1952–53 Port Vale F.C. season

The 1952–53 season was Port Vale's 41st season of football in the English Football League, and their first season (fourth overall) back in the Third Division North, following their switch from the Third Division South.[1] Using an incredibly settled squad (only nineteen players were used all season), manager Freddie Steele led the Vale to a second-place finish, just a single point from the promotion spot. Built upon an 'iron curtain defence', just 35 goals were conceded in 46 league games. All this was achieved with pretty much the same bottom-placed team that Steele inherited in December 1951.

Port Vale
1952–53 season
ChairmanFred Burgess
ManagerFreddie Steele
StadiumVale Park
Football League Third Division North2nd (58 Points)
FA CupSecond Round
(knocked out by Oldham Athletic)
Coronation CupRunners-up
(knocked out by Stoke City)
Top goalscorerLeague: Basil Hayward (22)
All: Basil Hayward (22)
Highest home attendance25,398 vs. Oldham Athletic, 6 December 1952
Lowest home attendance6,000 vs. Bradford City, 20 December 1952
Average home league attendance14,504
Biggest win4–0 (twice)
Biggest defeat0–3 vs. Oldham Athletic, 6 December 1952

Following from 9 February the previous season until 8 September the club racked up a club record streak of twelve consecutive home wins.

Overview

Third Division North

The pre-season saw the club switched from the Third Division South to the Third Division North, very much against the wishes of the directors, who believed a loss of income would follow.[1] Manager Freddie Steele decided against making any new signings, and instead kept faith with the young team he had inherited the previous season.[1] Offers were made for some of the young prospects, but none were accepted.[1]

The season began with a 1–0 defeat at Valley Parade with a goal from Ray King's brother George, managed by Steele's predecessor Ivor Powell.[1] This did not affect the team's spirits, as they went straight on to a seven match unbeaten run, conceding just three goals.[1] Steele picked up an injury and so selected the versatile Basil Hayward to replace him.[1] A shrewd move, Hayward would go on to become the club's top scorer.[1] It took awhile to pay off however, as Vale went five games scoring just one goal.[1] Steele attempted to sign a new forward, but to no avail.[1] A 1–0 home defeat to wooden spoon contenders Accrington Stanley exemplified the club's trouble in front of goal, and also ended their record-breaking run of twelve consecutive home wins.[1] Steele and trainer Ken Fish put the squad to work on the special fitness regime they devised, as the "Valiants" marched onwards.[1]

Travelling to Boundary Park on 15 November, they beat Oldham Athletic 1–0, taking themselves up into third place.[1] They dropped points during the Christmas period, though picked up a useful 4–1 win at Gresty Road on Boxing day.[1] Three points out of a possible eight in February allowed leaders Oldham to pull away from the chasing Vale.[1] In March Oldham and Grimsby Town struggled, and so Vale took advantage with six points from ten, conceding just three goals.[1] With six of the final nine games at home, and all of the chasing pack yet to visit Burslem, the omens seemed good for promotion.[1] Vale duly remained unbeaten until the season's end, however drawing five of these games proved not enough.[1] The 4 April encounter with Oldham proved to be the title decider, Vale had dominated the game but conceded a fatal equalizing goal on 86 minutes.[1] Two draws against strugglers Chester were also costly.[1] Nevertheless, they finished strongly, hammering Grimsby Town 4–0, Reg Potts scoring with a lob from 35 yards out.[1]

They finished second, a single point away from top spot.[1] Steele's emphasis on teamwork had turned the team around, and earned the club its best finish since their relegation from the second tier in 1935–36.[1] Their defensive record of 35 goals conceded was bettered only by Second Division Huddersfield Town.[1] Their tally of 58 points was second only to the club's extraordinary 1929–30 campaign.[1] Their main weakness was an average offence, though Hayward proved to be a revelation with 22 goals.[1]

On 4 May, Vale played Potteries derby rivals Stoke City, who had just been relegated from the First Division.[1] This Coronation Cup match ended in a 2–0 win for Stoke, with £1,053 raised for charity.[1]

Finances

On the financial side, a £1,676 profit was recorded.[1] This was due to a club record average attendance of 14,504 – which took gate receipts to £39,929 – and a £5,000 slash in the wage bill to £18,246.[1] For once the club did not sell its best players, and yet it also made a profit.[1] Steele was rewarded with a three-year contract.[1] He again kept on almost all of the squad, with two exceptions being Jimmy Todd (Wellington Town) and Norman Hallam (Halifax Town).[1]

Cup competitions

In the FA Cup, Third Division South Exeter City were beaten 2–1. However, in the Second Round league leaders Oldham Athletic won 3–0 in front of a season best 25,398 crowd at Vale Park – 8,000 of them Oldham supporters.[1]

League table
Main article: 1952–53 Football League § Third Division North
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GR Pts Promotion or relegation
1 Oldham Athletic (C, P) 46 22 15 9 77 45 1.711 59 Promoted to the second division
2 Port Vale 46 20 18 8 67 35 1.914 58
3 Wrexham 46 24 8 14 86 66 1.303 56
4 York City 46 20 13 13 60 45 1.333 53
5 Grimsby Town 46 21 10 15 75 59 1.271 52
Source: rsssf.com
(C) Division Champions; (P) Promoted.

Results

Port Vale's score comes first

Football League Third Division North

Results by matchday
Round12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031323334353637383940414243444546
GroundAHHAAHHAAHHAAHAHAHAAAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHHAHHAAHHHAH
ResultLWWDWWDWLWDLWDWLWDWLDDWWDWDWWLDLWDWDLDDDDWDDDD
Position20735323243355335443555555443333333224432222222
Source: Statto[2]
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

Matches
DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers
23 August 1952Bradford CityA0–116,326
25 August 1952Tranmere RoversH2–017,138Mullard, Griffiths
30 August 1952RochdaleH5–215,448Griffiths (2), Steele, Mullard, Bennett
2 September 1952Tranmere RoversA1–110,194Hayward
6 September 1952DarlingtonA2–08,600Mullard, Hayward
8 September 1952Stockport CountyH2–015,185Steele, Mullard
13 September 1952GatesheadH1–117,803Steele
15 September 1952Stockport CountyA2–010,142Bennett, Hayward
20 September 1952Hartlepools UnitedA0–29,945
22 September 1952Bradford Park AvenueH1–012,553Hulligan
27 September 1952Carlisle UnitedH0–010,803
29 September 1952York CityA0–17,289
4 October 1952SouthportA0–07,616
11 October 1952ChesterfieldH3–014,352Steele (2), Sproson
18 October 1952WorkingtonA1–16,705Hayward
25 October 1952Accrington StanleyH0–112,202
1 November 1952Halifax TownA2–111,693Griffiths (2)
8 November 1952Mansfield TownH1–114,103Hayward
15 November 1952Oldham AthleticA1–021,407o.g.
29 November 1952WrexhamA1–311,082Griffiths
13 December 1952Grimsby TownA1–113,801o.g.
20 December 1952Bradford CityH0–06,000
26 December 1952Crewe AlexandraA4–113,962Griffiths (2), Hayward (2)
27 December 1952Crewe AlexandraH3–122,478Hayward (2), Griffiths
3 January 1953RochdaleA1–16,899Hayward
17 January 1953DarlingtonH2–111,417Hulligan, Hayward
24 January 1953GatesheadA1–17,785Hayward
31 January 1953Scunthorpe & Lindsey UnitedA2–16,984Cunliffe, Hayward
7 February 1953Hartlepools UnitedH3–013,919Hayward (2), Griffiths
14 February 1953Carlisle UnitedA0–210,419
21 February 1953SouthportH0–013,919
28 February 1953ChesterfieldA0–19,772
7 March 1953WorkingtonH2–012,093Bennett, Hayward
14 March 1953Accrington StanleyA1–15,499Griffiths
16 March 1953Scunthorpe & Lindsey UnitedH4–011,371Cunliffe (2), Hayward, Leake
21 March 1953Halifax TownH1–117,945Hayward
28 March 1953Mansfield TownA0–16,083
3 April 1953ChesterH1–119,413Griffiths
4 April 1953Oldham AthleticH1–124,499Sproson
6 April 1953ChesterA2–210,553Cunliffe, Askey
11 April 1953Bradford Park AvenueA2–211,790Griffiths, Hayward
13 April 1953BarrowH3–010,010Hayward, Hulligan, Mullard
18 April 1953WrexhamH0–021,585
20 April 1953York CityH2–011,379Leake, Hayward
25 April 1953BarrowA2–15,080Hayward, Leake
30 April 1953Grimsby TownH4–07,964Potts, Leake, Mullard, Hulligan

FA Cup
Main article: 1952–53 FA Cup
RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorers
R122 November 1952Exeter CityH2–114,394Mullard, Griffiths
R26 December 1952Oldham AthleticH0–325,398

Coronation Cup
RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorers
Final4 May 1953Stoke CityA0–29,981

Player statistics

Appearances
Pos. Name Football League FA Cup Coronation Cup Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
GK Ray King 30000030
GK Ray Hancock 4302010460
DF Tommy Cheadle 4602010490
DF Reg Potts 4612010491
DF Stan Turner 4302010460
DF Roy Sproson 4522010482
DF Jim Elsby 20000020
MF Jimmy Todd 1101000120
MF Mick Hulligan 4242010454
MF Alan Bennett 2732000293
MF Albert Leake 2441010264
MF John Cunliffe 1940000194
MF Albert Mullard 4062110437
MF Norman Hallam 80000080
MF Colin Askey 910010101
FW Basil Hayward 372220104022
FW Ken Griffiths 441321104714
FW Freddie Steele 1150000115
FW Derek Tomkinson 60000060

Top scorers
Place Position Nation Name Third Division North FA Cup Coronation Cup Total
1FW EnglandBasil Hayward220022
2FW EnglandKen Griffiths131014
3MF EnglandAlbert Mullard6107
4FW EnglandFreddie Steele5005
5MF EnglandAlbert Leake4004
–MF EnglandMick Hulligan4004
–MF EnglandJohn Cunliffe4004
8MF EnglandAlan Bennett3003
9DF EnglandRoy Sproson2002
10MF EnglandColin Askey1001
–DF EnglandReg Potts1001
–––Own goals2002
TOTALS 67 2 0 69

Transfers

Transfers in
Date from Position Nationality Name From Fee Ref.
December 1952FWDerek TomkinsonBurton AlbionFree transfer[3]

Transfers out
Date from Position Nationality Name To Fee Ref.
May 1953DFJohn AbbottsReleased[3]
May 1953MFNorman HallamHalifax TownFree transfer[3]
May 1953MFJimmy ToddWellington TownFree transfer[3]
Summer 1953FWFreddie SteeleRetired[3]

References
Specific
  1. Kent, Jeff (1990). "Fame and Fortune (1950–1959)". The Valiants' Years: The Story Of Port Vale. Witan Books. pp. 171–196. ISBN 0-9508981-4-7.
  2. Port Vale 1952–1953 : Results & Fixtures Archived 5 November 2013 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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