1964–65 Port Vale F.C. season

Port Vale
1964–65 season
ChairmanTom Talbot
ManagerFreddie Steele
(until February)
Jackie Mudie
(from February)
StadiumVale Park
Football League Third Division22nd (32 Points)
FA CupSecond Round
(knocked out by Millwall)
League CupFirst Round
(knocked out by Luton Town)
Top goalscorerLeague: Albert Cheesebrough (7)
All: Albert Cheesebrough (7)
Highest home attendance8,190 vs. Colchester United, 29 August 1964
Lowest home attendance3,071 vs. Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic, 13 February 1965
Average home league attendance5,508
Biggest win2–0 (four games)
Biggest defeat0–4 (five games)

The 1964–65 season was Port Vale's 53rd season of football in the English Football League, and their sixth season in the Third Division.[1] Under manager Freddie Steele (until February) and chairman Tom Talbot, the club endured a disastrous league season, finishing 22nd with 32 points, resulting in relegation to the Fourth Division.

Offensively, Vale were the poorest scorers in the entire Football League, mustering just 41 goals in 46 games, with Albert Cheesebrough topping the charts with a mere seven goals in both league and overall tallies. A club record run of 13 home matches without a clean sheet, stretching from 26 September to 15 March, highlighted defensive woes. The season began poorly and Steele departed by mutual consent in February 1965, with veteran forward Jackie Mudie stepping in as caretaker manager and igniting a brief revival. However, Vale remained five points adrift of safety, and relegation could not be avoided.

In cup competitions, Vale exited the FA Cup in the Second Round, losing to Millwall, and were knocked out of the League Cup in the First Round. Home attendance averaged 5,508, with the highest gate recorded at 8,190 for the opening home fixture against Colchester United on 29 August 1964.

Overall, the 1964–65 season was marked by managerial upheaval and poor results, culminating in relegation and the club's worst-ever goalscoring record.

Overview

Third Division

The pre-season saw manager Freddie Steele attempt to sign legendary Spurs striker Bobby Smith, this audacious attempt failed partly due to the financially precarious situation the club found itself in after the previous season.[1] Instead Steele signed Ron Andrew from Stoke City for £3,000, as well as goalkeeper Reg Davies from Leyton Orient.[1]

The season began with a 4–1 beating at Borough Park from newly-promoted Workington after Tony Richards found himself sidelined following an insect bite.[1] They picked up just three points in their next six league games. The fans were already showing their disappointment in the team 20 minutes before the end of the first home game – a 2–1 defeat to Colchester United.[1] Ken Hancock and Jackie Mudie were both dropped following this game.[1] Richards made his return only to suffer a knee injury which required surgery, thereby keeping him out of action for the rest of the campaign.[1] On 5 September, Billy Bingham had played his last game, as he broke his leg in a 4–0 beating by Brentford at Griffin Park.[1] Two successive mid-September 1–0 victories (both goals scored by Albert Cheesebrough) were rare bright rays of sunshine for the "Valiants".[1] A 'punchless' and 'guileless' run of twelve games without a win followed, which saw the club drop to third from bottom, as attendances tailed off accordingly.[1] On 5 October, a mere 4,247 turned out to witness a 2–2 draw with Mansfield Town. Cheeseborough also picked up an injury, whilst Mudie found he was now unable to play on hard surfaces.[1] Reserves filled the gaps in the first XI as at Vale Park "the loud mouths on the terraces certainly did a good job [of] hindering Stan Trafford" on his home debut on 17 October.[1] Goals in short supply, numerous players were tried in the centre-forward role, to no avail.[1]

On 21 November, Vale picked up their third league win of the campaign, beating lowly Barnsley 2–0 at Oakwell.[1] Youth players continued to be drafted in as Vale finished the year with four straight league defeats, picking up injuries and sendings off along the way.[1] In December, Ken Hancock was sold to Ipswich Town for £10,000 to balance the books following sliding attendance figures.[1] The club gave a debut to 16-year-old Clint Boulton on Boxing Day, a 3–0 defeat to Hull City in which Ron Smith damaged his eye. Steele made nine changes for the return fixture two days later, which ended in a 4–0 defeat after Cheesebrough was sent off on 30 minutes for arguing with the referee. A 2–1 victory over promotion-chasers Brentford on 2 January failed to spark a revival, partly because the Bees were forced to play almost the entire match with ten players and an outside player in goal following an injury to Chic Brodie.[1] Steele tried to play a settled team, but that proved to be as unsuccessful as when he switched the team round constantly.[1] By the end of the month the club were bottom of the league and morale was low.[1] On 16 January, Stan Steele broke his toe in a 4–0 defeat at Bristol Rovers as the team's "defensive weaknesses were glaring exposed".

In mid-February, the club four points short of safety, Freddie Steele left the club by mutual consent, as Jackie Mudie was appointed caretaker manager.[1] Following a 4–0 hammering from Gillingham, Mudie signed veteran stopper Jimmy O'Neill from Darlington, and the former Ireland international seemed to improve the team, as just two defeats in eight games followed after he replaced regular custodian Reg Davies.[1] Mudie instilled discipline into the team, and so was made manager permanently on 3 March.[1] He then ensured Reg Davies was transferred to Leyton Orient.[1] He tried and failed to re-sign Terry Harkin from Crewe Alexandra.[1] One win in their final six games doomed the Vale to relegation, just as survival seemed possible.[1] Only 3,521 witnessed a final day victory over Walsall.[1]

They finished in twenty-second position, their 32 points five short of safety.[1] Losing ten home games, they recorded just two wins on their travels.[1] No team in the top four divisions scored fewer than Vale's 41 goals, as Cheeseborough took the honour of top-scorer with a mere seven goals – this was the lowest total for a Vale top-scorer in a Football League season since Meshach Dean scored six in 1892–93 (in a 22-game league season).[1] The club embarked on a post-season tour of Germany, where they played SC Tasmania 1900 Berlin at the Poststadion on 15 June.[2]

Finances

On the financial side, £15,497 was recorded despite a £16,320 donation from the Sportsmen's Association, the Development Fund, and the social club.[1] The average home attendance was a mere 5,508, almost half that of the previous season.[1] Gate receipts had plummeted to just £24,117, compared to a wage bill of £41,092; meanwhile, a £6,250 profit was made on transfers.[1] A clear-out of players could not be avoided, as twelve were handed free transfers, including: Billy Bingham (retired); Stan Steele (left the country); Ron Smith (Southport); Ron Andrew (retired); Tim Rawlings (Nuneaton Borough); Stan Trafford (retired); and Albert Cheesebrough (joined Mansfield Town for free, although Vale had wanted £5,000 for him).[1]

Cup competitions

In the FA Cup, Vale made 'an inglorious passage' past amateurs Hendon of the Isthmian League with a difficult 2–1 victory.[1] Fourth Division club Millwall proved to be too tough an opponent in the second round however, as the "Lions" picked up a 'decisive' 4–0 win at The Den.[1]

Once again, the club exited at the first hurdle in the League Cup, this time losing 1–0 at home to Luton Town with 18-year-old David Mitchell at centre-forward.[1]

League table

Main article: 1964–65 Football League

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GAv Pts Promotion or relegation
20 Oldham Athletic 46 13 10 23 61 83 0.735 36
21 Luton Town (R) 46 11 11 24 51 94 0.543 33 Relegation to the Fourth Division
22 Port Vale (R) 46 9 14 23 41 76 0.539 32
23 Colchester United (R) 46 10 10 26 50 89 0.562 30
24 Barnsley (R) 46 9 11 26 54 90 0.600 29
Source:
(R) Relegated

Results

Football League Third Division

Results by matchday

Port Vale's score comes first

Round12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031323334353637383940414243444546
GroundAAHHAAHHAHAAHAAHHAHHAAHAHAHHAAAHHAAHHAHHAAHHAH
ResultLDLLLDDWWLDLDLDLLLDDDWLLLLWDLDLLLLDWWLWWDLDLLW
Position19172222242422191820182120202120202121222221212324242323232424242424242424242323232323232322
Points011112357788991010101011121315151515151718181919191919202224242628292930303032
Source: Statto[3]
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

Matches

Date Opponent Venue Result Attendance Scorers
22 August 1964 Workington A 1–4 5,228 Andrew
24 August 1964 Carlisle United A 1–1 11,809 Cheesebrough
29 August 1964 Colchester United H 1–2 8,190 Poole
31 August 1964 Carlisle United H 1–3 8,003 Cheesebrough
5 September 1964 Brentford A 0–4 8,397
9 September 1964 Luton Town A 1–1 11,649 Poole
12 September 1964 Bristol Rovers H 1–1 7,571 Steele
14 September 1964 Luton Town H 1–0 6,381 Cheesebrough
19 September 1964 Oldham Athletic A 1–0 9,575 Cheesebrough
26 September 1964 Exeter City H 0–1 7,006
28 September 1964 Mansfield Town A 2–2 10,709 Porter, Mitchell
3 October 1964 Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic A 0–3 8,609
5 October 1964 Mansfield Town H 2–2 4,247 Rowland, Cheesebrough
10 October 1964 Gillingham A 0–2 8,839
12 October 1964 Peterborough United A 2–2 9,878 Miles (2)
17 October 1964 Bristol City H 1–2 5,564 Miles
19 October 1964 Peterborough United H 0–1 6,110
23 October 1964 Queens Park Rangers A 1–3 4,489 Machin
26 October 1964 Watford H 2–2 5,271 Machin, Rawlings
31 October 1964 Shrewsbury Town H 1–1 6,363 Mitchell
7 November 1964 Reading A 1–1 7,360 Mudie
21 November 1964 Barnsley A 2–0 5,288 Porter, Smith
28 November 1964 Scunthorpe United H 0–1 4,620
19 December 1964 Colchester United A 0–2 2,528
26 December 1964 Hull City H 0–3 6,099
28 December 1964 Hull City A 0–4 12,468
2 January 1965 Brentford H 2–1 4,533 Miles, Mudie
8 January 1965 Southend United H 2–2 4,852 Rowland (pen), Miles
16 January 1965 Bristol Rovers A 0–4 10,011
30 January 1965 Walsall A 0–0 7,324
6 February 1965 Exeter City A 1–2 5,465 Poole
13 February 1965 Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic H 1–2 3,071 Mitchell
20 February 1965 Gillingham H 0–4 4,203
27 February 1965 Bristol City A 0–3 8,552
13 March 1965 Shrewsbury Town A 0–0 5,546
15 March 1965 Oldham Athletic H 2–1 5,057 Cheesebrough, Trafford
20 March 1965 Reading H 2–0 4,162 Machin, Steele
26 March 1965 Southend United A 1–2 6,017 Cheesebrough
29 March 1965 Workington H 2–0 7,175 Steele, Rowland
3 April 1965 Barnsley H 2–0 6,311 o.g., Machin
9 April 1965 Scunthorpe United A 0–0 3,894
16 April 1965 Grimsby Town A 0–2 8,325
17 April 1965 Queens Park Rangers H 0–0 4,816
20 April 1965 Grimsby Town H 2–3 3,569 Rowland (2)
24 April 1965 Watford A 0–1 7,627
26 April 1965 Walsall H 2–1 3,521 Boulton, Bannister

FA Cup

Main article: 1964–65 FA Cup
Round Date Opponent Venue Result Attendance Goalscorers
R1 14 November 1964 Hendon H 2–1 8,039 Smith, Mitchell
R2 5 December 1964 Millwall A 0–4 7,521

League Cup

Main article: 1964–65 Football League Cup
Round Date Opponent Venue Result Attendance Goalscorers
R1 7 September 1964 Luton Town H 0–1 5,111

Player statistics

Appearances and goals

Key to positions: GK – Goalkeeper; DF – Defender; MF – Midfielder; FW – Forward
Pos. Name Football League FA Cup League Cup Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
GK England Ken Hancock 20 0 1 0 1 0 22 0
GK England Reg Davies 13 0 1 0 0 0 14 0
GK Republic of Ireland Jimmy O'Neill 13 0 0 0 0 0 13 0
GK England Ken Oxford 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
DF England Roy Sproson 45 0 2 0 1 0 48 0
DF England Selwyn Whalley 15 0 1 0 0 0 16 0
DF England Terry Lowe 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 0
DF England Terry Alcock 28 0 2 0 1 0 31 0
DF England Clint Boulton 5 1 0 0 0 0 5 1
DF Scotland Ron Wilson 21 0 2 0 0 0 23 0
DF England John Nicholson 46 0 2 0 1 0 49 0
MF England Terry Miles 33 5 1 0 1 0 35 5
MF England Tim Rawlings 12 1 1 0 1 0 14 1
MF England Ron Smith 25 1 2 1 1 0 28 2
MF England Mel Machin 11 4 1 0 0 0 12 4
MF England Ron Andrew 8 1 0 0 0 0 8 1
FW England Harry Poole 37 3 1 0 1 0 39 3
FW England Stan Steele 34 3 1 0 0 0 35 3
FW England John Rowland 40 5 2 0 1 0 43 5
FW England Tony Richards 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
FW Scotland Jackie Mudie 18 2 1 0 0 0 19 2
FW England Mick Porter 11 2 0 0 1 0 12 2
FW Northern Ireland Billy Bingham 5 0 0 0 0 0 5 0
FW England Albert Cheesebrough 32 7 0 0 0 0 32 7
FW England Stan Trafford 12 1 0 0 0 0 12 1
FW England David Mitchell 17 3 1 1 1 0 19 4
FW England Paul Bannister 2 1 0 0 0 0 2 1

Top scorers

Place Position Nation Name Third Division FA Cup League Cup Total
1 FW  England Albert Cheesebrough 7 0 0 7
2 MF  England Terry Miles 5 0 0 5
– FW  England John Rowland 5 0 0 5
4 MF  England Mel Machin 4 0 0 4
– FW  England David Mitchell 3 1 0 4
6 FW  England Harry Poole 3 0 0 3
– FW  England Stan Steele 3 0 0 3
8 FW  England Mick Porter 2 0 0 2
– FW  Scotland Jackie Mudie 2 0 0 2
– MF  England Ron Smith 1 1 0 2
11 FW  Northern Ireland Stan Trafford 1 0 0 1
– MF  England Tim Rawlings 1 0 0 1
– FW  England Paul Bannister 1 0 0 1
– DF  England Clint Boulton 1 0 0 1
– MF  England Ron Andrew 1 0 0 1
– – – Own goals 1 0 0 1
TOTALS 41 2 0 43

Transfers

Transfers in

Date from Position Nationality Name From Fee Ref.
June 1964 DF England Ron Andrew Stoke City £3,000 [4]
July 1964 GK England Reg Davies Leyton Orient Free transfer [4]
February 1965 GK Republic of Ireland Jimmy O'Neill Darlington Free transfer [4]

Transfers out

Date from Position Nationality Name To Fee Ref.
August 1964 MF England Colin Grainger Doncaster Rovers Free transfer [4]
December 1964 GK England Ken Hancock Ipswich Town £10,000 [4]
March 1965 GK England Reg Davies Leyton Orient 'small' [4]
April 1965 DF England Ron Andrew Free transfer [4]
April 1965 FW Northern Ireland Billy Bingham Southport Free transfer [4]
April 1965 FW England Mick Porter Portmadoc Free transfer [4]
April 1965 MF England Tim Rawlings Nuneaton Borough Free transfer [4]
April 1965 MF England Ron Smith Southport Free transfer [4]
April 1965 FW England Stan Steele South Africa Port Elizabeth City Free transfer [4]
April 1965 FW England Stan Trafford Released [4]
July 1965 FW England Albert Cheesebrough Mansfield Town 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 af ag ah ai aj Kent, Jeff (1990). "Flattering Only to Deceive (1960–1969)". The Valiants' Years: The Story Of Port Vale. Witan Books. pp. 196–226. ISBN 0-9508981-4-7.
  2. ^ official matchday programme Port Vale v Oldham Athletic (PDF). 9 March 2021. p. 25. Retrieved 20 August 2023.
  3. ^ Port Vale 1964–1965 : Results & Fixtures Archived 7 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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