1926–27 Port Vale F.C. season

Port Vale

1926–27 season
Chairman	Frank Huntbach
Secretary-manager	Joe Schofield
Stadium	Old Recreation Ground
Football League Second Division	8th (45 Points)
FA Cup	Fourth Round (knocked out by Arsenal)
North Staffordshire Infirmary Cup	Runners-up (knocked out by Stoke)
Top goalscorer	League: Wilf Kirkham (38) All: Wilf Kirkham (41)
Highest home attendance	21,056 vs. Middlesbrough, 15 April 1927
Lowest home attendance	5,327 vs. Grimsby Town, 20 November 1926
Average home league attendance	10,736
Biggest win	7–1 vs. Fulham, 2 April 1927
Biggest defeat	0–5 vs. Stoke, 5 May 1927
Home colours

The 1926–27 season was Port Vale's eighth consecutive season of football (21st overall) in the English Football League.^[1] Under the management of Joe Schofield and the chairmanship of Frank Huntbach, the club secured 45 points from 16 wins, 13 draws, and 13 losses. This performance placed them nine points shy of promotion to the top tier, and for the first time in the club's history, they played in a higher division than their local rivals, Stoke City.

A standout feature of the season was the prolific performance of forward Wilf Kirkham, who set a club record by scoring 38 league goals and 41 goals in all competitions. His remarkable tally included six braces, four hat-tricks, and a four-goal game. Kirkham's contributions were instrumental in Vale's attacking success. Defensively, right-back Jack Maddock played all 42 league matches, and goalkeeper Tom Fern made 41 appearances, showcasing the team's consistency in key positions.

In cup competitions, Vale advanced to the Fourth Round of the FA Cup, defeating Clapton Orient in a replay before facing First Division Arsenal. After a draw at home, they were narrowly defeated 1–0 at Highbury. In the North Staffordshire Infirmary Cup, Vale were runners-up, losing 5–0 to Stoke City in the final. Despite the heavy defeat, the match raised £365 for the local hospital.

Off the pitch, the club faced financial challenges and sought to relocate back to the Old Recreation Ground. However, negotiations with the council were unsuccessful, as they offered only £20,000 for the land at the Old Recreation Ground and refused to waive the first option on a repurchase, effectively ending the club's relocation plans. The season concluded with Port Vale maintaining their position in the Second Division, continuing their steady presence in English football's second tier.

The pre-season additions included Stoke left-half Vic Rouse and Stockport County half-back George Whitcombe.^[1]

The season started with just one defeat in the opening ten games, the defeat coming in a "thrilling" 4–2 loss at relegation candidates Darlington two days after the 2–1 opening day victory at Bradford City. Vale came from behind to draw 4–4 at Preston North End. The run concluded with a disappointing 1–1 home draw with bottom club Wolverhampton Wanderers. Going into October, the club suffered from injuries, meaning that four of the five games that month ended in defeat, with just two goals scored.^[1] Goalkeeper Tom Fern was one of the injured, and so 44-year-old Howard Matthews was re-signed, having left the club 19 years earlier.^[1] To boost the strike-force Stewart Littlewood and Jack Simms were signed from Luton Town and Leek Alexandra respectively.^[1] The week after a 6–2 defeat at Fulham, the "Valiants" returned to thrash Grimsby Town 6–1, Kirkham bagging a hat-trick.^[1]

On 18 December, Vale lost 2–0 at home to Nottingham Forest after Jack Maddock put two penalties wide of the goal.^[1] Littlewood made his debut on Christmas Day, scoring two goals in a 2–1 win at Clapton Orient. The return fixture, two days later, saw a 3–0 win, though Billy Briscoe had to go to the North Staffordshire Royal Infirmary with concussion. Vale suffered a 5–2 defeat at Middlesbrough on New Year's Day after Tom Page picked up an injury early in the match. On 5 February, Howard Matthews had to be carried off the pitch after suffering a serious injury at South Shields, though a Kirkham hat-trick secured the Vale a 3–3 draw. Later that month, Alfred Strange felt unsettled, and so was transferred to The Wednesday in exchange for Harry Anstiss and an unknown sum of money.^[1] Strange would later win twenty caps for England in his 30s. In contrast, Anstiss settled in well at the Vale, scoring eleven goals in 15 league games during his debut season.^[1] Kirkham claimed another hat-trick in a 6–2 win over Notts County to take his club tally to one hundred goals.^[1]

A 4–1 defeat at Manchester City on 12 March was the first of three successive defeats as the team experimented with short passing tactics. Jack Lowe missed the game with an ankle sprain, ending his run of 123 consecutive appearances.^[1] As the season drew to a close, secretary Joe Schofield was made manager, meaning he was better able to work with the younger players.^[1] On 2 April, more direct tactics helped to secure a 7–1 home win over Fulham as Kirkham scored four goals with he visitors "outpaced and overwhelmed". A 3–1 home win over league leaders Middlesbrough on 15 April ended the visitors' 22-game unbeaten run as Kirkham claimed his fifth hat-trick of the campaign. The Old Recreation Ground suffered a crowd crush, though nobody was killed despite several barriers and railings being damaged by the mass of bodies. The campaign ended with an eighth-place finish, with Kirkham scoring 38 of the 88 league goals.^[1]

On the financial side, the club wished to move back to the Old Recreation Ground due to the lack of space to develop The Old Recreation Ground.^[1] However, the council would only offer £20,000 for the land at the Old Rec, and refused to waive the first option on a repurchase, thereby killing the club's ambitions.^[1]

In the FA Cup, Vale made it through to the fourth round after taking Clapton Orient to a replay, having conceded an equaliser in the original fixture after stopping play when a whistle was blown in the crowd. This came just two weeks after they had played the club twice during the Christmas period.^[1] They then faced First Division club Arsenal and played out a 2–2 draw at the Old Recreation Ground after Jimmy Brain scored a last-minute equaliser for the visitors.^[2] The "Gunners" won the replay by a goal to nil at Highbury, before going on to lose in the final.^[1] Vale had led 2–1 in he original tie, before conceding a late equaliser, which was celebrated by manager Herbert Chapman throwing his bowler hat onto the pitch in glee. Vale's hard work in the tournament earned them over £4,000 in gate receipts.^[1] On 5 May 1927, Vale played Potteries derby rivals Stoke City in the North Staffordshire Royal Infirmary Cup, and lost an embarrassing 5–0 to the Third Division North champions.^[1] However, £365 was raised for the local hospital.^[3]

Bradford City v Port Vale

28 August 1926 1	Bradford City	1–2	Port Vale	Bradford
			Kirkham Strange	Stadium: Valley Parade Attendance: 14,077

Darlington v Port Vale

30 August 1926 2	Darlington	4–3	Port Vale	Darlington
			Maddock Lowe Kirkham	Stadium: Feethams Attendance: 6,081

Preston North End v Port Vale

11 September 1926 4	Preston North End	4–4	Port Vale	Preston, Lancashire
			Maddock pen' Lowe Page Kirkham	Stadium: Deepdale Attendance: 18,960

Southampton v Port Vale

13 September 1926 5	Southampton	2–2	Port Vale	Southampton
			Page Briscoe	Stadium: The Dell Attendance: 8,681

Port Vale v South Shields

18 September 1926 6	Port Vale	4–2	South Shields	Hanley
	Lowe Kirkham			Stadium: Old Recreation Ground Attendance: 12,474

Port Vale v Darlington

20 September 1926 7	Port Vale	3–2	Darlington	Hanley
	Lowe Page Strange			Stadium: Old Recreation Ground Attendance: 8,827

Port Vale v Southampton

27 September 1926 9	Port Vale	3–1	Southampton	Hanley
	Page Briscoe			Stadium: Old Recreation Ground Attendance: 9,594

Port Vale v Wolverhampton Wanderers

2 October 1926 10	Port Vale	1–1	Wolverhampton Wanderers	Hanley
	Briscoe			Stadium: Old Recreation Ground Attendance: 14,083

Notts County v Port Vale

9 October 1926 11	Notts County	2–1	Port Vale	Nottingham
			Maddison	Stadium: Meadow Lane Attendance: 11,838

Port Vale v Oldham Athletic

6 November 1926 15	Port Vale	3–0	Oldham Athletic	Hanley
	Kirkham Simms			Stadium: Old Recreation Ground Attendance: 7,339

Fulham v Port Vale

13 November 1926 16	Fulham	6–2	Port Vale	Fulham, West London
			Lowe Kirkham	Stadium: Craven Cottage Attendance: 3,102

Port Vale v Grimsby Town

20 November 1926 17	Port Vale	6–1	Grimsby Town	Hanley
	Kirkham Maddock Lowe Simms			Stadium: Old Recreation Ground Attendance: 5,327

Blackpool v Port Vale

27 November 1926 18	Blackpool	2–2	Port Vale	Blackpool
			Strange	Stadium: Bloomfield Road Attendance: 7,656

Port Vale v Reading

4 December 1926 19	Port Vale	1–1	Reading	Hanley
	Kirkham			Stadium: Old Recreation Ground Attendance: 9,340

Swansea City v Port Vale

11 December 1926 20	Swansea City	2–2	Port Vale	Swansea
			Kirkham Simms	Stadium: Vetch Field Attendance: 16,344

Clapton Orient v Port Vale

25 December 1926 22	Clapton Orient	1–2	Port Vale	Clapton, London
			Littlewood	Stadium: Clapton Stadium Attendance: 14,378

Port Vale v Clapton Orient

27 December 1926 23	Port Vale	3–0	Clapton Orient	Hanley
	Kirkham Briscoe			Stadium: Old Recreation Ground Attendance: 16,457

Middlesbrough v Port Vale

1 January 1927 24	Middlesbrough	5–2	Port Vale	Middlesbrough
			Kirkham pen'	Stadium: Ayresome Park Attendance: 26,163

South Shields v Port Vale

5 February 1927 26	South Shields	3–3	Port Vale	South Shields
			Kirkham	Stadium: Horsley Hill Attendance: 4,603

Port Vale v Notts County

26 February 1927 28	Port Vale	6–2	Notts County	Hanley
	Kirkham Connelly Page Anstiss			Stadium: Old Recreation Ground Attendance: 9,368

Port Vale v Barnsley

5 March 1927 29	Port Vale	3–2	Barnsley	Hanley
	Briscoe Page Kirkham			Stadium: Old Recreation Ground Attendance: 8,452

Manchester City v Port Vale

12 March 1927 30	Manchester City	4–1	Port Vale	Manchester
			Page	Stadium: Maine Road Attendance: 34,281

Port Vale v Portsmouth

19 March 1927 32	Port Vale	2–3	Portsmouth	Hanley
	Briscoe Simms			Stadium: Old Recreation Ground Attendance: 10,972

Oldham Athletic v Port Vale

26 March 1927 33	Oldham Athletic	1–3	Port Vale	Oldham
			Anstiss Kirkham	Stadium: Boundary Park Attendance: 4,419

Port Vale v Preston North End

28 March 1927 34	Port Vale	2–0	Preston North End	Hanley
	Anstiss Briscoe			Stadium: Old Recreation Ground Attendance: 8,388

Port Vale v Fulham

2 April 1927 35	Port Vale	7–1	Fulham	Hanley
	Kirkham Anstiss			Stadium: Old Recreation Ground Attendance: 7,642

Grimsby Town v Port Vale

9 April 1927 36	Grimsby Town	4–4	Port Vale	Cleethorpes
			Page Kirkham Lowe Anstiss	Stadium: Blundell Park Attendance: 8,717

Port Vale v Middlesbrough

15 April 1927 37	Port Vale	3–1	Middlesbrough	Hanley
	Kirkham			Stadium: Old Recreation Ground Attendance: 21,056

Port Vale v Blackpool

16 April 1927 38	Port Vale	2–4	Blackpool	Hanley
	Anstiss Kirkham			Stadium: Old Recreation Ground Attendance: 10,749

Wolverhampton Wanderers v Port Vale

19 April 1927 39	Wolverhampton Wanderers	1–2	Port Vale	Wolverhampton
			Kirkham Anstiss	Stadium: Molineux Stadium Attendance: 11,628

Port Vale v Swansea City

30 April 1927 41	Port Vale	1–1	Swansea City	Hanley
	Kirkham			Stadium: Old Recreation Ground Attendance: 7,483

Nottingham Forest v Port Vale

7 May 1927 42	Nottingham Forest	0–3	Port Vale	West Bridgford
			Anstiss Kirkham	Stadium: City Ground Attendance: 5,455

Clapton Orient v Port Vale

8 January 1927 R3	Clapton Orient	1–1	Port Vale	Clapton, London
			Simms	Stadium: Clapton Stadium Attendance: 17,965

Port Vale v Clapton Orient

12 January 1927 Replay	Port Vale	5–1	Clapton Orient	Hanley
	Kirkham Page Strange Simms			Stadium: Old Recreation Ground Attendance: 11,450

Port Vale v Arsenal

29 January 1927 R4	Port Vale	2–2	Arsenal	Hanley
	Parker og.' Kirkham			Stadium: Old Recreation Ground Attendance: 18,000

Key to positions: GK – Goalkeeper; FB – Full back; HB – Half back; FW – Forward

Pos.	Name	Football League		FA Cup		Other		Total
		Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
GK	Tom Fern	11	0	0	0	0	0	11	0
GK	George Holdcroft	6	0	0	0	0	0	6	0
GK	Howard Matthews	21	0	4	0	1	0	26	0
GK	Alex Binnie	4	0	0	0	0	0	4	0
FB	Jimmy Oakes	40	0	4	0	1	0	45	0
FB	Jack Maddock	39	3	2	0	1	0	42	3
FB	Billy Wootton	5	0	2	0	0	0	7	0
HB	Bob Connelly	39	1	3	0	1	0	43	1
HB	Roger Jones	7	0	0	0	0	0	7	0
HB	Arden Maddison	15	1	0	0	0	0	15	1
HB	Alfred Strange	24	4	4	1	0	0	28	5
HB	Herbert Smith	13	0	3	0	0	0	16	0
HB	George Whitcombe	21	0	3	0	0	0	24	0
HB	Vic Rouse	29	0	3	0	1	0	33	0
FW	Jack Lowe	40	8	4	0	1	0	45	8
FW	Fred Smith	2	0	0	0	0	0	2	0
FW	Jack Simms	21	4	4	2	0	0	25	6
FW	Phil Griffiths	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	0
FW	Tom Page	34	9	3	1	1	0	38	10
FW	Wilf Kirkham	41	38	4	3	1	0	46	41
FW	Billy Briscoe	30	7	1	0	1	0	32	7
FW	Arthur Ecclestone	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	0
FW	Stewart Littlewood	2	2	0	0	0	0	2	2
FW	Percy Oldacre	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	0
FW	Harry Anstiss	15	11	0	0	1	0	16	11
FW	Charles Heinemann	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0

Place	Position	Nation	Name	Second Division	FA Cup	Infirmary Cup	Total
1	FW	England	Wilf Kirkham	38	3	0	41
2	FW	England	Harry Anstiss	11	0	0	11
3	FW	England	Tom Page	9	1	0	10
4	FW	England	Jack Lowe	8	0	0	8
5	FW	England	Billy Briscoe	7	0	0	7
6	FW	England	Jack Simms	4	2	0	6
7	HB	England	Alfred Strange	4	1	0	5
8	FB	England	Jack Maddock	3	0	0	3
9	FW	England	Stewart Littlewood	2	0	0	2
10	HB	Scotland	Bob Connelly	1	0	0	1
–	HB	England	Arden Maddison	1	0	0	1
–	–	–	Own goals	0	1	0	0
			TOTALS	88	8	0	96

Date from	Position	Nationality	Name	From	Fee	Ref.
May 1926	FW		Jack Mandley	Blythe Bridge	Boothen Vics	[5]
June 1926	GK		George Holdcroft	Whitfield Colliery	Free transfer	[5]
June 1926	FW		Jack Simms	Leek Alexandra	Free transfer	[5]
August 1926	FW		Phil Griffiths	Wattstown	Free transfer	[5]
August 1926	FW		Percy Oldacre	Sheffield United	Free transfer	[5]
August 1926	HB		Vic Rouse	Swansea Town	Free transfer	[5]
August 1926	HB		George Whitcombe	Stockport County	Free transfer	[5]
September 1926	GK		Howard Matthews	Partick Thistle	Trial	[5]
November 1926	FW		Stewart Littlewood	Luton Town	Free transfer	[5]
October 1926	GK		Howard Matthews	Oldham Athletic	Free transfer	[5]
February 1927	FW		Harry Anstiss	Sheffield Wednesday	Exchange + 'substantial' fee	[5]

Date from	Position	Nationality	Name	To	Fee	Ref.
October 1926	GK		Howard Matthews	Hamilton Academicals	Trial ended	[5]
January 1927	FW		Tom Reid	Clapton Orient	£230	[5]
February 1927	HB		Alfred Strange	Sheffield Wednesday	'Substantial'	[5]
May 1927	HB		Arden Maddison	Oldham Athletic	Released	[5]
Summer 1927	GK		Sidney Brown	Gillingham	Released	[5]
Summer 1927	GK		Tom Fern	Colwyn Bay United	Free transfer	[5]
Summer 1927	FW		Percy Oldacre	Hurst	Released	[5]
Summer 1927	FW		Fred Smith		Released	[5]

Specific

General

• Kent, Jeff (1993). The Port Vale Record 1879-1993. Witan Books. ISBN 0-9508981-9-8.