1900–01 Burslem Port Vale F.C. season

Burslem Port Vale
1900–01 season
Chairman	Robert Audley
Secretary	Sam Gleaves
Stadium	Athletic Ground
Football League Second Division	9th (33 Points)
FA Cup	Intermediate Round; (knocked out by New Brighton Tower)
Birmingham Senior Cup	First Round; (knocked out by Stoke)
Staffordshire Senior Cup	Quarter-finals; (knocked out by Stoke)
Top goalscorer	League: Adrian Capes (10); All: Adrian Capes (11)
Highest home attendance	5,000 vs Walsall, 25 December 1900
Lowest home attendance	300 vs Burton Swifts, 30 March 1901
Average home league attendance	2,087+
Biggest win	4–0 and 5–1
Biggest defeat	1–6 vs. Grimsby Town, 8 September 1900
Home colours	Away colours

The 1900–01 season was Burslem Port Vale's third consecutive season (seventh overall) of football in the English Football League.^[1] Under the stewardship of chairman Robert Audley and secretary Sam Gleaves, the side secured a ninth-place finish (33 points) after 34 league fixtures, producing a balanced record of 11 wins, 11 draws, and 12 losses, scoring 45 goals and conceding 47. In the FA Cup, Vale were eliminated in the First Round Proper following a defeat by New Brighton Tower; they also bowed out early in both the Birmingham Senior Cup and Staffordshire Senior Cup, suffering losses to Potteries derby rivals Stoke in the opening rounds.

New signings included veteran defender Tommy Clare and inside-left James Peake, who helped stabilise the side after the previous season's player exodus; Adrian Capes emerged as the club's leading scorer, with seven league goals. The defence earned praise for being “consistent and sturdy,” and Bert Eardley was described as "one of the best outside‑rights Port Vale have ever had" following a draw with New Brighton Tower. Financially, the club endured another loss, approximately £73, which contributed to mounting debt of around £1,000, despite heavily reduced playing expenditures and a modest increase in local youth participation to control costs.

Midfielder Bert Eardley had another solid season.

Overview

Second Division

The pre-season saw the return of Stoke legend Tommy Clare, now aged 35, and inside-left James Peake, following a season with Millwall Athletic.^[1] Otherwise local lads filled the void left by the stars that were sold off in the previous season.^[1] Only one point was gained in the opening three games, which included a 1–0 defeat to newly-elected Stockport County and a 6–1 thrashing at Grimsby Town. The team achieved a 2–0 victory over Lincoln City on 15 September, though only 2,000 turned out to the Athletic Ground to witness it. Heavy defeats on the road followed, however, as 4–0 losses came at Newton Heath and Middlesbrough. Vale achieved a surprise 1–0 win over league leaders Burnley on 13 October, though only 1,000 spectators were in attendance. A point away at Chesterfield followed despite the team playing with a man down for the first half as Danny Simpson had missed his train.^[1]

Five games without victory ended with a 2–0 triumph at Burton Swifts after Vale had signed forward Adrian Capes from them. The victory heralded an upturn in results, and Vale rose to eighth place heading into Christmas. The team were winning at Small Heath on 29 December when Billy Heames had to be carried from the field following a foul; Small Heath used the man advantage to equalise and went on to win the game amid protestation from the Vale players that the hosts were wearing boots with sharp studs, as evidenced by circled cuts in James Peake's knees. The team remain in good form, however, losing just one of their next seven games to leave themselves in sixth position by 9 March. The sole defeat came at league leaders Burnley, who were accused of employing "shady tactics". New player Bert Eardley was described as "one of the best outside-rights Port Vale have ever had" following a 1–1 draw at fourth-placed New Brighton Tower. The side fell to a 2–0 defeat to Middlesbrough on 11 March, however, which was the first home loss in the league since 17 November. The league campaign came to a close with three victories in four games, including a 4–0 home win over Burton Swifts in front of a crowd of just 300.^[1]

They ended the season in ninth place, having achieved just one point fewer than the previous season despite a greatly reduced playing budget. Capes finished as the top scorer, with Peake, Eardley, and Price contributing seven goals each. Goalkeeper Alfred Maybury made his debut on 8 September and never missed a match after that, though he was still released at the season's end (later joining Chesterfield).^[1] Eight other players managed at least 30 appearances (out of a possible 37), with George Price an ever-present. The defence was described as "consistent and sturdy", and Peake, Eardley, and Capes were praised for the turnaround in results.^[1] The policy of local youth continued, having been successful throughout the campaign.^[1] James Peake and Alfred Maybury departed, and full-back Frank Stokes was sold to Reading; but otherwise the original team was retained.^[1]

Finances

Financially, the club lost £73, which added to their £1,000 debt.^[1] Taking note from the previous campaign, the playing budget was reduced by over £750, though gate receipts dropped a further £235.^[1] Poor weather was blamed for the miserable support.^[1] The Shilling Fund raised only £47.^[1]

Cup competitions

In the FA Cup, a 3–1 home defeat was recorded to Second Division rivals New Brighton Tower in the opening round. The club also exited both the Birmingham Senior Cup and the Staffordshire Senior Cup at the first round stage with defeats to Potteries derby rivals Stoke.^[1]

League table

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GAv	Pts
7	Woolwich Arsenal	34	15	6	13	39	35	1.114	36
8	Lincoln City	34	13	7	14	43	39	1.103	33
9	Burslem Port Vale	34	11	11	12	45	47	0.957	33
10	Newton Heath	34	14	4	16	42	38	1.105	32
11	Leicester Fosse	34	11	10	13	39	37	1.054	32

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

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	31	32	33	34
Ground	H	H	A	H	A	H	A	H	A	A	H	A	H	A	H	A	H	A	H	A	A	H	A	A	H	H	A	H	H	A	H	A	A	H
Result	D	L	L	W	L	D	L	W	D	D	D	L	L	W	W	L	W	D	D	L	D	W	W	L	W	D	D	L	D	L	W	L	W	W
Position	9	12	17	12	16	16	16	16	14	15	14	15	15	12	11	11	9	8	9	11	11	9	7	8	7	7	6	7	8	8	8	9	9	9
Points	1	1	1	3	3	4	4	6	7	8	9	9	9	11	13	13	15	16	17	17	18	20	22	22	24	25	26	26	27	27	29	29	31	33

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

Matches

1 September 1900 1	Port Vale	2–2	Small Heath	Cobridge
	Price Beech			Stadium: Athletic Ground Attendance: 3,000

3 September 1900 2	Port Vale	0–1	Stockport County	Cobridge
				Stadium: Athletic Ground Attendance: 2,000

8 September 1900 3	Grimsby Town	6–1	Port Vale	Cleethorpes
			Price	Stadium: Blundell Park Attendance: 4,000

15 September 1900 4	Port Vale	2–0	Lincoln City	Cobridge
	Price Aston			Stadium: Athletic Ground Attendance: 2,000

22 September 1900 5	Newton Heath	4–0	Port Vale	Clayton, Manchester
				Stadium: Bank Street Attendance: 5,000

29 September 1900 6	Port Vale	0–0	Glossop	Cobridge
				Stadium: Athletic Ground Attendance: 2,000

6 October 1900 7	Middlesbrough	4–0	Port Vale	Middlesbrough
				Stadium: Linthorpe Road Attendance: 8,000

13 October 1900 8	Port Vale	1–0	Burnley	Cobridge
	Peake			Stadium: Athletic Ground Attendance: 1,000

20 October 1900 9	Chesterfield	1–1	Port Vale	Chesterfield, Derbyshire
			Price	Stadium: Saltergate Attendance: 2,000

27 October 1900 10	Leicester Fosse	0–0	Port Vale	Leicester
				Stadium: Filbert Street Attendance: 9,000

3 November 1900 11	Port Vale	0–0	Grimsby Town	Cobridge
				Stadium: Athletic Ground Attendance: 3,000

10 November 1900 12	Gainsborough Trinity	2–1	Port Vale	Gainsborough, Lincolnshire
			Peake	Stadium: The Northolme

17 November 1900 13	Port Vale	1–3	New Brighton Tower	Cobridge
	Capes			Stadium: Athletic Ground Attendance: 2,000

24 November 1900 14	Burton Swifts	0–2	Port Vale	Burton upon Trent
			Peake Steadman	Stadium: Peel Croft Attendance: 600

1 December 1900 15	Port Vale	3–2	Barnsley	Cobridge
	Capes Lander Heames			Stadium: Athletic Ground

8 December 1900 16	Woolwich Arsenal	3–0	Port Vale	Plumstead, Greenwich
				Stadium: Manor Ground Attendance: 7,000

15 December 1900 17	Port Vale	4–0	Blackpool	Cobridge
	Price Capes Boullemier Eardley			Stadium: Athletic Ground Attendance: 2,000

22 December 1900 18	Stockport County	1–1	Port Vale	Stockport
			Peake	Stadium: Green Lane

25 December 1900 19	Port Vale	2–2	Walsall	Cobridge
	Eardley Heames			Stadium: Athletic Ground Attendance: 5,000

29 December 1900 20	Small Heath	2–1	Port Vale	Small Heath
			Lander	Stadium: Muntz Street Attendance: 6,000

12 January 1901 21	Lincoln City	2–2	Port Vale	Lincoln
			Simpson Capes	Stadium: Sincil Bank Attendance: 2,000

19 January 1901 22	Port Vale	2–0	Newton Heath	Cobridge
	Capes			Stadium: Athletic Ground Attendance: 1,000

9 February 1901 23	Glossop	1–2	Port Vale	Glossop
			Eardley Beech	Stadium: North Road Attendance: 4,000

16 February 1901 24	Burnley	1–0	Port Vale	Burnley
				Stadium: Turf Moor Attendance: 4,000

23 February 1901 25	Port Vale	5–1	Chesterfield	Cobridge
	Peake Boullemier Heames Eardley			Stadium: Athletic Ground Attendance: 1,000

2 March 1901 26	Port Vale	0–0	Leicester Fosse	Cobridge
				Stadium: Athletic Ground Attendance: 2,000

9 March 1901 27	New Brighton Tower	1–1	Port Vale	New Brighton, Merseyside
			Peake	Stadium: Tower Athletic Ground Attendance: 3,000

11 March 1901 28	Port Vale	0–2	Middlesbrough	Cobridge
				Stadium: Athletic Ground Attendance: 4,000

16 March 1901 29	Port Vale	1–1	Gainsborough Trinity	Cobridge
	Simpson			Stadium: Athletic Ground

23 March 1901 30	Walsall	2–1	Port Vale	Walsall
			Capes	Stadium: Fellows Park Attendance: 2,000

30 March 1901 31	Port Vale	4–0	Burton Swifts	Cobridge
	Price Capes Simpson			Stadium: Athletic Ground Attendance: 300

5 April 1901 32	Blackpool	2–1	Port Vale	Blackpool
			Capes	Stadium: Bloomfield Road Attendance: 800

6 April 1901 33	Barnsley	1–3	Port Vale	Barnsley
			Eardley Capes	Stadium: Oakwell

13 April 1901 34	Port Vale	1–0	Woolwich Arsenal	Cobridge
	Eardley			Stadium: Athletic Ground Attendance: 1,000

FA Cup

1 January 1901 Intermediate round	Port Vale	1–3	New Brighton Tower	Cobridge
	Capes			Stadium: Athletic Ground Attendance: 3,000

Birmingham Senior Cup

24 September 1900 1R	Stoke	1–0	Port Vale	Stoke-upon-Trent
				Stadium: Victoria Ground Attendance: 1,500

Staffordshire Senior Cup

22 October 1900 Quarter-final	Stoke	2–0	Port Vale	Stoke-upon-Trent
				Stadium: Victoria Ground

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 Poole	2	0	0	0	0	0	2	0
GK	Alfred Maybury	32	0	1	0	2	0	35	0
FB	Frank Stokes	32	0	1	0	2	0	35	0
FB	Tommy Clare	5	0	0	0	0	0	5	0
FB	Tom Davies	29	0	1	0	2	0	32	0
FB	Ernest Mullineux	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	0
HB	Patrick Gallagher	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	0
HB	W. H. Machin	4	0	0	0	0	0	4	0
HB	Robert Seaton	12	0	0	0	2	0	14	0
HB	Thomas Wainwright	14	0	0	0	0	0	14	0
HB	Jim Beech	31	2	1	0	2	0	34	2
HB	Lucien Boullemier	29	2	1	0	2	0	32	2
FW	Billy Heames	33	3	1	0	2	0	36	3
FW	Bert Eardley	27	7	1	0	2	0	30	7
FW	Tommy Aston	4	1	0	0	0	0	4	1
FW	John Henshall	5	0	0	0	1	0	6	0
FW	Joseph Steadman	3	1	0	0	0	0	3	1
FW	Danny Simpson	6	3	0	0	1	0	7	3
FW	George Price	34	7	1	0	2	0	37	7
FW	Tommy Lander	12	2	1	0	0	0	13	2
FW	Adrian Capes	24	10	1	1	0	0	25	11
FW	Alfred Pankhurst	5	0	0	0	0	0	5	0
FW	James Peake	28	7	1	0	2	0	31	7
FW	Howard Round	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	0

Top scorers

Place	Position	Nation	Name	Second Division	FA Cup	Total
1	FW	England	Adrian Capes	10	1	11
2	FW	England	Bert Eardley	7	0	7
–	FW		James Peake	7	0	7
–	FW	England	George Price	7	0	7
5	FW	England	Danny Simpson	3	0	3
–	FW	England	Billy Heames	3	0	3
7	FW	England	Tommy Lander	2	0	2
–	HB		Jim Beech	2	0	2
–	HB	England	Lucien Boullemier	2	0	2
10	FW		Tommy Aston	1	0	1
–	FW	England	Joseph Steadman	1	0	1
			TOTALS	45	1	46

Transfers

Transfers in

Date from	Position	Name	From	Fee	Ref.
Summer 1900	FW	James Peake	Millwall Athletic	Free transfer	^[3]
May 1900	FW	Tommy Aston	Ironbridge	Free transfer	^[3]
May 1900	HB	Patrick Gallagher	Smallthorne United	Free transfer	^[3]
May 1900	FW	John Henshall	Hanley Swifts	Free transfer	^[3]
May 1900	GK	Alfred Maybury	Nantwich	Free transfer	^[3]
May 1900	FB	Ernest Mullineux	Burslem Park	Free transfer	^[3]
May 1900	FW	Alfred Pankhurst	Smallthorne	Free transfer	^[3]
July 1900	FW	Howard Round	Tunstall Casuals	Free transfer	^[3]
August 1900	HB	Albert Cook	North Staffs Nomads	Free transfer	^[3]
November 1900	FW	Adrian Capes	Burton Swifts	Free transfer	^[3]
March 1901	HB	Harry Croxton	Burslem Park	Free transfer	^[3]
April 1901	FW	Leonard Jones	Eastwood	Free transfer	^[3]

Transfers out

Date from	Position	Name	To	Fee	Ref.
September 1900	FW	Tommy Aston		Released	^[3]
Summer 1901	MF	S. E. Bayley		Released	^[3]
Summer 1901	FB	Tommy Clare	Retired		^[3]
Summer 1901	HB	Patrick Gallagher		Released	^[3]
Summer 1901	FW	John Henshall		Released	^[3]
Summer 1901	GK	Alfred Maybury	Chesterfield	Released	^[3]
Summer 1901	FW	Alfred Pankhurst	Smallthorne	Released	^[3]
Summer 1901	FW	James Peake		Released	^[3]
Summer 1901	GK	Tom Poole		Released	^[3]
Summer 1901	FW	Howard Round		Released	^[3]
Summer 1901	GK	William Saunders		Released	^[3]
Summer 1901	HB	Robert Seaton		Released	^[3]
Summer 1901	FB	Thomas Spilsbury	Retired		^[3]
Summer 1901	FW	Joseph Steadman		Released	^[3]
Summer 1901	FB	Frank Stokes	Reading	Free transfer	^[3]

References

Specific

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k ^l ^m ⁿ 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.
^ Port Vale 1900–1901 : Results & Fixtures Archived 20 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 ^r ^s ^t ^u ^v ^w ^x ^y ^z ^aa 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 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] Port Vale 1900–1901 : Results & Fixtures Archived 20 April 2010 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 ^t ^u ^v ^w ^x ^y ^z ^aa 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 1894–95 1895–96 1896–97 1897–98 1898–99 1899–00
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