1969–70 Port Vale F.C. season

The 1969–70 season was Port Vale's 58th season of football in the English Football League, and their fifth successive season (sixth overall) in the Fourth Division.[1] They achieved promotion with a fourth-place finish, taking them back into the Third Division. They started the season with an eighteen match unbeaten run in the league, and finished with nine games unbeaten following a dip in form around January. Manager Gordon Lee credited the teamwork and fitness of an extremely settled side for the promotion campaign, as ten players made at least 35 league appearances.

Port Vale
1969–70 season
ChairmanArthur McPherson (until March)
Mark Singer (from March)
ManagerGordon Lee
StadiumVale Park
Football League Fourth Division4th (59 Points)
FA CupSecond Round
(knocked out by Tranmere Rovers)
League CupFirst Round
(knocked out by Tranmere Rovers)
Player of the YearJohn Green
Top goalscorerLeague: John James (14)
All: John James (17)
Highest home attendance12,538 vs. Crewe Alexandra, 15 September 1969
Lowest home attendance3,955 vs. York City, 7 February 1970
Average home league attendance6,894
Biggest win4–0 vs. Darlington, 21 March 1970
Biggest defeat0–2 (twice) and 1–3

Overview

Fourth Division

In the pre-season there were talks of bringing speedway to Vale Park, introducing a new team to the British League Division Two.[1] However many were opposed to the idea, and a 2,600 strong petition was given to local MP John Forrester.[1] The idea was killed when the council failed to grant planning permission, despite a 3,000 strong petition in favour of the proposal.[1] The club had hoped to profit from the venture, however many locals were concerned about noise pollution.[1] Gordon Lee meanwhile had little in the way of funds when it came to signing new players, and so he was only able to bring in three new attackers on free transfers: Ken Wookey (Newport County); Stuart Shaw (Southport); and Eric Magee (Oldham Athletic).[1]

They continued on from their unbeaten result at the end of the previous season, to make a club-record unbeaten sequence of ten away games, and nineteen games home and away {5 May to 8 November}. Five of these results were goalless draws, as the defence proved stronger than the attack following the departure of top-scorer Roy Chapman at the end of the previous season.[1] Nevertheless, the run put them at the top of the table, and Lee credited his team's hard work and fitness.[1] John James played on despite an injured ankle, Mick Morris found himself a permanent fixture as an energetic utility man, whilst Tommy McLaren also worked his way into the first eleven.[1] The defence conceded just six goals in the opening fifteen league games. The run included a 1–0 win over Chesterfield at Saltergate, a 2–0 win over nearby Crewe Alexandra in front of a season-best Burslem crowd of 12,538, and a 'war of attrition' in a 1–1 draw 'full of ugly incidents' with Wrexham at the Racecourse Ground in front of a crowd of 19,946.[1] Their 22 November fixture at the Old Showground with Scunthorpe United could have seen the Vale equal the best start to an English League season in the twentieth century.[1] After a Wookey goal put them ahead they lost after a disputed penalty and a bizarre own goal from Roy Sproson.[1] Meanwhile, Vale could not afford the £500 registration fee for Ian Buxton following the player's departure from Notts County, and so the club could only sign him for an initial three-month period.[1]

Injuries and suspensions helped to dent the Vale's form, as they lost their status as league leaders.[1] On 17 January, Sproson made his 800th senior appearance in a 2–0 victory over Exeter City.[1] In an attempt to lift the club, Lee signed wing-half Tony Lacey on loan from Stoke City, and also bought Bill Summerscales from Leek Town for £400.[1] Heading into a six-game unbeaten run, Lee signed Buxton permanently, despite the player's decision to retire at the end of the season.[1] In March, Chairman Arthur McPherson pleaded guilty to receiving stolen goods and so was sentenced to an eighteen-month suspended sentence and fined £1,500.[1] Resigning his position at the club, he was replaced by Mark Singer.[1] On 9 March, the match against Hartlepool had to be suspended for five minutes after Vale fans continually pelted the opposition keeper with snowballs.[1] Signing Lacey permanently for £2,500, and Sammy Morgan on a free from Gorleston, Vale were in a close battle for promotion.[1] Unbeaten in their final nine games, they secured promotion with what The Sentinel's Peter Hewitt called a 'blockade formula' – they conceded just four goals in this run.[1]

They finished in fourth place with 59 points, three points clear of fifth place. His side promoted, Lee said that 'no team could have deserved reward as much for their hard work and strength of character'.[1] With 33 goals conceded, only Chesterfield conceded fewer.[1] Only seventeen players were used all season, whilst eight barely missed a game between them.[1] On 31 May, they played a Potteries derby friendly with First Division Stoke and won 3–2 at the Victoria Ground.[1]

Finances

On the financial side, a loss of £3,003 was made despite fund raising donations of £17,925.[1] Gate receipts were up by over £13,000 as home attendances were encouraging, however expenditure had increased and there was a transfer deficit of £2,900.[1] Six players were let go at the season's end, including Ken Wookey (Workington); Stuart Shaw (Morecambe); Eric Magee (Linfield); Stuart Chapman (Stafford Rangers); and Gordon Logan (Kettering Town).[1]

Cup competitions

In the FA Cup, they had to overcome Northern Premier League Wigan Athletic at Springfield Park, but could only manage a 1–1 draw.[1] After a 2–2 draw back in Stoke-on-Trent, the second replay was held at Old Trafford, Manchester.[1] James scored two minutes from the end of extra-time to finally kill off the non-leaguers.[1] After a 3–1 defeat at Prenton Park to Tranmere Rovers in a replay, the Vale were out of the competition with a profit of £5,000 from their five games.[1]

In the League Cup, a First Round exit came courtesy of Third Division Tranmere Rovers at Vale Park.

League table
Main article: 1969–70 Football League
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GR Pts Promotion or relegation
2 Wrexham 46 26 9 11 84 49 1.714 61 Promoted
3 Swansea City 46 21 18 7 66 45 1.467 60
4 Port Vale 46 20 19 7 61 33 1.848 59
5 Brentford 46 20 16 10 58 39 1.487 56
6 Aldershot 46 20 13 13 78 65 1.200 53
Source: rsssf.com

Results

Port Vale's score comes first

Football League Fourth Division

Results by matchday
Round12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031323334353637383940414243444546
GroundHAHAAHAHHAAHHAHAHAAHHAAAHAAHHHAAHAHHHAAHHAAHAH
ResultDWWDDWWWWWDDDWDDWWLWWDLLWLLDWWDWWLDWLWDWDWDDDD
Position7313311111111111112321222244322234533433333344
Source: Statto[2]
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

Matches
DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers
9 August 1969Peterborough UnitedH0–05,453
16 August 1969ChesterfieldA1–05,062Sproson
23 August 1969Northampton TownH4–14,809Green, Wookey, Gough, Magee
27 August 1969Lincoln CityA0–06,865
30 August 1969Colchester UnitedA0–06,323
6 September 1969ChesterH3–06,874James, Wookey, Green
13 September 1969Oldham AthleticA3–25,777Gough, Logan, James
15 September 1969Crewe AlexandraH2–012,538James, Morris
20 September 1969Grimsby TownH1–08,787James (pen)
27 September 1969Exeter CityA2–15,503Green, McLaren
29 September 1969Southend UnitedA1–17,704James
4 October 1969AldershotH0–08,858
6 October 1969ChesterfieldH1–19,506Wookey
11 October 1969York CityA1–07,195Gough
18 October 1969Swansea CityH0–07,195
25 October 1969WrexhamA1–119,946McLaren
1 November 1969Newport CountyH3–17,477Sproson (2), Boulton
8 November 1969Bradford Park AvenueA2–13,498o.g., Boulton
22 November 1969Scunthorpe UnitedA1–25,750Wookey
29 November 1969WorkingtonH3–14,891James (2), Sproson
13 December 1969Oldham AthleticH1–05,387Buxton
20 December 1969ChesterA1–15,235McLaren
26 December 1969Northampton TownA0–27,522
10 January 1970Grimsby TownA0–24,654
17 January 1970Exeter CityH2–04,633o.g., James
24 January 1970BrentfordA0–18,661
31 January 1970AldershotA0–26,858
7 February 1970York CityH1–13,955Gough
21 February 1970Bradford Park AvenueH4–14,416James (3), Boulton
23 February 1970Southend UnitedH3–06,333Gough (2), James
28 February 1970Swansea CityA0–06,576
2 March 1970DarlingtonA2–22,152Boulton, James
9 March 1970HartlepoolH3–05,456Boulton (2), Lacey
14 March 1970WorkingtonA2–32,047Buxton, Gough
16 March 1970BrentfordH0–07,944
21 March 1970DarlingtonH4–04,717Buxton (2), Green, Gough
23 March 1970Scunthorpe UnitedH1–26,394Gough
28 March 1970HartlepoolA2–02,227Morris, Buxton
30 March 1970Newport CountyA1–12,218Morgan
1 April 1970WrexhamH1–010,954James (pen)
4 April 1970Lincoln CityH0–07,414
8 April 1970Notts CountyA2–15,010Sproson, Buxton
15 April 1970Crewe AlexandraA0–07,155
18 April 1970Notts CountyH1–18,042Morris
22 April 1970Peterborough UnitedA0–03,844
25 April 1970Colchester UnitedH1–15,626McLaren

FA Cup
Main article: 1969–70 FA Cup
RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorers
R115 November 1969Wigan AthleticA1–112,622James
R1 Replay18 November 1969Wigan AthleticH2–29,703McLaren, Sproson
R1 Replay24 November 1969Wigan AthleticN1–016,453James
R26 December 1969Tranmere RoversH2–26,883James, Green
R2 Replay8 December 1969Tranmere RoversA1–37,156Magee

League Cup
Main article: 1969–70 Football League Cup
RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorers
R113 August 1969Tranmere RoversH0–14,955

Player statistics

Appearances
Pos. Name Football League FA Cup League Cup Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
GK Keith Ball 4605010520
DF Roy Sproson 4655110526
DF Clint Boulton 4665010526
DF Ron Wilson 4603010500
DF Gordon Logan 915000141
DF Bill Summerscales 40000040
MF Stuart Chapman 10200030
MF Tommy McLaren 3545110415
MF John Green 4645110525
MF John King 3505010410
MF Tony Lacey 1810000181
MF Stuart Shaw 30200050
MF Howard Moore 00000000
FW John James 431443104817
FW Mick Morris 4535000503
FW Bobby Gough 4592010489
FW Ian Buxton 1860000186
FW Ken Wookey 2444010294
FW Sammy Morgan 11000011
FW Eric Magee 1812110212

Top scorers
Place Position Nation Name Fourth Division FA Cup League Cup Total
1FW EnglandJohn James143017
2FW EnglandBobby Gough9009
3FW EnglandIan Buxton6006
–DF EnglandClint Boulton6006
–DF EnglandRoy Sproson5106
6MF EnglandJohn Green4105
–MF ScotlandTommy McLaren4105
8FW WalesKen Wookey4004
9FW EnglandMick Morris3003
10FW Northern IrelandEric Magee1102
11FW Northern IrelandSammy Morgan1001
–MF EnglandTony Lacey1001
–DF ScotlandGordon Logan1001
–––Own goals2002
TOTALS 61 7 0 68

Transfers

Transfers in
Date from Position Nationality Name From Fee Ref.
July 1969MFStuart ShawSouthportFree transfer[3]
July 1969FWEric MageeOldham AthleticFree transfer[3]
July 1969FWKen WookeyNewport CountyFree transfer[3]
December 1969FWIan BuxtonNotts County£500[3]
January 1970FWSammy MorganGorlestonFree transfer[3]
February 1970DFBill SummerscalesLeek Town£400[3]
April 1970MFTony LaceyStoke City£2,500[3]

Transfers out
Date from Position Nationality Name To Fee Ref.
May 1970MFMalcolm BaileyNorthwich VictoriaFree transfer[3]
May 1970DFGordon LoganKettering TownFree transfer[3]
May 1970FWEric Magee LinfieldFree transfer[3]
May 1970MFStuart ShawMorecambeFree transfer[3]
May 1970FWKen WookeyWorkingtonFree transfer[3]
Summer 1970FWIan BuxtonIlkeston TownRetired[3]
Summer 1970MFStuart ChapmanStafford RangersFree transfer[3]

Loans in
Date from Position Nationality Name From Date to Ref.
February 1970MFTony LaceyStoke CityApril 1970[3]
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References
Specific
  1. Kent, Jeff (1990). "Surviving on a Shoestring (1969–1979)". The Valiants' Years: The Story Of Port Vale. Witan Books. pp. 227–257. ISBN 0-9508981-4-7.
  2. Port Vale 1969–1970 : 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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