1945–46 Port Vale F.C. season

Port Vale
1945–46 season
Chairman	Tom Flint
Manager	Billy Frith
Stadium	Old Recreation Ground
Third Division (South) North	3rd (24 points)
FA Cup	Third Round; (knocked out by Bradford (Park Avenue))
Third Division (South) North Cup	8th (14 points)
Top goalscorer	League: Bill Pointon (9); All: Bill Pointon (19)
Highest home attendance	11,388 vs. Queens Park Rangers, 30 March 1946
Lowest home attendance	2,632 vs. Notts County, 26 January 1946
Average home league attendance	7,212
Biggest win	4–0 (twice) and 5–1
Biggest defeat	1–4 vs. Queens Park Rangers, 29 September 1945
	Home colours
	Home colours

The 1945–46 season was Port Vale's third and final season of football in the wartime league system of World War II.^[1] Under the management of Billy Frith and chairmanship of Tom Flint, Vale secured a strong third‑place finish with 24 points, positioned eight points behind champions Queens Park Rangers.

In cup competition, the club reached the third round of the FA Cup, producing a commendable two‑leg display against Bradford (Park Avenue) after earlier victories over Wellington Town and Marine — but ultimately bowed out on aggregate score. Meanwhile, their form in the Third Division (South) North Cup was less impressive, finishing 8th with 14 points.

Bill Pointon led the scoring charts with 19 goals in all competitions, including nine in the league, while Alf Bellis chimed in with 16 across all formats. The campaign drew an average home attendance of 7,212, peaking at 11,388 for the fixture versus Queens Park Rangers on 30 March, and dipping to 2,632 at the low‑attended match against Notts County on 26 January.

Overall, Vale ended the 1945–46 season in robust shape, laying a solid foundation for a return to regular Football League competition in 1946–47.

Overview

The Port Vale management was concerned to learn that they were to compete in the Third Division (South) region for the 1945–46 season, which they felt would result in less revenue and greater expenditure than being in the North division, even though they were still somewhat confusingly placed in the North region of the South Division.^[1] They appointed 33-year-old former Coventry City half-back Billy Frith as the club's new manager, as predecessor David Pratt was unable to gain release from the Royal Air Force.^[1] Again, the playing squad was made up mainly of young players and guests, with Scottish inside-right Isaac McDowell being a regular guest.^[1] They opened the campaign with three victories from three games, Ralph Gregory proving a revelation on leave from the Royal Marines, scoring a hat-trick in a 4–3 win at Norwich City.^[1] However, seven games without a victory began with the return fixture with Norwich, before they were boosted by the return of the now demobilised goalkeeper Arthur Jepson.^[1] They picked up six of a possible eight points in October. They continued their good form until the end of the New Year's Day league programme.^[1] They finished in third place with 24 points in 20 games, eight points behind champions Queens Park Rangers.^[1]

They progressed past Wellington Town and Liverpool County Combination amateurs Marine to reach the third round of the FA Cup, which was now being played over two legs.^[1] They "put up a grand show" against Bradford (Park Avenue) at Park Avenue, losing 2–1.^[1] They then had to settle for a 1–1 draw at home, being denied a penalty and then having a goal ruled out for offside late in the game.^[1] A 16-game Third Division (South) North Cup series then began, with the top two teams entering the division's semi-finals.^[1] Though they fared poorly, they were fortunate enough to have goalkeeper George Heppell demobilised in time to take the place of an injured Arthur Jepson.^[1] Tommy Cheadle made his club debut in a 4–1 home victory over Ipswich Town on 2 March.^[1] However, this was only one of two victories in the final ten games as Frith experimented with different line-ups to find a winning combination.^[1] They ended the season in eighth place, picking up 14 points from 16 games. Bill Pointon was a consistent goalscorer, hitting 19 goals. The club made a profit of £1,265 on the season, having made a healthy £13,475 in gate receipt money.^[1] The City Council agreed to extend the lease on the Old Recreation Ground until June 1950, leaving ample time for Vale Park to be constructed.^[1]

Results

Legend

Win	Draw	Loss

Third Division (South) North

League table

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GR	Pts
2	Norwich City	20	11	4	5	54	31	1.742	26
3	Port Vale	20	9	6	5	34	25	1.360	24
4	Watford	20	10	2	8	42	47	0.894	22

Source: Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation

Matches

25 August 1945 1	Burslem Port Vale	3–2	Ipswich Town	Hanley
	Pointon Bellis Jones			Stadium: Old Recreation Ground Attendance: 6,080

30 August 1945 2	Norwich City	3–4	Burslem Port Vale	Norwich
			Gregory Allen	Stadium: Carrow Road Attendance: 7,507

1 September 1945 3	Ipswich Town	0–1	Burslem Port Vale	Ipswich
			Gregory	Stadium: Portman Road Attendance: 11,512

3 September 1945 4	Burslem Port Vale	2–2	Norwich City	Hanley
	Gregory McDowell			Stadium: Old Recreation Ground Attendance: 7,426

8 September 1945 5	Northampton	1–0	Burslem Port Vale	Northampton
				Stadium: County Cricket Ground Attendance: 5,815

15 September 1945 6	Burslem Port Vale	0–0	Northampton	Hanley
				Stadium: Old Recreation Ground Attendance: 6,534

19 September 1945 7	Notts County	3–1	Burslem Port Vale	Nottingham
			McDowell	Stadium: Meadow Lane Attendance: 5,857

22 September 1945 8	Burslem Port Vale	0–0	Queens Park Rangers	Hanley
				Stadium: Old Recreation Ground Attendance: 8,382

29 September 1945 9	Queens Park Rangers	4–1	Burslem Port Vale	Shepherd's Bush, West London
	Mallett Heathcote Abel Neary		Pointon	Stadium: Loftus Road Attendance: 13,797

6 October 1945 10	Clapton Orient	1–1	Burslem Port Vale	Leyton, East London
			Cumner	Stadium: Brisbane Road Attendance: 4,817

13 October 1945 11	Burslem Port Vale	4–0	Clapton Orient	Hanley
	Pointon Bellis Jones			Stadium: Old Recreation Ground Attendance: 7,791

20 October 1945 12	Burslem Port Vale	2–1	Watford	Hanley
	Bellis Pointon			Stadium: Old Recreation Ground Attendance: 7,607

27 October 1945 13	Watford	2–2	Burslem Port Vale	Watford
			Allen Bellis	Stadium: Vicarage Road Attendance: 5,528

1 December 1945 14	Mansfield Town	1–2	Burslem Port Vale	Mansfield
			McDowell o.g.	Stadium: Field Mill Attendance: 3,761

22 December 1945 15	Southend United	2–0	Burslem Port Vale	Southend-on-Sea
				Stadium: Southend Stadium Attendance: 2,544

24 December 1945 16	Burslem Port Vale	2–0	Mansfield Town	Hanley
	Davies			Stadium: Old Recreation Ground Attendance: 6,000

25 December 1945 17	Walsall	1–5	Burslem Port Vale	Walsall
			Pointon Shore Davies Bellis	Stadium: Fellows Park Attendance: 5,804

26 December 1945 18	Burslem Port Vale	0–1	Walsall	Hanley
				Stadium: Old Recreation Ground Attendance: 11,200

29 December 1945 19	Burslem Port Vale	3–0	Notts County	Hanley
	Pointon Bellis			Stadium: Old Recreation Ground Attendance: 8,200

1 January 1946 20	Burslem Port Vale	1–1	Southend United	Hanley
	Shore			Stadium: Old Recreation Ground Attendance: 2,900

FA Cup

17 November 1944 R1 Leg 1	Burslem Port Vale	4–0	Wellington Town	Hanley
	McDowell Pointon o.g.			Stadium: Old Recreation Ground Attendance: 8,700

24 November 1944 R1 Leg 2	Wellington Town	0–2	Burslem Port Vale	Wellington, Shropshire
			Bellis McDowell	Attendance: 5,056

8 December 1944 R2 Leg 1	Burslem Port Vale	3–1	Marine	Hanley
	Allen Gregory			Stadium: Old Recreation Ground Attendance: 5,800

15 December 1944 R2 Leg 2	Marine	1–1	Burslem Port Vale	Crosby, Merseyside
			Gregory	Stadium: Rossett Park Attendance: 5,000

5 January 1945 R3 Leg 1	Bradford (Park Avenue)	2–1	Burslem Port Vale	Bradford
			Bellis	Stadium: Park Avenue Attendance: 13,000

7 January 1945 R3 Leg 2	Burslem Port Vale	1–1	Bradford (Park Avenue)	Hanley
	Bellis			Stadium: Old Recreation Ground Attendance: 11,086

Third Division (South) North Cup

League table

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GR	Pts
7	Clapton Orient	16	6	3	7	22	31	0.710	15
8	Port Vale	16	5	4	7	21	25	0.840	14
9	Northampton Town	16	5	2	9	27	29	0.931	12

Source: Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation

Matches

12 January 1946 1	Walsall	3–1	Burslem Port Vale	Walsall
			Bellis	Stadium: Fellows Park Attendance: 5,523

19 January 1946 2	Burslem Port Vale	1–0	Walsall	Hanley
	Cooper			Stadium: Old Recreation Ground Attendance: 3,229

26 January 1946 3	Burslem Port Vale	2–1	Notts County	Hanley
	Wootton Pointon			Stadium: Old Recreation Ground Attendance: 2,632

2 February 1946 4	Notts County	3–2	Burslem Port Vale	Nottingham
			Pointon Gardner	Stadium: Meadow Lane Attendance: 5,000

9 February 1946 5	Bristol Rovers	4–2	Burslem Port Vale	Bristol
			Pointon	Stadium: Eastville Stadium Attendance: 9,500

16 February 1946 6	Burslem Port Vale	1–0	Bristol Rovers	Hanley
	Pointon			Stadium: Old Recreation Ground Attendance: 4,554

23 February 1946 7	Ipswich Town	1–0	Burslem Port Vale	Ipswich
				Stadium: Portman Road Attendance: 7,500

2 March 1946 8	Burslem Port Vale	4–1	Ipswich Town	Hanley
	Bellis Pointon			Stadium: Old Recreation Ground Attendance: 3,200

9 March 1946 9	Clapton Orient	0–0	Burslem Port Vale	Leyton, East London
				Stadium: Brisbane Road Attendance: 6,197

16 March 1946 10	Burslem Port Vale	2–2	Clapton Orient	Hanley
	Pointon Bellis			Stadium: Old Recreation Ground Attendance: 8,283

23 March 1946 11	Queens Park Rangers	4–2	Burslem Port Vale	Shepherd's Bush, West London
	Heath McEwan Neary		Shore Pointon	Attendance: 13,274

30 March 1946 12	Burslem Port Vale	0–2	Queens Park Rangers	Hanley
			o.g. Neary	Stadium: Old Recreation Ground Attendance: 11,388

6 April 1946 13	Mansfield Town	2–1	Burslem Port Vale	Mansfield
			Bellis	Attendance: 5,777

13 April 1946 14	Burslem Port Vale	0–0	Mansfield Town	Hanley
				Stadium: Old Recreation Ground Attendance: 6,768

20 April 1946 15	Burslem Port Vale	2–1	Southend United	Hanley
	Cheadle Bellis			Stadium: Old Recreation Ground Attendance: 7,016

22 April 1946 16	Southend United	1–1	Burslem Port Vale	Southend-on-Sea
			Bellis	Attendance: 8,500

Player statistics

Appearances and goals

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

Pos.	Name	League		FA Cup		Region Cup		Total
Pos.	Name	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
GK	Arthur Jepson	10	0	6	0	4	0	20	0
GK	Harry Prince	10	0	0	0	2	0	12	0
GK	George Heppell	0	0	0	0	10	0	10	0
FB	Bob Pursell	15	0	3	0	10	0	28	0
FB	Roy Felton	7	0	5	0	3	0	15	0
FB	Stan Kelley	0	0	0	0	1	0	1	0
FB	Reg Potts	4	0	0	0	0	0	4	0
FB	Roger Whittle	2	0	0	0	0	0	2	0
HB	Harry Griffiths	18	0	6	0	8	0	32	0
HB	Cyril Johnson	0	0	0	0	1	0	1	0
HB	Tommy Cheadle	0	0	0	0	9	1	9	1
HB	Wilf Smith	13	0	6	0	16	0	35	0
HB	Arthur Cooper	19	0	6	0	16	1	41	1
HB	Harold Jervis	4	0	0	0	0	0	4	0
HB	Frank Pointon	6	0	0	0	2	0	8	0
HB	Bill McGarry	2	0	0	0	0	0	2	0
HB	Ted Oldfield	2	0	2	0	11	0	15	0
FW	George Gould	3	0	0	0	0	0	3	0
FW	Francis Jones	5	2	0	0	0	0	5	2
FW	Alf Bellis	15	6	6	3	12	7	33	16
FW	Murdoch Dickie	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	0
FW	Bob Allen	9	2	6	2	9	0	22	4
FW	Billy Buckley	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	0
FW	Jack Clunn	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	0
FW	Arthur Cumberlidge	0	0	0	0	2	0	2	0
FW	Jess Sproson	2	0	0	0	0	0	2	0
FW	Ted Shore	10	2	5	0	9	1	24	3
FW	Dennis Simpson	0	0	0	0	1	0	1	0
FW	Frank Soo	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	0
FW	Don Triner	0	0	0	0	3	0	3	0
MF	Ken Watkin	0	0	0	0	1	0	1	0
HB	Ernie Willett	0	0	0	0	1	0	1	0
FW	Ralph Gregory	6	5	2	2	2	0	10	7
FW	Isaac McDowell	12	3	4	3	1	0	17	6
FW	Edward Nutting	1	0	0	0	1	0	2	0
FW	Bill Pointon	13	9	5	1	13	9	31	19
FW	Eric Prince	2	0	0	0	0	0	2	0
FW	Bert Wright	0	0	0	0	1	0	1	0
FW	Ellis Birchall	2	0	1	0	0	0	3	0
FW	Billy Byrne	0	0	0	0	1	0	1	0
FW	Horace Cumner	7	1	0	0	0	0	7	1
FW	Eddie Davies	5	3	2	0	3	0	10	3
FW	Ken Faulkner	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	0
FW	Fred Gardner	0	0	0	0	3	1	3	1
FW	Jimmy Hutchinson	0	0	0	0	1	0	1	0
FW	George James	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	0
FW	John Lowndes	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	0
FW	Colin Lyman	0	0	0	0	4	0	4	0
FW	George Willis	0	0	0	0	1	0	1	0
FW	Len Wootton	9	0	1	0	14	1	25	1

Top scorers

Place	Position	Nation	Name	Third Division North	FA Cup	North Cup	Total
1	FW	England	Bill Pointon	9	1	9	19
2	FW	England	Alf Bellis	6	3	7	16
3	FW	England	Ralph Gregory	5	2	0	7
4	FW	Scotland	Isaac McDowell	3	3	0	6
5	FW	England	Bob Allen	2	2	0	4
6	FW	England	Ted Shore	2	0	1	3
–	FW	England	Eddie Davies	3	0	0	3
8	FW	England	Francis Jones	2	0	0	2
9	FW	Wales	Horace Cumner	1	0	0	1
–	HB	England	Tommy Cheadle	0	0	1	1
–	HB	England	Arthur Cooper	0	0	1	1
–	FW	England	Fred Gardner	0	0	1	1
–	FW	England	Len Wootton	0	0	1	1
–	–	–	Own goals	1	1	0	2
			TOTALS	34	12	21	67

Transfers

Transfers in

Date from	Position	Name	From	Fee	Ref.
August 1945	FW	Francis Jones		Free transfer	^[2]
August 1945	FB	Reg Potts	Stoke City	Free transfer	^[2]
August 1945	FW	Len Wootton		Free transfer	^[2]
September 1945	FW	Ted Shore		Free transfer	^[2]
December 1945	HB	Ted Oldfield	Helsby	Free transfer	^[2]
January 1946	FW	George James		Free transfer	^[2]
March 1946	FW	Billy Byrne		Free transfer	^[2]
March 1946	HB	Tommy Cheadle		Free transfer	^[2]

Transfers out

Date from	Position	Name	To	Fee	Ref.
Autumn 1945	FW	Murdoch Dickie	Guildford City	Released	^[2]
1946	HB	Harold Jervis	Royal Air Force	Released	^[2]
1946	FW	Francis Jones		Released	^[2]
January 1946	FW	Isaac McDowell	Cowdenbeath	Released	^[2]
May 1946	FW	Edward Nutting		Released	^[2]
Summer 1946	FW	Billy Buckley		Released	^[2]
Summer 1946	FW	Jack Clunn		Released	^[2]
Summer 1946	FW	Arthur Cumberlidge	Northwich Victoria	Released	^[2]
Summer 1946	FB	Roy Felton	Crystal Palace	Refused terms	^[2]
Summer 1946	FW	George James		Released	^[2]
Summer 1946	FW	Cyril Johnson		Released	^[2]
Summer 1946	FB	Roger Whittle		Released	^[2]

References

Specific

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k ^l ^m ⁿ ^o ^p ^q Kent, Jeff (1990). "Creating Sunshine from the Shadows (1939–1950)". The Valiants' Years: The Story Of Port Vale. Witan Books. pp. 151–171. ISBN 0-9508981-4-7.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k ^l ^m ⁿ ^o ^p ^q ^r ^s ^t 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 Kent, Jeff (1990). "Creating Sunshine from the Shadows (1939–1950)". The Valiants' Years: The Story Of Port Vale. Witan Books. pp. 151–171. ISBN 0-9508981-4-7.

[transfers-2] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k ^l ^m ⁿ ^o ^p ^q ^r ^s ^t Kent, Jeff (1996). Port Vale Personalities. Witan Books. ISBN 0-9529152-0-0.

[1]

[2]

Port Vale F.C. seasons
1880–81 1881–82 1882–83 1883–84 1884–85 1885–86 1886–87 1887–88 1888–89 1889–90
1890–91 1891–92 1892–93 1893–94 1894–95 1895–96 1896–97 1897–98 1898–99 1899–00
1900–01 1901–02 1902–03 1903–04 1904–05 1905–06 1906–07 1907–08 1908–09 1909–10
1910–11 1911–12 1912–13 1913–14 1914–15 1915–16 1916–17 1917–18 1918–19 1919–20
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1960–61 1961–62 1962–63 1963–64 1964–65 1965–66 1966–67 1967–68 1968–69 1969–70
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1980–81 1981–82 1982–83 1983–84 1984–85 1985–86 1986–87 1987–88 1988–89 1989–90
1990–91 1991–92 1992–93 1993–94 1994–95 1995–96 1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 1999–00
2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 2005–06 2006–07 2007–08 2008–09 2009–10
2010–11 2011–12 2012–13 2013–14 2014–15 2015–16 2016–17 2017–18 2018–19 2019–20
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