1932–33 Port Vale F.C. season

The 1932–33 season was Port Vale's 27th season of football in the English Football League, and their third successive season (26th overall) in the Second Division.[1] The season is notable as the last season of football for legendary striker Wilf Kirkham – who finished as top scorer for the sixth time in his Vale career. It is also notable for a 9–1 thrashing of Chesterfield in which Stewart Littlewood scored six goals – both feats are still standing club records. Otherwise an unremarkable season, the club limped to 17th in the league and exited the FA Cup at the Third Round, whilst rivals Stoke City were promoted as champions.

Manager Tom Holford.
Chairman Frank Huntbach was pleased the club's finances.[1]

Port Vale
1932–33 season
ChairmanFrank Huntbach
ManagerTom Holford
StadiumThe Old Recreation Ground
Football League Second Division17th (38 Points)
FA CupThird Round
(knocked out by Blackpool)
Top goalscorerLeague: Wilf Kirkham (15)
All: Wilf Kirkham (15)
Highest home attendance19,625 vs. Stoke City, 4 March 1933
Lowest home attendance3,364 vs. Plymouth Argyle, 29 April 1933
Average home league attendance8,876
Biggest win9–1 vs. Chesterfield, 24 September 1932
Biggest defeat0–7 vs. Bradford City, 1 October 1932

Overview

Second Division

The pre-season worries over the Great Depression saw ticket prices reduced, as The Old Recreation Ground's capacity was increased, and a radio-gramophone broadcaster with four loudspeakers was installed.[1] New signings included Bradford Park Avenue outside-left Bob Morton and Cardiff City left-half Jimmy McGrath.[1]

The season began well, an opening day victory over Bury was followed by a useful sequence of results that saw the club climb the table.[1] Their 9–1 win over Chesterfield on 24 September was the biggest victory of the season in the division, and a still standing club record victory in the Football League.[1] Stewart Littlewood scored an incredible six goals that day – also a still standing club record, all within a 57 minute period.[2][1] The Vale followed this record win with a 7–0 defeat at Bradford City's Valley Parade, in what had been dubbed a promotion clash.[1] Shenton twisted his knee in the latter match, and the list of injuries began to mount, Littlewood also requiring an operation to repair cartilage damage.[1] This prompted the signing of Manchester United's highly experienced ex-England international forward Louis Page, brother of ex-Vale player Tom Page.[1]

From 15 October to 3 December Vale were on a run of eight games without a win, six of them defeats.[1] One of these defeats was a 5–0 hammering at Notts County's Meadow Lane, and another was a 1–0 defeat at Stoke City's Victoria Ground in front of 29,296 spectators, yet another was a 4–0 loss at Tottenham Hotspur's White Hart Lane in front of a crowd of 33,071.[1] In December a shake-up in the first eleven brought four successive home victories, though only one point was won from three away games.[1] Stoke defender Len Armitage was brought in to help sure up the defence as the club hovered in mid-table.[1]

In January, ten year veteran left-back Jimmy Oakes was sold to Charlton Athletic for £3,000.[1] On 4 March, Stoke romped home to a 3–1 derby win, with a certain Stanley Matthews scoring his first goal for the "Potters".[1] After this the "Valiants" went five games unbeaten, which started with them picking up a point at Old Trafford.[1] They won three and lost four of their seven April games.[1] The 26 April game against Charlton Athletic at The Valley was remarkable as Oakes became the first ever player to play for opposite teams in the same match – this happened as before his transfer he had played for Vale in a game with the "Addicks" that was called off before full-time due to fog.[1] The final game of the season was a 6–1 beating at Blundell Park by Grimsby Town, though by this time their survival in the division was already ensured.[1]

They finished in seventeenth position with 38 points, four points clear of relegated Chesterfield, and seventeen points short of promoted Spurs. Meanwhile the reserve side won the Cheshire League for the fifth successive season.[1]

Finances

On the financial side, a profit of £481 was made due to strict economic management.[1] Wages were reduced and the "A" team was scrapped.[1] Gate receipts had again fallen, now standing at £11,447.[1] Another clear-out of players took place: with Billy Easton, Louis Page, Stewart Littlewood, Tom Tippett, Wilf Kirkham, Jock Leckie, and Ben Davies all leaving on free transfers. Easton joined Aldershot, Page signed with Yeovil & Petters United, Littlewood went to Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic, Tippett joined West Ham United, Leckie went to Stockport County. Kirkham retired as a professional to concentrate on his duties as an educator, turning out as an amateur for Kidderminster Harriers in the Birmingham League.[1]

Cup competitions

In the FA Cup, Vale lost 2–1 at First Division relegation strugglers Blackpool's Bloomfield Road in the Third Round.[1]

League table
Main article: 1932–33 Football League
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GR Pts
15 Notts County 42 15 10 17 67 78 0.859 40
16 Oldham Athletic 42 15 8 19 67 80 0.838 38
17 Port Vale 42 14 10 18 66 79 0.835 38
18 Lincoln City 42 12 13 17 72 87 0.828 37
19 Burnley 42 11 14 17 67 79 0.848 36
Source:

Results

Port Vale's score comes first

Football League Second Division

Results by matchday
Round123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627282930313233343536373839404142
GroundHAAHHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHHAAAHA
ResultWDWLWDWLWLLDLLDLLWLWWDWLLDWLLDDWDDLWLWLLWL
Position153744444588121313151716171614151315151515151615151413141515171516161617
Source: Statto[3]
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

Matches
DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers
27 August 1932BuryH1–010,120Kirkham
29 August 1932SouthamptonA2–28,151Littlewood (2)
3 September 1932Lincoln CityA1–011,276Kirkham
5 September 1932SouthamptonH0–28,843
10 September 1932West Ham UnitedH4–09,582Morton, Kirkham, Littlewood, Sherlock (pen)
17 September 1932FulhamA1–121,272Morton
24 September 1932ChesterfieldH9–19,950Littlewood (6), Kirkham (2), Morton
1 October 1932Bradford CityA0–712,648
8 October 1932Swansea TownH2–17,310Morton, Kirkham
15 October 1932Notts CountyA0–59,217
22 October 1932Stoke CityA0–129,296
29 October 1932Manchester UnitedH3–37,138Sherlock, Page, Morton
5 November 1932Tottenham HotspurA0–433,071
12 November 1932Nottingham ForestH0–18,088
19 November 1932BurnleyA1–17,940Kirkham
26 November 1932Preston North EndH0–16,938
3 December 1932Oldham AthleticA1–24,397McGrath
10 December 1932Bradford Park AvenueH3–16,114McGrath, Kirkham, Mills
17 December 1932Plymouth ArgyleA1–315,567Page
24 December 1932Grimsby TownH4–28,342Tippett (2), Sherlock (pen), Kirkham
27 December 1932Charlton AthleticH2–112,622McGrath, Mills
31 December 1932BuryA0–07,906
7 January 1933Lincoln CityH3–27,263Kirkham (2), Tippett
21 January 1933West Ham UnitedA0–513,908
28 January 1933FulhamH1–25,383Kirkham
4 February 1933ChesterfieldA2–211,748Morton, McGrath
11 February 1933Bradford CityH2–09,873Jones, Littlewood
18 February 1933Swansea TownA0–28,049
4 March 1933Stoke CityH1–319,625McGrath
11 March 1933Manchester UnitedA1–124,690McGrath
18 March 1933Tottenham HotspurH1–114,588Nolan
20 March 1933Notts CountyH4–05,682Nolan (2), Kirkham, Baker
25 March 1933Nottingham ForestA1–110,618Kirkham
1 April 1933BurnleyH1–17,221o.g.
8 April 1933Preston North EndA1–39,490Morton
14 April 1933MillwallH2–011,032Morton, Nolan
15 April 1933Oldham AthleticH2–47,317McGrath (2)
17 April 1933MillwallA1–07,507Armitage
22 April 1933Bradford Park AvenueA2–45,757Morton, Armitage
26 April 1933Charlton AthleticA1–25,492Morton
29 April 1933Plymouth ArgyleH4–13,364Nolan (3), Kirkham
6 May 1933Grimsby TownA1–66,349Nolan

FA Cup
Main article: 1932–33 FA Cup
RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorers
R314 January 1933BlackpoolA1–215,800Mills

Player statistics

Appearances
Pos. Name Football League FA Cup Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
GK Ben Davies 11010120
GK Jock Leckie 22000220
GK Allan Todd 900090
DF Jimmy Oakes 12000120
DF George Shenton 28010290
DF William Cope 300030
DF William Allsop 500050
DF Arnold Bliss 21010220
DF George Poyser 28000280
DF Len Armitage 10210112
MF Roger Jones 40110411
MF Jack Round 31000310
MF James Henshall 500050
MF Jimmy McGrath 28810298
MF Fred Mills 36211373
MF Bob Morton 3310003310
MF Albert Harrison 300030
MF Horace Baker 710071
MF Cliff Birks 21010220
MF Jack Sherlock 24300243
FW Stewart Littlewood 1310001310
FW Tom Tippett 831093
FW Tom Nolan 17800178
FW Billy Easton 300030
FW Wilf Kirkham 3315103415
FW John Smith 600060
FW Louis Page 18210192
FW Robert Davies 500050

Top scorers
Place Position Nation Name Second Division FA Cup Total
1FW EnglandWilf Kirkham15015
2MF EnglandBob Morton10010
–FW EnglandStewart Littlewood10010
4FW EnglandTom Nolan808
–MF EnglandJimmy McGrath808
6MF EnglandFred Mills213
–FW EnglandTom Tippett303
–MF EnglandJack Sherlock303
9DF EnglandLen Armitage202
–FW EnglandLouis Page202
11MF EnglandRoger Jones101
–MF EnglandHorace Baker101
–––Own goals101
TOTALS 66 1 67

Transfers

Transfers in
Date from Position Nationality Name From Fee Ref.
May 1932MFJimmy McGrathCardiff CityFree transfer[4]
May 1932MFBob MortonBradford Park AvenueFree transfer[4]
August 1932FWJohn SmithDerby CountyFree transfer[4]
October 1932FWLouis PageManchester UnitedFree transfer[4]
October 1932GKAllan Todd CowdenbeathFree transfer[4]
December 1932DFLen Armitage Rhyl AthleticFree transfer[4]
March 1933DFBilly TabramSwansea TownFree transfer[4]

Transfers out
Date from Position Nationality Name To Fee Ref.
January 1933DFJimmy OakesCharlton Athletic£3,000[4]
April 1933DFArnold BlissWest Ham UnitedReleased[4]
May 1933GKBen DaviesReleased[4]
May 1933FWBilly EastonAldershotFree transfer[4]
May 1933MFAlbert HarrisonLeek AlexandraFree transfer[4]
May 1933GKJock LeckieStockport CountyFree transfer[4]
May 1933FWJohn SmithCarlisle UnitedFree transfer[4]
May 1933FWTom TippettWest Ham UnitedFree transfer[4]
July 1933FWStewart LittlewoodBournemouth & Boscombe AthleticFree transfer[4]
July 1933DFJack SherlockColwyn Bay UnitedFree transfer[4]
Summer 1933FWWilf KirkhamRetired[4]
Summer 1933FWLouis PageReleased[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. Fielding, Rob (3 October 2019). "Five of the best thumping Port Vale home victories". onevalefan.co.uk. Retrieved 5 June 2020.
  3. Port Vale 1932–1933 : 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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