1947–48 Port Vale F.C. season

The 1947–48 season was Port Vale's 36th season of football in the English Football League, and their third full season in the Third Division South.[1] Gaining just three of their sixteen victories away from home, they were very much a club of two teams. Manager Gordon Hodgson continued his policy of developing young players, whilst work on the new stadium continued. Their club record run without failing to score reached 33 games, ending on 13 March 1948, having begun on 19 October 1946.

Manager Gordon Hodgson during his playing days.

Port Vale
1947–48 season
ChairmanWilliam Holdcroft
ManagerGordon Hodgson
StadiumThe Old Recreation Ground
Football League Third Division South8th (43 Points)
FA CupFirst Round
(knocked out by Crystal Palace)
Top goalscorerLeague: Ronnie Allen (13)
All: Ronnie Allen (13)
Highest home attendance18,147 vs. Notts County, 28 February 1948
Lowest home attendance5,602 vs. Exeter City, 24 April 1948
Average home league attendance13,569
Biggest win7–0 vs. Watford, 15 September 1947
Biggest defeat0–5 vs. Torquay United, 7 February 1948

Overview

Third Division South

The pre-season saw the arrival of outside-right John Currie from Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic.[1] The total number of players at the club was 81, though the vast majority of these amateurs who never played for the first team.[1] Standing season tickets were reduced to £3 13s, in an attempt to boost support.[1]

The season began with a 1–1 draw with Bristol Rovers in front of 15,714 supporters, followed four days later by a 2–1 win at Carrow Road.[1] Following this the Vale were exceptional at home but poor away, as their unbeaten run at home reached fifteen games.[1] Their home form was exemplified by 6–4 and 7–0 wins over Aldershot and Watford respectively, in which Ronnie Allen scored a hat-trick in both games, and Morris Jones score a hat-trick past Aldershot.[1] The defence seeming too weak for a promotion push, Harry Hubbick was signed from Bolton Wanderers in October.[1] The Sentinel's "Placer" complained of the weakened passing of the post-war generation, in both the Vale side and in footballers in general.[1] In November Morris Jones was sold to Swindon Town for £2,500, having handed in a transfer request.[1] Gordon Hodgson searched for new attacking talents, leaving his players to relax with games of table tennis, darts, and reading material.[1] On Christmas day a 5–0 win was recorded over Brighton & Hove Albion, with defender Tommy Cheadle put into the centre-forward role.[1] This marked the start of an eight match unbeaten run which took the "Valiants" into fourth place by the end of January.[1]

Hodgson's policy of youth over experience led many older players to hand in transfer requests.[1] In January Alf Bellis was traded to Bury in exchange for Walter Keeley and 'a substantial fee'.[1] A 5–0 thrashing at muddy Plainmoor from Torquay United in February was followed by a win over Swindon Town which was disturbed by a dog on the pitch, whilst the week after came a draw in three inches of snow at Southend United.[1] The club's promotion hopes faded with a defeat by Notts County at the Rec, England star Tommy Lawton scoring the winner.[1] In preparation for next season Joe Dale was signed from Manchester United for £1,000.[1] The last game of the season attracted 5,602 spectators – the lowest total of the season – ironically this was against Exeter City, their opponents in the highest attended home game of the previous campaign. This low attendance was partly blamed on the FA Cup final, which was broadcast at the same time.[1]

They finished in eighth place with 43 points, thereby barely improving on the previous season.[1] Ronnie Allen was the top-scorer with just thirteen goals. Scoring was very much a team effort.

Finances

On the financial side, a loss of £1,292 was reported – mainly due to a transfer debit.[1] Gate receipts had increased to £26,666 and the wage bill had risen drastically to £13,647.[1] Cash was needed for the ongoing construction of 'The Wembley of the North', and so schemes such as the '100 Club' were introduced, offering supporters a seat for life at the stadium at a cost of £100.[1] Meanwhile Norman Hallam departed in the summer, who left the area to become a Methodist Minister in Carlisle.[1]

Cup competitions

In the FA Cup, Vale fell at the first hurdle, losing 2–1 to Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park in a below-par performance.[1]

League table
Main article: 1947–48 Football League
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GR Pts
6 Notts County 42 19 8 15 68 59 1.153 46
7 Bristol City 42 18 7 17 77 65 1.185 43
8 Port Vale 42 16 11 15 63 54 1.167 43
9 Southend United 42 15 13 14 51 58 0.879 43
10 Reading 42 15 11 16 56 58 0.966 41
Source:

Results

Port Vale's score comes first

Football League Third Division South

Results by matchday
Round123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627282930313233343536373839404142
GroundHAAHHAAHHAHAHAHAHAAHAHHAHHAHAHAHAHHAAAHAHA
ResultDWLWWDLWDLWLDLWLWWLWDWWDWWLWDLLWLLWLLDLDDD
Position12410644935778911910881179866544444546656766788
Source: Statto[2]
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

Matches
DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers
23 August 1947Bristol RoversH1–115,714Pointon
27 August 1947Norwich CityA2–122,024Cheadle, Smith
30 August 1947Northampton TownA1–49,404Smith
1 September 1947Norwich CityH2–011,688Pointon, Smith
6 September 1947AldershotH6–413,840Allen (3), Jones (3)
10 September 1947WatfordA1–18,802Hallam
13 September 1947Crystal PalaceA0–215,063
15 September 1947WatfordH7–012,232Allen (3), Hallam (2), Smith (2)
20 September 1947Torquay UnitedH1–117,092Bellis
27 September 1947Swindon TownA0–116,828
4 October 1947Southend UnitedH2–115,106Allen, Smith
11 October 1947Notts CountyA1–220,172Bellis
18 October 1947Swansea TownH1–114,355Smith
25 October 1947Bournemouth & Boscombe AthleticA0–317,025
1 November 1947Ipswich TownH4–114,878Martin (2), Allen, Pointon
8 November 1947Bristol CityA1–227,740Allen
15 November 1947ReadingH1–013,305Smith
22 November 1947WalsallA2–115,309Bellis, Allen
20 December 1947Bristol RoversA1–211,651Martin
25 December 1947Brighton & Hove AlbionH5–011,431Cheadle (2), McGarry, Martin, Triner
27 December 1947Brighton & Hove AlbionA2–27,329Cheadle, Martin
3 January 1948Northampton TownH1–012,905Bellis
10 January 1948Leyton OrientH3–012,225Keeley (2), Cheadle
17 January 1948AldershotA1–14,459Cheadle
24 January 1948Newport CountyH4–110,816Pointon (2), Keeley, Martin (pen)
31 January 1948Crystal PalaceH4–113,419Cheadle (2), Allen, Pointon
7 February 1948Torquay UnitedA0–56,067
14 February 1948Swindon TownH1–014,263Pointon
21 February 1948Southend UnitedA1–13,961Martin
28 February 1948Notts CountyH1–218,147Allen
6 March 1948Swansea TownA0–218,180
13 March 1948Bournemouth & Boscombe AthleticH2–115,221Allen, Martin
20 March 1948Ipswich TownA1–211,100Pointon
26 March 1948Queens Park RangersH0–217,889
27 March 1948Bristol CityH1–012,541Pointon
29 March 1948Queens Park RangersA1–224,053Pointon
3 April 1948ReadingA0–212,293
7 April 1948Exeter CityA0–07,653
10 April 1948WalsallH0–112,282
17 April 1948Leyton OrientA0–012,430
24 April 1948Exeter CityH1–15,602Smith
1 May 1948Newport CountyA0–08,309

FA Cup
Main article: 1947–48 FA Cup
RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorers
R129 November 1947Crystal PalaceA1–213,000Smith

Player statistics

Appearances
Pos. Name Football League FA Cup Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
GK George Heppell 39010400
DF Basil Hayward 24000240
DF Tommy Cheadle 23800238
DF Garth Butler 39010400
DF Bob Pursell 700070
DF Harry Hubbick 30010310
MF Alf Bellis 17410184
MF Wilf Smith 100010
MF Don Triner 210021
MF Jimmy Todd 24000240
MF Alan Martin 42810438
MF Bill McGarry 26110271
MF Eric Eastwood 18010190
MF Norman Hallam 29310303
MF Walter Keeley 16300163
MF Joe Dale 300030
MF John Currie 900090
MF Ted Shore 300030
FW Jack Smith 269112710
FW Bill Pointon 2910103010
FW Morris Jones 14300143
FW Ronnie Allen 3813103913
FW Eric Prince 300030

Top scorers
Place Position Nation Name Third Division South FA Cup Total
1FW EnglandRonnie Allen13013
2FW EnglandBill Pointon10010
–FW EnglandJack Smith9110
4MF EnglandAlan Martin808
–DF EnglandTommy Cheadle808
6MF EnglandAlf Bellis404
7FW EnglandMorris Jones303
–MF EnglandNorman Hallam303
–MF EnglandWalter Keeley303
10MF EnglandBill McGarry101
–MF EnglandDon Triner101
TOTALS 63 1 64

Transfers

Transfers in
Date from Position Nationality Name From Fee Ref.
June 1947FWLen BarberBuryFree transfer[3]
June 1947MFJohn CurrieBournemouth and Boscombe AthleticFree transfer[3]
October 1947DFHarry HubbickBolton Wanderers£1,000[3]
January 1948MFWalter KeeleyBuryExchange[3]
April 1948MFJoe DaleManchester United£1,000[3]

Transfers out
Date from Position Nationality Name To Fee Ref.
November 1947FWMorris JonesSwindon Town£2,500[3]
January 1948MFAlf BellisBury'Substantial'[3]
February 1948FWEric PrinceMacclesfield TownReleased[3]
Summer 1948MFJohn CurrieReleased[3]
Summer 1948MFTed ShoreCoventry CityReleased[3]
Summer 1948FWJack SmithCongleton Town'Free transfer[3]
Summer 1948MFDon TrinerWitton AlbionReleased[3]
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References
Specific
  1. Kent, Jeff (1990). "Creating Sunshine from the Shadows (1939–1950)". The Valiants' Years: The Story Of Port Vale. Witan Books. pp. 151–171. ISBN 0-9508981-4-7.
  2. Port Vale 1947–1948 : Results & Fixtures Archived 16 September 2015 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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