation Ground in the summer of 1950. Under manager Gordon Hodgson and chairman William Holdcroft, Vale achieved a 12th‑place finish with 45 points, concluding their league campaign with a record of 16 wins, 13 draws and 17 defeats from 46 matches (scoring 60 goals, conceding 65). In the FA Cup, Potteries derby rivals Stoke City visited Vale Park in the Third Round, drawing 2–2 away before Vale fell 1–0 in a replay in front of a packed 49,500 crowd. Cliff Pinchbeck led the scoring, finishing as both league top scorer (16 goals) and overall top scorer (19). Attendances held up well at the new stadium, with an average crowd of 10,832, although the lowest turnout was just 2,630 for the fixture against Exeter City on 30 April 1951. The season also saw the debut of club legend Roy Sproson, and was tinged with tragedy: manager Hodgson died the following summer after cancer, making it his final term in charge. 200px|thumb|right|Manager Gordon Hodgson during his playing days. Overview Third Division South The pre-season saw expansion for the league, and so the addition of two new teams to the division; nevertheless, only one promotion place was available for the 24 teams. For Vale, two attacking players were added to the squad; Syd Peppitt arrived from Stoke City for £4,000, and Roland Lewis was signed from Congleton Town.http://www.onevalefan.co.uk/site/2014/11/the-sentinels-1950-51-season-preview/ The Sentinel's 1950-51 season preview 11 November 2014 onevalefan.co.uk 11 November 2014 https://web.archive.org/web/20150924060427/http://www.onevalefan.co.uk/site/2014/11/the-sentinels-1950-51-season-preview/ 24 September 2015 dead dmy-all The season opened with a 2–0 defeat to Norwich City at Carrow Road, though the real excitement came five days later on 24 August, when Vale Park hosted its first league game; 30,196 turned up to see Newport County beaten 1–0 with a Walter Aveyard goal.Substack Valiant's Cup games and much to improve https://portvalethevaliant.substack.com/p/cup-games-and-much-to-improve 1 December 2025 Valiant's Substack 1 December 2025 The stadium had cost £50,000 and held 40,000 spectators, though work was still needed to complete the covers. Three straight losses followed, and as a result, four players were transfer listed. As the weather turned bleak, the attendance suffered, as less than a fortnight after its opening, the stadium hosted 15,884 fans for the win over Ipswich Town (a reduction of almost 50%). The lack of cover did nothing to encourage fans to show up. Nevertheless, the team won six of their opening seven home games, losing six of their first seven away games. On 14 October, Vale were beaten 2–0 at bottom club Walsall. On 28 October, they travelled to The Den, where they fought to earn a 2–2 draw with high-flying Millwall, Tommy Cheadle playing on despite breaking three teeth in a hefty collision. On 11 November they drew 1–1 with Gillingham at the Priestfield Stadium. This game saw the first of Roy Sproson's 842 club appearances. The Christmas Day stalemate with Bristol Rovers had to be played at the Victoria Ground as the Vale Park pitch suffered from inadequate drainage that made it vulnerable to postponements. Results tailed off after Christmas, leaving Vale in a re-election fight by the start of February. This was partly due to an outbreak of flu, which affected eleven of the players. A run of eight wins in eleven games soon allayed any fears of Vale losing their league status. A 3–0 win at Exeter City was the club's first away win in 25 attempts, and was duly followed by a 3–2 victory at Leyton Orient two weeks later. The club were so confident as to sell right-half Bill McGarry to Huddersfield Town for £12,000 – he would later be selected in the England squad for the 1954 FIFA World Cup. On 31 March, Vale won 4–3 at home to Gillingham, despite Billy Hales scoring a hat-trick on his debut for the visitors. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/118242342 Chatham, Rochester and Gillingham News 8 February 2023 Newspapers.com subscription Recovery Came Just Too Late 6 April 1951 Waterlogging of the Vale Park pitch caused numerous games to be postponed, as well as abandonment when the team were 5–1 ahead against Crystal Palace. This meant six home games would be played between 23 April and 3 May. This gave young reserves a chance to impress. The one victory, 2–0 at home to Exeter City, came on a total quagmire. They finished 12th with 45 points, 25 points short of promotion. Cliff Pinchbeck proved to be the only regular scorer, with 19 goals, though he was on the transfer list at his own request. Finances On the financial side, a profit of £5,367 was recorded thanks to a transfer credit of £12,315. Gate receipts had fallen to £27,650, though the wage bill was slashed to £20,063. Leaving the club were new signings Peppitt and Lewis, the former joining Worcester City. On 16 May, the club hosted Progrès Niederkorn of Luxembourg, who were on their British tour, Vale won 4–1. After the game 3,000 tons of soil were removed from the stadium, as a new drainage system was installed. On 14 June, manager Gordon Hodgson died following a lengthy battle against cancer, his funeral at Carmountside was conducted by Reverend Norman Hallam. His replacement was Ivor Powell, who was signed as player-manager from Aston Villa. FA Cup In the FA Cup, the "Valiants" progressed past Third Division North New Brighton and Lancashire Combination Nelson with two 3–2 home victories. Drawn against First Division Potteries derby rivals Stoke in the third round, it was the first competitive derby game since 1933. Vale showed some 'lively attacking' to achieve a 2–2 draw at the Victoria Ground on 6 January in front of a crowd of 49,500. Vale Park had problems with drainage, and so the replay two days later had to be played at the Victoria Ground as well – this time, 40,977 fans showed up. Stoke won by the odd goal from Frank Bowyer, though Vale were consoled by the £2,800 worth of gate receipts they had earned. Results Football League Third Division South 1950–51 Football League League table Third Division South y PTV Results by matchday table b Round Ground A/H/H/A/A/H/A/A/H/A/H/H/A/H/A/H/A/H/H/A/H/A/H/A/A/A/H/A/A/A/H/H/A/A/A/H/H/A/H/A/H/H/H/H/H/A Result L/W/L/L/L/W/L/D/W/L/W/W/L/W/D/L/D/W/W/D/D/L/D/D/L/L/W/W/L/W/D/W/L/L/W/W/W/L/D/D/L/D/D/W/L/D Position 19/16/21/24/24/19/21/21/18/21/20/16/18/15/14/16/16/13/13/13/13/14/15/15/16/17/17/14/17/13/14/12/13/14/13/12/11/12/13/13/14/14/13/12/12/12 Points 0p/2p/2p/2p/2p/4p/4p/5p/7p/7p/9p/11p/11p/13p/14p/14p/15p/17p/19p/20p/21p/21p/22p/23p/23p/23p/25p/27p/27p/29p/30p/32p/32p/32p/34p/36p/38p/38p/39p/40p/40p/41p/42p/44p/44p/45p Home Away green2 Win yellow2 Draw red2 Loss green1 red1 StattoPort Vale 1950–1951 : Results & Fixtures https://web.archive.org/web/20160304064735/http://www.statto.com/football/teams/port-vale/1950-1951/results 4 March 2016 . Statto Organisation. Retrieved 28 April 2012. Matches 1 19 August 1950 Norwich City 2–0 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/norwich-city-v-port-vale-19-august-1950-169096/ Port Vale Carrow Road Norwich 27,288 2 24 August 1950 Port Vale 1–0 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-newport-county-24-august-1950-169109/ Newport County Aveyard Vale Park Burslem 30,196 3 26 August 1950 Port Vale 0–3 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-northampton-town-26-august-1950-169119/ Northampton Town Vale Park Burslem 21,424 4 31 August 1950 Newport County 2–1 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/newport-county-v-port-vale-31-august-1950-169134/ Port Vale Parker Moore Palk pen. Somerton Park Newport, Wales 13,537 5 2 September 1950 Plymouth Argyle 1–0 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/plymouth-argyle-v-port-vale-02-september-1950-169145/ Port Vale Blatchford Home Park Plymouth 19,288 6 4 September 1950 Port Vale 1–0 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-ipswich-town-04-september-1950-169150/ Ipswich Town Pinchbeck Vale Park Burslem 15,884 7 9 September 1950 15:00 BST Nottingham Forest 2–1 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/nottingham-forest-v-port-vale-09-september-1950-169166/ Port Vale Capel 31 Ardron 80 Hulligan City Ground West Bridgford B Flanagan 29,295 8 13 September 1950 Ipswich Town 2–2 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/ipswich-town-v-port-vale-13-september-1950-169178/ Port Vale Pinchbeck Hulligan Portman Road Ipswich 10,724 9 16 September 1950 Port Vale 1–0 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-torquay-united-16-september-1950-169193/ Torquay United Pinchbeck Vale Park Burslem 14,424 10 23 September 1950 Aldershot 2–0 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/aldershot-v-port-vale-23-september-1950-169198/ Port Vale Recreation Ground Aldershot 7,358 11 30 September 1950 Port Vale 2–1 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-swindon-town-30-september-1950-169220/ Swindon Town Peppitt Bennett Court 3 Vale Park Burslem G.L. Iliffe 9,517 12 7 October 1950 Port Vale 3–1 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-leyton-orient-07-october-1950-169232/ Leyton Orient Hulligan Peppitt Pinchbeck Vale Park Burslem 12,899 13 14 October 1950 Walsall 2–0 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/walsall-v-port-vale-14-october-1950-169245/ Port Vale Fellows Park Walsall 9,686 14 21 October 1950 Port Vale 2–1 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-watford-21-october-1950-169256/ Watford Pinchbeck Fisher Vale Park Burslem 12,112 15 28 October 1950 Millwall 2–2 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/millwall-v-port-vale-28-october-1950-169265/ Port Vale Martin McGarry The Den New Cross, Lewisham 25,799 16 4 November 1950 Port Vale 1–3 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-bristol-city-04-november-1950-169280/ Bristol City Hulligan Vale Park Burslem 11,603 17 11 November 1950 Gillingham 1–1 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/gillingham-v-port-vale-11-november-1950-169286/ Port Vale Thomas Peppitt Priestfield Stadium Gillingham, Kent 12,103 18 18 November 1950 Port Vale 3–1 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-bournemouth-and-boscombe-athletic-18-november-1950-169303/ Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic Pinchbeck Palk pen. Aveyard Vale Park Burslem 8,153 19 2 December 1950 Port Vale 3–1 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-southend-united-02-december-1950-169314/ Southend United Pinchbeck Palk Vale Park Burslem 8,339 20 23 December 1950 Northampton Town 1–1 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/northampton-town-v-port-vale-23-december-1950-169333/ Port Vale Martin County Cricket Ground Northampton 8,785 21 25 December 1950 Port Vale 0–0 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-bristol-rovers-25-december-1950-169344/ Bristol Rovers Vale Park Burslem 13,250 22 26 December 1950 Bristol Rovers 2–0 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/bristol-rovers-v-port-vale-26-december-1950-169351/ Port Vale Eastville Stadium Bristol 22,279 23 13 January 1951 15:00 GMT Port Vale 1–1 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-nottingham-forest-13-january-1951-169387/ Nottingham Forest Pinchbeck Capel 15 Vale Park Burslem B Flanagan 13,148 24 17 January 1951 Brighton & Hove Albion 2–2 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/brighton-and-hove-albion-v-port-vale-17-january-1951-169390/ Port Vale Pinchbeck Goldstone Ground Hove 5,754 25 20 January 1951 Torquay United 3–2 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/torquay-united-v-port-vale-20-january-1951-169403/ Port Vale Aveyard McGarry Plainmoor Torquay 6,280 26 27 January 1951 Reading 3–0 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/reading-v-port-vale-27-january-1951-169409/ Port Vale Elm Park Reading, Berkshire 15,409 27 3 February 1951 Port Vale 3–1 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-aldershot-03-february-1951-169425/ Aldershot Aveyard Pinchbeck Martin Vale Park Burslem 8,606 28 10 February 1951 Exeter City 0–3 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/exeter-city-v-port-vale-10-february-1951-169429/ Port Vale Palk Hulligan Martin St James Park Exeter W.E.Dellow G.W.Stevenson, H.C.Dowell 7,893 29 17 February 1951 Swindon Town 2–1 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/swindon-town-v-port-vale-17-february-1951-169447/ Port Vale Peart 17 Millar 84 Pinchbeck 33 County Ground Swindon G.L. Iliffe 7,889 30 24 February 1951 Leyton Orient 2–3 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/leyton-orient-v-port-vale-24-february-1951-169454/ Port Vale Hulligan Pinchbeck og. Brisbane Road Leyton 6,861 31 3 March 1951 Port Vale 1–1 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-walsall-03-march-1951-169470/ Walsall Pinchbeck Vale Park Burslem 13,071 32 5 March 1951 Port Vale 2–1 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-plymouth-argyle-05-march-1951-169473/ Plymouth Argyle Aveyard Martin Willis Vale Park Burslem 4,894 33 10 March 1951 Watford 2–0 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/watford-v-port-vale-10-march-1951-169485/ Port Vale Garbutt Oliver Vicarage Road Watford 6,610 34 24 March 1951 Bristol City 3–1 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/bristol-city-v-port-vale-24-march-1951-169507/ Port Vale Hulligan Ashton Gate Ashton Gate, Bristol 17,301 35 26 March 1951 Crystal Palace 0–2 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/crystal-palace-v-port-vale-26-march-1951-169518/ Port Vale Barber og. Selhurst Park Selhurst, Croydon 11,320 36 31 March 1951 Port Vale 4–3 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-gillingham-31-march-1951-169538/ Gillingham Aveyard Griffiths Barber Hales Vale Park Burslem 5,947 37 2 April 1951 Port Vale 2–1 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-norwich-city-02-april-1951-169541/ Norwich City Barber Vale Park Burslem 10,247 38 7 April 1951 Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic 3–1 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/bournemouth-and-boscombe-athletic-v-port-vale-07-april-1951-169545/ Port Vale Barber Dean Court Bournemouth 8,742 39 16 April 1951 Port Vale 1–1 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-colchester-united-16-april-1951-169574/ Colchester United Palk Elder Vale Park Burslem 8,520 40 21 April 1951 Southend United 1–1 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/southend-united-v-port-vale-21-april-1951-169594/ Port Vale Griffiths Southend Stadium Southend-on-Sea 8,554 41 23 April 1951 Port Vale 0–1 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-brighton-and-hove-albion-23-april-1951-169598/ Brighton & Hove Albion Vale Park Burslem 10,340 42 26 April 1951 Port Vale 2–2 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-crystal-palace-26-april-1951-169605/ Crystal Palace Palk Bennett Vale Park Burslem 7,069 43 28 April 1951 Port Vale 0–0 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-reading-28-april-1951-169615/ Reading Vale Park Burslem 3,402 44 30 April 1951 Port Vale 2–0 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-exeter-city-30-april-1951-169620/ Exeter City Cunliffe Barber Vale Park Burslem 2,630 45 3 May 1951 Port Vale 0–1 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-millwall-03-may-1951-169627/ Millwall Vale Park Burslem 5,459 46 5 May 1951 Colchester United 1–1 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/colchester-united-v-port-vale-05-may-1951-169632/ Port Vale McKim Barber Layer Road Colchester 8,414 FA Cup 1950–51 FA Cup R1 25 November 1950 Port Vale 3–2 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-new-brighton-25-november-1950-209944/ New Brighton Aveyard Pinchbeck Vale Park Burslem 8,997 R2 9 December 1950 Port Vale 3–2 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-nelson-09-december-1950-209971/ Nelson Pinchbeck Hulligan Aveyard Vale Park Burslem 11,088 R3 6 January 1951 Stoke City 2–2 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/stoke-city-v-port-vale-06-january-1951-210008/ Port Vale Mullard Bennett Pinchbeck Victoria Ground Stoke-upon-Trent 49,500 Replay 8 January 1951 Stoke City 1–0 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-stoke-city-08-january-1951-210011/ Port Vale Bowyer Victoria Ground Stoke-upon-Trent 40,977 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 17 0 0 0 GK ENG Ray King 29 0 4 0 FB ENG John Abbotts 3 0 0 0 FB ENG Garth Butler 5 0 0 0 FB ENG Lol Hamlett 45 0 4 0 FB ENG Reg Potts 23 0 2 0 FB ENG Stan Turner 6 0 1 0 HB ENG Tommy Cheadle 32 0 4 0 HB ENG Basil Hayward 25 0 1 0 HB ENG Albert Leake 1 0 0 0 HB ENG Alan Martin 42 5 4 0 HB ENG Roy Sproson 10 0 0 0 HB NIR Jimmy Todd 8 0 0 0 FW ENG Walter Aveyard 33 7 4 3 FW ENG Len Barber 14 7 0 0 FW ENG John Cunliffe 8 1 0 0 FW ENG Alan Bennett 28 2 3 1 FW ENG Ken Griffiths 8 2 1 0 FW ENG Mick Hulligan 46 7 4 1 FW ENG Roland Lewis 6 0 0 0 FW ENG Stan Palk 45 6 4 0 FW ENG Syd Peppitt 11 3 0 0 FW ENG Cliff Pinchbeck 30 16 4 3 |- |colspan="14"|Players who featured but departed the club during the season: HB ENG Bill McGarry 31 2 4 0 |} Top scorers PlacePositionNationNameThird Division SouthFA CupTotal1FWEnglandCliff Pinchbeck163192FWEnglandWalter Aveyard73103FWEnglandMick Hulligan7184FWEnglandLen Barber7075FWEnglandStan Palk6066HBEnglandAlan Martin5057FWEnglandSyd Peppitt303–FWEnglandAlan Bennett2139HBEnglandBill McGarry202–FWEnglandKen Griffiths20211FWEnglandJohn Cunliffe101–––Own goals202TOTALS60565 Transfers Transfers in Date from Position Nationality Name From Fee Ref. May 1950 FW ENG Syd Peppitt Stoke City £4,000 Kent Jeff Port Vale Personalities Witan Books 1996 0-9529152-0-0 May 1950 FW ENG Stan Smith Stoke City Free transfer May 1950 FW ENG Pat Willdigg Stoke City Free transfer Transfers out Date from Position Nationality Name To Fee Ref. March 1951 HB ENG Bill McGarry Huddersfield Town £12,000 Summer 1951 FW ENG Syd Peppitt Worcester City Released 1951 FW ENG Derek Tomkinson Burton Albion Free transfer 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