1977–78 Port Vale F.C. season

March 2015 March 2015 Port Vale 1977–78 Roy Sproson(until 31 October)Colin Harper(caretaker 31 October – 17 November)Bobby Smith(from 17 November) Arthur McPherson Vale Park Football League Third Division 21st (36 points) FA Cup Second Round(eliminated by Walsall) League Cup First Round(eliminated by Preston North End) Player of the Year Ken Beamish Ken Beamish (13) Ken Beamish (16) 7,051 vs. Walsall, 19 December 1977 3,220 vs. Hereford United, 22 March 1978 3,947 4–0 vs. Exeter City, 8 February 1978 0–3 (four games) and 1–4 _blackline _collarblack _blackline _kappaaway _color_3_stripes_white ffffff ffffff ffffff 000000 000000 1976–77 1978–79 The 1977–78 season was Port Vale's 66th season of football in the Football League, and their eighth successive season (14th 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 A poor start led to the dismissal of long-standing manager Roy Sproson in October, followed by a brief caretaker spell by Colin Harper, before the appointment of Bobby Smith in mid‑November — though the managerial change failed to arrest the club's slide toward relegation. Vale finished 21st with 36 points, ensuring relegation to the Fourth Division. Ken Beamish stood out as the club's league top scorer with 13 goals, and finished the season as overall top scorer with 16 in all competitions. In cup competitions, Vale reached the Second Round of the FA Cup, where they were eliminated by Walsall, and bowed out in the First Round of the League Cup. Support on the terraces remained modest: the average attendance was 3,947, with the highest home attendance of 7,051 coming against Walsall on 19 December 1977, and the lowest being 3,220 against Hereford United on 22 March 1978. The club's largest win was a 4–0 victory over Exeter City on 8 February 1978, while several three-goal losses marked their heaviest reversals. A season of turmoil on and off the pitch culminated in Val's relegation, despite late efforts under Bobby Smith and dependable scoring from Ken Beamish. Overview Third Division The pre-season saw manager Roy Sproson attempt to re-sign Sammy Morgan for £12,000, however, Morgan refused personal terms. Former Player of the Year David Harris also refused terms and demanded a transfer, so Terry Alcock re-joined on a month's trial to take his place. Three players arrived on free transfers: Jeff Hemmerman and Grahame McGifford from Hull City, and Bill Bentley from Blackpool. At a board meeting on 28 June, Sproson was severely criticized for his poor judgement of players and his seeming to place greater priority on his newsagent business than the club. Sproson did not attend the meeting but was informed the board would review his position after 15 games. The Football Association also hit the club with a £500 fine for their continuing problem with player indiscipline, despite Sproson's argument that no Vale players had been sent off in the last two years. The season began poorly with a 3–1 defeat at home to Chesterfield. Harris returned to the first XI and Alcock thus departed. Goalkeeper John Connaughton picked up a knee injury, whilst a reporter from The Sentinel was allegedly told "I'll kill you" by a club official after he criticised the team in the paper. The reporter noted that "there is disenchantment in the air". The situation was calmed on 27 September, when Vale beat league leaders Colchester United 3–2 at Layer Road, reserve keeper Trevor Dance making a double penalty save. This was only a reprieve for Sproson however, as Vale would go the next 14 league games without a victory, and the Vale Park faithful turned against the team. This run was not too damaging however, as eleven of the games were drawn. Included in this was a club record streak of six home draws, lasting from 10 October to 27 December. On 1 October, Vale lost 2–1 at home to third-placed Bury after a "dreadful performance" and a missed penalty. Sproson complained of Mick Cullerton's attitude and had to endure speculation of former Stoke City manager Tony Waddington taking his job. Sproson was sacked in October, and he rejected the offer of an executive position at the club. Colin Harper was made caretaker manager. The board tried and failed to attract Bill McGarry to the vacant managerial position, and so advertised the position with a significant salary increase to attract applicants. On 17 November, Bobby Smith was sacked as Bury manager, and the next day walked into the Vale job. He appointed Dennis Butler as his assistant, as Harper left the club. Sproson also returned to Vale with an offer 'to help in any capacity'. Victory finally came on New Year's Eve with a 3–0 win over Rotherham United. Soon after this, the 'Vale Lottery' was introduced, which proved to be a real money-spinner, and a five-a-side pitch was built for training. In January, veteran defender Graham Hawkins was signed as a player-coach from Blackburn Rovers for £6,000. Forward Neville Chamberlain also joined the club as a professional, becoming the club's first black pro. John Froggatt also joined the club, signing from Colchester United for £10,000. Chairman Arthur McPherson celebrated this abandonment of frugality by declaring that "we are going places". Chris Harper slated the board for their decisions, calling them 'berserk'. Froggatt scored 15 seconds into his debut in a 4–0 win over Exeter City. However, this would be as good as it got for both Froggatt and Vale this season. Smith decided to row back on his initial attacking philosophy at the club as "we do not have the players to attack". In February, Vale beat Fort Lauderdale Strikers in a friendly, but also started a five-game sequence without a win. Midfielder Ged Stenson arrived the next month from Everton for a 'bargain' £3,000, and right-back John Lumsdon joined on loan from Stoke City. Vale improved, and were unbeaten in six of their seven March games, with Chamberlain scoring the only goal of the game against Swindon Town on his debut on 11 March. On 28 March, they started a club-record streak of twelve home games without a win that would continue into the following season. Encouragement came from the youth side, who reached the Quarter Finals of the FA Youth Cup. With four games to go, Vale were point clear of the drop; however, by losing all of their remaining games, they doomed themselves to the Fourth Division. Their nerves had been shredded during a 3–0 defeat to Colchester United on the penultimate day. They took the lead at Plymouth Argyle on the final day, though they ended up losing the match by three goals to two. They finished in 21st place with 36 points, three short of Rotherham United and safety. Their tally of 46 goals scored was the third-lowest in the division. They had failed to keep a clean sheet on their travels all season, achieving just one away win. Player of the Year Ken Beamish hit 16 goals, far outscoring his rivals. Finances On the financial side, a loss of £1,575 was made. The massive transfer outlay was paid for by huge donations of £51,428 from the Sportsmen's Association and the Development Fund. The lottery also brought in £600 a week. Gate receipts had brought in £78,965, a downturn in attendance being outweighed by an increase in ticket prices. Seven players were handed free transfers, five of which were: Mick Cullerton and Grahame McGifford (Northwich Victoria); Derek Brownbill (Cleveland Cobras); Alan Lamb (Dundee); and Kevin Kennerley (Stafford Rangers). Manager Bobby Smith also departed, having taken the vacant position at Swindon Town – Vale received £10,500 in compensation. Dennis Butler rejected the opportunity to leave with him and instead was appointed as Smith's replacement at Vale. Graham Hawkins became Butler's assistant. Cup competitions In the FA Cup, Smith's first game in charge was a goalless draw at Midland Counties League side Arnold. The replay in Burslem was won 5–2, the club's biggest win since January 1969. In the second round, Vale drew 1–1 with Walsall at Fellows Park before losing the replay 3–1 after Connaughton allowed a speculative shot from 25 yd out to trickle through his hands. He later admitted, "I deserve to be strung up!". In the League Cup, Vale beat Preston North End 2–1 in the home leg, though the fixture was unsettled by crowd violence. Preston won the return leg at Deepdale, and also the replay at Edgeley Park, Stockport. Results Football League Third Division 1977–78 Football League League table Third Division y PTV Results by matchday table b Round Ground H/A/H/A/H/H/A/A/H/A/H/A/H/A/H/A/A/H/A/H/A/H/H/A/H/A/A/H/A/A/H/H/A/H/A/H/A/H/A/A/H/H/A/H/H/A Result L/D/W/L/W/D/L/W/L/L/D/D/D/D/D/L/D/D/D/D/L/D/W/L/W/L/L/W/L/L/D/L/D/W/D/W/D/D/L/D/D/D/L/L/L/L Position 20/19/17/20/12/15/20/17/21/23/22/22/21/21/21/22/21/21/21/20/21/21/18/18/17/18/20/18/19/19/19/19/19/19/18/18/19/19/19/19/19/19/19/20/20/21 Points 0p/1p/3p/3p/5p/6p/6p/8p/8p/8p/9p/10p/11p/12p/13p/13p/14p/15p/16p/17p/17p/18p/20p/20p/22p/22p/22p/24p/24p/24p/25p/25p/26p/28p/29p/31p/32p/33p/33p/34p/35p/36p/36p/36p/36p/36p Home Away green2 Win yellow2 Draw red2 Loss green1 red1 StattoPort Vale 1977–1978 : Results & Fixtures https://web.archive.org/web/20150906032655/http://www.statto.com/football/teams/port-vale/1977-1978/results 6 September 2015 . Statto Organisation. Retrieved 28 April 2012. Matches 1 20 August 1977 Port Vale 1–3 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-chesterfield-20-august-1977-135814/ Chesterfield Hemmerman pen. Vale Park Burslem 4,091 2 27 August 1977 15:00 BST Wrexham 1–1 D https://www.wrexhamafcarchive.co.uk/matchdetails.php?id=3444 Port Vale Griffiths 30 pen. Brownbill 17 Racecourse Ground Wrexham J.B. Worrall J.W. Lancaster, P.E. Wise 5,797 3 3 September 1977 Port Vale 2–1 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-lincoln-city-03-september-1977-135842/ Lincoln City Hemmerman pen. Vale Park Burslem 3,520 4 10 September 1977 Exeter City 4–1 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/exeter-city-v-port-vale-10-september-1977-135853/ Port Vale Robertson pen pen. Hodge Holman Cullerton St James Park Exeter 5,026 5 12 September 1977 Port Vale 1–0 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-bradford-city-12-september-1977-135861/ Bradford City Lamb Vale Park Burslem 3,814 6 17 September 1977 Port Vale 0–0 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-sheffield-wednesday-17-september-1977-135880/ Sheffield Wednesday Vale Park Burslem 5,136 7 24 September 1977 Walsall 2–0 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/walsall-v-port-vale-24-september-1977-135896/ Port Vale Fellows Park Walsall 4,897 8 27 September 1977 Colchester United 2–3 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/colchester-united-v-port-vale-27-september-1977-135901/ Port Vale Gough 17Garwood 90 Beech 10Beamish 55 85 Layer Road Colchester M Taylor 4,820 9 1 October 1977 Port Vale 1–2 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-bury-01-october-1977-135917/ Bury Cullerton Vale Park Burslem 3,672 10 8 October 1977 Shrewsbury Town 3–0 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/shrewsbury-town-v-port-vale-08-october-1977-135943/ Port Vale Gay Meadow Shrewsbury 3,553 11 10 October 1977 Port Vale 2–2 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-gillingham-10-october-1977-135945/ Gillingham Bailey Brownbill Vale Park Burslem 3,418 12 15 October 1977 Swindon Town 1–1 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/swindon-town-v-port-vale-15-october-1977-135958/ Port Vale Aizlewood 37 Sutcliffe 31 County Ground Swindon D. Nippard 6,327 13 22 October 1977 Port Vale 0–0 D https://www.theposhtrust.co.uk/match/1009/19771022 Peterborough United Vale Park Burslem K. Walmsley 3,502 14 29 October 1977 Hereford United 1–1 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/hereford-united-v-port-vale-29-october-1977-135979/ Port Vale Carter 7 Sutcliffe 33 Edgar Street Hereford 5,393 15 5 November 1977 Port Vale 0–0 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-preston-north-end-05-november-1977-135990/ Preston North End Vale Park Burslem 4,208 16 12 November 1977 Chester 2–1 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/chester-v-port-vale-12-november-1977-136002/ Port Vale Ian Edwards Jeffries Brownbill Sealand Road Chester 3,321 17 15 November 1977 Portsmouth 1–1 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/portsmouth-v-port-vale-15-november-1977-136010/ Port Vale Kemp Hemmerman Fratton Park Portsmouth 7,071 18 19 November 1977 Port Vale 1–1 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-tranmere-rovers-19-november-1977-136016/ Tranmere Rovers Hemmerman pen. Vale Park Burslem 3,576 19 3 December 1977 Carlisle United 1–1 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/carlisle-united-v-port-vale-03-december-1977-136025/ Port Vale Bailey pen. Brunton Park Carlisle 4,323 20 9 December 1977 Port Vale 3–3 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-plymouth-argyle-09-december-1977-136037/ Plymouth Argyle Beamish 7 Harris 29 Lamb 50 Austin 38 87 Horswill 63 Vale Park Burslem J. Bray 3,650 21 26 December 1977 Cambridge United 2–0 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/cambridge-united-v-port-vale-26-december-1977-136050/ Port Vale Abbey Stadium Cambridge 6,124 22 27 December 1977 Port Vale 1–1 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-oxford-united-27-december-1977-136066/ Oxford United Harris Stott Vale Park Burslem 3,997 23 31 December 1977 Port Vale 3–0 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-rotherham-united-31-december-1977-136081/ Rotherham United Beamish Sutcliffe Vale Park Burslem 3,861 24 2 January 1978 Preston North End 2–0 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/preston-north-end-v-port-vale-02-january-1978-136093/ Port Vale Deepdale Preston, Lancashire 10,940 25 7 January 1978 Port Vale 2–0 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-portsmouth-07-january-1978-136101/ Portsmouth Beamish Vale Park Burslem 3,481 26 14 January 1978 Chesterfield 2–0 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/chesterfield-v-port-vale-14-january-1978-136106/ Port Vale Saltergate Chesterfield, Derbyshire 4,619 27 28 January 1978 Lincoln City 3–0 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/lincoln-city-v-port-vale-28-january-1978-136131/ Port Vale Sincil Bank Lincoln 3,205 28 8 February 1978 Port Vale 4–0 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-exeter-city-08-february-1978-136143/ Exeter City Froggatt Sutcliffe Beamish pen. Vale Park Burslem 3,333 29 11 February 1978 Sheffield Wednesday 3–1 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/sheffield-wednesday-v-port-vale-11-february-1978-136149/ Port Vale Leman Mullen Tynan Griffiths pen. Hillsborough Stadium Owlerton 9,659 30 25 February 1978 Bury 3–0 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/bury-v-port-vale-25-february-1978-136157/ Port Vale Gigg Lane Bury, Greater Manchester 4,475 31 28 February 1978 Port Vale 2–2 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-walsall-28-february-1978-136166/ Walsall Beamish Lamb Vale Park Burslem 4,682 32 4 March 1978 Port Vale 1–2 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-shrewsbury-town-04-march-1978-136179/ Shrewsbury Town Griffiths pen. Vale Park Burslem 3,499 33 8 March 1978 Bradford City 1–1 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/bradford-city-v-port-vale-08-march-1978-136193/ Port Vale Bailey Valley Parade Bradford 6,205 34 11 March 1978 Port Vale 1–0 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-swindon-town-11-march-1978-136205/ Swindon Town Chamberlain 90+1 Vale Park Burslem M. Peck 3,723 35 17 March 1978 Peterborough United 1–1 D https://www.theposhtrust.co.uk/match/1009/20220114 Port Vale Hughes 22 Chamberlain 76 London Road Stadium Peterborough C. Downey 4,277 36 22 March 1978 Port Vale 1–0 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-hereford-united-22-march-1978-136229/ Hereford United Froggatt 10 Vale Park Burslem 3,220 37 25 March 1978 Oxford United 1–1 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/oxford-united-v-port-vale-25-march-1978-136237/ Port Vale Foley Beamish Manor Ground Oxford 4,120 38 28 March 1978 Port Vale 1–1 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-cambridge-united-28-march-1978-136257/ Cambridge United Griffiths pen. Vale Park Burslem 4,240 39 1 April 1978 Rotherham United 2–0 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/rotherham-united-v-port-vale-01-april-1978-136268/ Port Vale Millmoor Rotherham 3,707 40 4 April 1978 Gillingham 1–1 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/gillingham-v-port-vale-04-april-1978-136273/ Port Vale Beamish Priestfield Stadium Gillingham, Kent 7,627 41 8 April 1978 Port Vale 0–0 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-chester-08-april-1978-136286/ Chester Vale Park Burslem 3,615 42 11 April 1978 19:30 BST Port Vale 1–1 D https://www.wrexhamafcarchive.co.uk/matchdetails.php?id=1027 Wrexham Hawkins 86 Lyons 18 Vale Park Burslem W.B. Johnson G. Bailey, A. Dobson 6,912 43 14 April 1978 Tranmere Rovers 2–1 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/tranmere-rovers-v-port-vale-14-april-1978-136300/ Port Vale Beamish Prenton Park Prenton 2,460 44 22 April 1978 Port Vale 0–1 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-carlisle-united-22-april-1978-136322/ Carlisle United Vale Park Burslem 3,942 45 24 April 1978 Port Vale 0–3 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-colchester-united-24-april-1978-136329/ Colchester United Allinson 37Foley 54 60 Vale Park Burslem T Morris 3,684 46 29 April 1978 Plymouth Argyle 3–2 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/plymouth-argyle-v-port-vale-29-april-1978-136350/ Port Vale Johnson 28 Binney 52 68 Beamish Froggatt Home Park Plymouth L. Burden 9,474 FA Cup 1977–78 FA Cup R1 26 November 1977 Arnold 0–0 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/arnold-v-port-vale-26-november-1977-214177/ Port Vale Gedling Road Arnold, Nottinghamshire 3,600 Replay 28 November 1977 Port Vale 5–2 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-arnold-28-november-1977-214216/ Arnold Sutcliffe Bailey Beamish Ridley Vale Park Burslem 5,205 R2 17 December 1977 Walsall 1–1 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/walsall-v-port-vale-17-december-1977-214244/ Port Vale Beamish Fellows Park Walsall 5,978 Replay 19 December 1977 Port Vale 1–3 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-walsall-19-december-1977-214248/ Walsall Beamish Vale Park Burslem 7,051 League Cup 1977–78 Football League Cup R1 1st Leg 13 August 1977 Port Vale 2–1 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-preston-north-end-13-august-1977-30060/ Preston North End Beech Alcock Vale Park Burslem 4,630 R1 2nd Leg 16 August 1977 Preston North End 2–1 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/preston-north-end-v-port-vale-16-august-1977-30076/ Port Vale Hemmerman pen. Deepdale Preston, Lancashire 5,816 3–3 Replay 23 August 1977 Preston North End 2–1 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-preston-north-end-23-august-1977-30097/ Port Vale Alcock Edgeley Park Stockport 2,201 Squad statistics Appearances and goals Key to positions: GK – Goalkeeper; DF – Defender; MF – Midfielder; FW – Forward Third Division FA Cup League Cup GK ENG John Connaughton 38 0 4 0 3 0 GK ENG Trevor Dance 8 0 0 0 0 0 DF ENG Bill Bentley 32 0 2 0 3 0 DF ENG Russell Bromage 6 0 0 0 0 0 DF ENG Garry Dulson 20 0 2 0 0 0 DF ENG Neil Griffiths 33 4 4 0 3 0 DF ENG David Harris 41 2 4 0 0 0 DF ENG Graham Hawkins 16 1 0 0 0 0 DF ENG John Lumsdon 5 0 0 0 0 0 DF ENG Grahame McGifford 20 0 4 0 3 0 DF ENG Phil Sproson 2 0 0 0 0 0 MF ENG Terry Bailey 39 3 4 1 1 0 MF ENG Kenny Beech 26 1 1 0 3 1 MF ENG Kevin Kennerley 1 0 0 0 0 0 MF SCO Alan Lamb 40 3 4 0 3 0 MF ENG John Lowey 0 0 0 0 0 0 MF ENG Mick Moore 13 0 0 0 0 0 MF ENG John Ridley 40 0 4 1 3 0 MF ENG Peter Sutcliffe 30 4 4 2 0 0 FW ENG Ken Beamish 42 13 4 3 3 0 FW ENG Derek Brownbill 21 3 4 0 3 0 FW ENG Neville Chamberlain 10 2 0 0 0 0 FW SCO Mick Cullerton 17 2 0 0 0 0 FW ENG John Froggatt 12 3 0 0 0 0 FW ENG Jeff Hemmerman 15 5 2 0 3 1 |- |colspan="14"|Players who featured but departed the club during the season: DF ENG Terry Alcock 3 0 0 0 3 2 DF ENG Brian Bithell 2 0 0 0 0 0 DF ENG John Brodie 0 0 0 0 0 0 DF ENG Colin Harper 4 0 0 0 0 0 |} Top scorers PlacePositionNationNameThird DivisionFA CupLeague CupTotal1FWEnglandKen Beamish1330162FWEnglandJeff Hemmerman5016–MFEnglandPeter Sutcliffe42064DFEnglandNeil Griffiths4004–MFEnglandTerry Bailey31046MFScotlandAlan Lamb3003–FWEnglandDerek Brownbill3003–FWEnglandJohn Froggatt30039FWEnglandNeville Chamberlain2002–FWScotlandMick Cullerton2002–MFEnglandKenny Beech1012–DFEnglandDavid Harris2002–DFEnglandTerry Alcock002214DFEnglandGraham Hawkins1001–MFEnglandJohn Ridley0101TOTALS467457 Transfers Transfers in Date from Position Nationality Name From Fee Ref. June 1977 FW ENG Jeff Hemmerman Hull City Free transfer Kent Jeff Port Vale Personalities Witan Books 1996 0-9529152-0-0 June 1977 DF ENG Grahame McGifford Hull City Free transfer July 1977 DF ENG Bill Bentley Blackpool Undisclosed July 1977 DF ENG Colin Harper Ipswich Town Free transfer January 1978 DF ENG Graham Hawkins Blackburn Rovers £6,000 February 1978 FW ENG John Froggatt Colchester United £10,000 March 1978 MF ENG Mick Moore Wigan Athletic £3,000 March 1978 MF ENG Ged Stenson Everton £3,000 Transfers out Date from Position Nationality Name To Fee Ref. 1978 DF ENG Terry Alcock Halifax Town Free transfer January 1978 DF ENG Colin Harper IRL Waterford Sacked April 1978 DF ENG John Brodie Retired May 1978 FW ENG Derek Brownbill USA Cleveland Cobras Free transfer May 1978 FW SCO Mick Cullerton Northwich Victoria Free transfer May 1978 FW ENG Jeff Hemmerman Portsmouth Free transfer May 1978 MF ENG Kevin Kennerley Stafford Rangers Free transfer May 1978 MF SCO Alan Lamb Dundee Free transfer May 1978 DF ENG Grahame McGifford Northwich Victoria Free transfer Loans in Date from Position Nationality Name From Date to Ref. September 1977 DF ENG Brian Bithell Stoke City October 1977 March 1978 DF ENG John Lumsdon Stoke City Summer 1978 Loans out Date from Position Nationality Name To Date to Ref. February 1978 MF ENG Kevin Kennerley Swansea City February 1978 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