1897–98 Burslem Port Vale F.C. season

March 2015 March 2015 Burslem Port Vale 1897–98 Sam Gleaves Secretary Edward Oliver Athletic Ground Midland League 5th (23 points) FA Cup Second Round(eliminated by Burnley) Birmingham Senior Cup First Round(eliminated by West Bromwich Albion) Staffordshire Senior Cup Runners-up(eliminated by West Bromwich Albion) Danny Simpson (9) Dick Evans, Danny Simpson (11 each) 15,000 vs. Sheffield United, 2 February 1898 500 vs. Burton Wanderers, 11 October 1897 1,400 5–0 and 6–1 0–3 (twice) and 1–4 (twice) _red_stripes _red_stripes _red_stripes FFFFFF FFFFFF FFFFFF 000080 000080 1896–97 1898–99 The 1897–98 season was Burslem Port Vale's second season of football (fourth overall) in the 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 Under secretary‑manager Sam Gleaves and chairman Edward Oliver, Vale recovered from poor early form, losing seven of their opening nine, and went on a strong run between November and March to finish fifth with 23 points from 22 matches (10 wins, 3 draws, 9 losses), scoring 46 goals and conceding 32. In cup competitions, Vale enjoyed a memorable FA Cup run: they upset Football League First Division champions Sheffield United, defeating them in a replay to reach the Second Round, before bowing out to Burnley. They took West Bromwich Albion to a second replay in the Birmingham Senior Cup (exiting in the First Round) and advanced to the Staffordshire Senior Cup final, beating Stoke in the semi-finals but losing to West Brom in the final. For the second consecutive season, forwards Danny Simpson and Dick Evans shared the top scorer accolade with 11 goals in all competitions, Simpson netting nine in the Midland League. Vale drew a season-high 15,000 spectators for a cup tie against Sheffield United on 2 February 1898, while attendances averaged around 1,400, with lows of nearly 500. Their results, both in league and cup, helped earn re‑election to the Football League Second Division for the 1898–99 season. Overview Midland League Burslem Port Vale retained the entire first-team of the 1896–97 campaign and strengthened the squad by signing four Stoke players: former England international right-back Tommy Clare, right-half Lucien Boullemier, left-winger Billy Heames and left-half Ted McDonald. They unveiled a new kit of red and white striped tops with blue knickers. The season opened with an "exciting" 2–2 draw with Burton Wanderers; the attendance at the Athletic Ground was a healthy 2,000, though Clare had trouble with his boots and played most of the match wearing just one of them. Two away defeats followed, and young reserve Frank Mitchell was then installed at centre-forward and proved an instant success, scoring a hat-trick in a 4–0 home win over Kettering. However, four league defeats later the players and directors met to discuss what was going wrong; the 1–0 defeat by Barnsley St Peter's was a particular calamity as goalkeeper Tom Poole punched the ball into his own net from an indirect free kick. Four league defeats were followed by four straight league wins, including a double over third-placed Rushden. They then slipped to a 4–1 boxing day defeat at Kettering but recovered to beat Doncaster Rovers 4–0 to head into second-place on 3 January. This started a run of five wins and two draws from seven games, with Clare being credited for inspiring the players "with a confidence never before approached". However, they finished the campaign with two away defeats, ending up in fifth-place with 23 points from 22 games. Danny Simpson finished with a tally of nine league goals, indicating that the club could benefit from a consistent goalscorer at centre-forward. Nevertheless, the club's exploits in the FA Cup saw them achieve 18 votes in their successful application to rejoin the Football League. Finances The 1897–98 season saw the club lose £106, with the gate receipts from the FA Cup second round match raising £60 more than the entire league campaign.Kent Jeff The Valiants' Years: The Story Of Port Vale Witan Books 1990 50–70 The Hopeless Struggle (1898-1907) 0-9508981-4-7 Cup competitions Vale found great success in the FA Cup, beating Football League Second Division side Small Heath 2–1 in the third qualification round thanks to a brace from Clare; Small Heath had originally proposed to switch the venue to Muntz Street for a £100 payment, but were refused. The final scoreline was "could scarcely be credited in Birmingham until the evening papers confirmed it".'Retlaw' (5 November 1897). "Football Arrows". The Birmingham Pictorial and Dart: p.6. After a walkover victory against Kidderminster, they were fired by a "special inducement" and played "with dash and skill" to eliminate Burton Wanderers 2–1 to reach the first round proper. Eventual Football League First Division champions Sheffield United were expecting to romp to victory at Bramall Lane, but the Vale team were in confident mood and held out for a 1–1 draw, the home side only staying in the tie due to a dubious penalty. Vale rejected an offer of £250 to play the replay at Bramall Lane, and went on to win the tie 2–1.Baggaley Mike Talking points as Swindon await https://portvalethevaliant.substack.com/p/talking-points-as-swindon-await 31 August 2026 Valiant's Substack 31 August 2026 Dick Evans gave Vale a two-minute lead before United equalised with a rush goal eight minutes from time. In extra time, United goalkeeper William Foulke "acted in an idiotic manner" and was caught out of position as Vale's Billy Heames broke away, running half the length of the pitch before pulling the ball back for Lucien Boullemier to score the winning goal.The Giant Killers https://www.freewebs.com/captainbeecher/1898burslemportvale.htm The Giant Killers 18 June 2020 Vale claimed earnings of £350 for the fixture as a crowd of 15,000 witnessed the giantkilling; the Burslem school board gave schoolchildren a special holiday so they could attend the game. Second Division leaders Burnley awaited in the second round, but Vale were below par as they slipped to a 3–0 defeat at Turf Moor.Fielding Rob The most important giantkilling in Port Vale's history took place in 1898 https://www.onevalefan.co.uk/2020/06/the-most-important-giantkilling-in-port-vales-history-took-place-in-1898/ 18 June 2020 onevalefan.co.uk 18 June 2020 Vale were pitted against high-flying First Division club West Bromwich Albion in the first round of the Birmingham Senior Cup and, after two 0–0 draws, were finally beaten 2–1 in the second replay. Vale confidently dispatched Burton Wanderers 5–0 in the first round of the Staffordshire Senior Cup. A 3–1 win over Potteries derby rivals Stoke in front of a home crowd of 7,000 took them into the final for the first time, where they again faced West Bromwich Albion, this time at the neutral venue of the Victoria Ground. A 8,500 crowd turned up, but West Brom denied Vale any silverware as they claimed a 2–1 victory. Results WinDrawLoss Midland League 1 6 September 1897 Burslem Port Vale 2–2 D Burton Wanderers T.Evans Belfield Athletic Ground Cobridge 2,000 2 11 September 1897 Barnsley St Peter's 4–2 L Burslem Port Vale D.Evans Belfield Oakwell Barnsley 2,000 3 18 September 1897 Long Eaton Rangers 3–0 L Burslem Port Vale Recreation Ground Long Eaton 1,000 4 25 September 1897 Burslem Port Vale 4–0 W Kettering Mitchell Belfield Athletic Ground Cobridge 5 2 October 1897 Mexborough 2–0 L Burslem Port Vale Recreation Ground Mexborough splendid 6 9 October 1897 Burslem Port Vale 0–1 L Barnsley St Peter's Athletic Ground Cobridge 1,200 7 16 October 1897 Burton Wanderers 4–1 L Burslem Port Vale Peake Derby Turn Burton upon Trent 8 23 October 1897 Burslem Port Vale 1–2 L Chesterfield McDonald Athletic Ground Cobridge 1,000 9 6 November 1897 Burslem Port Vale 4–0 W Ilkeston Town McDonald Bayley D.Evans Athletic Ground Cobridge 1,500 10 13 November 1897 Burslem Port Vale 2–0 W Rushden T.Evans Simpson Athletic Ground Cobridge 1,000 11 4 December 1897 Burslem Port Vale 5–1 W Mexborough Heames Simpson Price Athletic Ground Cobridge 12 18 December 1897 Rushden 1–4 W Burslem Port Vale Price Heames T.Evans Rushden 13 26 December 1897 Kettering 4–1 L Burslem Port Vale Rockingham Road Kettering 14 3 January 1898 Burslem Port Vale 4–0 W Doncaster Rovers D.Evans Simpson Price Athletic Ground Cobridge 2,000 15 8 January 1898 Doncaster Rovers 0–0 D Burslem Port Vale Intake Ground Doncaster 1,500 16 15 January 1898 Glossop North End 0–1 W Burslem Port Vale Simpson Glossop 2,000 17 5 February 1898 Burslem Port Vale 6–1 W Wellingborough Town Simpson D.Evans T.Evans Bayley (pen) Athletic Ground Cobridge 1,000 18 19 February 1898 Burslem Port Vale 3–0 W Long Eaton Rangers Mitchell Athletic Ground Cobridge disgraceful 19 26 February 1898 Chesterfield 1–1 D Burslem Port Vale Peake Saltergate Chesterfield, Derbyshire 4,000 20 12 March 1898 Burslem Port Vale 4–2 W Glossop North End Simpson Hodgkinson og. Athletic Ground Cobridge 1,500 21 9 April 1898 Ilkeston Town 2–1 L Burslem Port Vale Heames Manor Ground Ilkeston 1,500 22 16 April 1898 Wellingborough Town 2–0 L Burslem Port Vale Wellingborough 600 FA Cup 1897–98 FA Cup 3Q 30 October 1897 Burslem Port Vale 2–1 W Small Heath D.Evans Walton Athletic Ground Cobridge 2,000 4Q 20 November 1897 Burslem Port Vale walkover W Kidderminster Athletic Ground Cobridge 5Q 11 December 1897 Burslem Port Vale 2–1 W Burton Wanderers Beech D.Evans Athletic Ground Cobridge 1,500 1R 30 January 1898 Sheffield United 1–1 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/sheffield-united-v-burslem-port-vale-30-january-1898-205505/ Burslem Port Vale McDonald Bramall Lane Sheffield 14,000 Replay 2 February 1898 Burslem Port Vale 2–1 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/burslem-port-vale-v-sheffield-united-02-february-1898-205469/ Sheffield United D.Evans Boullemier Athletic Ground Cobridge 15,000 2R 12 February 1898 Burnley 3–0 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/burnley-v-burslem-port-vale-12-february-1898-205473/ Burslem Port Vale Turf Moor Burnley 11,000 Birmingham Senior Cup 1R 13 December 1897 Burslem Port Vale 0–0 D West Bromwich Albion Athletic Ground Cobridge 6,000 Replay 17 January 1898 West Bromwich Albion 0–0 D Burslem Port Vale Stoney Lane West Bromwich 3,000 Replay 7 February 1898 West Bromwich Albion 2–1 L Burslem Port Vale Simpson Stoney Lane West Bromwich 3,000 Staffordshire Senior Cup 1R 11 October 1897 Burslem Port Vale 5–0 W Burton Wanderers Belfield T.Evans D.Evans Peake Athletic Ground Cobridge 500 Semi-final 10 January 1898 Burslem Port Vale 3–1 W Stoke T.Evans others Athletic Ground Cobridge 7,000 Final 5 March 1898 West Bromwich Albion 2–1 L Burslem Port Vale Simpson (pen) Stoney Lane West Bromwich 8,500 Squad statistics Appearances and goals Key to positions: GK – Goalkeeper; FB – Full back; HB – Half back; FW – Forward Midland League FA Cup Birmingham Senior Cup Staffordshire Senior Cup GK ENG Herbert Birchenough 10 0 4 0 2 0 2 0 GK Tom Poole 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 FB ENG Tommy Clare 21 0 5 0 2 0 3 0 FB George Hulme 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 FB IRE football McVicker 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 FB ENG Thomas Spilsbury 16 0 5 0 2 0 3 0 HB S. E. Bayley 6 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 HB Jim Beech 18 0 5 1 2 0 3 0 HB ENG Lucien Boullemier 16 0 5 1 2 0 2 0 HB Thomas Goodall 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 HB ENG Ted McDonald 21 3 4 0 1 0 3 1 FW ENG Fred Belfield 9 3 1 0 0 0 1 2 FW ENG Dick Evans 16 6 5 4 2 0 3 1 FW ENG Ted Evans 17 4 5 0 1 0 3 2 FW ENG Billy Heames 17 4 4 0 2 0 2 0 FW George Hewitt 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 FW ENG Charles Hodgkinson 3 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 FW Frank Mitchell 6 6 0 0 0 0 1 0 FW ENG James Peake 17 2 4 0 1 0 3 1 FW ENG George Price 3 4 1 0 1 0 0 0 FW Danny Simpson 15 9 5 0 3 1 2 1 |- |colspan="14"|Players who featured but departed the club during the season: GK George Lawton 7 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 GK Lowe 2 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 HB Smith 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 FW Jim Mason 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 |} Top scorers PlacePositionNationNameMidland LeagueFA CupOtherTotal1FWDanny Simpson90211–FWEnglandDick Evans641113FWFrank Mitchell6006–FWEnglandTed Evans40265FWEnglandFred Belfield30256FWEnglandGeorge Price4004–FWEnglandBilly Heames4004–HBEnglandTed McDonald31049FWEnglandJames Peake201310HBS. E. Bayley200211FWEnglandCharles Hodgkinson1001–HBEnglandLucien Boullemier0101–HBJim Beech0101–––Unknown0022–––Own goals1001TOTALS4571062 Transfers Transfers in Date from Position Nationality Name From Fee Ref. 1897 GK Lowe Free transfer Kent Jeff Port Vale Personalities Witan Books 1996 0-9529152-0-0 Summer 1897 HB ENG Lucien Boullemier Stoke Free transfer Summer 1897 FB ENG Tommy Clare Stoke Free transfer Summer 1897 HB Thomas Goodall Audley Free transfer Summer 1897 FW ENG Billy Heames Stoke Free transfer Summer 1897 HB ENG Ted McDonald Stoke Free transfer Summer 1897 FW Frank Mitchell Free transfer Autumn 1897 HB S. E. Bayley Free transfer October 1897 GK ENG Herbert Birchenough Audley Free transfer October 1897 GK Tom Poole Crewe Carriage Works Free transfer 1898 FW Charles Hodgkinson Free transfer Transfers out Date from Position Nationality Name To Fee Ref. 1898 GK George Lawton Porthill Released 1898 GK Lowe Released 1898 HB Smith Released 1898 FW Jim Mason Released Summer 1898 FW ENG George Hewitt 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