Wikipedia

1896–97 Burslem Port Vale F.C. season

The 1896–97 season was Burslem Port Vale's first season of football (third overall) back in the Midland League following a four-season stay in the Football League.[1] The first half of the season saw low crowds and poor results, the consequence of which led to discussions about dissolving the club. However, the club returned from the brink, as a new committee was formed, with Edward Oliver installed as chairman and Sam Gleaves appointed club secretary. Good results and large crowds followed in the campaign's second half, and the club finished in seventh place and narrowly missed out on re-election to the Football League. Vale were beaten by Football League opposition in the fifth qualification round in the FA Cup, whilst exiting the Birmingham Senior Cup, Staffordshire Senior Cup and Wellingborough Cup in the early stages. However, they did beat Football League side Walsall in the latter competition. They won the Staffordshire Senior Charity Cup after beating Dresden United 3–0.

Burslem Port Vale
1896–97 season
ChairmanEdward Oliver
(from 14 December)
ManagerSam Gleaves
(from 14 December)
StadiumAthletic Ground
Midland League7th (31 points)
FA CupFifth Qualification Round
(knocked out by Burton Swifts)
Birmingham Senior CupFirst Round
(knocked out by Brierley Hill Alliance)
Staffordshire Senior CupPreliminary Round
(knocked out by Dresden United)
Wellingborough CupSemi-finalists
(knocked out by Wellingborough Town)
Staffordshire Senior Charity CupWinners
Top goalscorerLeague: Dick Evans (12)
All: Dick Evans, Danny Simpson (14 each)
Average home league attendance967
Biggest win8–0 vs. Grantham Rovers, 20 February 1897
Biggest defeat1–7 vs. Heanor Town, 5 December 1896

Overview

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Midland League

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Having failed a vote to stay in the Football League, Burslem Port Vale successfully re-applied for membership of the Midland League.[1] They started positively with a 4–1 home win over Wellingborough Town, though only 200 spectators turned up to the Athletic Ground.[1] Bad news followed as centre-half Ralph Barlow suffered a breakdown and was sent to a convalescent home.[1] The team then lost home and away to Glossop North End, with Danny Simpson being sent off in the home fixture for making an "objectionable remark" to the referee.[1] A 1–0 defeat at Worksop was followed by a 5–2 win over a strong Doncaster Rovers side. Wellingborough Town then took their revenge with a 3–2 win in Wellingborough.[1] Feeling the need to raise funds, Vale sold goalkeeper Tom Baddeley to Wolverhampton Wanderers for £50.[1] The financial boost was needed as a 3–1 home win over Barnsley St Peter's on 7 November saw just 100 spectators, raising gross takings of £5 for a match-day loss of around £8.[1] In Baddeley's absence Vale conceded six in a home defeat to Rushden and "the disgust of the spectators was general".[1] A public meeting was held on 14 December to debate the club's future, if any; the outlook seemed extremely bleak as a poorly attended meeting heard that the club had a debt of £110 and the current committee were unwilling to continue funding the club.[1]

Heanor Town lent Vale the necessary £5 expenses for the trip to Heanor, and the home side subsequently romped to a 7–1 victory.[1] Just as the club seemed to be heading for oblivion, a new committee of "all the football worthies in the town" was formed to take the club forward in a meeting at Burslem town hall that was "packed to suffocation"; Edward Oliver was voted as the new chairman, with Sam Gleaves as the new secretary.[1] In January, a public company was floated with £2,000 capital in £1 shares.[1] On 2 January, Vale recorded their first away win of the campaign, beaten second-bottom Grantham Rovers 1–0.[1] The turnaround in form was confirmed with a 2–1 win over champions Kettering.[1] Now in a position to strengthen the team, Vale signed left-sided attacker James Peake from Crewe Alexandra.[1] A 7–2 defeat at Barnsley St Peter's proved to be the one blip in a run of nine unbeaten in the league, with the team grumbling about foul play from the hosts and "incompetence" from the referee.[1] On 20 February, Vale managed to humiliate Grantham Rovers 8–0.[1]

Supporters returned to the Athletic Ground, and a crowd of 1,500 witnessed a 3–1 victory over Long Eaton Rangers on 6 March.[1] Two away victories saw the club rise to fourth in the league, including a 1–0 win at Rushden in which Fred Belfield was "advised to leave the field" by the referee as the home crowd were threatening to rush the pitch in response to Belfield's repeated kicking of defender Minney.[1] More crowd trouble also occurred in the 1–0 win at Doncaster Rovers, as Dick Evans was grabbed by the throat and Teddy Morse was "hurled under the waggonette".[1] Morse was sent off in the following game, a 1–0 home defeat by Ilkeston Town, after Willett claimed he had bitten his nose.[1] Vale went on to win their final two home fixtures, ending the campaign in seventh-place with 31 points from 28 matches, just one point away from third-place.[1] Dick Evans finished as the club's top-scorer, claiming 12 league goals – though some of these might have been scored by namesake Ted Evans.[1] The team's form in 1897 saw the club given a vote on whether they should be readmitted into the Football League at the league's annual meeting; however, their 11 votes were two fewer than successful applicants Luton Town.[1]

Cup competitions

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Vale claimed a walkover victory over Hereford in the third qualification round of the FA Cup after they could not guarantee the visitor's expenses.[1] They then beat Birmingham League side Stourbridge in the next round, but failed to overcome Football League Second Division side Burton Swifts in the fifth qualification round in what was described as "the best game seen at Cobridge for two years".[1] They exited the Birmingham Senior Cup at the first round, losing 2–1 to Brierley Hill Alliance.[1] They failed to make it past the preliminary round of the Staffordshire Senior Cup, falling to a 4–2 defeat at Dresden United in a replayed fixture after the initial match was tied 1–1.[1] In the Wellingborough Cup, Vale beat Football League Second Division side Walsall 3–2 at Fellows Park, but then lost 3–1 at Wellingborough Town in the semi-finals.[1] On 28 April, Vale claimed the Staffordshire Senior Charity Cup after beating Dresden United 3–0.[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
5 September 1896 Wellingborough Town H 4–1 200 Mason, D.Evans, Randles, Fallows
19 September 1896 Glossop North End A 1–3 immense D.Evans
26 September 1896 Glossop North End H 0–1 500
17 October 1896 Worksop A 0–1 1,000
24 October 1896 Doncaster Rovers H 5–2 500 Simpson (2), T.Evans (2), D.Evans
31 October 1896 Wellingborough Town A 2–3 D.Evans, McLean
7 November 1896 Barnsley St Peter's H 3–1 100 T.Evans (2), Belfield
14 November 1896 Rushden H 0–6 few
28 November 1896 Worksop H 4–1 100 Proctor (2), T.Evans, o.g.
5 December 1896 Heanor Town A 1–7 fair Simpson
19 December 1896 Chesterfield A 2–3 1,000 scrimmage, Simpson
25 December 1896 Dresden United A 2–2 2,000 Hewitt, Fallows
26 December 1896 Ilkeston Town A 3–3 2,000 Simpson (2), T.Evans
2 January 1897 Grantham Rovers A 1–0 more than the rule Belfield
9 January 1897 Kettering H 2–1 Belfield, Hewitt
16 January 1897 Mexborough H 2–0 Proctor, Fallows
23 January 1897 Barnsley St Peter's A 2–7 small D.Evans, Belfield
6 February 1897 Long Eaton Rangers A 3–2 D.Evans, Simpson, Belfield
13 February 1897 Kettering A 2–2 D.Evans (2)
20 February 1897 Grantham Rovers H 8–0 record Belfield (2), T.Evans (2), Peake, Simpson, D.Evans, Beech
27 February 1897 Mexborough A 2–3 1,500 D.Evans, other
6 March 1897 Long Eaton Rangers H 3–1 1,500 scrimmage, Simpson, D.Evans
13 March 1897 Chesterfield H 2–3 2,000 Peake, T.Evans
20 March 1897 Rushden A 1–0 1,200 Simpson
27 March 1897 Doncaster Rovers A 1–0 1,500 Hewitt
3 April 1897 Ilkeston Town H 0–1 800
10 April 1897 Heanor Town H 3–0 1,000 T.Evans, Simpson, Peake
16 April 1897 Dresden United H 3–2 2,000 Morse, scrimmage, D.Evans

FA Cup

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Main article: 1896–97 FA Cup
Round Date Opponent Venue Result Attendance Goalscorers
3Q 21 November 1896 Hereford A walkover
4Q 12 December 1896 Stourbridge A 3–1 100 Simpson (2), T.Evans
5Q 7 January 1897 Burton Swifts H 2–3 2,000 D.Evans, other

Birmingham Senior Cup

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Round Date Opponent Venue Result Attendance Goalscorers
1R 14 December 1896 Brierley Hill Alliance H 1–2 large Fallows

Staffordshire Senior Cup

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Round Date Opponent Venue Result Attendance Goalscorers
P 10 October 1896 Dresden United H 1–1 1,500 Proctor
Replay 26 October 1896 Dresden United A 2–4

Wellingborough Cup

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Round Date Opponent Venue Result Attendance Goalscorers
1R 30 January 1897 Walsall A 3–2 200 D.Evans, T.Evans, Belfield
SF 20 April 1897 Wellingborough Town A 1–3 Simpson

Staffordshire Senior Charity Cup

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Round Date Opponent Venue Result Attendance Goalscorers
F 28 April 1897 Dresden United N 3–0

Player statistics

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Appearances and goals

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Pos. Name League FA Cup Other Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
GK   Tom Baddeley 2 0 0 0 1 0 3 0
GK Bert Hammond 14 0 2 0 2 0 18 0
GK George Lawton 9 0 0 0 1 0 10 0
DF   Teddy Morse 25 1 2 0 5 0 32 0
DF Jim Beech 24 1 2 0 5 0 31 1
DF Buck 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
DF George Hulme 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
DF   Teddy Morse 25 1 2 0 5 0 32 1
DF Henry Platt 13 0 2 0 4 0 19 0
DF   Thomas Spilsbury 9 0 0 0 0 0 9 0
DF   George Youds 3 0 0 0 1 0 4 0
MF   James Holdcroft 16 0 1 0 4 0 21 0
MF   Jos Randles 4 1 0 0 1 0 5 1
MF Ralph Barlow 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
MF John Fallows 21 3 2 0 3 1 26 4
MF   Fred Belfield 22 7 1 0 4 1 27 8
MF Bentley 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
MF Fred Bickerton 5 0 1 0 1 0 7 0
MF   Tommy Lander 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
MF   James Peake 12 3 0 0 2 0 14 3
MF Smith 2 0 0 0 1 0 3 0
FW Jim Mason 7 1 1 0 1 0 9 1
FW   Dick Evans 27 12 2 1 5 1 34 14
FW Danny Simpson 25 11 2 2 5 1 32 14
FW   Ted Evans 21 10 1 1 4 1 26 12
FW George Hewitt 4 3 1 0 1 0 6 3
FW J McLean 1 1 0 0 1 0 2 1
FW Edward Proctor 13 3 2 0 2 1 17 4
FW Salmon 3 0 0 0 1 0 4 0

Top scorers

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Place Position Nation Name Midland League FA Cup Other Total
1 FW   England Dick Evans 12 1 1 14
– FW Danny Simpson 11 2 1 14
3 FW   England Ted Evans 10 1 1 12
4 MF   England Fred Belfield 7 0 1 8
5 FW Edward Proctor 3 0 1 4
– MF John Fallows 3 0 1 4
7 FW George Hewitt 3 0 0 3
– MF   England James Peake 3 0 0 3
9 FW J McLean 1 0 0 1
– FW Jim Mason 1 0 0 1
– MF   England Jos Randles 1 0 0 1
– DF   England Teddy Morse 1 0 0 1
– DF Jim Beech 1 0 0 1
– – – Own goals 1 0 0 1
– – – Scrimmage 3 0 0 3
– – – Unknown 1 0 0 1
TOTALS 62 4 6 72

Transfers

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Transfers in

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Date from Position Nationality Name From Fee Ref.
1896 DF   George Hulme Free transfer [2]
Summer 1896 GK Bert Hammond Newcastle White Star Free transfer [2]
Summer 1896 FW J McLean Sneyd Free transfer [2]
Summer 1896 DF Henry Platt Free transfer [2]
Summer 1896 FW Salmon Free transfer [2]
Autumn 1896 FW Ted Evans Bury Free transfer [2]
Autumn 1896 FW George Hewitt Free transfer [2]
October 1896 FW Edward Proctor Stoke Free transfer [2]
January 1897 MF James Peake Crewe Alexandra Free transfer [2]
February 1897 DF   Thomas Spilsbury Free transfer [2]
March 1897 DF   Tommy Lander Talke Alexandra Free transfer [2]
April 1897 MF Smith Free transfer [2]

Transfers out

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Date from Position Nationality Name To Fee Ref.
October 1896 GK   Tom Baddeley Wolverhampton Wanderers £50 [2]
Summer 1897 DF   Ralph Barlow Released [2]
Summer 1897 MF Fred Bickerton Released [2]
Summer 1897 MF   John Fallows Released [2]
Summer 1897 FW Edward Proctor Released [2]
1897 DF   James Holdcroft Released [2]
1897 FW J McLean Released [2]
1897 FW Salmon Released [2]
1897 DF   George Youds 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 q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae 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 Kent, Jeff (1996). Port Vale Personalities. Witan Books. ISBN 0-9529152-0-0.
General
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