1895–96 Burslem Port Vale F.C. season

Burslem Port Vale
1895–96 season
Chairman Edward Oliver
Manager Enoch Hood
Stadium Athletic Ground
Football League Second Division 14th (18 Points)
FA Cup Second Qualifying Round
Birmingham Senior Cup First Round
Staffordshire Senior Cup First Round
Top goalscorer League: Ernest Beckett (8)
All: Ernest Beckett (8)
Highest home attendance 5,000 vs Burton Wanderers (18 January 1896)
Lowest home attendance 500 vs Rotherham Town (25 January 1896)
Average home league attendance 1,771
Home colours

The 1895–96 season was Burslem Port Vale's fourth consecutive season of football in the Football League.[1] Another poor season struggling at the wrong end of the table, this time they failed to gain re-election; two seasons in the Midlands League followed, and despite a finish of 7th and then 5th they were re-elected back into the Football League for the expanded 1898–99 season.[1]

A season to forget, a 5–4 victory over eventual champions Liverpool was one of the few memorable days. This came during a run of games which saw 65 goals in 11 games. Overall a leaky defence kept just 5 clean sheets in 30 league and 4 cup games. On their travels the team lost all their games save for a 2–0 win over Rotherham Town on the opening day.[1] From 21 September 1895 to 18 April 1896 they recorded 14 straight losses away from home, and went 27 games without a draw away from home between 26 January 1895 and 3 December 1898 – both club records.

Ever-present goalkeeper Tom Baddeley saved Vale from embarrassing scorelines on numerous occasions.
Ever-present George Price made his debut in 1896, and remained with the club for another eleven years.
Danny Simpson made his debut in 1896, and would become top scorer for 1896–97 and 1897–98.

Overview

Second Division

Vale finished in 14th place, with 18 points, 28 points short of champions Liverpool. They finished four points behind Lincoln City, who were safe from re-election. Having twice successfully applied for re-election in the past three seasons, this time round they lost their league status. Nearby Crewe Alexandra fared even worse than Vale, and didn't return to the Football League until 1921, whilst Rotherham Town were never to return. However Vale spent just two seasons in the Midland League before winning back their league status.[1]

The club suffered heavy defeats at Anfield, at Darwen, at Leicester Fosse, and in both clashes with Notts County and Grimsby Town. However they did manage victories over future giants of the game Liverpool, Newton Heath (later Manchester United), and Newcastle United.

Top scorers of previous years were lost, Billy Beats sold to Wolverhampton Wanderers in pre-season, whilst Meshach Dean lost his touch. Goals at a premium, Ernest Beckett (8), and Jim Mason (6) were the only players to score with anything approaching regularity. Highly impressive goalkeeper Tom Baddeley was an ever-present for the second successive season, with left-back George Youds and centre-half Ralph Barlow missing just one match each. At the end of the season Baddeley and Eccles left for Wolves, Eardley and McDonald left for Stoke; all wishing to remain Football League players.[1]

Cup competitions

Again Vale failed poorly in the FA Cup, easing past Scottish club Hereford Thistle in the first round of qualification with a walkover. The Second Round held league rivals Burton Swifts, who managed to draw at Vale's home and then win the replay with the odd goal. Facing rivals Stoke in the Staffordshire Senior Cup, they lost 4–0 at home.[1]

Final league table

Pos Team Pld W D L F A W D L F A F A GA GD Pts
1Liverpool30141065118164121106323.313+ 7446
2Manchester City301230379915262963381.658+ 2546
3Grimsby Town301410519618312982382.158+ 4442
4Burton Wanderers3012124315735262569401.725+ 2942
5Newcastle United30140157142211163673501.460+ 2334
6Newton Heath30122148153111184266571.158+ 933
7Woolwich Arsenal3011134311339163159421.405+ 1732
8Leicester Fosse3010054016447172857441.295+ 1332
9Darwen3094255223210174572671.075+ 530
10Notts County3081641224110163257541.056+ 326
11Burton Swifts3072624263210154339690.565– 3024
12Loughborough307353225221184240670.597– 2723
13Lincoln City3071736242310175153750.707– 2222
14Burslem Port Vale3064525241014185443780.5513518
15Rotherham Town307262726011477134970.351– 6317
16Crewe Alexandra305282228011486730950.316– 6513

Pld = Matches played; W = Matches won; D = Matches drawn; L = Matches lost; F = Goals for; A = Goals against;
GA = Goal average; GD = Goal difference; Pts = Points

Results

Burslem Port Vale's score comes first

Round123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627282930
GroundAHAAHAHHHAAAHHHHHAHHAAHAAAHAAH
ResultWLLLDLWWLLLLWDWLLLLDLLLWLLDLLW
Position11111141213121113131314131312131313141414151414151515151514

Source: Statto[2]
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

Football League Second Division

DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers
7 September 1895Rotherham TownA2–02,000Beckett, Handley
14 September 1895Notts CountyH0–42,000
21 September 1895Burton WanderersA1–22,500Dean
28 September 1895LiverpoolA1–55,000J. Mason
5 October 1895DarwenH3–31,000Eardley (2), Evans
19 October 1895DarwenA2–84,000Eardley (2)
21 October 1895LiverpoolH5–41,000Evans, J. Mason, Beckett, Downie, Black
26 October 1895Crewe AlexandraH2–11,500J. Mason, Barlow
16 November 1895Grimsby TownH1–4800Beckett
7 December 1895Notts CountyA2–7500Evans, Beckett
25 December 1895Woolwich ArsenalA1–28,000Fallows
4 January 1896Grimsby TownA1–62,000Downie
11 January 1896Burton SwiftsH1–01,500Beckett
18 January 1896Burton WanderersH2–25,000Edwards, Sandham
25 January 1896Rotherham TownH4–0500Beckett, Sandham, McDonald, J. Mason
10 February 1896Manchester CityH0–13,000
15 February 1896Woolwich ArsenalH0–21,000
17 February 1896Manchester CityA0–13,000
22 February 1896Lincoln CityH0–11,000
7 March 1896Leicester FosseH1–11,500Beckett
14 March 1896Burton SwiftsA1–22,000Beckett
21 March 1896Leicester FosseA0–55,000
23 March 1896Newton HeathH3–03,000Randles (2), J. Mason
25 March 1896Crewe AlexandraA2–3C. Mason, Evans
3 April 1896Newcastle UnitedA2–48,500Simpson, Randles
6 April 1896Newton HeathA1–25,000McDonald
7 April 1896LoughboroughH1–1Simpson
11 April 1896LoughboroughA0–31,500
18 April 1896Lincoln CityA2–4Belfield (2)
20 April 1896Newcastle UnitedH2–02,000J. Mason, Randles

FA Cup

RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorers
1Q12 October 1895Hereford ThistleHwalkover
2Q2 November 1895Burton SwiftsH111,500unknown
2Q Replay6 November 1895Burton SwiftsA011,000

Birmingham Senior Cup

RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorers
120 January 1896StourbridgeA2–32,000Downie, own goal

Staffordshire Senior Cup

RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorers
18 February 1896StokeA0–44,000

Player statistics

Transfers

Transfers in

Date from Position Nationality Name From Fee Ref.
July 1895FWEnglandErnest BeckettNewcastle SwiftsFree transfer[3]
September 1895FWEnglandBilly EardleyNewcastle SwiftsFree transfer[3]
September 1895MFJames DownieBlackburn RoversFree transfer[3]
September 1895FWDavid BlackBlackburn RoversFree transfer[3]
January 1896MFEnglandJohn EdwardsStockport CountyFree transfer[3]
January 1896FWEnglandJoseph SandhamCrewe AlexandraFree transfer[3]
February 1896FWEnglandDanny SimpsonTunstall TownFree transfer[3]

Transfers out

Date from Position Nationality Name To Fee Ref.
October 1895MFEnglandAlf WoodStokeFree transfer[3]
January 1896FWDavid BlackReleased[3]
February 1896FWEnglandJoseph SandhamDresden UnitedFree transfer[3]
May 1896DFEnglandGeorge Samuel EcclesWolverhampton Wanderers'considerable'[3]
Summer 1896MFEnglandJoseph BougheyAudleyReleased[3]
Summer 1896MFEnglandMeshach DeanReleased[3]
Summer 1896FWEnglandJimmy DitchfieldReleased[3]
Summer 1896MFJames DownieReleased[3]
Summer 1896MFEnglandJohn EdwardsGrays UnitedFree transfer[3]
Summer 1896MFEnglandHamlet HandleyReleased[3]
Summer 1896MFJames KirkhamReleased[3]
Summer 1896FWCharlie MasonReleased[3]
Summer 1896DFWilliam RhodesReleased[3]
August 1896FWEnglandBilly EardleyStokeFree transfer[3]
August 1896MFEnglandTed McDonaldStokeFree transfer[3]

References

Specific
  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Kent, Jeff (1990). "Trying to make the Grade (1888-1898)". The Valiants' Years: The Story Of Port Vale. Witan Books. pp. 26–50. ISBN 0-9508981-4-7.
  2. Port Vale 1895–1896 : Results & Fixtures. Statto Organisation. Retrieved 28 April 2012.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 Kent, Jeff (1996). Port Vale Personalities. Witan Books. ISBN 0-9529152-0-0.
General
  • Kent, Jeff (1993). The Port Vale Record 1879-1993. Witan Books. ISBN 0-9508981-9-8.
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