1904–05 Burslem Port Vale F.C. season

Burslem Port Vale
1904–05 season
ChairmanRobert Audley
SecretarySam Gleaves
StadiumAthletic Ground
Football League Second Division16th (27 Points)
FA CupSixth Qualification Round
(knocked out by Barnsley)
Birmingham Senior CupSemi-final
(knocked out by West Bromwich Albion)
Staffordshire Senior CupFirst Round
(knocked out by Wolverhampton Wanderers)
Top goalscorerLeague: Dick Allman (8)
All: Dick Allman (8)
Highest home attendance5,000 vs Manchester United, 3 September 1904
Lowest home attendance500 vs Bradford City, 21 January 1905
vs, Doncaster Rovers, 18 March 1905
Average home league attendance2,536+
Biggest win3–0 vs. Grimsby Town, 5 November 1904
Biggest defeat1–8 vs. Liverpool, 8 April 1905

The 1904–05 season was Burslem Port Vale's seventh consecutive season (11th overall) of football in the English Football League.[1] They played home fixtures at the Athletic Ground under manager‑secretary Sam Gleaves and chairman Robert Audley. The club finished 16th in the league with 27 points (10 wins, 7 draws, 17 losses), scoring 47 goals and conceding 72. The club had to apply (successfully) for re-election and had to continue selling their best players to survive.

In cup competitions, Vale were eliminated in the Sixth Qualifying Round of the FA Cup by Barnsley, reached the Semi-final of the Birmingham Senior Cup before being knocked out by West Bromwich Albion, and exited the Staffordshire Senior Cup in the First Round after a defeat to Wolverhampton Wanderers. Dick Allman was the club's top scorer with eight goals across all competitions. Attendances varied, with a season-high of 5,000 spectators for the home fixture against Manchester United on 3 September 1904, while the lowest recorded crowd was 500 for matches against Bradford City on 21 January 1905 and Doncaster Rovers on 18 March 1905, giving an average attendance of approximately 2,536.

Bert Eardley, was in his sixth season with Vale.
George Price was, as ever, a vital member of the first team.
Adrian Capes failed to find the form that saw him the club's top scorer for the previous four seasons.

Overview

Second Division

A rather quiet pre-season saw no signings of note, however, past player, outside-right Dick Evans re-signed from Southampton in September.[1] This return was ended in his second game of the season – a Staffordshire Senior Cup defeat to Wolves – when he suffered a career-ending injury.[1] The league campaign opened with four consecutive draws, with a healthy 5,000 in attendance to see a 2–2 draw with Manchester United in which visiting fans turned up with "highly-coloured gamps" and "weird shrieking trumpets". Four defeats followed the draws despite the team playing some good football as the forwards were ineffective and Adrian Capes had lost his dangerous pace. The first win came on 29 October, as Burnley were beaten by three goals to one after Vale had trailed at the interval. On 5 November, the club's record 29 away games without a win streak came to an end with a 3–0 victory at Grimsby Town.[1] The next match saw Liverpool win 2–1 thanks to a goal that never actually crossed the line – the referee had to leave the pitch under escort.[1]

With results turning in the club's favour, the directors saw fit to sell both right-back Ernest Mullineux and forward Tom Simpson to First Division club Bury for a total of £800. Vale subsequently were beaten by league leaders Bolton Wanderers and a 4–2 defeat at Bristol City came after the players felt stiff after a long wait at Birmingham train station. They claimed a 1–0 victory at West Bromwich Albion on Boxing Day despite the bus driver taking the team to Villa Park by mistake. Only two points were gained in the next five matches, however, including a 6–1 defeat to Manchester United at Bank Street. Following a 1–0 home loss to third-from-bottom Glossop, 'The Placer' of The Staffordshire Sentinel commented that "eleven lads from the street could give a better exposition of the game". On 11 February, they found themselves three goals down at Barnsley after only 18 minutes, though no more goals were scored in the remaining 72.[1]

In February, the club's revival was helped by new signing Robert Carter[1] Carter scored two goals on his debut in a 3–2 victory over West Bromwich Albion. Vale went on to win five of their last six home games, though they lost their remaining seven away matches. The away defeats included a 5–0 beating at Burnley. The one home reversal came at the hands of Leicester Fosse on 3 April, who roughed up their hosts. An 8–1 thrashing came at Anfield as Liverpool's "superiority was never in doubt". Management continued to shuffle players around, and the team put up " a better fight than expected" in a 3–1 loss at Bolton Wanderers. Vale needed to win at Chesterfield Town on the final day to escape a re-election vote, but good chances were squandered and two goals were conceding whilst kicking down the slope as Vale lost 2–1.[1]

The club finished in 16th place, though their 27 points saw them just one point off Blackpool and six points off seventh place. Burton United and Doncaster Rovers both finished well below Vale, and at the end of the season, both Vale and Burton were re-elected.[1] Dick Allman was the top scorer with eight goals, though scoring proved to be a team effort to give Vale a reasonable total of 47 league goals. However, in defensive terms the season was awful, their 72 conceded would always guarantee a battle against dropping into the lottery of the re-election zones.[1]

Allman left for Reading at the season's end.[1] Harry Croxton was an ever-present, and other regulars included goalkeeper Harry Cotton, and outfielders Sam Whittingham, Joseph Holyhead, George Price, and Adrian Capes. Club secretary Sam Gleaves stepped down at the end of the season and was given the position of director. His replacement, with the position of manager-secretary, was former player Tommy Clare.[1]

Finances

Player sales gave the club a season profit of £140 and reduced club debt to just £33. However, gate receipts had fallen by £150.[1] The directors opted to pay players summer wages again in order to attract better quality players.[1]

Cup competitions

The club came up against tough competition in both county cup competitions, losing 1–0 to Wolverhampton Wanderers in the first round of the Staffordshire Senior Cup.[1] They found rather more success in the Birmingham Senior Cup, where Vale defeated rivals Stoke with a Tom Simpson hat-trick at home, following a goalless draw at the Victoria Ground.[1] This achievement was less significant due to a slight from Stoke, who only sent out their reserve team.[1] Vale complained to the Birmingham FA as they had lost our on gate receipts as spectators stayed away, but the FA replied that Stoke were to go unpunished. Vale then lost in the semi-final to Second Division rivals West Bromwich Albion.[1] The club yet again failed to qualify for the FA Cup, losing narrowly to Barnsley in the qualification stages.[1]

League table

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GAv Pts Promotion or relegation
14 Leicester Fosse 34 11 7 16 40 55 0.727 29
15 Blackpool 34 9 10 15 36 48 0.750 28
16 Burslem Port Vale 34 10 7 17 47 72 0.653 27 Re-elected
17 Burton United 34 8 4 22 30 84 0.357 20
18 Doncaster Rovers (R) 34 3 2 29 23 81 0.284 8 Failed re-election and demoted
Source:
(R) Relegated


Results

Football League Second Division

Main article: 1904–05 Football League

Results by matchday

Round12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031323334
GroundHHAHAHAHHAHAAHAAAHHAAHAHAHAHHAAHHA
ResultDDDDLLLLWWLDWLLWLLDDLWLWLWLWLLLWWL
Position11796131315161510111111121512141516151616161616151616161616161616
Points12344444688911111113131314151517171919212123232323252727
Source: Statto[2]
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

Matches

3 September 1904 1 Port Vale 2–2 Manchester United Cobridge
Bowen
Allman 		Stadium: Athletic Ground
Attendance: 5,000
5 September 1904 2 Port Vale 2–2 Blackpool Cobridge
Capes
Eardley 		Stadium: Athletic Ground
10 September 1904 3 Glossop 0–0 Port Vale Glossop
Stadium: North Road
Attendance: 4,000
17 September 1904 4 Port Vale 0–0 Chesterfield Town Cobridge
Stadium: Athletic Ground
Attendance: 3,500
24 September 1904 5 Bradford City 2–1 Port Vale Bradford
Holyhead Stadium: Valley Parade
Attendance: 10,000
1 October 1904 6 Port Vale 0–1 Lincoln City Cobridge
Stadium: Athletic Ground
8 October 1904 7 Leicester Fosse 3–0 Port Vale Leicester
Stadium: Filbert Street
Attendance: 3,000
15 October 1904 8 Port Vale 0–2 Barnsley Cobridge
Stadium: Athletic Ground
Attendance: 3,000
29 October 1904 9 Port Vale 3–1 Burnley Cobridge
Simpson
Mountford 		Stadium: Athletic Ground
Attendance: 1,500
5 November 1904 10 Grimsby Town 0–3 Port Vale Cleethorpes
Mountford
Simpson
Price 		Stadium: Blundell Park
Attendance: 2,500
12 November 1904 11 Port Vale 1–2 Liverpool Cobridge
Price Stadium: Athletic Ground
Attendance: 3,000
19 November 1904 12 Port Vale 2–2 Doncaster Rovers Cobridge
Eardley
o.g. 		Stadium: Athletic Ground
Attendance: 1,800
3 December 1904 13 Burton United 2–3 Port Vale Burton upon Trent
Eardley
Simpson 		Stadium: Peel Croft
17 December 1904 14 Port Vale 1–2 Bolton Wanderers Cobridge
Whittingham Stadium: Athletic Ground
Attendance: 3,000
24 December 1904 15 Bristol City 4–2 Port Vale Ashton Gate, Bristol
Allman Stadium: Ashton Gate
Attendance: 6,000
26 December 1904 16 West Bromwich Albion 0–1 Port Vale West Bromwich
Allman Stadium: The Hawthorns
Attendance: 3,000
31 December 1904 17 Manchester United 6–1 Port Vale Clayton, Manchester
Price Stadium: Bank Street
Attendance: 15,000
7 January 1905 18 Port Vale 0–1 Glossop Cobridge
Stadium: Athletic Ground
Attendance: 2,000
21 January 1905 19 Port Vale 1–1 Bradford City Cobridge
Croxton Stadium: Athletic Ground
Attendance: 1,000
28 January 1905 20 Lincoln City 3–3 Port Vale Lincoln
Croxton
Capes
Cope 		Stadium: Sincil Bank
Attendance: 3,000
11 February 1905 21 Barnsley 3–0 Port Vale Barnsley
Stadium: Oakwell
18 February 1905 22 Port Vale 3–2 West Bromwich Albion Cobridge
Carter
Allman 		Stadium: Athletic Ground
Attendance: 3,500
25 February 1905 23 Burnley 5–0 Port Vale Burnley
Stadium: Turf Moor
Attendance: 1,000
4 March 1905 24 Port Vale 2–0 Grimsby Town Cobridge
Capes
Whittingham 		Stadium: Athletic Ground
Attendance: 2,000
11 March 1905 25 Blackpool 3–0 Port Vale Blackpool
Stadium: Bloomfield Road
Attendance: 1,400
18 March 1905 26 Port Vale 2–0 Doncaster Rovers Cobridge
Price
Whittingham 		Stadium: Athletic Ground
Attendance: 1,000
25 March 1905 27 Gainsborough Trinity 1–0 Port Vale Gainsborough, Lincolnshire
Stadium: The Northolme
1 April 1905 28 Port Vale 4–2 Burton United Cobridge
Allman
Price
Carter
Mountford 		Stadium: Athletic Ground
3 April 1905 29 Port Vale 1–3 Leicester Fosse Cobridge
Allman Stadium: Athletic Ground
Attendance: 2,000
8 April 1905 30 Liverpool 8–1 Port Vale Liverpool
Croxton Stadium: Anfield
Attendance: 14,000
15 April 1905 31 Bolton Wanderers 3–1 Port Vale Bolton
Horrocks Stadium: Burnden Park
Attendance: 12,000
21 April 1905 32 Port Vale 3–2 Gainsborough Trinity Cobridge
Horrocks
Carter
Thomas 		Stadium: Athletic Ground
Attendance: 3,000
22 April 1905 33 Port Vale 3–2 Bristol City Cobridge
Allman
Capes
Carter 		Stadium: Athletic Ground
Attendance: 2,000
24 April 1905 34 Chesterfield Town 2–1 Port Vale Chesterfield, Derbyshire
Price Stadium: Saltergate
Attendance: 4,000

FA Cup

Main article: 1904–05 FA Cup
10 December 1904 6Q Barnsley 0–0 Port Vale Barnsley
Stadium: Oakwell
Attendance: 2,000
15 December 1904 Replay Port Vale 1–2 Barnsley Cobridge
Loverseed Stadium: Athletic Ground

Birmingham Senior Cup

26 September 1904 1R Stoke 0–0 Port Vale Stoke-upon-Trent
Stadium: Victoria Ground
3 October 1904 Replay Port Vale 3–1 Stoke Cobridge
Simpson Stadium: Athletic Ground
22 October 1904 Semi-final West Bromwich Albion 2–1 Port Vale West Bromwich
Price Stadium: The Hawthorns
Attendance: 3,000

Staffordshire Senior Cup

12 September 1904 1R Port Vale 0–1 Wolverhampton Wanderers Cobridge
Stadium: Athletic Ground
Attendance: handful
Right-back Ernest Mullineux was sold for £600.
Half-back Harry Croxton was an ever-present.
Albert Cook as usual made only sporadic appearances.

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 Harry Cotton 31 0 2 0 3 0 36 0
GK England Arthur Box 3 0 0 0 1 0 4 0
FB England Ernest Mullineux 13 0 0 0 4 0 17 0
FB England James Hamilton 23 0 2 0 0 0 25 0
FB England William Cope 22 1 2 0 1 0 25 1
FB Thomas Reaney 3 0 0 0 0 0 3 0
HB England Harry Croxton 34 3 2 0 4 0 40 3
HB England Sam Whittingham 31 3 2 0 4 0 37 3
HB England William Bradbury 3 0 0 0 1 0 4 0
HB England Joseph Holyhead 33 1 2 0 3 0 38 1
HB England Vic Horrocks 4 2 0 0 0 0 4 2
HB England Ben Jones 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
HB England Albert Cook 5 0 0 0 0 0 5 0
FW England Bert Eardley 16 4 2 0 1 0 19 4
FW England Robert Carter 14 5 0 0 0 0 14 5
FW England George Bowen 6 1 0 0 1 0 7 1
FW England George Price 29 6 2 0 3 1 34 7
FW England Adrian Capes 30 4 2 0 3 0 35 4
FW Tom Simpson 10 4 0 0 3 3 13 7
FW England William Loverseed 2 0 2 1 1 0 5 1
FW England Dick Allman 27 8 0 0 2 0 29 8
FW England Harry Mountford 24 3 2 0 2 0 28 3
FW England William Thomas 2 1 0 0 0 0 2 1
FW Edward Williams 5 0 0 0 1 0 6 0
FW Enoch Rowley 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
FW England Dick Evans 1 0 0 0 1 0 2 0
FW W. Edwards 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0

Top scorers

Place Position Nation Name Second Division FA Cup Other Total
1 FW  England Dick Allman 8 0 0 8
2 FW Tom Simpson 4 0 3 7
– FW  England George Price 6 0 1 7
4 FW  England Robert Carter 5 0 0 5
5 FW  England Adrian Capes 4 0 0 4
– FW  England Bert Eardley 4 0 0 4
7 FW  England Harry Mountford 3 0 0 3
– HB  England Sam Whittingham 3 0 0 3
– HB  England Harry Croxton 3 0 0 3
10 HB  England Vic Horrocks 2 0 0 2
11 FW  England George Bowen 1 0 0 1
– FB  England William Cope 1 0 0 1
– HB  England Joseph Holyhead 1 0 0 1
– FW  England William Thomas 1 0 0 1
– FW  England William Loverseed 0 1 0 1
– – – Own goals 1 0 0 1
TOTALS 47 1 4 52

Transfers

Transfers in

Date from Position Nationality Name From Fee Ref.
1904 FW England Robert Carter Selbourne Free transfer [3]
August 1904 FW England George Bowen Wolverhampton Wanderers Free transfer [3]
August 1904 GK England Arthur Box Stoke Free transfer [3]
August 1904 FB England William Cope Mount Pleasant Free transfer [3]
August 1904 FW W. Edwards Crewe Alexandra Free transfer [3]
August 1904 HB England Ben Jones Alsagers Bank Church Free transfer [3]
August 1904 FB Thomas Reaney Bridgetown Amateurs Free transfer [3]
September 1904 FW England Dick Evans Southampton Free transfer [3]
September 1904 FW Enoch Rowley Biddulph Free transfer [3]
April 1905 HB Vic Horrocks Goldenhill United Free transfer [3]

Transfers out

Date from Position Nationality Name To Fee Ref.
1904 FW England Dick Evans Retired [3]
December 1904 FB England Ernest Mullineux Bury £600 [3]
December 1904 FW Tom Simpson Bury £200 [3]
May 1905 FW England Dick Allman Reading Free transfer [3]
Summer 1905 FW England George Bowen Released [3]
Summer 1905 GK Harry Cotton Crewe Alexandra Free transfer [3]
Summer 1905 FW England Sam Howshall Salisbury City Free transfer [3]
Summer 1905 FW England William Loverseed Released [3]
Summer 1905 HB W. H. Machin Released [3]
Summer 1905 FB Thomas Reaney Released [3]
Summer 1905 FW Enoch Rowley Released [3]
Summer 1905 FW England Edward Williams Released [3]

References

Specific
  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s 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 1904–1905 : 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 r s t u v 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.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 unless otherwise noted. Additional terms may apply for the media files.