1978–79 Port Vale F.C. season

Port Vale
1978–79 season
ChairmanArthur McPherson
ManagerDennis Butler
StadiumVale Park
Football League Fourth Division16th (42 Points)
FA CupFirst Round
(knocked out by Bradford City)
League CupFirst Round
(knocked out by Chester)
Player of the YearBernie Wright
Top goalscorerLeague: Bernie Wright (14)
All: Bernie Wright (15)
Highest home attendance5,226 vs. Barnsley, 14 April 1979
Lowest home attendance2,160 vs. Hereford United, 1 May 1979
Average home league attendance3,287
Biggest win5–1 vs. Crewe Alexandra, 25 August 1978
Biggest defeat0–4 (twice) and 2–6

The 1978–79 season was Port Vale's 67th season of football in the Football League, and their first season (seventh overall) back in the Fourth Division following their relegation from the Third Division.[1] Under manager Dennis Butler, who stepped up after Bobby Smith's departure and brought in Bernie Wright from Bradford City and the club-record signing Ken Todd from Wolverhampton Wanderers, the club aimed to rebuild.

However, on the pitch, Vale finished 16th, securing just 42 points from 46 matches. Their cup runs were short-lived — with exits in the first round of both the FA Cup (losing to Bradford City) and the League Cup (knocked out by Chester). Bernie Wright was the standout performer, finishing as top scorer with 15 goals in all competitions (14 in the league), and earning the Player of the Year accolade.

Off the pitch, the season was turbulent. There was unrest in the boardroom and among the fans, and Butler publicly expressed frustration at supporter abuse of the players. Financially, the club suffered a record loss of £52,000, despite generating significant commercial income and investing heavily in transfers (totalling well over £36,000 in net loss). In terms of support, Vale drew on average 3,287 fans to Vale Park, with the highest attendance being 5,226 against Barnsley on 14 April 1979, and the lowest just 2,160 against Hereford United on 1 May 1979. Their biggest win was an emphatic 5–1 away victory over Crewe Alexandra early in the season, and their heaviest defeats included two 4–0 drubbings and a 6–2 loss.

A season of financial strain and boardroom unrest underpinned a mid-table Fourth Division finish, with Bernie Wright's goals offering a rare spark during an otherwise turbulent campaign.

Overview

Fourth Division

Before the season began, Bobby Smith left to manage Swindon Town, with Vale being paid a compensation fee of £10,500. He denied "leaving a sinking ship". His assistant, Dennis Butler, turned down the chance to go as Smith's assistant to instead take over as Port Vale's new manager manager. Butler promoted Graham Hawkins to a first-team coach and then to assistant manager. Butler signed sign big striker Bernie Wright from Bradford City for £9,000 and right-back Neil Wilkinson on a free transfer from Blackburn Rovers.[1] He also took the team on a three-match tour of Scotland.[1] Just before the start of the season, Ken Todd was signed for a club-record fee of £37,000, despite having only made a handful of appearances for Wolverhampton Wanderers.[1] On 23 July, former Valiant Tommy McLaren committed suicide, friend and teammate Ray Williams said 'leaving the club shattered him'.[1] On 2 October, a Memorial Fund match was played, raising £3,000.[1]

The season opened with just two victories in eleven league games, as both Todd and keeper John Connaughton were sidelined with injuries in the defeat at Wimbledon on 22 August.[1] The two wins came away from home, 5–1 over rivals Crewe Alexandra at Gresty Road (Wright scoring a hat-trick) and 3–1 at Doncaster Rovers at the Keepmoat Stadium.[1] Butler then threw himself into the transfer market, selling John Froggatt to Northampton Town for £8,000, and then Mick Moore and Terry Bailey to Wigan Athletic and Northwich Victoria respectively, both for £2,000.[1] Another 'shrewd piece of business' came when star forward Ken Beamish was sold to Bury for £35,000, whilst Gerry Keenan moved the other way for £15,000.[1] On the pitch, Trevor Dance saved a penalty only to later gift a goal to Portsmouth in a 2–0 loss at Fratton Park on 16 September.[1]

In October, Felix Healy was signed from Finn Harps for £8,000, and Neil Wilkinson and £3,000 were traded to Crewe in exchange for outside-right Kevin Tully.[1] Winning five games in a sequence of eight, Todd was still a disappointment to fans, who began getting 'on his back'.[1] Butler's signings did not stop, however, and instead he sold John Ridley to Leicester City for a club-record £55,000.[1] He then signed Andy Proudlove from Buxton for £1,000 – despite interest from Stafford Rangers.[1] Then in came midfielder Peter Farrell from Bury for a new club-record £40,000.[1] The 2–0 victory over Hartlepool United was the club's first win in 14 games at Vale Park.[1] Butler defended his transfer activity by saying the team he had inherited was not good enough.[1]

Going into December four games unbeaten, Butler then splashed out £30,000 on Chester's Bob Delgado.[1] Despite this, Vale were thumped 6–2 by Barnsley in front of 10,532 at Oakwell.[1] In January, legendary England goalkeeper Gordon Banks was appointed as coach, and results began to pick up as Vale were lifted into eighth spot.[1] Healy quit the club in February, only to return two weeks later.[1] Behind the scenes, there was trouble when Arthur McPherson ruled that club shares could only be transferable to a male relation, in order 'to safeguard plans by the current directors'.[1] More defeats came, and the big money signings were targeted by fans for abuse.[1] Butler reacted by switching to a 4–4–2 formation and calling the fans 'a bunch of yobs'.[1] From mid-March, Vale went seven games with only one victory and one goal scored.[1]

On 21 March, violence returned to Vale Park, when Portsmouth keeper Peter Mellor saved a penalty, floored Peter Farrell and made an 'assortment of gestures' to the Bycars End – he found himself attacked by a Vale fan on the pitch for his efforts.[1] On 13 April, Vale surrendered a three-goal lead at Springfield Park to lose 5–3 to fifth-placed Wigan Athletic.[1] Only 2,160 attended a 1–1 draw at home with Hereford United on 1 May. Danger of ending up in the re-election zone was ended with a late four-game unbeaten spell, despite heavy defeats from Reading and York City.[1]

They finished in 16th place with 42 points, with an awful defensive record of seventy goals conceded.[1] Despite this, their scoring tally away from Burslem was the highest in the Football League, and they were given £2,125 as a reward.[1] Player of the Year Bernie Wright secured 15 goals in what was a poor season for the club.[1]

Finances

On the financial side, a record £52,000 loss was made despite a remarkable £225,000 income from the club's commercial department.[1] Butler's transfer dealings had lost the club £36,000, whilst wages more than doubled from £113,000 to £259,000.[1] The club's liabilities stood at £187,000.[1] Despite all of this, the club made 'surprisingly sparing use of the pruning knife', letting go of just four players, most significantly David Harris (Halifax Town) and Andy Proudlove (Stafford Rangers).[1] Behind the scenes, long-time club servant and president Mark Singer resigned from the board and was later sacked. However, club chairman Arthur McPherson did not comment to the press.[1]

Cup competitions

In the FA Cup, a week of preparation in Blackpool failed to prevent Vale from exiting at the first round with a 1–0 defeat to Bradford City at Valley Parade.[1]

In the League Cup, Third Division side Chester knocked the Vale out 4–1 on aggregate. Teenage midfielder Ged Stenson was described as "the only glimmer of light" from the encounter.[1]

League table

Main article: 1978–79 Football League

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
14 Hereford United 46 15 13 18 53 53 0 43
15 Bradford City 46 17 9 20 62 68 −6 43
16 Port Vale 46 14 14 18 57 70 −13 42
17 Stockport County 46 14 12 20 58 60 −2 40
18 Bournemouth 46 14 11 21 47 48 −1 39
Source:

Results

Port Vale's score comes first

Football League Fourth Division

Results by matchday

Round12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031323334353637383940414243444546
GroundHAAHHAAHHAHAAHAHAHHAAHHAHAHAHAHHAAAHAHAHHAHHAA
ResultDLWDDWLLDLDWWLLWWDWLLWWDLLLDWLDWLDLDLWLDWDDLLW
Position917699812151516151310141614111210151711889111515151513121213131315141616141315161716
Points113457778891113131315171820202022242525252526282829313132323333353536383940404042
Source: Statto[2]
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

Matches

Date Opponent Venue Result Attendance Scorers
19 August 1978 Scunthorpe United H 2–2 3,027 Wright, Bromage
22 August 1978 Wimbledon A 0–1 2,638
25 August 1978 Crewe Alexandra A 5–1 4,413 Wright (3), Bloor, Beamish
2 September 1978 Rochdale H 1–1 3,222 Beamish
9 September 1978 Aldershot H 1–1 3,045 Beamish
12 September 1978 Doncaster Rovers A 3–1 3,405 Bromage, Todd, Beamish
16 September 1978 Portsmouth A 0–2 9,937
23 September 1978 Bournemouth H 1–2 3,140 Griffiths (pen)
26 September 1978 Northampton Town H 2–2 3,245 N.Chamberlain (2)
30 September 1978 Hereford United A 0–1 3,963
7 October 1978 Grimsby Town H 1–1 3,433 N.Chamberlain
14 October 1978 Halifax Town A 3–0 1,591 Wright (2), Tully
18 October 1978 Bradford City A 3–2 4,136 Sutcliffe, Wright, Healy
21 October 1978 Torquay United H 1–2 4,108 Todd
28 October 1978 Darlington A 0–4 1,793
4 November 1978 Hartlepool United H 2–0 3,195 N.Chamberlain, Beech
11 November 1978 Rochdale A 1–0 1,882 Keenan
18 November 1978 Crewe Alexandra H 2–2 4,607 Farrell (pen), Healy
9 December 1978 Stockport County H 2–1 3,689 Wright, Farrell (pen)
26 December 1978 Barnsley A 2–6 10,532 Todd, Keenan
30 December 1978 Newport County A 0–1 4,075
1 January 1979 Huddersfield Town H 1–0 4,021 Wright
9 January 1979 Wigan Athletic H 2–1 3,746 Wright, Todd
13 January 1979 Aldershot A 1–1 3,708 Sinclair
16 January 1979 Doncaster Rovers H 1–3 3,381 o.g.
6 February 1979 Bournemouth A 1–3 3,416 o.g.
24 February 1979 Halifax Town H 0–1 3,117
3 March 1979 Torquay United A 2–2 1,711 Todd, Wright
10 March 1979 Darlington H 2–1 2,566 Hawkins, Beech
13 March 1979 Northampton Town A 0–1 1,572
21 March 1979 Portsmouth H 0–0 2,738
24 March 1979 Wimbledon H 1–0 2,906 Beech
27 March 1979 Scunthorpe United A 0–2 1,580
31 March 1979 Reading A 0–0 6,704
3 April 1979 Grimsby Town A 0–1 8,072
7 April 1979 York City H 0–0 2,712
13 April 1979 Wigan Athletic A 3–5 8,452 Todd (2), Wright
14 April 1979 Barnsley H 3–2 5,226 N.Chamberlain, Wright, Todd
16 April 1979 Huddersfield Town A 2–3 3,236 M.Chamberlain, Beech
21 April 1979 Newport County H 1–1 2,444 Wright
24 April 1979 Bradford City H 2–1 2,264 Farrell, N.Chamberlain
27 April 1979 Stockport County A 0–0 3,345
1 May 1979 Hereford United H 1–1 2,160 Hawkins
5 May 1979 Reading H 0–3 3,603
7 May 1979 York City A 0–4 2,344
10 May 1979 Hartlepool United A 2–1 2,007 Sinclair, Farrell

FA Cup

Main article: 1978–79 FA Cup
Round Date Opponent Venue Result Attendance Goalscorers
R1 25 November 1978 Bradford City A 0–1 5,625

League Cup

Main article: 1978–79 Football League Cup
Round Date Opponent Venue Result Attendance Goalscorers
R1 1st Leg 12 August 1978 Chester H 0–3 2,819
R1 2nd Leg 16 August 1978 Chester A 1–1 3,741 Wright

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 John Connaughton 19 0 1 0 2 0 22 0
GK England Trevor Dance 27 0 0 0 0 0 27 0
DF England Neil Griffiths 26 1 0 0 1 0 27 1
DF England David Harris 11 0 1 0 1 0 13 0
DF England Phil Sproson 23 0 1 0 1 0 25 0
DF England Graham Hawkins 43 2 1 0 2 0 46 2
DF England Bill Bentley 31 0 1 0 2 0 34 0
DF England Neil Wilkinson 7 0 0 0 2 0 9 0
DF England Gerry Keenan 32 2 1 0 0 0 33 2
DF Wales Bob Delgado 24 0 0 0 0 0 24 0
DF England Billy Leese 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
DF England Russell Bromage 20 2 0 0 1 0 21 2
MF England John Ridley 7 0 0 0 0 0 7 0
MF England Terry Bailey 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0
MF England Kenny Beech 23 4 1 0 0 0 24 4
MF England Peter Sutcliffe 8 1 0 0 0 0 8 1
MF England Mick Moore 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0
MF England Andy Proudlove 5 0 0 0 0 0 5 0
MF England Ged Stenson 11 0 0 0 2 0 13 0
MF England Ken Todd 41 8 1 0 0 0 42 8
MF England Kevin Tully 8 1 1 0 0 0 9 1
MF England Mark Chamberlain 8 1 0 0 0 0 8 1
MF England Peter Farrell 28 4 1 0 0 0 29 4
MF England Ian Elsby 5 0 0 0 0 0 5 0
MF England Alan Bloor 6 1 0 0 0 0 6 1
MF Northern Ireland Felix Healy 23 2 1 0 0 0 24 2
FW England Ken Beamish 6 4 0 0 2 0 8 4
FW England John Froggatt 2 0 0 0 1 0 3 0
FW England Neville Chamberlain 26 6 0 0 2 0 28 6
FW England Bernie Wright 46 14 1 0 1 1 48 15
FW England Brian Sinclair 18 2 0 0 0 0 18 2

Top scorers

Place Position Nation Name Fourth Division FA Cup League Cup Total
1 FW  England Bernie Wright 14 0 1 15
2 MF  England Ken Todd 8 0 0 8
3 FW  England Neville Chamberlain 6 0 0 6
4 MF  England Kenny Beech 4 0 0 4
– MF  England Peter Farrell 4 0 0 4
– FW  England Ken Beamish 4 0 0 4
7 DF  England Graham Hawkins 2 0 0 2
– DF  England Gerry Keenan 2 0 0 2
– MF  Northern Ireland Felix Healy 2 0 0 2
– FW  England Brian Sinclair 2 0 0 2
– DF  England Russell Bromage 2 0 0 2
12 MF  England Kevin Tully 1 0 0 1
– MF  England Mark Chamberlain 1 0 0 1
– MF  England Alan Bloor 1 0 0 1
– MF  England Peter Sutcliffe 1 0 0 1
– DF  England Neil Griffiths 1 0 0 1
– – – Own goals 2 0 0 2
TOTALS 57 0 1 60

Transfers

Transfers in

Date from Position Nationality Name From Fee Ref.
June 1978 DF England Neil Wilkinson Blackburn Rovers Free transfer [3]
June 1978 FW England Bernie Wright Bradford City £9,000 [3]
August 1978 FW England Brian Sinclair Blackpool Free transfer [3]
August 1978 MF England Ken Todd Wolverhampton Wanderers £37,000 [3]
September 1978 MF England Paul Bennett Everton Free transfer [3]
September 1978 DF England Gerry Keenan Bury £15,000 [3]
October 1978 FW Northern Ireland Felix Healy Republic of Ireland Finn Harps £8,000 [3]
October 1978 MF England Kevin Tully Crewe Alexandra Exchange [3]
November 1978 MF England Peter Farrell Bury £40,000 [3]
November 1978 MF England Andy Proudlove Buxton £1,000 [3]
December 1978 DF Wales Bob Delgado Chester £30,000 [3]

Transfers out

Date from Position Nationality Name To Fee Ref.
August 1978 MF England Terry Bailey Northwich Victoria £2,000 [3]
August 1978 MF England Mick Moore Wigan Athletic £2,000 [3]
September 1978 DF England Alan Bloor Retired [3]
September 1978 FW England John Froggatt Northampton Town £8,000 [3]
September 1978 FW England Ken Beamish Bury £35,000 [3]
October 1978 MF England John Ridley Leicester City £55,000 [3]
October 1978 DF England Neil Wilkinson Crewe Alexandra Exchange [3]
December 1978 MF England Peter Sutcliffe Chester City £15,000 [3]
May 1979 DF England David Harris Halifax Town Free transfer [3]
May 1979 MF England Andy Proudlove Stafford Rangers Free transfer [3]

Loans out

Date from Position Nationality Name To Date to Ref.
May 1978 GK England Trevor Dance Stoke City May 1978 [3]
May 1978 MF England Ian Elsby United States Cleveland Cobras August 1978 [3]
May 1978 DF England Neil Griffiths United States Cleveland Cobras August 1978 [3]
May 1978 DF England Billy Leese United States Cleveland Cobras July 1978 [3]
May 1978 MF England John Ridley United States Fort Lauderdale Strikers August 1978 [3]
August 1978 GK England Trevor Dance United States Cleveland Cobras August 1978 [3]

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 ak al am Kent, Jeff (1990). "Surviving on a Shoestring (1969–1979)". The Valiants' Years: The Story Of Port Vale. Witan Books. pp. 227–257. ISBN 0-9508981-4-7.
  2. ^ Port Vale 1978–1979 : Results & Fixtures Archived 6 September 2015 at the Wayback Machine. Statto Organisation. Retrieved 28 April 2012.
  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 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.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 unless otherwise noted. Additional terms may apply for the media files.