1957–58 Port Vale F.C. season

Port Vale
1957–58 season
Chairman Fred Burgess
Manager Norman Low
Stadium Vale Park
Football League Third Division South 15th (42 Points)
FA Cup Second Round
Top goalscorer League: Stan Steele (21)
All: Stan Steele (22)
Highest home attendance 17,286 vs. Coventry City (26 December 1957)
Lowest home attendance 5,149 vs. Brentford (24 March 1958)
Average home league attendance 10,457
Home colours

The 1957–58 season was Port Vale's 46th season of football in the Football League, and their first full season (eighth overall) back in the Third Division South following their relegation from the Second Division.[1] An unusual season, the regional split was to be abolished at the season's end, meaning the bottom two clubs of the Second Division and the clubs placed 2nd to 12th in the Third Division North and the Third Division South would be the founder members of the Third Division. It also meant that the bottom twelve clubs of the Third Division North and the Third Division South would be the founder members of the Fourth Division. In effect, the team's performance in this season could see them placed in either the second, third or fourth tier the following season. Finishing in fifteenth, what would have otherwise been a mid-table finish of little consequence saw them relegated to the Fourth Division.

Overview

Third Division South

The pre-season saw manager Norman Low sign a number of young new players to replace those released at the end of the previous season, saying his team would 'fight like hell to get back into the Second Division'.[1] Four of these signings were: impressive forward Jack Wilkinson (Sheffield United); Welsh international goalkeeper Keith Jones (signed from Aston Villa for £3,500); defender Bert Carberry (Gillingham); and Alan Martin – who returned to the club as a part-time professional.[1]

The season opened with a 1–0 win over Aldershot at the Recreation Ground.[1] This started a sequence of just four defeats in seventeen games, which included doing the double over Southampton (a 3–0 win at The Dell followed by a 4–0 win at Vale Park).[1] This was achieved with Low's attacking policy,[1] a stark contract to 'the Steele Curtain' defence. However their five clean sheets in their first eight games also illustrated their defensive strength.[1] In September, right-half Selwyn Whalley turned part-time, dividing his duties between playing football and teaching at Hanley High School.[1] Winger Alan Bennett was also transferred to Crewe Alexandra.[1] By November, Vale were third in the league, and Low signed Bert Carberry and Jack Wilkinson.[1] Following this top-scorer Stan Steele went off the boil, as the Vale lost their form in the Christmas period, losing 1–0 twice to Coventry City in two days.[1] Though before this a 6–1 victory was recorded over Aldershot.

In January, Ken Griffiths was sold to Mansfield Town for a four-figure fee, having mostly languished in the reserves.[1] By February, Vale were in seventh position, only four points off top spot (with three games in hand) despite their loss of form.[1] Four straight defeats dragged them down towards the bottom half of the table.[1] They bought former Wales international Noel Kinsey from Birmingham City for £5,000 in an attempt to bolster their form.[1] He helped the club achieve a 5–0 win over Watford on 8 March, scoring two goals.[1] Though as injuries developed the club's form again declined, and the team lost eight of their final twelve games.[1] Two points from their final six games doomed them to the fourth tier.[1]

They finished in fifteenth position with 42 points from 46 games.[1] Five points away from the top half of the table, their 'remarkable decline' continued with a second relegation in two years.[1] Their 58 goals conceded was a respectable total, as was their 67 goals scored.[1] Stan Steele, Jack Wilkinson, and Harry Poole all proved themselves consistent goalscorers, scoring 22, 19, and 16 goals respectively.

Finances

On the financial side, a decline in average attendance by around 3,500 left the club with an average gate of 10,457.[1] Gate receipts were down to £33,800, however a small staff helped to make a profit of £145 despite player wages rising to £24,158.[1] Five players were released in the summer, most notably Bert Carberry (Exeter City) and Bill Cleary (King's Lynn).[1] Low also sold Colin Askey to Walsall for 'a fairly substantial fee' and Basil Hayward to Portsmouth for 'a fair fee'.[1]

Cup competitions

In the FA Cup, Vale narrowly defeated Shrewsbury Town with two goals from Wilkinson. Third Division North Hull City knocked the Vale out in the Second Round however, winning the replay 4–3 at Boothferry Park.[1]

Final league table

PWDLFAGAPts
1Brighton & Hove Albion4624121088641.37560
2Brentford4624101282561.46458
3Plymouth Argyle462581367481.39658
4Swindon Town4621151079501.58057
5Reading4621131279511.54955
6Southampton46221014112721.55654
7Southend United4621121390581.55254
8Norwich City4619151275701.07153
9Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic462191681741.09551
10Queens Park Rangers4618141464650.98550
11Newport County4617141573671.09048
12Colchester United4617131677790.97547
13Northampton Town461962187791.10144
14Crystal Palace4615131870720.97243
15Port Vale4616102067581.15542
16Watford4613161759770.76642
17Shrewsbury Town4615102149710.69040
18Aldershot4612161859890.66340
19Coventry City4613132061810.75339
20Walsall461492361750.81337
21Torquay United4611132249740.66235
22Gillingham461392452810.64235
23Millwall461192663910.69231
24Exeter City461192657990.57631

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

Results

Port Vale's score comes first

Round12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031323334353637383940414243444546
GroundAAHHAAHHAHHAAHAHAAAHHHAHAAHAHAHHAHAHHAAHHAHHAA
ResultWLWDLWWWLWDDLWWWDLLDWWLLDDDWWLLLLWLWLLLWDLLDLL
Position1125510632422376435566545977977810111111121313131313131315141515

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

Football League Third Division South

DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers
24 August 1957AldershotA1–06,802Steele
26 August 1957Shrewsbury TownA0–19,869
31 August 1957Swindon TownH3–116,503Steele (2), Wilkinson
2 September 1957Shrewsbury TownH0–015,538
7 September 1957MillwallA1–217,429Poole
11 September 1957SouthamptonA3–018,887Steele, Poole, Askey
14 September 1957GillinghamH2–014,717Poole (2)
16 September 1957SouthamptonH4–011,021Steele (3), Wilkinson
21 September 1957Exeter CityA0–19,397
28 September 1957Queens Park RangersH2–112,816Steele, Hayward
30 September 1957Newport CountyH2–28,669Poole (2)
5 October 1957Southend UnitedA1–111,943Steele
12 October 1957ReadingA0–311,501
19 October 1957Northampton TownH3–012,443Steele (2), Wilkinson
26 October 1957WatfordA2–09,513Wilkinson, Askey
2 November 1957Crystal PalaceH4–013,602Wilkinson (2), Poole, Askey
9 November 1957Torquay UnitedA1–17,620Poole
11 November 1957Newport CountyA1–28,480Poole
23 November 1957Colchester UnitedA1–29,106Askey
30 November 1957Norwich CityH2–213,816Steele, Poole
14 December 1957WalsallH2–18,827Wilkinson, Poole
21 December 1957AldershotH6–18,273Wilkinson (2), Poole (2), Cunliffe (2)
25 December 1957Coventry CityA0–113,713
26 December 1957Coventry CityH0–117,286
28 December 1957Swindon TownA0–015,000
4 January 1958Brighton & Hove AlbionA0–013,312
11 January 1958MillwallH1–19,002Steele
18 January 1958GillinghamA2–07,407Wilkinson, Steele
1 February 1958Exeter CityH3–29,300Wilkinson (2), Cunliffe
8 February 1958Queens Park RangersA1–27,594Askey
15 February 1958Southend UnitedH1–37,642Wilkinson
22 February 1958ReadingH1–25,940Steele
1 March 1958Northampton TownA2–38,711Steele (2)
8 March 1958WatfordH5–08,515Kinsey (2), Wilkinson, Steele, Whalley
15 March 1958Crystal PalaceA0–113,577
22 March 1958Colchester UnitedH2–07,151Steele, Wilkinson
24 March 1958BrentfordH0–15,149
29 March 1958WalsallA0–38,613
4 April 1958Plymouth ArgyleA0–122,458
5 April 1958Torquay UnitedH2–17,504Sproson, Wilkinson
7 April 1958Plymouth ArgyleH0–011,059
12 April 1958Norwich CityA0–317,843
19 April 1958Bournemouth & Boscombe AthleticH2–38,481Steele, Cunliffe
23 April 1958Brighton & Hove AlbionH2–27,256Poole, Askey
26 April 1958BrentfordA1–411,923Steele
30 April 1958Bournemouth & Boscombe AthleticA1–310,683Wilkinson

FA Cup

RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorers
R116 November 1957Shrewsbury TownH2–117,660Wilkinson (2)
R27 December 1957Hull CityH2–214,338Poole, Askey
R2 Replay9 December 1957Hull CityA3–417,403Poole, Steele, Sproson

Player statistics

Transfers

Transfers in

Date from Position Nationality Name From Fee Ref.
June 1957FWEnglandJack WilkinsonSheffield UnitedFree transfer[3]
July 1957MFScotlandBert CarberryGillinghamFree transfer[3]
July 1957GKWalesKeith JonesAston Villa£3,500[3]
July 1957MFEnglandAlan MartinBangor CityNon-contract[3]
November 1957MFEnglandBill ClearyWisbech TownFree transfer[3]
February 1958FWWalesNoel KinseyBirmingham City£5,000[3]
March 1958FWScotlandJimmy McLeanAlva RangersFree transfer[3]

Transfers out

Date from Position Nationality Name To Fee Ref.
September 1957MFEnglandAlan BennettCrewe AlexandraFree transfer[3]
January 1958FWEnglandKen GriffithsMansfield Town'four-figure fee'[3]
January 1958GKEnglandLeslie WoodSouthportFree transfer[3]
March 1958MFEnglandBrian HopkinsBurton AlbionFree transfer[3]
May 1958DFEnglandBasil HaywardPortsmouth'fair'[3]
May 1958MFEnglandFred HoughReleased[3]
July 1958MFEnglandColin AskeyWalsall'fairly substantial'[3]
July 1958MFEnglandBill ClearyBoston UnitedFree transfer[3]
August 1957MFScotlandBert CarberryExeter CityFree transfer[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 Kent, Jeff (1990). "Fame and Fortune (1950–1959)". The Valiants' Years: The Story Of Port Vale. Witan Books. pp. 171–196. ISBN 0-9508981-4-7.
  2. ↑ Port Vale 1957–1958 : 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 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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