1891–92 Burslem Port Vale F.C. season

Burslem Port Vale
1891–92 season
Stadium	Athletic Ground
Midland League	3rd (25 points)
FA Cup	First Qualification Round; (knocked out by Burton Wanderers)
Birmingham Senior Cup	First Round; (knocked out by Aston Villa)
Staffordshire Senior Cup	Semi-finalists; (knocked out by Stoke)
North Staffordshire Challenge Cup	Winners
Top goalscorer	League: Frank McGinnes (18); All: Frank McGinnes (35)
Highest home attendance	3,000 vs. Burton Wanderers, 5 September 1891
Lowest home attendance	150 vs. Leicester Fosse, 28 April 1892
Average home league attendance	1,394
Biggest win	7–1 vs. Loughborough Town, 19 September 1891
Biggest defeat	0–3 and 1–4
	Home colours
	Home colours
	← 1890–91 1892–93 →

The 1891–92 season was Burslem Port Vale's second-successive season in the Midland League.^[1] They managed to finish third in the table and were rewarded with a place in the Football League for the following season, justifying the club's decision to refuse to listen to offers for star forward Frank McGinnes. They also reached the semi-finals of the Staffordshire Senior Cup and won the North Staffordshire Challenge Cup, though they exited the FA Cup and Birmingham Senior Cup in the first round.

Overview

Midland League

In preparation for the new Midland League campaign, Burslem Port Vale signed winger Jimmy Scarratt from Wellington St. George's and prepared a new kit of red jerseys with grey kickers – the uniforms were made by Mrs Danks, the secretary's wife.^[1] They failed to bring good fortune in the opening league game, however, a 3–2 defeat at home to Burton Wanderers.^[1] After the game the club also signed a new outside-right, G McHarg.^[1] Though he had little impact on the first-team, they managed to record a 7–1 victory over Loughborough Town, with Frank McGinnes claiming a hat-trick.^[1] They followed this with a 4–0 win over Doncaster Rovers, despite McGinnis missing the first ever penalty shot awarded at the Athletic Ground and McHarg being criticised for over-dribbling.^[1] The team settled into their usual pattern of winning at home but losing away, losing on the road five times whilst winning all but one of their remaining home fixtures.^[1] The first run to end was their away form, as they won 2–1 at Loughborough Town and their final two away matches.^[1] The turnaround in away form, coupled with continuing home victories, took the club from ninth (of eleven teams) in January to third by the end of the season.^[1] Alarmingly though, only 150 spectators turned out to witness the final day victory over Leicester Fosse on 28 April, causing the club to make a loss on the game after marketing costs were deducted.^[1] Potteries derby rivals Stoke meanwhile were keen to take McGinnis to the Football League First Division, but Vale resisted all attempts to sign him, rejecting a bid of £30.^[1]

Cup competitions

Vale failed to transfer their league form to the FA Cup, bowing out at the first qualification round after losing 4–2 to Burton Wanderers.^[1] They entered the Birmingham Senior Cup, but faced tough opposition in Aston Villa in the first round and were beaten 5–2.^[1] They fared better in the Staffordshire Senior Cup, avenging Burton Wanderers with a 4–0 victory despite a slow start to the game.^[1] In the next round, they overcame Walsall Town Swifts after a replay, but fell to a 4–1 defeat to Burton Swifts in the semi-finals.^[1] They managed to end the season by taking home the North Staffordshire Challenge Cup outright, beating Stoke 2–0 despite McGinnis being sent off for "foul charging".^[1]

Results

Burslem Port Vale's score comes first

Legend

Win	Draw	Loss

Midland League

Date	Opponent	Venue	Result	Attendance	Scorers
5 September 1891	Burton Wanderers	H	2–3	3,000	McGinnes, Dean
12 September 1891	Wednesbury Old Athletic	A	1–1	1,500	McGinnes
19 September 1891	Loughborough Town	H	7–1	1,500	McGinnes (3), Scarratt (2), Dean, other
26 September 1891	Doncaster Rovers	H	4–0	1,500	McGinnes, Ditchfield, o.g., Scarratt
1 October 1891	Grantham	A	0–2	small
10 October 1891	Burton Wanderers	A	1–4	splendid	Nash
31 October 1891	Long Eaton Rangers	H	5–1		Dean(2), McGinnes, Booth, other
7 November 1891	Wednesbury Old Athletic	H	1–2	1,500	McGinnes
9 November 1891	Gainsborough Trinity	H	1–0		Scarratt
28 November 1891	Long Eaton Rangers	A	1–2		scrimmage
12 December 1891	Doncaster Rovers	A	1–3	800	Walker
30 January 1892	Rotherham Town	H	6–3	1,500	Walker (2), McGinnes (2), rushes, scrimmage
13 February 1892	Grantham	H	3–1	500	Pimlott, scrimmage, Walker
27 February 1892	Rotherham Town	A	2–4	1,750	W. Jones, McGinnes
12 March 1892	Loughborough Town	A	2–1	very large	McGinnes, Beats
19 March 1892	Derby Junction	H	5–1	1,500	McGinnes (3), Scarratt (2)
26 March 1892	Gainsborough Trinity	A	0–3	1,200
2 April 1892	Leicester Fosse	H	2–0		Elson (2)
9 April 1892	Derby Junction	A	1–0	600	Dean
19 April 1892	Leicester Fosse	A	3–1	4,000	McGinnes (2), Dean
28 April 1892	Leicester Fosse	H	4–0	150	McGinnes (2), others

FA Cup


Round	Date	Opponent	Venue	Result	Attendance	Goalscorers
1Q	3 October 1891	Burton Wanderers	H	2–4		Scarratt, Ditchfield

Birmingham Senior Cup


Round	Date	Opponent	Venue	Result	Attendance	Goalscorers
1R	6 February 1892	Aston Villa	H	2–5	2,000	McGinnes, Walker

Staffordshire Senior Cup


Round	Date	Opponent	Venue	Result	Attendance	Goalscorers
4R	25 January 1892	Burton Wanderers	H	4–0	1,500	Walker (2), Pimlott, Dean
5R	8 February 1892	Walsall Town Swifts	H	2–2	1,000	Walker, Dean
Replay	25 February 1892	Walsall Town Swifts	A	2–1	1,500	Ditchfield, o.g.
SF	4 April 1892	Burton Swifts	H	1–4	fair	o.g.

North Staffordshire Challenge Cup


Round	Date	Opponent	Venue	Result	Attendance	Goalscorers
F	7 May 1892	Stoke	A	2–0	1,000	Walker, other

Friendlies


Date	Opponent	Venue	Result	Attendance	Goalscorers
1 September 1891	Newton Heath	A	1–2	1,750	McGinnes
7 September 1891	Chirk	H	2–1		McGinnes (2)
14 September 1891	Derby County	H	3–3		Dean, Scarratt, W. Jones
21 September 1891	Sheffield Wednesday	H	4–3		McGinnes (4)
28 September 1891	Stoke	H	2–3
12 October 1891	Newton Heath	H	1–3	1,000
17 October 1891	Northwich Victoria	H	4–0		McGinnes (2), o.g., Dean
19 October 1891	Birmingham St George's	H	4–2	1,000	W. Jones, scrimmage, others
24 October 1891	Leek	A	1–0		Ditchfield
14 November 1891	Lincoln City	A	0–2	1,000
5 December 1891	Macclesfield	A	3–6	2,500	Scarratt (2), scrimmage
14 December 1891	Canadians	H	2–0		Scarratt, Pimlott
19 December 1891	Burton Swifts	A	3–1		scrimmage, McGinnes, other
26 December 1891	Stoke	A	2–2	2,000	McGinnes, Walker
2 January 1892	Derby Junction	H	4–1	1,000	McGinnes (2), Scarratt, Walker
23 January 1892	Walsall Town Swifts	A	2–5	1,000	McGinnes, Walker
5 March 1892	Burton Swifts	H	0–0	1,500
15 April 1892	Leek	H	4–1	poor	McGinnes, Walker, others
16 April 1892	Bootle	H
18 April 1892	Stoke	H	1–0	2,000	Dean
23 April 1892	Bootle	A	2–3		Dean, Farrington
30 April 1892	Northwich Victoria	A	1–6	2,000	McGinnes

Player statistics

Appearances and goals

Pos.	Name	League		FA Cup		Birmingham Cup		Staffordshire Cup		Challenge Cup		Friendlies		Total
Pos.	Name	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
GK	Levi Higginson	11	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	8	0	20	0
GK	Nixon	1	0	0	0	1	0	1	0	0	4	0	0	7	0
GK	John Davies	6	0	1	0	0	0	2	0	0	0	4	0	13	0
GK	Joe Frail	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	2	0	4	0
GK	Keeley	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	3	0
DF	Albert Skinner	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	1	0
DF	James Clutton	20	0	1	0	1	0	4	0	1	0	18	0	45	0
DF	C McAlpine	20	0	1	0	1	0	3	0	1	0	16	0	42	0
DF	Bob McCrindle	19	0	1	0	1	0	4	0	1	0	16	0	42	0
MF	Billy Elson	16	2	0	0	1	0	4	0	0	0	15	0	36	2
MF	W. Jones	6	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	10	2	17	3
MF	Meshach Dean	19	6	1	0	1	0	4	2	1	0	16	4	42	13
MF	S Bullock	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0
MF	Billy Delves	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	2	0
MF	Fred Farrington	7	0	0	0	1	0	1	0	1	0	5	1	15	1
MF	Fredericks	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	2	0
MF	Hatton	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	2	0
MF	Hodgkinson	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0
MF	G McHarg	2	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	5	0	0	8	0
MF	M Regan	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	1	0
MF	Jos Randles	4	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	6	0	10	0
MF	Jimmy Scarratt	12	6	1	1	1	0	2	0	1	0	14	5	31	12
MF	George Shutt	1	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	3	0
MF	Tommy Walker	9	4	0	0	1	1	2	3	1	1	8	4	21	13
MF	Warburton	2	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	3	0	6	0
FW	Dick Danks	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	0	5	0
FW	Jimmy Ditchfield	12	1	1	1	1	0	3	1	0	0	8	1	25	4
FW	Frank McGinnes	20	18	1	0	1	1	4	0	1	0	19	16	46	35
FW	John Nash	3	1	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	2	0	6	1
FW	Billy Reynolds	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	1	0
FW	John Nash	3	1	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	2	0	0	0
FW	J Keeling	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	1	0
FW	Billy Beats	7	1	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	3	0	11	1
FW	George Booth	5	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	4	0	9	1
FW	Arthur Pimlott	4	1	0	0	0	0	1	1	0	0	2	1	7	3

Top scorers

Place	Position	Nation	Name	Midland League	FA Cup	Other	Total
1	FW	Scotland	Frank McGinnes	18	0	17	35
2	MF	England	Meshach Dean	6	0	7	13
–	MF		Tommy Walker	4	0	9	13
4	MF	England	Jimmy Scarratt	6	1	5	12
5	FW	England	Jimmy Ditchfield	1	1	2	4
6	FW	England	Arthur Pimlott	1	0	2	3
–	MF		W. Jones	1	0	2	3
8	MF	England	Billy Elson	2	0	0	2
9	FW	England	Billy Beats	1	0	0	1
–	FW		George Booth	1	0	0	1
–	MF	England	Fred Farrington	0	0	1	1
–	FW	England	John Nash	1	0	0	1
–	–	–	Scrimmage	3	0	3	6
–	–	–	Own goals	1	0	3	4
			TOTALS	46	2	51	99

Transfers

Transfers in

Date from	Position	Name	From	Fee	Ref.
1891	MF	Fredericks		Free transfer	^[2]
1891	MF	Hodgkinson		Free transfer	^[2]
1891	FW	Arthur Pimlott		Free transfer	^[2]
Summer 1891	DF	Billy Delves		Free transfer	^[2]
Summer 1891	DF	Jimmy Scarratt	Wellington St. George's	Free transfer	^[2]
Summer 1891	DF	George Shutt	Hanley Town	Free transfer	^[2]
Summer 1891	MF	Warburton		Free transfer	^[2]
Autumn 1891	FW	Billy Beats	Port Hill Victoria	Free transfer	^[2]
Autumn 1891	GK	Joe Frail		Free transfer	^[2]
September 1891	MF	G McHarg	Burslem Port Vale	Free transfer	^[2]
December 1891	MF	Tommy Walker		Free transfer	^[2]
1892	MF	S Bullock		Free transfer	^[2]
1892	MF	M Regan		Free transfer	^[2]
March 1892	MF	Hatton	Wellington Town	Free transfer	^[2]

Transfers out

Date from	Position	Name	To	Fee	Ref.
Spring 1892	MF	Fredericks		Released	^[2]
Spring 1892	MF	Hatton		Released	^[2]
Spring 1892	MF	Warburton		Released	^[2]
1892	FW	George Booth		Released	^[2]
1892	GK	John Davies	Newton Heath	Released	^[2]
1892	MF	Hodgkinson		Released	^[2]
1892	GK	Keeley		Released	^[2]
1892	FW	Keeling		Released	^[2]
1892	DF	C McAlpine	Darlington	Free transfer	^[2]
1892	MF	G McHarg		Released	^[2]
1892	GK	Nixon		Released	^[2]
1892	FW	Billy Reynolds		Released	^[2]

References

Specific

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k ^l ^m ⁿ ^o ^p Kent, Jeff (1990). "Trying to make the Grade (1888-1898)". The Valiants' Years: The Story Of Port Vale. Witan Books. pp. 26–50. ISBN 0-9508981-4-7.
^ ^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 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.

[Kent-1] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k ^l ^m ⁿ ^o ^p Kent, Jeff (1990). "Trying to make the Grade (1888-1898)". The Valiants' Years: The Story Of Port Vale. Witan Books. pp. 26–50. ISBN 0-9508981-4-7.

[transfers-2] ^ ^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 Kent, Jeff (1996). Port Vale Personalities. Witan Books. ISBN 0-9529152-0-0.

[1]

[2]

v t e Port Vale F.C. seasons
1880–81 1881–82 1882–83 1883–84 1884–85 1885–86 1886–87 1887–88 1888–89 1889–90
1890–91 1891–92 1892–93 1893–94 1894–95 1895–96 1896–97 1897–98 1898–99 1899–00
1900–01 1901–02 1902–03 1903–04 1904–05 1905–06 1906–07 1907–08 1908–09 1909–10
1910–11 1911–12 1912–13 1913–14 1914–15 1915–16 1916–17 1917–18 1918–19 1919–20
1920–21 1921–22 1922–23 1923–24 1924–25 1925–26 1926–27 1927–28 1928–29 1929–30
1930–31 1931–32 1932–33 1933–34 1934–35 1935–36 1936–37 1937–38 1938–39 1939–40
1940–41 1941–42 1942–43 1943–44 1944–45 1945–46 1946–47 1947–48 1948–49 1949–50
1950–51 1951–52 1952–53 1953–54 1954–55 1955–56 1956–57 1957–58 1958–59 1959–60
1960–61 1961–62 1962–63 1963–64 1964–65 1965–66 1966–67 1967–68 1968–69 1969–70
1970–71 1971–72 1972–73 1973–74 1974–75 1975–76 1976–77 1977–78 1978–79 1979–80
1980–81 1981–82 1982–83 1983–84 1984–85 1985–86 1986–87 1987–88 1988–89 1989–90
1990–91 1991–92 1992–93 1993–94 1994–95 1995–96 1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 1999–00
2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 2005–06 2006–07 2007–08 2008–09 2009–10
2010–11 2011–12 2012–13 2013–14 2014–15 2015–16 2016–17 2017–18 2018–19 2019–20
2020–21 2021–22 2022–23 2023–24 2024–25 2025–26 2026–27 2027–28 2028–29 2029–30