1946–47 Port Vale F.C. season

Port Vale
1946–47 season
Chairman William Holdcroft
Manager Billy Frith
(until October)
Gordon Hodgson
(from October)
Stadium The Old Recreation Ground
Football League Third Division South 10th (43 Points)
FA Cup Fourth Round
Top goalscorer League: Morris Jones (23)
All: Morris Jones (26)
Highest home attendance 14,490 vs. Exeter City (7 September 1946)
Lowest home attendance 4,928 vs. Bournemouth (10 March 1947)
Average home league attendance 10,582

The 1946–47 season was Port Vale's 35th season of football in the Football League, and their second full season in the Third Division South.[1] It was their first full season following the outbreak of war in Europe, they thus continued where they left off in 1938–39, albeit after seven seasons of wartime football. Starting its post-war period modestly on the pitch with a tenth-place finish, the club still handed débuts to future legends Tommy Cheadle and Ronnie Allen, whilst work continued to complete 'The Wembley of the North'.

A club record was started on 19 October 1946, that would be completed on 13 March 1948, with a 33 long run of home games in which Vale's opposition failed to keep a clean sheet.

Manager Gordon Hodgson during his playing days.

WWII Football

Two games into a standard 1939–40 season, Vale were bottom of the Third Division South, and when war was initiated on 1 September all sports gatherings were prohibited and the season was cancelled.[1] A week later and Stoke-on-Trent was one of many places to be permitted to host football matches.[1] However almost all of the club's players volunteered or were conscripted to fight Nazi Germany.[1] Vale played numerous friendlies, as well as taking part in the regional war leagues.[1] They finished eighth in the West League in 1939–40.[1] Unable to raise sufficient finances from 1940 onwards, they only put forward an amateur side filled with young players in the North Staffordshire League, also entering cup competitions such as The Sentinel Cup.[1] They recorded some very one-sided victories over local amateur teams such as Shelton Labour, Hanley Deep Pit, and Northwood Mission.[1] Some of Vale's top professionals signed to sides such as Stoke City, Crewe Alexandra, and Manchester United.[1] Players that guested for the club included names such as Peter Doherty, Micky Fenton, Frank Soo and Dennis Wilshaw.[1] Guest players often made up half of the first eleven, filling the gaps left by Vale's players on active service.[1]

The club came close to folding in summer 1943 when club president Mayor W.M.Huntbach died, leaving the club liable for £3,000 worth of debt, in addition to the £1,000 a year debit they were recording during the war.[1] Appeals to The Football Association fell on deaf ears.[1] The directors therefore agreed a £13,500 sale of The Old Recreation Ground to Stoke-on-Trent Corporation (the local council).[1] Their application to the council to rent the stadium back was rejected.[1] The sale was agreed without the support of shareholders, though the directors justified the sale by arguing that the stadium was a financial burden, especially as local vandals, hooligans and yobs regularly stole and trashed areas of the stadium.[1] Nevertheless, Port Vale were then a club without any professional players and without a stadium.[1] In October 1943 the council relented and allowed rent to be paid until April 1944.[1] Then the council agreed to rent the stadium at a longer term for £400 a year.[1]

The search for a new ground took them to Hamil Road, Burslem; opposite a site the club occupied between 1884 and 1886.[1] The rough land used for fly-tipping was valued at £30,000, and the Brownhills Estates Company and the Supporters' Club launched a New Ground Appeal.[1] In September 1944 the land was acquired, and work began on a 70,000 capacity 'Wembley of the North'.[1] These were ambitious plans for a club that had in the past recorded attendances as low as 3,000 from fair-weather fans.[1] In the meantime the club took part in the 1944–45 Football League North league.[1] Club director and former Northern Ireland international Jack Diffin took the position of manager.[1] He was replaced by David Pratt in December 1944.[1] For the 1945–46 season they were placed in the Third Division South (North Region), with new manager Billy Frith.[1] The Council agreed to allow the Vale to rent The Old Recreation Ground until 24 June 1950.[1] Plans for the new stadium now were expanded to a massive 80,000 capacity.[1]

Three former Port Vale players known to have been killed in the war were Tom Cooper, Haydn Dackins, and Sam Jennings. Meanwhile, Jack Roberts became a hero without losing his life, rising to the rank of Sergeant, he was captured in Tunisia, however managed to escape from a prisoner-of-war camp to return home.[2]

Overview

Third Division South

Of the 1938–39 squad there were six who returned for the 1946–47 campaign: goalkeepers George Heppell and Arthur Jepson; defender Harry Griffiths; and midfielders Alf Bellis, Wilf Smith, and Don Triner. The rest had been recruited between 1939 and 1946. Three players specifically recruited in summer 1946 to help win promotion were experienced forward Colin Lyman (signed from Tottenham Hotspur for 'fairly substantial fee'); 'the assassin' Garth Butler (Derby County); and half-back Norman Hallam (Chelsea).[1] Also £1,000 was spent on "The Rec", with 23 new barriers and six new turnstiles installed.[1] Tickets were priced at £5 for a season, or one shilling on the day.[1]

The season started with a goalless draw at the Withdean Stadium, before a 2–1 defeat by Exeter City in front of 14,490 home fans.[1] This attendance was excellent, though would not be bettered all season. With Heppell in fine form in goal, Jepson was sold to Stoke City for £3,750.[1] With Vale in poor form at the bottom of the league, manager Billy Frith resigned on 11 October, detailing a list of complaints against the directors, generally accusing them of undermining him and failing to support him sufficiently.[1] Soon Cardiff City won at "the Rec" by four goals to nil, after which Lyman put in a transfer request.[1] On 17 October, the club bought Jimmy Todd from Blackpool for then-club record fee, on the recommendation of Stanley Matthews.[1] Lyman was then sold to Nottingham Forest for a higher fee than was paid for him earlier in the year.[1] Gordon Hodgson was then appointed manager ahead of forty other applicants.[1] Finding his team's unconvincing away from home he soon began to search for new players.[1]

Results soon turned around, and Hodgson's coaching and planning were credited with the success.[1] However many games were put on hold until May, due to the exceptionally disruptive winter weather.[1] Hodgson also helped to set up a youth program, arranging visits to schools, trials, and the running of two junior sides.[1] In March 1947 he signed centre-half Eric Eastwood from Manchester City for a four figure fee.[1] Experimenting with the first eleven, from 10 March to 19 April the team went on a run of one victory in eight games. Promotion hopeless and re-election unlikely, the experiments proceeded into the postponed games in May, when three consecutive away 1–0 defeats were followed by high-scoring victories at home to Crystal Palace and Southend United.[1] Also the experienced Jack Smith was brought in from Manchester United.[1]

They finished in tenth place with 43 points from 42 games.[1] Top scorer Morris Jones hit a very respectable tally of 26 goals, with double figure hauls from Bill Pointon and Alf Bellis.[1]

Finances

On the financial side, a profit of £4,133 was recorded, then a club-record.[1] League football had brought £20,872 in gross gate receipts, with the wage bill at £8,927.[1] Twenty-one players were retained, and Harry Griffiths retirement was the only departure of note.[1]

Cup competitions

In the FA Cup, Vale beat amateur side Finchley, league rivals Watford, and Second Division Millwall to reach the Fourth Round. There they came unstuck with a 2–0 defeat at Ewood Park to Second Division Blackburn Rovers in front of 32,900 spectators.[1]

Final league table

P WDLFAGAPts
1Cardiff City42306693303.10066
2Queens Park Rangers422311874401.85057
3Bristol City4220111194561.67951
4Swindon Town4219111284731.15149
5Walsall4217121374591.25446
6Ipswich Town4216141261531.15146
7Bournemouth421881672541.33344
8Southend United4217101571601.18344
9Reading4216111583741.12243
10Port Vale421791668631.07943
11Torquay United4215121552610.85242
12Notts County4215101763631.00040
13Northampton Town4215101772750.96040
14Bristol Rovers421681859690.85540
15Exeter City421591860690.87039
16Watford421752061760.80339
17Brighton & Hove Albion4213121754720.75038
18Crystal Palace4213111849620.79037
19Leyton Orient421282254750.72032
20Aldershot4210122048780.61532
21Norwich City4210824641000.64028
22Mansfield Town429102348960.50028

P = Matches played; W = Matches won; D = Matches drawn; L = Matches lost; F = Goals for; A = Goals against; GA = Goal average; Pts = Points

Results

Port Vale's score comes first

Legend

Win Draw Loss
Round123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627282930313233343536373839404142
GroundAHHAAHHAAHHAHAHAAAAHHAHHAHAHHAHHAAHAHAAAHH
Result D L D W L W D L L L W W W L W L L D D W W D W W L W W W D L W L L L D D W L L L W W
Position 8 21 17 12 19 13 11 11 17 19 18 16 11 14 11 14 16 17 17 14 12 11 10 8 11 10 9 7 7 7 7 8 9 10 12 10 8 9 11 12 11 10

Sourced from Statto.[3]

Football League Third Division South

DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers
31 August 1946 Brighton & Hove AlbionA0–011,412
7 September 1946 Exeter CityH1–214,490M.Jones
9 September 1946 Northampton TownH1–18,709Lyman
14 September 1946 Mansfield TownA3–011,207Byrne, Bellis, M.Jones
21 September 1946 Bristol CityA0–321,284
23 September 1946 Notts CountyH4–18,574Bellis (2), Byrne, M.Jones
28 September 1946 Swindon TownH1–112,900M.Jones
3 October 1946 Notts CountyA2–39,542Pointon (2)
5 October 1946 BournemouthA0–311,642
12 October 1946 Cardiff CityH0–410,724
19 October 1946 Torquay UnitedH2–110,618Bellis, M.Jones
26 October 1946 Crystal PalaceA2–114,492Bellis, Wootton
2 November 1946 ReadingH5–110,891Triner, Bellis, M.Jones, Pointon, Cheadle
9 November 1946 WalsallA1–412,171Hallam
16 November 1946 WatfordH3–09,539M.Jones (3)
23 November 1946 Ipswich TownA1–213,001Bellis
7 December 1946 Queens Park RangersA0–214,251
21 December 1946 Bristol RoversA0–05,750
25 December 1946 AldershotA0–03,449
26 December 1946 AldershotH4–214,076Pointon (2), Prince, Triner
28 December 1946 Brighton & Hove AlbionH4–112,061Prince, M.Jones, Triner, Pointon
4 January 1947 Exeter CityA1–18,694M.Jones
16 January 1947 Leyton OrientH2–16,753Cheadle, M.Jones
18 January 1947 Mansfield TownH4–114,390Pointon (2), M.Jones, Triner
1 February 1947 Swindon TownA1–29,935M.Jones
17 February 1947 Bristol CityH2–18,264Pointon, Triner
8 March 1947 ReadingA2–07,863Pointon, Triner
10 March 1947 BournemouthH1–04,928M.Jones
15 March 1947 WalsallH2–210,787M.Jones (2)
22 March 1947 WatfordA0–26,370
29 March 1947 Ipswich TownH1–010,426M.Jones
4 April 1947 Norwich CityH1–313,978Cheadle
5 April 1947 Leyton OrientA3–512,371F.Jones, Bellis, Allen
7 April 1947 Norwich CityA0–329,985
12 April 1947 Queens Park RangersH2–212,500Bellis, M.Jones
19 April 1947 Southend UnitedA1–18,762M.Jones
26 April 1947 Bristol RoversH2–18,323M.Jones, Eastwood
3 May 1947 Northampton TownA0–16,258
10 May 1947 Cardiff CityA0–136,732
24 May 1947 Torquay UnitedA0–15,943
26 May 1947 Crystal PalaceH4–210,414Allen (2), Pointon, Smith
31 May 1947 Southend UnitedH5–18,879M.Jones (2), Allen (2), Bellis

FA Cup

Main article: 1946–47 FA Cup
RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorers
R130 November 1946 FinchleyH5–18,756Bellis (2), Pointon, M.Jones, Wootton
R214 December 1946 WatfordA1–18,498M.Jones
R2 Replay16 December 1946 WatfordH2–17,342M.Jones, Wootton
R311 January 1947 MillwallA3–024,779Pointon (2), Triner
R425 January 1947 Blackburn RoversA0–232,900

Player statistics

Appearances

Pos. Name Football League FA Cup Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
GKEngland George Heppell 42050470
DFEngland Harry Griffiths 800080
DFEngland Fred Jones 12100121
DFEngland Basil Hayward 200020
DFEngland Tommy Cheadle 32350373
DFEngland Jack Chew 9030120
DFEngland Garth Butler 12000120
DFScotland Bob Pursell 32050370
MFEngland Alf Bellis 3810524312
MFEngland Wilf Smith 25020270
MFEngland Don Triner 20621227
MFNorthern Ireland Jimmy Todd 31050360
MFEngland Ernie Willett 100010
MFEngland Ted Oldfield 100010
MFEngland Alan Martin 14000140
MFEngland Bill McGarry 700070
MFEngland Eric Eastwood 610061
MFEngland Norman Hallam 22150271
MFEngland Arthur Cooper 400040
FWEngland Len Wootton 10132133
FWEngland Jack Smith 310031
FWEngland Bill Pointon 3011533514
FWEngland Colin Lyman 11100111
FWEngland Morris Jones 3923534426
FWEngland Joe Dixon 100010
FWEngland Eddie Davies 300030
FWEngland Billy Byrne 15210162
FWEngland Ronnie Allen 18500185
FWEngland Eric Prince 14240182

Scorers

All competitions

Scorer Goals
England Morris Jones 26
England Bill Pointon 14
England Alf Bellis 12
England Don Triner 7
England Ronnie Allen 5
England Tommy Cheadle 3
England Len Wootton
England Billy Byrne 2
England Eric Prince
England Colin Lyman 1
England Fred Jones
England Eric Eastwood
England Norman Hallam
England Jack Smith

League

Scorer Goals
England Morris Jones 23
England Bill Pointon 11
England Alf Bellis 10
England Don Triner 6
England Ronnie Allen 5
England Tommy Cheadle 3
England Billy Byrne 2
England Eric Prince
England Len Wootton 1
England Fred Jones
England Eric Eastwood
England Norman Hallam
England Jack Smith
England Colin Lyman

References

  1. 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 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 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. Kent, Jeff (1996). Port Vale Personalities. Witan Books. p. 252. ISBN 0-9529152-0-0.
  3. Port Vale 1946–1947 : Results & Fixtures. Statto Organisation. Retrieved 28 April 2012.
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