1933–34 Port Vale F.C. season

Port Vale
1933–34 season
Chairman Frank Huntbach
Manager Tom Holford
Stadium The Old Recreation Ground
Football League Second Division 8th (45 Points)
FA Cup Third Round
Welsh Cup Semi-final
Top goalscorer League: Tom Nolan (22)
All: Tom Nolan (22)
Highest home attendance 14,216 vs. Blackpool (20 January 1934)
Lowest home attendance 2,990 vs. Nottingham Forest (5 May 1934)
Average home league attendance 10,051
Home colours

The 1933–34 season was Port Vale's 28th season of football in the Football League, and their fourth successive season (27th overall) in the Second Division.[1] Finishing eighth in the second tier with 45 points, they would not reach such a peak again until 1996–97. It was their joint-second best ever finish after the 1930–31 season, along with the 1924–25, 1925–26, 1926–27, and 1996–97 campaigns.

A strong defence and two lengthy series of good results raised belief and expectation of promotion to the top-flight for the first time in the club's history. However two runs of poor results dashed such hopes, resulting in what would be a downward slide that would last until the end of World War II. After pushing for promotion, the club's directors were forced to initiate a cull of players at the season's end.

Manager Tom Holford.
Chairman Frank Huntbach stated that an average attendance of 12,000 was needed to bring the club forward, and also hit out against the Hanley traders.[1]

Overview

Second Division

The pre-season saw the arrival of ten new professionals, six of which were forwards.[1] The most significant newcomers were Trevor Rhodes (Bradford Park Avenue), Jack Vickers (Charlton Athletic), as well as Ken Gunn and Billy Tabram (both from Swansea Town).[1]

The season started excellently with ten wins in the opening fifteen matches. At the end of this run Sydney Dickinson was brought in from Bradford Park Avenue, though the Vale then went on to lose five of their next six matches, conceding sixteen goals and scoring just three.[1] The slide was halted with a 1–0 Boxing day victory over Lincoln City in which top-scorer Tom Nolan became one of only two Vale players sent off in the period between 1918 and 1947.[1] The result nevertheless kept the club within a point of the promotion places.[1] This was supplemented by seven of a possible eight points in their next four games, including victories at The Dell and Valley Parade.[1]

Their run ended on 5 February at The Old Recreation Ground with a 1–0 defeat to eventual champions Grimsby Town.[1] From this point the promotion campaign completely collapsed, with a 4–0 loss soon coming to Welsh strugglers Swansea.[1] New signing Jack Blackwell from Charlton couldn't reverse the trend despite helping the side to their biggest win of the season with a 5–1 thrashing of Millwall the following week.[1] A fortnight later and a 2–0 win over promotion chasing Preston North End meant promotion was back on the cards for the "Valiants".[1] The Sentinel's "Placer" commented that Vale had the easiest remaining fixtures of the chasing pack and thus had a "great chance of ascending to the First Division for the first time in their career".[1]

Their remaining eleven games yielded a return of merely seven points, lacking a reserve side, fatigue had set into the first team.[1] One significant defeat came at Old Trafford, which helped Manchester United avoid relegation to the third tier for what would have been the only time in their history. Young Fred Mitcheson did make a name for himself however, scoring a hat-trick in his debut in a 4–0 win over Plymouth Argyle.[1]

They finished in eighth position, gaining 45 points from 42 games.[1] Seven more points were required to match promoted Preston North End, though they finished twelve points clear of relegated Millwall. Billy Tabram had helped secure the Vale's defence, their 55 goals conceded the lowest in the division behind Preston.[1] Attacking wise, their 60 goals were a poor return for a top-of-the-table club, with 33 of these coming from Tom Nolan (22) and Trevor Rhodes (11).[1]

Finances

On the financial side, a loss of £2,771 was announced despite strict economic budgeting.[1] Gate receipts had risen slowly to £11,868, though a rare transfer deficit was made, and expenses had risen sharply.[1] The club announced that it would consider offers for any of its players, blaming the fans for a lack of enthusiasm, exemplified by an attendance of 2,990 (raising just £136) for the end-of-season clash with Nottingham Forest, despite having recently built a stand with cover for 15,000 spectators.[1] The upshot of this was the release of a massive fifteen players, a list which included: Bill Cope, Sydney Dickinson, Len Armitage, and Jimmy McGrath.[1] Billy Tabram was also sold to Hull City for a large fee, whilst Fred Mills' transfer to Leeds United and George Poyser's move to Brentford also brought in some much needed cash.[1] In the boardroom, Adrian Capes announced his retirement.[1] It was, according to historian Jeff Kent, "the end of an era".[1]

Cup competitions

In the FA Cup, defeat came in the Third Round to Third Division South side Charlton Athletic at The Valley despite 'special training' measures beforehand.[1]

For the first and only time the club also entered the Welsh Cup.[2] Vale lost out to Bristol City at the semi-final stage.

Final league table

Pos Team Pld W D L F A W D L F A F A GA GD Pts
1Grimsby Town421533622812274131103591.746+ 4459
2Preston North End42153347208310243271521.365+ 1952
3Bolton Wanderers4214254522777343379551.436+ 2451
4Brentford4215245224759333685601.417+ 2551
5Bradford Park Avenue42162363277113234086671.284+ 1949
6Bradford City42144346256213274273671.090+ 646
7West Ham United4213355128489274278701.114+ 845
8Port Vale42144339145313214160551.091+ 545
9Oldham Athletic42125448285511243272601.200+ 1244
10Plymouth Argyle42127243203612265069700.986– 143
11Blackpool42108339275511233762640.969– 243
12Bury42124543315511274270730.959– 343
13Burnley42142540294413204360720.833– 1242
14Southampton42152440210615143754580.931– 438
15Hull City42114633202811194852680.765– 1638
16Fulham42133529172415195048670.716– 1937
17Nottingham Forest42114650272514234773740.986– 135
18Notts County4297532223414214053620.855– 935
19Swansea Town42109236190615154151600.850– 935
20Manchester United4293929335313305259850.694– 2634
21Millwall4288521173315185139680.574– 2933
22Lincoln City4277731232118135244750.587– 3126

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
GroundAHHAAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHHAHAHHAHAHAHHAAHAHAH
ResultLWWLWWWLWWWDWDWLLLDLLWDWWWLDLWDWLLWLLDLWLW
Position181071254162211122234468664323365435656879688

Source: Statto[3]
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

Football League Second Division

DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers
26 August 1933FulhamA0–321,070
28 August 1933BuryH4–18,416Nolan (3), McGrath
2 September 1933SouthamptonH2–111,237Gunn (2)
9 September 1933BlackpoolA0–116,988
11 September 1933BuryA3–06,197Rhodes, Gunn, Tabram
16 September 1933Bradford CityH3–111,453Rhodes, Morton, Nolan
23 September 1933Grimsby TownA2–110,505Nolan, Morton
30 September 1933Notts CountyA2–315,364Nolan (2)
7 October 1933Swansea TownH1–09,478Rhodes
14 October 1933MillwallA3–012,045Gunn, Rhodes, Nolan
21 October 1933Bradford Park AvenueH3–113,122Nolan (2), Morton
28 October 1933Preston North EndA0–014,160
4 November 1933Oldham AthleticH2–012,228Nolan, Rhodes
11 November 1933BurnleyA0–013,445
18 November 1933BrentfordH1–011,349Gunn
25 November 1933Bolton WanderersA0–314,925
2 December 1933Manchester UnitedH2–310,316Nolan, Rhodes
9 December 1933Plymouth ArgyleA0–313,672
16 December 1933West Ham UnitedH0–06,610
23 December 1933Nottingham ForestA1–69,239Rhodes
25 December 1933Lincoln CityA0–111,584
26 December 1933Lincoln CityH1–013,910Nolan
30 December 1933FulhamH2–28,151Gunn, Rhodes
6 January 1934SouthamptonA4–19,987Rhodes (3), Morton
20 January 1934BlackpoolH1–014,216McGrath
27 January 1934Bradford CityA2–112,719Dickinson, Mills
5 February 1934Grimsby TownH0–112,662
10 February 1934Notts CountyH0–010,645
22 February 1934Swansea TownA0–45,764
24 February 1934MillwallH5–18,578Blackwell (2), Gunn, Mills, Nolan
3 March 1934Bradford Park AvenueA2–211,548Gunn, Dickinson
10 March 1934Preston North EndH2–012,972Morton (2)
17 March 1934Oldham AthleticA1–55,900Nolan
24 March 1934BurnleyH0–27,367
30 March 1934Hull CityH3–010,502Nolan (3)
31 March 1934BrentfordA0–219,758
2 April 1934Hull CityA1–213,333Blackwell
7 April 1934Bolton WanderersH0–09,923
14 April 1934Manchester UnitedA0–214,777
21 April 1934Plymouth ArgyleH4–04,956Mitcheson (3), Nolan
28 April 1934West Ham UnitedA0–19,893
5 May 1934Nottingham ForestH3–12,990Nolan (3)

FA Cup

RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorers
R313 January 1934Charlton AthleticA0–218,821

Player statistics

Transfers

Transfers in

Date from Position Nationality Name From Fee Ref.
May 1933FWScotlandPeter CunninghamBarnsleyFree transfer[4]
May 1933MFScotlandKen GunnSwansea Town£400[4]
May 1933GKWalesOrmond JonesYeovil & Petters UnitedFree transfer[4]
May 1933DFEnglandJack VickersCharlton Athletic£200[4]
June 1933MFEnglandTrevor RhodesBradford Park AvenueFree transfer[4]
July 1933FWEnglandFred MitchesonWolverhampton WanderersFree transfer[4]
August 1933MFEnglandRichard TwissWolverhampton WanderersFree transfer[4]
November 1933MFEnglandSydney DickinsonBradford Park Avenue'Substantial'[4]
November 1933MFEnglandAlbert PurcellKidsgrove Liverpool RoadFree transfer[4]
February 1934FWEnglandJack BlackwellCharlton AthleticFree transfer[4]

Transfers out

Date from Position Nationality Name To Fee Ref.
November 1933FWScotlandPeter CunninghamCrewe AlexandraFree transfer[4]
May 1934DFEnglandWilliam AllsopHalifax TownFree transfer[4]
May 1934DFEnglandLen ArmitageTranmere RoversFree transfer[4]
May 1934MFEnglandHorace BakerLongton HallFree transfer[4]
May 1934FWEnglandRobert G. DaviesTorquay UnitedFree transfer[4]
May 1934GKWalesOrmond JonesNorwich CityFree transfer[4]
May 1934DFEnglandBilly TabramHull CityFree transfer[4]
June 1934MFEnglandJimmy McGrathNotts CountyFree transfer[4]
June 1934MFEnglandFred MillsLeeds UnitedUndisclosed[4]
June 1934DFEnglandGeorge PoyserBrentford£1,550[4]
Summer 1934DFEnglandBill CopeReleased[4]
Summer 1934MFEnglandSydney DickinsonLincoln CityReleased[4]
Summer 1934MFEnglandRichard TwissBournemouth & Boscombe AthleticFree transfer[4]

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 Kent, Jeff (1990). "From Glory to Despair (1929–1939)". The Valiants' Years: The Story Of Port Vale. Witan Books. pp. 124–150. ISBN 0-9508981-4-7.
  2. ↑ Sherwin, Phil (2010). The Port Vale Miscellany. Brimscombe Port: The History Press. p. 33. ISBN 978-0-7524-5777-2.
  3. ↑ Port Vale 1933–1934 : Results & Fixtures. Statto Organisation. Retrieved 28 April 2012.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 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.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.