1890–91 Burslem Port Vale F.C. season

The 1890–91 season was Burslem Port Vale's first season in the newly formed Midland League.^[1] The club competed at their Athletic Ground in Cobridge. Under the amateur committee's direction, Vale finished eighth in the league with 16 points, demonstrating modest success in their first complete organised league venture. In cup competitions, they exited the FA Cup in the Second Qualifying Round at the hands of Walsall Town Swifts, and suffered a record 12–0 defeat to Aston Villa in the Second Round of the Staffordshire Senior Cup. However, they salvaged silverware by sharing the North Staffordshire Challenge Cup with Stoke after a final draw. The team's leading goalscorer was Frank McGinnes, who netted 15 league goals and 41 in total across all competitions. Attendances peaked at approximately 3,000 for the fixture against Preston North End on 6 October 1890, with an average crowd of around 1,429 throughout the season.

Burslem Port Vale became founder members of the Midland League along with 11 other clubs, including future Football League sides Gainsborough Trinity, Lincoln City, Rotherham Town and Sheffield United.^[1] The club's directors first had to deal with some legal issues, successfully defending themselves from a claim for lost wages by former player Jack Shields.^[1] To prepare for the new league the club signed three new players: 23-year-old Welsh winger Charlie Davies, 22-year-old inside-forward James Bryden from Hamilton Academicals and 21-year-old Scottish forward David Mackie; however, they lost both George Bateman and Lewis Ballham to Stoke.^[1]

They opened the league campaign with three games at the Athletic Ground, beating Staveley and Long Eaton Rangers 2–1 and 7–2 respectively (Frank McGinnes scoring a hat-trick against Long Eaton Rangers), then coming to a disappointing 2–2 draw with Kidderminster.^[1] The Kidderminster draw was described as "one of the poorest displays of football ever witnessed on their enclosure" and criticism was made of the players' fitness levels, whilst McGinnes was said to be shooting as soon as he entered the opposition half. Two away defeats followed, with full-backs being described as the weak link, as Long Eaton Rangers avenged their earlier heavy defeat with a 5–2 victory at the Recreation Ground. Vale managed a highly respectable 1–1 draw with Sheffield United at Bramall Lane despite goalkeeper John Davies missing the train; however, the team would fail to avoid defeat on the road again until 28 February.^[1]

Having beaten Derby Junction by three goals to one, the match was ordered to be replayed as the official referee failed to appear and Derby complained to The Football Association. Vale won the replayed fixture by three goals to none. Late December proved a disaster as they fell to 5–0 and 11–0 defeats at Lincoln City and Gainsborough Trinity; it was suggested the scoreline of the Boxing Day defeat to Gainsborough was such due to excessive drinking on Christmas Day.^[1] New members were assigned to the club's committee. They resolved to sign better players, telling the current squad to "train or take the consequences".^[1] They lost the return fixture at Derby Junction on 17 January, but appealed the result as Junction's home secretary officiated as the official referee failed to appear; the appeal was denied.^[1]

Vale recorded home and away victories over Warwick County – winning 8–0 at home. McGinnes scored his second hat-trick of the season – but gained no points as County withdrew from the league. Their games were struck from the record.^[1] Home defeats to Gainsborough and Burton Wanderers followed, with the 3–1 defeat by Gainsborough being Vale's first defeat at home in the league, whilst the Burton Wanderers loss saw the referee having to be protected by the Vale players as angry youths accosted him. Still, Vale ended the league campaign in good form, beating Sheffield United and Staveley whilst taking a point from their visit to Lincoln.^[1] They finished the table in eighth place from the ten that completed the league programme, though they finished just five points off second-place Long Eaton Rangers. McGinnes finished as the club's top scorer with 15 league goals.^[1] The club's directors embarked on a locally based strategy, signing promising local players to five-year contracts.^[1] Charlie Davies was transferred to Newton and Joe Barr was allowed to sign with Accrington.^[1]

Starting the FA Cup at the first qualification round, they progressed past Warwick County with a 3–1 away win but lost out 3–2 to Football Alliance side Walsall Town Swifts at the next stage.^[1] They faced disaster in the Staffordshire Senior Cup, being "completely outclassed" in a 12–0 defeat to Aston Villa at Wellington Road; the result remains the club's biggest ever margin of defeat.^[1] They fared much better in the North Staffordshire Challenge Cup, thrashing Burton Wanderers 7–0 in the semi-final to book their place in the final against Stoke; they drew the final 1–1, and the two teams shared the trophy after failing to arrange a replay.^[1]

Burslem Port Vale v Staveley

6 September 1890 1	Burslem Port Vale	2–1	Staveley	Cobridge
	McGinnes McCrindle			Stadium: Athletic Ground Attendance: thousands

Burslem Port Vale v Long Eaton Rangers

13 September 1890 2	Burslem Port Vale	7–2	Long Eaton Rangers	Cobridge
	McGinnes Ditchfield Mackie C.Davies			Stadium: Athletic Ground Attendance: 1,500

Burslem Port Vale v Kidderminster

20 September 1890 3	Burslem Port Vale	2–2	Kidderminster	Cobridge
	Mackie McGinnes			Stadium: Athletic Ground

Derby Midland v Burslem Port Vale

27 September 1890 4	Derby Midland	2–1	Burslem Port Vale	Derby
			Ditchfield	Stadium: Midland Station Attendance: 1,500

Long Eaton Rangers v Burslem Port Vale

11 October 1890 5	Long Eaton Rangers	5–2	Burslem Port Vale	Long Eaton
			McGinnes other	Stadium: Recreation Ground Attendance: small

Burslem Port Vale v Derby Midland

18 October 1890 6	Burslem Port Vale	4–0	Derby Midland	Cobridge
	Ditchfield McGinnes Bryden			Stadium: Athletic Ground Attendance: poor

Sheffield United v Burslem Port Vale

27 October 1890 7	Sheffield United	1–1	Burslem Port Vale	Sheffield
	Robertson		C.Davies	Stadium: Bramall Lane Attendance: 2,000

Burslem Port Vale v Derby Junction

1 November 1890 8	Burslem Port Vale	3–1	Derby Junction	Cobridge
	C.Davies Bryden Ditchfield			Stadium: Athletic Ground Attendance: 1,500

Burslem Port Vale v Derby Junction

6 December 1890 11	Burslem Port Vale	3–0	Derby Junction	Cobridge
	Ditchfield Curwen McGinnes			Stadium: Athletic Ground Attendance: 2,000

Burslem Port Vale v Rotherham Town

13 December 1890 12	Burslem Port Vale	3–0	Rotherham Town	Cobridge
	McCrindle Ditchfield W.Jones			Stadium: Athletic Ground

Burslem Port Vale v Rotherham Town

27 December 1890 15	Burslem Port Vale	1–2	Rotherham Town	Cobridge
	o.g.			Stadium: Athletic Ground Attendance: very good

Burslem Port Vale v Lincoln City

10 January 1891 16	Burslem Port Vale	3–1	Lincoln City	Cobridge
	McGinnes C.Davies			Stadium: Athletic Ground Attendance: 1,500

Derby Junction v Burslem Port Vale

17 January 1891 17	Derby Junction	3–2	Burslem Port Vale	Derby
			scrimmage other	Stadium: Derby Arboretum Attendance: 1,000

Warwick County v Burslem Port Vale

28 February 1891 18	Warwick County	1–3	Burslem Port Vale	Birmingham
			Ditchfield Draycott	Stadium: Edgbaston Attendance: average

Burslem Port Vale v Warwick County

14 March 1891 19	Burslem Port Vale	8–0	Warwick County	Cobridge
	McGinnes Keeling o.g. Ditchfield Dean			Stadium: Athletic Ground Attendance: 2,000

Burslem Port Vale v Gainsborough Trinity

28 March 1891 20	Burslem Port Vale	1–3	Gainsborough Trinity	Cobridge
	McCrindle			Stadium: Athletic Ground Attendance: good

Burslem Port Vale v Burton Wanderers

11 April 1891 21	Burslem Port Vale	1–2	Burton Wanderers	Cobridge
	Keeling			Stadium: Athletic Ground Attendance: 1,500

Burslem Port Vale v Sheffield United

13 April 1891 22	Burslem Port Vale	3–1	Sheffield United	Cobridge
	C.Davies Elson other		Watson	Stadium: Athletic Ground Attendance: 2,000

Burslem Port Vale v Lincoln City

20 April 1891 23	Burslem Port Vale	1–1	Lincoln City	Cobridge
	W.Jones			Stadium: Athletic Ground

Staveley v Burslem Port Vale

25 April 1891 24	Staveley	0–3	Burslem Port Vale	Staveley, Derbyshire
			McGinnes Elson	Stadium: Recreation Ground

Warwick County v Burslem Port Vale

4 October 1890 1Q	Warwick County	1–3	Burslem Port Vale	Birmingham
			McCrindle Elson scrimmage	Stadium: Edgbaston

Burslem Port Vale v Walsall Town Swifts

25 October 1890 2Q	Burslem Port Vale	2–3	Walsall Town Swifts	Cobridge
	McGinnes Coyle			Stadium: Athletic Ground Attendance: 1,500

Burton Wanderers v Burslem Port Vale

2 May 1890 Semi-final	Burton Wanderers	0–7	Burslem Port Vale	Burton upon Trent
			McGinnes Ditchfield Draycott Dean	Stadium: Derby Turn Attendance: capital

Newton Heath v Burslem Port Vale

1 September 1890	Newton Heath	5–1	Burslem Port Vale	Newton Heath
			McGinnes	Stadium: North Road Attendance: 3,500

Burslem Port Vale v Newton Heath

8 September 1890	Burslem Port Vale	4–4	Newton Heath	Cobridge
	McGinnes other			Stadium: Athletic Ground Attendance: 1,500

Burslem Port Vale v Blackburn Rovers

15 September 1890	Burslem Port Vale	1–3	Blackburn Rovers	Cobridge
	McGinnes			Stadium: Athletic Ground Attendance: 2,000

Burslem Port Vale v Bolton Wanderers

22 September 1890	Burslem Port Vale	1–6	Bolton Wanderers	Cobridge
	McGinnes			Stadium: Athletic Ground

Burslem Port Vale v West Bromwich Albion

29 September 1890	Burslem Port Vale	1–2	West Bromwich Albion	Cobridge
	McGinnes			Stadium: Athletic Ground Attendance: large

Burslem Port Vale v Preston North End

6 October 1890	Burslem Port Vale	2–6	Preston North End	Cobridge
	McGinnes			Stadium: Athletic Ground Attendance: 3,000

Small Heath v Burslem Port Vale

15 November 1890	Small Heath	5–1	Burslem Port Vale	Small Heath
	Hallam rush Wheldon W. Devey			Stadium: Muntz Street Attendance: 3,000

Middlesbrough Ironopolis v Burslem Port Vale

22 November 1890	Middlesbrough Ironopolis	6–1	Burslem Port Vale	Middlesbrough
			Nash	Stadium: Paradise Ground Attendance: 2,000

Burslem Port Vale v London Casuals

24 November 1890	Burslem Port Vale	4–0	London Casuals	Cobridge
	Matthews Curwen rush Ditchfield			Stadium: Athletic Ground

Burslem Port Vale v Leek

3 January 1891	Burslem Port Vale	7–0	Leek	Cobridge
	McGinnes J.Davies McAlpine McCrindle			Stadium: Athletic Ground

Ardwick v Burslem Port Vale

24 January 1891	Ardwick	3–2	Burslem Port Vale	Gorton
			McGinnes	Stadium: Hyde Road Attendance: 1,000

Crewe Alexandra v Burslem Port Vale

31 January 1891	Crewe Alexandra	2–3	Burslem Port Vale	Crewe
			McGinnes Dean W.Jones	Stadium: Alexandra Recreation Ground Attendance: 1,500

Leek v Burslem Port Vale

7 February 1891	Leek	1–2	Burslem Port Vale	Leek, Staffordshire
			scrimmage Ditchfield	Stadium: Westwood Lane Attendance: 400

Burslem Port Vale v Chirk

14 February 1891	Burslem Port Vale	5–0	Chirk	Cobridge
	Ditchfield o.g. Keeling W.Jones			Stadium: Athletic Ground

Burslem Port Vale v Crewe Alexandra

7 March 1891	Burslem Port Vale	5–1	Crewe Alexandra	Cobridge
	Ditchfield other			Stadium: Athletic Ground Attendance: 1,500

Burslem Port Vale v Newton Heath

9 March 1891	Burslem Port Vale	2–1	Newton Heath	Cobridge
	Dean McGinnes			Stadium: Athletic Ground Attendance: 1,500

Bootle v Burslem Port Vale

17 March 1891	Bootle	2–1	Burslem Port Vale	Bootle
			Dean	Stadium: Hawthorne Road

Stoke v Burslem Port Vale

30 March 1891	Stoke	1–1	Burslem Port Vale	Stoke-upon-Trent
			McGinnes	Stadium: Victoria Ground Attendance: 3,000

Burslem Port Vale v Northwich Victoria

4 April 1891	Burslem Port Vale	5–0	Northwich Victoria	Cobridge
	McGinnes McCrindle			Stadium: Athletic Ground

Burslem Port Vale v Bootle

6 April 1891	Burslem Port Vale	1–2	Bootle	Cobridge
	McGinnes			Stadium: Athletic Ground

Macclesfield v Burslem Port Vale

18 April 1891	Macclesfield	0–1	Burslem Port Vale	Macclesfield
			rush	Stadium: Victoria Road Attendance: 3,000

Key to positions: GK – Goalkeeper; FB – Full back; HB – Half back; FW – Forward

Pos.	Name	League		FA Cup		Staffordshire Cup		Challenge Cup		Friendlies		Total
		Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
GK	Baker	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	1	0
GK	John Davies	13	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	11	0	25	0
GK	Levi Higginson	6	0	0	0	1	0	2	0	13	0	22	0
GK	Nixon	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	1	0
FB	G Martin	5	0	2	0	0	0	0	0	4	0	11	0
FB	Matthews	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	1	1	1
FB	Fred Jones	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	4	0	7	0
FB	Albert Skinner	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0
FB	Joe Barr	22	0	2	0	1	0	2	0	21	0	48	0
FB	James Clutton	2	0	0	0	1	0	2	0	6	0	11	0
FB	B Coyle	12	0	2	1	0	0	0	0	12	0	26	1
FB	C. McAlpine	7	0	0	0	0	0	2	0	14	1	23	1
HB	Bob McCrindle	22	3	2	1	1	0	2	0	21	2	48	8
HB	Billy Elson	20	2	2	1	1	0	2	0	21	0	46	3
HB	Billy Poulson	15	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	8	0	24	0
HB	Sharp	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	1	0
HB	Harry Slater	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	0	3	0
FW	W. Jones	14	2	1	0	1	0	0	0	11	2	27	4
FW	James Bryden	9	2	2	0	0	0	0	0	6	0	17	2
FW	Charlie Davies	20	5	1	0	0	0	2	0	18	0	41	5
FW	Meshach Dean	8	1	0	0	1	0	2	1	14	3	25	5
FW	Billy Draycott	2	1	1	0	1	0	2	1	3	0	9	2
FW	Dick Danks	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0
FW	Jimmy Ditchfield	18	11	2	0	1	0	2	2	21	9	44	21
FW	Frank McGinnes	19	15	2	1	1	0	2	3	23	22	47	41
FW	Billy Reynolds	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	0
FW	Fred Stokes	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	0
FW	John Nash	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	1	5	1
FW	H Curwen	6	1	2	0	0	0	0	0	5	1	13	2
FW	J Davies	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	2	1	2
FW	J Keeling	4	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	8	1	12	4
FW	David Mackie	7	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	4	0	11	2
FW	Wally Owen	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	1	0

Place	Position	Nation	Name	Midland League	FA Cup	Other	Total
1	FW	Scotland	Frank McGinnes	15	0	26	41
2	FW	England	Jimmy Ditchfield	11	0	10	21
3	HB	Scotland	Bob McCrindle	3	2	3	8
4	FW	Wales	Charlie Davies	5	0	0	5
–	FW	England	Meshach Dean	1	0	4	5
6	FW		J Keeling	3	0	1	4
–	HB		W. Jones	2	0	2	4
8	HB	England	Billy Elson	2	1	0	3
9	FW	Scotland	David Mackie	2	0	0	2
–	FW		James Bryden	2	0	0	2
–	FW		H Curwen	1	0	1	2
–	FW	England	Billy Draycott	1	0	1	2
–	FW		J Davies	0	0	2	2
14	FW	England	John Nash	0	0	1	1
–	FB	England	B Coyle	0	1	0	1
–	FB	England	C. McAlpine	0	0	1	1
–	FB	England	Matthews	0	0	1	1
–	–	–	Unknown	3	0	2	5
–	–	–	Own goals	2	0	1	3
–	–	–	Scrimmage	1	1	1	3
			TOTALS	54	5	57	116

Date from	Position	Nationality	Name	From	Fee	Ref.
1890	FW		H Curwen		Free transfer	[2]
1890	FW		Meshach Dean		Free transfer	[2]
1890	GK		Levi Higginson		Free transfer	[2]
1890	FW		J Keeling		Free transfer	[2]
Summer 1890	FW		James Bryden	Hamilton Academical	Free transfer	[2]
Summer 1890	FW		Billy Draycott		Free transfer	[2]
Summer 1890	FB		Fred Jones	West Manchester	Free transfer	[2]
Summer 1890	FW		W. Jones		Free transfer	[2]
Summer 1890	FW		David Mackie		Free transfer	[2]
Autumn 1890	FW		John Nash		Free transfer	[2]
December 1890	FB		C. McAlpine		Free transfer	[2]
1891	GK		Nixon		Free transfer	[2]

Date from	Position	Nationality	Name	To	Fee	Ref.
September 1890	FB		Fred Jones	Newton Heath	Free transfer	[2]
November 1890	FW		James Bryden		Released	[2]
March 1891	FB		B Coyle		Released	[2]
June 1891	FW		Billy Draycott	Stoke	Free transfer	[2]
Summer 1891	HB		Billy Poulson		Released	[2]
1891	FB		Joe Barr	Accrington	Free transfer	[2]
1891	FW		H Curwen		Released	[2]
1891	FW		David Mackie		Released	[2]
1891	FW		Fred Stokes		Released	[2]
1891	FB		G Martin		Released	[2]
1891	FB		Matthews		Released	[2]

Specific

General

• Kent, Jeff (1993). The Port Vale Record 1879-1993. Witan Books. ISBN 0-9508981-9-8.