1898–99 Burslem Port Vale F.C. season

Burslem Port Vale
1898–99 season
Chairman	Robert Audley
Secretary	Sam Gleaves
Stadium	Athletic Ground
Football League Second Division	9th (39 Points)
FA Cup	Fifth Qualifying Round; (knocked out by Small Heath)
Birmingham Senior Cup	Runners-up; (knocked out by Aston Villa)
Staffordshire Senior Cup	Semi-final; (knocked out by Walsall)
Top goalscorer	League: James Peake (11); All: James Peake (17)
Highest home attendance	12,000 vs Manchester City, 1 April 1899
Lowest home attendance	1,000 vs Gainsborough Trinity, 26 November 1898
Average home league attendance	4,500+
Biggest win	5–0 (twice) and 6–1
Biggest defeat	0–7 vs. Small Heath, 10 December 1898
	Home colours
	Home colours

The 1898–99 season was Burslem Port Vale's fifth season of football in the English Football League; it followed a two-season absence, which the club spent in the Midland Football League.^[1] Manager‑secretary Sam Gleaves oversaw a strong revival at the Athletic Ground, with Vale finishing ninth in a 34‑game league season, collecting 39 points from 17 wins, 5 draws and 12 losses, scoring 56 goals and conceding just 34 — the fewest in the division.

Following an unbeaten start with six consecutive victories, Vale faded slightly in the closing stages but remained well clear of re‑election danger, finishing 19 points above the bottom clubs. James Peake, their inside‑left, emerged as the club’s leading scorer, netting 11 league goals and 17 in all competitions before his summer move to Millwall Athletic. In cup competitions, Vale reached the Fifth Qualifying Round of the FA Cup, exiting at the hands of Small Heath. They were runners‑up in the Birmingham Senior Cup, losing to Aston Villa, and reached the semi‑final of the Staffordshire Senior Cup, bowing out to Walsall.

Attendances were healthy by Second Division standards, with a season‑high 12,000 spectators at the match against Manchester City on 1 April 1899, while the average home attendance settled at around 4,500. Mid‑table stability, defensive solidity, and cup credence made 1898‑99 one of Vale’s most satisfying seasons of the era — and a benchmark they wouldn't surpass for several years.

Winger Billy Heames would stay with *the Vale* for the next five seasons.

Overview

Second Division

Their FA Cup win over First Division champions Sheffield United in 1897–98 won Vale the respect (and votes) they needed to win re-election to the Football League for 1898–99.^[1]^[2] To ensure a competitive campaign they signed striker Howard Harvey from Aston Villa for £50 to bolster what remained a semi-professional squad with all the players maintaining jobs outside of football.^[1] Winning their opening six league games, Vale conceded just one goal as they built a four-point lead at the top of the table. The 2–0 win over Grimsby Town on 1 October was attended by 6,000 spectators at the Athletic Ground to raise £117 in receipts. However, right-back Tommy Clare broke his leg in the Grimsby game, and the team's form never recovered without the former England international's guidance on the pitch. A top-of-the-table clash with Newton Heath at Bank Street ended in a 2–1 defeat as the home side scored the winning goal with three minutes left to play.^[1]

A goalless draw at home with New Brighton Tower raised £170 in receipts and was the first in a four-game sequence where the Vale scored only once. This solitary goal was enough to claim victory at Luton Town, though, which kept them top of the league. The highly-rated full-back Tom McFarlane made his debut against Leicester Fosse on 12 November, which ended in a 2–0 defeat. Their form remained patchy until they opened the new year with four successive wins. This sequence included a 6–1 win over Blackpool, which was aided by a four-goal haul from James Peake.^[1] A 2–0 loss away at Burton Swifts was blamed on "painfully peculiar" refereeing and the first half loss of Harvey due to injury. Clare then returned to help the team to a 1–0 win over Newton Heath as they reclaimed second place in the league standings.^[1]

The team won consistently at home, but gained only two points from their seven remaining away games. On 25 March, the team came unstuck with Clare playing in goal for a 3–2 defeat at struggling Gainsborough Trinity. A crowd of 12,000 witnessed a 1–1 draw at home to Manchester City with rough play from both sides. A 2–1 home defeat by Glossop North End saw an end to the club's hopes of top-flight football. They drew the return fixture at Glossop without scoring. The season concluded with a 1–0 home defeat to Walsall. Vale finished the season with two points from five games, dropping into ninth place – their lowest position all season.^[1] No team conceded fewer than their 34 league goals.^[1]

Right-half Lucien Boullemier was an ever-present throughout the campaign, with goalkeeper Herbert Birchenough missing just one game.^[1] Winger Billy Heames and forward Howard Harvey rarely missed a game between them.^[1] James Peake, the club's top scorer, left to join Millwall Athletic in the Southern League, whilst Dick Evans signed with Reading. Tommy Clare retired.^[1]

Finances

Financially, the club lost £300 over the season.^[1] It took three attempts to form enough members to hold the Annual general meeting due to a lack of interest.^[1]

Cup competitions

Defending champions of the Staffordshire Senior Cup, Vale overcame Burton Wanderers in a replay after being too overconfident in the original tie. This took them into the semi-final, where they lost 4–0 to Walsall in a replay on Boxing Day.^[1] In the Birmingham Senior Cup, they defeated Walsall in the semi-final, in a replay at Stoney Lane the game was stopped owing to a snowstorm and the Walsall players got changed and began smoking cigars, refusing to continue the game after the storm cleared and so were ruled out of the competition by the Birmingham County Football Association. Vale went on to lose 4–0 to Aston Villa in the final.^[1] In the FA Cup, they were turned over 7–0 at Small Heath in the qualification rounds.^[1]

League table

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GAv	Pts
7	Woolwich Arsenal	34	18	5	11	72	41	1.756	41
8	Small Heath	34	17	7	10	85	50	1.700	41
9	Burslem Port Vale	34	17	5	12	56	34	1.647	39
10	Grimsby Town	34	15	5	14	71	60	1.183	35
11	Barnsley	34	12	7	15	52	56	0.929	31

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

Results

Burslem born Danny Simpson never played for any professional club other than Port Vale.

George Price played one, scored one in 1898–99.

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	31	32	33	34
Ground	H	H	A	H	A	H	A	H	A	A	H	H	A	A	H	A	A	H	A	H	A	H	A	H	A	A	H	A	H	A	H	H	A	H
Result	W	W	W	W	W	W	L	D	L	W	L	W	L	D	W	L	W	W	W	W	L	W	L	W	L	L	W	D	W	L	D	L	D	L
Position	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	2	5	5	4	6	6	6	4	3	3	2	4	3	3	4	4	5	4	4	6	6	7	9
Points	2	4	6	8	10	12	12	13	13	15	15	17	17	18	20	20	22	24	26	28	28	30	30	32	32	32	34	35	37	37	38	38	39	39

Source: Statto^[3]
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

Matches

3 September 1898 1	Burslem Port Vale	2–0	Barnsley	Cobridge
	Peake Evans			Stadium: Athletic Ground Attendance: 4,000

5 September 1898 2	Burslem Port Vale	3–0	Woolwich Arsenal	Cobridge
	Evans unknown			Stadium: Athletic Ground Attendance: 5,000

10 September 1898 3	Small Heath	1–2	Burslem Port Vale	Small Heath
			Evans Peake	Stadium: Muntz Street Attendance: 5,500

17 September 1898 4	Burslem Port Vale	3–0	Loughborough	Cobridge
	Peake Simpson			Stadium: Athletic Ground Attendance: 5,000

24 September 1898 5	Blackpool	0–4	Burslem Port Vale	Blackpool
			Peake Harvey Beech	Stadium: Athletic Grounds Attendance: 1,000

1 October 1898 6	Burslem Port Vale	2–0	Grimsby Town	Cobridge
	Simpson Evans			Stadium: Athletic Ground Attendance: 6,000

8 October 1898 7	Newton Heath	2–1	Burslem Port Vale	Clayton, Manchester
			Simpson	Stadium: Bank Street Attendance: 10,000

15 October 1898 8	Burslem Port Vale	0–0	New Brighton Tower	Cobridge
				Stadium: Athletic Ground Attendance: 5,000

22 October 1898 9	Lincoln City	1–0	Burslem Port Vale	Lincoln
				Stadium: Sincil Bank Attendance: 4,000

5 November 1898 10	Luton Town	0–1	Burslem Port Vale	Luton
			Evans	Stadium: Dunstable Road Attendance: 2,000

12 November 1898 11	Burslem Port Vale	0–2	Leicester Fosse	Cobridge
				Stadium: Athletic Ground Attendance: 4,000

26 November 1898 12	Burslem Port Vale	2–1	Gainsborough Trinity	Cobridge
	Evans Harvey			Stadium: Athletic Ground Attendance: 1,000

3 December 1898 13	Manchester City	3–1	Burslem Port Vale	Gorton
			Peake	Stadium: Hyde Road Attendance: 6,000

17 December 1898 14	Walsall	1–1	Burslem Port Vale	Walsall
			Evans	Stadium: Fellows Park Attendance: 3,000

24 December 1898 15	Burslem Port Vale	4–1	Burton Swifts	Cobridge
	Beckett Harvey Beech			Stadium: Athletic Ground Attendance: 2,000

31 December 1898 16	Barnsley	2–1	Burslem Port Vale	Barnsley
			Evans	Stadium: Oakwell Attendance: 1,000

2 January 1899 17	Darwen	1–3	Burslem Port Vale	Darwen
			Harvey Mitchell	Stadium: Barley Bank Attendance: 400

7 January 1899 18	Burslem Port Vale	1–0	Small Heath	Cobridge
	Beckett			Stadium: Athletic Ground Attendance: 5,000

14 January 1899 19	Loughborough	0–3	Burslem Port Vale	Loughborough
			Evans Harvey Beckett	Stadium: Athletic Ground Attendance: 2,000

21 January 1899 20	Burslem Port Vale	6–1	Blackpool	Cobridge
	Peake Beech Beckett			Stadium: Athletic Ground

28 January 1899 21	Burton Swifts	2–0	Burslem Port Vale	Burton upon Trent
				Stadium: Peel Croft Attendance: 500

4 February 1899 22	Burslem Port Vale	1–0	Newton Heath	Cobridge
	Belfield			Stadium: Athletic Ground Attendance: 6,000

11 February 1899 23	New Brighton Tower	1–0	Burslem Port Vale	New Brighton, Merseyside
				Stadium: Tower Athletic Ground Attendance: 2,000

18 February 1899 24	Burslem Port Vale	2–1	Lincoln City	Cobridge
	Harvey Beech			Stadium: Athletic Ground Attendance: 3,000

21 February 1899 25	Grimsby Town	3–1	Burslem Port Vale	Grimsby
			Beckett	Stadium: Abbey Park Attendance: 2,500

25 February 1899 26	Woolwich Arsenal	1–0	Burslem Port Vale	Plumstead, London
				Stadium: Manor Ground Attendance: 6,000

4 March 1899 27	Burslem Port Vale	4–1	Luton Town	Cobridge
	McDonald Simpson			Stadium: Athletic Ground Attendance: 4,000

11 March 1899 28	Leicester Fosse	1–1	Burslem Port Vale	Leicester
			Harvey	Stadium: Filbert Street Attendance: 9,000

18 March 1899 29	Burslem Port Vale	3–1	Darwen	Cobridge
	Harvey Beckett McDonald			Stadium: Athletic Ground

25 March 1899 30	Gainsborough Trinity	3–2	Burslem Port Vale	Gainsborough, Lincolnshire
			Simpson Beckett	Stadium: The Northolme

1 April 1899 31	Burslem Port Vale	1–1	Manchester City	Cobridge
	Heames			Stadium: Athletic Ground Attendance: 12,000

3 April 1899 32	Burslem Port Vale	1–2	Glossop North End	Cobridge
	Beckett			Stadium: Athletic Ground Attendance: 4,000

8 April 1899 33	Glossop North End	0–0	Burslem Port Vale	Glossop
				Stadium: North Road Attendance: 3,500

15 April 1899 34	Burslem Port Vale	0–1	Walsall	Cobridge
				Stadium: Athletic Ground Attendance: 1,500

FA Cup

29 October 1898 3Q	Burslem Port Vale	5–0	Wellington Town	Cobridge
	Peake Evans Price			Stadium: Athletic Ground Attendance: 1,000

19 November 1898 4Q	Burslem Port Vale	3–0	Burton Wanderers	Cobridge
	Peake Simpson Harvey			Stadium: Athletic Ground Attendance: 1,500

10 December 1898 5Q	Small Heath	7–0	Burslem Port Vale	Small Heath
				Stadium: Muntz Street Attendance: 7,000

Birmingham Senior Cup

19 December 1898 1R	Burslem Port Vale	5–0	Leicester Fosse	Cobridge
	Harvey McDonald rush			Stadium: Athletic Ground Attendance: 800

13 March 1899 Semi-final	Burslem Port Vale	1–1	Walsall	Neutral
	McDonald			Attendance: 4,000

20 March 1899 Replay	Burslem Port Vale	2–0	Walsall	Neutral
	Harvey Mitchell			Attendance: 1,000

27 March 1899 Final	Aston Villa	4–0	Burslem Port Vale	Birmingham
				Stadium: Villa Park Attendance: 3,634

Staffordshire Senior Cup

19 September 1898 1R	Burslem Port Vale	1–1	Burton Wanderers	Cobridge
	Peake			Stadium: Athletic Ground Attendance: 3,000

26 September 1898 Replay	Burton Wanderers	0–4	Burslem Port Vale	Burton upon Trent
			Peake Evans Spilsbury Simpson	Stadium: Derby Turn Attendance: 4,000

21 November 1898 Semi-final	Burslem Port Vale	1–1	Walsall	Cobridge
	Peake			Stadium: Athletic Ground Attendance: 2,000

26 December 1898 Replay	Walsall	4–0	Burslem Port Vale	Walsall
				Stadium: Fellows Park Attendance: 7,000

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	Herbert Birchenough	33	0	3	0	8	0	44	0
FB	Tommy Clare	13	0	0	0	3	0	16	0
FB	George Hulme	8	0	2	0	3	0	13	0
FB	Tom McFarlane	22	0	1	0	4	0	27	0
FB	Henry Platt	2	0	1	0	0	0	3	0
FB	Thomas Spilsbury	15	0	2	0	4	1	21	1
FB	Frank Stokes	3	0	0	0	2	0	5	0
HB	S. E. Bayley	3	0	0	0	0	0	3	0
HB	Jim Beech	31	4	3	0	6	0	40	4
HB	Lucien Boullemier	34	0	3	0	8	0	45	0
HB	John Bowman	0	0	0	0	1	0	1	0
HB	Ted McDonald	30	4	2	0	7	3	39	7
FW	Billy Heames	33	1	3	0	7	0	43	1
FW	Charles Hodgkinson	6	0	0	0	4	0	10	0
FW	Danny Simpson	17	5	2	1	3	1	22	7
FW	George Price	0	0	1	1	0	0	1	1
FW	James Peake	22	11	3	3	3	3	28	17
FW	Frank Mitchell	4	1	1	0	3	1	8	2
FW	Tommy Lander	16	0	1	0	5	0	22	0
FW	Howard Harvey	32	9	2	1	7	3	41	13
FW	Dick Evans	23	10	3	2	4	1	30	13
FW	R. H. Capener	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	0
FW	Fred Belfield	5	1	0	0	1	0	6	1
FW	Ernest Beckett	21	9	0	0	5	0	26	9

Top scorers

Place	Position	Nation	Name	Second Division	FA Cup	Other	Total
1	FW		James Peake	11	3	3	17
2	FW	England	Howard Harvey	9	1	3	13
–	FW	England	Dick Evans	10	2	1	13
4	FW		Ernest Beckett	9	0	0	9
5	MF	England	Ted McDonald	4	0	3	7
–	FW	England	Danny Simpson	5	1	1	7
7	HB		Jim Beech	4	0	0	4
8	FW		Frank Mitchell	1	0	1	2
9	FW	England	Billy Heames	1	0	0	1
–	FW	England	Fred Belfield	1	0	0	1
–	FW	England	George Price	0	1	0	1
–	FB	England	Thomas Spilsbury	0	0	1	1
–	–	–	Rush	0	0	1	1
–	–	–	Unknown	1	0	0	1
			TOTALS	56	8	14	78

Transfers

Transfers in

Date from	Position	Name	From	Fee	Ref.
June 1898	FW	Howard Harvey	Aston Villa	£50	^[4]
Summer 1898	FB	Tommy Clare	Manchester City	Free transfer	^[4]
August 1898	FW	Ernest Beckett	Newcastle Swifts	Free transfer	^[4]
August 1898	FB	Tom McFarlane	Hibernian	Free transfer	^[4]
October 1898	FB	Frank Stokes)	Burslem Park	Free transfer	^[4]
February 1899	HB	John Bowman	Burslem Park	Free transfer	^[4]

Transfers out

Date from	Position	Name	To	Fee	Ref.
Summer 1899	FW	James Peake	Millwall Athletic	Free transfer	^[4]
Summer 1899	FW	Ernest Beckett		Released	^[4]
Summer 1899	FW	Fred Belfield		Released	^[4]
Summer 1899	HB	John Bowman	Stoke	Free transfer	^[4]
Summer 1899	FW	R. H. Capener		Released	^[4]
Summer 1899	FW	Dick Evans	Reading	Free transfer	^[4]
Summer 1899	FW	Charles Hodgkinson		Released	^[4]
Summer 1899	FB	George Hulme		Released	^[4]
Summer 1899	FW	Frank Mitchell		Released	^[4]
Summer 1899	FB	Henry Platt		Released	^[4]
Summer 1899	HB	Jos Randles	Retired		^[4]

References

Specific

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k ^l ^m ⁿ ^o ^p Kent, Jeff (1990). "The Hopeless Struggle (1898-1907)". The Valiants' Years: The Story Of Port Vale. Witan Books. pp. 50–70. ISBN 0-9508981-4-7.
^ "Vale revel in FA Cup glory". The Sentinel. 29 November 2012. Retrieved 29 November 2012.
^ Port Vale 1898–1899 : Results & Fixtures Archived 19 April 2010 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 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.

[Kent-1] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k ^l ^m ⁿ ^o ^p Kent, Jeff (1990). "The Hopeless Struggle (1898-1907)". The Valiants' Years: The Story Of Port Vale. Witan Books. pp. 50–70. ISBN 0-9508981-4-7.

[2] "Vale revel in FA Cup glory". The Sentinel. 29 November 2012. Retrieved 29 November 2012.

[3] Port Vale 1898–1899 : Results & Fixtures Archived 19 April 2010 at the Wayback Machine. Statto Organisation. Retrieved 28 April 2012.

[transfers-4] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k ^l ^m ⁿ ^o ^p ^q Kent, Jeff (1996). Port Vale Personalities. Witan Books. ISBN 0-9529152-0-0.

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