1932–33 Port Vale F.C. season

March 2015 March 2015 Port Vale 1932–33 Tom Holford Frank Huntbach Old Recreation Ground Football League Second Division 17th (38 points) FA Cup Third Round(eliminated by Blackpool) Wilf Kirkham (15) Wilf Kirkham (15) 19,625 vs. Stoke City, 4 March 1933 3,364 vs. Plymouth Argyle, 29 April 1933 8,876 9–1 vs. Chesterfield, 24 September 1932 0–7 vs. Bradford City, 1 October 1932 _color_3_stripes_red ff0000 ff0000 ff0000 ffffff 000000 1931–32 1933–34 The 1932–33 season was Port Vale's 27th season of football in the English Football League, and their third-successive season (26th overall) in the Second Division.Kent Jeff The Valiants' Years: The Story Of Port Vale Witan Books 1990 124–150 From Glory to Despair (1929–1939) 0-9508981-4-7 Despite hopes of improvement, the club again struggled in mid‑table — finishing 17th with 38 points from 42 matches (14 wins, 10 draws, 18 losses), scoring 66 goals and conceding 79. Under manager Tom Holford, who returned in June 1932, the season was notable for the record-setting 9–1 league win over Chesterfield on 24 September, in which Stewart Littlewood netted six goals within 57 minutes, marking both still club records. That moment of brilliance aside, injuries (notably Littlewood's cartilage damage and Shenton’s knee) and inconsistent form hampered progress, including a run of eight winless games over October–November. Legendary striker Wilf Kirkham concluded his long career in a Vale shirt this season, finishing as the club's league top scorer once again — his sixth such feat — with 15 goals before retiring to a teaching career. In the FA Cup, Vale were eliminated in the Third Round, falling 2–1 away to First Division side Blackpool at Bloomfield Road. Off the field, the club made a £481 profit, managed tight wage controls, reduced gate receipts (around £11,447), and issued clear-outs of several senior players to refresh the squad heading into 1933–34. The season is best remembered for shouting highs and frustrating lows — a record-breaking win and farewell to Kirkham standing out in an otherwise unremarkable campaign. 200px|thumb|right|Manager Tom Holford. 200px|thumb|right|Chairman Frank Huntbach was pleased the club's finances. thumb|right|Club record goalscorer Wilf Kirkham. thumb|Midfielder Jack Round. Overview Second Division The pre-season worries over the Great Depression saw ticket prices reduced, as the Old Recreation Ground's capacity was increased, and a radio-gramophone broadcaster with four loudspeakers was installed. New signings included Bradford Park Avenue outside-left Bob Morton and Cardiff City left-half Jimmy McGrath. The season began well; an opening-day victory over Bury was followed by a useful sequence of results that saw the club climb the table. Their 9–1 win over Chesterfield on 24 September was the biggest victory of the season in the division, and a still standing club record victory in the Football League. Stewart Littlewood scored an incredible six goals that day – also a still standing club record, all within 57 minutes.Fielding Rob Five of the best thumping Port Vale home victories https://www.onevalefan.co.uk/2019/10/five-best-thumping-port-vale-home-victories/ 5 June 2020 onevalefan.co.uk 3 October 2019 The Vale followed this record win with a 7–0 defeat at Bradford City's Valley Parade, in what had been dubbed a promotion clash. Shenton twisted his knee in the latter match, and the list of injuries began to mount, Littlewood also requiring an operation to repair cartilage damage. This prompted the signing of Manchester United's highly experienced ex-England international forward Louis Page, brother of ex-Vale player Tom Page. From 15 October to 3 December, Vale were on a run of eight games without a win, six defeats. One of these defeats was a 5–0 hammering at Notts County's Meadow Lane in which goalkeeper Jock Leckie was stretchered off, and another was a 1–0 defeat at Stoke City's Victoria Ground in front of 29,296 spectators, yet another was a 4–0 loss at Tottenham Hotspur's White Hart Lane in front of a crowd of 33,071. In December, a shake-up in the first XI brought four successive home victories, though only one point was won from three away games. They had also been leading Charlton Athletic 4–1 on Boxing Day, until the match was called off due to fog. Stoke defender Len Armitage was brought in to help shore up the defence as the club hovered in mid-table. In January, ten-year veteran left-back Jimmy Oakes was sold to Charlton Athletic for £3,000. On 21 January, they fell to a 5–0 defeat at West Ham United. On 4 March, Stoke romped home to a 3–1 derby win, with a certain Stanley Matthews scoring his first goal for the "Potters". After this the "Valiants" went five games unbeaten, which started with them picking up a point at Old Trafford. Only one of these matches was a win, though, as they defeated Notts County by four goals to nil. They won three and lost four of their seven April games. Safety was secured on 22 April with three games left to play despite a 4–2 loss at Bradford (Park Avenue). The 26 April game against Charlton Athletic at The Valley was remarkable as Oakes became the first ever player to play for opposite teams in the same match – this happened as before his transfer he had played for Vale in a game with the "Addicks" that was called off before full-time due to fog. The final game of the season was a 6–1 beating at Blundell Park by Grimsby Town, though by this time their survival in the division was already ensured. They finished in 17th position with 38 points, four points clear of relegated Chesterfield and 17 points short of promoted Spurs. Meanwhile, the reserve team won the Cheshire League for the fifth successive season. Finances On the financial side, a profit of £481 was made due to strict economic management. Wages were reduced, and the "A" team was scrapped. Gate receipts had again fallen, now standing at £11,447. The cost of a seat at the Old Recreation Ground was three shillings, with one shilling charged for a place standing up.Baggaley Mike Making it count in the league https://portvalethevaliant.substack.com/p/making-it-count-in-the-league 14 December 2025 Valiant's Substack 8 December 2025 Another clear-out of players took place: with Billy Easton, Louis Page, Stewart Littlewood, Tom Tippett, Wilf Kirkham, Jock Leckie, and Ben Davies all leaving on free transfers. Easton joined Aldershot, Page signed with Yeovil & Petters United, Littlewood went to Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic, Tippett joined West Ham United, Leckie went to Stockport County. Kirkham retired as a professional to concentrate on his duties as an educator, turning out as an amateur for Kidderminster Harriers in the Birmingham League. FA Cup In the FA Cup, Vale lost 2–1 at First Division relegation strugglers Blackpool's Bloomfield Road in the third round. Results Football League Second Division 1932–33 Football League League table Second Division y PVL Results by matchday table b Round Ground H/A/A/H/H/A/H/A/H/A/A/H/A/H/A/H/A/H/A/H/H/A/H/A/H/A/H/A/H/A/H/H/A/H/A/H/H/A/A/A/H/A Result W/D/W/L/W/D/W/L/W/L/L/D/L/L/D/L/L/W/L/W/W/D/W/L/L/D/W/L/L/D/D/W/D/D/L/W/L/W/L/L/W/L Position 1/5/3/7/4/4/4/4/4/5/8/8/12/13/13/15/17/16/17/16/14/15/13/15/15/15/15/15/16/15/15/14/13/14/15/15/17/15/16/16/16/17 Points 2p/3p/5p/5p/7p/8p/10p/10p/12p/12p/12p/13p/13p/13p/14p/14p/14p/16p/16p/18p/20p/21p/23p/23p/23p/24p/26p/26p/26p/27p/28p/30p/31p/32p/32p/34p/34p/36p/36p/36p/38p/38p Home Away green2 Win yellow2 Draw red2 Loss green1 red1 StattoPort Vale 1932–1933 : Results & Fixtures https://web.archive.org/web/20160304064711/http://www.statto.com/football/teams/port-vale/1932-1933/results 4 March 2016 . Statto Organisation. Retrieved 28 April 2012. Matches 1 27 August 1932 Port Vale 1–0 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-bury-27-august-1932-100436/ Bury Kirkham Old Recreation Ground Hanley 10,120 2 29 August 1932 Southampton 2–2 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/southampton-v-port-vale-29-august-1932-100445/ Port Vale Drake Littlewood The Dell Southampton 8,151 3 3 September 1932 Lincoln City 0–1 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/lincoln-city-v-port-vale-03-september-1932-100455/ Port Vale Kirkham Sincil Bank Lincoln 11,276 4 5 September 1932 Port Vale 0–2 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-southampton-05-september-1932-100465/ Southampton Coates Drake Old Recreation Ground Hanley 8,843 5 10 September 1932 Port Vale 4–0 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-west-ham-united-10-september-1932-100477/ West Ham United Morton Kirkham Littlewood Sherlock pen. Old Recreation Ground Hanley 9,582 6 17 September 1932 Fulham 1–1 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/fulham-v-port-vale-17-september-1932-100486/ Port Vale Morton Craven Cottage Fulham, West London 21,272 7 24 September 1932 Port Vale 9–1 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-chesterfield-24-september-1932-100500/ Chesterfield Littlewood Kirkham Morton Old Recreation Ground Hanley 9,950 8 1 October 1932 Bradford City 7–0 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/bradford-city-v-port-vale-01-october-1932-100504/ Port Vale Valley Parade Bradford 12,648 9 8 October 1932 Port Vale 2–1 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-swansea-town-08-october-1932-100524/ Swansea Town Morton Kirkham Old Recreation Ground Hanley 7,310 10 15 October 1932 Notts County 5–0 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/notts-county-v-port-vale-15-october-1932-100533/ Port Vale Meadow Lane Nottingham 9,217 11 22 October 1932 Stoke City 1–0 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/stoke-city-v-port-vale-22-october-1932-100547/ Port Vale Johnson Victoria Ground Stoke-upon-Trent 29,296 12 29 October 1932 Port Vale 3–3 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-manchester-united-29-october-1932-100556/ Manchester United Sherlock Page Morton Brown Ridding Old Recreation Ground Hanley 7,138 13 5 November 1932 Tottenham Hotspur 4–0 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/tottenham-hotspur-v-port-vale-05-november-1932-100570/ Port Vale Hunt O'Callaghan pen. White Hart Lane Tottenham, North London 33,071 14 12 November 1932 15:00 GMT Port Vale 0–1 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-nottingham-forest-12-november-1932-100578/ Nottingham Forest Pugh 28 Old Recreation Ground Hanley T Crew 8,088 15 19 November 1932 Burnley 1–1 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/burnley-v-port-vale-19-november-1932-100583/ Port Vale Edwards Kirkham Turf Moor Burnley 7,940 16 26 November 1932 Port Vale 0–1 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-preston-north-end-26-november-1932-100600/ Preston North End Old Recreation Ground Hanley 6,938 17 3 December 1932 Oldham Athletic 2–1 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/oldham-athletic-v-port-vale-03-december-1932-100610/ Port Vale McGrath Boundary Park Oldham 4,397 18 10 December 1932 Port Vale 3–1 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-bradford-park-avenue-10-december-1932-100622/ Bradford (Park Avenue) McGrath Kirkham Mills Old Recreation Ground Hanley 6,114 19 17 December 1932 Plymouth Argyle 3–1 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/plymouth-argyle-v-port-vale-17-december-1932-100633/ Port Vale Bowden Black Page Home Park Plymouth 15,567 20 24 December 1932 Port Vale 4–2 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-grimsby-town-24-december-1932-100644/ Grimsby Town Tippett Sherlock pen. Kirkham Old Recreation Ground Hanley 8,342 21 27 December 1932 Port Vale 2–1 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-charlton-athletic-27-december-1932-100664/ Charlton Athletic McGrath Mills Old Recreation Ground Hanley 12,622 22 31 December 1932 Bury 0–0 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/bury-v-port-vale-31-december-1932-100669/ Port Vale Gigg Lane Bury, Greater Manchester 7,906 23 7 January 1933 Port Vale 3–2 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-lincoln-city-07-january-1933-100689/ Lincoln City Kirkham Tippett Old Recreation Ground Hanley 7,263 24 21 January 1933 West Ham United 5–0 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/west-ham-united-v-port-vale-21-january-1933-100703/ Port Vale Barrett Watson Wilson Boleyn Ground Upton Park, London 13,908 25 28 January 1933 Port Vale 1–2 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-fulham-28-january-1933-100704/ Fulham Kirkham Old Recreation Ground Hanley 5,383 26 4 February 1933 Chesterfield 2–2 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/chesterfield-v-port-vale-04-february-1933-100717/ Port Vale Morton McGrath Saltergate Chesterfield, Derbyshire 11,748 27 11 February 1933 Port Vale 2–0 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-bradford-city-11-february-1933-100734/ Bradford City Jones Littlewood Old Recreation Ground Hanley 9,873 28 18 February 1933 Swansea Town 2–0 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/swansea-town-v-port-vale-18-february-1933-100743/ Port Vale Vetch Field Swansea 8,049 29 4 March 1933 Port Vale 1–3 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-stoke-city-04-march-1933-100758/ Stoke City McGrath Johnson Ware Matthews Old Recreation Ground Hanley 19,625 30 11 March 1933 Manchester United 1–1 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/manchester-united-v-port-vale-11-march-1933-100767/ Port Vale Hine McGrath Old Trafford Old Trafford 24,690 31 18 March 1933 Port Vale 1–1 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-tottenham-hotspur-18-march-1933-100783/ Tottenham Hotspur Nolan Evans Old Recreation Ground Hanley 14,588 32 20 March 1933 Port Vale 4–0 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-notts-county-20-march-1933-100786/ Notts County Nolan Kirkham Baker Old Recreation Ground Hanley 5,682 33 25 March 1933 15:00 GMT Nottingham Forest 1–1 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/nottingham-forest-v-port-vale-25-march-1933-100793/ Port Vale Simpson 81 Kirkham City Ground West Bridgford T Crew 10,618 34 1 April 1933 Port Vale 1–1 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-burnley-01-april-1933-100807/ Burnley og. C. Smith Old Recreation Ground Hanley 7,221 35 8 April 1933 Preston North End 3–1 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/preston-north-end-v-port-vale-08-april-1933-100821/ Port Vale Morton Deepdale Preston, Lancashire 9,490 36 14 April 1933 Port Vale 2–0 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-millwall-14-april-1933-100831/ Millwall Morton Nolan Old Recreation Ground Hanley 11,032 37 15 April 1933 Port Vale 2–4 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-oldham-athletic-15-april-1933-100841/ Oldham Athletic McGrath Old Recreation Ground Hanley 7,317 38 17 April 1933 Millwall 0–1 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/millwall-v-port-vale-17-april-1933-100847/ Port Vale Armitage The Den New Cross, Lewisham 7,507 39 22 April 1933 Bradford (Park Avenue) 4–2 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/bradford-park-avenue-v-port-vale-22-april-1933-100856/ Port Vale Morton Armitage Park Avenue Bradford 5,757 40 26 April 1933 Charlton Athletic 2–1 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/charlton-athletic-v-port-vale-26-april-1933-100868/ Port Vale Morton The Valley Charlton, London 5,492 41 29 April 1933 Port Vale 4–1 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-plymouth-argyle-29-april-1933-100876/ Plymouth Argyle Nolan Kirkham Black Old Recreation Ground Hanley 3,364 42 6 May 1933 Grimsby Town 6–1 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/grimsby-town-v-port-vale-06-may-1933-100883/ Port Vale Nolan Blundell Park Cleethorpes 6,349 FA Cup 1932–33 FA Cup R3 14 January 1933 Blackpool 2–1 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/blackpool-v-port-vale-14-january-1933-208228/ Port Vale Mills Bloomfield Road Blackpool 15,800 Squad statistics Appearances and goals Key to positions: GK – Goalkeeper; FB – Full back; HB – Half back; FW – Forward Second Division FA Cup GK ENG Ben Davies 11 0 1 0 GK SCO Jock Leckie 22 0 0 0 GK SCO Allan Todd 9 0 0 0 FB ENG William Allsop 5 0 0 0 FB ENG William Cope 3 0 0 0 FB ENG George Poyser 28 0 0 0 FB ENG George Shenton 28 0 0 0 HB ENG Cliff Birks 21 0 1 0 HB ENG Albert Harrison 3 0 0 0 HB ENG Roger Jones 40 1 1 0 FW ENG Len Armitage 10 2 1 0 FW ENG Horace Baker 7 1 0 0 FW WAL 1807 Robert Davies 5 0 0 0 FW ENG Billy Easton 3 0 0 0 FW ENG James Henshall 5 0 0 0 FW ENG Wilf Kirkham 33 15 1 0 FW ENG Stewart Littlewood 13 10 0 0 HB ENG Jimmy McGrath 28 8 1 0 HB ENG Fred Mills 36 2 1 1 FW ENG Bob Morton 33 10 0 0 FW ENG Tom Nolan 17 8 0 0 FW ENG Louis Page 18 2 1 0 HB ENG Jack Round 31 0 0 0 HB ENG Jack Sherlock 24 3 0 0 FW ENG John Smith 6 0 0 0 FW ENG Tom Tippett 8 3 1 0 |- |colspan="14"|Players who featured but departed the club during the season: FB ENG Jimmy Oakes 12 0 1 0 HB ENG Arnold Bliss 3 0 0 0 |} Top scorers PlacePositionNationNameSecond DivisionFA CupTotal1FWEnglandWilf Kirkham150152FWEnglandBob Morton10010–FWEnglandStewart Littlewood100104FWEnglandTom Nolan808–HBEnglandJimmy McGrath8086HBEnglandFred Mills213–FWEnglandTom Tippett303–HBEnglandJack Sherlock3039FWEnglandLen Armitage202–FWEnglandLouis Page20211HBEnglandRoger Jones101–FWEnglandHorace Baker101–––Own goals101TOTALS66167 Transfers Transfers in Date from Position Nationality Name From Fee Ref. May 1932 HB ENG Jimmy McGrath Cardiff City Free transfer Kent Jeff Port Vale Personalities Witan Books 1996 0-9529152-0-0 May 1932 FW ENG Bob Morton Bradford Park Avenue Free transfer August 1932 FW ENG John Smith Derby County Free transfer October 1932 FW ENG Louis Page Manchester United Free transfer October 1932 GK SCO Allan Todd SCO Cowdenbeath Free transfer December 1932 FW ENG Len Armitage WAL 1807 Rhyl Athletic Free transfer March 1933 HB ENG Billy Tabram Swansea Town Free transfer Transfers out Date from Position Nationality Name To Fee Ref. January 1933 FB ENG Jimmy Oakes Charlton Athletic £3,000 April 1933 HB ENG Arnold Bliss West Ham United Released May 1933 GK ENG Ben Davies Released May 1933 FW ENG Billy Easton Aldershot Free transfer May 1933 HB ENG Albert Harrison Leek Alexandra Free transfer May 1933 GK SCO Jock Leckie Stockport County Free transfer May 1933 FW ENG John Smith Carlisle United Free transfer May 1933 FW ENG Tom Tippett West Ham United Free transfer July 1933 FW ENG Stewart Littlewood Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic Free transfer July 1933 HB ENG Jack Sherlock Colwyn Bay United Free transfer Summer 1933 FW ENG Wilf Kirkham Retired Summer 1933 FW ENG Louis Page 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