1931–32 Port Vale F.C. season

Port Vale
1931–32 season
Chairman	Frank Huntbach
Manager	Tom Morgan
Stadium	Old Recreation Ground
Football League Second Division	20th (33 Points)
FA Cup	Fourth Round; (knocked out by Leicester City)
North Staffordshire Royal Infirmary Cup	Runners-up; (knocked out by Stoke)
Top goalscorer	League: Tom Nolan, Tom Tippett (8 each); All: Tom Nolan (11)
Highest home attendance	21,089 vs. Stoke, 6 February 1932
Lowest home attendance	3,436 vs. Oldham Athletic, 25 January 1932
Average home league attendance	9,564
Biggest win	3–0 (twice) and 4–1
Biggest defeat	0–7 vs. Stoke, 9 May 1932
	Home colours
	Home colours

The 1931–32 season was Port Vale's 26th season of football in the English Football League and their second-successive season (25th overall) in the Second Division.^[1] After their impressive fifth‑place finish in 1930–31, hopes were high, but Vale instead endured a difficult season, finishing 20th in the Second Division with just 33 points, scraping above relegation only on goal average over Barnsley.

Manager Tom Morgan oversaw a largely underwhelming league campaign, though one bright moment arrived in February when Vale beat Potteries derby rivals Stoke 3–0 at the Old Recreation Ground, denting Stoke's promotion hopes. However, Stoke won the North Staffordshire Royal Infirmary Cup, routing Vale 7–0, and the result soon preceded Morgan's departure as manager. Emerging as a key player in a troubling season was Tom Nolan, who made his debut and finished as top scorer with 11 goals in all competitions, including 8 in the league — a promising output for a first season senior squad member.

In the FA Cup, Port Vale advanced to the Fourth Round before elimination, more or less a repeat of the previous season's cup run. Off the pitch, Vale's average home attendance dipped to just 9,564, with league attendances peaking at 21,089 against Stoke in February. The club's decline from a top‑five finish to a relegation fight marked a sobering downturn after the optimism of 1930–31.

Overview

Second Division

The pre-season saw the departure of Phil Griffiths to Second Division champions Everton for £6,000; whilst Jack Simms and Harry Anstiss departed for Swansea Town.^[1] In came Dicky York, Arthur Dorrell, Billy Easton, Tom Tippett, and George Poyser.^[1] Dorrell and York arrived from First Division runners-up Aston Villa, and the ageing wingers had England caps to their names.^[1] Easton had a proven goalscoring record at Swansea, and Tippett and Pyser arrived from Rochdale and Mansfield Town respectively.^[1] Big things were expected, and season ticket sales were up by 300% on the previous season.^[1]

The season began with a 3–1 win at Plymouth Argyle's Home Park, with Sam Jennings scoring a brace.^[1] The first home match took place in front of a new £10,351 stand, yet Leeds United took home the points.^[1] In September, Jennings was sold to Stockport County, and Stewart Littlewood took his place in the first XI.^[1] Two close run victories followed that saw eleven goals scored, however, performances tailed off until 26 September when Stoke City romped to a 4–0 victory at the Victoria Ground.^[1] "Inferior in all departments", the "Valiants" changed their line-up following the defeat, 'resting' Littlewood – this resulted in a four-match unbeaten streak.^[1] The next month saw the arrival of centre-forward Tom Nolan from Manchester Central.^[1] Harry Marshall was attracting praise for his performances in the half-back role. However, Tippett was criticised for his lack of goals.^[1] Due to the Great Depression, the bank refused to allow an extension to the club's £5,000 overdraft. So, the club controversially notified other clubs that it would consider offers for its players to raise the funds to buy new players.^[1]

On 21 November, they lost 9–3 to Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane despite having led 2–1 at 35 minutes before Tom Tippett was forced off with an ankle injury.^[1] This twelve-goal match is still a club record. On 12 December, they suffered the division's biggest home defeat of the season, going down 7–1 to eventual free-scoring champions Wolverhampton Wanderers.^[1] Going into their Boxing Day win over Notts County they had lost seven of their previous nine games, conceding 33 goals. A holiday break in Llandudno seemed to raise the team's spirits, as two further 2–0 victories followed.^[1]

In January, Wilf Kirkham was re-signed from Stoke to the delight of fans.^[1] On 6 February, he took part in a morale-boosting 3–0 home win over Stoke in front of 21,089 fans – an attendance that raised £1,350 of funds.^[1] The referee T.Crew also enjoyed the game, congratulating both sides on a sporting display that "was the most pleasurable game he had ever officiated".^[1] Vale followed this by picking just four points in their next 13 games to almost certainly doom the club to relegation – crucially though were the two points they earned from a 3–0 win over Barnsley.^[1] With two games to go they were three points (and inferior goal average) behind the Tykes.^[1] After a 2–1 win over Chesterfield matched by a 4–1 home defeat by Barnsley, they were just behind by a single point.^[1] Vale's final game of the season was against already promoted second place Leeds United, unbeaten at Elland Road since September, and a 'convincing' 2–0 victory followed thanks to goals from Littlewood and Tippett.^[1]^[2] Barnsley only managed a 2–2 draw, and so Vale leapfrogged Barnsley to reach the safety of 20th place.^[1]

They finished 20th due to their superior goal average.^[1] However, with 58 goals scored, their attack was the third worst in the division, whilst their 89 goals conceded made them the second leakiest defence in the division.^[1] Lacking a consistent goalscorer, top-scorers Nolan and Tippett failed to reach twenty goals between them.^[1] Losing half their games, their statistic of nine home defeats was particularly worrying.^[1]

Lucky to still be a second-tier club, a clear-out followed.^[1] Impressive Harry Marshall was sold to Tottenham Hotspur, whilst 323 league-game eleven-year club veteran Bob Connelly was handed a free transfer to Congleton Town.^[1] Joseph Chell and Clarence Spencer were also released, signing for Stoke City and Norwich City respectively.^[1] Arthur Dorrell and Dicky York's best days were well behind them, as Dorrell retired and York signed with Brierley Hill Alliance.^[1] Manager Tom Morgan meanwhile reverted to his old position as assistant secretary, replaced at the helm by former manager Tom Holford.^[1]

Finances

On the financial side, gate receipts were at £12,170 – their lowest total since re-joining the Football League in 1919.^[1] However, 'rigid economy' ensured a profit of £873.^[1]

Cup competitions

In the FA Cup, they travelled to Brighton & Hove Albion's Goldstone Ground of the Third Division South. They progressed with a 2–1 victory thanks to two strikes from Nolan. Coming up against First Division Leicester City in the fourth round, they were defeated 2–1 in front of 20,637 deafening supporters.^[1] On 9 May, they lost the last North Staffordshire Infirmary Cup friendly with Stoke, losing 7–0 in a match they "scarcely tried" to win.^[1]

League table

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GAv	Pts	Promotion or relegation
18	Oldham Athletic	42	13	10	19	62	84	0.738	36
19	Burnley	42	13	9	20	59	87	0.678	35
20	Port Vale	42	13	7	22	58	89	0.652	33
21	Barnsley (R)	42	12	9	21	55	91	0.604	33	Relegation to the Third Division North
22	Bristol City (R)	42	6	11	25	39	78	0.500	23	Relegation to the Third Division South

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

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	35	36	37	38	39	40	41	42
Ground	A	H	H	A	A	H	H	A	A	H	H	A	H	A	H	A	H	A	H	A	A	H	H	A	H	A	H	H	A	A	H	A	H	H	A	A	H	A	H	A	H	A
Result	W	L	W	W	L	D	L	L	D	W	D	W	L	L	W	L	L	D	L	L	L	W	W	W	D	L	W	D	L	L	L	D	L	W	L	L	L	L	L	L	W	W
Position	5	9	7	3	6	10	10	15	14	12	12	10	12	13	12	13	13	15	17	17	20	20	15	13	14	14	14	13	13	18	18	18	19	19	19	19	19	21	21	21	21	20
Points	2	2	4	6	6	7	7	7	8	10	11	13	13	13	15	15	15	16	16	16	16	18	20	22	23	23	25	26	26	26	26	27	27	29	29	29	29	29	29	29	31	33

Source: Statto^[3]
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

Matches

29 August 1931 1	Plymouth Argyle	1–3	Port Vale	Plymouth
			Jennings Easton	Stadium: Home Park Attendance: 21,749

31 August 1931 2	Port Vale	1–2	Leeds United	Hanley
	o.g.			Stadium: Old Recreation Ground Attendance: 16,864

5 September 1931 3	Port Vale	4–2	Bristol City	Hanley
	Littlewood Round Easton			Stadium: Old Recreation Ground Attendance: 10,770

7 September 1931 4	Swansea City	2–3	Port Vale	Swansea
			Dorrell Easton Littlewood	Stadium: Vetch Field Attendance: 9,927

12 September 1931 5	Oldham Athletic	3–0	Port Vale	Oldham
				Stadium: Boundary Park Attendance: 10,323

19 September 1931 6	Port Vale	1–1	Bury	Hanley
	York			Stadium: Old Recreation Ground Attendance: 12,600

21 September 1931 7	Port Vale	0–4	Swansea City	Hanley
				Stadium: Old Recreation Ground Attendance: 7,969

26 September 1931 8	Stoke City	4–0	Port Vale	Stoke-upon-Trent
				Stadium: Victoria Ground Attendance: 28,292

3 October 1931 9	Millwall	2–2	Port Vale	New Cross, Lewisham
			Jones	Stadium: The Den Attendance: 16,766

10 October 1931 10	Port Vale	2–0	Bradford City	Hanley
	Round pen' York			Stadium: Old Recreation Ground Attendance: 9,304

17 October 1931 11	Port Vale	0–0	Southampton	Hanley
				Stadium: Old Recreation Ground Attendance: 11,990

24 October 1931 12	Preston North End	1–4	Port Vale	Preston, Lancashire
			Nolan Rowbotham York	Stadium: Deepdale Attendance: 8,936

31 October 1931 13	Port Vale	1–3	Burnley	Hanley
	Tippett			Stadium: Old Recreation Ground Attendance: 9,468

7 November 1931 14	Charlton Athletic	2–1	Port Vale	Charlton, London
			Nolan	Stadium: The Valley Attendance: 9,312

14 November 1931 15	Port Vale	2–0	Nottingham Forest	Hanley
	Henshall York			Stadium: Old Recreation Ground Attendance: 7,055

21 November 1931 16	Tottenham Hotspur	9–3	Port Vale	Tottenham, North London
			Tippett Nolan Henshall	Stadium: White Hart Lane Attendance: 22,226

28 November 1931 17	Port Vale	1–2	Manchester United	Hanley
	York			Stadium: Old Recreation Ground Attendance: 6,955

5 December 1931 18	Bradford (Park Avenue)	2–2	Port Vale	Bradford
			Dorrell Tippett	Stadium: Park Avenue Attendance: 10,281

12 December 1931 19	Port Vale	1–7	Wolverhampton Wanderers	Hanley
	Easton			Stadium: Old Recreation Ground Attendance: 11,133

19 December 1931 20	Chesterfield	4–0	Port Vale	Chesterfield, Derbyshire
				Stadium: Saltergate Attendance: 7,966

25 December 1931 21	Notts County	4–2	Port Vale	Nottingham
			Nolan Marshall	Stadium: Meadow Lane Attendance: 21,367

26 December 1931 22	Port Vale	2–0	Notts County	Hanley
	Nolan Tippett			Stadium: Old Recreation Ground Attendance: 13,463

2 January 1932 23	Port Vale	2–0	Plymouth Argyle	Hanley
	Henshall Dorrell			Stadium: Old Recreation Ground Attendance: 7,731

16 January 1932 24	Bristol City	0–2	Port Vale	Ashton Gate, Bristol
			Dorrell Nolan	Stadium: Ashton Gate Attendance: 8,690

25 January 1932 25	Port Vale	1–1	Oldham Athletic	Hanley
	Easton			Stadium: Old Recreation Ground Attendance: 3,436

30 January 1932 26	Bury	2–0	Port Vale	Bury, Greater Manchester
				Stadium: Gigg Lane Attendance: 9,099

6 February 1932 27	Port Vale	3–0	Stoke City	Hanley
	Marshall Henshall			Stadium: Old Recreation Ground Attendance: 21,089

13 February 1932 28	Port Vale	2–2	Millwall	Hanley
	Kirkham Tippett			Stadium: Old Recreation Ground Attendance: 7,311

20 February 1932 29	Bradford City	4–0	Port Vale	Bradford
				Stadium: Valley Parade Attendance: 15,553

27 February 1932 30	Southampton	5–1	Port Vale	Southampton
			o.g.	Stadium: The Dell Attendance: 7,115

5 March 1932 31	Port Vale	0–1	Preston North End	Hanley
				Stadium: Old Recreation Ground Attendance: 8,132

12 March 1932 32	Burnley	2–2	Port Vale	Burnley
			Easton Round	Stadium: Turf Moor Attendance: 6,869

19 March 1932 33	Port Vale	0–1	Charlton Athletic	Hanley
				Stadium: Old Recreation Ground Attendance: 6,578

25 March 1932 34	Port Vale	3–0	Barnsley	Hanley
	Kirkham Nolan Tippett			Stadium: Old Recreation Ground Attendance: 9,983

26 March 1932 35	Nottingham Forest	2–1	Port Vale	West Bridgford
			Tippett	Stadium: City Ground Attendance: 8,486

28 March 1932 36	Barnsley	3–0	Port Vale	Barnsley
				Stadium: Oakwell Attendance: 5,881

2 April 1932 37	Port Vale	1–3	Tottenham Hotspur	Hanley
	Dorrell			Stadium: Old Recreation Ground Attendance: 7,682

9 April 1932 38	Manchester United	2–0	Port Vale	Old Trafford
				Stadium: Old Trafford Attendance: 10,916

16 April 1932 39	Port Vale	1–3	Bradford (Park Avenue)	Hanley
	Kirkham			Stadium: Old Recreation Ground Attendance: 6,672

23 April 1932 40	Wolverhampton Wanderers	2–0	Port Vale	Wolverhampton
				Stadium: Molineux Stadium Attendance: 28,744

30 April 1932 41	Port Vale	2–1	Chesterfield	Hanley
	Kirkham Littlewood			Stadium: Old Recreation Ground Attendance: 4,663

7 May 1932 42	Leeds United	0–2	Port Vale	Beeston, Leeds
			Littlewood Tippett	Stadium: Elland Road Attendance: 9,588

FA Cup

9 January 1932 R3	Brighton & Hove Albion	1–2	Port Vale	Hove
			Nolan	Stadium: Goldstone Ground Attendance: 21,690

23 January 1932 R4	Port Vale	1–2	Leicester City	Hanley
	Nolan			Stadium: Old Recreation Ground Attendance: 20,637

North Staffordshire Royal Infirmary Cup

9 May 1932 Final	Stoke	7–0	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	Football League		FA Cup		Other		Total
Pos.	Name	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
GK	Ben Davies	34	0	2	0	1	0	37	0
GK	Arthur Slater	6	0	0	0	0	0	6	0
GK	Jock Leckie	2	0	0	0	0	0	2	0
FB	Jimmy Oakes	29	0	2	0	1	0	32	0
FB	Billy Wootton	6	0	0	0	0	0	6	0
FB	George Shenton	39	0	1	0	1	0	41	0
FB	Bill Cope	30	0	2	0	1	0	33	0
FB	William Allsop	1	0	1	0	0	0	2	0
FB	George Poyser	6	0	0	0	0	0	6	0
HB	Arnold Bliss	6	0	0	0	0	0	6	0
HB	Bob Connelly	8	0	0	0	0	0	8	0
HB	Roger Jones	27	2	1	0	0	0	28	2
HB	Dennis Izon	12	0	2	0	0	0	14	0
HB	Jack Round	30	3	2	0	1	0	33	3
HB	Jimmy McGrath	0	0	0	0	1	0	1	0
HB	Jack Sherlock	12	0	0	0	0	0	12	0
FW	Albert Beech	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	0
FW	Clarence Spencer	4	0	0	0	0	0	4	0
FW	James Henshall	14	4	1	0	1	0	16	4
FW	Arthur Dorrell	34	5	2	0	0	0	36	5
FW	Dicky York	26	5	0	0	0	0	26	5
FW	Harry Marshall	27	3	2	0	0	0	29	3
FW	Sam Jennings	2	2	0	0	0	0	2	2
FW	Harry Rowbotham	6	1	0	0	0	0	6	1
FW	Stewart Littlewood	12	5	0	0	1	0	13	5
FW	Tom Tippett	31	8	2	0	1	0	34	8
FW	Tom Nolan	19	8	2	3	0	0	21	11
FW	Billy Easton	22	6	0	0	1	0	23	6
FW	Wilf Kirkham	16	4	0	0	1	0	17	4

Top scorers

Place	Position	Nation	Name	Second Division	FA Cup	Total
1	FW	England	Tom Nolan	8	3	11
2	FW	England	Tom Tippett	8	0	8
3	FW	England	Billy Easton	6	0	6
4	FW	England	Arthur Dorrell	5	0	5
–	FW	England	Dicky York	5	0	5
–	FW	England	Stewart Littlewood	5	0	5
7	FW	England	Wilf Kirkham	4	0	4
–	FW	England	James Henshall	4	0	4
9	FW	England	Harry Marshall	3	0	3
–	HB	England	Jack Round	3	0	3
11	FW	England	Sam Jennings	2	0	2
–	HB	England	Roger Jones	2	0	2
13	FW	England	Harry Rowbotham	1	0	1
–	–	–	Own goals	2	0	2
			TOTALS	58	3	61

Transfers

Transfers in

Date from	Position	Name	From	Fee	Ref.
May 1931	FW	Billy Easton	Swansea Town	Free transfer	^[4]
May 1931	FB	George Poyser	Mansfield Town	Free transfer	^[4]
June 1931	FB	William Allsop	Bolton Wanderers	Free transfer	^[4]
June 1931	FW	Arthur Dorrell	Aston Villa	Free transfer	^[4]
June 1931	FW	Tom Tippett	Rochdale	Free transfer	^[4]
June 1931	FW	Dicky York	Aston Villa	Free transfer	^[4]
October 1931	FW	Robert G. Davies	Stoke St.Peter's	Free transfer	^[4]
October 1931	FW	Tom Nolan	Manchester Central	Free transfer	^[4]
January 1932	FW	Wilf Kirkham	Stoke City	Free transfer	^[4]
March 1932	FW	Horace Baker	Longton Hall	Free transfer	^[4]
March 1932	GK	Jock Leckie	Bray Unknowns	Free transfer	^[4]
April 1932	HB	Fred Mills	Middleport	Free transfer	^[4]

Transfers out

Date from	Position	Name	To	Fee	Ref.
September 1931	FW	Sam Jennings	Stockport County	Free transfer	^[4]
March 1932	FW	Harry Marshall	Tottenham Hotspur	Undisclosed	^[4]
May 1932	FW	Joseph Chell	Stoke City	Free transfer	^[4]
May 1932	HB	Bob Connelly	Congleton Town	Free transfer	^[4]
May 1932	FW	Arthur Dorrell	Retired		^[4]
Summer 1932	FW	Harry Rowbotham	Hyde United	Released	^[4]
August 1932	GK	Arthur Slater	Watford	Free transfer	^[4]
August 1932	FB	Billy Wootton	Southend United	Free transfer	^[4]
August 1932	FW	Dicky York	Brierley Hill Alliance	Free transfer	^[4]

References

Specific

^ ^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 ^ab ^ac ^ad ^ae ^af ^ag ^ah ^ai ^aj ^ak ^al Kent, Jeff (1990). "From Glory to Despair (1929–1939)". The Valiants' Years: The Story Of Port Vale. Witan Books. pp. 124–150. ISBN 0-9508981-4-7.
^ Baggaley, Mike (3 August 2025). "Fightback but defeat on the road". Valiant's Substack. Retrieved 3 August 2025.
^ Port Vale 1931–1932 : Results & Fixtures Archived 4 March 2016 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 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 ^o ^p ^q ^r ^s ^t ^u ^v ^w ^x ^y ^z ^aa ^ab ^ac ^ad ^ae ^af ^ag ^ah ^ai ^aj ^ak ^al Kent, Jeff (1990). "From Glory to Despair (1929–1939)". The Valiants' Years: The Story Of Port Vale. Witan Books. pp. 124–150. ISBN 0-9508981-4-7.

[2] Baggaley, Mike (3 August 2025). "Fightback but defeat on the road". Valiant's Substack. Retrieved 3 August 2025.

[3] Port Vale 1931–1932 : Results & Fixtures Archived 4 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine. Statto Organisation. Retrieved 28 April 2012.

[transfers-4] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k ^l ^m ⁿ ^o ^p ^q ^r ^s ^t ^u Kent, Jeff (1996). Port Vale Personalities. Witan Books. ISBN 0-9529152-0-0.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]