1894–95 Burslem Port Vale F.C. season

Burslem Port Vale
1894–95 season
Stadium	Athletic Ground
Football League Second Division	15th (18 Points)
FA Cup	First Qualifying Round; (knocked out by Stourbridge)
Birmingham Senior Cup	Second Round; (knocked out by Loughborough)
Staffordshire Senior Cup	Second Round; (knocked out by Burton Wanderers)
Top goalscorer	League: Meshach Dean (7); All: Meshach Dean (8)
Highest home attendance	2,500 vs Leicester Fosse, 23 March 1895
Lowest home attendance	300 vs Woolwich Arsenal, 19 January 1895; Rotherham Town, 16 February 1895
Average home league attendance	1,367+
Biggest win	7–1 vs. Lincoln City, 23 March 1895
Biggest defeat	0–10 vs. Notts County, 26 February 1895
	Home colours
	Home colours

The 1894–95 season was Burslem Port Vale's third consecutive season of football in the English Football League.^[1] They finished 15th with 18 points from 30 matches (7 wins, 4 draws, 19 losses). In cup competitions, Vale were eliminated in the early rounds of the FA Cup, Birmingham Senior Cup, and Staffordshire Senior Cup, failing to make significant progress.

The season was marred by poor performances, including heavy defeats such as a 10–0 loss to Notts County — caused in part by player absences — and a 7–0 defeat at Woolwich Arsenal. Financial difficulties and low attendances compounded on-field struggles, with the club forced to rely on reserve players and youth promotions. Despite a poor start and extended losing runs, the team managed late-season victories, notably a 7–1 demolition of Lincoln City and a 5–0 win over Grimsby Town, showing glimpses of resilience. Financial struggles and low attendances added to the club’s challenges, forcing them to promote youth players and sign from lower leagues.

Overview

Second Division

With financial losses reported, Port Vale restricted themselves to promoting reserve team players alongside new defenders Dick Ray (Macclesfield), Walter Wilson (Mansfield Town) and Frank Haslam (Mansfield Town). Top scorer Billy Beats was retained, though. A 1–0 opening day victory over Walsall Town Swifts betrayed what would be a difficult season for the "Valeites". A Scotsman named Mr Wilson was signed after this game, but he decided to instead meet two friends in Stockport and went on holiday to the Isle of Man. Wilson never made it to Staffordshire. Five defeats followed the opening day victory as the forward line rarely troubled the opposition goalkeepers. Scottish forward James Smith was signed from Kilmarnock and he made a scoring debut in a 4–4 home draw with Newcastle United on 6 October. Beats scored the only goal against Burton Wanderers two weeks later, only for seven consecutive losses to follow. In the 4–0 defeat at eventual champions Bury on 10 November, Jimmy Scarratt exited on a stretcher and spent the next four months hospitalised with a knee injury. Walter Wilson and John Edwards were offloaded to Nelson and Stockport County respectively. By December, the club were bottom of the league with dwindling attendances, rising player wages, and a £60 deficit to overcome. Only 1,000 spectators turned up to the Athletic Ground to witness a 5–2 defeat to Newton Heath on Christmas Eve, whilst Vale fell to a 7–0 defeat at Woolwich Arsenal on Christmas Day.^[1]

After a 3–0 defeat at Newton Heath on New Year's Day, The Staffordshire Sentinel reported that "five worse shooters could not be found in any team in England". The losing run ended four days later with a 2–2 draw at Crewe Alexandra, the only team in the division with a worse record. Only 300 fans turned out to see Woolwich Arsenal win 1–0 in Cobridge on 19 January. The club continued to try desperately to sign new forwards, to no avail. They lost 10–0 at Notts County on 26 February, after three players (Dick Ray, George Eccles and Meshach Dean) failed to turn up, leaving reserve players to make up the numbers.^[1] This defeat was followed by a reorganisation effort, after which results improved. On 4 March, the first league win in five months was attained with a 2–0 home victory over Burton Swifts. A 4–0 defeat at Burton Wanderers followed. On 16 March, though, came a 7–1 demolition of Lincoln City. The team were then beaten 2–1 at high-flying Leicester Fosse. Vale recorded a 5–0 victory over Grimsby Town, the division's highest scorers, which ended Grimsby's promotion chances. They travelled to St James' Park and won their first away match of the season, with the Newcastle United home fans reportedly cheering the visitors "for their plucky display". The season ended with a 4–0 home win over Crewe Alexandra. Vale had amassed 18 points from 30 games, conceding 77 goals, including 54 in their 15 away fixtures, but were re-elected to the league with the joint-highest number of votes.^[1]

Goalkeeper Tom Baddeley was the only ever-present throughout the season, with left-back Dick Ray missing just one game due to missing the train. Billy Beats, George Samuel Eccles, Meshach Dean, and Alf Wood, favourites of previous campaigns, rarely missed a match. At the end of the season, Wood left for Southampton, and Ray for Manchester City. Billy Beats was sold to Wolverhampton Wanderers for an £80 fee and a £50 benefit match. With their places filled with reserves, the next season looked bleak.^[1]

Finances

Financially, the club struggled, with attendance down due to continuing defeats, and the pay raises the players had for the good work the previous season damaged the budget.^[1] An end-of-season meeting saw the club's directors considering disbanding the club or floating the club as a Limited liability company.

Cup competitions

For the fourth consecutive season, they exited the FA Cup in the first round of qualification, for the second consecutive season, they scored three goals in their defeat; this time Stourbridge scored five. Vale had appeared overconfident and began the match at a walking pace.^[1] They exited the Staffordshire Senior Cup and the second round and the Birmingham Senior Cup at the first round, losing 1–0 to eventual Midland League champions Loughborough in the latter competition amid another poor display from the forward line.^[1]

League table

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GAv	Pts	Qualification or relegation
12	Rotherham Town	30	11	2	17	55	62	0.887	24
13	Lincoln City	30	10	0	20	52	92	0.565	20	Re-elected
14	Walsall Town Swifts (R)	30	10	0	20	47	92	0.511	20	Resigned from league
15	Burslem Port Vale	30	7	4	19	39	77	0.506	18	Re-elected
16	Crewe Alexandra	30	3	4	23	26	103	0.252	10	Re-elected

Source:
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal average; 3) Goals scored
(R) Relegated

Results

Football League Second Division

Results by matchday

Round	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	27	28	29	30
Ground	H	A	H	H	A	A	H	H	A	A	H	A	H	A	A	A	H	A	H	H	H	A	A	H	A	H	A	A	H	A
Result	W	L	L	L	L	L	D	W	L	L	L	L	L	L	L	D	L	L	L	D	D	L	L	W	L	W	L	W	W	W
Position	1	11	14	14	15	16	14	13	14	15	15	15	15	15	15	15	15	15	15	15	15	15	15	15	15	15	15	15	14	15
Points	2	2	2	2	2	2	3	5	5	5	5	5	5	5	5	6	6	6	6	7	8	8	8	10	10	12	12	14	16	18

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

Matches

1 September 1894 1	Burslem Port Vale	1–0	Walsall Town Swifts	Cobridge
	Beats			Stadium: Athletic Ground Attendance: 2,000

8 September 1894 2	Manchester City	4–1	Burslem Port Vale	Gorton
			Wood	Stadium: Hyde Road Attendance: 2,000

15 September 1894 3	Burslem Port Vale	1–2	Bury	Cobridge
	Marple			Stadium: Athletic Ground Attendance: 1,500

17 September 1894 4	Burslem Port Vale	0–3	Notts County	Cobridge
				Stadium: Athletic Ground Attendance: 1,000

22 September 1894 5	Walsall Town Swifts	2–0	Burslem Port Vale	Walsall
				Stadium: West Bromwich Road Attendance: 3,000

29 September 1894 6	Burton Swifts	1–0	Burslem Port Vale	Burton upon Trent
				Stadium: Peel Croft Attendance: 1,000

6 October 1894 7	Burslem Port Vale	4–4	Newcastle United	Cobridge
	Scarratt Wood James Smith Eccles			Stadium: Athletic Ground Attendance: 2,000

20 October 1894 8	Burslem Port Vale	1–0	Burton Wanderers	Cobridge
	Beats			Stadium: Athletic Ground Attendance: 1,500

27 October 1894 9	Darwen	2–0	Burslem Port Vale	Darwen
				Stadium: Barley Bank Attendance: 3,000

10 November 1894 10	Bury	4–0	Burslem Port Vale	Bury, Greater Manchester
				Stadium: Gigg Lane Attendance: 3,000

17 November 1894 11	Burslem Port Vale	0–3	Darwen	Cobridge
				Stadium: Athletic Ground Attendance: 2,000

8 December 1894 12	Lincoln City	6–1	Burslem Port Vale	Lincoln
			Dean	Stadium: John O'Gaunts Attendance: 1,000

24 December 1894 13	Burslem Port Vale	2–5	Newton Heath	Cobridge
	Beats McDonald			Stadium: Athletic Ground Attendance: 1,000

25 December 1894 14	Woolwich Arsenal	7–0	Burslem Port Vale	Plumstead, London
				Stadium: Manor Ground Attendance: 8,000

1 January 1895 15	Newton Heath	3–0	Burslem Port Vale	Clayton, Manchester
				Stadium: Bank Street Attendance: 4,000

5 January 1895 16	Crewe Alexandra	2–2	Burslem Port Vale	Crewe
			James Smith Evans	Stadium: Alexandra Recreation Ground

19 January 1895 17	Burslem Port Vale	0–1	Woolwich Arsenal	Cobridge
				Stadium: Athletic Ground Attendance: 300

26 January 1895 18	Grimsby Town	4–1	Burslem Port Vale	Grimsby
			James Smith	Stadium: Abbey Park

2 February 1895 19	Burslem Port Vale	1–2	Manchester City	Cobridge
	Ray			Stadium: Athletic Ground Attendance: 1,500

16 February 1895 20	Burslem Port Vale	1–1	Rotherham Town	Cobridge
	James Smith			Stadium: Athletic Ground Attendance: 300

23 February 1895 21	Burslem Port Vale	1–1	Leicester Fosse	Cobridge
	Evans			Stadium: Athletic Ground

26 February 1895 22	Notts County	10–0	Burslem Port Vale	West Bridgford
				Stadium: Trent Bridge Attendance: 1,500

2 March 1895 23	Rotherham Town	2–1	Burslem Port Vale	Rotherham
			James Smith	Stadium: Clifton Grove Attendance: 1,000

4 March 1895 24	Burslem Port Vale	2–0	Burton Swifts	Cobridge
	Evans Dean			Stadium: Athletic Ground

9 March 1895 25	Burton Wanderers	4–0	Burslem Port Vale	Burton upon Trent
				Stadium: Derby Turn Attendance: 4,100

16 March 1895 26	Burslem Port Vale	7–1	Lincoln City	Cobridge
	Beats unknown Evans Dean J. Mason Wood			Stadium: Athletic Ground Attendance: 2,500

26 March 1895 27	Leicester Fosse	2–1	Burslem Port Vale	Leicester
			Evans	Stadium: Filbert Street Attendance: 3,000

6 April 1895 28	Burslem Port Vale	5–0	Grimsby Town	Cobridge
	Dean Beats Evans J. Mason			Stadium: Athletic Ground Attendance: 800

12 April 1895 29	Newcastle United	1–2	Burslem Port Vale	Newcastle upon Tyne
			Eardley	Stadium: St James' Park Attendance: 3,000

20 April 1895 30	Burslem Port Vale	4–0	Crewe Alexandra	Cobridge
	Dean Wood Eardley			Stadium: Athletic Ground

FA Cup

13 October 1894 1Q	Stourbridge	5–3	Burslem Port Vale	Stourbridge
			Beats Dean unknown	Stadium: War Memorial Athletic Ground

Birmingham Senior Cup

9 February 1895 2	Burslem Port Vale	0–1	Loughborough	Cobridge
				Stadium: Athletic Ground Attendance: 1,000

Staffordshire Senior Cup

31 January 1895 1	Leek	1–5	Burslem Port Vale	Leek, Staffordshire
			unknown	Stadium: Westwood Lane

25 February 1895 2	Burton Wanderers	5–3	Burslem Port Vale	Burton upon Trent
			Wood James Smith	Stadium: Derby Turn Attendance: 600

Player statistics

Appearances and goals

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

Pos.	Name	League		FA Cup		Other		Total
Pos.	Name	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
GK	Tom Baddeley	30	0	1	0	3	0	34	0
GK	Albert Boardman	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
FB	G.S. Eccles	27	1	1	0	3	0	31	1
FB	Teddy Morse	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	0
FB	Dick Ray	29	1	1	0	2	0	32	1
HB	John Edwards	6	0	1	0	0	0	7	0
HB	Frank Haslam	8	0	0	0	0	0	8	0
HB	Jim Beech	14	0	1	0	1	0	16	0
HB	Jimmy Scarratt	12	1	1	0	0	0	13	1
HB	Jack Smith	8	0	0	0	1	0	9	0
HB	Alf Wood	28	4	1	0	2	2	31	6
HB	Joseph Boughey	6	0	0	0	0	0	6	0
HB	James Holdcroft	12	0	0	0	2	0	14	0
HB	Ted McDonald	19	1	0	0	2	0	21	1
HB	Jos Randles	2	0	0	0	0	0	2	0
HB	Eric Regan	5	0	0	0	0	0	5	0
HB	James Smith	20	5	1	0	2	1	23	6
HB	Walter Wilson	5	0	0	0	0	0	5	0
FW	Meshach Dean	28	7	1	1	1	0	30	8
FW	Frederick Marple	2	1	0	0	0	0	2	1
FW	Fred Belfield	2	0	0	0	0	0	2	0
FW	Billy Beats	28	6	1	1	1	0	31	7
FW	Charlie Mason	1	0	0	0	0	0	2	0
FW	Jim Mason	10	2	0	0	1	0	11	2
FW	Billy Eardley	8	3	0	0	1	0	9	3
FW	Dick Evans	16	6	0	0	3	0	19	6

Top scorers

Place	Position	Nation	Name	Second Division	FA Cup	Other	Total
1	FW	England	Meshach Dean	7	1	0	8
2	FW	England	Billy Beats	6	1	0	7
3	FW	England	Dick Evans	6	0	0	6
–	HB	Scotland	James Smith	5	0	1	6
–	HB	England	Alf Wood	4	0	2	6
6	FW	England	Billy Eardley	3	0	0	3
7	FW		Jim Mason	2	0	0	2
8	FB	England	George Eccles	1	0	0	1
–	FW	England	Frederick Marple	1	0	0	1
–	HB		Ted McDonald	1	0	0	1
–	FB	England	Dick Ray	1	0	0	1
–	HB	England	Jimmy Scarratt	1	0	0	1
–	–	–	Unknown	1	0	0	1
			TOTALS	39	2	3	44

Transfers

Transfers in

Date from	Position	Name	From	Fee	Ref.
Summer 1894	FB	Dick Ray	Macclesfield	Free transfer	^[3]
May 1894	HB	Jim Beech	Smallthorne Albion	Free transfer	^[3]
May 1894	HB	Frank Haslam	Mansfield Town	Free transfer	^[3]
July 1894	HB	Ted McDonald	Stoke	Free transfer	^[3]
July 1894	HB	Walter Wilson	Mansfield Town	Free transfer	^[3]
August 1894	HB	Eric Regan	Ardwick	Free transfer	^[3]
September 1894	HB	James Smith	Kilmarnock	Free transfer	^[3]
November 1894	FW	Dick Evans	Newcastle White Star	Free transfer	^[3]

Transfers out

Date from	Position	Name	To	Fee	Ref.
October 1894	GK	Joe Frail	Gorton Villa	Free transfer	^[3]
November 1894	HB	John Edwards	Stockport County	Free transfer	^[3]
December 1894	HB	Walter Wilson	Nelson	Free transfer	^[3]
March 1895	HB	Frank Haslam	Notts County	Free transfer	^[3]
March 1895	HB	James Smith	Preston North End	Released	^[3]
June 1895	FW	Billy Beats	Wolverhampton Wanderers	£80	^[3]
Summer 1895	FW	Billy Eardley	Newcastle Swifts	Free transfer	^[3]
Summer 1895	FW	Frederick Marple		Released	^[3]
Summer 1895	FB	Dick Ray	Crewe Alexandra	Free transfer	^[3]
Summer 1895	HB	Jimmy Scarratt		Released	^[3]
Summer 1895	HB	Jack Smith		Released	^[3]

References

Specific

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h Kent, Jeff (1990). "Trying to make the Grade (1888-1898)". The Valiants' Years: The Story Of Port Vale. Witan Books. pp. 26–50. ISBN 978-0-9508981-4-8.
^ Port Vale 1894–1895 : Results & Fixtures Archived 7 September 2015 at the Wayback Machine. Statto Organisation. Retrieved 28 April 2012.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k ^l ^m ⁿ ^o ^p ^q ^r ^s 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 978-0-9508981-9-3.

[Kent-1] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h Kent, Jeff (1990). "Trying to make the Grade (1888-1898)". The Valiants' Years: The Story Of Port Vale. Witan Books. pp. 26–50. ISBN 978-0-9508981-4-8.

[2] Port Vale 1894–1895 : Results & Fixtures Archived 7 September 2015 at the Wayback Machine. Statto Organisation. Retrieved 28 April 2012.

[transfers-3] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k ^l ^m ⁿ ^o ^p ^q ^r ^s Kent, Jeff (1996). Port Vale Personalities. Witan Books. ISBN 0-9529152-0-0.

[1]

[2]

[3]

Port Vale F.C. seasons
1880–81 1881–82 1882–83 1883–84 1884–85 1885–86 1886–87 1887–88 1888–89 1889–90
1890–91 1891–92 1892–93 1893–94 1895–96 1896–97 1897–98 1898–99 1899–00
1900–01 1901–02 1902–03 1903–04 1904–05 1905–06 1906–07 1907–08 1908–09 1909–10
1910–11 1911–12 1912–13 1913–14 1914–15 1915–16 1916–17 1917–18 1918–19 1919–20
1920–21 1921–22 1922–23 1923–24 1924–25 1925–26 1926–27 1927–28 1928–29 1929–30
1930–31 1931–32 1932–33 1933–34 1934–35 1935–36 1936–37 1937–38 1938–39 1939–40
1940–41 1941–42 1942–43 1943–44 1944–45 1945–46 1946–47 1947–48 1948–49 1949–50
1950–51 1951–52 1952–53 1953–54 1954–55 1955–56 1956–57 1957–58 1958–59 1959–60
1960–61 1961–62 1962–63 1963–64 1964–65 1965–66 1966–67 1967–68 1968–69 1969–70
1970–71 1971–72 1972–73 1973–74 1974–75 1975–76 1976–77 1977–78 1978–79 1979–80
1980–81 1981–82 1982–83 1983–84 1984–85 1985–86 1986–87 1987–88 1988–89 1989–90
1990–91 1991–92 1992–93 1993–94 1994–95 1995–96 1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 1999–00
2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 2005–06 2006–07 2007–08 2008–09 2009–10
2010–11 2011–12 2012–13 2013–14 2014–15 2015–16 2016–17 2017–18 2018–19 2019–20
2020–21 2021–22 2022–23 2023–24 2024–25 2025–26 2026–27 2027–28 2028–29 2029–30