1921–22 Port Vale F.C. season

The 1921–22 season was Port Vale's third consecutive season of football (16th overall) in the English Football League.[1] Another difficult season, both on and off the pitch, the club finished with 36 points for the second season in a row. The club were without a reliable goal scorer following their sale of Bobby Blood the previous season.

Port Vale
1921–22 season
ChairmanSampson Walker
ManagerJoe Schofield
StadiumThe Old Recreation Ground
Football League Second Division18th (36 Points)
FA CupFirst Round
(knocked out by Stoke)
North Staffordshire Infirmary CupChampions
(shared with Stoke)
Top goalscorerLeague: Tom Page (9)
All: Tom Page (10)
Highest home attendance20,000 vs Stoke, 1 October 1921
Lowest home attendance6,000 vs South Shields, 22 October 1921
Barnsley, 17 December 1921
The Wednesday, 3 April 1922
Hull City, 21 January 1922
Average home league attendance11,619
Biggest win3–0 (twice) and 5–2
Biggest defeat0–3, 1–4 and 2–5

The season turned with a streak of nine games unbeaten, which followed a run of nine defeats in ten games. A case of fighting off relegation and just getting by financially, their difficulties were contrasted by the promotion of rivals Stoke – who also knocked the "Valiants" out of the FA Cup just to rub salt into the wound.

Despite such low points the club also experienced brief, but considerable periods of joy. When goalkeeper Teddy Peers turned out for Wales he became the first player to earn an international cap whilst on the books of the club. From 11 February 1922 to 18 March 1922 Peers oversaw a streak of seven consecutive clean sheets in league games, a still standing club record.

(Players only) Back row: Billy Agnew, Bob Firth, unknown, unknown, unknown, unknown, Walter Smith
Front row: unknown, Billy Briscoe, unknown, unknown
Wing half Tom Holford was past 40 and still made several appearances.
Joe Brough, 35, was another veteran willing to play his part.
Billy Briscoe hardly missed a match.

Overview

Second Division

New additions to the squad in pre-season included: Welshman Jack Hampson signed from Aston Villa for £1,000; a returning Albert Pearson from Liverpool; half-back Ernest Collinge; centre-half from Nottingham Forest Robert Firth (a future Real Madrid manager); young Scottish midfielder Bob Connelly; and forward Billy Agnew from Falkirk.[1] The stadium was also improved, with a gym constructed, and the new stand extended.[1]

The season started poorly, with Vale losing five of their opening six games – this included a 1–0 home defeat to Stoke in what was the biggest crowd of the season.[1] The side made particularly hard work of finding the net, drawing a blank in five of these games.[1] A 5–2 loss at Bury was reversed into a 5–2 win at home, and the team went on a useful run of eight points from six games.[1] However, from the end of November up until February the club lost nine of their ten league games, as the club stood rooted to the bottom slot.[1] The club turned things around in some style by going two months unbeaten, winning six of their nine games.[1] During this run they went seven games without conceding a goal, with goalkeeper Peers so confident he often felt able to lean casually on his goalpost to watch the Pursell brothers clear up any danger in front of him.[1] The run was broken after injuries set in – including a broken leg for Bob Pursell that necessitated his retirement from the game.[1] Nevertheless, the club continued to pick up enough points to ensure their Second Division survival.[1]

At the end of season, the club were three points clear of the relegation zone, but sixteen points short of rivals Stoke, who were promoted. The team were hopeless in front of goal, managing just a goal a game, yet Rotherham County scored just 32 goals in 42 games and still finished ahead of the "Valiants".

The first team was rather unsettled throughout the campaign thanks to a bureaucratic method of selection.[1] However the Pursell brothers, Billy Briscoe, Tom Page; as well as new signings Ernest Collinge, Bob Connelly, Robert Firth, Jack Hampson, and Billy Agnew were all regular features. The club rotated between three goalkeepers, with a fourth also getting a game. Page was the club's top scorer with a meagre ten goals from all competitions, with Bob Connelly also netting seven. Following an injury to Walter Smith, Teddy Peers was signed from Wolves on an emergency loan.[1] Peers went on to become the first player to be capped whilst at the club when he turned out for Wales.[1]

Finances

Finances were as ever of great concern to the club, and by February the poor crowd figures meant that £2,000 was needed to keep the club afloat.[1] A 'Shilling Fund' was established to raise donations, which resulted in donations from First Division sides Preston North End and Huddersfield Town.[1] A loss of £4,641 was made on the season, with an economic downturn getting the blame for a shocking drop in gate receipt figures.[1] The club even accused local paper The Sentinel of overestimating the crowd sizes.[1] Finances were also hit by a raise in player's wages following the raising of the maximum payments limit.[1] Aiming to make a £500 the following season, the director's announced a cut in the wage bill to the tune of £3,000.[1] This meant letting go of Bob Pursell, who had broken his leg; aged half-back Joe Brough who was said to have felt 'worn out'; 38-year-old stopper Walter Smith; forward Albert Pearson; 35-year-old Robert Firth; and 33-year-old Jack Peart.[1] The former two experienced campaigners simply retired, with Smith joining Plymouth Argyle; Pearson joining Llanelli; Firth joining Southend United; and Peart joining Norwich City.

Cup competitions

Vale left the FA Cup at the First Round thanks to Arthur Watkin scoring a hat-trick, which helped secure a 4–2 win for Stoke at The Old Recreation Ground. The end of season North Staffordshire Infirmary Cup game finished goalless between the two clubs, and as was the case in 1920 the trophy was shared between the two clubs – the cup game was held on-and-off until 1932, and Vale would lose on all five occasions.

League table
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GR Pts
16 Rotherham County 42 14 11 17 32 43 0.744 39
17 Wolverhampton Wanderers 42 13 11 18 44 49 0.898 37
18 Port Vale 42 14 8 20 43 57 0.754 36
19 Blackpool 42 15 5 22 44 57 0.772 35
20 Coventry City 42 12 10 20 51 60 0.850 34
Source:

Results

Port Vale's score comes first

Football League Second Division
Main article: 1921–22 Football League

Results by matchday
Round123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627282930313233343536373839404142
GroundAHHAAHAHAHHAAHAHAHHAHAAAHAHHAHAHHHAAHAAHHA
ResultLWLLLWDLLWDWLWDLLLLLDLLLLWDWDWWWWDLLDWLWWL
Position14614212117162020191919181416181819191920202122222222192018181818181818181818181818
Source: Statto[2]
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

Matches
DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers
27 August 1921Leeds UnitedA1–218,000Pearson
29 August 1921Clapton OrientH3–017,000Firth, Hampson, Page
3 September 1921Leeds UnitedH0–118,000
10 September 1921West Ham UnitedA0–318,000
12 September 1921Clapton OrientA0–210,000
17 September 1921West Ham UnitedH2–110,000Firth, Hampson
24 September 1921StokeA0–030,000
1 October 1921StokeH0–120,000
8 October 1921BuryA2–512,000Briscoe, Connelly
15 October 1921BuryH5–211,000Connelly (2), Hampson, Firth, Page
22 October 1921South ShieldsH1–16,000Page
29 October 1921South ShieldsA1–012,000Agnew
5 November 1921Bristol CityA1–220,000Page
12 November 1921Bristol CityH3–18,000Agnew (2), Connelly
19 November 1921Nottingham ForestA1–116,000Page
26 November 1921Nottingham ForestH0–212,000
3 December 1921Wolverhampton WanderersA0–212,000
10 December 1921Wolverhampton WanderersH0–28,000
17 December 1921BarnsleyH2–36,000Collinge (pen), Connelly
24 December 1921BarnsleyA2–38,000Simon, Firth
26 December 1921Derby CountyH1–117,000Connelly
27 December 1921Derby CountyA2–313,000Firth, Connelly
31 December 1921Coventry CityA1–416,000Page
21 January 1922Hull CityA0–26,000
30 January 1922Coventry CityH1–27,000Lauder
4 February 1922Notts CountyA2–17,000Collinge, Lauder
11 February 1922Notts CountyH0–012,000
13 February 1922Hull CityH1–08,000Fitchford
18 February 1922Crystal PalaceA0–010,000
25 February 1922Crystal PalaceH3–014,000Lauder, Agnew, Collinge (pen)
4 March 1922Rotherham CountyA1–08,000Page
11 March 1922Rotherham CountyH1–012,000Page
18 March 1922The WednesdayH1–012,000Collinge (pen)
1 April 1922FulhamH1–110,000Page
3 April 1922The WednesdayH0–26,000
8 April 1922FulhamA0–115,000
14 April 1922Leicester CityH1–110,000Fitchford
15 April 1922BlackpoolA1–014,000Collinge (pen)
17 April 1922Leicester CityA0–315,000
22 April 1922BlackpoolH1–015,000Fitchford
29 April 1922Bradford Park AvenueH1–010,998Agnew
6 May 1922Bradford Park AvenueA0–210,000

FA Cup
Main article: 1921–22 FA Cup
RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorers
1R7 January 1922StokeA2–414,471Page, Brough

North Staffordshire Infirmary Cup
RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorers
Final9 May 1922StokeA0–03,000

Player statistics

Appearances
Pos. Name Football League FA Cup Other Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
GK Walter Smith 1300000130
GK Alfred Bourne 1300000130
GK Ernest Blackham 10000010
GK Teddy Peers 1501010170
DF Peter Pursell 3001010320
DF Bob Pursell 2801000290
DF Len Birks 60001070
DF William Lavery 50000050
DF Billy Twemlow 1801000190
MF Tom Holford 50101070
MF Joe Brough 80110091
MF Billy Fitchford 63001073
MF Frank Simon 71000071
MF Ernest Collinge 4151010435
MF Bob Connelly 3871000397
MF Robert Firth 3951010415
MF Jack Hampson 3030010313
FW Billy Briscoe 3310010341
FW Tom Page 37911103910
FW John Johnstone 30000030
FW Albert Hayes 20000020
FW Frank Cartledge 40001050
FW Billy Agnew 3150000315
FW Tom Collinge 10000010
FW Andrew Finlay 10000010
FW Alex Lauder 2130000213
FW Albert Pearson 1910010201
FW Jack Peart 70000070
FW Harry Littlehales 00000000

Top scorers
Place Position Nation Name Second Division FA Cup Infirmary Cup Total
1FW EnglandTom Page91010
2MF ScotlandBob Connelly7007
3FW ScotlandBilly Agnew5005
–MF EnglandRobert Firth5005
–MF EnglandErnest Collinge5005
6MF EnglandBilly Fitchford3003
–MF WalesJack Hampson3003
–FW ScotlandAlex Lauder3003
9FW EnglandAlbert Pearson1001
–FW EnglandBilly Briscoe1001
–MF EnglandFrank Simon1001
–MF EnglandJoe Brough0101
TOTALS 43 2 0 45

Transfers

Transfers in
Date from Position Nationality Name From Fee Ref.
May 1921FWAlbert PearsonLiverpoolFree transfer[3]
June 1921MFRobert FirthNottingham ForestFree transfer[3]
June 1921MFJack HampsonAston Villa£1,000[3]
August 1921MFBob Connelly Shettleston JuniorsFree transfer[3]
August 1921DFBilly TwemlowStokeFree transfer[3]
September 1921FWBilly Agnew FalkirkFree transfer[3]
September 1921FWAndrew Finlay Glasgow ShawfieldFree transfer[3]
November 1921FWAlex Lauder Partick Thistle£300[3]
December 1921DFWilliam Lavery JohnstoneFree transfer[3]
January 1922GKTeddy PeersWolverhampton WanderersFree transfer[3]
January 1922FWJack PeartEbbw Vale Steel & Iron CompanyFree transfer[3]

Transfers out
Date from Position Nationality Name To Fee Ref.
January 1922MFJames WoottonNelsonFree transfer[3]
Summer 1922GKAlfred BourneReleased[3]
Summer 1922FWJoe BroughRetired[3]
Summer 1922FWFrank CartledgeCongleton TownReleased[3]
Summer 1922FWTom CollingeReleased[3]
Summer 1922MFJohn DavisMacclesfieldReleased[3]
Summer 1922FWAndrew Finlay AirdrieoniansReleased[3]
Summer 1922MFRobert FirthSouthend UnitedReleased[3]
Summer 1922FWAlbert HayesTranmere RoversReleased[3]
Summer 1922FWJohn JohnstoneReleased[3]
Summer 1922FWAlex LauderReleased[3]
Summer 1922DFTom LyonsWalsallReleased[3]
Summer 1922MFJack MellorNew MillsFree transfer[3]
Summer 1922FWAlbert PearsonLlanellyReleased[3]
Summer 1922FWJack PeartNorwich CityReleased[3]
Summer 1922DFFrank SimonReleased[3]
Summer 1922GKWalter SmithPlymouth ArgyleReleased[3]
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References
Specific
  1. Kent, Jeff (1990). "Keeping in Good Company (1919-1929)". The Valiants' Years The Story Of Port Vale. Witan Books. pp. 98–123. ISBN 0-9508981-4-7.
  2. Port Vale 1921–1922 : Results & Fixtures Archived 4 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine. Statto Organisation. Retrieved 28 April 2012.
  3. 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.
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