1901–02 Burslem Port Vale F.C. season

Burslem Port Vale
1901–02 season
Chairman	Robert Audley
Secretary	Sam Gleaves
Stadium	Athletic Ground
Football League Second Division	12th (29 Points)
FA Cup	Fifth Qualification Round; (knocked out by Walsall)
Birmingham Senior Cup	Semi-final; (knocked out by Wolverhampton Wanderers)
Staffordshire Senior Cup	Semi-final; (knocked out by Stoke)
Top goalscorer	League: Adrian Capes (14); All: Adrian Capes (18)
Highest home attendance	8,000 vs Leicester Fosse, 12 October 1901
Lowest home attendance	100 vs Blackpool, 5 April 1902
Average home league attendance	2,931+
Biggest win	6–0 vs. Wellington Town, 2 November 1901
Biggest defeat	0–4 (twice)
	Home colours
	Home colours

The 1901–02 season was Burslem Port Vale's fourth consecutive season (eighth overall) of football in the English Football League.^[1] Playing home fixtures at the Athletic Ground under manager‑secretary Sam Gleaves and chairman Robert Audley, the club finished a largely muted 12th with 29 points from 10 wins, 9 draws and 15 losses, scoring around 43 goals and conceding 59. In cup competition, Vale bowed out in the Fifth Qualifying Round of the FA Cup, losing to Walsall, and exited both the Birmingham Senior Cup and Staffordshire Senior Cup at the semi-final stage, succumbing to Wolverhampton Wanderers and Stoke respectively. Adrian Capes led the scoring charts with 14 league goals and 18 across all competitions. Attendances varied from a low of 100 spectators versus Blackpool in April 1902 to a season-high of 8,000 for the home match against Leicester Fosse on 12 October 1901, with an average league attendance of around 2,931. Financially, the campaign marked a rare bright spot as Vale achieved a profit without selling any major players, aided by events such as an Easter bazaar fundraiser that helped offset club expenditure.

Midfielder Bert Eardley hardly played all season.

Overview

Second Division

Vale had an indifferent start to the campaign, gaining seven points from seven games. The players came under criticism for a perceived lack of fitness, whilst the forward play seemed disjointed. The team fell to a 4–0 defeat at struggling Barnsley, only to vanquish Leicester Fosse by three goals to nil the following week. The Leicester result was followed by seven games without a win, however, with the players drained from playing 12 cup games and six league matches between 3 October and 7 December. The next win in the league came on 28 December, when Glossop were defeated 1–0. This was followed by another four games without a win, leaving the club in the re-election places.^[1] They had, though, put up "a good show" at the Athletic Ground in a 3–2 defeat to league leaders West Bromwich Albion, with goalkeeper Harry Cotton being singled out for praise.^[1]

Two successive wins eased fears of a re-election finish, though they were followed by heavy defeats away at Burnley and Burton United. Vale then defeated bottom club Chesterfield by four goals to two, and followed this up with two further victories, including coming from two goals down to win 3–2 away at Gainsborough Trinity. A point at home to second-placed Middlesbrough on 22 March and at home to Gainsborough Trinity six days later made it five games unbeaten. The players sensed thereafter that there was little to play for and were criticised for their "holiday friendly" manner in a four-goal defeat at Bristol City the day after the Trinity draw. Two further losses to Blackpool and Stockport County raised concern as the Vale were left three points clear of danger with two games left to play. They battled to a 1–1 home draw with Newton Heath and ensured their League status with a final-day victory away at Glossop.^[1]

Port Vale finished in 12th place in a tight lower half of the table, where just two points separated 9th from 16th. A settled side saw Lucien Boullemier, Ernest Mullineux, George Price, and Adrian Capes ever-presents in the league. Capes was the leading scorer with 18 goals, with Danny Simpson's twelve-goal haul a major contribution to the campaign. At the end of the season, centre-half Jim Beech retired, having spent eight years with the club.^[1]

Finances

On the financial front, things were looking up for the club.^[1] A £368 profit was made, with most of this figure coming from the club's annual Easter bazaar at Burslem Town Hall.^[1] This upturn in finances caused the directors to loosen their unwritten rule on only recruiting local players.^[1]

Cup competitions

In the FA Cup the club decimated Combination League club Wellington Town 6–0, before beating Wrexham after two replays. The first encounter with Wrexham was called off due to fog, the rearranged tie resulted in a 2–1 defeat; however, a replay was scheduled when it was discovered that their opponents had fielded an ineligible player.^[1] Eventually vanquishing the Welsh side, the next round saw Midland League side Walsall knock the Vale out before the first round Proper.^[1] In the Birmingham Senior Cup the "Valeites" defeated local rivals 4–0 Stoke in a first round replay, after a 2–2 draw at Stoke.^[1] Vale lost in the semi-final in a replay with Wolverhampton Wanderers.^[1] In the Staffordshire Senior Cup Vale brushed aside Walsall 5–2, before Stoke took their revenge in the semi-final, with a 2–1 victory over Vale in Cobridge.^[1]

League table

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GAv	Pts
10	Burton United	34	11	8	15	46	54	0.852	30
11	Barnsley	34	12	6	16	51	63	0.810	30
12	Burslem Port Vale	34	10	9	15	43	59	0.729	29
13	Blackpool	34	11	7	16	40	56	0.714	29
14	Leicester Fosse	34	12	5	17	38	56	0.679	29

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	A	H	H	A	H	A	H	A	H	A	A	H	A	A	H	A	H	A	H	A	H	H	A	A	H	H	A	H	H	A	H	A	H	A
Result	D	W	L	L	W	L	W	L	D	L	L	D	L	L	W	L	D	D	L	W	W	D	L	L	W	W	W	D	D	L	L	L	D	W
Position	9	4	8	11	9	12	7	12	9	12	13	13	15	16	15	16	14	15	15	13	11	14	14	14	14	10	9	8	8	11	13	14	15	12
Points	1	3	3	3	5	5	7	7	8	8	8	9	9	9	11	11	12	13	13	15	17	18	18	18	20	22	24	25	26	26	26	26	27	29

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

Matches

7 September 1901 1	Doncaster Rovers	3–3	Port Vale	Doncaster
			Eardley Simpson Capes	Stadium: Intake Ground Attendance: 2,000

9 September 1901 2	Port Vale	3–0	Bristol City	Cobridge
	Simpson Capes			Stadium: Athletic Ground Attendance: 5,000

14 September 1901 3	Port Vale	1–2	Lincoln City	Cobridge
	Simpson			Stadium: Athletic Ground Attendance: 4,000

21 September 1901 4	West Bromwich Albion	3–1	Port Vale	West Bromwich
			Price	Stadium: The Hawthorns Attendance: 5,000

28 September 1901 5	Port Vale	1–0	Woolwich Arsenal	Cobridge
	Simpson			Stadium: Athletic Ground Attendance: 3,000

5 October 1901 6	Barnsley	4–0	Port Vale	Barnsley
				Stadium: Oakwell

12 October 1901 7	Port Vale	3–0	Leicester Fosse	Cobridge
	Rushton Capes Jones			Stadium: Athletic Ground Attendance: 6,500

19 October 1901 8	Preston North End	2–0	Port Vale	Preston, Lancashire
				Stadium: Deepdale Attendance: 5,000

26 October 1901 9	Port Vale	1–1	Burnley	Cobridge
	Tunstall			Stadium: Athletic Ground Attendance: 4,000

9 November 1901 10	Chesterfield	4–3	Port Vale	Chesterfield, Derbyshire
			Capes unknown Simpson	Stadium: Saltergate Attendance: 3,000

23 November 1901 11	Middlesbrough	3–0	Port Vale	Middlesbrough
				Stadium: Ayresome Park Attendance: 7,000

14 December 1901 12	Port Vale	1–1	Stockport County	Cobridge
	unknown			Stadium: Athletic Ground

21 December 1901 13	Newton Heath	1–0	Port Vale	Clayton, Manchester
				Stadium: Bank Street Attendance: 3,000

26 December 1901 14	Woolwich Arsenal	3–1	Port Vale	Plumstead, Greenwich
			Heames	Stadium: Manor Ground Attendance: 5,500

28 December 1901 15	Port Vale	1–0	Glossop	Cobridge
	Rushton			Stadium: Athletic Ground

1 January 1902 16	Blackpool	1–0	Port Vale	Blackpool
				Stadium: Bloomfield Road Attendance: 4,000

4 January 1902 17	Port Vale	2–2	Doncaster Rovers	Cobridge
	Heames Price			Stadium: Athletic Ground Attendance: 1,500

11 January 1902 18	Lincoln City	1–1	Port Vale	Lincoln
			Capes	Stadium: Sincil Bank Attendance: 2,000

18 January 1902 19	Port Vale	2–3	West Bromwich Albion	Cobridge
	Heames Rushton			Stadium: Athletic Ground Attendance: 4,000

25 January 1902 20	Leicester Fosse	0–1	Port Vale	Leicester
			Boullemier	Stadium: Filbert Street Attendance: 2,000

1 February 1902 21	Port Vale	2–1	Barnsley	Cobridge
	Simpson Capes			Stadium: Athletic Ground Attendance: 1,500

15 February 1902 22	Port Vale	0–0	Preston North End	Cobridge
				Stadium: Athletic Ground Attendance: 3,500

22 February 1902 23	Burnley	4–1	Port Vale	Burnley
			Price	Stadium: Turf Moor Attendance: 2,500

1 March 1902 24	Burton United	3–0	Port Vale	Burton upon Trent
				Stadium: Peel Croft Attendance: 3,000

8 March 1902 25	Port Vale	4–2	Chesterfield	Cobridge
	Simpson Rushton Capes			Stadium: Athletic Ground Attendance: 1,000

10 March 1902 26	Port Vale	2–1	Burton United	Cobridge
	Rushton Capes			Stadium: Athletic Ground

15 March 1902 27	Gainsborough Trinity	2–3	Port Vale	Gainsborough, Lincolnshire
			Capes o.g.	Stadium: The Northolme Attendance: 1,200

22 March 1902 28	Port Vale	1–1	Middlesbrough	Cobridge
	Capes			Stadium: Athletic Ground Attendance: 2,000

28 March 1902 29	Port Vale	1–1	Gainsborough Trinity	Cobridge
	Capes			Stadium: Athletic Ground

29 March 1902 30	Bristol City	4–0	Port Vale	Bristol
				Stadium: St John's Lane Attendance: 5,000

5 April 1902 31	Port Vale	0–1	Blackpool	Cobridge
				Stadium: Athletic Ground Attendance: 100

12 April 1902 32	Stockport County	4–2	Port Vale	Stockport
			Capes	Stadium: Edgeley Park

19 April 1902 33	Port Vale	1–1	Newton Heath	Cobridge
	Heames			Stadium: Athletic Ground Attendance: 2,000

26 April 1902 34	Glossop	0–1	Port Vale	Glossop
			unknown	Stadium: North Road Attendance: 1,500

FA Cup

2 November 1901 3Q	Port Vale	6–0	Wellington Town	Cobridge
	Capes Simpson Price			Stadium: Athletic Ground

20 November 1901 4Q	Wrexham	2–1	Port Vale	Wrexham
			Eardley	Stadium: Racecourse Ground

28 November 1901 Replay	Wrexham	0–0	Port Vale	Wrexham
				Stadium: Racecourse Ground Attendance: 1,500

30 November 1901 Replay	Port Vale	3–1	Wrexham	Cobridge
	Boullemier Capes Rushton			Stadium: Athletic Ground

7 December 1901 5Q	Port Vale	1–2	Walsall	Cobridge
	Heames			Stadium: Athletic Ground Attendance: 1,200

Birmingham Senior Cup

30 September 1901 1R	Stoke	2–2	Port Vale	Stoke-upon-Trent
			unknown	Stadium: Victoria Ground Attendance: 3,500

7 October 1901 Replay	Port Vale	4–0	Stoke	Cobridge
	unknown			Stadium: Athletic Ground Attendance: 1,500

14 October 1901 Semi-final	Port Vale	1–1	Wolverhampton Wanderers	Cobridge
	Capes			Stadium: Athletic Ground Attendance: 4,000

2 December 1901 Replay	Wolverhampton Wanderers	2–0	Port Vale	Wolverhampton
				Stadium: Molineux Stadium Attendance: 500

Staffordshire Senior Cup

16 September 1901 1R	Port Vale	5–2	Walsall	Cobridge
	Croxton Heames Price Simpson			Stadium: Athletic Ground Attendance: handful

21 October 1901 Semi-final	Port Vale	1–2	Stoke	Cobridge
	unknown			Stadium: Athletic 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	William Chadwick	5	0	0	0	1	0	6	0
GK	Harry Cotton	29	0	5	0	2	0	36	0
FB	Tom Davies	25	0	1	0	3	0	29	0
FB	Ernest Mullineux	34	0	5	0	1	0	40	0
FB	Duncan Cooper	5	0	0	0	0	0	5	0
FB	H.H. Watkins	0	0	2	0	1	0	3	0
HB	Jim Beech	10	0	2	0	1	0	13	0
HB	Lucien Boullemier	34	1	5	1	2	0	41	2
HB	W. H. Machin	2	0	0	0	0	0	2	0
HB	Thomas Wainwright	7	0	2	0	1	0	10	0
HB	Albert Cook	9	0	4	0	0	0	13	0
HB	Harry Croxton	23	0	3	0	2	2	28	2
FW	Billy Heames	31	4	5	1	2	1	38	6
FW	Bert Eardley	7	1	2	1	0	0	9	2
FW	George Rushton	20	5	3	1	2	0	25	6
FW	Danny Simpson	25	9	2	2	1	1	28	12
FW	George Price	34	3	5	2	3	1	42	6
FW	Tommy Lander	25	0	1	0	1	0	27	0
FW	Adrian Capes	34	14	5	3	4	1	43	18
FW	Leonard Jones	3	1	0	0	0	0	3	1
FW	Tom Simpson	6	0	0	0	0	0	6	0
FW	William Tunstall	6	1	3	0	1	0	10	1

Top scorers

Place	Position	Nation	Name	Second Division	FA Cup	Other	Total
1	FW	England	Adrian Capes	14	3	1	18
2	FW	England	Danny Simpson	9	2	1	12
3	FW	England	Billy Heames	4	1	1	6
–	FW	England	George Rushton	5	1	0	6
–	FW	England	George Price	3	2	1	6
6	FW	England	Bert Eardley	1	1	0	2
–	HB	England	Harry Croxton	0	0	2	2
–	HB	England	Lucien Boullemier	1	1	0	2
9	FW		Leonard Jones	1	0	0	1
–	FW		William Tunstall	1	0	0	1
–	–	–	Unknown	3	0	3	6
–	–	–	Own goals	1	0	0	1
			TOTALS	43	11	9	64

Transfers

Transfers in

Date from	Position	Name	From	Fee	Ref.
May 1901	GK	William Chadwick	Hanley Swifts	Free transfer	^[3]
May 1901	GK	Harry Cotton	Nantwich	Free transfer	^[3]
June 1901	FW	George Rushton	Leek Broughs	Free transfer	^[3]
June 1901	FW	Tom Simpson	Stoke	Free transfer	^[3]
November 1901	FB	Duncan Cooper	Witton Albion	Free transfer	^[3]

Transfers out

Date from	Position	Name	To	Fee	Ref.
Summer 1902	HB	Jim Beech	Retired		^[3]
Summer 1902	FW	Tommy Lander		Released	^[3]
Summer 1902	FW	George Rushton	Barrow	Free transfer	^[3]
Summer 1902	HB	Thomas Wainwright	Crewe Alexandra	Released	^[3]

References

Specific

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k ^l ^m 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 1901–1902 : Results & Fixtures Archived 30 April 2010 at the Wayback Machine. Statto Organisation. Retrieved 28 April 2012.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ 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 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 1901–1902 : Results & Fixtures Archived 30 April 2010 at the Wayback Machine. Statto Organisation. Retrieved 28 April 2012.

[transfers-3] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ Kent, Jeff (1996). Port Vale Personalities. Witan Books. ISBN 0-9529152-0-0.

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[2]

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