1936–37 Port Vale F.C. season

Port Vale
1936–37 season
Chairman	Frank Huntbach
Manager	Warney Cresswell
Stadium	Old Recreation Ground
Football League Third Division North	11th (44 Points)
FA Cup	Third Round; (knocked out by Sheffield Wednesday)
Football League Third Division North Cup	Semi-finals; (knocked out by Chester)
Top goalscorer	League: Tommy Ward (14); All: Tommy Ward (18)
Highest home attendance	12,950 vs. Chester, 5 December 1936
Lowest home attendance	2,148 vs. Rochdale, 17 April 1937
Average home league attendance	7,298
Biggest win	4–0 (twice) and 5–1
Biggest defeat	1–7 vs. Mansfield Town, 27 March 1937
	Home colours
	Home colours

The 1936–37 season was Port Vale's 31st season of football in the English Football League and their first season (second overall) back in the Third Division North following their relegation from the Second Division.^[1] Under newly appointed manager Warney Cresswell, Vale aimed to bounce back at the first attempt, but ultimately finished 11th in the Third Division North with 44 points, well short of promotion contention.

Vale's campaign had its ups and downs — most notably a mid-season unbeaten league run of 13 games between late October and early January, which rallied them near the promotion places before form tapered off in the final third of the season. Their league season peaked with emphatic wins including 5–1 over Mansfield Town, 4–0 over Chester (their largest attendance at home, 12,950), and another 4–0 victory vs. Chester earlier in December.

Leading the attack was Tommy Ward, the club's top scorer with 18 goals in all competitions (14 in the league), delivering a reliable goals return in turbulent times. In the FA Cup, Vale were knocked out in the Third Round — a modest cup run that ended without fanfare. Off the pitch, Warney Cresswell implemented modern training methods — as described in contemporary accounts — including rigorous fitness routines and team bonding activities, as well as making several targeted signings. The integrated strategy helped Vale briefly challenge near the top—but consistency proved elusive, and Cresswell departed at season's end.

Overview

Third Division North

During the pre-season build-up, former England international full-back Warney Cresswell was appointed as manager-coach, filling a position which had remained vacant since September 1936.^[1] Described as 'a very knowledgeable man about football', he increased the playing staff to twenty, signing winger Gerry Kelly (Chester); right-half Tommy Ward (Grimsby Town); and left-half Spencer Evans (Altrincham).^[1] Cresswell also began running the players and pushing them in the gym, to get them fit for the season.^[1] In between heavy training sessions, he encouraged the players to relax with snooker and billiards competitions.^[1] The club also decided to introduce a new strip of white shirts and black shorts, a look they retain to this day.^[1]

The season opened with two defeats, as Vale found it tough to acclimatize to third-tier football, their 3–1 home defeat to Hull City came despite them doing the double over the "Tigers" the previous season.^[1] Following this, George Stabb transferred to Bradford Park Avenue, in a deal which saw Tom Nolan return to the Old Recreation Ground.^[1] Nolan scored on his second debut on 12 September, a 2–2 draw at home to Darlington. Two days later, Vale fell to a 5–1 defeat at Oldham Athletic. Continuing their poor form, by the end of September, they had fallen to seventh from bottom.^[1] This prompted Cresswell to sign inside-forward Alfred Dickinson from Everton.^[1] On 26 September, Nolan scored a hat-trick past Stockport County. Still, the Vale would have to wait a little longer before getting into their stride.^[1] Their poor form concluded with a 5–2 defeat at Carlisle United on 17 October, which was in part due to Arthur Caldwell leaving the game injured.^[1]

Seven changes were made for the 24 October win over Hartlepools United, and the wait would be worth it, as Vale then went on a 13-game unbeaten run.^[1] Nevertheless, Cresswell continued to travel the country in the hunt for talented young amateurs.^[1] By the end of October the 40,000 Shilling Fund completed its mission.^[1] Michael Curley and George Heywood were judged as surplus to requirements, and moved on to Colwyn Bay and Southport respectively.^[1] Fred Obrey also proved to be a revelation in the centre of the pitch.^[1] On 21 November, Vale beat Mansfield Town by five goals to one. They held league leaders Chester to a goalless draw seven days later. Vale beat Chester by four clear goals in the return fixture, with Ward claiming a hat-trick. Hull City scored a late equaliser to deny Vale a 1–0 win on Boxing Day. On 2 January, Vale won 4–2 at home to Gateshead to move up to fourth in the table. Vale lost their unbeaten run – 1–0 at struggling Darlington's Feethams.^[1]

The Vale were then in indifferent form for the remainder of the season, as their promotion hopes petered away.^[1] These hopes were extinguished with three successive defeats starting from 27 February. On 27 March, a heavy 7–1 defeat was recorded to Mansfield Town at Field Mill.^[1] Cresswell's contract was cancelled by mutual consent, and he quickly took up the management reins at Third Division South side Northampton Town.^[1]

They finished in eleventh position with 44 points.^[1] They were 16 points short of promotion and twelve points clear of the re-election zones. With 58 goals scored, they had the third weakest attack in the division and had almost half the tally of runners-up Lincoln City.^[1]

Finances

On the financial side, a profit of £401 was made, though £1,923 of income came through the Shilling Fund.^[1] Gate receipts had tailed off by another £1,065, whilst the wage bill was trimmed to £5,656 and a transfer credit of £465 was made.^[1] 14 players departed at the season's end, including: Ken Gunn (sold to Creswell's Northampton Town); Eric Hayward (sold to Blackpool); goalkeeper Allan Todd (refused terms and was transferred to Nottingham Forest); 14-year club veteran Roger Jones (retirement); and Gerry Kelly (signed with Southampton).^[1] The club also petitioned the Football League for a switch to the Third Division South, where gates were believed to be higher, however, the League replied that circumstance and not applications determined where clubs were placed – despite this Mansfield Town were the ones transferred, Mansfield being a town some 40 miles (64 km) north of Stoke-on-Trent.^[1]

Cup competitions

In the FA Cup, they fell in the third round to First Division Sheffield Wednesday with a 2–0 defeat at Hillsborough, having been forced to play six reserves due to injury.^[1] In the short-lived Football League Third Division North Cup, the club progressed to the semi-finals with victories over Mansfield Town (2–0), Stockport County (4–0), and Rotherham United (1–0); where they lost 3–0 to Chester.^[1] Attendances of around 100 exemplified the lack of interest in the competition.^[1]

League table

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GAv	Pts	Promotion or relegation
9	Mansfield Town	42	18	8	16	91	76	1.197	44	Transferred to the Third Division South
10	Carlisle United	42	18	8	16	65	68	0.956	44
11	Port Vale	42	17	10	15	58	64	0.906	44
12	York City	42	16	11	15	79	70	1.129	43
13	Accrington Stanley	42	16	9	17	76	69	1.101	41

Source: rsssf.com
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal average; 3) Goals scored

Results

Football League Third Division North

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	H	A	A	H	H	A	A	H	A	H	A	H	A	H	A	H	A	H	A	H	A	A	H	H	A	A	H	A	H	A	H	A	H	A	H	H	A	A	H	H	A	H
Result	L	L	W	W	D	L	L	W	L	D	L	W	D	W	W	W	D	W	D	W	W	D	D	W	L	W	L	L	W	W	W	L	L	L	W	D	L	L	D	D	L	W
Position	18	21	17	9	12	13	16	11	15	14	18	14	13	13	13	9	8	6	6	5	5	5	5	4	5	5	6	6	5	4	4	4	6	5	4	4	6	6	6	7	11	11
Points	0	0	2	4	5	5	5	7	7	8	8	10	11	13	15	17	18	20	21	23	25	26	27	29	29	31	31	31	33	35	37	37	37	37	39	40	40	40	41	42	42	44

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

Matches

29 August 1936 1	Port Vale	1–3	Hull City	Hanley
	Miller			Stadium: Old Recreation Ground Attendance: 9,207

2 September 1936 2	New Brighton	2–0	Port Vale	New Brighton, Merseyside
				Stadium: Sandheys Park Attendance: 4,522

5 September 1936 3	Gateshead	0–1	Port Vale	Gateshead
			Rhodes	Stadium: Redheugh Park Attendance: 4,538

7 September 1936 4	Port Vale	3–1	New Brighton	Hanley
	Roberts Rhodes			Stadium: Old Recreation Ground Attendance: 6,096

12 September 1936 5	Port Vale	2–2	Darlington	Hanley
	Caldwell Nolan			Stadium: Old Recreation Ground Attendance: 7,628

14 September 1936 6	Oldham Athletic	5–1	Port Vale	Oldham
			Roberts	Stadium: Boundary Park Attendance: 3,622

19 September 1936 7	Wrexham	1–0	Port Vale	Wrexham
				Stadium: Racecourse Ground Attendance: 7,746

26 September 1936 8	Port Vale	3–0	Stockport County	Hanley
	Nolan			Stadium: Old Recreation Ground Attendance: 9,407

3 October 1936 9	Rotherham United	2–0	Port Vale	Rotherham
				Stadium: Millmoor Attendance: 7,032

10 October 1936 10	Port Vale	1–1	York City	Hanley
	Caldwell			Stadium: Old Recreation Ground Attendance: 7,627

17 October 1936 11	Carlisle United	5–2	Port Vale	Carlisle
			Nolan Rhodes	Stadium: Brunton Park Attendance: 4,691

24 October 1936 12	Port Vale	1–0	Hartlepools United	Hanley
	Roberts			Stadium: Old Recreation Ground Attendance: 6,659

31 October 1936 13	Southport	3–3	Port Vale	Southport
			Roberts Nolan	Stadium: Ash Lane Attendance: 7,483

7 November 1936 14	Port Vale	2–1	Tranmere Rovers	Hanley
	Roberts Nolan			Stadium: Old Recreation Ground Attendance: 6,551

14 November 1936 15	Halifax Town	0–1	Port Vale	Halifax, West Yorkshire
			Goodfellow	Stadium: The Shay Attendance: 7,443

21 November 1936 16	Port Vale	5–1	Mansfield Town	Hanley
	Jones Ward Dean			Stadium: Old Recreation Ground Attendance: 8,983

28 November 1936 17	Chester	0–0	Port Vale	Chester
				Stadium: Sealand Road Attendance: 7,616

5 December 1936 18	Port Vale	4–0	Chester	Hanley
	Ward Rhodes pen'			Stadium: Old Recreation Ground Attendance: 12,950

12 December 1936 19	Rochdale	0–0	Port Vale	Rochdale
				Stadium: Spotland Stadium Attendance: 2,218

19 December 1936 20	Port Vale	3–2	Barrow	Hanley
	Nolan Kelly			Stadium: Old Recreation Ground Attendance: 8,431

25 December 1936 21	Accrington Stanley	2–3	Port Vale	Accrington
			Ward Jones	Stadium: Peel Park Attendance: 5,997

26 December 1936 22	Hull City	1–1	Port Vale	Kingston upon Hull
			Ward	Stadium: Anlaby Road Attendance: 14,928

28 December 1936 23	Port Vale	1–1	Accrington Stanley	Hanley
	Ward			Stadium: Old Recreation Ground Attendance: 8,030

2 January 1937 24	Port Vale	4–2	Gateshead	Hanley
	Ward Dean			Stadium: Old Recreation Ground Attendance: 8,472

9 January 1937 25	Darlington	1–0	Port Vale	Darlington
				Stadium: Feethams Attendance: 5,177

20 January 1937 26	Crewe Alexandra	0–1	Port Vale	Crewe
			Kelly	Stadium: Gresty Road Attendance: 2,059

23 January 1937 27	Port Vale	0–3	Wrexham	Hanley
				Stadium: Old Recreation Ground Attendance: 7,432

30 January 1937 28	Stockport County	1–0	Port Vale	Stockport
				Stadium: Edgeley Park Attendance: 10,690

6 February 1937 29	Port Vale	2–1	Rotherham United	Hanley
	Dean Rhodes			Stadium: Old Recreation Ground Attendance: 7,440

13 February 1937 30	York City	1–2	Port Vale	York
			Obrey Jones	Stadium: Bootham Crescent Attendance: 4,241

20 February 1937 31	Port Vale	1–0	Carlisle United	Hanley
	Ward			Stadium: Old Recreation Ground Attendance: 6,585

27 February 1937 32	Hartlepools United	2–0	Port Vale	Hartlepool
				Stadium: Victoria Park Attendance: 2,645

6 March 1937 33	Port Vale	0–2	Southport	Hanley
				Stadium: Old Recreation Ground Attendance: 6,986

13 March 1937 34	Tranmere Rovers	4–2	Port Vale	Prenton
			Ward	Stadium: Prenton Park Attendance: 5,732

20 March 1937 35	Port Vale	3–1	Halifax Town	Hanley
	Jones			Stadium: Old Recreation Ground Attendance: 8,815

26 March 1937 36	Port Vale	1–1	Lincoln City	Hanley
	Dean			Stadium: Old Recreation Ground Attendance: 6,243

27 March 1937 37	Mansfield Town	7–1	Port Vale	Mansfield
			Jones	Stadium: Field Mill Attendance: 6,348

29 March 1937 38	Lincoln City	1–0	Port Vale	Lincoln
				Stadium: Sincil Bank Attendance: 13,715

3 April 1937 39	Port Vale	0–0	Crewe Alexandra	Hanley
				Stadium: Old Recreation Ground Attendance: 6,365

17 April 1937 40	Port Vale	1–1	Rochdale	Hanley
	Nolan			Stadium: Old Recreation Ground Attendance: 2,148

24 April 1937 41	Barrow	3–1	Port Vale	Barrow-in-Furness
			Nolan	Stadium: Holker Street Attendance: 4,298

1 May 1937 42	Port Vale	1–0	Oldham Athletic	Hanley
	Roberts			Stadium: Old Recreation Ground Attendance: 2,353

FA Cup

16 January 1937 R3	Sheffield Wednesday	2–0	Port Vale	Owlerton
				Stadium: Hillsborough Stadium Attendance: 27,450

Third Division North Cup

11 November 1936 1	Mansfield Town	0–2	Port Vale	Mansfield
			Ward	Stadium: Field Mill Attendance: 1,000

8 February 1937 2	Port Vale	4–0	Stockport County	Hanley
	Ward Evans Tunnicliffe			Stadium: Old Recreation Ground Attendance: 100+

8 March 1937 3	Port Vale	1–0	Rotherham United	Hanley
	Nolan			Stadium: Old Recreation Ground Attendance: 1,000

10 April 1937 Semi-final	Chester	3–0	Port Vale	Chester
				Stadium: Sealand Road

Player statistics

Appearances and goals

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

Pos.	Name	Football League		FA Cup		Total
Pos.	Name	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
GK	Allan Todd	39	0	0	0	43	0
GK	John Jones	3	0	1	0	4	0
FB	Roderick Welsh	17	0	1	0	21	0
FB	George Heywood	2	0	0	0	2	0
FB	Claude Barrett	19	0	0	0	19	0
FB	Bill Wright	0	0	0	0	0	0
HB	Harry Griffiths	8	0	0	0	8	0
HB	Trevor Rhodes	33	5	0	0	36	5
HB	Eric Hayward	18	0	1	0	21	0
HB	Roger Jones	36	9	1	0	39	9
HB	Ken Gunn	37	0	0	0	40	0
HB	Michael Curley	3	0	0	0	3	0
HB	Tommy Ward	27	14	1	0	32	18
HB	Wilf Smith	1	0	0	0	1	0
HB	Fred Obrey	29	1	1	0	33	1
HB	Spencer Evans	34	0	1	0	38	1
HB	Edwin Blunt	0	0	0	0	0	0
FW	Arthur Caldwell	13	2	0	0	14	2
FW	Frank Ryder	6	0	1	0	8	0
FW	Billy Tunnicliffe	2	0	0	0	3	1
FW	Gerry Kelly	20	2	1	0	21	2
FW	Jack Harrison	2	0	0	0	4	0
FW	Arthur Cumberlidge	8	0	0	0	9	0
FW	Percy Adams	1	0	0	0	1	0
FW	Luke Dean	13	4	0	0	14	4
FW	Jack Roberts	15	8	0	0	16	8
FW	George Stabb	2	0	0	0	2	0
FW	Tom Nolan	37	11	1	0	41	12
FW	Peter Miller	13	1	1	0	17	1
FW	Arthur Ford	3	0	0	0	4	0
FW	Syd Goodfellow	16	1	0	0	16	1
FW	Alfred Dickinson	5	0	0	0	5	0

Top scorers

Place	Position	Nation	Name	Third Division North	Northern Cup	Total
1	HB	England	Tommy Ward	14	4	18
2	FW	England	Tom Nolan	11	1	12
3	HB	England	Roger Jones	9	0	9
4	FW	England	Jack Roberts	8	0	8
5	HB	England	Trevor Rhodes	5	0	5
6	FW	England	Luke Dean	4	0	4
7	FW	England	Arthur Caldwell	2	0	2
–	FW	England	Gerry Kelly	2	0	2
8	FW	Scotland	Peter Miller	1	0	1
–	FW	England	Syd Goodfellow	1	0	1
–	FW	England	Billy Tunnicliffe	0	1	1
–	HB	England	Fred Obrey	1	0	1
–	HB	Wales	Spencer Evans	0	1	1
			TOTALS	58	7	65

Transfers

Transfers in

Date from	Position	Name	From	Fee	Ref.
May 1936	FW	Jack Harrison	Sneyd Colliery	Free transfer	^[3]
June 1936	FB	Claude Barrett	Bradford Park Avenue	Free transfer	^[3]
June 1936	FW	Gerry Kelly	Chester	'Substantial'	^[3]
June 1936	FW	Peter Miller	Rotherham United	Free transfer	^[3]
June 1936	HB	Tommy Ward	Grimsby Town	Free transfer	^[3]
July 1936	HB	Spencer Evans	Altrincham	Free transfer	^[3]
August 1936	FW	Arthur Ford	Wolverhampton Wanderers	Free transfer	^[3]
September 1936	FW	Alfred Dickinson	Everton	Free transfer	^[3]
September 1936	FW	Tom Nolan	Bradford Park Avenue	Exchange	^[3]
October 1936	FW	Syd Goodfellow	Silverdale	Free transfer	^[3]

Transfers out

Date from	Position	Name	To	Fee	Ref.
May 1936	HB	Fred Obrey	Longton	Free transfer	^[3]
September 1936	HB	George Stabb	Bradford Park Avenue	Free transfer	^[3]
October 1936	FW	Alfred Dickinson	Everton	Free transfer	^[3]
October 1936	HB	Wilf Smith	Sneyd Colliery	Free transfer	^[3]
November 1936	HB	Michael Curley	Colwyn Bay	Free transfer	^[3]
November 1936	FB	Roderick Welsh	Southport	Free transfer	^[3]
April 1937	FB	Claude Barrett	York City	Free transfer	^[3]
April 1937	FW	Syd Goodfellow	Glentoran	Free transfer	^[3]
April 1937	FW	Jack Harrison		Released	^[3]
April 1937	GK	John Jones	Northampton Town	Free transfer	^[3]
April 1937	FW	Peter Miller		Released	^[3]
April 1937	FW	Frank Ryder		Released	^[3]
May 1937	HB	Ken Gunn	Northampton Town	Free transfer	^[3]
May 1937	HB	Eric Hayward	Blackpool	Free transfer	^[3]
Summer 1937	HB	Roger Jones		Released	^[3]
Summer 1937	GK	Allan Todd	Nottingham Forest	Exchange	^[3]
August 1937	FW	Luke Dean	Northwich Victoria	Free transfer	^[3]
August 1937	FW	Gerry Kelly	Southampton	Free transfer	^[3]

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 Kent, Jeff (1990). "From Glory to Despair (1929–1939)". The Valiants' Years: The Story Of Port Vale. Witan Books. pp. 124–150. ISBN 978-0-9508981-4-8.
^ Port Vale 1936–1937 : 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 ^v ^w ^x ^y ^z ^aa ^ab 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 978-0-9508981-9-3.

[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 Kent, Jeff (1990). "From Glory to Despair (1929–1939)". The Valiants' Years: The Story Of Port Vale. Witan Books. pp. 124–150. ISBN 978-0-9508981-4-8.

[2] Port Vale 1936–1937 : Results & Fixtures Archived 4 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine. Statto Organisation. Retrieved 28 April 2012.

[transfers-3] ^ ^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 Kent, Jeff (1996). Port Vale Personalities. Witan Books. ISBN 0-9529152-0-0.

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