1936–37 Port Vale F.C. season

Port Vale
1936–37 season
Chairman	Frank Huntbach
Manager	Warney Cresswell
Stadium	The Old Recreation Ground
Football League Third Division North	11th (44 Points)
FA Cup	Third Round; (knocked out by Sheffield Wednesday)
Football League Third Division North Cup	Semi-finals; (knocked out by Chester)
Top goalscorer	League: Tommy Ward (14); All: Tommy Ward (18)
Highest home attendance	12,950 vs. Chester, 5 December 1936
Lowest home attendance	2,148 vs. Rochdale, 17 April 1937
Average home league attendance	7,298
Biggest win	4–0 (twice) and 5–1
Biggest defeat	1–7 vs. Mansfield Town, 27 March 1937
	Home colours
	Home colours
	← 1935–36 1937–38 →

The 1936–37 season was Port Vale's 31st season of football in the English Football League and their first season (second overall) back in the Third Division North following their relegation from the Second Division.^[1] For the first time in the club's history, rivals Stoke City were playing two leagues above them. The "Valiants" played in white shirts and black socks – a look they kept for the rest of the century and beyond. Manager Warney Cresswell would be the first of Vale's managers to be recognizable as a manager to modern observers, training the players to ensure fitness, allowing them to relax together as a group, and searching the country for fresh talent. His modern techniques did not ensure promotion, despite a mid-season unbeaten run of thirteen games in an otherwise unremarkable season.

Overview

Third Division North

During the pre-season build-up, former England international full-back Warney Cresswell was appointed as manager-coach, filling a position which had remained vacant since September 1936.^[1] Described as 'a very knowledgeable man about football', he increased the playing staff to twenty, signing winger Gerry Kelly (Chester); right-half Tommy Ward (Grimsby Town); and left-half Spencer Evans (Altrincham).^[1] Cresswell also began running the players and pushing them in the gym, to get them fit for the season.^[1] In between heavy training sessions, he encouraged the players to relax with snooker and billiards competitions.^[1] The club also decided to introduce a new strip of white shirts and black shorts, a look they retain to this day.^[1]

The season opened with two defeats, as Vale found it tough to acclimatize to third-tier football, their 3–1 home defeat to Hull City came despite them doing the double over the "Tigers" the previous season.^[1] Following this, George Stabb transferred to Bradford Park Avenue, in a deal which saw Tom Nolan return to The Old Recreation Ground.^[1] Continuing their poor form, by the end of September they were seventh from bottom.^[1] This prompted Cresswell to sign inside-forward Alfred Dickinson from Everton.^[1] On 26 September, Nolan scored a hat-trick past Stockport County, but the Vale would have to wait a little longer before getting into their stride.^[1] Seven changes were made for the 24 October win over Hartlepools United, and the wait would be worth it, as Vale then went on a thirteen-game unbeaten run.^[1] Nevertheless, Cresswell continued to travel the country in the hunt for talented young amateurs.^[1] By the end of October the 40,000 Shilling Fund completed its mission.^[1] With Ward scoring two hat-tricks during the spell, Michael Curley and George Heywood were judged as surplus to requirements, and moved on to Colwyn Bay and Southport respectively.^[1] Fred Obrey also proved to be a revelation in the centre of the pitch.^[1]

By the time Vale lost their unbeaten run – 1–0 at struggling Darlington's Feethams – they were up to fourth in the table.^[1] Vale were then in indifferent form for the remainder of the season, as their promotion hopes petered away.^[1] On 27 March a heavy 7–1 defeat was recorded to Mansfield Town at Field Mill.^[1] Cresswell's contract was cancelled by mutual consent, and he quickly took up the management reins at Third Division South side Northampton Town.^[1]

They finished in eleventh position with 44 points.^[1] They were sixteen points short of promotion and twelve points clear of the re-election zones. With 58 goals scored, they had the third weakest attack in the division and had almost half the tally of runners-up Lincoln City.^[1]

Finances

On the financial side, a profit of £401 was made, though £1,923 of income came through the Shilling Fund.^[1] Gate receipts had tailed off by another £1,065, whilst the wage bill was trimmed to £5,656 and a transfer credit of £465 was made.^[1] Fourteen players departed at the season's end, including: Ken Gunn (sold to Creswell's Northampton Town); Eric Hayward (sold to Blackpool); goalkeeper Allan Todd (refused terms and was transferred to Nottingham Forest); fourteen-year club veteran Roger Jones (retirement); and Gerry Kelly (signed with Southampton).^[1] The club also petitioned the Football League for a switch to the Third Division South, where gates were believed to be higher, however, the League replied that circumstance and not applications determined where clubs were placed – despite this Mansfield Town were the ones transferred, Mansfield being a town some 40 miles (64 km) north of Stoke-on-Trent.^[1]

Cup competitions

In the FA Cup, they fell in the Third Round to First Division Sheffield Wednesday with a 2–0 defeat at Hillsborough, having been forced to play six reserves due to injury.^[1] In the short-lived Football League Third Division North Cup, the club progressed to the semi-finals with victories over Mansfield Town (2–0), Stockport County (4–0), and Rotherham United (1–0); where they lost 3–0 to Chester.^[1] Attendances of around 100 exemplified the lack of interest in the competition.^[1]

League table

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GAv	Pts	Promotion or relegation
1	Stockport County (C, P)	42	23	14	5	84	39	2.154	60	Promotion to the Second Division
2	Lincoln City	42	25	7	10	103	57	1.807	57
3	Chester	42	22	9	11	87	57	1.526	53
4	Oldham Athletic	42	20	11	11	77	59	1.305	51
5	Hull City	42	17	12	13	68	69	0.986	46
6	Hartlepools United	42	19	7	16	75	69	1.087	45
7	Halifax Town	42	18	9	15	68	63	1.079	45
8	Wrexham	42	16	12	14	71	57	1.246	44
9	Mansfield Town	42	18	8	16	91	76	1.197	44	Transferred to the Third Division South
10	Carlisle United	42	18	8	16	65	68	0.956	44
11	Port Vale	42	17	10	15	58	64	0.906	44
12	York City	42	16	11	15	79	70	1.129	43
13	Accrington Stanley	42	16	9	17	76	69	1.101	41
14	Southport	42	12	13	17	73	87	0.839	37
15	New Brighton	42	13	11	18	55	70	0.786	37
16	Barrow	42	13	10	19	70	86	0.814	36
17	Rotherham United	42	14	7	21	78	91	0.857	35
18	Rochdale	42	13	9	20	69	86	0.802	35
19	Tranmere Rovers	42	12	9	21	71	88	0.807	33
20	Crewe Alexandra	42	10	12	20	55	83	0.663	32
21	Gateshead	42	11	10	21	63	98	0.643	32	Re-elected
22	Darlington	42	8	14	20	66	96	0.688	30	Re-elected

Source: rsssf.com
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal average; 3) Goals scored
(C) Champions; (P) Promoted

Results

Port Vale's score comes first

Football League Third Division North

Results by matchday

Round	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	21	22	23	24	25	26	27	28	29	30	31	32	33	34	35	36	37	38	39	40	41	42
Ground	H	A	A	H	H	A	A	H	A	H	A	H	A	H	A	H	A	H	A	H	A	A	H	H	A	A	H	A	H	A	H	A	H	A	H	H	A	A	H	H	A	H
Result	L	L	W	W	D	L	L	W	L	D	L	W	D	W	W	W	D	W	W	W	W	D	D	W	L	W	L	L	W	W	W	L	L	L	W	D	L	L	D	D	L	W
Position	18	21	17	9	12	13	16	11	15	14	18	14	13	13	13	9	8	6	6	5	5	5	5	4	5	5	6	6	5	4	4	4	6	5	4	4	6	6	6	7	11	11

Source: Statto^[2]
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

Matches

Date	Opponent	Venue	Result	Attendance	Scorers
29 August 1936	Hull City	H	1–3	9,207	Miller
2 September 1936	New Brighton	A	0–2	4,522
5 September 1936	Gateshead	A	1–0	4,538	Rhodes
7 September 1936	New Brighton	H	3–1	6,096	Roberts (2), Rhodes
12 September 1936	Darlington	H	2–2	7,628	Caldwell, Nolan
14 September 1936	Oldham Athletic	A	1–5	3,622	Roberts
19 September 1936	Wrexham	A	0–1	7,746
26 September 1936	Stockport County	H	3–0	9,407	Nolan (3)
3 October 1936	Rotherham United	A	0–2	7,032
10 October 1936	York City	H	1–1	7,627	Caldwell
17 October 1936	Carlisle United	A	2–5	4,691	Nolan, Rhodes
24 October 1936	Hartlepools United	H	1–0	6,659	Roberts
31 October 1936	Southport	A	3–3	7,483	Roberts (2), Nolan
7 November 1936	Tranmere Rovers	H	2–1	6,551	Roberts, Nolan
14 November 1936	Halifax Town	A	1–0	7,443	Goodfellow
21 November 1936	Mansfield Town	H	5–1	8,983	Jones (3), Ward, Dean
28 November 1936	Chester	A	0–0	7,616
5 December 1936	Chester	H	4–0	12,950	Ward (3), Rhodes (pen)
12 December 1936	Rochdale	A	0–0	2,218
19 December 1936	Barrow	H	3–2	8,431	Nolan (2), Kelly
25 December 1936	Accrington Stanley	A	3–2	5,997	Ward (2), Jones
26 December 1936	Hull City	A	1–1	14,928	Ward
28 December 1936	Accrington Stanley	H	1–1	8,030	Ward
2 January 1937	Gateshead	H	4–2	8,472	Ward (3), Dean
9 January 1937	Darlington	A	0–1	5,177
20 January 1937	Crewe Alexandra	A	1–0	2,059	Kelly
23 January 1937	Wrexham	H	0–3	7,432
30 January 1937	Stockport County	A	0–1	10,690
6 February 1937	Rotherham United	H	2–1	7,440	Dean, Rhodes
13 February 1937	York City	A	2–1	4,241	Obrey, Jones
20 February 1937	Carlisle United	H	1–0	6,585	Ward
27 February 1937	Hartlepools United	A	0–2	2,645
6 March 1937	Southport	H	0–2	6,986
13 March 1937	Tranmere Rovers	A	2–4	5,732	Ward (2)
20 March 1937	Halifax Town	H	3–1	8,815	Jones (3)
26 March 1937	Lincoln City	H	1–1	6,243	Dean
27 March 1937	Mansfield Town	A	1–7	6,348	Jones
29 March 1937	Lincoln City	A	0–1	13,715
3 April 1937	Crewe Alexandra	H	0–0	6,365
17 April 1937	Rochdale	H	1–1	2,148	Nolan
24 April 1937	Barrow	A	1–3	4,298	Nolan
1 May 1937	Oldham Athletic	H	1–0	2,353	Roberts

FA Cup


Round	Date	Opponent	Venue	Result	Attendance	Goalscorers
R3	16 January 1937	Sheffield Wednesday	A	0–2	27,450

Third Division North Cup


Round	Date	Opponent	Venue	Result	Attendance	Goalscorers
1	11 November 1936	Mansfield Town	A	2–0	1,000	Ward (2)
2	8 February 1937	Stockport County	H	4–0	100+	Ward (2), Evans, Tunnicliffe
3	8 March 1937	Rotherham United	H	1–0	1,000	Nolan
SF	10 April 1937	Chester	A	0–3

Player statistics

Appearances and goals

Pos.	Name	Football League		FA Cup		Total
Pos.	Name	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
GK	Allan Todd	39	0	0	0	43	0
GK	John Jones	3	0	1	0	4	0
DF	Trevor Rhodes	33	5	0	0	36	5
DF	Eric Hayward	18	0	1	0	21	0
DF	Roderick Welsh	17	0	1	0	21	0
DF	George Heywood	2	0	0	0	2	0
DF	Harry Griffiths	8	0	0	0	8	0
DF	Claude Barrett	19	0	0	0	19	0
DF	Bill Wright	0	0	0	0	0	0
MF	Roger Jones	36	9	1	0	39	9
MF	Ken Gunn	37	0	0	0	40	0
MF	Arthur Caldwell	13	2	0	0	14	2
MF	Frank Ryder	6	0	1	0	8	0
MF	Michael Curley	3	0	0	0	3	0
MF	Tommy Ward	27	14	1	0	32	18
MF	Billy Tunnicliffe	2	0	0	0	3	1
MF	Wilf Smith	1	0	0	0	1	0
MF	Fred Obrey	29	1	1	0	33	1
MF	Gerry Kelly	20	2	1	0	21	2
MF	Jack Harrison	2	0	0	0	4	0
MF	Spencer Evans	34	0	1	0	38	1
MF	Arthur Cumberlidge	8	0	0	0	9	0
MF	Percy Adams	1	0	0	0	1	0
MF	Edwin Blunt	0	0	0	0	0	0
FW	Luke Dean	13	4	0	0	14	4
FW	Jack Roberts	15	8	0	0	16	8
FW	George Stabb	2	0	0	0	2	0
FW	Tom Nolan	37	11	1	0	41	12
FW	Peter Miller	13	1	1	0	17	1
FW	Arthur Ford	3	0	0	0	4	0
FW	Syd Goodfellow	16	1	0	0	16	1
FW	Alfred Dickinson	5	0	0	0	5	0

Top scorers

Place	Position	Nation	Name	Third Division North	Northern Cup	Total
1	MF	England	Tommy Ward	14	4	18
2	FW	England	Tom Nolan	11	1	12
3	MF	England	Roger Jones	9	0	9
4	FW	England	Jack Roberts	8	0	8
5	DF	England	Trevor Rhodes	5	0	5
6	FW	England	Luke Dean	4	0	4
7	MF	England	Arthur Caldwell	2	0	2
–	MF	England	Gerry Kelly	2	0	2
8	FW	Scotland	Peter Miller	1	0	1
–	FW	England	Syd Goodfellow	1	0	1
–	MF	England	Billy Tunnicliffe	0	1	1
–	MF	England	Fred Obrey	1	0	1
–	MF	Wales	Spencer Evans	0	1	1
			TOTALS	58	7	65

Transfers

Transfers in

Date from	Position	Name	From	Fee	Ref.
May 1936	MF	Jack Harrison	Sneyd Colliery	Free transfer	^[3]
June 1936	DF	Claude Barrett	Bradford Park Avenue	Free transfer	^[3]
June 1936	MF	Gerry Kelly	Chester	'Substantial'	^[3]
June 1936	FW	Peter Miller	Rotherham United	Free transfer	^[3]
June 1936	MF	Tommy Ward	Grimsby Town	Free transfer	^[3]
July 1936	DF	Spencer Evans	Altrincham	Free transfer	^[3]
August 1936	FW	Arthur Ford	Wolverhampton Wanderers	Free transfer	^[3]
September 1936	FW	Alfred Dickinson	Everton	Free transfer	^[3]
September 1936	FW	Tom Nolan	Bradford Park Avenue	Exchange	^[3]
October 1936	FW	Syd Goodfellow	Silverdale	Free transfer	^[3]

Transfers out

Date from	Position	Name	To	Fee	Ref.
May 1936	MF	Fred Obrey	Longton	Free transfer	^[3]
September 1936	MF	George Stabb	Bradford Park Avenue	Free transfer	^[3]
October 1936	FW	Alfred Dickinson	Everton	Free transfer	^[3]
October 1936	MF	Wilf Smith	Sneyd Colliery	Free transfer	^[3]
November 1936	MF	Michael Curley	Colwyn Bay	Free transfer	^[3]
November 1936	DF	Roderick Welsh	Southport	Free transfer	^[3]
April 1937	DF	Claude Barrett	York City	Free transfer	^[3]
April 1937	FW	Syd Goodfellow	Glentoran	Free transfer	^[3]
April 1937	MF	Jack Harrison		Released	^[3]
April 1937	GK	John Jones	Northampton Town	Free transfer	^[3]
April 1937	FW	Peter Miller		Released	^[3]
April 1937	MF	Frank Ryder		Released	^[3]
May 1937	MF	Ken Gunn	Northampton Town	Free transfer	^[3]
May 1937	DF	Eric Hayward	Blackpool	Free transfer	^[3]
Summer 1937	MF	Roger Jones		Released	^[3]
Summer 1937	GK	Allan Todd	Nottingham Forest	Exchange	^[3]
August 1937	FW	Luke Dean	Northwich Victoria	Free transfer	^[3]
August 1937	MF	Gerry Kelly	Southampton	Free transfer	^[3]

References

Specific

^ ^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 Kent, Jeff (1990). "From Glory to Despair (1929–1939)". The Valiants' Years: The Story Of Port Vale. Witan Books. pp. 124–150. ISBN 978-0-9508981-4-8.
^ Port Vale 1936–1937 : Results & Fixtures Archived 4 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine. Statto Organisation. Retrieved 28 April 2012.
^ ^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 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 978-0-9508981-9-3.

[Kent-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 Kent, Jeff (1990). "From Glory to Despair (1929–1939)". The Valiants' Years: The Story Of Port Vale. Witan Books. pp. 124–150. ISBN 978-0-9508981-4-8.

[2] Port Vale 1936–1937 : Results & Fixtures Archived 4 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine. Statto Organisation. Retrieved 28 April 2012.

[transfers-3] ^ ^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 Kent, Jeff (1996). Port Vale Personalities. Witan Books. ISBN 0-9529152-0-0.

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