1922–23 Port Vale F.C. season

The 1922–23 season was Port Vale's fourth consecutive season of football (17th overall) in the English Football League.[1] For the third successive the season the club finished just out of the relegation zones, and for the second successive season were unable to find a regular goalscorer following the sale of Bobby Blood. Financial issues continued to be a concern, especially when a former trainer reported the club for making illegal payments.

Veteran Tom Holford didn't make an appearance.
Billy Briscoe was absent in just four games.

Port Vale
1922–23 season
ChairmanSampson Walker
ManagerJoe Schofield
StadiumThe Old Recreation Ground
Football League Second Division17th (37 Points)
FA CupFifth Qualification Round
(knocked out by Wrexham)
North Staffordshire Infirmary CupRunners-up
(knocked out by Stoke)
Top goalscorerLeague: Tom Butler (9)
All: Tom Butler (9)
Highest home attendance16,022 vs Manchester United, 14 October 1922
Lowest home attendance5,000 vs Derby County, 26 February 1923
Average home league attendance10,204+
Biggest win3–0 vs. South Shields, 25 December 1922
Biggest defeat0–3 (three games)

Overview

Second Division

The releasing of numerous experienced players in pre-season necessitated the signing of numerous new attacking players, namely Millwall winger Patrick Donoghue; 'robust' inside-right Jack Gordon from Queen's Park; James Smith from Plymouth Argyle; and Tom Reid from Ayr United.[1]

The season opened with two defeats in August, and though things soon turned around it became clear that goals were at a premium.[1] To solve this problem experienced winger Billy Harrison was signed from Manchester United.[1] The "Valiants" duly did the double over the "Red Devils" with a 2–1 win at Old Trafford, and a 1–0 win at home thanks to a Harrison strike.[1] Following an injury to the player the club suffered something of a blip in November.[1] The following month the club spent £100 to bring Tom Butler from Darlaston.[1] By the end of the calendar year the club were at the top end of the table, however a loss of form in January caused them to slip back down the table.[1] In February, young Arthur Prince was promoted from the reserves, and helped the club go four games unbeaten.[1] The Vale finished out the season on hot and cold spells, and ended up narrowly avoiding relegation.

At the end of season Vale had made slight progress, having finished on 37 points, improving their tally of the previous two seasons by a single point. Their shocking home record was better only than bottom placed Wolverhampton Wanderers, and Vale secured the fewest home wins and had the second lowest goals scored tally at home – remarkably second place West Ham United had managed to score just two fewer than Vale at home. Their six wins away from home helped them avoid the drop.

Top scorer Tom Butler bagged nine goals in his 26 games, but no other player managed more than four goals. Six players were rarely out of the first eleven: goalkeeper Teddy Peers; defenders Peter Pursell and Len Birks; midfielders Ernest Collinge and Jack Hampson; and forward Billy Briscoe. At the end of the season Billy Harrison joined Welsh club Wrexham; Jack Gordon went back to Scotland to sign with Greenock Morton; Teddy Peers retired; and Billy Briscoe refused a pay-cut and instead signed with nearby Congleton Town.[1]

Finances

Finances were poor as attendances were disappointing, with The Sentinel's "Spectator" commenting that "Port Vale is respected everywhere, except in its own district".[1] The ongoing Shilling Fund was useful for raising revenue, whilst £1,100 was written off by creditors in a remarkably charitable fashion.[1] Yet in June 1923, the club were in trouble when former trainer Billy Barr reported Port Vale to the English Football League, accusing the club of having made illegal payments to its players throughout the season.[1] The club were found guilty, and were fined £100, with manager Joe Schofield also picking up a £25 fine.[1] Three other officials were fined £150 in total, whilst seventeen players were each fined £1 each.[1] This helped the club to report a loss of £2,400 on the season despite their tight spending.[1] Gate receipts stood at just over £10,000, down almost 50% on 1920–21.[1]

Cup competitions

Vale left the FA Cup at the Fifth Round of Qualifying after a disappointing 2–0 defeat by Third Division North Wrexham at The Old Recreation Ground.[1] The end of season North Staffordshire Infirmary Cup Potteries derby bragging rights went to Stoke, which was scant consolation for a club who had just suffered relegation from the First Division.[1] The match raised £250 for the local hospital.[2]

League table
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GR Pts
15 Bradford City 42 12 13 17 41 45 0.911 37
16 Crystal Palace 42 13 11 18 54 62 0.871 37
17 Port Vale 42 14 9 19 39 51 0.765 37
18 Coventry City 42 15 7 20 46 63 0.730 37
19 Clapton Orient 42 12 12 18 40 50 0.800 36
Source:

Results

Port Vale's score comes first

Football League Second Division
Main article: 1922–23 Football League

Results by matchday
Round123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627282930313233343536373839404142
GroundHAAHAHAHAHHAHAAHAHAHHAAHHAHAHHHAAAHAAHAHAH
ResultLLDWWLDWWWDLWLLDWWLWLLLLLDWWDLLLLWWLLDWDLD
Position19211915141516111088108101310109121012121415151515131313141517151415161616151717
Source: Statto[3]
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

Matches
DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers
26 August 1922FulhamH0–114,136
28 August 1922Hull CityA0–36,000
2 September 1922FulhamA1–123,000Smith
4 September 1922Hull CityH1–010,000Gordon
9 September 1922Coventry CityA2–117,000Smith, Agnew
16 September 1922Coventry CityH0–112,733
23 September 1922Clapton OrientA0–010,000
30 September 1922Clapton OrientH3–110,200Harrison, Gordon, Connelly
7 October 1922Manchester UnitedA2–120,000Hampson, Collinge
14 October 1922Manchester UnitedH1–016,022Harrison
21 October 1922Notts CountyH0–015,055
28 October 1922Notts CountyA0–112,000
4 November 1922BuryH2–08,822Connelly, Gordon
11 November 1922BuryA0–211,000
18 November 1922Rotherham CountyA1–310,000Collinge (pen)
25 November 1922Rotherham CountyH0–07,503
9 December 1922Stockport CountyA2–010,000Orpe, Hampson
16 December 1922Crystal PalaceH2–010,000Butler, Orpe
23 December 1922Crystal PalaceA0–29,000
25 December 1922South ShieldsH3–09,254Butler (2), Davies
30 December 1922Leeds UnitedH1–210,000Hampson
1 January 1922South ShieldsA1–39,000Briscoe
6 January 1923Leeds UnitedA1–215,000Butler
13 January 1923Stockport CountyH0–29,500
20 January 1923West Ham UnitedH1–310,000Connelly
27 January 1923West Ham UnitedA0–018,000
3 February 1923BlackpoolH2–09,885Thompson, Collinge
10 February 1923Derby CountyA2–110,000Butler (2)
17 February 1923SouthamptonH0–012,275
26 February 1923Derby CountyH2–35,000Thompson, Butler
3 March 1923Bradford CityH1–26,000Prince
5 March 1923SouthamptonA1–35,000Thompson
10 March 1923Bradford CityA0–29,000
17 March 1923BlackpoolA2–010,000Briscoe, Butler
30 March 1923Wolverhampton WanderersH1–015,000Page
31 March 1923Leicester CityA0–320,000
2 April 1923Wolverhampton WanderersA0–315,000
7 April 1923Leicester CityH0–08,660
14 April 1923BarnsleyA1–08,000Reid
21 April 1923BarnsleyH1–17,799Briscoe
28 April 1923The WednesdayA0–212,000
5 May 1923The WednesdayH2–26,000Hampson (pen), Butler

FA Cup
Main article: 1922–23 FA Cup
RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorers
5Q2 December 1922WrexhamH0–27,200

North Staffordshire Infirmary Cup
RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorers
Final7 May 1923StokeA1–3Thompson

Player statistics

Appearances
Pos. Name Football League FA Cup Other Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
GKDaniel Smith 10000010
GK Teddy Peers 4101000430
DF Peter Pursell 4001010420
DF Len Birks 4100000410
DF William Lavery 00100010
DF Billy Twemlow 30001040
DF David Richards 10000010
MF Billy Fitchford 1901000200
MF Ernest Collinge 4231010443
MF Bob Connelly 2930000303
MF Jack Hampson 3841000394
MF Tom Orpe 82000082
MF Arthur Prince 1610010171
MFPatrick Donoghue 30000030
MF Tom Holford 00000000
FW Billy Briscoe 3930010403
FW Tom Page 2511000261
FW Billy Agnew 1111000121
FW Jimmy Thompson 83001194
FWAlbert Spencer 30000030
FW James Smith 72000072
FW Tom Reid 61001071
FW Jack Gordon 2231010243
FW Charles Hallam 10100020
FW Billy Harrison 2120010222
FW Harry Davies 1210000121
FW Tom Butler 2590010269

Top scorers
Place Position Nation Name Second Division FA Cup Infirmary Cup Total
1FW EnglandTom Butler9009
2MF WalesJack Hampson4004
–FW EnglandJimmy Thompson3014
4MF EnglandErnest Collinge3003
–MF ScotlandBob Connelly3003
–FW ScotlandJack Gordon3003
–FW EnglandBilly Briscoe3003
8MF EnglandTom Orpe2002
–FW EnglandBilly Harrison2002
–FW ScotlandJames Smith2002
11MF EnglandArthur Prince1001
–FW EnglandTom Page1001
–FW EnglandHarry Davies1001
–FW ScotlandBilly Agnew1001
–FW ScotlandTom Reid1001
TOTALS 39 0 1 40

Transfers

Transfers in
Date from Position Nationality Name From Fee Ref.
May 1922FWJames SmithPlymouth ArgyleFree transfer[4]
June 1922FWHarry DaviesChorleyFree transfer[4]
August 1922MFPatrick DonoghueMillwall AthleticFree transfer[4]
August 1922FWJack Gordon Queen's ParkFree transfer[4]
August 1922FWTom Reid Ayr UnitedFree transfer[4]
August 1922DFDavid Richards Larkhall ThistleFree transfer[4]
September 1922FWCharles HallamSandford Hill PrimitivesFree transfer[4]
September 1922FWBilly HarrisonManchester UnitedFree transfer[4]
October 1922MFArthur PrinceBucknallFree transfer[4]
November 1922MFTom OrpeHanleyFree transfer[4]
January 1923FWTom ButlerDarlaston£100[4]
January 1923FWJimmy ThompsonAshton National GasFree transfer[4]

Transfers out
Date from Position Nationality Name To Fee Ref.
October 1922FWJames SmithFulhamMutual consent[4]
May 1923GKTeddy PeersRetired[4]
June 1923FWBilly HarrisonWrexham£300[4]
June 1923FWAlbert SpencerWolverhampton WanderersFree transfer[4]
Summer 1923FWBilly Agnew ArthurlieReleased[4]
Summer 1923GKErnest BlackhamReleased[4]
Summer 1923FWBilly BriscoeCongleton TownFree transfer[4]
Summer 1923FWHarry DaviesChorleyReleased[4]
Summer 1923MFPatrick DonoghueReleased[4]
Summer 1923FWJack Gordon Greenock MortonReleased[4]
Summer 1923DFWilliam LaveryReleased[4]
Summer 1923MFBilly FitchfordGlossopReleased[4]
Summer 1923MFHarry JohnstoneReleased[4]
Summer 1923MFTom OrpeCheadle New HadenReleased[4]
Summer 1923DFDavid Richards Dundee UnitedReleased[4]
Summer 1923GKDaniel SmithReleased[4]
Summer 1923FWJimmy ThompsonBlackpoolReleased[4]
Summer 1923DFBilly TwemlowMacclesfieldReleased[4]
August 1923FWCharles HallamSandbach RamblersReleased[4]

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. Kent, Jeff (November 1998). The Potteries Derbies. Witan Books. p. 118. ISBN 0-9529152-3-5.
  3. Port Vale 1922–1923 : Results & Fixtures Archived 6 September 2015 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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