1973–74 Port Vale F.C. season

March 2015 March 2015 Port Vale 1973–74 Gordon Lee(until 14 January)Roy Sproson(from 14 January) Mark Singer Vale Park Football League Third Division 20th (42 points) FA Cup Third Round(eliminated by Luton Town) League Cup First Round(eliminated by Stockport County) Player of the Year David Harris John Woodward (16) John Woodward (18) 8,505 vs. Bristol Rovers, 17 February 1974 2,556 vs. Charlton Athletic, 27 April 1974 3,959 3–0 (twice) 0–3 (twice) _collarblack _white stripes _color_3_stripes_black ffffff ffffff ffffff 000000 ffffff 1972–73 1974–75 The 1973–74 season was Port Vale's 62nd season of football in the Football League, and their fourth-successive season (tenth overall) in the Third Division.Kent Jeff The Valiants' Years: The Story Of Port Vale Witan Books 1990 227–257 Surviving on a Shoestring (1969–1979) 0-9508981-4-7 After a poor first half, the club narrowly avoided relegation, finishing 20th with 42 points, seven points clear of the drop zone after manager Gordon Lee departed in January, succeeded by club legend Roy Sproson. In cup competitions, Vale made it to the Third Round of the FA Cup, where they were eliminated by Luton Town, and exited the League Cup at the First Round after defeat to Stockport County. John Woodward was the club's top scorer, netting 16 goals in the league and 18 in all competitions, while defender David Harris was awarded Player of the Year for his breakthrough performances after joining from the youth ranks in 1973. Attendance figures dipped: the highest home gate was 8,505 against Bristol Rovers on 17 February 1974, while the lowest came in at 2,556 versus Charlton Athletic on 27 April, with an average of 3,959 fans per league match. The team's biggest wins were 3–0, achieved twice, and their heaviest defeats were by 3–0, also occurring twice. Overall, the 1973–74 season was a near miss as Vale fought a relegation battle, navigated mid‑season managerial upheaval, and relied on individual standouts like Woodward and Harris to keep them in the Third Division. Overview Third Division The pre-season saw Sammy Morgan sold to Aston Villa for £22,222 (plus top-up fees). Gordon Lee drafted in tall young players David Harris and John Ridley from the youth set-up, as well as versatile Keith Chadwick from Crewe Alexandra. The club also erected a 2.5 ft high steel fence around the Bycars End to help combat hooliganism. The team competed in a pre-season tournament in Spain, recording victories over Lloret and Ajax B.Baggaley Mike Stepping up preparations https://portvalethevaliant.substack.com/p/stepping-up-preparations 14 July 2025 Valiant's Substack 14 July 2025 The season opened with four games unbeaten, though Tommy McLaren soon damaged his ligaments, and the team suffered in his absence. The team achieved a "convincing" 3–0 win over Shrewsbury Town on the opening day, though only 3,717 attended Vale Park. Just over 5,000 turned up to the next home game to see Vale "romp" to a 4–2 victory over Huddersfield Town. Tony Lacey was selected as the first Player of the Month, winning a £20 prize for his efforts. On 1 October, Vale beat Wrexham 1–0 in an 'ugly' game that saw five players booked and Colin Tartt and opposition player Arfon Griffiths separated by police following a scrap in the tunnel. Later in the month, Roy Cross badly injured his knee and would later have to leave the professional game due to the injury. On 24 October, Vale lost a two-goal lead to lose 4–2 at Cambridge United in a night where "almost everything went wrong", culminating in the team coach windows being smashed by vandals. Lee then took out 'burly' striker Keith Leonard on loan from Aston Villa, and bought "strong and forceful" 22-year-old left-back Neil Griffiths from Chester for £5,000 plus Tony Loska. He also changed the formation from 4–4–2 to 4–3–3, hoping to give Brian Horton more room in the centre of the park. Vale slipped down the league, and by Christmas they were sixth from bottom, with only John Woodward in good form. On 22 December, only 2,916 turned out at Vale Park to witness a 1–0 defeat to Chesterfield. After an upturn in form in the new year, Bill Summerscales broke his neck, and Lee departed for the management position at Blackburn Rovers. Lee had been seen to have done an excellent job with little money. Club legend Roy Sproson was appointed as caretaker manager, who advocated an 'entertaining' style of play as opposed to battling for every point. Winning his first match 1–0 at Shrewsbury Town, he cracked his head on the concrete trainer's box after leaping up to celebrate McLaren's goal. On 2 February, John Woodward was sent off after abusing referee Peter Willis in a 2–1 win over Brighton & Hove Albion. On 17 February, 8,505 turned up at Vale Park to witness a 3–1 win over high-flying Bristol Rovers in an experimental Sunday game. To get around the restriction of not being allowed to charge admission on a Sunday, the club only admitted spectators who bought a teamsheet, which was priced at the same price as a ticket.Baggaley Mike Hopeful signs as Vale make plans https://portvalethevaliant.substack.com/p/hopeful-signs-as-vale-make-plans 14 April 2026 Valiant's Substack 13 April 2026 Mike Green had to go in goal for Rovers after Jim Eadie became concussed by a collision with John Woodward. Later, Leonard returned to Villa Park at the end of his loan deal, and £5,000 was not enough to tempt Villa to part with his services permanently. On 10 March, Vale won 2–1 at home to Plymouth Argyle after the visitors were reduced to eight men; match reporter Chris Harper wrote that "just as Davey had earlier struck Tartt, the lanky Provan felled David Harris while Saxton dropped Bobby Gough with a boot in the lower regions".Baggaley Mike Plans coming together for Vale https://portvalethevaliant.substack.com/p/plans-coming-together-for-vale 10 September 2024 Valiant's Substack 9 September 2024 Plymouth boss Tony Waiters blamed the referee for losing control of the game for his team becoming the first in Football League history to have three players sent of in one match.Baggaley Mike Ready to go as Rotherham await https://portvalethevaliant.substack.com/p/ready-to-go-as-rotherham-await 31 July 2025 Valiant's Substack 31 July 2025 Vale then went eleven games without a win, and on 25 March they could have ended this run, but 'a shocking mistake' from Alan Boswell handed Walsall an equaliser as he palmed a header into his own net. Five days later, Vale drew 1–1 at Rochdale in front of a crowd of just 982.Baggaley Mike Points for debate in a busy summer https://portvalethevaliant.substack.com/p/points-for-debate-in-a-busy-summer 11 May 2026 Valiant's Substack 11 May 2026 The team continued to rack up yellow cards, and following a warning from The Football Association, Sproson arranged for local referee Roy Capey to lecture the players on sportsmanship. Regardless, four more bookings came in a 1–1 draw at Blackburn Rovers on 6 April. Sproson was given the management job on a permanent basis, despite his team falling to fifth from bottom. Sproson stated that he was 'calculated' and 'controlled', compared to Lee, who 'fizzes like a bottle of pop'. By the time they broke their poor run with a 2–1 home win over managerless Charlton Athletic, other results had already ensured their safety from the drop. They finished in twentieth position with 42 points, though this meant they were seven points clear of relegated Cambridge United in 21st place. Finances On the financial side, an average home attendance of under 4,000 failed to prevent a profit of £17,831. This profit came from the early sale of Morgan and donations of £16,443 from the Sportsmen's Association and the Development Fund. The club's total debt stood at £121,647, as Chairman Singer warned of more player sales to balance the books. Two players leaving for free at the end of the season were Bobby Gough (Southport) and Alan Boswell (Oswestry Town) – Boswell was described as 'capable of brilliant saves and conceding soft goals'. Cup competitions In the FA Cup, Vale won away at Stockport County 1–0 before advancing past Northern Premier League side Scarborough in the second round after Woodward scored four minutes from time. After they conceded an equalising goal with six minutes to go in a 1–1 draw in Burslem with Second Division club Luton Town, they lost the replay at Kenilworth Road four days later by four goals to two and conceding twice in the final four minutes. In the League Cup, Vale exited at the first stage with a 2–0 defeat at Edgeley Park to Fourth Division side Stockport County. Results Football League Third Division 1973–74 Football League League table Third Division y PTV Results by matchday table b Round Ground H/A/H/H/A/A/H/A/H/H/A/H/A/A/H/A/H/A/A/H/H/A/A/H/H/A/H/H/A/H/A/H/H/A/A/H/H/A/A/A/H/H/A/A/H/A Result W/D/W/W/L/D/D/L/W/L/D/D/L/L/W/D/L/L/L/D/L/W/L/W/D/W/W/W/L/W/L/W/W/D/L/L/D/D/L/D/D/L/L/L/W/D Position 1/5/5/2/5/3/4/7/4/9/11/11/12/15/14/15/16/17/17/16/18/16/17/16/18/14/13/12/13/12/14/11/9/10/13/15/14/15/16/18/19/20/20/20/20/20 Points 2p/3p/5p/7p/7p/8p/9p/9p/11p/11p/12p/13p/13p/13p/15p/16p/16p/16p/16p/17p/17p/19p/19p/21p/22p/24p/26p/28p/28p/30p/30p/32p/34p/35p/35p/35p/36p/37p/37p/38p/39p/39p/39p/39p/41p/42p Home Away green2 Win yellow2 Draw red2 Loss green1 red1 StattoPort Vale 1973–1974 : Results & Fixtures https://web.archive.org/web/20151002153918/http://www.statto.com/football/teams/port-vale/1973-1974/results 2 October 2015 . Statto Organisation. Retrieved 28 April 2012. Matches 1 25 August 1973 Port Vale 3–0 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-shrewsbury-town-25-august-1973-133607/ Shrewsbury Town Horton Mountford Woodward Vale Park Burslem 3,717 2 1 September 1973 Oldham Athletic 1–1 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/oldham-athletic-v-port-vale-01-september-1973-133617/ Port Vale Lacey Boundary Park Oldham 5,716 3 8 September 1973 Port Vale 4–2 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-huddersfield-town-08-september-1973-133631/ Huddersfield Town Woodward Mountford McLaren Dolan Gowling Vale Park Burslem 5,003 4 10 September 1973 Port Vale 2–1 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-cambridge-united-10-september-1973-133635/ Cambridge United Horton pen. Gough Watson Vale Park Burslem 5,829 5 15 September 1973 York City 3–1 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/york-city-v-port-vale-15-september-1973-133658/ Port Vale Williams Bootham Crescent York 3,370 6 17 September 1973 19:15 BST Wrexham 0–0 D https://www.wrexhamafcarchive.co.uk/matchdetails.php?id=3351 Port Vale Racecourse Ground Wrexham David Richardson W.C. Harvey, G.J. Riley 7,730 7 22 September 1973 Port Vale 0–0 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-southend-united-22-september-1973-133679/ Southend United Vale Park Burslem 4,323 8 29 September 1973 Chesterfield 2–1 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/chesterfield-v-port-vale-29-september-1973-133686/ Port Vale og. Saltergate Chesterfield, Derbyshire 4,754 9 1 October 1973 19:30 BST Port Vale 1–0 W https://www.wrexhamafcarchive.co.uk/matchdetails.php?id=919 Wrexham Brodie 23 Vale Park Burslem E. Jolly L.A. Bates, G.W. Hespe 4,791 10 6 October 1973 Port Vale 1–3 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-hereford-united-06-october-1973-133712/ Hereford United Woodward 58 Owen 56Evans 71Redrobe 85 Vale Park Burslem 5,802 11 13 October 1973 Bristol Rovers 1–1 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/bristol-rovers-v-port-vale-13-october-1973-133722/ Port Vale McLaren Eastville Stadium Bristol 8,880 12 20 October 1973 Port Vale 0–0 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-afc-bournemouth-20-october-1973-133741/ AFC Bournemouth Vale Park Burslem 4,006 13 24 October 1973 Cambridge United 4–2 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/cambridge-united-v-port-vale-24-october-1973-133750/ Port Vale Ferguson Foote Greenhalgh Lennard Lacey Woodward Abbey Stadium Cambridge 3,612 14 27 October 1973 Plymouth Argyle 2–0 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/plymouth-argyle-v-port-vale-27-october-1973-133759/ Port Vale Mariner Davey Home Park Plymouth 9,383 15 3 November 1973 Port Vale 3–1 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-rochdale-03-november-1973-133774/ Rochdale Williams 14 64Woodward 84 Skeete 58 Vale Park Burslem 3,223 16 10 November 1973 Aldershot 0–0 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/aldershot-v-port-vale-10-november-1973-133778/ Port Vale Farley 6Lindsay 80 89 Recreation Ground Aldershot 3,577 17 12 November 1973 Port Vale 1–2 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-blackburn-rovers-12-november-1973-133790/ Blackburn Rovers Woodward Vale Park Burslem 3,633 18 17 November 1973 Halifax Town 1–0 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/halifax-town-v-port-vale-17-november-1973-133805/ Port Vale The Shay Halifax, West Yorkshire 2,255 19 1 December 1973 Charlton Athletic 2–0 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/charlton-athletic-v-port-vale-01-december-1973-133813/ Port Vale The Valley Charlton, London 4,390 20 8 December 1973 Port Vale 1–1 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-grimsby-town-08-december-1973-133825/ Grimsby Town Woodward Vale Park Burslem 3,157 21 22 December 1973 Port Vale 0–1 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-chesterfield-22-december-1973-133838/ Chesterfield Vale Park Burslem 2,916 22 26 December 1973 Southport 0–1 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/southport-v-port-vale-26-december-1973-133850/ Port Vale Williams Haig Avenue Southport 2,721 23 29 December 1973 Port Vale 0–3 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/huddersfield-town-v-port-vale-29-december-1973-133858/ Huddersfield Town Lawson Gowling Vale Park Burslem 7,702 24 1 January 1974 Port Vale 3–0 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-oldham-athletic-01-january-1974-133873/ Oldham Athletic Woodward Williams Vale Park Burslem 4,300 25 12 January 1974 Port Vale 2–2 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-york-city-12-january-1974-133889/ York City Woodward Williams Vale Park Burslem 3,537 26 19 January 1974 Shrewsbury Town 0–1 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/shrewsbury-town-v-port-vale-19-january-1974-133898/ Port Vale McLaren Gay Meadow Shrewsbury 2,771 27 26 January 1974 Port Vale 1–0 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-tranmere-rovers-26-january-1974-133908/ Tranmere Rovers Harris Vale Park Burslem 3,004 28 2 February 1974 Port Vale 2–1 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-brighton-and-hove-albion-02-february-1974-133919/ Brighton & Hove Albion Horton 5 Williams 34 Beamish 53 Vale Park Burslem 3,728 29 9 February 1974 Southend United 1–0 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/southend-united-v-port-vale-09-february-1974-133931/ Port Vale Roots Hall Southend-on-Sea 4,376 30 17 February 1974 Port Vale 3–1 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-bristol-rovers-17-february-1974-133946/ Bristol Rovers Williams Leonard Rudge 73 Vale Park Burslem Clive Thomas 8,505 31 23 February 1974 Hereford United 2–1 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/hereford-united-v-port-vale-23-february-1974-133952/ Port Vale Owen 37Radford 47 Woodward 4 Edgar Street Hereford 6,565 32 2 March 1974 Port Vale 2–1 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-southport-02-march-1974-133968/ Southport og. Gough Vale Park Burslem 3,220 33 10 March 1974 Port Vale 2–1 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-plymouth-argyle-10-march-1974-133986/ Plymouth Argyle Woodward Davey Vale Park Burslem K. McNally 3,128 34 16 March 1974 AFC Bournemouth 2–2 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/afc-bournemouth-v-port-vale-16-march-1974-133995/ Port Vale og. Harris Dean Court Bournemouth 7,968 35 20 March 1974 Brighton & Hove Albion 2–1 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/brighton-and-hove-albion-v-port-vale-20-march-1974-134011/ Port Vale Bridges McEwan Harris Goldstone Ground Hove 9,365 36 23 March 1974 Port Vale 0–1 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-aldershot-23-march-1974-134021/ Aldershot Vale Park Burslem 3,254 37 25 March 1974 Port Vale 1–1 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-walsall-25-march-1974-134026/ Walsall Lacey Vale Park Burslem 3,659 38 30 March 1974 Rochdale 1–1 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/rochdale-v-port-vale-30-march-1974-134044/ Port Vale Horne 33 Mountford 60 Spotland Stadium Rochdale 982 39 1 April 1974 Tranmere Rovers 3–0 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/tranmere-rovers-v-port-vale-01-april-1974-134051/ Port Vale Prenton Park Prenton 3,050 40 6 April 1974 Blackburn Rovers 1–1 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/blackburn-rovers-v-port-vale-06-april-1974-134063/ Port Vale Mountford Ewood Park Blackburn 5,298 41 13 April 1974 Port Vale 1–1 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-halifax-town-13-april-1974-134088/ Halifax Town McLaren Vale Park Burslem 2,707 42 16 April 1974 Port Vale 1–2 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-watford-16-april-1974-134107/ Watford Horton Morrissey Scullion Vale Park Burslem 3,056 43 20 April 1974 Grimsby Town 2–0 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/grimsby-town-v-port-vale-20-april-1974-134116/ Port Vale Blundell Park Cleethorpes 6,443 44 24 April 1974 Watford 2–1 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/watford-v-port-vale-24-april-1974-134129/ Port Vale Jenkins Lees og. Vicarage Road Watford 5,883 45 27 April 1974 Port Vale 3–1 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-charlton-athletic-27-april-1974-134137/ Charlton Athletic Woodward Ridley Vale Park Burslem 2,556 46 30 April 1974 Walsall 0–0 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/walsall-v-port-vale-30-april-1974-134145/ Port Vale Fellows Park Walsall 4,228 FA Cup 1973–74 FA Cup R1 24 November 1973 14:15 GMT Stockport County 0–1 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/stockport-county-v-port-vale-24-november-1973-213542/ Port Vale Summerscales 35 Edgeley Park Stockport Michael Lowe 3,364 R2 15 December 1973 Port Vale 2–1 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-scarborough-15-december-1973-213577/ Scarborough Harris Woodward Vale Park Burslem 3,528 R3 5 January 1974 Port Vale 1–1 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-luton-town-05-january-1974-213612/ Luton Town Harris Vale Park Burslem 8,127 Replay 9 January 1974 Luton Town 4–2 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/luton-town-v-port-vale-09-january-1974-213628/ Port Vale Mountford Woodward Kenilworth Road Luton 5,833 League Cup 1973–74 Football League Cup R1 29 August 1973 18:15 BST Stockport County 2–0 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/stockport-county-v-port-vale-29-august-1973-29511/ Port Vale Lawther Davidson Edgeley Park Stockport Walter Johnson 3,314 Squad statistics Appearances and goals Key to positions: GK – Goalkeeper; DF – Defender; MF – Midfielder; FW – Forward Third Division FA Cup League Cup GK ENG Alan Boswell 42 0 4 0 0 0 GK ENG Reg Edwards 4 0 0 0 1 0 DF ENG John Brodie 45 1 3 0 1 0 DF ENG Andy Carr 0 0 1 0 0 0 DF ENG Roy Cross 11 0 0 0 1 0 DF ENG Neil Griffiths 24 0 2 0 0 0 DF ENG David Harris 32 3 4 2 0 0 DF ENG Bill Summerscales 22 0 4 1 1 0 MF ENG Keith Chadwick 5 0 0 0 0 0 MF ENG Brian Horton 41 4 4 0 1 0 MF ENG Tony Lacey 44 3 4 0 1 0 MF SCO Tommy McLaren 42 4 4 0 1 0 MF ENG Ron Pountney 0 0 0 0 0 0 MF ENG John Ridley 10 1 0 0 0 0 MF ENG Colin Tartt 42 0 2 0 1 0 FW ENG Bobby Gough 24 2 1 0 1 0 FW ENG Keith Leonard 13 1 0 0 0 0 FW ENG Bob Mountford 38 4 4 1 1 0 FW ENG Ray Williams 39 9 4 0 0 0 FW ENG John Woodward 43 16 4 2 1 0 |- |colspan="14"|Players who featured but departed the club during the season: DF ENG Tony Loska 9 0 1 0 0 0 |} Top scorers PlacePositionNationNameThird DivisionFA CupLeague CupTotal1FWEnglandJohn Woodward1620182FWEnglandRay Williams90093FWEnglandBob Mountford4105–DFEnglandDavid Harris32055MFScotlandTommy McLaren4004–MFEnglandBrian Horton40047MFEnglandTony Lacey30038FWEnglandBobby Gough20029MFEnglandJohn Ridley1001–DFEnglandJohn Brodie1001–FWEnglandKeith Leonard1001–DFEnglandBill Summerscales0101–––Own goals4004TOTALS526058 Transfers Transfers in Date from Position Nationality Name From Fee Ref. July 1973 MF ENG Keith Chadwick Crewe Alexandra Free transfer Kent Jeff Port Vale Personalities Witan Books 1996 0-9529152-0-0 December 1973 DF ENG Neil Griffiths Chester Exchange Transfers out Date from Position Nationality Name To Fee Ref. August 1973 FW NIR Sammy Morgan Aston Villa £22,222 December 1973 DF ENG Tony Loska Chester Exchange May 1974 GK ENG Alan Boswell WAL Oswestry Town Free transfer May 1974 FW ENG Bobby Gough Southport Free transfer Loans out Date from Position Nationality Name To Date to Ref. November 1973 FW ENG Keith Leonard Aston Villa February 1974 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