1898–99 Burslem Port Vale F.C. season

March 2015 March 2015 Burslem Port Vale 1898–99 Sam Gleaves Secretary Robert Audley Athletic Ground Football League Second Division 9th (39 Points) FA Cup Fifth Qualifying Round(eliminated by Small Heath) Birmingham Senior Cup Runners-up(eliminated by Aston Villa) Staffordshire Senior Cup Semi-final(eliminated by Walsall) James Peake (11) James Peake (17) 12,000 vs Manchester City, 1 April 1899 1,000 vs Gainsborough Trinity, 26 November 1898 4,500+ 5–0 (twice) and 6–1 0–7 vs. Small Heath, 10 December 1898 _red_stripes _red_stripes _red_stripes FFFFFF FFFFFF FFFFFF 000080 000080 1897–98 1899–1900 The 1898–99 season was Burslem Port Vale's fifth season of football in the English Football League; it followed a two-season absence, which the club spent in the Midland Football League.Kent Jeff The Valiants' Years: The Story Of Port Vale Witan Books 1990 50–70 The Hopeless Struggle (1898-1907) 0-9508981-4-7 Manager‑secretary Sam Gleaves oversaw a strong revival at the Athletic Ground, with Vale finishing ninth in a 34‑game league season, collecting 39 points from 17 wins, 5 draws and 12 losses, scoring 56 goals and conceding just 34 — the fewest in the division. Following an unbeaten start with six consecutive victories, Vale faded slightly in the closing stages but remained well clear of re‑election danger, finishing 19 points above the bottom clubs. James Peake, their inside‑left, emerged as the club’s leading scorer, netting 11 league goals and 17 in all competitions before his summer move to Millwall Athletic. In cup competitions, Vale reached the Fifth Qualifying Round of the FA Cup, exiting at the hands of Small Heath. They were runners‑up in the Birmingham Senior Cup, losing to Aston Villa, and reached the semi‑final of the Staffordshire Senior Cup, bowing out to Walsall. Attendances were healthy by Second Division standards, with a season‑high 12,000 spectators at the match against Manchester City on 1 April 1899, while the average home attendance settled at around 4,500. Mid‑table stability, defensive solidity, and cup credence made 1898‑99 one of Vale’s most satisfying seasons of the era — and a benchmark they wouldn't surpass for several years. 400px|thumb|Squad photograph. thumb|right|Ever-present Lucien Boullemier. thumb|right|Winger Billy Heames would stay with the Vale for the next five seasons. Overview Second Division Their FA Cup win over First Division champions Sheffield United in 1897–98 won Vale the respect (and votes) they needed to win re-election to the Football League for 1898–99.Vale revel in FA Cup glory http://www.thisisstaffordshire.co.uk/Vale-revel-FA-Cup-glory/story-17456116-detail/story.html 29 November 2012 The Sentinel 29 November 2012 To ensure a competitive campaign they signed striker Howard Harvey from Aston Villa for £50 to bolster what remained a semi-professional squad with all the players maintaining jobs outside of football. In front of a large crowd at Coventry Road, Vale continued their winning opening to the season. The Dart was unimpressed by Small Heath's shooting – "fully half-a-dozen excellent chances were missed right in front of goal", including an Alex Leake penalty.'Spider' (16 September 1898). "Football Arrows". The Birmingham Pictorial and Dart: p.11. This was one of the opening six league victories as Vale conceded just one goal as they built a four-point lead at the top of the table. The 2–0 win over Grimsby Town on 1 October was attended by 6,000 spectators at the Athletic Ground to raise £117 in receipts. However, right-back Tommy Clare broke his leg in the Grimsby game, and the team's form never recovered without the former England international's guidance on the pitch. A top-of-the-table clash with Newton Heath at Bank Street ended in a 2–1 defeat as the home side scored the winning goal with three minutes left to play. A goalless draw at home with New Brighton Tower raised £170 in receipts and was the first in a four-game sequence where the Vale scored only once. This solitary goal was enough to claim victory at Luton Town, though, which kept them top of the league.Fielding Rob In 1898, table-topping Port Vale sleep on the train before beating Luton - onevalefan.co.uk https://www.onevalefan.co.uk/2025/12/in-1898-table-topping-port-vale-sleep-on-the-train-before-beating-luton/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=in-1898-table-topping-port-vale-sleep-on-the-train-before-beating-luton 10 December 2025 10 December 2025 The highly-rated full-back Tom McFarlane made his debut against Leicester Fosse on 12 November, which ended in a 2–0 defeat. Their form remained patchy until they opened the new year with four successive wins. This sequence included a 6–1 win over Blackpool, which was aided by a four-goal haul from James Peake. A 2–0 loss away at Burton Swifts was blamed on "painfully peculiar" refereeing and the first half loss of Harvey due to injury. Clare then returned to help the team to a 1–0 win over Newton Heath as they reclaimed second place in the league standings. On 7 January, Vale beat Small Heath in "wretched" conditions, scoring the only goal three minutes from the end of an even game."Burslem Port Vale v. Small Heath". The Sheffield & Rotherham Independent: p.9. 9 January 1899. The team won consistently at home, but gained only two points from their seven remaining away games. On 25 March, the team came unstuck with Clare playing in goal for a 3–2 defeat at struggling Gainsborough Trinity. A crowd of 12,000 witnessed a 1–1 draw at home to Manchester City with rough play from both sides. A 2–1 home defeat by Glossop North End saw an end to the club's hopes of top-flight football. They drew the return fixture at Glossop without scoring. The season concluded with a 1–0 home defeat to Walsall. Vale finished the season with two points from five games, dropping into ninth place – their lowest position all season. No team conceded fewer than their 34 league goals. Right-half Lucien Boullemier was an ever-present throughout the campaign, with goalkeeper Herbert Birchenough missing just one game. Winger Billy Heames and forward Howard Harvey rarely missed a game between them. James Peake, the club's top scorer, left to join Millwall Athletic in the Southern League, whilst Dick Evans signed with Reading. Tommy Clare retired. Finances Financially, the club lost £300 over the season. It took three attempts to form enough members to hold the Annual general meeting due to a lack of interest. Cup competitions Defending champions of the Staffordshire Senior Cup, Vale overcame Burton Wanderers in a replay after being too overconfident in the original tie. This took them into the semi-final, where they lost 4–0 to Walsall in a replay on Boxing Day. In the Birmingham Senior Cup, they defeated Walsall in the semi-final, in a replay at Stoney Lane the game was stopped owing to a snowstorm and the Walsall players got changed and began smoking cigars, refusing to continue the game after the storm cleared and so were ruled out of the competition by the Birmingham County Football Association. Vale went on to lose 4–0 to Aston Villa in the final. In the FA Cup, they were turned over 7–0 at Small Heath in the qualification rounds. Results thumb|right|Burslem born Danny Simpson never played for any professional club other than Port Vale. Football League Second Division 1898–99 Football League League table Second Division y BPV Results by matchday table b Round Ground H/H/A/H/A/H/A/H/A/A/H/H/A/A/H/A/A/H/A/H/A/H/A/H/A/A/H/A/H/A/H/H/A/H Result W/W/W/W/W/W/L/D/L/W/L/W/L/D/W/L/W/W/W/W/L/W/L/W/L/L/W/D/W/L/D/L/D/L 1/1/1/1/1/1/1/1/1/1/1/2/5/5/4/6/6/6/4/3/3/2/4/3/3/4/4/5/4/4/6/6/7/9 Points 2p/4p/6p/8p/10p/12p/12p/13p/13p/15p/15p/17p/17p/18p/20p/20p/22p/24p/26p/28p/28p/30p/30p/32p/32p/32p/34p/35p/37p/37p/38p/38p/39p/39p Position Home Away green2 Win yellow2 Draw red2 Loss gold green1 red1 StattoPort Vale 1898–1899 : Results & Fixtures https://web.archive.org/web/20100419141613/http://www.statto.com/football/teams/port-vale/1898-1899/results 19 April 2010 . Statto Organisation. Retrieved 28 April 2012. Matches 1 3 September 1898 Burslem Port Vale 2–0 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/burslem-port-vale-v-barnsley-03-september-1898-91891/ Barnsley Peake Evans Athletic Ground Cobridge 4,000 2 5 September 1898 Burslem Port Vale 3–0 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/burslem-port-vale-v-woolwich-arsenal-05-september-1898-91894/ Woolwich Arsenal Evans unknown Athletic Ground Cobridge 5,000 3 10 September 1898 Small Heath 1–2 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/small-heath-v-burslem-port-vale-10-september-1898-91897/ Burslem Port Vale Abbott Evans Peake Muntz Street Small Heath 5,500 4 17 September 1898 Burslem Port Vale 3–0 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/burslem-port-vale-v-loughborough-17-september-1898-91911/ Loughborough Peake Simpson Athletic Ground Cobridge 5,000 5 24 September 1898 Blackpool 0–4 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/blackpool-v-burslem-port-vale-24-september-1898-91915/ Burslem Port Vale Peake Harvey Beech Athletic Grounds Blackpool 1,000 6 1 October 1898 Burslem Port Vale 2–0 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/burslem-port-vale-v-grimsby-town-01-october-1898-91928/ Grimsby Town Simpson Evans Athletic Ground Cobridge 6,000 7 8 October 1898 Newton Heath 2–1 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/newton-heath-v-burslem-port-vale-08-october-1898-91936/ Burslem Port Vale Bryant Cassidy Simpson Bank Street Clayton, Manchester 10,000 8 15 October 1898 Burslem Port Vale 0–0 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/burslem-port-vale-v-new-brighton-tower-15-october-1898-91942/ New Brighton Tower Athletic Ground Cobridge 5,000 9 22 October 1898 Lincoln City 1–0 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/lincoln-city-v-burslem-port-vale-22-october-1898-91949/ Burslem Port Vale Sincil Bank Lincoln 4,000 10 5 November 1898 Luton Town 0–1 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/luton-town-v-burslem-port-vale-05-november-1898-91960/ Burslem Port Vale Evans Dunstable Road Luton 2,000 11 12 November 1898 Burslem Port Vale 0–2 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/burslem-port-vale-v-leicester-fosse-12-november-1898-91970/ Leicester Fosse Athletic Ground Cobridge 4,000 12 26 November 1898 Burslem Port Vale 2–1 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/burslem-port-vale-v-gainsborough-trinity-26-november-1898-91981/ Gainsborough Trinity Evans Harvey Athletic Ground Cobridge 1,000 13 3 December 1898 Manchester City 3–1 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/manchester-city-v-burslem-port-vale-03-december-1898-91990/ Burslem Port Vale Meredith Dougal Peake Hyde Road Gorton 6,000 14 17 December 1898 Walsall 1–1 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/walsall-v-burslem-port-vale-17-december-1898-92002/ Burslem Port Vale Evans Fellows Park Walsall 3,000 15 24 December 1898 Burslem Port Vale 4–1 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/burslem-port-vale-v-burton-swifts-24-december-1898-92012/ Burton Swifts Beckett Harvey Beech Athletic Ground Cobridge 2,000 16 31 December 1898 Barnsley 2–1 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/barnsley-v-burslem-port-vale-31-december-1898-92025/ Burslem Port Vale Evans Oakwell Barnsley 1,000 17 2 January 1899 Darwen 1–3 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/darwen-v-burslem-port-vale-02-january-1899-92032/ Burslem Port Vale Harvey Mitchell Barley Bank Darwen 400 18 7 January 1899 Burslem Port Vale 1–0 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/burslem-port-vale-v-small-heath-07-january-1899-92041/ Small Heath Beckett Athletic Ground Cobridge 5,000 19 14 January 1899 Loughborough 0–3 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/loughborough-v-burslem-port-vale-14-january-1899-92048/ Burslem Port Vale Evans Harvey Beckett Athletic Ground Loughborough 2,000 20 21 January 1899 Burslem Port Vale 6–1 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/burslem-port-vale-v-blackpool-21-january-1899-92057/ Blackpool Peake Beech Beckett Athletic Ground Cobridge 21 28 January 1899 Burton Swifts 2–0 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/burton-swifts-v-burslem-port-vale-28-january-1899-92060/ Burslem Port Vale Peel Croft Burton upon Trent 500 22 4 February 1899 Burslem Port Vale 1–0 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/burslem-port-vale-v-newton-heath-04-february-1899-92069/ Newton Heath Belfield Athletic Ground Cobridge 6,000 23 11 February 1899 New Brighton Tower 1–0 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/new-brighton-tower-v-burslem-port-vale-11-february-1899-92078/ Burslem Port Vale Tower Athletic Ground New Brighton, Merseyside 2,000 24 18 February 1899 Burslem Port Vale 2–1 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/burslem-port-vale-v-lincoln-city-18-february-1899-92087/ Lincoln City Harvey Beech Athletic Ground Cobridge 3,000 25 21 February 1899 Grimsby Town 3–1 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/grimsby-town-v-burslem-port-vale-21-february-1899-92089/ Burslem Port Vale Beckett Abbey Park Grimsby 2,500 26 25 February 1899 Woolwich Arsenal 1–0 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/woolwich-arsenal-v-burslem-port-vale-25-february-1899-92091/ Burslem Port Vale Manor Ground Plumstead, London 6,000 27 4 March 1899 Burslem Port Vale 4–1 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/burslem-port-vale-v-luton-town-04-march-1899-92105/ Luton Town McDonald Simpson Athletic Ground Cobridge 4,000 28 11 March 1899 Leicester Fosse 1–1 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/leicester-fosse-v-burslem-port-vale-11-march-1899-92111/ Burslem Port Vale Harvey Filbert Street Leicester 9,000 29 18 March 1899 Burslem Port Vale 3–1 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/burslem-port-vale-v-darwen-18-march-1899-92124/ Darwen Harvey Beckett McDonald Athletic Ground Cobridge 30 25 March 1899 Gainsborough Trinity 3–2 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/gainsborough-trinity-v-burslem-port-vale-25-march-1899-92131/ Burslem Port Vale Simpson Beckett The Northolme Gainsborough, Lincolnshire 31 1 April 1899 Burslem Port Vale 1–1 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/burslem-port-vale-v-manchester-city-01-april-1899-92150/ Manchester City Heames Meredith Athletic Ground Cobridge 12,000 32 3 April 1899 Burslem Port Vale 1–2 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/burslem-port-vale-v-glossop-north-end-03-april-1899-92158/ Glossop North End Beckett Athletic Ground Cobridge 4,000 33 8 April 1899 Glossop North End 0–0 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/glossop-north-end-v-burslem-port-vale-08-april-1899-92163/ Burslem Port Vale North Road Glossop 3,500 34 15 April 1899 Burslem Port Vale 0–1 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/burslem-port-vale-v-walsall-15-april-1899-92178/ Walsall Athletic Ground Cobridge 1,500 FA Cup 1898–99 FA Cup 3Q 29 October 1898 Burslem Port Vale 5–0 W Wellington Town Peake Evans Price Athletic Ground Cobridge 1,000 4Q 19 November 1898 Burslem Port Vale 3–0 W Burton Wanderers Peake Simpson Harvey Athletic Ground Cobridge 1,500 5Q 10 December 1898 Small Heath 7–0 L Burslem Port Vale Muntz Street Small Heath 7,000 Birmingham Senior Cup 1R 19 December 1898 Burslem Port Vale 5–0 W Leicester Fosse Harvey McDonald rush Athletic Ground Cobridge 800 Semi-final 13 March 1899 Burslem Port Vale 1–1 D Walsall McDonald Neutral 4,000 Replay 20 March 1899 Burslem Port Vale 2–0 W Walsall Harvey Mitchell Neutral 1,000 Final 27 March 1899 Aston Villa 4–0 L Burslem Port Vale Villa Park Birmingham 3,634 Staffordshire Senior Cup 1R 19 September 1898 Burslem Port Vale 1–1 D Burton Wanderers Peake Athletic Ground Cobridge 3,000 Replay 26 September 1898 Burton Wanderers 0–4 W Burslem Port Vale Peake Evans Spilsbury Simpson Derby Turn Burton upon Trent 4,000 Semi-final 21 November 1898 Burslem Port Vale 1–1 D Walsall Peake Athletic Ground Cobridge 2,000 Replay 26 December 1898 Walsall 4–0 L Burslem Port Vale Fellows Park Walsall 7,000 thumb|right|George Price played one, scored one in 1898–99. Squad statistics Appearances and goals Key to positions: GK – Goalkeeper; FB – Full back; HB – Half back; FW – Forward Second Division FA Cup Other Total GK ENG Herbert Birchenough 33 0 3 0 8 0 0 0 FB ENG Tommy Clare 13 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 FB George Hulme 8 0 2 0 3 0 0 0 FB SCO Tom McFarlane 22 0 1 0 4 0 0 0 FB Henry Platt 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 FB ENG Thomas Spilsbury 15 0 2 0 4 1 0 0 FB ENG Frank Stokes 3 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 HB S. E. Bayley 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 HB Jim Beech 31 4 3 0 6 0 0 0 HB ENG Lucien Boullemier 34 0 3 0 8 0 0 0 HB ENG John Bowman 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 HB ENG Ted McDonald 30 4 2 0 7 3 0 0 FW Ernest Beckett 21 9 0 0 5 0 0 0 FW ENG Fred Belfield 5 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 FW R. H. Capener 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 FW ENG Dick Evans 23 10 3 2 4 1 0 0 FW ENG Billy Heames 33 1 3 0 7 0 0 0 FW ENG Howard Harvey 32 9 2 1 7 3 0 0 FW ENG Charles Hodgkinson 6 0 0 0 4 0 0 0 FW ENG Tommy Lander 16 0 1 0 5 0 0 0 FW Frank Mitchell 4 1 1 0 3 1 0 0 FW James Peake 22 11 3 3 3 3 0 0 FW George Price 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 FW ENG Danny Simpson 17 5 2 1 3 1 0 0 |} Top scorers PlacePositionNationNameSecond DivisionFA CupOtherTotal1FWJames Peake1133172FWEnglandHoward Harvey91313–FWEnglandDick Evans1021134FWErnest Beckett90095MFEnglandTed McDonald4037–FWEnglandDanny Simpson51177HBJim Beech40048FWFrank Mitchell10129FWEnglandBilly Heames1001–FWEnglandFred Belfield1001–FWEnglandGeorge Price0101–FBEnglandThomas Spilsbury0011–––Rush0011–––Unknown1001TOTALS5681478 Transfers Transfers in Date from Position Nationality Name From Fee Ref. June 1898 FW ENG Howard Harvey Aston Villa £50 Kent Jeff Port Vale Personalities Witan Books 1996 0-9529152-0-0 Summer 1898 FB ENG Tommy Clare Manchester City Free transfer August 1898 FW ENG Ernest Beckett Newcastle Swifts Free transfer August 1898 FB SCO Tom McFarlane SCO Hibernian Free transfer October 1898 FB ENG Frank Stokes) Burslem Park Free transfer February 1899 HB ENG John Bowman Burslem Park Free transfer Transfers out Date from Position Nationality Name To Fee Ref. Summer 1899 FW James Peake Millwall Athletic Free transfer Summer 1899 FW ENG Ernest Beckett Released Summer 1899 FW ENG Fred Belfield Released Summer 1899 HB ENG John Bowman Stoke Free transfer Summer 1899 FW R. H. Capener Released Summer 1899 FW ENG Dick Evans Reading Free transfer Summer 1899 FW ENG Charles Hodgkinson Released Summer 1899 FB George Hulme Released Summer 1899 FW Frank Mitchell Released Summer 1899 FB Henry Platt Released Summer 1899 HB ENG Jos Randles Retired 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