1952–53 Port Vale F.C. season

March 2015 March 2015 Port Vale 1952–53 Freddie Steele Fred Burgess Vale Park Football League Third Division North 2nd (58 points) FA Cup Second Round(eliminated by Oldham Athletic) Coronation Cup Runners-up(eliminated by Stoke City) Basil Hayward (22) Basil Hayward (22) 25,398 vs. Oldham Athletic, 6 December 1952 6,000 vs. Bradford City, 20 December 1952 14,504 4–0 (twice) 0–3 vs. Oldham Athletic, 6 December 1952 _white_hoops_color ffffff ffffff ffffff 000000 000000 1951–52 1953–54 thumb|Port Vale balance sheet (June 1953) The 1952–53 season was Port Vale's 41st season of football in the English Football League, and their first season (fourth overall) back in the Third Division North, following their switch from the Third Division South.Kent Jeff The Valiants' Years: The Story Of Port Vale Witan Books 1990 171–196 Fame and Fortune (1950–1959) 0-9508981-4-7 It was the first in that section under manager Freddie Steele and chairman Fred Burgess. With a remarkably settled squad — just 19 players used all season — Vale narrowly missed out on promotion, finishing second by a single point on 58 points from 46 matches. Vale's strength was defensive: they conceded just 35 goals all season, a foundation for the emerging "Iron/Steele Curtain" defence, while Basil Hayward was the club's top scorer with 22 league goals. In the FA Cup, Vale passed the First Round but were eliminated in the Second Round, and also finished runners-up in the Coronation Cup, succumbing to Potteries derby rivals Stoke City in that competition. Support at Vale Park averaged 14,504 per game, peaking at 25,398 in the December fixture against Oldham Athletic, while the lowest attendance was around 6,000 in December 1952 against Bradford City. The 1952–53 campaign laid the groundwork for Vale’s outstanding 1953–54 season, with Steele’s emphasis on continuity, defence, and local talent reshaping the club’s identity. Overview Third Division North The pre-season saw the club switch from the Third Division South to the Third Division North, very much against the wishes of the directors, who believed a loss of income would follow. Manager Freddie Steele decided against making any new signings and instead kept faith with the young team he had inherited the previous season. Offers were made for some of the young prospects, but none were accepted. The season began with a 1–0 defeat at Valley Parade with a goal from Ray King's brother George, managed by Steele's predecessor Ivor Powell. This did not affect the team's spirits, as they went straight on to a seven-match unbeaten run, conceding just three goals. The highlight of this run was a 5–2 home win over Rochdale. Steele picked up an injury and so selected the versatile Basil Hayward to replace him. A shrewd move, Hayward would go on to become the club's top scorer. It took a while to pay off however, as after losing 2–0 at Hartlepools United on 20 September, Vale went five games scoring just one goal. Steele attempted to sign a new forward, but to no avail. A 1–0 home defeat to wooden spoon contenders Accrington Stanley exemplified the club's trouble in front of goal. Also, it ended their record-breaking run of twelve consecutive home wins. Inside-forwards Albert Mullard and Ken Griffiths went 13 games without scoring. Steele and trainer Ken Fish put the squad to work on the special fitness regime they devised as the "Valiants" marched onwards. Travelling to Boundary Park on 15 November, they beat Oldham Athletic 1–0 despite Norman Hallam missing the second half due to injury, taking themselves up into third place. On 13 December, Vale held league leaders Grimsby Town to a 1–1 draw at Blundell Park. They dropped points during the Christmas period, though picked up a useful 4–1 win over Crewe Alexandra at Gresty Road on Boxing Day. Three points out of a possible eight in February allowed leaders Oldham to pull away from the chasing Vale. In March, Oldham and Grimsby Town struggled. So Vale took advantage with six points from ten, conceding just three goals. With six of the final nine games at home and all of the chasing pack yet to visit Burslem, the omens seemed good for promotion. Vale duly remained unbeaten until the season's end, however, drawing five of these games proved not enough. The 4 April encounter with Oldham proved to be the title decider. Vale had dominated the game but conceded a fatal equalising goal in the 86th minute. Two draws against strugglers Chester were also costly. Nevertheless, they finished strongly, hammering Grimsby Town 4–0, Reg Potts scoring with a lob from 35 yd out. They finished second, a single point away from top spot. Steele's emphasis on teamwork had turned the team around and earned the club its best finish since their relegation from the second tier in 1935–36. Their defensive record of 35 goals conceded was bettered only by Second Division Huddersfield Town. Their tally of 58 points was second only to the club's extraordinary 1929–30 campaign. Their main weakness was an average offence, though Hayward proved to be a revelation with 22 goals. On 4 May, Vale played Potteries derby rivals Stoke City, who had just been relegated from the First Division. This Coronation Cup match ended in a 2–0 win for Stoke, with £1,053 raised for charity. Finances On the financial side, a £1,676 profit was recorded. This was due to a club record average attendance of 14,504 – which took gate receipts to £39,929 – and a £5,000 slash in the wage bill to £18,246. For once, the club did not sell its best players, yet it also made a profit. Steele was rewarded with a three-year contract. He again kept on almost all of the squad, with two exceptions being Jimmy Todd (Wellington Town) and Norman Hallam (Halifax Town). Cup competitions In the FA Cup, Third Division South Exeter City were beaten 2–1 despite some "faulty finishing". However, in the second round, league leaders Oldham Athletic won 3–0 in front of a season-best 25,398 crowd at Vale Park – 8,000 of them Oldham supporters. Results Football League Third Division North 1952–53 Football League#Third Division North League table y Third Division North PTV Results by matchday table b Round Ground A/H/H/A/A/H/H/A/A/H/H/A/A/H/A/H/A/H/A/A/A/H/A/H/A/H/A/A/H/A/H/A/H/A/H/H/A/H/H/A/A/H/H/H/A/H Result L/W/W/D/W/W/D/W/L/W/D/L/D/W/D/L/W/D/W/L/D/D/W/W/D/W/D/W/W/L/D/L/W/D/W/D/L/D/D/D/D/W/D/W/W/W Position 20/7/3/5/3/2/3/2/4/3/3/5/5/3/3/5/4/4/3/5/5/5/5/5/5/4/4/3/3/3/3/3/3/3/2/2/4/4/3/2/2/2/2/2/2/2 Points 0p/2p/4p/5p/7p/9p/10p/12p/12p/14p/15p/15p/16p/18p/19p/19p/21p/22p/24p/24p/25p/26p/28p/30p/31p/33p/34p/36p/38p/38p/39p/39p/41p/42p/44p/45p/45p/46p/47p/48p/49p/51p/52p/54p/56p/58p Home Away green2 Win yellow2 Draw red2 Loss green1 red1 StattoPort Vale 1952–1953 : Results & Fixtures https://web.archive.org/web/20131105205632/http://www.statto.com/football/teams/port-vale/1952-1953/results 5 November 2013 . Statto Organisation. Retrieved 28 April 2012. Matches 1 23 August 1952 Bradford City 1–0 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/bradford-city-v-port-vale-23-august-1952-155151/ Port Vale Valley Parade Bradford 16,326 2 25 August 1952 Port Vale 2–0 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-tranmere-rovers-25-august-1952-155166/ Tranmere Rovers Mullard Griffiths Vale Park Burslem 17,138 3 30 August 1952 Port Vale 5–2 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-rochdale-30-august-1952-155182/ Rochdale Griffiths Steele Mullard Bennett Gilfillan Foulds Vale Park Burslem ER Hill 15,448 4 2 September 1952 Tranmere Rovers 1–1 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/tranmere-rovers-v-port-vale-02-september-1952-155192/ Port Vale Hayward Prenton Park Prenton 10,194 5 6 September 1952 Darlington 0–2 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/darlington-v-port-vale-06-september-1952-155201/ Port Vale Mullard Hayward Feethams Darlington 8,600 6 8 September 1952 Port Vale 2–0 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-stockport-county-08-september-1952-155213/ Stockport County Steele Mullard Vale Park Burslem 15,185 7 13 September 1952 Port Vale 1–1 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-gateshead-13-september-1952-155229/ Gateshead Steele Vale Park Burslem 17,803 8 15 September 1952 Stockport County 0–2 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/stockport-county-v-port-vale-15-september-1952-155237/ Port Vale Bennett Hayward Edgeley Park Stockport 10,142 9 20 September 1952 Hartlepools United 2–0 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/hartlepools-united-v-port-vale-20-september-1952-155253/ Port Vale McClure 40 Wildon 58 Victoria Park Hartlepool Tom Seymour 9,945 10 22 September 1952 Port Vale 1–0 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-bradford-park-avenue-22-september-1952-155260/ Bradford (Park Avenue) Hulligan Vale Park Burslem 12,553 11 27 September 1952 Port Vale 0–0 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-carlisle-united-27-september-1952-155278/ Carlisle United Vale Park Burslem 10,803 12 29 September 1952 York City 1–0 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/york-city-v-port-vale-29-september-1952-155286/ Port Vale Bootham Crescent York 7,289 13 4 October 1952 Southport 0–0 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/southport-v-port-vale-04-october-1952-155301/ Port Vale Haig Avenue Southport 7,616 14 11 October 1952 Port Vale 3–0 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-chesterfield-11-october-1952-155312/ Chesterfield Steele Sproson Vale Park Burslem 14,352 15 18 October 1952 Workington 1–1 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/workington-v-port-vale-18-october-1952-155326/ Port Vale Hayward Borough Park Workington 6,705 16 25 October 1952 Port Vale 0–1 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-accrington-stanley-25-october-1952-155336/ Accrington Stanley Vale Park Burslem 12,202 17 1 November 1952 Halifax Town 1–2 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/halifax-town-v-port-vale-01-november-1952-155346/ Port Vale Griffiths The Shay Halifax, West Yorkshire 11,693 18 8 November 1952 Port Vale 1–1 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-mansfield-town-08-november-1952-155360/ Mansfield Town Hayward Adam Vale Park Burslem 14,103 19 15 November 1952 Oldham Athletic 0–1 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/oldham-athletic-v-port-vale-15-november-1952-155372/ Port Vale og. Boundary Park Oldham 21,407 20 29 November 1952 14:45 GMT Wrexham 3–1 L https://www.wrexhamafcarchive.co.uk/matchdetails.php?id=2852 Port Vale Tilston 2 Tunnicliffe 29 Hewitt 65 Griffiths 52 Racecourse Ground Wrexham W.H.E. Evans 11,082 21 13 December 1952 Grimsby Town 1–1 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/grimsby-town-v-port-vale-13-december-1952-155396/ Port Vale og. Blundell Park Cleethorpes 13,801 22 20 December 1952 Port Vale 0–0 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-bradford-city-20-december-1952-155412/ Bradford City Vale Park Burslem 6,000 23 26 December 1952 Crewe Alexandra 1–4 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/crewe-alexandra-v-port-vale-26-december-1952-155422/ Port Vale Griffiths Hayward Gresty Road Crewe 13,962 24 27 December 1952 Port Vale 3–1 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-crewe-alexandra-27-december-1952-155434/ Crewe Alexandra Hayward Griffiths Vale Park Burslem 22,478 25 3 January 1953 Rochdale 1–1 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/rochdale-v-port-vale-03-january-1953-155453/ Port Vale Lynn pen. Hayward Spotland Stadium Rochdale ER Hill 6,899 26 17 January 1953 Port Vale 2–1 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-darlington-17-january-1953-155473/ Darlington Hulligan Hayward Vale Park Burslem 11,417 27 24 January 1953 Gateshead 1–1 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/gateshead-v-port-vale-24-january-1953-155483/ Port Vale Hayward Redheugh Park Gateshead 7,785 28 31 January 1953 Scunthorpe & Lindsey United 1–2 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/scunthorpe-united-v-port-vale-31-january-1953-155496/ Port Vale Cunliffe Hayward Old Show Ground Scunthorpe 6,984 29 7 February 1953 Port Vale 3–0 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-hartlepools-united-07-february-1953-155509/ Hartlepools United Hayward 60 86 Griffiths 87 Vale Park Burslem Tom Seymour 13,919 30 14 February 1953 Carlisle United 2–0 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/carlisle-united-v-port-vale-14-february-1953-155514/ Port Vale Brunton Park Carlisle 10,419 31 21 February 1953 Port Vale 0–0 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-southport-21-february-1953-155530/ Southport Vale Park Burslem 13,919 32 28 February 1953 Chesterfield 1–0 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/chesterfield-v-port-vale-28-february-1953-155538/ Port Vale Saltergate Chesterfield, Derbyshire 9,772 33 7 March 1953 Port Vale 2–0 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-workington-07-march-1953-155554/ Workington Bennett Hayward Vale Park Burslem 12,093 34 14 March 1953 Accrington Stanley 1–1 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/accrington-stanley-v-port-vale-14-march-1953-155561/ Port Vale Griffiths Peel Park Accrington 5,499 35 16 March 1953 Port Vale 4–0 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-scunthorpe-united-16-march-1953-155573/ Scunthorpe & Lindsey United Cunliffe Hayward Leake Vale Park Burslem 11,371 36 21 March 1953 Port Vale 1–1 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-halifax-town-21-march-1953-155581/ Halifax Town Hayward Vale Park Burslem 17,945 37 28 March 1953 Mansfield Town 1–0 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/mansfield-town-v-port-vale-28-march-1953-155596/ Port Vale V. Watson Field Mill Mansfield 6,083 38 3 April 1953 Port Vale 1–1 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-chester-03-april-1953-155608/ Chester Griffiths Sutcliffe Vale Park Burslem 19,413 39 4 April 1953 Port Vale 1–1 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-oldham-athletic-04-april-1953-155620/ Oldham Athletic Sproson Vale Park Burslem 24,499 40 6 April 1953 Chester 2–2 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/chester-v-port-vale-06-april-1953-155628/ Port Vale Morement Travis Cunliffe Askey Sealand Road Chester 10,553 41 11 April 1953 Bradford (Park Avenue) 2–2 D https://www.11v11.com/matches/bradford-park-avenue-v-port-vale-11-april-1953-155640/ Port Vale Griffiths Hayward Park Avenue Bradford 11,790 42 13 April 1953 Port Vale 3–0 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-barrow-13-april-1953-155651/ Barrow Hayward Hulligan Mullard Vale Park Burslem 10,010 43 18 April 1953 15:15 GMT Port Vale 0–0 D https://www.wrexhamafcarchive.co.uk/matchdetails.php?id=1231 Wrexham Vale Park Burslem W.H.E. Evans 21,585 44 20 April 1953 Port Vale 2–0 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-york-city-20-april-1953-155672/ York City Leake Hayward Vale Park Burslem 11,379 45 25 April 1953 Barrow 1–2 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/barrow-v-port-vale-25-april-1953-155679/ Port Vale Hayward Leake Holker Street Barrow-in-Furness 5,080 46 30 April 1953 Port Vale 4–0 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-grimsby-town-30-april-1953-155701/ Grimsby Town Potts Leake Mullard Hulligan Vale Park Burslem 7,964 FA Cup 1952–53 FA Cup R1 22 November 1952 Port Vale 2–1 W https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-exeter-city-22-november-1952-210240/ Exeter City Mullard Griffiths Murphy Vale Park Burslem N.C.Taylor 14,394 R2 6 December 1952 Port Vale 0–3 L https://www.11v11.com/matches/port-vale-v-oldham-athletic-06-december-1952-210283/ Oldham Athletic Vale Park Burslem 25,398 Coronation Cup Final 4 May 1953 Stoke City 2–0 L Port Vale Victoria Ground Stoke-upon-Trent 9,981 Squad statistics Appearances and goals Key to positions: GK – Goalkeeper; FB – Full back; HB – Half back; FW – Forward Third Division North FA Cup Coronation Cup GK ENG Ray Hancock 43 0 2 0 1 0 GK ENG Ray King 3 0 0 0 0 0 FB ENG Jim Elsby 2 0 0 0 0 0 FB ENG Reg Potts 46 1 2 0 1 0 FB ENG Stan Turner 43 0 2 0 1 0 HB ENG Tommy Cheadle 46 0 2 0 1 0 HB ENG Norman Hallam 8 0 0 0 0 0 HB ENG Albert Leake 24 4 1 0 1 0 HB ENG Albert Mullard 40 6 2 1 1 0 HB ENG Roy Sproson 45 2 2 0 1 0 HB NIR Jimmy Todd 11 0 1 0 0 0 FW ENG Colin Askey 9 1 0 0 1 0 FW ENG Alan Bennett 27 3 2 0 0 0 FW ENG John Cunliffe 19 4 0 0 0 0 FW ENG Ken Griffiths 44 13 2 1 1 0 FW ENG Basil Hayward 37 22 2 0 1 0 FW ENG Mick Hulligan 42 4 2 0 1 0 FW ENG Freddie Steele 11 5 0 0 0 0 FW ENG Derek Tomkinson 6 0 0 0 0 0 |} Top scorers PlacePositionNationNameThird Division NorthFA CupCoronation CupTotal1FWEnglandBasil Hayward2200222FWEnglandKen Griffiths1310143HBEnglandAlbert Mullard61074FWEnglandFreddie Steele50055HBEnglandAlbert Leake4004–FWEnglandMick Hulligan4004–FWEnglandJohn Cunliffe40048FWEnglandAlan Bennett30039HBEnglandRoy Sproson200210FWEnglandColin Askey1001–FBEnglandReg Potts1001–––Own goals2002TOTALS672069 Transfers Transfers in Date from Position Nationality Name From Fee Ref. December 1952 FW ENG Derek Tomkinson Burton Albion Free transfer Kent Jeff Port Vale Personalities Witan Books 1996 0-9529152-0-0 Transfers out Date from Position Nationality Name To Fee Ref. May 1953 FB ENG John Abbotts Released May 1953 HB ENG Norman Hallam Halifax Town Free transfer May 1953 HB NIR Jimmy Todd Wellington Town Free transfer Summer 1953 FW ENG Freddie Steele Retired 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