1920–21 Port Vale F.C. season

Port Vale
1920–21 season
Chairman Frank Huntbach
Manager Joe Schofield
Stadium The Old Recreation Ground
Football League Second Division 17th (36 Points)
FA Cup Sixth Qualification Round
North Staffordshire Infirmary Cup Runners-up
Top goalscorer League: Bobby Blood (20)
All: Bobby Blood (20)
Highest home attendance 20,000 vs Rotherham County (11 September 1920) & Stoke (25 September 1920)
Lowest home attendance 10,000 vs Wolverhampton Wanderers (27 November 1920) & Stockport County (11 December 1920) & Fulham (16 April 1921) & Birmingham (7 May 1921)
Average home league attendance 14,143+

The 1920–21 season was Port Vale's second consecutive season of football (15th overall) in the Football League.[1] The season peaked early with a double victory in the league over rivals Stoke, however any sense of euphoria evaporated in February with the sale of star striker Bobby Blood. The club failed to find another reliable goalscorer until the arrival of Wilf Kirkham in 1923. The Vale finished at the bottom end of the table, though they did finish higher in the league than Stoke for the first time in their history.

Chairman Frank Huntbach.
Wing half Tom Holford was past 40 and still going strong.
The sale of Bobby Blood brought in £4,000.
Joe Brough, 34, was another veteran.
Billy Briscoe was a key player.

Overview

Second Division

During the pre-season, manager-secretary Joe Schofield stated that: "the future policy of Port Vale is to go ahead".[1] He duly signed experienced full-back Bob Pursell, brother of Peter, from Liverpool.[1] The capacity of The Old Recreation Ground was increased to 30,000; mainly due to the fund raising activities of the Supporters' Club.[1] Of the 1919–20 squad, only William Aitken was let go, for a fee of £2,500 to Newcastle United.[1] That money helped to pay for £400 Tom Page from St Mirren, and right-half Freddy Price from Wolverhampton Wanderers.[1]

The season started positively enough; a 2–0 win over new club Leeds United helped to establish a start of six points from the opening six games.[1] On 25 September, the "Valiants" delighted their fans by recording their first league victory over rivals Stoke in 'a stirring duel' which ended 2–1.[1] The following week they achieved the double over Stoke by recording a 1–0 victory at the Victoria Ground.[1] This encouraged fans to travel in their numbers to see the team beat Nottingham Forest 4–1 at the City Ground.[1] Injuries to Price and Brough then saw the team slump, and this continued when new signing, Manchester City goalkeeper Walter Smith was arrested for assault on the day of his debut.[1] The arrest is likely to account for a majority of the six goals he conceded that day at South Shields.[1] The side recovered to record heavy victories over Hull City and Stockport County, with Bobby Blood scoring six of the Vale's ten goals in the two games.[1] Vale lost both their games to Bristol City, though Blood demonstrated his fearsome shooting power by blasting a penalty kick at City's keeper – the keeper saved the penalty to keep a clean sheet but broke his wrist in the process of saving the shot.[1] Blood was sold to West Bromwich Albion for £4,000 in February – then a club record for both clubs.[1] The effect on the pitch was telling, as Vale went on to record just two wins in their remaining sixteen games, with a meagre six goals scored.[1] One of the victories was a 'flash in the pan' win over FA Cup semi-finalists Cardiff City, Cardiff fielded a weakened team and watched in bewilderment as Page scored the winning goal from the penalty spot, stubbing his foot in the process.[1]

At the end of the season, Vale finished six points ahead of relegated Stockport County, but 22 points behind the promotion places. Only a handful of teams had lost fewer away matches than Vale, however Vale boasted fewer home wins than any other club in the league, and even with Blood in the side the club struggled to find goals.

A core of six players formed the spine of the team: Peter and Bob Pursell, with Tom Lyons in defence; Joe Brough at half-back; with Billy Briscoe and Tom Page in forward positions. Page contributed to the goals tally, but Blood was the sole hope in front of goal, racking up 20 goals in 25 league games before his transfer. In the addition to the Pursell brothers, Harry and John Johnstone also made sporadic appearances; in one match both the Pursell brothers and the Johnstone brothers took to the field.[1]

Finances

The issue of finance reared its head in September with an appeal for greater support from chairman Frank Huntbach.[1] The chairman emphasised the club's potential and pleaded for the remaining £4,500 worth of shares to be snapped up.[1] The Pursell brothers were so affected by the speech that they each bought £5 worth of shares.[1] The club later received a £70 boost when supporters bought copies of "The Port Vale War-Cry", though more significant was the elevated noise level as supporters sang the cry throughout matches.[1] Vale's weather-conscious supporters would turn up in their number during sunshine, but were somewhat unreliable during the winter.[1] The club were desperate to increase ground capacity but were already facing worrying financial times, despite the club debt falling to £800.[1] Though the sale of Blood raised considerable funds, fans were outraged, especially as Schofield and the directors refused to comment on the issue – Blood was apparently told by the club that either "[he] went or the club".[1] At the end of the season a £1,187 profit was recorded.[1]

Cup competitions

The club failed to qualify for the FA Cup, losing their qualification match with league rivals Clapton Orient.[1] The North Staffordshire Infirmary Cup went to Stoke, who claimed victory with a 5–3 win at The Old Recreation Ground.[1]

Final league table

Pos Team Pld W D L F A W D L F A F A GA GD Pts
1Birmingham4216415513867242579382.079+ 4158
2Cardiff City4213532791155322359321.844+ 2758
3Bristol City42143435125106141749291.690+ 2051
4Blackpool4212363219876222354421.286+ 1250
5West Ham United42135338116510131951301.700+ 1948
6Notts County4212543617669192355401.375+ 1547
7Clapton Orient4213623193711123343421.024+ 145
8South Shields4213444116461120306146.326+ 1544
9Fulham42144333122613103543470.915– 442
10The Wednesday4297531146411173448481.000± 041
11Bury42108329135214163645490.918– 440
12Leicester City42108326112811133539460.848– 740
13Hull City42710424183108193543530.811– 1040
14Leeds United42115530143513103140450.889– 538
15Wolverhampton Wanderers42114634245214154249660.742– 1738
16Barnsley42910231171614173348500.960– 1236
17Port Vale427682819489153043490.878– 636
18Nottingham Forest4296637263612112948550.873– 736
19Rotherham County4289423214314143237530.698– 1636
20Stoke4295726163612204046560.821– 1035
21Coventry City4286724254512154539700.557– 3135
22Stockport County4286730241614125142750.560– 3330

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

Port Vale's score comes first

Round123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627282930313233343536373839404142
GroundHAAHHAHAAHAHAHAHAHHAHHAAHHAHAHAHAAHAHAAHAH
ResultWDLDDDWWWLLLDWDLDWLLWWLLWLWLLDDDWLDLDDDLLL
Position13101081110545101315111010129121514111313121512141515151611131213171514151517

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

Football League Second Division

DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers
28 August 1920Leeds UnitedH2–015,000Page, Blood
30 August 1920Coventry CityA0–020,000
4 September 1920Leeds UnitedA1–316,000Blood
6 September 1920Coventry CityH0–012,000
11 September 1920Rotherham CountyH1–120,000Blood
18 September 1920Rotherham CountyA1–112,000Brough
25 September 1920StokeH2–120,000Page, Briscoe
2 October 1920StokeA1–026,500Blood
9 October 1920Nottingham ForestA4–115,000Blood (2), Page, Briscoe
16 October 1920Nottingham ForestH0–117,000
23 October 1920South ShieldsA1–618,000Blood
30 October 1920South ShieldsH0–215,000
6 November 1920Hull CityA1–112,000Wootton
13 November 1920Hull CityH4–015,000Blood (2 [1 pen]), Page, Price
20 November 1920Wolverhampton WanderersA2–216,000Blood (pen), Briscoe
27 November 1920Wolverhampton WanderersH2–310,000Fitchford, Blood (pen)
4 December 1920Stockport CountyA0–08,000
11 December 1920Stockport CountyH6–110,000Blood (4 [1 pen]), Holford, Page
25 December 1920Bristol CityH0–216,000
27 December 1920Bristol CityA0–334,710
1 January 1921Clapton OrientH4–012,000Blood (2), Wootton, Page
15 January 1921The WednesdayH1–012,000Blood (pen)
22 January 1921The WednesdayA0–120,000
29 January 1921BuryA0–110,000
5 February 1921BuryH3–012,000Blood (2), Fitchford
12 February 1921Notts CountyH1–216,000Page
19 February 1921Notts CountyA1–014,000Page
26 February 1921BlackpoolH0–118,000
5 March 1921BlackpoolA0–17,000
12 March 1921Leicester CityH0–015,000
19 March 1921Leicester CityA0–015,000
25 March 1921BarnsleyH1–113,000Fitchford
26 March 1921Cardiff CityA2–130,000Cartledge, Page
28 March 1921BarnsleyA0–312,000
2 April 1921Cardiff CityH0–017,000
9 April 1921FulhamA0–118,000
16 April 1921FulhamH0–010,000
23 April 1921West Ham UnitedA1–120,000Johnstone
25 April 1921Clapton OrientA0–015,000
30 April 1921West Ham UnitedH1–212,000Perry
2 May 1921BirminghamA0–435,000
7 May 1921BirminghamH0–210,000

FA Cup

RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorers
6Q18 December 1920Clapton OrientA0–116,000

North Staffordshire Infirmary Cup

RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorers
Final9 May 1921StokeH3–53,500Briscoe (2), Hayes

Player statistics

Transfers

Transfers in

Date from Position Nationality Name From Fee Ref.
May 1920DFEnglandLen BirksButt Lane StarFree transfer[3]
June 1920FWEnglandAlbert HayesLiverpool BadgersFree transfer[3]
June 1920FWEnglandTom PageScotland St Mirren£400[3]
July 1920DFEnglandFrank SimonCrewe AlexandraFree transfer[3]
August 1920MFEnglandFreddy PriceWolverhampton WanderersFree transfer[3]
September 1920MFEnglandArthur PooleMossleyFree transfer[3]
October 1920GKEnglandWalter SmithManchester City'modest'[3]
November 1920FWEnglandFrank CartledgeRavensdale MissionFree transfer[3]
December 1920MFEnglandFrank NewmanAston VillaFree transfer[3]
February 1921FWEnglandWilliam WilsonPortsmouthFree transfer[3]
March 1921FWScotlandAndrew LivingstoneScotland BathgateFree transfer[3]

Transfers out

Date from Position Nationality Name To Fee Ref.
February 1921FWEnglandBobby BloodWest Bromwich Albion£4,000[3]
May 1921DFEnglandPercy EllisWalsallReleased[3]
Summer 1921GKEnglandJonathan HammondReleased[3]
Summer 1921MFEnglandJames HillShrewsbury TownReleased[3]
Summer 1921FWScotlandAndrew LivingstoneScotland Vale of LevenReleased[3]
Summer 1921MFEnglandArthur McGarryReadingReleased[3]
Summer 1921MFEnglandFrank NewmanExeter CityReleased[3]
Summer 1921MFEnglandErnest PerryBradford CityFree transfer[3]
Summer 1921MFEnglandArthur PooleReleased[3]
Summer 1921MFEnglandFreddy PriceNewport CountyReleased[3]
Summer 1921FWEnglandWilliam WilsonWalsallReleased[3]

References

Specific
  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 Kent, Jeff (1990). "Keeping in Good Company (1919-1929)". The Valiants' Years The Story Of Port Vale. Witan Books. pp. 98–123. ISBN 0-9508981-4-7.
  2. ↑ Port Vale 1920–1921 : Results & Fixtures. Statto Organisation.
  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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