1949–50 Port Vale F.C. season

Port Vale
1949–50 season
ChairmanWilliam Holdcroft
ManagerGordon Hodgson
StadiumOld Recreation Ground
Football League Third Division South13th (41 Points)
FA CupFourth Round
(knocked out by Burnley)
Top goalscorerLeague: Cliff Pinchbeck (14)
All: Cliff Pinchbeck (16)
Highest home attendance18,218 vs. Nottingham Forest, 11 February 1950
Lowest home attendance8,496 vs. Torquay United, 27 March 1950
Average home league attendance12,983
Biggest win4–0 vs. Millwall, 12 November 1949
Biggest defeat0–3 vs. Millwall, 1 April 1950

The 1949–50 season was Port Vale's 38th season of football in the English Football League, and their fifth full season in the Third Division South.[1] It was also the final season at the Old Recreation Ground, amid ongoing disputes over the proposed move to Vale Park. Vale finished in 13th place, accumulating 41 points over 42 league fixtures — including the season's largest win, 4–0 versus Millwall on 12 November 1949, and their heaviest defeat, 3–0 away to Millwall on 1 April 1950.

In the FA Cup, Vale enjoyed a deeper run, reaching the Fourth Round before bowing out to Burnley. Cliff Pinchbeck was both the league and season top scorer, netting 14 goals in the league and 16 overall across all competitions. Home attendance figures remained robust: an average crowd of 12,983, peaking at just under this in several fixtures, with the lowest turnout of 8,496 recorded against Torquay United on 27 March 1950. Financially, the club secured a significant boost with the sale of Ronnie Allen to West Bromwich Albion for £20,000, a major transaction on and off the pitch.

Overall, the season served as a transitional campaign: solid mid‑table performance on the field, farewell to the Old Recreation Ground off it, and a key departure in Allen, marking the approach of a new era at Port Vale.

Manager Gordon Hodgson during his playing days.

Overview

Third Division South

The pre-season saw the arrival of experienced full-back Lol Hamlett from Bolton Wanderers, young keeper Ray King from Leyton Orient (brother of George).[1] On his arrival King stated that Old Recreation Ground was like 'some shanty town out west' and compared the dressing room to 'a dungeon', despite which somehow he 'felt completely at home'.[1] The playing staff now stood at 59 amateurs and 27 full-time professionals.[1]

The season opened with a 1–0 win over Bristol Rovers, which was followed by a 1–0 reverse to Southend United at Roots Hall three days later.[1] This loss was thanks to an own goal from Garth Butler, who put the ball into his own net despite being some distance from any Southend players.[1] A seven-match unbeaten run followed, built upon a defence that leaked just five goals, King and Hamlett settling in well.[1] A 2–0 victory at Watford on 10 September took the club to within a point of second-place, though George King was concussed in a collision and spent five days recovering in hospital. Three straight wins at the start of October, including at third-placed Norwich City, where Alan Martin fractured his collarbone, put the club in a strong position. Bad news off the field returned, however, when Stoke-on-Trent City Council rejected the club's application to move two stands from the Old Recreation Ground to the new stadium.[1] As a result, the club set up a 100,000 Shilling Fund to build the two stands from scratch.[1]

On the pitch results began to turn against the "Valiants", and so striker Cliff Pinchbeck was signed from Brighton & Hove Albion for a £3,500 fee.[1] Pinchbeck marked his debut with a hat-trick over Millwall, receiving a standing ovation from his new fans.[1] More off-field stadium troubles came when the Regional Officer of the Minister of Works refused a licence for the stadium on unspecified grounds.[1] Club officials were forced to travel to London to discuss the matter with the minister, eventually convincing him to change his mind.[1] The home match with Newport County on 15 October was notable as the first Vale match to offer a matchday programme.[2] On 17 December, Vale lost 2–1 at Bristol Rovers, though went the next five games unbeaten. This included a 3–1 Boxing Day win over Northampton Town in which the team displayed "pace, method, excitement, tension and well-taken goals".[1]

A successful Christmas period took Vale into sixth place by mid-February.[1] George King was then sold to Barrow for a four-figure fee, after which Pinchbeck was the only regular scorer.[1] Six games without a win followed, ending the club's hopes of opening the new stadium in the Second Division.[1] The Shilling Fund had only raised 17,738 shillings. So Ronnie Allen was sold to top-flight West Bromwich Albion for a massive £20,000, smashing the club's transfer record.[1] Allen went on to play for England, whilst the fee went towards the new ground.[1] Back to the league, the Vale were seventh at the start of April, but six defeats in their final eight games saw them tumble down the table.[1] The final match at the Old Recreation Ground was a disappointing 1–0 defeat to Aldershot on 22 April.[1]

They finished in 13th place with 41 points.[1] The defence was the third strongest in the division. However, only Watford scored fewer goals.[1] Pinchbeck was the only goalscorer of any consistency.[1]

Finances

On the financial side, a profit of £10,671 was made, another record: this was due to the sale of Allen, which gave them a transfer credit of £15,000.[1] The wage bill had risen by £6,000 to £22,333, whereas gate receipts had risen by around £3,000 to £29,050.[1] Eric Eastwood was the only major departure of the summer.[1] Trouble with the new ground continued, as the Regional Officer of the Ministry of Works refused to permit the transfer of the stand from the old to the new stadium, despite having approved similar procedures at Liverpool and Millwall.[1] Chairman William Holdcroft felt this was unfair and was supported by Stoke-on-Trent North MP Albert Davies.[1] Despite this set-back the stadium was opened on 2 August in a ceremony attended by 12,000 rain-soaked people.[1]

Cup competitions

In the FA Cup, Vale progressed past Athenian League amateurs Wealdstone and Tranmere Rovers of the Third Division North with 1–0 home wins. Beating Newport County at Somerton Park with a Ronnie Allen brace, they came up against First Division Burnley in the fourth round at Turf Moor. There, they lost 2–1 in front of 49,692 spectators – including 12,000 Vale fans.[1]

League table

Main article: 1949–50 Football League

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GAv Pts
11 Norwich City 42 16 10 16 65 63 1.032 42
12 Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic 42 16 10 16 57 56 1.018 42
13 Port Vale 42 15 11 16 47 42 1.119 41
14 Swindon Town 42 15 11 16 59 62 0.952 41
15 Bristol City 42 15 10 17 60 61 0.984 40
Source:

Results

Football League Third Division South

Results by matchday

Round123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627282930313233343536373839404142
GroundHAAHHHAHAHAHAHAHAAAHHAAHAHHAHAHAHHAAHHAHAA
ResultWLDDWDWDLWWWLWLWDLLDWDWWLWDLDDLLWWLLLWDLLL
Position19128758899757598781010798786569681086791097101113
Points22346791010121416161818202121212224252729293132323334343436383838384041414141
Source: Statto[3]
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

Matches

20 August 1949 1 Port Vale 1–0 Bristol Rovers Hanley
Allen Stadium: Old Recreation Ground
Attendance: 15,097
23 August 1949 2 Southend United 1–0 Port Vale Southend-on-Sea
Stadium: Southend Stadium
Attendance: 9,434
27 August 1949 3 Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic 2–2 Port Vale Bournemouth
King Stadium: Dean Court
Attendance: 19,101
29 August 1949 4 Port Vale 0–0 Southend United Hanley
Stadium: Old Recreation Ground
Attendance: 14,686
3 September 1949 5 Port Vale 2–0 Crystal Palace Hanley
Martin Stadium: Old Recreation Ground
Attendance: 13,788
5 September 1949 6 Port Vale 2–2 Ipswich Town Hanley
Martin
Cheadle 		Stadium: Old Recreation Ground
Attendance: 12,297
10 September 1949 7 Watford 0–2 Port Vale Watford
King
Aveyard 		Stadium: Vicarage Road
Attendance: 10,583
17 September 1949 8 Port Vale 1–1 Reading Hanley
o.g. Stadium: Old Recreation Ground
Attendance: 12,948
24 September 1949 9 Leyton Orient 1–0 Port Vale Leyton, East London
Stadium: Brisbane Road
Attendance: 15,698
1 October 1949 10 Port Vale 1–0 Exeter City Hanley
Martin Stadium: Old Recreation Ground
Attendance: 11,499
8 October 1949 11 Norwich City 0–1 Port Vale Norwich
Allen Stadium: Carrow Road
Attendance: 26,831
15 October 1949 12 Port Vale 1–0 Newport County Hanley
Allen Stadium: Old Recreation Ground
Attendance: 12,599
22 October 1949 13 Bristol City 2–0 Port Vale Ashton Gate, Bristol
Stadium: Ashton Gate
Attendance: 19,855
29 October 1949 14 Port Vale 3–0 Brighton & Hove Albion Hanley
Aveyard
Allen
Barber 		Stadium: Old Recreation Ground
Attendance: 11,189
5 November 1949 15 Walsall 1–0 Port Vale Walsall
Stadium: Fellows Park
Attendance: 9,605
12 November 1949 16 Port Vale 4–0 Millwall Hanley
Pinchbeck
Aveyard 		Stadium: Old Recreation Ground
Attendance: 12,918
19 November 1949 17 Swindon Town 0–0 Port Vale Swindon
Stadium: County Ground
Attendance: 9,039
3 December 1949 18 Aldershot 1–0 Port Vale Aldershot
Stadium: Recreation Ground
Attendance: 4,043
17 December 1949 19 Bristol Rovers 2–1 Port Vale Bristol
Palk Stadium: Eastville Stadium
Attendance: 10,105
24 December 1949 20 Port Vale 1–1 Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic Hanley
Pinchbeck Stadium: Old Recreation Ground
Attendance: 13,092
26 December 1949 21 Port Vale 3–1 Northampton Town Hanley
Pinchbeck
Martin 		Stadium: Old Recreation Ground
Attendance: 17,212
27 December 1949 22 Northampton Town 1–1 Port Vale Northampton
Martin Stadium: County Cricket Ground
Attendance: 19,263
31 December 1949 23 Crystal Palace 0–1 Port Vale Selhurst, Croydon
Pinchbeck Stadium: Selhurst Park
Attendance: 12,609
14 January 1950 24 Port Vale 2–0 Watford Hanley
Allen
Pinchbeck 		Stadium: Old Recreation Ground
Attendance: 17,387
21 January 1950 25 Reading 2–1 Port Vale Reading, Berkshire
Pinchbeck Stadium: Elm Park
Attendance: 11,284
4 February 1950 26 Port Vale 2–0 Leyton Orient Hanley
Allen
Martin 		Stadium: Old Recreation Ground
Attendance: 14,176
11 February 1950 27 Port Vale 1–1 Nottingham Forest Hanley
Pinchbeck Stadium: Old Recreation Ground
Attendance: 18,218
18 February 1950 28 Exeter City 3–1 Port Vale Exeter
Pinchbeck Stadium: St James Park
Attendance: 9,632
25 February 1950 29 Port Vale 2–2 Norwich City Hanley
Hayward
Palk 		Stadium: Old Recreation Ground
Attendance: 11,204
4 March 1950 30 Newport County 1–1 Port Vale Newport, Wales
Aveyard Stadium: Somerton Park
Attendance: 8,762
11 March 1950 31 Port Vale 0–2 Bristol City Hanley
Stadium: Old Recreation Ground
Attendance: 11,444
18 March 1950 32 Brighton & Hove Albion 2–1 Port Vale Hove
Aveyard Stadium: Goldstone Ground
Attendance: 11,852
25 March 1950 33 Port Vale 2–0 Walsall Hanley
Aveyard
Pinchbeck 		Stadium: Old Recreation Ground
Attendance: 9,763
27 March 1950 34 Port Vale 2–0 Torquay United Hanley
Hulligan
Potts 		Stadium: Old Recreation Ground
Attendance: 8,496
1 April 1950 35 Millwall 3–0 Port Vale New Cross, Lewisham
Stadium: The Den
Attendance: 18,088
7 April 1950 36 Notts County 3–1 Port Vale Nottingham
Palk Stadium: Meadow Lane
Attendance: 32,097
8 April 1950 37 Port Vale 0–1 Swindon Town Hanley
Stadium: Old Recreation Ground
Attendance: 9,607
10 April 1950 38 Port Vale 3–1 Notts County Hanley
Pinchbeck
Hulligan 		Stadium: Old Recreation Ground
Attendance: 15,380
15 April 1950 39 Torquay United 0–0 Port Vale Torquay
Stadium: Plainmoor
Attendance: 8,037
22 April 1950 40 Port Vale 0–1 Aldershot Hanley
Stadium: Old Recreation Ground
Attendance: 9,645
29 April 1950 41 Nottingham Forest 2–0 Port Vale West Bridgford
Stadium: City Ground
Attendance: 5,906
6 May 1950 42 Ipswich Town 2–1 Port Vale Ipswich
McGarry Stadium: Portman Road
Attendance: 12,451

FA Cup

Main article: 1949–50 FA Cup
26 November 1949 R1 Port Vale 1–0 Wealdstone Hanley
Pinchbeck Stadium: Old Recreation Ground
Attendance: 14,935
10 December 1949 R2 Port Vale 1–0 Tranmere Rovers Hanley
Pinchbeck Stadium: Old Recreation Ground
Attendance: 14,716
7 January 1950 R3 Newport County 1–2 Port Vale Newport, Wales
Allen Stadium: Somerton Park
Attendance: 17,781
28 January 1950 R4 Burnley 2–1 Port Vale Burnley
Martin Stadium: Turf Moor
Attendance: 49,692

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
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
GK England George Heppell 3 0 0 0 3 0
GK England Ray King 39 0 4 0 43 0
FB England Garth Butler 39 0 4 0 43 0
FB England Reg Potts 3 1 0 0 3 1
FB England Jim Elsby 2 0 0 0 2 0
FB England Lol Hamlett 40 0 4 0 44 0
HB England Basil Hayward 1 1 0 0 1 1
HB England Tommy Cheadle 42 1 4 0 46 1
HB Northern Ireland Jimmy Todd 37 0 4 0 41 0
HB England Alan Martin 24 7 4 1 28 8
HB England Bill McGarry 42 1 4 0 46 1
HB England Norman Hallam 1 0 0 0 1 0
FW England Mick Hulligan 38 2 4 0 42 2
FW England Alan Bennett 10 0 0 0 10 0
FW England Colin Askey 4 0 0 0 4 0
FW England Ronnie Allen 27 6 4 2 31 8
FW England Pat Raftery 3 0 0 0 3 0
FW England George King 8 3 0 0 8 3
FW England Stan Palk 42 3 4 0 46 3
FW England Walter Aveyard 23 6 0 0 23 6
FW England Cliff Pinchbeck 27 14 4 2 31 16
FW England Ken Griffiths 2 0 0 0 2 0
FW England Len Barber 5 1 0 0 5 1

Top scorers

Place Position Nation Name Third Division South FA Cup Total
1 FW  England Cliff Pinchbeck 14 2 16
2 HB  England Alan Martin 7 1 8
– FW  England Ronnie Allen 6 2 8
4 FW  England Walter Aveyard 6 0 6
5 FW  England Stan Palk 3 0 3
– FW  England George King 3 0 3
7 FW  England Mick Hulligan 2 0 2
8 FW  England Len Barber 1 0 1
– HB  England Basil Hayward 1 0 1
– FB  England Reg Potts 1 0 1
– HB  England Tommy Cheadle 1 0 1
– HB  England Bill McGarry 1 0 1
– – – Own goals 1 0 1
TOTALS 47 5 52

Transfers

Transfers in

Date from Position Nationality Name From Fee Ref.
May 1949 FB England John Abbotts Ravenscliffe Free transfer [4]
May 1949 GK England Ray King Ashington Free transfer [4]
May 1949 FB England Lol Hamlett Bolton Wanderers Free transfer [4]
July 1949 HB England Roy Sproson Stoke City Free transfer [4]
November 1949 FW England Cliff Pinchbeck Brighton & Hove Albion £3,500 [4]
February 1950 FW England Ken Griffiths Northwood Mission Free transfer [4]
February 1950 HB England Albert Leake Stoke City Free transfer [4]
March 1950 FW England Roland Lewis Congleton Town Free transfer [4]

Transfers out

Date from Position Nationality Name To Fee Ref.
November 1949 FW England Bernard Jones Winsford United Free transfer [4]
February 1950 FW England George King Barrow 'four-figure fee' [4]
February 1950 FW England Pat Raftery Wellington Town Free transfer [4]
March 1950 FW England Ronnie Allen West Bromwich Albion £20,000 [4]
April 1950 HB England Eric Eastwood Released [4]
April 1950 HB England Wilf Smith Buxton Free transfer [4]

References

Specific
  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 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.
  2. ^ "The first Vale Park match programme". onevalefan.co.uk. 20 October 2013. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
  3. ^ Port Vale 1949–1950 : Results & Fixtures Archived 16 September 2015 at the Wayback Machine. Statto Organisation. Retrieved 28 April 2012.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n 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.
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