1890–91 Burslem Port Vale F.C. season

The 1890–91 season was Burslem Port Vale's first season in the newly formed Midland League.[1] They finished in eighth-place, having only picked up two points away from home. They failed to go on any cup runs and were beaten by a club record 12–0 margin by Aston Villa in the Second Round of the Staffordshire Senior Cup. They did, though, share the North Staffordshire Challenge Cup after holding Stoke to a draw in the final.

Burslem Port Vale
1890–91 season
StadiumAthletic Ground
Midland League8th (16 points)
FA CupSecond Qualifying Round
(knocked out by Walsall Town Swifts)
Staffordshire Senior CupSecond Round
(knocked out by Aston Villa)
North Staffordshire Challenge CupWinners
(shared with Stoke)
Top goalscorerLeague: Frank McGinnes (15)
All: Frank McGinnes (41)
Highest home attendance3,000 vs. Preston North End, 6 October 1890
Average home league attendance1,429
Biggest win8–0 vs. Warwick County, 14 March 1891
Biggest defeat0–12 vs. Aston Villa, 26 January 1890

Overview

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Midland League

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Burslem Port Vale became founder members of the Midland League along with 11 other clubs, including future Football League sides Gainsborough Trinity, Lincoln City, Rotherham Town and Sheffield United.[1] The club's directors first had to deal with some legal issues, successfully defending themselves from a claim for lost wages by former player Jack Shields.[1] To prepare for the new league the club signed three new players: 23-year-old Welsh winger Charlie Davies, 22-year-old inside-forward James Bryden from Hamilton Academicals and 21-year-old Scottish forward David Mackie; however, they lost both George Bateman and Lewis Ballham to Stoke.[1]

They opened the league campaign with three games at the Athletic Ground, beating Staveley and Long Eaton Rangers 2–1 and 7–2 respectively, then coming to a disappointing 2–2 draw with Kidderminster.[1] Two away defeats followed, though they managed a highly respectable 1–1 draw with Sheffield United at Bramall Lane despite goalkeeper John Davies missing the train; however, the team would fail to avoid defeat on the road again until 28 February.[1] At home, they recorded successive 3–0 league wins, but late December proved a disaster as they fell to 5–0 and 11–0 defeats at Lincoln City and Gainsborough Trinity; it was suggested the scoreline of the boxing day defeat to Gainsborough was such due to excessive drinking on Christmas Day.[1] New members were assigned to the club's committee. They resolved to sign better players, telling the current squad to "train or take the consequences".[1] They lost the return fixture at Derby Junction on 17 January, but appealed the result as Junction's home secretary officiated as the official referee failed to appear; the appeal was denied.[1]

Vale recorded home and away victories over Warwick County – winning 8–0 at home. Frank McGinnes scored his second hat-trick of the season – but gained no points as County withdrew from the league. Their games were struck from the record.[1] Home defeats to Gainsborough and Burton Wanderers followed. Still, they ended the league campaign in good form, beating Sheffield United and Staveley whilst taking a point from their visit to Lincoln.[1] They finished the table in eighth place, though they finished just five points off second-place Long Eaton Rangers. McGinnes finished as the club's top-scorer with 15 league goals.[1] The club's directors embarked on a locally based strategy, signing promising local players to five-year contracts.[1]

Cup competitions

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Starting the FA Cup at the first qualification round, they progressed past Warwick County with a 3–1 away win but lost out 3–2 to Football Alliance side Walsall Town Swifts at the next stage.[1] They faced disaster in the Staffordshire Senior Cup, being "completely outclassed" in a 12–0 defeat to Aston Villa at Wellington Road; the result remains the club's biggest ever margin of defeat.[1] They fared much better in the North Staffordshire Challenge Cup, thrashing Burton Wanderers 7–0 in the semi-final to book their place in the final against Stoke; they drew the final 1–1, and the two teams shared the trophy after failing to arrange a replay.[1]

Results

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Burslem Port Vale's score comes first

Legend

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Win Draw Loss

Midland League

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Date Opponent Venue Result Attendance Scorers
6 September 1890 Staveley H 2–1 thousands McGinnes, McCrindle
13 September 1890 Long Eaton Rangers H 7–2 1,500 McGinnes (3), Ditchfield (2), Mackie, C.Davies
20 September 1890 Kidderminster H 2–2 Mackie, McGinnes
27 September 1890 Derby Midland A 1–2 1,500 Ditchfield
11 October 1890 Long Eaton Rangers A 2–5 small McGinnes, other
18 October 1890 Derby Midland H 4–0 poor Ditchfield (2), McGinnes, Bryden
27 October 1890 Sheffield United A 1–1 2,000 C.Davies
1 November 1890 Derby Junction H 3–1 1,500 C.Davies, Bryden, Ditchfield
8 November 1890 Kidderminster A 0–1 large
29 November 1890 Burton Wanderers A 0–4 1,000
6 December 1890 Derby Junction H 3–0 2,000 Ditchfield, Curwen, McGinnes
13 December 1890 Rotherham Town H 3–0 McCrindle, Ditchfield, W.Jones
25 December 1890 Lincoln City A 0–5 1,000
26 December 1890 Gainsborough Trinity A 0–11
27 December 1890 Rotherham Town H 1–2 very good o.g.
10 January 1891 Lincoln City H 3–1 1,500 McGinnes (2), C.Davies
17 January 1891 Derby Junction A 2–3 1,000 scrimmage, other
28 February 1891 Warwick County A 3–1 average Ditchfield (2), Draycott
14 March 1891 Warwick County H 8–0 2,000 McGinnes (3), Keeling (2), o.g., Ditchfield, Dean
28 March 1891 Gainsborough Trinity H 1–3 good McCrindle
11 April 1891 Burton Wanderers H 1–2 1,500 Keeling
13 April 1891 Sheffield United H 3–1 2,000 C.Davies, Elson, other
20 April 1891 Lincoln City H 1–1 W.Jones
25 April 1891 Staveley A 3–0 McGinnes (2), Elson

FA Cup

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Round Date Opponent Venue Result Attendance Goalscorers
1Q 4 October 1890 Warwick County A 3–1 McCrindle, Elson, scrimmage
2Q 25 October 1890 Walsall Town Swifts H 2–3 1,500 McGinnes, Coyle

Staffordshire Senior Cup

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Round Date Opponent Venue Result Attendance Goalscorers
2R 26 January 1890 Aston Villa A 0–12 3,000

North Staffordshire Challenge Cup

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Round Date Opponent Venue Result Attendance Goalscorers
SF 2 May 1890 Burton Wanderers A 7–0 capital McGinnes (3), Ditchfield (2), Draycott, Dean
F 9 May 1890 Stoke A 1–1

Friendlies

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Date Opponent Venue Result Attendance Goalscorers
1 September 1890 Newton Heath A 1–5 3,500 McGinnes
8 September 1890 Newton Heath H 4–4 1,500 McGinnes (3), other
15 September 1890 Blackburn Rovers H 1–3 2,000 McGinnes
22 September 1890 Bolton Wanderers H 1–6 McGinnes
29 September 1890 West Bromwich Albion H 1–2 large McGinnes
6 October 1890 Preston North End H 2–6 3,000 McGinnes (2)
10 November 1890 Everton H 0–3 1,500
15 November 1890 Small Heath A 1–5 3,000
22 November 1890 Middlesbrough Ironopolis A 1–6 2,000 Nash
24 November 1890 London Casuals H 4–0 Matthews, Curwen, rush, Ditchfield
20 December 1890 Stoke H 0–3
3 January 1891 Leek H 7–0 McGinnes (3), J.Davies (2), McAlpine, McCrindle
24 January 1891 Ardwick A 2–3 1,000 McGinnes (2)
31 January 1891 Crewe Alexandra A 3–2 1,500 McGinnes, Dean, W.Jones
7 February 1891 Leek A 2–1 400 scrimmage, Ditchfield
14 February 1891 Chirk H 5–0 Ditchfield (2), o.g., Keeling, W.Jones
16 February 1891 Derby County H 0–2 1,500
7 March 1891 Crewe Alexandra H 5–1 1,500 Ditchfield (4), other
9 March 1891 Newton Heath H 2–1 1,500 Dean, McGinnes
17 March 1891 Bootle A 1–2 Dean
30 March 1891 Stoke A 1–1 3,000 McGinnes
4 April 1891 Northwich Victoria H 5–0 McGinnes (4), McCrindle
6 April 1891 Bootle H 1–2 McGinnes
18 April 1891 Macclesfield A 1–0 3,000 rush
27 April 1891 Stoke A 0–1 1,500

Player statistics

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Appearances and goals

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Pos. Name League FA Cup Staffordshire Cup Challenge Cup Friendlies Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
GK Baker 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0
GK John Davies 13 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 11 0 25 0
GK Levi Higginson 6 0 0 0 1 0 2 0 13 0 22 0
GK Nixon 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0
DF G Martin 5 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 4 0 11 0
DF Matthews 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 1
DF   Fred Jones 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 0 7 0
DF   Albert Skinner 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
DF   Joe Barr 22 0 2 0 1 0 2 0 21 0 48 0
DF   James Clutton 2 0 0 0 1 0 2 0 6 0 11 0
DF B Coyle 12 0 2 1 0 0 0 0 12 0 26 1
DF C McAlpine 7 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 14 1 23 1
DF   Bob McCrindle 22 3 2 1 1 0 2 0 21 2 48 8
MF   Billy Elson 20 2 2 1 1 0 2 0 21 0 46 3
MF   Billy Poulson 15 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 8 0 24 0
MF W. Jones 14 2 1 0 1 0 0 0 11 2 27 4
MF James Bryden 9 2 2 0 0 0 0 0 6 0 17 2
MF   Charlie Davies 20 5 1 0 0 0 2 0 18 0 41 5
MF   Meshach Dean 8 1 0 0 1 0 2 1 14 3 25 5
MF   Billy Draycott 2 1 1 0 1 0 2 1 3 0 9 2
MF Sharp 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0
MF Harry Slater 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 3 0
FW   Dick Danks 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
FW   Jimmy Ditchfield 18 11 2 0 1 0 2 2 21 9 44 21
FW   Frank McGinnes 19 15 2 1 1 0 2 3 23 22 47 41
FW   Billy Reynolds 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0
FW Fred Stokes 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0
FW   John Nash 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 1 5 1
FW H Curwen 6 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 5 1 13 2
FW J Davies 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 2 1 2
FW J Keeling 4 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 8 1 12 4
FW   David Mackie 7 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 0 11 2
FW   Wally Owen 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0

Top scorers

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Place Position Nation Name Midland League FA Cup Other Total
1 FW   Scotland Frank McGinnes 15 0 26 41
2 FW   England Jimmy Ditchfield 11 0 10 21
3 DF   Scotland Bob McCrindle 3 2 3 8
4 MF   Wales Charlie Davies 5 0 0 5
MF   England Meshach Dean 1 0 4 5
6 FW J Keeling 3 0 1 4
MF W. Jones 2 0 2 4
8 MF   England Billy Elson 2 1 0 3
9 FW   Scotland David Mackie 2 0 0 2
MF James Bryden 2 0 0 2
FW H Curwen 1 0 1 2
MF   England Billy Draycott 1 0 1 2
FW J Davies 0 0 2 2
14 FW   England John Nash 0 0 1 1
DF   England B Coyle 0 1 0 1
DF   England C McAlpine 0 0 1 1
DF   England Matthews 0 0 1 1
Unknown 3 0 2 5
Own goals 2 0 1 3
Scrimmage 1 1 1 3
TOTALS 54 5 57 116

Transfers

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Transfers in

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Date from Position Nationality Name From Fee Ref.
1890 FW H Curwen Free transfer [2]
1890 MF   Meshach Dean Free transfer [2]
1890 GK   Levi Higginson Free transfer [2]
1890 FW J Keeling Free transfer [2]
Summer 1890 MF James Bryden Hamilton Academical Free transfer [2]
Summer 1890 MF   Billy Draycott Free transfer [2]
Summer 1890 DF   Fred Jones West Manchester Free transfer [2]
Summer 1890 MF W. Jones Free transfer [2]
Summer 1890 MF   David Mackie Free transfer [2]
Autumn 1890 FW   John Nash Free transfer [2]
December 1890 DF C McAlpine Free transfer [2]
1891 GK Nixon Free transfer [2]

Transfers out

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Date from Position Nationality Name To Fee Ref.
September 1890 DF   Fred Jones Newton Heath Free transfer [2]
November 1890 MF James Bryden Released [2]
March 1891 DF B Coyle Released [2]
June 1891 MF   Billy Draycott Stoke Free transfer [2]
Summer 1891 MF   Billy Poulson Released [2]
1891 DF   Joe Barr Accrington Free transfer [2]
1891 FW H Curwen Released [2]
1891 MF   David Mackie Released [2]
1891 FW Fred Stokes Released [2]
1891 DF G Martin Released [2]
1891 DF Matthews Released [2]

References

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Specific
  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p Kent, Jeff (1990). "Trying to make the Grade (1888-1898)". The Valiants' Years: The Story Of Port Vale. Witan Books. pp. 26–50. ISBN 0-9508981-4-7.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w Kent, Jeff (1996). Port Vale Personalities. Witan Books. ISBN 0-9529152-0-0.
General