1957–58 Port Vale F.C. season

The 1957–58 season was Port Vale's 46th season of football in the English Football League, and their first full season (eighth overall) back in the Third Division South following their relegation from the Second Division.[1] An unusual season, the regional split was to be abolished at the season's end, meaning the bottom two clubs of the Second Division and the clubs placed 2nd to 12th in the Third Division North and the Third Division South would be the founder members of the Third Division. It also meant that the bottom twelve clubs of the Third Division North and the Third Division South would be the founder members of the Fourth Division. In effect, the team's performance in this season could see them placed in either the second, third or fourth tier the following season. Finishing in fifteenth, what would have otherwise been a mid-table finish of little consequence saw them relegated to the Fourth Division.

Port Vale
1957–58 season
ChairmanFred Burgess
ManagerNorman Low
StadiumVale Park
Football League Third Division South15th (42 Points)
FA CupSecond Round
(knocked out by Hull City)
Top goalscorerLeague: Stan Steele (21)
All: Stan Steele (22)
Highest home attendance17,286 vs. Coventry City, 26 December 1957
Lowest home attendance5,149 vs. Brentford, 24 March 1958
Average home league attendance10,457
Biggest win5–0 and 6–1
Biggest defeat0–3 and 1–4

Overview

Third Division South

The pre-season saw manager Norman Low sign a number of young new players to replace those released at the end of the previous season, saying his team would 'fight like hell to get back into the Second Division'.[1] Four of these signings were: impressive forward Jack Wilkinson (Sheffield United); Welsh international goalkeeper Keith Jones (signed from Aston Villa for £3,500); defender Bert Carberry (Gillingham); and Alan Martin – who returned to the club as a part-time professional.[1]

The season opened with a 1–0 win over Aldershot at the Recreation Ground.[1] This started a sequence of just four defeats in seventeen games, which included doing the double over Southampton (a 3–0 win at The Dell followed by a 4–0 win at Vale Park).[1] This was achieved with Low's attacking policy,[1] a stark contract to 'the Steele Curtain' defence. However their five clean sheets in their first eight games also illustrated their defensive strength.[1] In September, right-half Selwyn Whalley turned part-time, dividing his duties between playing football and teaching at Hanley High School.[1] Winger Alan Bennett was also transferred to Crewe Alexandra.[1] By November, Vale were third in the league, and Low signed Bert Carberry and Jack Wilkinson.[1] Following this top-scorer Stan Steele went off the boil, as the Vale lost their form in the Christmas period, losing 1–0 twice to Coventry City in two days.[1] Though before this a 6–1 victory was recorded over Aldershot.

In January, Ken Griffiths was sold to Mansfield Town for a four-figure fee, having mostly languished in the reserves.[1] By February, Vale were in seventh position, only four points off top spot (with three games in hand) despite their loss of form.[1] Four straight defeats dragged them down towards the bottom half of the table.[1] They bought former Wales international Noel Kinsey from Birmingham City for £5,000 in an attempt to bolster their form.[1] He helped the club achieve a 5–0 win over Watford on 8 March, scoring two goals.[1] Though as injuries developed the club's form again declined, and the team lost eight of their final twelve games.[1] Two points from their final six games doomed them to the fourth tier.[1]

They finished in fifteenth position with 42 points from 46 games.[1] Five points away from the top half of the table, their 'remarkable decline' continued with a second relegation in two years.[1] Their 58 goals conceded was a respectable total, as was their 67 goals scored.[1] Stan Steele, Jack Wilkinson, and Harry Poole all proved themselves consistent goalscorers, scoring 22, 19, and 16 goals respectively.

Finances

On the financial side, a decline in average attendance by around 3,500 left the club with an average gate of 10,457.[1] Gate receipts were down to £33,800, however a small staff helped to make a profit of £145 despite player wages rising to £24,158.[1] Five players were released in the summer, most notably Bert Carberry (Exeter City) and Bill Cleary (King's Lynn).[1] Low also sold Colin Askey to Walsall for 'a fairly substantial fee' and Basil Hayward to Portsmouth for 'a fair fee'.[1]

Cup competitions

In the FA Cup, Vale narrowly defeated Shrewsbury Town with two goals from Wilkinson. Third Division North Hull City knocked the Vale out in the Second Round however, winning the replay 4–3 at Boothferry Park.[1]

League table
Main article: 1957–58 Football League
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GR Pts Promotion or relegation
13 Northampton Town 46 19 6 21 87 79 1.101 44 Moved to 4th Division
14 Crystal Palace 46 15 13 18 70 72 0.972 43
15 Port Vale 46 16 10 20 67 58 1.155 42
16 Watford 46 13 16 17 59 77 0.766 42
17 Shrewsbury Town 46 15 10 21 49 71 0.690 40
Source:

Results

Port Vale's score comes first

Football League Third Division South

Results by matchday
Round12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031323334353637383940414243444546
GroundAAHHAAHHAHHAAHAHAAAHHHAHAAHAHAHHAHAHHAAHHAHHAA
ResultWLWDLWWWLWDDLWWWDLLDWWLLDDDWWLLLLWLWLLLWDLLDLL
Position1125510632422376435566545977977810111111121313131313131315141515
Source: Statto[2]
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

Matches
DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers
24 August 1957AldershotA1–06,802Steele
26 August 1957Shrewsbury TownA0–19,869
31 August 1957Swindon TownH3–116,503Steele (2), Wilkinson
2 September 1957Shrewsbury TownH0–015,538
7 September 1957MillwallA1–217,429Poole
11 September 1957SouthamptonA3–018,887Steele, Poole, Askey
14 September 1957GillinghamH2–014,717Poole (2)
16 September 1957SouthamptonH4–011,021Steele (3), Wilkinson
21 September 1957Exeter CityA0–19,397
28 September 1957Queens Park RangersH2–112,816Steele, Hayward
30 September 1957Newport CountyH2–28,669Poole (2)
5 October 1957Southend UnitedA1–111,943Steele
12 October 1957ReadingA0–311,501
19 October 1957Northampton TownH3–012,443Steele (2), Wilkinson
26 October 1957WatfordA2–09,513Wilkinson, Askey
2 November 1957Crystal PalaceH4–013,602Wilkinson (2), Poole, Askey
9 November 1957Torquay UnitedA1–17,620Poole
11 November 1957Newport CountyA1–28,480Poole
23 November 1957Colchester UnitedA1–29,106Askey
30 November 1957Norwich CityH2–213,816Steele, Poole
14 December 1957WalsallH2–18,827Wilkinson, Poole
21 December 1957AldershotH6–18,273Wilkinson (2), Poole (2), Cunliffe (2)
25 December 1957Coventry CityA0–113,713
26 December 1957Coventry CityH0–117,286
28 December 1957Swindon TownA0–015,000
4 January 1958Brighton & Hove AlbionA0–013,312
11 January 1958MillwallH1–19,002Steele
18 January 1958GillinghamA2–07,407Wilkinson, Steele
1 February 1958Exeter CityH3–29,300Wilkinson (2), Cunliffe
8 February 1958Queens Park RangersA1–27,594Askey
15 February 1958Southend UnitedH1–37,642Wilkinson
22 February 1958ReadingH1–25,940Steele
1 March 1958Northampton TownA2–38,711Steele (2)
8 March 1958WatfordH5–08,515Kinsey (2), Wilkinson, Steele, Whalley
15 March 1958Crystal PalaceA0–113,577
22 March 1958Colchester UnitedH2–07,151Steele, Wilkinson
24 March 1958BrentfordH0–15,149
29 March 1958WalsallA0–38,613
4 April 1958Plymouth ArgyleA0–122,458
5 April 1958Torquay UnitedH2–17,504Sproson, Wilkinson
7 April 1958Plymouth ArgyleH0–011,059
12 April 1958Norwich CityA0–317,843
19 April 1958Bournemouth & Boscombe AthleticH2–38,481Steele, Cunliffe
23 April 1958Brighton & Hove AlbionH2–27,256Poole, Askey
26 April 1958BrentfordA1–411,923Steele
30 April 1958Bournemouth & Boscombe AthleticA1–310,683Wilkinson

FA Cup
Main article: 1957–58 FA Cup
RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorers
R116 November 1957Shrewsbury TownH2–117,660Wilkinson (2)
R27 December 1957Hull CityH2–214,338Poole, Askey
R2 Replay9 December 1957Hull CityA3–417,403Poole, Steele, Sproson

Player statistics

Appearances
Pos. Name Football League FA Cup Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
GK John Poole 300030
GK Keith Jones 43030460
DF Roy Sproson 37131402
DF David Raine 31030340
DF Selwyn Whalley 13100131
DF Fred Donaldson 27000270
DF Bert Carberry 29030320
DF Jimmy Adams 100010
MF Albert Leake 32020340
MF John Cunliffe 42430454
MF Colin Askey 35621377
MF Terry Miles 600060
MF Basil Hayward 42130451
MF Alan Martin 300030
MF Brian Hopkins 200020
MF Fred Hough 400040
MF Bill Cleary 8020100
FW Ken Griffiths 300030
FW Harry Poole 4114324416
FW Stan Steele 4621314922
FW Jack Wilkinson 4117324419
FW Jimmy McLean 300030
FW Noel Kinsey 14200142

Top scorers
Place Position Nation Name Third Division South FA Cup Total
1FW EnglandStan Steele21122
2FW EnglandJack Wilkinson17219
3FW EnglandHarry Poole14216
4MF EnglandColin Askey617
5MF EnglandJohn Cunliffe404
6FW EnglandRoy Sproson112
–FW WalesNoel Kinsey202
8DF EnglandSelwyn Whalley101
–MF EnglandBasil Hayward101
–––Own goals000
TOTALS 67 7 74

Transfers

Transfers in
Date from Position Nationality Name From Fee Ref.
June 1957FWJack WilkinsonSheffield UnitedFree transfer[3]
July 1957MFBert CarberryGillinghamFree transfer[3]
July 1957GKKeith JonesAston Villa£3,500[3]
July 1957MFAlan MartinBangor CityNon-contract[3]
November 1957MFBill ClearyWisbech TownFree transfer[3]
February 1958FWNoel KinseyBirmingham City£5,000[3]
March 1958FWJimmy McLeanAlva RangersFree transfer[3]

Transfers out
Date from Position Nationality Name To Fee Ref.
September 1957MFAlan BennettCrewe AlexandraFree transfer[3]
January 1958FWKen GriffithsMansfield Town'four-figure fee'[3]
January 1958GKLeslie WoodSouthportFree transfer[3]
March 1958MFBrian HopkinsBurton AlbionFree transfer[3]
May 1958DFBasil HaywardPortsmouth'fair'[3]
May 1958MFFred HoughReleased[3]
July 1958MFColin AskeyWalsall'fairly substantial'[3]
July 1958MFBill ClearyBoston UnitedFree transfer[3]
August 1957MFBert CarberryExeter CityFree transfer[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 1957–1958 : 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.
General
  • Kent, Jeff (1993). The Port Vale Record 1879-1993. Witan Books. ISBN 0-9508981-9-8.
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