Reg Potts

Reginald Potts (31 July 1927 – 28 January 1996) was an English football defender, nicknamed "Dan" after Desperate Dan.

Reg Potts
Personal information
Full name Reginald Potts[1]
Date of birth (1927-07-31)31 July 1927
Place of birth Etruria, Stoke-on-Trent, England[1]
Date of death 28 January 1996(1996-01-28) (aged 68)[1]
Place of death Hartshill, Stoke-on-Trent, England[1]
Playing position(s) Defender
Youth career
Wellington Scouts
Northwood Mission
Stoke City
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1945–1957 Port Vale 277 (3)
Worcester City
1960–1962 Macclesfield Town 25 (0)
Total 302 (3)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

A key member of Port Vale's history, he played 301 competitive games for the club between 1945 and 1957. He helped the "Valiants" to win the Third Division North title and to reach the FA Cup semi-finals in 1953–54. He later turned out for non-league sides Worcester City and Macclesfield Town.

Playing career

Potts played for Wellington Scouts, Northwood Mission and Stoke City, before joining Port Vale in August 1945.[1] National service interrupted his career however, and he could only be regularly picked by Vale from February 1952.[1] He did though feature in 19 Third Division South games in 1948–49, and also played three games in 1949–50 and 25 games in 1950–51 under the stewardship of Gordon Hodgson.[1] He scored his first senior goal on 27 March 1950, in a 2–0 win over Torquay United at The Old Recreation Ground.[1]

Potts featured 21 times in 1951–52, as short-term boss Ivor Powell was replaced by Freddie Steele.[1] He was an ever-present during the 1952–53 season, as the "Valiants" finished as runners-up of the Third Division North.[1] He also managed to score a thirty-five yard lob at Vale Park in a 4–0 win over Grimsby Town on 30 April.[1] In the 1953–54 season, the "Iron Curtain" defence of Ray King (goalkeeper), Tommy Cheadle, Potts, Stan Turner and Roy Sproson were a key part of Vale's success in winning the league and reaching the FA Cup semi-finals.[1]

He was an ever-present in the 1954–55 season, as the club posted a 17th-place finish in the Second Division.[1] He also played every game in the 1955–56 season, as part of his 167 consecutive appearances between October 1953 and April 1957.[1] He featured 41 times in 1956–57, as new manager Norman Low failed to prevent Vale slipping to relegation.[1] Former teammate Graham Barnett later recalled how Potts and fellow defender Stan Turner did not get along and refused to speak to each other despite playing alongside each other for eight years.[2] Potts was sold to Southern League side Worcester City in July 1957, later moving on to Macclesfield Town in 1960, becoming a key player for the "Silkmen" until he lost his first team place in February 1961.[3]

Statistics

Source:[4]

Club Season Division League FA Cup Total
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Port Vale 1948–49 Third Division South 19000190
1949–50 Third Division South 310031
1950–51 Third Division South 23020250
1951–52 Third Division South 21000210
1952–53 Third Division North 46120481
1953–54 Third Division North 42080500
1954–55 Second Division 42030450
1955–56 Second Division 42020440
1956–57 Second Division 39120411
Total 27731902963
Macclesfield Town 1960–61[5] Cheshire County League 24060300
1961–62[6] Cheshire County League 100010
Total 25060310
Total 30232503273

Honours
Port Vale
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References
  1. Kent, Jeff (1996). Port Vale Personalities. Witan Books. p. 236. ISBN 0-9529152-0-0.
  2. Kent, Jeff (December 1991). Port Vale Tales: A Collection Of Stories, Anecdotes And Memories. Witan Books. p. 25. ISBN 0-9508981-6-3.
  3. "Profile". silkmenarchives.org.uk. Retrieved 31 March 2015.
  4. Reg Potts at the English National Football Archive (subscription required)
  5. "Stats". silkmenarchives.org.uk. Retrieved 12 July 2016.
  6. "Stats". silkmenarchives.org.uk. Retrieved 12 July 2016.
  7. Sherwin, Phil; Askey, Steve (2013), Men of Steele: The story of Port Vale's stunning 1953/54 season, Pass Publishing, ISBN 978-0-9926579-1-8
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