1955–56 Port Vale F.C. season

The 1955–56 season was Port Vale's 44th season of football in the English Football League, and their second successive season (thirty-first overall) in the Second Division.[1] Gaining ten points on their previous season's total, the club progressed well, achieving their best finish since 1933–34. Finishing one place above rivals Stoke City, it was the first time they outperformed Stoke since 1930–31. Part of the promotion-chasing pack at the season's end, they tailed off with four points from six games as Leeds United finished strongly to end up second. Vale's season was built on the defensive strength of the legendary 1953–54 season, along with record-signing England international Eddie Baily.

Port Vale
1955–56 season
ChairmanFred Burgess
ManagerFreddie Steele
StadiumVale Park
Football League Second Division12th (45 Points)
FA CupFourth Round
(knocked out by Everton)
Top goalscorerLeague: Cyril Done / Len Stephenson (12)
All: Len Stephenson (14)
Highest home attendance44,278 vs. Everton, 28 January 1956
Lowest home attendance11,781 vs. Middlesbrough, 28 April 1956
Average home league attendance18,985
Biggest win3–0 and 4–1
Biggest defeat1–7 vs. Blackburn Rovers, 12 November 1955

Overview

Second Division

The pre-season saw Stan Turner and Ken Griffiths undergo operations, keeping them out of action for the start of the campaign.[1]

The season began with just one loss in the opening eleven games, including victories at Upton Park and Craven Cottage, and a 1–0 home win over rivals Stoke City in front of a crowd of 37,261.[1] Nevertheless, injuries began to affect the first eleven, leaving room for reserves like Derek Mountford, Stan Smith, and Tom Conway to make an impression.[1] The 'Steele Curtain' defence was still in operation, picking up five clean sheets in these eleven games.[1] Journalist Bernard Jones compared 'the Vale Plan' to the Brazilian method of defence, defending the penalty area at all costs as that was from where 95% of all goals were scored.[1] However manager Freddie Steele responded by claiming there was no such plan, and that the main objective was simply 'to beat the opposition'.[1] On 22 October, Sheffield Wednesday went away from Vale Park with a 1–0 win, this was followed with a 4–1 defeat at Filbert Street.[1] Steele began to initiate a modern pre-match ritual of having the players warm up in their tracksuits fifteen minutes before kick-off, though on 12 November this did them no favours at Ewood Park, as Blackburn Rovers romped to a 7–1 victory.[1] Steele made eight changes following the defeat, which made little difference as Vale extended their run without a win to nine games.[1] This left them in fifteenth place by mid-December, with a host of players out with injuries.[1]

Cyril Done's return to match fitness was marked with a 2–1 win at the Memorial Stadium, beginning a sequence of one defeat in ten games.[1] This left them in seventh place by February, in with a shot of promotion.[1] In January, Eddie Baily was signed from Tottenham Hotspur for a club-record £7,000.[1] Signing an inside-forward who was part of England's 1950 FIFA World Cup squad was a sign of the club's ambitions for top-flight football.[1] Outclassed by Wednesday on 3 March, they lost 4–0 at Hillsborough, but followed this with wins over Blackburn Rovers and Bristol City.[1] On 31 March they came to a 'hard-fought' 1–1 draw at Stoke's Victoria Ground, which left the "Valiants" in fifth place, level on points with second-placed Liverpool.[1] In with a great chance of promotion by April, defeats at home to Nottingham Forest and Leicester City, and a 4–1 beating at Anfield ruined their chances.[1] Harry Poole made his debut on the last day of the season, as Vale recorded a 3–2 win over Middlesbrough.[1]

They finished in twelfth position with 45 points, one point and one position above rivals Stoke.[1] The Steele Curtain boasted the best defensive record in the division, though only the bottom five scored fewer goals.[1]

Finances

On the financial side, a loss was made of £4,974, blamed upon a 'crippling burden' of £12,422 in entertainment tax.[1] Home attendances were down by around 2,000 a game to 18,985, leaving gate receipts at £60,784.[1] Steele retained thirty professionals, releasing Albert Mullard and Ray Hancock (Northwich Victoria), and Tom Conway (Leek Town).[1]

Cup competitions

In the FA Cup, Vale narrowly defeated Third Division South Walsall 1–0 at Fellows Park to win a Fourth Round tie with First Division Everton.[1] A crowd of 44,278 saw 'a match that had everything', as the "Toffees" escaped with a 3–2 victory, Vale having had two goals disallowed.[1]

League table
Main article: 1955–56 Football League
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GR Pts
10 Swansea Town 42 20 6 16 83 81 1.025 46
11 Bristol City 42 19 7 16 80 64 1.250 45
12 Port Vale 42 16 13 13 60 58 1.034 45
13 Stoke City 42 20 4 18 71 62 1.145 44
14 Middlesbrough 42 16 8 18 76 78 0.974 40
Source:

Results

Port Vale's score comes first

Football League Second Division

Results by matchday
Round123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627282930313233343536373839404142
GroundHHAAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAAHHAAAHAHAAHAHAHHAAHAHH
ResultDWLWWDWWDWDLLDLLDDLWWLWDDWDWDLWLWLWWDDLLLW
Position104114377453268810131212141211121111108987768676454791012
Source: Statto[2]
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

Matches
DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers
20 August 1955Bristol RoversH1–121,270Cunliffe
22 August 1955West Ham UnitedH2–119,259Stephenson, Leake
27 August 1955Rotherham UnitedA0–111,994
29 August 1955West Ham UnitedA2–013,052Smith, Done
3 September 1955Swansea TownH3–021,769Cunliffe, Conway, Done
10 September 1955Notts CountyA0–014,733
17 September 1955Leeds UnitedH2–021,348Sproson, Done
24 September 1955FulhamA4–125,363Conway (2), Smith, Done
1 October 1955BuryH1–120,691Leake
8 October 1955Stoke CityH1–037,261Done
15 October 1955Plymouth ArgyleA1–117,124Cunliffe
22 October 1955Sheffield WednesdayH0–123,139
29 October 1955Leicester CityA1–426,496Stephenson
5 November 1955Lincoln CityH1–116,561Stephenson
12 November 1955Blackburn RoversA1–725,464Leake
19 November 1955Hull CityH0–117,778
26 November 1955Nottingham ForestA2–29,533Conway, Cunliffe
3 December 1955LiverpoolH1–116,919Stephenson
10 December 1955Doncaster RoversA0–37,351
17 December 1955Bristol RoversA2–119,144Cunliffe, Stephenson
24 December 1955Rotherham UnitedH4–113,023Stephenson (2), Done (2)
26 December 1955BarnsleyH1–219,130Done
27 December 1955BarnsleyA2–122,067Stephenson (2)
31 December 1955Swansea TownA0–024,661
2 January 1956MiddlesbroughA1–121,664Mullard
14 January 1956Notts CountyH3–117,370Cunliffe, Done (pen), Baily
21 January 1956Leeds UnitedA1–123,680Griffiths
4 February 1956FulhamH2–113,234Baily, Griffiths
11 February 1956BuryA2–210,881Griffiths, Stephenson
18 February 1956Hull CityA1–16,884Baily
25 February 1956Plymouth ArgyleH3–114,336Griffiths (3)
3 March 1956Sheffield WednesdayA0–429,789
10 March 1956Doncaster RoversH2–016,389Baily, Cunliffe
17 March 1956Lincoln CityA0–110,635
24 March 1956Blackburn RoversH4–115,217Stephenson (2), Leake, Smith
30 March 1956Bristol CityH2–024,900Smith (2)
31 March 1956Stoke CityA1–137,928Griffiths
2 April 1956Bristol CityA0–024,348
7 April 1956Nottingham ForestH0–223,018
14 April 1956LiverpoolA1–429,413Baily
21 April 1956Leicester CityH2–314,302Done (pen), Baily
28 April 1956MiddlesbroughH3–211,781Done (2), Baily

FA Cup
Main article: 1955–56 FA Cup
RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorers
R37 January 1956WalsallA1–021,836Stephenson
R428 January 1956EvertonH2–344,278Stephenson, Sproson

Player statistics

Appearances
Pos. Name Football League FA Cup Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
GK Ray King 39020410
GK Ray Hancock 200020
GK John Poole 100010
DF Tommy Cheadle 19000190
DF Reg Potts 42020440
DF Roy Sproson 42121442
DF Stan Turner 26020280
MF Alan Bennett 700070
MF Albert Leake 36420384
MF John Cunliffe 39720417
MF Derek Mountford 15000150
MF Albert Mullard 611071
MF Colin Askey 24020260
FW Basil Hayward 41020430
FW Ken Griffiths 19720217
FW Len Stephenson 3112223314
FW Stan Smith 20500205
FW Cyril Done 1812001812
FW Pat Willdigg 200020
FW Harry Poole 100010
FW Tom Conway 15400154
FW Eddie Baily 17710187

Top scorers
Place Position Nation Name Second Division FA Cup Total
1FW EnglandCyril Done12014
2FW EnglandLen Stephenson12212
3FW EnglandKen Griffiths707
–FW EnglandEddie Baily707
–MF EnglandJohn Cunliffe707
6FW EnglandStan Smith505
7FW EnglandTom Conway404
–MF EnglandAlbert Leake404
9DF EnglandRoy Sproson112
10MF EnglandAlbert Mullard101
TOTALS 60 3 63

Transfers

Transfers in
Date from Position Nationality Name From Fee Ref.
January 1956FWEddie BailyTottenham Hotspur£7,000[3]

Transfers out
Date from Position Nationality Name To Fee Ref.
Summer 1956FWTom ConwayLeek TownFree transfer[3]
Summer 1956GKRay HancockNorthwich VictoriaFree transfer[3]
Summer 1956MFAlbert MullardNorthwich VictoriaReleased[3]
Summer 1956FWPat WilldiggNorthwich VictoriaFree transfer[3]

References
  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 1955–1956 : 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.

Sources
  • Kent, Jeff (1993). The Port Vale Record 1879-1993. Witan Books. ISBN 0-9508981-9-8.
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