1937–38 Port Vale F.C. season
1937–38 season | ||
---|---|---|
Chairman | Frank Huntbach | |
Manager | Tom Morgan (from December) | |
Stadium | The Old Recreation Ground | |
Football League Third Division North | 15th (38 Points) | |
FA Cup | First Round (knocked out by Gainsborough Trinity) | |
Football League Third Division North Cup | First Round (knocked out by Tranmere Rovers) | |
Top goalscorer | League: Jack Roberts (28) All: Jack Roberts (30) | |
Highest home attendance | 10,984 vs. Hull City, 15 April 1938 | |
Lowest home attendance | 2,992 vs. Rochdale, 30 April 1938 | |
Average home league attendance | 6,716 | |
Biggest win | 4–0 and 5–1 | |
Biggest defeat | 0–5 and 2–7 | |
| ||
The 1937–38 season was Port Vale's 32nd season of football in the English Football League, and their second-successive season (third overall) in the Third Division North.[1] With thirty goals, Jack Roberts was the division's top scorer. However, the club managed only a mid-table finish, exiting both cup competitions at the first stage.
Overview
[edit]Third Division North
[edit]The pre-season saw the arrival of goalkeepers James Nicholls and George Heppell (Brentford and Wolverhampton Wanderers); veteran right-back Johnny Rowe (Queen's Park Rangers); left-back Harry Johnson (Newcastle United); winger Charlie Rattray (Mansfield Town); experienced inside-right Arthur Masters (Nottingham Forest); and 'clever' inside-left William Price (Fulham).[1] Pre-season training included bowls, cricket, and practice with rubbers balls and rubber boots to improve ball control.[1] The fans were not optimistic about the campaign, so ticket sales were low despite lowered prices.[1]
The season began with a 3–0 defeat at Oldham Athletic's Boundary Park.[1] Tom Nolan found himself dropped in favour of Jack Roberts, who immediately went on a run of three goals in three games.[1] The team went on to go six games unbeaten, including a 4–0 win over Barrow in which Roberts scored all four.[1] Their 5–1 win over Hartlepools United – in which Arthur Caldwell scored a hat-trick – took them into seventh in the table.[1] This run ended with a 5–0 drubbing at Valley Parade.[1] After this defeat to Bradford City the Vale signed forward Ken Fish from Aston Villa for 'a sizeable fee'.[1] In November, William Price was released from his contract.[1] The next month the side were on the end of a 7–2 beating by Chester at Sealand Road.[1] Soon after this Tom Morgan was re-appointed as manager, having been demoted to assistant-secretary in June 1932.[1] Immediately following this, the club went on a run of one defeat in nine games.[1] During this run, Roberts scored a hat-trick past Accrington Stanley in a 4–1 win.[1]
In February, Tommy Ward was traded to Stoke City in exchange for Harry Davies and a small fee.[1] On 5 March, Vale inflicted a 4–3 win over Bradford City, soon after which Sam Baum was signed from Bolton Wanderers just two minutes before the transfer deadline closed.[1] On 15 April, the club saw its first five-figure crowd of the season, as promotion-chasing Hull City took away both the points despite a brace from Roberts.[1] Revenge came at Anlaby Road three days later, when the "Valiants" held a clean sheet to damage the "Tigers" promotion prospects.[1] On the final home game of the season a seventeen-year-old Alf Bellis scored on his debut as Vale beat Rochdale 4–1.[1]
They finished fifteenth with 38 points, just six points clear of the re-election zone.[1] Away from The Old Recreation Ground, the side struggled, managing just a single win.[1] Jack Roberts was the club's top goalscorer with 28 league strikes in 37 games – also making him the division's top scorer.[1]
Finances
[edit]On the financial side, a bare profit of some £300 was recorded due to a transfer credit of £2,900.[1] The annual summer clear-out saw the departure of fourteen of the twenty-six players, including Sam Baum; Spencer Evans (Northwich Victoria); Roderick Welsh; Charlie Rattray (Accrington Stanley); Harry Johnson (Hartlepools United); Trevor Rhodes; and Fred Obrey (who was sold to Tranmere Rovers).[1] At the season's end the club were delighted to hear they had been transferred to the Third Division South, where gate receipts were higher.[1] On 27 June, another meeting at the Grand Hotel (Hanley) saw the issue of a name change debated, where Stoke United and Stoke North End were again considered.[1] A name change was advocated by every letter written in by supporters; however, once again, there was insufficient time to implement a name change before the upcoming season.[1]
Cup competitions
[edit]In the FA Cup, a first-round exit came at the hands of Midland League Gainsborough Trinity, after Trinity won the replay 2–1.[1] In the short-lived Football League Third Division North Cup, Vale went out in the first round to Tranmere Rovers – a 1–1 stalemate at home was followed by a 2–0 defeat in the replay at Prenton Park.[1]
League table
[edit]
Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GAv | Pts | Promotion |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
13 | New Brighton | 42 | 15 | 8 | 19 | 60 | 61 | 0.984 | 38 | |
14 | Bradford City | 42 | 14 | 10 | 18 | 66 | 69 | 0.957 | 38 | |
15 | Port Vale | 42 | 12 | 14 | 16 | 65 | 73 | 0.890 | 38 | Transferred to the Third Division South |
16 | Southport | 42 | 12 | 14 | 16 | 53 | 82 | 0.646 | 38 | |
17 | Rochdale | 42 | 13 | 11 | 18 | 67 | 78 | 0.859 | 37 |
Results
[edit]Port Vale's score comes first
Football League Third Division North
[edit]Results by matchday
[edit]Matches
[edit]Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Scorers |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
28 August 1937 | Oldham Athletic | A | 0–3 | 5,781 | |
30 August 1937 | Gateshead | H | 2–2 | 6,699 | Caldwell, Roberts |
4 September 1937 | Darlington | H | 1–0 | 7,233 | Roberts |
8 September 1937 | Gateshead | A | 1–2 | 9,641 | Roberts |
11 September 1937 | Doncaster Rovers | A | 2–3 | 11,538 | Price, Caldwell |
13 September 1937 | New Brighton | H | 3–2 | 4,257 | Caldwell, Roberts, Masters |
18 September 1937 | Crewe Alexandra | A | 2–1 | 5,888 | Price, Roberts |
25 September 1937 | Barrow | H | 4–0 | 7,416 | Roberts (4) |
2 October 1937 | Wrexham | A | 0–0 | 5,364 | |
9 October 1937 | Hartlepools United | H | 5–1 | 7,951 | Caldwell (3), Ward (2) |
16 October 1937 | Southport | H | 1–1 | 8,151 | Masters |
23 October 1937 | Bradford City | A | 0–5 | 3,176 | |
30 October 1937 | York City | H | 3–2 | 5,139 | Masters (2), Caldwell |
6 November 1937 | Tranmere Rovers | A | 1–2 | 7,597 | Masters |
13 November 1937 | Halifax Town | H | 0–2 | 6,579 | |
20 November 1937 | Carlisle United | A | 1–3 | 4,959 | Fish |
4 December 1937 | Chester | A | 2–7 | 3,849 | Roberts (2 [1 pen]) |
18 December 1937 | Rochdale | A | 1–1 | 3,560 | Roberts (pen) |
27 December 1937 | Lincoln City | A | 0–1 | 13,354 | |
28 December 1937 | Lincoln City | H | 1–0 | 5,740 | Roberts (pen) |
1 January 1938 | Oldham Athletic | H | 2–2 | 6,878 | Roberts, Ward |
3 January 1938 | Rotherham United | H | 0–0 | 3,604 | |
8 January 1938 | Accrington Stanley | H | 4–1 | 5,443 | Roberts (3), Masters |
15 January 1938 | Darlington | A | 2–2 | 2,330 | Roberts, Ward |
22 January 1938 | Doncaster Rovers | H | 1–1 | 7,153 | Caldwell |
29 January 1938 | Crewe Alexandra | H | 1–1 | 5,851 | Caldwell |
5 February 1938 | Barrow | A | 0–3 | 5,759 | |
12 February 1938 | Wrexham | H | 2–0 | 7,861 | Davies, Caldwell |
19 February 1938 | Hartlepools United | A | 1–2 | 4,483 | Roberts |
26 February 1938 | Southport | A | 0–1 | 3,797 | |
5 March 1938 | Bradford City | H | 4–3 | 8,022 | Nolan (2), Davies, Roberts |
12 March 1938 | York City | A | 2–2 | 7,319 | Roberts (2) |
19 March 1938 | Tranmere Rovers | H | 1–0 | 9,916 | Nolan |
26 March 1938 | Halifax Town | A | 1–2 | 4,363 | Roberts |
2 April 1938 | Carlisle United | H | 2–2 | 6,463 | Rattray, Roberts |
9 April 1938 | Accrington Stanley | A | 1–2 | 2,990 | Nolan |
15 April 1938 | Hull City | H | 2–4 | 10,984 | Roberts (2) |
16 April 1938 | Chester | H | 2–2 | 6,695 | Nolan (2) |
18 April 1938 | Hull City | A | 0–0 | 13,564 | |
23 April 1938 | Rotherham United | A | 2–3 | 5,346 | Roberts, Nolan |
30 April 1938 | Rochdale | H | 4–1 | 2,992 | Masters (2), Roberts, Bellis |
7 May 1938 | New Brighton | A | 1–1 | 3,259 | Griffiths |
FA Cup
[edit]Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Goalscorers |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
R1 | 27 November 1937 | Gainsborough Trinity | H | 1–1 | 6,772 | Roberts |
R1 Replay | 1 December 1937 | Gainsborough Trinity | A | 1–2 | 4,220 | Roberts |
Third Division North Cup
[edit]Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Goalscorers |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 11 October 1937 | Tranmere Rovers | H | 1–1 | 900 | Rattray |
Replay | 10 November 1937 | Tranmere Rovers | A | 0–2 | 500 |
Player statistics
[edit]Appearances and goals
[edit]Pos. | Name | Football League | FA Cup | Total | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
GK | ![]() |
25 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 27 | 0 |
GK | ![]() |
17 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 19 | 0 |
DF | ![]() |
13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 0 |
DF | ![]() |
27 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 31 | 0 |
DF | ![]() |
27 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 28 | 1 |
DF | ![]() |
37 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 40 | 0 |
DF | ![]() |
19 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 21 | 0 |
MF | ![]() |
35 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 37 | 10 |
MF | ![]() |
11 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 14 | 4 |
MF | ![]() |
1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
MF | ![]() |
21 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 22 | 0 |
MF | ![]() |
16 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 18 | 0 |
MF | ![]() |
34 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 37 | 0 |
MF | ![]() |
23 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 26 | 0 |
MF | ![]() |
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
MF | ![]() |
22 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 24 | 2 |
MF | ![]() |
13 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 2 |
MF | ![]() |
1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
MF | ![]() |
3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
MF | ![]() |
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
MF | ![]() |
8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 |
MF | ![]() |
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
FW | ![]() |
37 | 28 | 2 | 2 | 40 | 30 |
FW | ![]() |
18 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 20 | 7 |
FW | ![]() |
33 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 35 | 8 |
FW | ![]() |
5 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 1 |
FW | ![]() |
15 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 2 |
Top scorers
[edit]Place | Position | Nation | Name | Third Division North | FA Cup | Northern Cup | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | FW | ![]() |
Jack Roberts | 28 | 2 | 0 | 30 |
2 | MF | ![]() |
Arthur Caldwell | 10 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
3 | FW | ![]() |
Arthur Masters | 8 | 0 | 0 | 8 |
4 | FW | ![]() |
Tom Nolan | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
5 | MF | ![]() |
Tommy Ward | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
6 | MF | ![]() |
Charlie Rattray | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
– | MF | ![]() |
William Price | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
– | FW | ![]() |
Harry Davies | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
9 | FW | ![]() |
Ken Fish | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
– | DF | ![]() |
Harry Griffiths | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
– | MF | ![]() |
Alf Bellis | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
– | – | – | Own goals | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
TOTALS | 65 | 2 | 1 | 68 |
Transfers
[edit]Transfers in
[edit]Date from | Position | Nationality | Name | From | Fee | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
May 1937 | GK | ![]() |
George Heppell | Wolverhampton Wanderers | Free transfer | [3] |
May 1937 | MF | ![]() |
William Price | Fulham | Free transfer | [3] |
May 1937 | MF | ![]() |
Charlie Rattray | Mansfield Town | Free transfer | [3] |
May 1937 | DF | ![]() |
Johnny Rowe | Queen's Park Rangers | Free transfer | [3] |
June 1937 | MF | ![]() |
Stanley Dimbleby | Hull City | Free transfer | [3] |
June 1937 | DF | ![]() |
Harry Johnson | Newcastle United | Free transfer | [3] |
June 1937 | FW | ![]() |
Arthur Masters | Nottingham Forest | Exchange | [3] |
June 1937 | GK | ![]() |
James Nicholls | Brentford | Free transfer | [3] |
November 1937 | FW | ![]() |
Ken Fish | Aston Villa | 'Sizeable' | [3] |
February 1938 | FW | ![]() |
Harry Davies | Stoke City | Exchange | [3] |
March 1938 | MF | ![]() |
Sam Baum | Bolton Wanderers | Free transfer | [3] |
March 1938 | MF | ![]() |
Alf Bellis | Burnell's Ironworks | Free transfer | [3] |
March 1938 | FW | ![]() |
Joe Wheatley | Ellesmere Port Town | Free transfer | [3] |
Transfers out
[edit]Date from | Position | Nationality | Name | To | Fee | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
September 1937 | FW | ![]() |
Arthur Ford | Wolverhampton Wanderers | Free transfer | [3] |
November 1937 | MF | ![]() |
William Price | Mutual consent | [3] | |
February 1938 | MF | ![]() |
Tommy Ward | Stoke City | 'Small' | [3] |
May 1938 | MF | ![]() |
Sam Baum | Released | [3] | |
May 1938 | MF | ![]() |
Frank Briggs | Aston Villa | Released | [3] |
May 1938 | MF | ![]() |
Stanley Dimbleby | Released | [3] | |
May 1938 | DF | ![]() |
Spencer Evans | Northwich Victoria | Free transfer | [3] |
May 1938 | MF | ![]() |
Charlie Rattray | Accrington Stanley | Free transfer | [3] |
May 1938 | FW | ![]() |
Billy Tunnicliffe | Bournemouth | Free transfer | [3] |
May 1938 | DF | ![]() |
Roderick Welsh | Released | [3] | |
June 1938 | MF | ![]() |
Fred Obrey | Tranmere Rovers | Free transfer | [3] |
Summer 1938 | DF | ![]() |
Harry Johnson | Hartlepools United | Free transfer | [3] |
Summer 1938 | GK | ![]() |
James Nicholls | Released | [3] | |
Summer 1938 | MF | ![]() |
Trevor Rhodes | Released | [3] |
References
[edit]- Specific
- ^ 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 Kent, Jeff (1990). "From Glory to Despair (1929–1939)". The Valiants' Years: The Story Of Port Vale. Witan Books. pp. 124–150. ISBN 0-9508981-4-7.
- ^ Port Vale 1937–1938 : Results & Fixtures Archived 19 September 2015 at the Wayback Machine. Statto Organisation. Retrieved 28 April 2012.
- ^ 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.