1968–69 Port Vale F.C. season

March 2015 March 2015 Port Vale 1968–69 Gordon Lee Arthur McPherson Vale Park Football League Fourth Division 13th (46 points) FA Cup Third Round(eliminated by Watford) League Cup First Round(eliminated by Wrexham) Player of the Year Ron Wilson Roy Chapman (11) Roy Chapman (12) 8,800 vs. Shrewsbury Town, 18 November 1968 2,679 vs. Grimsby Town, 21 April 1969 4,361 5–0 vs. Newport County, 18 January 1969 0–3 vs. Aldershot, 5 March 1969 ffffff ffffff ffffff ffffff ffffff 1967–68 1969–70 The 1968–69 season was Port Vale's 57th season of football in the English Football League, and their fourth-successive season (fifth 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 Under newly-appointed manager Gordon Lee and chairman Arthur McPherson, Vale consolidated their league status with a 13th‑place finish, earning 46 points from 46 matches, and achieving an exactly balanced record of 46 goals scored and conceded. Roy Chapman led the scoring charts with 11 league goals (12 in all competitions), while left-back Ron Wilson was voted Player of the Year for his consistent performances. Attendance figures saw a high of 8,800 for the fixture against Shrewsbury Town on 18 November 1968, a low of 2,679 against Grimsby Town on 21 April 1969, and an overall average league attendance of 4,361 fans. The club's most emphatic victory came with a 5–0 home win over Newport County on 18 January 1969, while their heaviest defeat was a 3–0 loss at Aldershot on 5 March 1969. Vale exited the FA Cup in the Third Round, knocked out by Watford, and suffered a First Round exit in the League Cup at the hands of Wrexham. Off the field, financial problems persisted: the club recorded another seasonal loss, pushing total debt higher, despite Lee laying the groundwork for a more stable future. Overview Fourth Division On 8 June, the club's future was decided, as a vote of 39 to 9 allowed the club readmission to the Football League, despite the conclusion of an investigation earlier in the year which ruled that the club should be expelled from the League. New manager Gordon Lee thus began work on rebuilding his squad, announcing a team approach with an additional 'individual coaching plan' for players to improve their weaknesses. Lee was big on coaching, and replaced cross country running exercises with realistic match-day situations. Stanley Matthews would become more of a scout and would only visit Burslem weekly; he also agreed to allow the £9,000 owed to him in payments delayed until the club were on a sounder financial footing. His name was removed from his office door, and he 'gradually drifted out of the picture'. Three signings of note included: 'tenacious, tough-tackling' wing-half John King (Tranmere Rovers); former Wales international winger Graham Williams (Tranmere Rovers); and teenager Bobby Gough (Walsall). The season opened with a 3–1 defeat at Chesterfield. Roy Chapman scored goals in four games, though only three points were won in the first six encounters. With Sharratt out injured, in came 'part-time, pipe-smoking civil servant' Geoff Hickson on loan from Crewe Alexandra. Lee quickly earned the respect of the Vale fans despite his team lying bottom of the table in mid-September. A new club mascot was unveiled at this time – 'Prince Val'. Some good home performances lifted the club off the bottom of the table, starting with a 3–0 victory over York City. Other games of note included a 4–1 thumping of Scunthorpe United and a stylish back-heeled goal from Roy Sproson in a 1–1 draw with Lincoln City. Chapman then developed sciatica and had to be rested until December. An excellent defence helped the club then to achieve a five-game unbeaten run in the league. In November, goalkeeper Keith Ball was signed from Walsall for 'a small fee' and Graham Newton joined on trial after leaving the Atlanta Chiefs. On Boxing Day, Vale travelled to Sincil Bank, where they beat second-placed Lincoln 1–0 in front of 12,208 spectators. Soon after Bill Asprey retired as a player to coach at Sheffield Wednesday. A 5–0 mauling of Newport County on 18 January sent the Vale into the top half of the table, though just one goal was scored and one point gained in the next four games. In March, Lee adopted a more 'hit and run' style and saw his team achieve three straight wins. On 10 March, Vale won 1–0 away at Darlington. Five days later, they beat Brentford 4–1. On the 29th, with the club seeming safe from re-election, 'hooliganism reared its ugly head' as Chester found their team bus smashed with bricks following a 2–1 loss at Burslem. On 21 April, Sproson made his 700th league appearance in a 1–0 win over struggling Grimsby Town. The final day was a 1–1 draw with wooden-spoon club Bradford Park Avenue. However, the Vale had five goals disallowed. Nevertheless, this game was the first of a club-record 19 league game streak without a loss that would end on 22 November 1969, the following season. They finished in 13th place with 46 points from their 46 games, scoring 46 and conceding 46 goals. Finances On the financial side, a £10,900 loss was made despite donations of £16,734 from the Sportsmen's Association and the Development Fund. This left the club's total debts at £178,277. The club needed an average home attendance of 6,000 to break even and was almost two thousand short of this total. More stringent economies were thus imposed upon the club. Five professionals left on free transfers: Mick Cullerton (Chester); Mick Mahon (York City); Jimmy Goodfellow (Workington); Graham Williams (Runcorn); and Milija Aleksic (Eastwood). Lee claimed 'it was a hard decision, but I have had to create room for improvement'. Roy Chapman was offered a new contract, but opted instead to sign with Chester. Cup competitions In the FA Cup, with Sharrat injured and Hickson re-called by Crewe, 17-year-old Milija Aleksic was roped in to play in the first round clash with Third Division Shrewsbury Town. He also played in the replay following the 1–1 draw, and the club progressed with a 3–1 win over their 'lacklustre' opponents. The "Valiants" also required a replay to progress past Workington. Vale then exited in the third round with a 1–0 defeat at Vicarage Road to Watford. In the League Cup, defeat came in the first round to Wrexham at the Racecourse Ground. Stuart Sharratt cracked a kneecap in the game and later contracted a virus in his blood, which kept him out of action for the rest of the season. Results Football League Fourth Division 1968–69 Football League League table Fourth Division y PTV Results by matchday table b Round Ground A/H/A/H/A/H/H/A/H/H/H/A/A/H/A/H/H/A/A/H/H/A/A/H/A/H/A/A/H/A/A/H/H/A/H/H/A/A/H/H/A/A/H/H/A/A Result L/W/L/D/L/L/W/L/W/W/D/L/D/D/L/W/D/D/D/W/L/L/W/W/D/W/L/D/L/L/W/W/W/L/D/W/L/W/D/D/D/L/W/D/L/W Position 20/15/17/20/20/24/22/23/19/13/15/18/17/17/18/18/18/18/19/17/18/19/15/13/15/12/15/16/17/19/17/14/12/15/13/13/14/11/14/13/14/14/12/13/13/13 Points 0p/2p/2p/3p/3p/3p/5p/5p/7p/9p/10p/10p/11p/12p/12p/14p/15p/16p/17p/19p/19p/19p/21p/23p/24p/26p/26p/27p/27p/27p/29p/31p/33p/33p/34p/36p/36p/38p/39p/40p/41p/41p/43p/44p/44p/46p Home Away green2 Win yellow2 Draw red2 Loss green1 red1 StattoPort Vale 1968–1969 : Results & Fixtures https://web.archive.org/web/20160304065122/http://www.statto.com/football/teams/port-vale/1968-1969/results 4 March 2016 . Statto Organisation. Retrieved 28 April 2012. Matches 1 10 August 1968 Chesterfield 3–1 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/chesterfield-v-port-vale-10-august-1968-39265/ Port Vale Chapman Saltergate Chesterfield, Derbyshire 7,158 2 17 August 1968 Port Vale 1–0 W https://www.theposhtrust.co.uk/match/1009/19680817 Peterborough United Chapman Vale Park Burslem D. Fieldsend 5,085 3 24 August 1968 Brentford 3–1 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/brentford-v-port-vale-24-august-1968-39289/ Port Vale Mansley Fenton Chapman Griffin Park Brentford, West London 7,443 4 31 August 1968 Port Vale 1–1 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-rochdale-31-august-1968-39315/ Rochdale Chapman 55 Melledew 36 Vale Park Burslem 4,591 5 6 September 1968 Chester 2–0 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/chester-v-port-vale-06-september-1968-39320/ Port Vale Metcalf Talbot Sealand Road Chester 8,144 6 14 September 1968 Port Vale 0–2 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-doncaster-rovers-14-september-1968-39340/ Doncaster Rovers Vale Park Burslem 4,616 7 16 September 1968 Port Vale 3–0 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-york-city-16-september-1968-39350/ York City Chapman Gough Cullerton Vale Park Burslem 3,466 8 20 September 1968 Colchester United 1–0 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/colchester-united-v-port-vale-20-september-1968-39358/ Port Vale Joslyn 39 Layer Road Colchester Gordon Hill 6,441 9 28 September 1968 Port Vale 4–1 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-scunthorpe-united-28-september-1968-39376/ Scunthorpe United Chapman Goodfellow og. Vale Park Burslem 3,823 10 30 September 1968 Port Vale 1–0 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-exeter-city-30-september-1968-39381/ Exeter City Gough Banks Kirkham Vale Park Burslem 5,235 11 5 October 1968 Port Vale 1–1 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-lincoln-city-05-october-1968-39391/ Lincoln City Sproson Vale Park Burslem 6,152 12 8 October 1968 Exeter City 3–1 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/exeter-city-v-port-vale-08-october-1968-39400/ Port Vale Chapman St James Park Exeter 3,981 13 12 October 1968 Notts County 0–0 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/notts-county-v-port-vale-12-october-1968-39414/ Port Vale Meadow Lane Nottingham 4,127 14 19 October 1968 Port Vale 1–1 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-halifax-town-19-october-1968-39428/ Halifax Town Morris Vale Park Burslem 4,493 15 26 October 1968 Swansea Town 1–0 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/swansea-town-v-port-vale-26-october-1968-39440/ Port Vale Vetch Field Swansea 6,091 16 2 November 1968 Port Vale 3–1 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-workington-02-november-1968-39452/ Workington Sproson Morris Williams Vale Park Burslem 2,953 17 4 November 1968 Port Vale 1–1 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-southend-united-04-november-1968-39458/ Southend United Wilson Vale Park Burslem 3,668 18 8 November 1968 Newport County 0–0 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/newport-county-v-port-vale-08-november-1968-39466/ Port Vale Somerton Park Newport, Wales 3,137 19 23 November 1968 Grimsby Town 1–1 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/grimsby-town-v-port-vale-23-november-1968-39482/ Port Vale Goodfellow Blundell Park Cleethorpes 3,313 20 30 November 1968 15:15 GMT Port Vale 1–0 W https://www.wrexhamafcarchive.co.uk/matchdetails.php?id=1502 Wrexham Sproson 44 Vale Park Burslem H. Davey L.W. Fleet, P.E. James 5,421 21 14 December 1968 Port Vale 0–2 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-notts-county-14-december-1968-39512/ Notts County Vale Park Burslem 4,169 22 21 December 1968 Halifax Town 2–1 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/halifax-town-v-port-vale-21-december-1968-39518/ Port Vale Chapman The Shay Halifax, West Yorkshire 3,806 23 26 December 1968 Lincoln City 0–1 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/lincoln-city-v-port-vale-26-december-1968-39528/ Port Vale Newton Sincil Bank Lincoln 12,208 24 28 December 1968 Port Vale 1–0 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-swansea-town-28-december-1968-39536/ Swansea Town Chapman Vale Park Burslem 5,431 25 11 January 1969 Workington 0–0 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/workington-v-port-vale-11-january-1969-39554/ Port Vale Borough Park Workington 2,538 26 18 January 1969 Port Vale 5–0 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-newport-county-18-january-1969-39564/ Newport County Mahon Sproson Morris Green Vale Park Burslem 4,040 27 1 February 1969 Darlington 1–0 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/darlington-v-port-vale-01-february-1969-39581/ Port Vale Feethams Darlington 5,071 28 24 February 1969 Southend United 1–1 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/southend-united-v-port-vale-24-february-1969-39605/ Port Vale Mahon Roots Hall Southend-on-Sea 10,888 29 1 March 1969 Port Vale 0–1 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-chesterfield-01-march-1969-39615/ Chesterfield Vale Park Burslem 3,610 30 5 March 1969 Aldershot 3–0 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/aldershot-v-port-vale-05-march-1969-39624/ Port Vale Recreation Ground Aldershot 5,020 31 8 March 1969 Peterborough United 0–1 W https://www.theposhtrust.co.uk/match/1009/19690308 Port Vale Mahon London Road Stadium Peterborough G. McCabe 5,337 32 10 March 1969 Darlington 0–1 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-darlington-10-march-1969-39643/ Port Vale Morris Feethams Darlington 3,957 33 15 March 1969 Port Vale 4–1 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-brentford-15-march-1969-39655/ Brentford James pen. Wilson Carrick Ross pen. Vale Park Burslem 4,478 34 22 March 1969 Rochdale 1–0 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/rochdale-v-port-vale-22-march-1969-39673/ Port Vale Butler 82 Spotland Stadium Rochdale 4,860 35 24 March 1969 Port Vale 0–0 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-aldershot-24-march-1969-39677/ Aldershot Vale Park Burslem 4,140 36 29 March 1969 Port Vale 2–1 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-chester-29-march-1969-39692/ Chester Green Sproson Provan Vale Park Burslem 4,690 37 4 April 1969 York City 3–1 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/york-city-v-port-vale-04-april-1969-39702/ Port Vale Chapman Bootham Crescent York 4,999 38 5 April 1969 Scunthorpe United 0–1 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/scunthorpe-united-v-port-vale-05-april-1969-39711/ Port Vale James Old Show Ground Scunthorpe 2,966 39 8 April 1969 Port Vale 1–1 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-bradford-city-08-april-1969-39728/ Bradford City James Vale Park Burslem 5,963 40 12 April 1969 Port Vale 0–0 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-colchester-united-12-april-1969-39738/ Colchester United Vale Park Burslem F Cowan 3,774 41 16 April 1969 Bradford City 2–2 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/bradford-city-v-port-vale-16-april-1969-39751/ Port Vale McLaren Sproson Valley Parade Bradford 8,772 42 19 April 1969 Doncaster Rovers 2–0 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/doncaster-rovers-v-port-vale-19-april-1969-39762/ Port Vale Belle Vue Doncaster 9,795 43 21 April 1969 Port Vale 1–0 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-grimsby-town-21-april-1969-39772/ Grimsby Town Mahon Vale Park Burslem 2,679 44 25 April 1969 Port Vale 1–1 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-bradford-park-avenue-25-april-1969-39782/ Bradford (Park Avenue) Sproson Vale Park Burslem 3,873 45 28 April 1969 19:15 BST Wrexham 2–0 L https://www.wrexhamafcarchive.co.uk/matchdetails.php?id=3251 Port Vale Tinnion 66 Griffiths 77 Racecourse Ground Wrexham 3,787 46 5 May 1969 Bradford (Park Avenue) 0–1 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/bradford-park-avenue-v-port-vale-05-may-1969-39800/ Port Vale McLaren Park Avenue Bradford 1,572 FA Cup 1968–69 FA Cup R1 16 November 1968 Shrewsbury Town 1–1 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/shrewsbury-town-v-port-vale-16-november-1968-212740/ Port Vale Gough Gay Meadow Shrewsbury 5,933 Replay 18 November 1968 Port Vale 3–1 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-shrewsbury-town-18-november-1968-212752/ Shrewsbury Town Gough Mahon Morris Vale Park Burslem 8,800 R2 7 December 1968 Port Vale 0–0 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-workington-07-december-1968-212771/ Workington Vale Park Burslem 7,635 Replay 11 December 1968 Workington 1–2 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/workington-v-port-vale-11-december-1968-212788/ Port Vale Chapman James Borough Park Workington 6,038 R3 4 January 1969 Watford 2–0 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/watford-v-port-vale-04-january-1969-212817/ Port Vale Endean Scullion Vicarage Road Watford 14,076 League Cup 1968–69 Football League Cup R1 14 August 1968 19:15 BST Wrexham 2–0 L https://www.wrexhamafcarchive.co.uk/matchdetails.php?id=2353 Port Vale Charnley 84 Bradbury 89 Racecourse Ground Wrexham D. Laing R. Birchall, H. Wilson 6,927 Squad statistics Appearances and goals Key to positions: GK – Goalkeeper; DF – Defender; MF – Midfielder; FW – Forward Fourth Division FA Cup League Cup GK ENG Milija Aleksic 0 0 2 0 0 0 GK ENG Keith Ball 25 0 3 0 0 0 GK ENG Stuart Sharratt 4 0 0 0 1 0 DF ENG Keith Broomhall 2 0 0 0 0 0 DF ENG Clint Boulton 41 0 4 0 1 0 DF SCO Gordon Logan 4 0 0 0 0 0 DF ENG Roy Sproson 42 7 5 0 0 0 DF SCO Ron Wilson 46 2 5 0 1 0 MF ENG Malcolm Bailey 2 0 0 0 0 0 MF ENG Stuart Chapman 5 0 0 0 0 0 MF ENG Jimmy Goodfellow 31 2 5 0 0 0 MF ENG John Green 12 2 0 0 0 0 MF ENG John King 40 0 5 0 1 0 MF ENG Mick Mahon 33 5 3 1 1 0 MF SCO Tommy McLaren 18 2 0 0 1 0 MF WAL Graham Williams 23 1 1 0 1 0 FW ENG David Carrick 16 1 0 0 0 0 FW ENG Roy Chapman 30 11 3 1 1 0 FW SCO Mick Cullerton 23 1 5 0 0 0 FW ENG Bobby Gough 36 2 5 2 1 0 FW ENG John James 34 4 4 1 1 0 FW ENG Mick Morris 33 4 5 1 1 0 FW ENG Bob Mountford 1 0 0 0 0 0 |- |colspan="14"|Players who featured but departed the club during the season: GK ENG Geoff Hickson 17 0 0 0 0 0 DF ENG Bill Asprey 9 0 1 0 1 0 MF ENG Malcolm Gibbon 0 0 0 0 0 0 FW ENG Graham Newton 4 1 1 0 0 0 |} Top scorers PlacePositionNationNameFourth DivisionFA CupLeague CupTotal1FWEnglandRoy Chapman1110122DFEnglandRoy Sproson70073MFEnglandMick Mahon51064MFEnglandJohn James4105–FWEnglandMick Morris41056FWEnglandBobby Gough22047MFEnglandJimmy Goodfellow2002–MFScotlandTommy McLaren2002–FWEnglandJohn Green2002–DFScotlandRon Wilson200211FWEnglandGraham Newton1001–FWEnglandDavid Carrick1001–MFWalesGraham Williams1001–FWScotlandMick Cullerton1001–––Own goals1001TOTALS466052 Transfers Transfers in Date from Position Nationality Name From Fee Ref. June 1968 FW ENG Bobby Gough Walsall Free transfer Kent Jeff Port Vale Personalities Witan Books 1996 0-9529152-0-0 June 1968 MF ENG John King Tranmere Rovers Free transfer July 1968 MF WAL Graham Williams Tranmere Rovers Free transfer November 1968 GK ENG Keith Ball Walsall 'small' November 1968 FW ENG Graham Newton USA Atlanta Chiefs Trial January 1969 FW ENG David Carrick Altrincham Free transfer Transfers out Date from Position Nationality Name To Fee Ref. October 1968 MF ENG Malcolm Gibbon Aston Villa Free transfer December 1968 DF ENG Bill Asprey Retired January 1969 FW ENG Graham Newton USA Atlanta Chiefs Trial ended May 1969 GK ENG Milija Aleksic Eastwood Free transfer May 1969 DF ENG Keith Broomhall Eastwood Free transfer May 1969 FW ENG Roy Chapman Chester Free transfer May 1969 FW SCO Mick Cullerton Chester Free transfer May 1969 MF ENG Jimmy Goodfellow Workington Free transfer May 1969 MF WAL Graham Williams Runcorn Free transfer Summer 1969 FW ENG David Carrick Stalybridge Celtic Released Loans in Date from Position Nationality Name From Date to Ref. August 1968 GK ENG Geoff Hickson Crewe Alexandra November 1968 Loans out Date from Position Nationality Name To Date to Ref. May 1968 MF ENG John Green CAN Vancouver Royals October 1968 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