1902–03 Burslem Port Vale F.C. season

Burslem Port Vale
1902–03 season
ChairmanRobert Audley
SecretarySam Gleaves
StadiumAthletic Ground
Football League Second Division9th (34 Points)
FA CupFourth Qualification Round
(knocked out by St. Helens Recreation)
Birmingham Senior CupFirst Round
(knocked out by Stoke)
Staffordshire Senior CupFirst Round
(knocked out by Stoke)
Bass Charity VaseFirst Round
(knocked out by Burton United)
Top goalscorerLeague: Adrian Capes (16)
All: Adrian Capes (18)
Highest home attendance5,000 vs Manchester City, 18 October 1902
Lowest home attendance500 vs Burton United, 28 March 1903
Average home league attendance2,250+
Biggest win4–0 and 5–1
Biggest defeat1–7 vs. Manchester City, 14 February 1903

The 1902–03 season was Burslem Port Vale's fifth consecutive season (ninth overall) of football in the English Football League.[1] Under secretary-manager Sam Gleaves and chairman Robert Audley, the club finished a respectable 9th‑place, amassing 34 points from 34 matches (13 wins, 8 draws, 13 losses), scoring 57 goals and conceding 62.

Adrian Capes continued his prolific form to lead the scoring charts with 16 league goals (18 in all competitions) for a third consecutive season. In cup competitions, Vale were knocked out in the Fourth Qualifying Round of the FA Cup by St. Helens Recreation, and exited both the Birmingham Senior Cup and Staffordshire Senior Cup at the First Round stage, falling to Stoke in each case; their campaign in the Bass Charity Vase also ended at first hurdle with a defeat to Burton United.

Attendance figures peaked at approximately 5,000 for the home fixture against Manchester City on 18 October 1902, while the lowest recorded crowd was just 500 for the match against Burton United on 28 March 1903, with an average attendance of around 2,250. The campaign also saw Vale suffer their heaviest league defeat, a 7–1 loss at Manchester City on 14 February 1903, while achieving dominant victories including 5–1 and 4–0 results at home.

Overview

Right-back Ernest Mullineux played 34 games for the club in all competitions.
Loyal Valeite Bert Eardley was a key first team member.
Winger Billy Heames missed just one game in the league.
George Price was an important player yet again.

Second Division

The pre-season saw tough-tackling left-back Arthur Hartshorne arrive from Wolverhampton Wanderers, whilst left-half W. Perkins and forward William Loverseed both arrived from Newark. The new kit was a claret and blue jersey with white knickers. The season opened at the Athletic Ground with a 1–1 draw with Blackpool, Vale missing a penalty. A 3–0 victory over Doncaster Rovers on 20 September was the team's only win in the opening ten games. In September, experienced right-half Arthur Rowley arrived from Bristol Rovers as management tried a variety of starting combinations.[1] The 4–1 defeat at home to Manchester City saw The Staffordshire Sentinel report that "it would be difficult for Port Vale to give a worse exhibition of football". In particular, half-backs Lucien Boullemier and Danny Simpson were judged to be too old to contribute at the Second Division level, and Boullemier retired to concentrate on his career in pottery.[1]

Changes were made for the trip to Burnley on 25 October, with the result being a creditable 3–3 draw despite the Turf Moor fans seemingly influencing a weak referee. A second league win came on 10 November, when second-from-bottom Stockport County were beaten by three goals to one in a turgid game. This was the first of an eight-game sequence which contained only one loss. Wins were secured over Gainsborough Trinity and third-placed Bristol City, though a loss came at Glossop. Management came upon the idea of playing two centre-forwards – Adrian Capes and William Loverseed – for the trip to Edgeley Park on 13 December, and a Capes hat-trick set up a 4–0 victory over Stockport County. A 5–2 win over Blackpool at Bloomfield Road on 3 January belied the team's dominance as ten-man Blackpool rarely troubled Vale goalkeeper Harry Cotton. Vale nearly defeated promotion-chasing Woolwich Arsenal seven days later, though had to be content with a 1–1 draw.[1]

There were 33 goals in the next six games, though 21 of them went against Vale. Having beaten Lincoln City 5–1 on 24 January, they went on to lose to Small Heath by the same scoreline a week later, despite the play being quite even. Vale then beat Leicester Fosse by two clear goals, only to fall to heavy defeats on the road to "classy" eventual champions Manchester City and Preston North End. Inside-right George Price was held accountable for the Preston defeat, having been sent off, with the referee and Harry Cotton also facing criticism. Three wins and a draw followed in March, though low attendances of well under one thousand continued to be a concern. With this in mind, and safety from re-election no longer a concern, management decided to transfer Ted Holdcroft and Arthur Hartshorne to Stoke for just over £500.[1] Despite having sold two key players, Vale ended the campaign with five points from five games, including a final day 2–0 victory over Barnsley that stretched the club's run of unbeaten home league games to 12, of which 10 had been won.[1]

The team's fine home form was offset by a terrible away record, though, and they ended the season with 34 points from as many games to finish in ninth place. Adrian Capes was the top scorer with 18 goals in 37 games, missing just one league game. Goalkeeper Harry Cotton played 36 games; Billy Heames, W. Perkins, Ernest Mullineux, Arthur Hartshorne, Bert Eardley, Arthur Rowley, George Price, and William Loverseed were all constant figures in the first XI. At the end of the campaign, all the major players were kept on, and no big signings were made.[1]

Finances

Player sales gave the club a profit of £112 on the campaign.[1] Poor attendance figures saw gate income fall by £200 from the previous season.[1] The club's debt was totalled at £171,[1] and subsequently the club's reserve team was moved from The Football Combination to the North Staffordshire League to save on travel costs.[1]

Cup competitions

In cup competitions, Vale performed poorly, falling at the first hurdle in the Staffordshire Senior Cup, Birmingham Senior Cup, and Bass Charity Vase. Losing to rivals Stoke in the county cups: 2–0 at home in the Birmingham Cup and 5–3 away in the Staffordshire Cup replay following a 1–1 draw at home. In the Charity Vase, they were conquered by Second Division rivals Burton United 5–1 away in a replay, following a 1–1 draw at home. The club failed to qualify for the FA Cup, after losing 2–1 away on St. Helens Recreation's (Lancashire League) short, sloped, boggy pitch.[1] Vale complained that the pitch markings were inadequate to the extent that they had scored an equalising goal but were instead awarded a throw-in.[1] Entering the Bass Charity Vase had proved a mistake as it added to fixture congestion, and following a 1–1 draw it was decided to play the reserves and accepted a 5–1 defeat at Burton United.[1]

League table

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GAv Pts
7 Preston North End 34 13 10 11 56 40 1.400 36
8 Barnsley 34 13 8 13 55 51 1.078 34
9 Burslem Port Vale 34 13 8 13 57 62 0.919 34
10 Lincoln City 34 12 6 16 46 53 0.868 30
11 Glossop 34 11 7 16 43 57 0.754 29
Source:

Results

Football League Second Division

Main article: 1902–03 Football League

Results by matchday

Round12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031323334
GroundHHAHAHAHAAHHHAAHAHAHAHAAHAHHAAHAH
ResultDDLWLDLLDLWWWLWDWDLWLWLLWDWWLLWDLW
Position881391312131513141299988889898101210999998999
Points122445556681012121415171818202022222224252729292931323234
Source: Statto[2]
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

Matches

6 September 1902 1 Port Vale 1–1 Blackpool Cobridge
Capes Stadium: Athletic Ground
Attendance: 3,200
8 September 1902 2 Port Vale 0–0 Preston North End Cobridge
Stadium: Athletic Ground
Attendance: 2,000
13 September 1902 3 Woolwich Arsenal 3–0 Port Vale Plumstead, Greenwich
Stadium: Manor Ground
Attendance: 12,000
20 September 1902 4 Port Vale 3–0 Doncaster Rovers Cobridge
Cook
Loverseed
Capes 		Stadium: Athletic Ground
Attendance: 2,000
27 September 1902 5 Lincoln City 4–1 Port Vale Lincoln
D.Simpson Stadium: Sincil Bank
Attendance: 3,000
4 October 1902 6 Port Vale 2–2 Small Heath Cobridge
Perkins
Croxton 		Stadium: Athletic Ground
Attendance: 4,000
11 October 1902 7 Leicester Fosse 2–0 Port Vale Leicester
Stadium: Filbert Street
Attendance: 1,000
18 October 1902 8 Port Vale 1–4 Manchester City Cobridge
Croxton Stadium: Athletic Ground
Attendance: 5,000
25 October 1902 9 Burnley 3–3 Port Vale Burnley
Eardley
Rowley
Holdcroft pen'		 Stadium: Turf Moor
Attendance: 1,200
8 November 1902 10 Chesterfield 3–0 Port Vale Chesterfield, Derbyshire
Stadium: Saltergate
Attendance: 2,000
10 November 1902 11 Port Vale 3–1 Stockport County Cobridge
Heames
Hartshorne
Eardley 		Stadium: Athletic Ground
Attendance: 1,000
22 November 1902 12 Port Vale 3–1 Gainsborough Trinity Cobridge
Capes
Eardley 		Stadium: Athletic Ground
6 December 1902 13 Port Vale 2–0 Bristol City Cobridge
Eardley
Loverseed 		Stadium: Athletic Ground
Attendance: 2,000
9 December 1902 14 Glossop 2–1 Port Vale Glossop
Heames Stadium: North Road
Attendance: 3,000
13 December 1902 15 Stockport County 0–4 Port Vale Stockport
Capes
Price 		Stadium: Edgeley Park
20 December 1902 16 Port Vale 1–1 Manchester United Cobridge
Price Stadium: Athletic Ground
Attendance: 2,000
3 January 1903 17 Blackpool 2–5 Port Vale Blackpool
Loverseed
Capes
Hartshorne
Price 		Stadium: Bloomfield Road
Attendance: 1,000
10 January 1903 18 Port Vale 1–1 Woolwich Arsenal Cobridge
Price Stadium: Athletic Ground
Attendance: 4,000
17 January 1903 19 Doncaster Rovers 3–2 Port Vale Doncaster
Capes
Eardley 		Stadium: Intake Ground
Attendance: 3,000
24 January 1903 20 Port Vale 5–1 Lincoln City Cobridge
Capes
Price 		Stadium: Athletic Ground
Attendance: 2,000
31 January 1903 21 Small Heath 5–1 Port Vale Small Heath
Price Stadium: Muntz Street
Attendance: 3,000
7 February 1903 22 Port Vale 2–0 Leicester Fosse Cobridge
Eardley
Capes 		Stadium: Athletic Ground
Attendance: 1,000
14 February 1903 23 Manchester City 7–1 Port Vale Gorton
Hartshorne Stadium: Hyde Road
Attendance: 12,000
28 February 1903 24 Preston North End 5–1 Port Vale Preston, Lancashire
Mullineux Stadium: Deepdale
Attendance: 3,000
7 March 1903 25 Port Vale 2–1 Chesterfield Cobridge
Rowley
o.g. 		Stadium: Athletic Ground
Attendance: 800
21 March 1903 26 Gainsborough Trinity 1–1 Port Vale Gainsborough, Lincolnshire
Capes Stadium: The Northolme
Attendance: 3,000
28 March 1903 27 Port Vale 4–2 Burton United Cobridge
Eardley
unknown
Capes
unknown 		Stadium: Athletic Ground
Attendance: 500
30 March 1903 28 Port Vale 3–1 Burnley Cobridge
Loverseed
Price
T.Simpson 		Stadium: Athletic Ground
4 April 1903 29 Bristol City 3–0 Port Vale Bristol
Stadium: St John's Lane
Attendance: 2,000
10 April 1903 30 Barnsley 1–0 Port Vale Barnsley
Stadium: Oakwell
Attendance: 4,000
11 April 1903 31 Port Vale 1–0 Glossop Cobridge
Price Stadium: Athletic Ground
Attendance: 2,000
13 April 1903 32 Burton United 0–0 Port Vale Burton upon Trent
Stadium: Peel Croft
18 April 1903 33 Manchester United 2–1 Port Vale Clayton, Manchester
Rushton Stadium: Bank Street
Attendance: 8,000
20 April 1903 34 Port Vale 2–0 Barnsley Cobridge
Rushton
Capes 		Stadium: Athletic Ground

FA Cup

Main article: 1902–03 FA Cup
1 November 1902 3Q Port Vale 3–1 Stalybridge Rovers Cobridge
Eardley
Price
Capes 		Stadium: Athletic Ground
15 November 1902 4Q St. Helens Recreation 2–1 Port Vale St Helens, Merseyside
Capes Stadium: City Road
Attendance: 8,000

Birmingham Senior Cup

29 September 1902 1R Port Vale 0–2 Stoke Cobridge
Stadium: Athletic Ground
Attendance: 3,000

Staffordshire Senior Cup

22 September 1902 1R Port Vale 1–1 Stoke Cobridge
unknown Stadium: Athletic Ground
6 October 1902 2R Stoke 5–3 Port Vale Stoke-upon-Trent
unknown Stadium: Victoria Ground

Bass Charity Vase

9 March 1902 1R Port Vale 1–1 Burton United Cobridge
Eardley Stadium: Athletic Ground
Attendance: poor
18 March 1902 Replay Burton United 5–1 Port Vale Burton upon Trent
Coxon Stadium: Peel Croft
Top scorer Adrian Capes.
Danny Simpson had his last season with the club.
Right-half Lucien Boullemier retired in October 1902 to concentrate on his pottery; he enjoyed a benefit match.
Half-back Harry Croxton.
Albert Cook played a cameo role.

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
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
GK England William Chadwick 2 0 0 0 1 0 3 0
GK England Harry Cotton 32 0 1 0 3 0 36 0
GK J.Powell 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0
FB England Tom Davies 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
FB England Ernest Mullineux 32 1 2 0 0 0 34 1
FB T.Boole 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0
FB England Arthur Hartshorne 28 3 2 0 2 0 32 3
HB England Ted Holdcroft 16 1 2 0 0 0 18 1
HB England Lucien Boullemier 7 0 0 0 1 0 8 0
HB W. H. Machin 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
HB England Albert Cook 4 1 0 0 1 0 5 1
HB England Harry Croxton 16 2 0 0 1 0 17 2
HB England Arthur Rowley 27 2 2 0 2 0 31 2
HB W. Perkins 31 1 2 0 2 0 35 1
FW England Billy Heames 33 2 2 0 0 0 35 2
FW England Bert Eardley 25 7 2 1 3 1 30 9
FW England George Rushton 2 2 0 0 0 0 2 2
FW England Arthur Bourne 3 0 0 0 0 0 3 0
FW England Tom Coxon 2 0 0 0 2 1 4 1
FW England Danny Simpson 6 1 0 0 0 0 6 1
FW England George Price 27 9 2 1 2 0 31 10
FW England Adrian Capes 33 16 2 2 2 0 37 18
FW Leonard Jones 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
FW Tom Simpson 11 1 0 0 2 0 13 1
FW William Tunstall 6 0 2 0 0 0 8 0
FW England William Loverseed 28 5 0 0 2 0 30 5

Top scorers

Place Position Nation Name Second Division FA Cup Other Total
1 FW  England Adrian Capes 16 2 0 18
2 FW  England George Price 9 1 0 10
3 FW  England Bert Eardley 7 1 1 9
4 FW  England William Loverseed 5 0 0 5
5 FB  England Arthur Hartshorne 3 0 0 3
6 FW  England Billy Heames 2 0 0 2
– HB  England Harry Croxton 2 0 0 2
– HB  England Arthur Rowley 2 0 0 2
– FW  England George Rushton 2 0 0 2
10 FW  England Albert Cook 1 0 0 1
– FW  England Tom Coxon 0 0 1 1
– FW  England Ted Holdcroft 1 0 0 1
– FB  England Ernest Mullineux 1 0 0 1
– HB W. Perkins 1 0 0 1
– FW  England Danny Simpson 1 0 0 1
– FW Tom Simpson 1 0 0 1
– – – Unknown 2 0 2 2
– – – Own goals 1 0 0 1
TOTALS 57 4 2 63

Transfers

Transfers in

Date from Position Nationality Name From Fee Ref.
May 1902 HB W. Perkins Newark Free transfer [3]
June 1902 FB England Arthur Hartshorne Wolverhampton Wanderers Free transfer [3]
June 1902 FW England William Loverseed Newark Free transfer [3]
September 1902 HB England Arthur Rowley Bristol Rovers Free transfer [3]
January 1903 FW England George Rushton Barrow Free transfer [3]
February 1903 FW England Edward Williams East Vale Free transfer [3]
March 1903 FB England James Hamilton Burslem Town Free transfer [3]
April 1903 FW England Dick Allman Burslem Higherhave Free transfer [3]

Transfers out

Date from Position Nationality Name To Fee Ref.
September 1902 HB England Lucien Boullemier United States Philadelphia Hibernian Released [3]
March 1903 HB England Ted Holdcroft Stoke £500 [3]
April 1903 FB England Arthur Hartshorne Stoke Unknown [3]
Summer 1903 FW Arthur Bourne Released [3]
Summer 1903 FB England Duncan Cooper Released [3]
Summer 1903 FB Tom Davies Released [3]
Summer 1903 FW Leonard Jones Released [3]
Summer 1903 FW England George Rushton Brighton & Hove Albion Free transfer [3]
Summer 1903 FW England Danny Simpson Released [3]

References

Specific
  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 1902–1903 : Results & Fixtures Archived 19 April 2010 at the Wayback Machine. Statto Organisation. Retrieved 28 April 2012.
  3. ^ 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.
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