1933–34 Port Vale F.C. season

The 1933–34 season was Port Vale's 28th season of football in the English Football League, and their fourth successive season (27th overall) in the Second Division.[1] Finishing eighth in the second tier with 45 points, they would not reach such a peak again until 1996–97. It was their joint-second best ever finish after the 1930–31 season, along with the 1924–25, 1925–26, 1926–27, and 1996–97 campaigns.

Port Vale
1933–34 season
ChairmanFrank Huntbach
ManagerTom Holford
StadiumThe Old Recreation Ground
Football League Second Division8th (45 Points)
FA CupThird Round
(knocked out by Charlton Athletic)
Welsh CupSemi-final
(knocked out by Bristol City)
Top goalscorerLeague: Tom Nolan (22)
All: Tom Nolan (22)
Highest home attendance14,216 vs. Blackpool, 20 January 1934
Lowest home attendance2,990 vs. Nottingham Forest, 5 May 1934
Average home league attendance10,051
Biggest win4–0 and 5–1
Biggest defeat1–6 vs. Nottingham Forest, 23 December 1933

A strong defence and two lengthy series of good results raised belief and expectation of promotion to the top-flight for the first time in the club's history. However two runs of poor results dashed such hopes, resulting in what would be a downward slide that would last until the end of World War II. After pushing for promotion, the club's directors were forced to initiate a cull of players at the season's end.

Manager Tom Holford.
Chairman Frank Huntbach stated that an average attendance of 12,000 was needed to bring the club forward, and also hit out against the Hanley traders.[1]

Overview

Second Division

The pre-season saw the arrival of ten new professionals, six of which were forwards.[1] The most significant newcomers were Trevor Rhodes (Bradford Park Avenue), Jack Vickers (Charlton Athletic), as well as Ken Gunn and Billy Tabram (both from Swansea Town).[1]

The season started excellently with ten wins in the opening fifteen matches. At the end of this run Sydney Dickinson was brought in from Bradford Park Avenue, though the Vale then went on to lose five of their next six matches, conceding sixteen goals and scoring just three.[1] The slide was halted with a 1–0 Boxing day victory over Lincoln City in which top-scorer Tom Nolan became one of only two Vale players sent off in the period between 1918 and 1947.[1] The result nevertheless kept the club within a point of the promotion places.[1] This was supplemented by seven of a possible eight points in their next four games, including victories at The Dell and Valley Parade.[1]

Their run ended on 5 February at The Old Recreation Ground with a 1–0 defeat to eventual champions Grimsby Town.[1] From this point the promotion campaign completely collapsed, with a 4–0 loss soon coming to Welsh strugglers Swansea.[1] New signing Jack Blackwell from Charlton couldn't reverse the trend despite helping the side to their biggest win of the season with a 5–1 thrashing of Millwall the following week.[1] A fortnight later and a 2–0 win over promotion chasing Preston North End meant promotion was back on the cards for the "Valiants".[1] The Sentinel's "Placer" commented that Vale had the easiest remaining fixtures of the chasing pack and thus had a "great chance of ascending to the First Division for the first time in their career".[1]

Their remaining eleven games yielded a return of merely seven points, lacking a reserve side, fatigue had set into the first team.[1] One significant defeat came at Old Trafford, which helped Manchester United avoid relegation to the third tier for what would have been the only time in their history. Young Fred Mitcheson did make a name for himself however, scoring a hat-trick in his debut in a 4–0 win over Plymouth Argyle.[1]

They finished in eighth position, gaining 45 points from 42 games.[1] Seven more points were required to match promoted Preston North End, though they finished twelve points clear of relegated Millwall. Billy Tabram had helped secure the Vale's defence, their 55 goals conceded the lowest in the division behind Preston.[1] Attacking wise, their 60 goals were a poor return for a top-of-the-table club, with 33 of these coming from Tom Nolan (22) and Trevor Rhodes (11).[1]

Finances

On the financial side, a loss of £2,771 was announced despite strict economic budgeting.[1] Gate receipts had risen slowly to £11,868, though a rare transfer deficit was made, and expenses had risen sharply.[1] The club announced that it would consider offers for any of its players, blaming the fans for a lack of enthusiasm, exemplified by an attendance of 2,990 (raising just £136) for the end-of-season clash with Nottingham Forest, despite having recently built a stand with cover for 15,000 spectators.[1] The upshot of this was the release of a massive fifteen players, a list which included: Bill Cope, Sydney Dickinson, Len Armitage, and Jimmy McGrath.[1] Billy Tabram was also sold to Hull City for a large fee, whilst Fred Mills' transfer to Leeds United and George Poyser's move to Brentford also brought in some much needed cash.[1] In the boardroom, Adrian Capes announced his retirement.[1] It was, according to historian Jeff Kent, "the end of an era".[1]

Cup competitions

In the FA Cup, defeat came in the Third Round to Third Division South side Charlton Athletic at The Valley despite 'special training' measures beforehand.[1]

For the first and only time the club also entered the Welsh Cup.[2] Vale lost out to Bristol City at the semi-final stage.

League table
Main article: 1933–34 Football League
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GR Pts
6 Bradford City 42 20 6 16 73 67 1.090 46
7 West Ham United 42 17 11 14 78 70 1.114 45
8 Port Vale 42 19 7 16 60 55 1.091 45
9 Oldham Athletic 42 17 10 15 72 60 1.200 44
10 Plymouth Argyle 42 15 13 14 69 70 0.986 43
Source:

Results

Port Vale's score comes first

Football League Second Division

Results by matchday
Round123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627282930313233343536373839404142
GroundAHHAAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHHAHAHHAHAHAHHAAHAHAH
ResultLWWLWWWLWWWDWDWLLLDLLWDWWWLDLWDWLLWLLDLWLW
Position181071254162211122234468664323365435656879688
Source: Statto[3]
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

Matches
DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers
26 August 1933FulhamA0–321,070
28 August 1933BuryH4–18,416Nolan (3), McGrath
2 September 1933SouthamptonH2–111,237Gunn (2)
9 September 1933BlackpoolA0–116,988
11 September 1933BuryA3–06,197Rhodes, Gunn, Tabram
16 September 1933Bradford CityH3–111,453Rhodes, Morton, Nolan
23 September 1933Grimsby TownA2–110,505Nolan, Morton
30 September 1933Notts CountyA2–315,364Nolan (2)
7 October 1933Swansea TownH1–09,478Rhodes
14 October 1933MillwallA3–012,045Gunn, Rhodes, Nolan
21 October 1933Bradford Park AvenueH3–113,122Nolan (2), Morton
28 October 1933Preston North EndA0–014,160
4 November 1933Oldham AthleticH2–012,228Nolan, Rhodes
11 November 1933BurnleyA0–013,445
18 November 1933BrentfordH1–011,349Gunn
25 November 1933Bolton WanderersA0–314,925
2 December 1933Manchester UnitedH2–310,316Nolan, Rhodes
9 December 1933Plymouth ArgyleA0–313,672
16 December 1933West Ham UnitedH0–06,610
23 December 1933Nottingham ForestA1–69,239Rhodes
25 December 1933Lincoln CityA0–111,584
26 December 1933Lincoln CityH1–013,910Nolan
30 December 1933FulhamH2–28,151Gunn, Rhodes
6 January 1934SouthamptonA4–19,987Rhodes (3), Morton
20 January 1934BlackpoolH1–014,216McGrath
27 January 1934Bradford CityA2–112,719Dickinson, Mills
5 February 1934Grimsby TownH0–112,662
10 February 1934Notts CountyH0–010,645
22 February 1934Swansea TownA0–45,764
24 February 1934MillwallH5–18,578Blackwell (2), Gunn, Mills, Nolan
3 March 1934Bradford Park AvenueA2–211,548Gunn, Dickinson
10 March 1934Preston North EndH2–012,972Morton (2)
17 March 1934Oldham AthleticA1–55,900Nolan
24 March 1934BurnleyH0–27,367
30 March 1934Hull CityH3–010,502Nolan (3)
31 March 1934BrentfordA0–219,758
2 April 1934Hull CityA1–213,333Blackwell
7 April 1934Bolton WanderersH0–09,923
14 April 1934Manchester UnitedA0–214,777
21 April 1934Plymouth ArgyleH4–04,956Mitcheson (3), Nolan
28 April 1934West Ham UnitedA0–19,893
5 May 1934Nottingham ForestH3–12,990Nolan (3)

FA Cup
Main article: 1933–34 FA Cup
RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorers
R313 January 1934Charlton AthleticA0–218,821

Player statistics

Appearances
Pos. Name Football League FA Cup Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
GK Allan Todd 28010290
GK Ormond Jones 14000140
DF George Shenton 10000100
DF William Cope 13010140
DF George Poyser 38010390
DF Len Armitage 101020
DF Jack Vickers 32010330
DF Trevor Rhodes 3011103111
DF Ernest Breeze 400040
MF Roger Jones 28010290
MF Jack Round 300030
MF Jimmy McGrath 38310393
MF Fred Mills 37210382
MF Bob Morton 33500335
MF Horace Baker 300030
MF Cliff Birks 11000110
MF Billy Tabram 35110361
MF Richard Twiss 100010
MF Albert Purcell 200020
MF Sydney Dickinson 12200122
MF Ken Gunn 38810398
MF Billy Webster 000000
FW Tom Nolan 3222003222
FW Robert G. Davies 200020
FW Fred Mitcheson 330033
FW Jack Blackwell 12300123
FW Peter Cunningham 200020

Top scorers
Place Position Nation Name Second Division FA Cup Total
1FW EnglandTom Nolan22022
2DF EnglandTrevor Rhodes11011
3MF ScotlandKen Gunn808
4MF EnglandBob Morton505
5MF EnglandJimmy McGrath303
–FW EnglandFred Mitcheson303
–FW EnglandJack Blackwell303
8MF EnglandFred Mills202
–MF EnglandSydney Dickinson202
10MF WalesBilly Tabram101
TOTALS 60 0 60

Transfers

Transfers in
Date from Position Nationality Name From Fee Ref.
May 1933FWPeter CunninghamBarnsleyFree transfer[4]
May 1933MFKen GunnSwansea Town£400[4]
May 1933GKOrmond JonesYeovil & Petters UnitedFree transfer[4]
May 1933DFJack VickersCharlton Athletic£200[4]
June 1933MFTrevor RhodesBradford Park AvenueFree transfer[4]
July 1933FWFred MitchesonWolverhampton WanderersFree transfer[4]
August 1933MFRichard TwissWolverhampton WanderersFree transfer[4]
November 1933MFSydney DickinsonBradford Park Avenue'Substantial'[4]
November 1933MFAlbert PurcellKidsgrove Liverpool RoadFree transfer[4]
February 1934FWJack BlackwellCharlton AthleticFree transfer[4]

Transfers out
Date from Position Nationality Name To Fee Ref.
November 1933FWPeter CunninghamCrewe AlexandraFree transfer[4]
May 1934DFWilliam AllsopHalifax TownFree transfer[4]
May 1934DFLen ArmitageTranmere RoversFree transfer[4]
May 1934MFHorace BakerLongton HallFree transfer[4]
May 1934FWRobert G. DaviesTorquay UnitedFree transfer[4]
May 1934GKOrmond JonesNorwich CityFree transfer[4]
May 1934DFBilly TabramHull CityFree transfer[4]
June 1934MFJimmy McGrathNotts CountyFree transfer[4]
June 1934MFFred MillsLeeds UnitedUndisclosed[4]
June 1934DFGeorge PoyserBrentford£1,550[4]
Summer 1934DFBill CopeReleased[4]
Summer 1934MFSydney DickinsonLincoln CityReleased[4]
Summer 1934MFRichard TwissBournemouth & Boscombe AthleticFree transfer[4]

References
Specific
  1. 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.
  2. Sherwin, Phil (2010). The Port Vale Miscellany. Brimscombe Port: The History Press. p. 33. ISBN 978-0-7524-5777-2.
  3. Port Vale 1933–1934 : Results & Fixtures Archived 4 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine. Statto Organisation. Retrieved 28 April 2012.
  4. 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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