1966–67 Port Vale F.C. season

Port Vale's 1966-67 season: Mid-table finish March 2015 March 2015 Port Vale 1966–67 Jackie Mudie Fred Pinfold Vale Park Football League Fourth Division 13th (43 points) FA Cup Second Round(eliminated by Barnsley) League Cup First Round(eliminated by Walsall) Player of the Year Roy Sproson Mick Cullerton (12) Mick Cullerton (12) 12,784 vs. Barnsley, 16 January 1967 2,554 vs. York City, 24 April 1967 5,114 5–0 vs. Rochdale, 28 March 1967 1–4 vs. Southend United, 14 October 1966 ffffff ffffff ffffff 000000 ffffff 1965–66 1967–68 The 1966–67 season was Port Vale's 55th season of football in the English Football League, and their second-successive season (third overall) in the Fourth Division.Kent Jeff The Valiants' Years: The Story Of Port Vale Witan Books 1990 196–226 Flattering Only to Deceive (1960–1969) 0-9508981-4-7 Led by player‑manager Jackie Mudie and chaired by Fred Pinfold, the club delivered a mid‑table finish — ending 13th with 43 points—and failed once again to challenge for promotion. After a summer marred by a serious car crash involving general manager Stanley Matthews during a proposed transfer signing, the squad was reshaped with young additions such as Ian Lawson, Mick Mahon, Jimmy Goodfellow and Billy McCartney — while the team notably adopted a new all‑white kit at Matthews's suggestion. Early-season momentum lifted Vale into the promotion conversation, but the sale of a key forward precipitated a dip in form that saw inconsistency plague their campaign. Despite a resurgent late run, including a 5–0 thrashing of Rochdale and the debut of precocious 15‑year‑old Stuart Chapman, the club remained mid-table. Off the field, defender Roy Sproson was honoured as the club’s first-ever Player of the Year, while Mick Cullerton emerged as top goalscorer, netting 12 times in both league and all competitions. Attendance figures showed a high of 12,784 against Barnsley on 16 January 1967, a low of 2,554 versus York City on 24 April 1967, and an average league gate of 5,114. Cup runs offered only modest respite: Vale were knocked out in the Second Round of the FA Cup, losing to Barnsley, and exited the League Cup in the First Round, falling to Walsall. At season's end, Jackie Mudie resigned as player‑manager, bringing the curtain down on his stewardship. Overall, the 1966–67 season was a continuation of stasis in the Fourth Division — characterised by modest league performance, limited cup success, squad stability under Mudie, and the first formal recognition of Roy Sproson's excellence. Overview Fourth Division The pre-season saw general manager Stanley Matthews injured in a car accident with a National Coal Board lorry on 29 July. Jackie Mudie was also in the car but remained relatively unharmed. As Matthews recovered, in came four new forwards, the most significant of which was Crystal Palace's 27-year-old Ian Lawson. Lawson cost £1,000 with an additional £1,000 signing on fee. Other new faces included winger Mick Mahon (Loughborough United); inside-forward Jimmy Goodfellow (Bishop Auckland); and Billy McCartney (Rangers). There was a kit change to an all-white strip, upon the suggestion of Stanley Matthews. The season opened with a 2–1 home win over Southport using an optimistic 4–2–4 formation. Following Roy Sproson's winning goal there was a pitch invasion – by then a disturbingly common occurrence. Six games without a loss followed, leaving the club in fourth position. Goals were still rare, however, and so Lawson was dropped from the first XI, despite the departure of in-form forward John Rowland to Mansfield Town for £6,500. Financial difficulties made the atmosphere around Burslem quite gloomy, not helped by the news that former Valiant John Nicholson had been killed in a car crash. Vale's form suffered, though the defence remained quite strong after Clint Boulton was shifted to right-half. Young Scot Mick Cullerton was a ray of sunshine for the club in front of goal. A 4–1 defeat at Southend United on 14 October, with the hosts four goals ahead after 36 minutes, was part of a sequence of seven games without a victory. Only 3,502 came to Vale Park on 5 November to witness a 1–0 victory over Luton Town. Good form in the Christmas period continued into an unbeaten January in the league, as the club climbed to within five points of the promotion places with a 3–1 win at Chester on 28 January. In came Wales international centre-forward Mel Charles from Porthmadog. for a £1,250 fee. A 1–0 defeat at Gresty Road to Crewe Alexandra in front of an unruly crowd marked the first of a crucial seven-game sequence against the promotion hopefuls. The match was marred by fan disorder and several fans ended up hospitalised. A win over Barrow and a draw at Stockport County was succeeded by five straight defeats, killing Vale's promotion hopes dead. They reversed the decline by doing the double over Rochdale within two days, including a 5–0 victory witnessed by 3,004 fans at Vale Park in "one of the most thrilling exhibitions of attacking football the ground had ever seen". In April, popular player John Ritchie was sold to Preston North End for £17,500. Mel Charles was sidelined with a knee injury and Vale limped to the season's end without a win in their final five games. On 3 May, Stuart Chapman made his debut at the age of 15 in a 2–2 draw with Lincoln City. Five days later, manager Jackie Mudie tendered his resignation as player-manager, citing 'personal reasons'. They finished in 13th place with 43 points, marking a slight improvement on the previous campaign. Mick Cullerton's twelve goals in all competitions were enough to make him the top-scorer. In the club's first ever Player of the Year ceremony, veteran defender Roy Sproson was bestowed with the honour. Meanwhile, the club's youth team performed brilliantly, reaching the quarter-finals of the FA Youth Cup, where they were eliminated 3–0 by Scunthorpe United. Finances On the financial side, there was a loss of £7,925 despite a transfer credit of £20,425 and a donation of £19,381 from the Sportsmen's Association and the Development Pool. Gate receipts were just £30,298, whilst the club's overdraft stood at £82,373. Nine players were released at the end of the season, most notably: Mel Charles (Oswestry Town); Ian Lawson and Brian Taylor (Barnsley); and untested reserve Ray Kennedy – who would take a break from football before returning to the game to play for Liverpool and England. Roddy Georgeson was also released at his own request to work in a bank, though he soon turned out for Dundee before beginning a long career in Scottish football. Cup competitions In the FA Cup, a 4–3–3 formation was used to defeat Bradford City 2–1 at Valley Parade with a 40 yd 'goal of a lifetime' from John Ritchie. Vale drew Barnsley in the second round, and earned a replay with a "sparkling" 1–1 draw at Oakwell. The replay attracted 12,784 supporters, but "Tykes" ran out 3–1 winners. In the League Cup, Third Division side Walsall knocked out the Vale at the first stage with a 3–1 win. Results Football League Fourth Division 1966–67 Football League League table Fourth Division y PTV Results by matchday table b Round Ground H/A/H/H/A/A/H/A/A/H/A/H/H/A/H/A/H/H/A/A/A/H/H/H/A/A/H/A/A/H/H/A/H/A/H/A/H/A/A/H/H/A/H/H/A/A Result D/D/D/W/D/W/D/L/D/D/L/L/L/W/W/L/W/L/L/D/W/D/D/W/W/L/W/D/L/L/L/L/L/W/W/D/W/L/D/L/W/D/D/D/L/L Position 4/4/7/4/6/5/4/9/9/10/9/13/15/14/13/13/14/14/17/16/15/15/15/13/12/12/11/11/12/13/14/17/17/15/14/13/13/13/12/13/12/12/12/12/12/13 Points 1p/2p/3p/5p/6p/8p/9p/9p/10p/11p/11p/11p/11p/13p/15p/15p/17p/17p/17p/18p/20p/21p/22p/24p/26p/26p/28p/29p/29p/29p/29p/29p/29p/31p/33p/35p/37p/37p/38p/38p/40p/41p/42p/43p/43p/43p Home Away green2 Win yellow2 Draw red2 Loss green1 red1 StattoPort Vale 1966–1967 : Results & Fixtures. Statto Organisation. Retrieved 28 April 2012. Matches 1 20 August 1966 Port Vale 2–1 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-southport-20-august-1966-38164/ Southport Rowland Sproson Vale Park Burslem 8,143 2 27 August 1966 Notts County 0–0 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/notts-county-v-port-vale-27-august-1966-38179/ Port Vale Meadow Lane Nottingham 5,648 3 3 September 1966 Port Vale 1–1 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-chester-03-september-1966-38191/ Chester Georgeson Vale Park Burslem 6,853 4 5 September 1966 Port Vale 3–2 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-bradford-city-05-september-1966-38197/ Bradford City Mahon Rowland Hill Vale Park Burslem 6,258 5 10 September 1966 Bradford (Park Avenue) 1–1 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/bradford-park-avenue-v-port-vale-10-september-1966-38209/ Port Vale Rowland Park Avenue Bradford 5,246 6 17 September 1966 Exeter City 0–1 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/exeter-city-v-port-vale-17-september-1966-38225/ Port Vale Miles St James Park Exeter 4,789 7 24 September 1966 Port Vale 1–1 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-crewe-alexandra-24-september-1966-38241/ Crewe Alexandra Hill Vale Park Burslem 11,325 8 28 September 1966 Bradford City 2–0 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/bradford-city-v-port-vale-28-september-1966-38254/ Port Vale Valley Parade Bradford 3,928 9 1 October 1966 Barrow 2–2 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/barrow-v-port-vale-01-october-1966-38261/ Port Vale Goodfellow Hill Holker Street Barrow-in-Furness 3,354 10 8 October 1966 Port Vale 1–1 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-tranmere-rovers-08-october-1966-38277/ Tranmere Rovers Sproson Vale Park Burslem 6,684 11 14 October 1966 Southend United 4–1 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/southend-united-v-port-vale-14-october-1966-38282/ Port Vale Ritchie Roots Hall Southend-on-Sea 12,609 12 17 October 1966 15:15 BST Port Vale 2–3 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-chesterfield-17-october-1966-38296/ Chesterfield Georgeson Mahon Vale Park Burslem 5,649 13 22 October 1966 Port Vale 0–2 L https://www.wrexhamafcarchive.co.uk/matchdetails.php?id=1450 Wrexham Kinsey 8 Lloyd 80 Vale Park Burslem J.H. Yates A.H. Swadkins, T.E. Lockett 7,753 14 29 October 1966 Aldershot 0–1 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/aldershot-v-port-vale-29-october-1966-38321/ Port Vale McCartney Recreation Ground Aldershot 5,047 15 5 November 1966 Port Vale 1–0 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-luton-town-05-november-1966-38341/ Luton Town Mahon Vale Park Burslem 3,502 16 12 November 1966 Barnsley 1–0 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/barnsley-v-port-vale-12-november-1966-38346/ Port Vale Oakwell Barnsley 4,823 17 19 November 1966 Port Vale 2–0 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-newport-county-19-november-1966-38372/ Newport County Miles Hill Vale Park Burslem 3,883 18 3 December 1966 Port Vale 0–1 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-halifax-town-03-december-1966-38382/ Halifax Town Vale Park Burslem 4,002 19 10 December 1966 Hartlepools United 2–1 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/hartlepools-united-v-port-vale-10-december-1966-38392/ Port Vale Wright 1 Phythian 30 Hill 65 Victoria Park Hartlepool Dr DW Brady 5,342 20 17 December 1966 Southport 0–0 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/southport-v-port-vale-17-december-1966-38407/ Port Vale Haig Avenue Southport 3,975 21 27 December 1966 Lincoln City 0–1 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/lincoln-city-v-port-vale-27-december-1966-38421/ Port Vale Cullerton Sincil Bank Lincoln 5,268 22 31 December 1966 Port Vale 0–0 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-notts-county-31-december-1966-38435/ Notts County Vale Park Burslem 5,359 23 14 January 1967 Port Vale 0–0 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-bradford-park-avenue-14-january-1967-38449/ Bradford (Park Avenue) Vale Park Burslem 4,798 24 21 January 1967 Port Vale 2–0 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-exeter-city-21-january-1967-38462/ Exeter City Cullerton pen. Mahon Vale Park Burslem 3,450 25 28 January 1967 Chester 1–3 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/chester-v-port-vale-28-january-1967-38466/ Port Vale Mahon Cullerton Sealand Road Chester 5,586 26 3 February 1967 Crewe Alexandra 1–0 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/crewe-alexandra-v-port-vale-03-february-1967-38470/ Port Vale Gresty Road Crewe 10,414 27 11 February 1967 Port Vale 2–1 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-barrow-11-february-1967-38491/ Barrow Boulton Mahon Vale Park Burslem 6,267 28 17 February 1967 19:30 GMT Stockport County 1–1 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/stockport-county-v-port-vale-17-february-1967-38496/ Port Vale Shawcross Miles Edgeley Park Stockport David Laing 9,756 29 24 February 1967 Tranmere Rovers 2–1 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/tranmere-rovers-v-port-vale-24-february-1967-38507/ Port Vale Cullerton Prenton Park Prenton 8,047 30 4 March 1967 Port Vale 1–3 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-southend-united-04-march-1967-38529/ Southend United Goodfellow Vale Park Burslem 4,695 31 11 March 1967 Port Vale 0–2 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-stockport-county-11-march-1967-38541/ Stockport County Allchurch 66 Harley 77 Vale Park Burslem Dennis Brady 6,363 32 18 March 1967 15:15 GMT Wrexham 2–1 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/wrexham-v-port-vale-18-march-1967-38558/ Port Vale McMillan 47 Oldfield 90 Georgeson Racecourse Ground Wrexham J. Mitchell C.M. Smith, S. Read 7,176 33 25 March 1967 Port Vale 1–3 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-brentford-25-march-1967-38574/ Brentford Ritchie Richardson Lawther Curley Vale Park Burslem 3,434 34 27 March 1967 Rochdale 1–2 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/rochdale-v-port-vale-27-march-1967-38585/ Port Vale Taylor Richardson og. Goodfellow Spotland Stadium Rochdale 2,254 35 28 March 1967 Port Vale 5–0 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-rochdale-28-march-1967-38594/ Rochdale Georgeson Poole Cullerton Goodfellow Wilson Vale Park Burslem 3,004 36 1 April 1967 Luton Town 1–1 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/luton-town-v-port-vale-01-april-1967-38604/ Port Vale Wilson Kenilworth Road Luton 5,410 37 8 April 1967 Port Vale 3–1 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-barnsley-08-april-1967-38618/ Barnsley Cullerton Hill Vale Park Burslem 3,209 38 10 April 1967 York City 3–1 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/york-city-v-port-vale-10-april-1967-38625/ Port Vale Goodfellow Bootham Crescent York 3,834 39 17 April 1967 Newport County 1–1 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/newport-county-v-port-vale-17-april-1967-38644/ Port Vale Smith Cullerton Somerton Park Newport, Wales 1,914 40 22 April 1967 Port Vale 0–2 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-aldershot-22-april-1967-38654/ Aldershot Vale Park Burslem 3,265 41 24 April 1967 Port Vale 4–1 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-york-city-24-april-1967-38660/ York City Cullerton Georgeson Goodfellow Vale Park Burslem 2,554 42 29 April 1967 Halifax Town 2–2 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/halifax-town-v-port-vale-29-april-1967-38675/ Port Vale Taylor Goodfellow The Shay Halifax, West Yorkshire 3,562 43 3 May 1967 Port Vale 2–2 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-lincoln-city-03-may-1967-38683/ Lincoln City Cullerton Vale Park Burslem 3,085 44 6 May 1967 Port Vale 0–0 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-hartlepools-united-06-may-1967-38693/ Hartlepools United Vale Park Burslem WM Holian 3,178 45 8 May 1967 Chesterfield 2–1 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/chesterfield-v-port-vale-08-may-1967-38696/ Port Vale Boulton Saltergate Chesterfield, Derbyshire 2,605 46 13 May 1967 Brentford 2–0 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/brentford-v-port-vale-13-may-1967-38699/ Port Vale James og. Wilson Griffin Park Brentford, West London 3,592 FA Cup 1966–67 FA Cup R1 26 November 1966 Bradford City 1–2 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/bradford-city-v-port-vale-26-november-1966-212391/ Port Vale Ritchie Lawson Valley Parade Bradford 5,712 R2 7 January 1967 Barnsley 1–1 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/barnsley-v-port-vale-07-january-1967-212440/ Port Vale Hill Oakwell Barnsley 13,343 Replay 16 January 1967 Port Vale 1–3 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-barnsley-16-january-1967-212465/ Barnsley Boulton Vale Park Burslem 12,784 League Cup 1966–67 Football League Cup R1 23 August 1966 Port Vale 1–3 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-walsall-23-august-1966-28673/ Walsall Rowland Vale Park Burslem 9,181 Squad statistics Appearances and goals Key to positions: GK – Goalkeeper; DF – Defender; MF – Midfielder; FW – Forward Fourth Division FA Cup League Cup GK SCO Billy McNulty 1 0 0 0 0 0 GK ENG Stuart Sharratt 45 0 3 0 1 0 DF ENG Terry Alcock 41 0 3 0 1 0 DF ENG Clint Boulton 35 2 3 1 1 0 DF SCO Gordon Logan 7 0 0 0 0 0 DF ENG Roy Sproson 31 2 2 0 1 0 DF SCO Ron Wilson 33 2 3 0 0 0 MF ENG Stuart Chapman 1 0 0 0 0 0 MF WAL Mel Charles 7 0 0 0 0 0 MF SCO Alex Donald 23 0 1 0 0 0 MF ENG Malcolm Gibbon 1 0 0 0 0 0 MF ENG Jimmy Goodfellow 26 7 1 0 1 0 MF NIR Jimmy Hill 36 6 3 1 0 0 MF ENG Mick Mahon 26 7 1 0 1 0 MF ENG Terry Miles 42 3 3 0 0 0 FW SCO Mick Cullerton 28 12 3 0 0 0 FW EGY Roddy Georgeson 22 5 0 0 0 0 FW ENG John James 7 0 0 0 1 0 FW ENG Ian Lawson 8 0 1 1 1 0 FW ENG Mel Lintern 1 0 0 0 0 0 FW SCO Billy McCartney 15 1 1 0 0 0 FW SCO Jackie Mudie 5 0 2 0 0 0 FW ENG Harry Poole 32 1 1 0 1 0 FW ENG Brian Taylor 10 1 1 0 0 0 |- |colspan="14"|Players who featured but departed the club during the season: DF ENG John Ritchie 28 2 3 1 1 0 FW ENG Alan Johnson 0 0 0 0 0 0 FW ENG John Rowland 7 3 0 0 1 1 |} Top scorers PlacePositionNationNameFourth DivisionFA CupLeague CupTotal1FWScotlandMick Cullerton1200122MFEnglandMick Mahon7007–MFEnglandJimmy Goodfellow7007–MFNorthern IrelandJimmy Hill61075FWEgyptRoddy Georgeson50056FWEnglandJohn Rowland30147MFEnglandTerry Miles3003–DFEnglandJohn Ritchie2103–DFEnglandClint Boulton210310DFScotlandRon Wilson2002–DFEnglandRoy Sproson200212FWScotlandBilly McCartney1001–FWEnglandHarry Poole1001–FWEnglandBrian Taylor1001–FWEnglandIan Lawson0101–––Own goals1001TOTALS554160 Transfers Transfers in Date from Position Nationality Name From Fee Ref. 1966 MF ENG Jimmy Goodfellow Bishop Auckland Free transfer Kent Jeff Port Vale Personalities Witan Books 1996 0-9529152-0-0 June 1966 FW SCO Billy McCartney Rangers Free transfer August 1966 FW ENG Ian Lawson Crystal Palace £1,000 December 1966 MF WAL Mel Charles WAL Porthmadog. £1,250 Transfers out Date from Position Nationality Name To Fee Ref. September 1966 FW ENG John Rowland Mansfield Town £6,500 November 1966 MF ENG Alan Johnson Stafford Rangers Free transfer April 1967 DF ENG John Ritchie Preston North End £17,500 May 1967 MF WAL Mel Charles WAL Oswestry Town Free transfer May 1967 FW ENG Ian Lawson Barnsley Free transfer May 1967 FW SCO Billy McCartney WAL Oswestry Town Free transfer May 1967 FW SCO Jackie Mudie WAL Oswestry Town Retired May 1967 GK IRL Jimmy O'Neill IRL Cork Celtic Free transfer May 1967 MF ENG Brian Taylor Barnsley Free transfer July 1967 MF EGY Roddy Georgeson SCO Dundee Released August 1967 DF ENG Terry Alcock Blackpool £30,000 Loans out Date from Position Nationality Name To Date to Ref. December 1966 GK IRL Jimmy O'Neill IRL Cork Celtic May 1967 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