1926–27 Port Vale F.C. season

The 1926–27 season was Port Vale's eighth consecutive season of football (21st overall) in the English Football League.[1] Vale finished in eighth position for the third season running, obtaining 45 points, this time coming nine points off promotion to the top tier in English football. For the first time in the club's history, they played in a league above rivals Stoke City. Wilf Kirkham broke a club record by scoring 38 league goals, and 41 goals in all competitions.[1] He scored six braces, four hat-tricks, and also scored four goals in one game.

Billy Briscoe was rushed to hospital after one game having collapsed due to concussion.[1]
Chairman Frank Huntbach.
Right-back Jack Maddock posted a 42-game season.

Port Vale
1926–27 season
ChairmanFrank Huntbach
ManagerJoe Schofield
StadiumThe Old Recreation Ground
Football League Second Division8th (45 Points)
FA CupFourth Round
(knocked out by Arsenal)
North Staffordshire Infirmary CupRunners-up
(knocked out by Stoke)
Top goalscorerLeague: Wilf Kirkham (38)
All: Wilf Kirkham (41)
Highest home attendance21,056 vs. Middlesbrough, 15 April 1927
Lowest home attendance5,327 vs. Grimsby Town, 20 November 1926
Average home league attendance10,736
Biggest win7–1 vs. Fulham, 2 April 1927
Biggest defeat0–5 vs. Stoke, 5 May 1927

Overview

Second Division

The pre-season additions included Stoke left-half Vic Rouse and Stockport County half-back George Whitcombe.[1]

The season started with just one defeat in the opening ten games, the defeat coming against relegation candidates Darlington. Going into October the club suffered from injuries, meaning that four of the five games that month ended in defeat, with just two goals scored.[1] Goalkeeper Tom Fern was one of the injured, and so 44-year-old Howard Matthews was re-signed, having left the club nineteen years earlier.[1] To boost the strike-force Stewart Littlewood and Jack Simms were signed from Luton Town and Leek Alexandra respectively.[1] The week after a 6–2 defeat at Fulham, the "Valiants" returned to thrash Grimsby Town 6–1, Kirkham bagging a hat-trick.

In January, Alfred Strange felt unsettled and so was transferred to The Wednesday in exchange for Harry Anstiss and an unknown sum of money.[1] Strange would later win twenty caps for England in his 30s, whereas Anstiss settled in well at the Vale, scoring eleven goals in fifteen league games during his debut season.[1] Meanwhile, injuries occasionally savaged the Vale team, with even Jack Lowe being forced to end his run of 123 consecutive games after spraining his ankle.[1] As the season drew to a close secretary Joe Schofield was made manager, meaning he was better able to work with the younger players.[1]

Finances

On the financial side, the club wished to move back to the Athletic Ground due to the lack of space to develop The Old Recreation Ground.[1] However, the council would only offer £20,000 for the land at the Old Rec, and refused to waive the first option on a repurchase, thereby killing the club's ambitions.[1]

Cup competitions

In the FA Cup, Vale made it through to the Fourth Round after taking Clapton Orient to a replay. This came just two weeks after playing the club twice during the Christmas period.[1] They then faced First Division Arsenal, and following a draw at The Old Recreation Ground, the "Gunners" won 1–0 at Highbury, before going on to lose in the final.[1] Vale's hard work in the tournament earned them over £4,000 in gate receipts.[1] On 5 May 1927, Vale played Potteries derby rivals Stoke City in the North Staffordshire Royal Infirmary Cup, and lost an embarrassing 5–0 to the Third Division North champions.[1] However £365 was raised for the local hospital.[2]

League table
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GR Pts
6 Preston North End 42 20 9 13 74 72 1.028 49
7 Hull City 42 20 7 15 63 52 1.212 47
8 Port Vale 42 16 13 13 88 78 1.128 45
9 Blackpool 42 18 8 16 95 80 1.188 44
10 Oldham Athletic 42 19 6 17 74 84 0.881 44
Source:

Results

Port Vale's score comes first

Football League Second Division
Main article: 1926–27 Football League

Results by matchday
Round123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627282930313233343536373839404142
GroundAAHAAHHAHHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHHAAHAHHAHHAAHA
ResultWLDDDWWDWDLLLLWLLDDDLWWLDDDWWLLLWWWDWLWLDW
Position81010101297734571111111211111111111110101111121210111112111089898988
Source: Statto[3]
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

Matches
DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers
28 August 1926Bradford CityA2–114,077Kirkham, Strange
30 August 1926DarlingtonA3–46,081Maddock, Lowe, Kirkham
4 September 1926ChelseaH0–014,720
11 September 1926Preston North EndA4–418,960Maddock (pen), Lowe, Page, Kirkham
13 September 1926SouthamptonA2–28,681Page, Briscoe
18 September 1926South ShieldsH4–212,474Lowe (2), Kirkham (2)
20 September 1926DarlingtonH3–28,827Lowe, Page, Strange
25 September 1926Hull CityA0–07,793
27 September 1926SouthamptonH3–19,594Page (2), Briscoe
2 October 1926Wolverhampton WanderersH1–114,083Briscoe
9 October 1926Notts CountyA1–211,838Maddison
16 October 1926BarnsleyA0–25,520
23 October 1926Manchester CityH0–214,467
30 October 1926PortsmouthA0–412,372
6 November 1926Oldham AthleticH3–07,339Kirkham (2), Simms
13 November 1926FulhamA2–63,102Lowe, Kirkham
20 November 1926Grimsby TownH6–15,327Kirkham (3), Maddock, Lowe, Simms
27 November 1926BlackpoolA2–27,656Strange (2)
4 December 1926ReadingH1–19,340Kirkham
11 December 1926Swansea CityA2–216,344Kirkham, Simms
18 December 1926Nottingham ForestH0–28,046
25 December 1926Clapton OrientA2–114,378Littlewood (2)
27 December 1926Clapton OrientH3–016,457Kirkham (2), Briscoe
1 January 1927MiddlesbroughA2–526,163Kirkham (2 [1 pen])
15 January 1927Bradford CityH0–09,732
5 February 1927South ShieldsA3–34,603Kirkham (3)
12 February 1927Hull CityH0–010,654
26 February 1927Notts CountyH6–29,368Kirkham (3), Connelly, Page, Anstiss
5 March 1927BarnsleyH3–28,452Briscoe, Page, Kirkham
12 March 1927Manchester CityA1–434,281Page
16 March 1927BarrowA0–218,169
19 March 1927PortsmouthH2–310,972Briscoe, Simms
26 March 1927Oldham AthleticA3–14,419Anstiss (2), Kirkham
28 March 1927Preston North EndH2–08,388Anstiss, Briscoe
2 April 1927FulhamH7–17,642Kirkham (4), Anstiss (3)
9 April 1927Grimsby TownA4–48,717Page, Kirkham, Lowe, Anstiss
15 April 1927MiddlesbroughH3–121,056Kirkham (3)
16 April 1927BlackpoolH2–410,749Anstiss, Kirkham
19 April 1927Wolverhampton WanderersA2–111,628Kirkham, Anstiss
23 April 1927ReadingA0–29,084
30 April 1927Swansea CityH1–17,483Kirkham
7 May 1927Nottingham ForestA3–05,455Anstiss, Kirkham (2)

FA Cup
Main article: 1926–27 FA Cup
RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorers
R38 January 1927Clapton OrientA1–117,965Simms
R3 Replay12 January 1927Clapton OrientH5–111,450Kirkham (2), Page, Strange, Simms
R429 January 1927ArsenalH2–218,000o.g., Kirkham
R4 Replay2 February 1927ArsenalA0–135,700

North Staffordshire Infirmary Cup
RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorers
Final5 May 1927StokeA0–55,950

Player statistics

Appearances
Pos. Name Football League FA Cup Other Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
GK Tom Fern 1100000110
GK George Holdcroft 60000060
GK Howard Matthews 2104010260
GK Alex Binnie 40000040
DF Jimmy Oakes 4004010450
DF Jack Maddock 3932010423
DF Billy Wootton 50200070
MF Bob Connelly 3913010431
MF Roger Jones 70000070
MF Jack Lowe 4084010458
MF Arden Maddison 1510000151
MF Alfred Strange 2444100285
MF Herbert Smith 1303000160
MF Fred Smith 20000020
MF George Whitcombe 2103000240
MF Vic Rouse 2903010330
MF Jack Simms 2144200256
MF Phil Griffiths 10000010
FW Tom Page 34931103810
FW Wilf Kirkham 413843104641
FW Billy Briscoe 3071010327
FW Arthur Ecclestone 10000010
FW Stewart Littlewood 22000022
FW Percy Oldacre 10000010
FW Harry Anstiss 151100101611
FW Charles Heinemann 00000000

Top scorers
Place Position Nation Name Second Division FA Cup Infirmary Cup Total
1FW EnglandWilf Kirkham383041
2FW EnglandHarry Anstiss110011
3FW EnglandTom Page91010
4MF EnglandJack Lowe8008
5FW EnglandBilly Briscoe7007
6MF EnglandJack Simms4206
7MF EnglandAlfred Strange4105
8DF EnglandJack Maddock3003
9FW EnglandStewart Littlewood2002
10DF ScotlandBob Connelly1001
–MF EnglandArden Maddison1001
–––Own goals0100
TOTALS 88 8 0 96

Transfers

Transfers in
Date from Position Nationality Name From Fee Ref.
May 1926MFJack MandleyBlythe BridgeBoothen Vics[4]
June 1926GKGeorge HoldcroftWhitfield CollieryFree transfer[4]
June 1926MFJack SimmsLeek AlexandraFree transfer[4]
August 1926MFPhil GriffithsWattstownFree transfer[4]
August 1926FWPercy OldacreSheffield UnitedFree transfer[4]
August 1926MFVic RouseSwansea TownFree transfer[4]
August 1926MFGeorge WhitcombeStockport CountyFree transfer[4]
September 1926GKHoward Matthews Partick ThistleTrial[4]
November 1926FWStewart LittlewoodLuton TownFree transfer[4]
October 1926GKHoward MatthewsOldham AthleticFree transfer[4]
February 1927FWHarry AnstissSheffield WednesdayExchange + 'substantial' fee[4]

Transfers out
Date from Position Nationality Name To Fee Ref.
October 1926GKHoward Matthews Hamilton AcademicalsTrial ended[4]
January 1927FWTom ReidClapton Orient£230[4]
February 1927MFAlfred StrangeSheffield Wednesday'Substantial'[4]
May 1927DFArden MaddisonOldham AthleticReleased[4]
Summer 1927GKSidney BrownGillinghamReleased[4]
Summer 1927GKTom FernColwyn Bay UnitedFree transfer[4]
Summer 1927FWPercy OldacreHurstReleased[4]
Summer 1927MFFred SmithReleased[4]

References
Specific
  1. 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. Kent, Jeff (November 1998). The Potteries Derbies. Witan Books. p. 126. ISBN 0-9529152-3-5.
  3. Port Vale 1926–1927 : Results & Fixtures Archived 4 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine. Statto Organisation. Retrieved 28 April 2012.
  4. 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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