1891–92 Burslem Port Vale F.C. season

The 1891–92 season was Burslem Port Vale's second successive season in the Midland League.[1] They managed to finish third in the table and were rewarded with a place in the Football League for the following season, justifying the club's decision to refuse to listen to offers for star forward Frank McGinnes. They also reached the semi-finals of the Staffordshire Senior Cup and won the North Staffordshire Challenge Cup, though exited the FA Cup and Birmingham Senior Cup at the first round.

Burslem Port Vale
1891–92 season
StadiumAthletic Ground
Midland League3rd (25 points)
FA CupFirst Qualification Round
(knocked out by Burton Wanderers)
Birmingham Senior CupFirst Round
(knocked out by Aston Villa)
Staffordshire Senior CupSemi-finalists
(knocked out by Stoke)
North Staffordshire Challenge CupWinners
Top goalscorerLeague: Frank McGinnes (18)
All: Frank McGinnes (35)
Highest home attendance3,000 vs. Burton Wanderers, 5 September 1891
Lowest home attendance150 vs. Leicester Fosse, 28 April 1892
Average home league attendance1,394
Biggest win7–1 vs. Loughborough Town, 19 September 1891
Biggest defeat0–3 and 1–4

Overview

Midland League

In preparation for the new Midland League campaign, Burslem Port Vale signed winger Jimmy Scarratt from Wellington St. George's and prepared a new kit of red jerseys with grey kickers – the uniforms were made by Mrs Danks, the secretary's wife.[1] They failed to bring good fortune in the opening league game however, a 3–2 defeat at home to Burton Wanderers.[1] After the game the club also signed a new outside-right, G McHarg.[1] Though he had little impact on the first-team, they managed to record a 7–1 victory over Loughborough Town, with Frank McGinnes claiming a hat-trick.[1] They followed this with a 4–0 win over Doncaster Rovers, despite McGinnis missing the first ever penalty shot awarded at the Athletic Ground and McHarg being criticised for over-dribbling.[1] The team settled into their usual pattern of winning at home but losing away, losing on the road five times whilst winning all but one of their remaining home fixtures.[1] The first run to end was their away form, as they won 2–1 at Loughborough Town and then won their final two away matches.[1] The turn around in away form, coupled with continuing home victories, took the club from ninth (of eleven teams) in January to third by the end of the season.[1] Alarmingly though only 150 spectators turned out to witness the final day victory over Leicester Fosse on 28 April, causing the club to make a loss on the game after marketing costs were deducted.[1] Potteries derby rivals Stoke meanwhile were keen to take McGinnis to the Football League First Division, but Vale resisted all attempts to sign him, rejecting a bid of £30.[1]

Cup competitions

Vale failed to transfer their league form to the FA Cup, bowing out at the first qualification round after losing 4–2 to Burton Wanderers.[1] They entered the Birmingham Senior Cup, but faced tough opposition in Aston Villa in the first round and were beaten 5–2.[1] They fared better in the Staffordshire Senior Cup, avenging Burton Wanderers with a 4–0 victory despite a slow start to the game.[1] In the next round they overcame Walsall Town Swifts after a replay, but fell to a 4–1 defeat to Burton Swifts in the semi-finals.[1] They managed to end the season by taking home the North Staffordshire Challenge Cup outright, beating Stoke 2–0 despite McGinnis being sent off for "foul charging".[1]

Results

Burslem Port Vale's score comes first

Legend
Win Draw Loss

Midland League
DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers
5 September 1891Burton WanderersH2–33,000McGinnes, Dean
12 September 1891Wednesbury Old AthleticA1–11,500McGinnes
19 September 1891Loughborough TownH7–11,500McGinnes (3), Scarratt (2), Dean, other
26 September 1891Doncaster RoversH4–01,500McGinnes, Ditchfield, o.g., Scarratt
1 October 1891GranthamA0–2small
10 October 1891Burton WanderersA1–4splendidNash
31 October 1891Long Eaton RangersH5–1Dean(2), McGinnes, Booth, other
7 November 1891Wednesbury Old AthleticH1–21,500McGinnes
9 November 1891Gainsborough TrinityH1–0Scarratt
28 November 1891Long Eaton RangersA1–2scrimmage
12 December 1891Doncaster RoversA1–3800Walker
30 January 1892Rotherham TownH6–31,500Walker (2), McGinnes (2), rushes, scrimmage
13 February 1892GranthamH3–1500Pimlott, scrimmage, Walker
27 February 1892Rotherham TownA2–41,750W. Jones, McGinnes
12 March 1892Loughborough TownA2–1very largeMcGinnes, Beats
19 March 1892Derby JunctionH5–11,500McGinnes (3), Scarratt (2)
26 March 1892Gainsborough TrinityA0–31,200
2 April 1892Leicester FosseH2–0Elson (2)
9 April 1892Derby JunctionA1–0600Dean
19 April 1892Leicester FosseA3–14,000McGinnes (2), Dean
28 April 1892Leicester FosseH4–0150McGinnes (2), others

FA Cup
Main article: 1891–92 FA Cup
RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorers
1Q3 October 1891Burton WanderersH2–4Scarratt, Ditchfield

Birmingham Senior Cup
RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorers
1R6 February 1892Aston VillaH2–52,000McGinnes, Walker

Staffordshire Senior Cup
RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorers
4R25 January 1892Burton WanderersH4–01,500Walker (2), Pimlott, Dean
5R8 February 1892Walsall Town SwiftsH2–21,000Walker, Dean
Replay25 February 1892Walsall Town SwiftsA2–11,500Ditchfield, o.g.
SF4 April 1892Burton SwiftsH1–4fairo.g.

North Staffordshire Challenge Cup
RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorers
F7 May 1892StokeA2–01,000Walker, other

Friendlies
DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorers
1 September 1891Newton HeathA1–21,750McGinnes
7 September 1891ChirkH2–1McGinnes (2)
14 September 1891Derby CountyH3–3Dean, Scarratt, W. Jones
21 September 1891Sheffield WednesdayH4–3McGinnes (4)
28 September 1891StokeH2–3
12 October 1891Newton HeathH1–31,000
17 October 1891Northwich VictoriaH4–0McGinnes (2), o.g., Dean
19 October 1891Birmingham St George'sH4–21,000W. Jones, scrimmage, others
24 October 1891LeekA1–0Ditchfield
14 November 1891Lincoln CityA0–21,000
5 December 1891MacclesfieldA3–62,500Scarratt (2), scrimmage
14 December 1891CanadiansH2–0Scarratt, Pimlott
19 December 1891Burton SwiftsA3–1scrimmage, McGinnes, other
26 December 1891StokeA2–22,000McGinnes, Walker
2 January 1892Derby JunctionH4–11,000McGinnes (2), Scarratt, Walker
23 January 1892Walsall Town SwiftsA2–51,000McGinnes, Walker
5 March 1892Burton SwiftsH0–01,500
15 April 1892LeekH4–1poorMcGinnes, Walker, others
16 April 1892BootleH
18 April 1892StokeH1–02,000Dean
23 April 1892BootleA2–3Dean, Farrington
30 April 1892Northwich VictoriaA1–62,000McGinnes

Player statistics

Appearances
Pos. Name League FA Cup Birmingham Cup Staffordshire Cup Challenge Cup Friendlies Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
GKLevi Higginson 1100000001080200
GKNixon 10001010040070
GKJohn Davies 601000200040130
GK Joe Frail 10000010002040
GKKeeley 20000000001030
DF Albert Skinner 00000000001010
DF James Clutton 20010104010180450
DFC McAlpine 20010103010160420
DF Bob McCrindle 19010104010160420
MF Billy Elson 16200104000150362
MFW. Jones 6100000010102173
MF Meshach Dean 196101042101644213
MFS Bullock 10000000000010
MF Billy Delves 10000000001020
MF Fred Farrington 700010101051151
MFFredericks 10000010000020
MFHatton 10000000001020
MFHodgkinson 10000000000010
MFG McHarg 20100000050080
MFM Regan 00000000001010
MF Jos Randles 400000000060100
MF Jimmy Scarratt 126111020101453112
MF George Shutt 10100000001030
MFTommy Walker 9400112311842113
MFWarburton 20000010003060
FW Dick Danks 30000000002050
FW Jimmy Ditchfield 1211110310081254
FW Frank McGinnes 20181011401019164635
FW John Nash 31000010002061
FW Billy Reynolds 00000000001010
FW John Nash 31000010002000
FWJ Keeling 00000000001010
FW Billy Beats 710000100030111
FWGeorge Booth 51000000004091
FW Arthur Pimlott 41000011002173

Top scorers
Place Position Nation Name Midland League FA Cup Other Total
1FW ScotlandFrank McGinnes1801735
2MF EnglandMeshach Dean60713
–MFTommy Walker40913
4MF EnglandJimmy Scarratt61512
5FW EnglandJimmy Ditchfield1124
6FW EnglandArthur Pimlott1023
–MFW. Jones1023
8MF EnglandBilly Elson2002
9FW EnglandBilly Beats1001
–FWGeorge Booth1001
–MF EnglandFred Farrington0011
–FW EnglandJohn Nash1001
–––Scrimmage3036
–––Own goals1034
TOTALS 46 2 51 99

Transfers

Transfers in
Date from Position Nationality Name From Fee Ref.
1891MFFredericksFree transfer[2]
1891MFHodgkinsonFree transfer[2]
1891FWArthur PimlottFree transfer[2]
Summer 1891DFBilly DelvesFree transfer[2]
Summer 1891DFJimmy ScarrattWellington St. George'sFree transfer[2]
Summer 1891DFGeorge ShuttHanley TownFree transfer[2]
Summer 1891MFWarburtonFree transfer[2]
Autumn 1891FWBilly BeatsPort Hill VictoriaFree transfer[2]
Autumn 1891GKJoe FrailFree transfer[2]
September 1891MFG McHargBurslem Port ValeFree transfer[2]
December 1891MFTommy WalkerFree transfer[2]
1892MFS BullockFree transfer[2]
1892MFM ReganFree transfer[2]
March 1892MFHattonWellington TownFree transfer[2]

Transfers out
Date from Position Nationality Name To Fee Ref.
Spring 1892MFFredericksReleased[2]
Spring 1892MFHattonReleased[2]
Spring 1892MFWarburtonReleased[2]
1892FWGeorge BoothReleased[2]
1892GKJohn DaviesNewton HeathReleased[2]
1892MFHodgkinsonReleased[2]
1892GKKeeleyReleased[2]
1892FWKeelingReleased[2]
1892DFC McAlpineDarlingtonFree transfer[2]
1892MFG McHargReleased[2]
1892GKNixonReleased[2]
1892FWBilly ReynoldsReleased[2]

References
Specific
  1. 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. 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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