1950–51 Port Vale F.C. season

Port Vale
1950–51 season
Chairman William Holdcroft
Manager Gordon Hodgson
Stadium Vale Park
Football League Third Division South 12th (45 Points)
FA Cup Third Round
Top goalscorer League: Cliff Pinchbeck (16)
All: Cliff Pinchbeck (19)
Highest home attendance 30,196 vs. Newport County (24 August 1950)
Lowest home attendance 2,630 vs. Exeter City (30 April 1951)
Average home league attendance 10,832
Home colours

The 1950–51 season was Port Vale's 39th season of football in the Football League, and their sixth full season in the Third Division South.[1] It was the first season to be played at Vale Park, and Roy Sproson also made his debut for the club. In the FA Cup there was excitement as the Vale took rivals Stoke City to a replay in the Fourth Round, only to lose 1–0. It was the last season in the reign of Gordon Hodgson, who died in the summer after long suffering from cancer.

Manager Gordon Hodgson during his playing days.

Overview

Third Division South

The pre-season saw expansion for the league, and so the addition of two new teams to the division, nevertheless only one promotion place was available for the 24 teams. For Vale, two attacking players were added to the squad; Syd Peppitt arrived from Stoke City for £4,000, and Roland Lewis was signed from Congleton Town.[1] [2]

The season opened with a 2–0 defeat at Carrow Road, though the real excitement came five days later on 24 August, when Vale Park hosted its first league game; 30,196 turned up to see Newport County beaten 1–0 with a Walter Aveyard goal.[1] The stadium had cost £50,000 and held 40,000 spectators, though work was still needed to complete the covers.[1] Three straight losses followed, and as a result four players were transfer listed.[1] As the weather turned bleak the attendances suffered, as less than a fortnight after its opening the stadium hosted 15,884 fans for the win over Ipswich Town (a reduction of almost 50%).[1] The lack of cover did nothing to encourage fans to show up.[1] Nevertheless the team won six of their opening seven home games, whilst they lost six of their first seven away games. On 28 October they travelled to The Den, where they fought to earn a 2–2 draw with high-flying Millwall, Tommy Cheadle playing on despite breaking three teeth in a hefty collision.[1] On 11 November they drew 1–1 with Gillingham at the Priestfield Stadium, a game which saw the first of Roy Sproson's 842 club appearances.[1]

Results tailed off after Christmas, leaving Vale in a re-election fight by the start of February.[1] This was partly due to an outbreak of flu, which affected eleven of the players.[1] A run of eight wins in eleven games soon allayed any fears of Vale losing their league status. The club were so confident in fact as to sell right-half Bill McGarry to Huddersfield Town for £12,000 – he would later be selected in the England squad for the 1954 FIFA World Cup.[1] Waterlogging of the Vale Park pitch caused numerous games to be postponed, this meant a run of six home games would be played between 23 April and 3 May.[1] This gave young reserves the chance to impress.[1]

They finished twelfth with 45 points, a whole 25 points short of promotion. Cliff Pinchbeck proved to be the only regular scorer, with nineteen goals, though he was on the transfer list at his own request.[1]

Finances

On the financial side, a profit of £5,367 was recorded thanks to a transfer credit of £12,315.[1] Gate receipts had fallen to £27,650, though the wage bill was slashed to £20,063.[1] Leaving the club were new signings Peppitt and Lewis, the former joining Worcester City.[1] On 16 May the club hosted FC Progrès Niedercorn of Luxembourg, who were on their British tour, Vale won 4–1.[1] After the game 3,000 tons of soil were removed from the stadium, as a new drainage system was installed.[1] On 14 June, manager Gordon Hodgson died following a lengthy battle against cancer, his funeral at Carmountside was conducted by Reverend Norman Hallam.[1] His replacement was Ivor Powell, who was signed as player-manager from Aston Villa.[1]

Cup competitions

In the FA Cup, the "Valiants" progressed past Third Division North New Brighton and Lancashire Combination Nelson with two 3–2 home victories.[1] Drawn against First Division Potteries derby rivals Stoke in the Third Round, it was the first competitive derby game since 1933. Vale showed some 'lively attacking' to achieve a 2–2 draw at the Victoria Ground on 6 January in front of a crowd of 49,500.[1] Vale Park had problems with drainage, and so the replay two days later had to be played at the Victoria Ground as well – this time 40,977 fans showed up.[1] Stoke won by the odd goal from Frank Bowyer, though Vale were consoled by the £2,800 worth of gate receipts they had earned.[1]

Final league table

P WDLFAGAPts
1Nottingham Forest4630106110402.75070
2Norwich City462514782451.82264
3Reading4621151088531.66057
4Plymouth Argyle462491385551.54557
5Millwall4623101380571.40456
6Bristol Rovers4620151164421.52455
7Southend United4621101592691.33352
8Ipswich Town462361769581.19052
9Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic462271765571.14051
10Bristol City4620111564591.08551
11Newport County461991877701.10047
12Port Vale4616131760650.92345
13Brighton & Hove Albion4613171671790.89943
14Exeter City461862262850.72942
15Walsall4615102152620.83940
16Colchester United4614122063760.82940
17Swindon Town461842455670.82140
18Aldershot4615102156880.63640
19Leyton Orient461582353750.70738
20Torquay United461492364810.79037
21Northampton Town4610162055670.82136
22Gillingham4613924691010.68335
23Watford469112654880.61429
24Crystal Palace468112733840.39327

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
Round12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031323334353637383940414243444546
GroundAHHAAHAAHAHHAHAHAHHAHAHAAAHAAAHHAAAHHAHAHHHHHA
Result L W L L L W L D W L W W L W D L D W W D D L D D L L W W L W D W L L W W W L D D L D D W L D
Position 19 16 21 24 24 19 21 21 18 21 20 16 18 15 14 16 13 13 13 13 14 15 15 16 17 17 14 17 13 14 12 13 14 13 12 11 12 13 13 14 14 13 12 12 12

Sourced from Statto.[3]

Football League Third Division South

DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers
19 August 1950 Norwich CityA0–227,288
24 August 1950 Newport CountyH1–030,196Aveyard
26 August 1950 Northampton TownH0–321,424
31 August 1950 Newport CountyA1–213,537Palk (pen)
2 September 1950 Plymouth ArgyleA0–119,288
4 September 1950 Ipswich TownH1–015,884Pinchbeck
9 September 1950 Nottingham ForestA1–229,295Hulligan
13 September 1950 Ipswich TownA2–210,724Pinchbeck, Hulligan
16 September 1950 Torquay UnitedH1–014,424Pinchbeck
23 September 1950 AldershotA0–27,358
30 September 1950 Swindon TownH2–19,517Peppitt, Bennett
7 October 1950 Leyton OrientH3–112,899Hulligan, Peppitt, Pinchbeck
14 October 1950 WalsallA0–29,686
21 October 1950 WatfordH2–112,112Pinchbeck (2)
28 October 1950 MillwallA2–225,799Martin, McGarry
4 November 1950 Bristol CityH1–311,603Hulligan
11 November 1950 GillinghamA1–112,103Peppitt
18 November 1950 Bournemouth & Boscombe AthleticH3–18,153Pinchbeck, Palk (pen), Aveyard
2 December 1950 Southend UnitedH3–18,339Pinchbeck (2), Palk
23 December 1950 Northampton TownA1–18,785Martin
25 December 1950 Bristol RoversH0–013,250
26 December 1950 Bristol RoversA0–222,279
13 January 1951 Nottingham ForestH1–113,148Pinchbeck
17 January 1951 Brighton & Hove AlbionA2–25,754Pinchbeck (2)
20 January 1951 Torquay UnitedA2–36,280Aveyard, McGarry
27 January 1951 ReadingA0–315,409
3 February 1951 AldershotH3–18,606Aveyard, Pinchbeck, Martin
10 February 1951 Exeter CityA3–07,893Palk, Hulligan, Martin
17 February 1951 Swindon TownA1–27,889Pinchbeck
24 February 1951 Leyton OrientA3–26,861Hulligan, Pinchbeck, o.g.
3 March 1951 WalsallH1–113,071Pinchbeck
5 March 1951 Plymouth ArgyleH2–14,894Aveyard, Martin
10 March 1951 WatfordA0–26,610
24 March 1951 Bristol CityA1–317,301Hulligan
26 March 1951 Crystal PalaceA2–011,320Barber, o.g.
31 March 1951 GillinghamH4–35,947Aveyard (2), Griffiths, Barber
2 April 1951 Norwich CityH2–110,247Barber (2)
7 April 1951 Bournemouth & Boscombe AthleticA1–38,742Barber
16 April 1951 Colchester UnitedH1–18,520Palk
21 April 1951 Southend UnitedA1–18,554Griffiths
23 April 1951 Brighton & Hove AlbionH0–110,340
26 April 1951 Crystal PalaceH2–27,069Palk, Bennett
28 April 1951 ReadingH0–03,402
30 April 1951 Exeter CityH2–02,630Cunliffe, Barber
3 May 1951 MillwallH0–15,459
5 May 1951 Colchester UnitedA1–18,414Barber

FA Cup

Main article: 1950–51 FA Cup
RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorers
R125 November 1950 New BrightonH3–28,997Aveyard (2), Pinchbeck
R29 December 1950 NelsonH3–211,088Pinchbeck, Hulligan, Aveyard
R36 January 1951 Stoke CityA2–249,500Bennett, Pinchbeck
R3 Replay8 January 1951 Stoke CityA0–140,977

Player statistics

Appearances

Pos. Name Football League FA Cup Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
GKEngland George Heppell 17000170
GKEngland Ray King 29040330
DFEngland Basil Hayward 25010260
DFEngland Tommy Cheadle 32040360
DFEngland Garth Butler 500050
DFEngland Reg Potts 23020250
DFEngland Lol Hamlett 45040490
DFEngland Stan Turner 601070
DFEngland Roy Sproson 10000100
DFEngland John Abbotts 300030
MFNorthern Ireland Jimmy Todd 800080
MFEngland Alan Martin 42540465
MFEngland Bill McGarry 31240352
MFEngland Mick Hulligan 46741508
MFEngland Alan Bennett 28231313
MFEngland Albert Leake 100010
MFEngland Syd Peppitt 11300113
MFEngland John Cunliffe 810081
FWEngland Stan Palk 45640496
FWEngland Walter Aveyard 337433710
FWEngland Cliff Pinchbeck 3016433419
FWEngland Ken Griffiths 821092
FWEngland Len Barber 14700147
FWEngland Roland Lewis 600060

Scorers

All competitions

Scorer Goals
England Cliff Pinchbeck 19
England Walter Aveyard 10
England Mick Hulligan 8
England Len Barber 7
England Stan Palk 6
England Alan Martin 5
England Syd Peppitt 3
England Alan Bennett
England Bill McGarry 2
England Ken Griffiths
England John Cunliffe 1

League

Scorer Goals
England Cliff Pinchbeck 16
England Walter Aveyard 7
England Mick Hulligan
England Len Barber
England Stan Palk 6
England Alan Martin 5
England Syd Peppitt 3
England Alan Bennett 2
England Bill McGarry
England Ken Griffiths
England John Cunliffe 1

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 Kent, Jeff (1990). "Fame and Fortune (1950–1959)". The Valiants' Years: The Story Of Port Vale. Witan Books. pp. 171–196. ISBN 0-9508981-4-7.
  2. "The Sentinel's 1950-51 season preview". onevalefan.co.uk. 11 November 2014. Retrieved 11 November 2014.
  3. Port Vale 1950–1951 : Results & Fixtures. Statto Organisation. Retrieved 28 April 2012.
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