1921–22 Port Vale F.C. season

Port Vale
1921–22 season
ChairmanSampson Walker
Secretary-managerJoe Schofield
StadiumOld Recreation Ground
Football League Second Division18th (36 Points)
FA CupFirst Round
(knocked out by Stoke)
North Staffordshire Infirmary CupChampions
(shared with Stoke)
Top goalscorerLeague: Tom Page (9)
All: Tom Page (10)
Highest home attendance20,000 vs Stoke, 1 October 1921
Lowest home attendance6,000 vs South Shields, 22 October 1921
Barnsley, 17 December 1921
The Wednesday, 3 April 1922
Hull City, 21 January 1922
Average home league attendance11,619
Biggest win3–0 (twice) and 5–2
Biggest defeat0–3, 1–4 and 2–5

The 1921–22 season was Port Vale's third consecutive season of football (16th overall) in the English Football League.[1] Another difficult season, both on and off the pitch, the club finished with 36 points for the second season in a row. The club had no reliable goal scorer following their sale of Bobby Blood the previous season.

The season turned with a streak of nine unbeaten games, followed by nine defeats in ten games. A case of fighting off relegation and just getting by financially, their difficulties were contrasted by the promotion of rivals Stoke – who also knocked the "Valiants" out of the FA Cup to rub salt into the wound.

Despite such low points, the club also experienced brief but considerable periods of joy. When goalkeeper Teddy Peers turned out for Wales, he became the first player to earn an international cap whilst on the books of the club. From 11 February 1922 to 18 March 1922, Peers oversaw a streak of seven consecutive clean sheets in league games, a still-standing club record.

Overview

Second Division

New additions to the squad in pre-season included: Welshman Jack Hampson signed from Aston Villa for £1,000; a returning Albert Pearson from Liverpool; half-back Ernest Collinge; centre-half from Nottingham Forest Robert Firth; young Scottish midfielder Bob Connelly; and forward Billy Agnew from Falkirk.[1] The stadium was also improved, with a gym constructed, and the new stand extended.[1]

The season started poorly, with Vale losing four of their opening five games, the one success being "a clever display" in a 3–0 home win over Clapton Orient on 29 August. A 0–0 draw was achieved away at Potteries derby rivals Stoke, though it remained one of many fixtures in which the forward line failed to find the net. Stoke defeated the Vale in the return fixture at the Old Recreation Ground by one goal to nil and so Bob Connelly was tried at centre-forward at Bury in the next game, which was an experiment that was abandoned following a 5–2 loss. The scoreline was reversed when Bury came to Hanley the following week, though spirits remained low as Jack Hampson suffered a foot injury which seemed at one stage to require a toe amputation. Nevertheless, the win started a sequence of one defeat in six games, concluding with an impressive 1–1 draw away at second-placed Nottingham Forest.[1]

From the end of November until February, the club lost nine of their ten league games, standing rooted to the bottom slot.[1] Connelly was constantly being switched from centre-half to centre-forward as management desperately searched for a solution. By 3 December, seven different players had been tried in the centre-forward role. Frustrated fans organised a protest outside the Directors' Box following defeat to Barnsley, which led to a warning from The Football Association due to the foul language used by the fans. An Extraordinary general meeting was called by the club, where directors explained to fans about the club's bleak finances. Fans volunteered to raise the money to buy back star forward Bobby Blood, but they were told West Bromwich Albion were not willing to entertain offers for the player. The team struggled on, losing goalkeeper Walter Smith to injury and finding a replacement in Wales international Teddy Peers. Forward Jack Peart was also signed from Ebbw Vale, though he failed to find the net. A 2–1 home defeat to second-bottom Coventry City on 30 January seemed to leave the club in a hopeless situation; however, it was to prove the end of the awful run of form.[1]

The club turned things around in some style by going two months unbeaten, winning six of their nine games.[1] During this run, they went seven games without conceding a goal, with goalkeeper Peers so confident he often felt able to lean casually on his goalpost to watch the Pursell brothers clear up any danger in front of him.[1] The success began with a "clever" 2–1 win at Notts County on 4 February and simply a settled side was credited with the turnaround in form. Thanks to a bureaucratic selection method, the first team was unsettled throughout the first half of the campaign.[1] The run was broken after injuries set in, including a broken leg for Bob Pursell that necessitated his retirement from the game.[1] Nevertheless, the club continued to pick up enough points to ensure their Second Division survival.[1] At the end of the season, the club were three points clear of the relegation zone but 16 points short of rivals Stoke, who were promoted. The team was hopeless in front of the goal, with only Tom Page managing double figures.[1]

Budget cuts meant meant letting go of Bob Pursell, who had broken his leg; aged half-back Joe Brough who was said to have felt 'worn out'; 38-year-old stopper Walter Smith; forward Albert Pearson; 35-year-old Robert Firth; and 33-year-old Jack Peart.[1] The former two experienced campaigners retired, with Smith joining Plymouth Argyle; Pearson joining Llanelli; Firth joining Southend United; and Peart joining Norwich City.

Finances

Finances were as ever of great concern to the club, and by February, the poor crowd figures meant that £2,000 was needed to keep the club afloat.[1] A 'Shilling Fund' was established to raise donations, which resulted in donations from First Division sides Preston North End and Huddersfield Town.[1] A loss of £4,641 was made on the season, with an economic downturn getting the blame for a shocking drop in gate receipt figures.[1] The club even accused local paper The Sentinel of overestimating the crowd sizes.[1] Finances were also hit by a rise in players' wages following the raising of the maximum payments limit.[1] Aiming to make £500 the following season, the directors announced a cut in the wage bill to the tune of £3,000.[1]

Cup competitions

Vale left the FA Cup in the First Round thanks to Arthur Watkin scoring a hat-trick, which helped secure a 4–2 win for Stoke at the Old Recreation Ground. The end of season North Staffordshire Infirmary Cup game finished goalless between the two clubs, and as was the case in 1920, the trophy was shared between the two clubs – the cup game was held on-and-off until 1932, and Vale would lose on all five occasions.

League table

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GAv Pts
16 Rotherham County 42 14 11 17 32 43 0.744 39
17 Wolverhampton Wanderers 42 13 11 18 44 49 0.898 37
18 Port Vale 42 14 8 20 43 57 0.754 36
19 Blackpool 42 15 5 22 44 57 0.772 35
20 Coventry City 42 12 10 20 51 60 0.850 34
Source:

Results

Port Vale's score comes first

Football League Second Division

Main article: 1921–22 Football League

Results by matchday

Round123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627282930313233343536373839404142
GroundAHHAAHAHAHHAAHAHAHHAHAAAHAHHAHAHHHAAHAAHHA
ResultLWLLLWDLLWDWLWDLLLLLDLLLLWDWDWWWWDLLDWLWWL
Position14614212117162020191919181416181819191920202122222222192018181818181818181818181818
Source: Statto[2]
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

Matches

Date Opponent Venue Result Attendance Scorers
27 August 1921 Leeds United A 1–2 18,000 Pearson
29 August 1921 Clapton Orient H 3–0 17,000 Firth, Hampson, Page
3 September 1921 Leeds United H 0–1 18,000
10 September 1921 West Ham United A 0–3 18,000
12 September 1921 Clapton Orient A 0–2 10,000
17 September 1921 West Ham United H 2–1 10,000 Firth, Hampson
24 September 1921 Stoke A 0–0 30,000
1 October 1921 Stoke H 0–1 20,000
8 October 1921 Bury A 2–5 12,000 Briscoe, Connelly
15 October 1921 Bury H 5–2 11,000 Connelly (2), Hampson, Firth, Page
22 October 1921 South Shields H 1–1 6,000 Page
29 October 1921 South Shields A 1–0 12,000 Agnew
5 November 1921 Bristol City A 1–2 20,000 Page
12 November 1921 Bristol City H 3–1 8,000 Agnew (2), Connelly
19 November 1921 Nottingham Forest A 1–1 16,000 Page
26 November 1921 Nottingham Forest H 0–2 12,000
3 December 1921 Wolverhampton Wanderers A 0–2 12,000
10 December 1921 Wolverhampton Wanderers H 0–2 8,000
17 December 1921 Barnsley H 2–3 6,000 Collinge (pen), Connelly
24 December 1921 Barnsley A 2–3 8,000 Simon, Firth
26 December 1921 Derby County H 1–1 17,000 Connelly
27 December 1921 Derby County A 2–3 13,000 Firth, Connelly
31 December 1921 Coventry City A 1–4 16,000 Page
21 January 1922 Hull City A 0–2 6,000
30 January 1922 Coventry City H 1–2 7,000 Lauder
4 February 1922 Notts County A 2–1 7,000 Collinge, Lauder
11 February 1922 Notts County H 0–0 12,000
13 February 1922 Hull City H 1–0 8,000 Fitchford
18 February 1922 Crystal Palace A 0–0 10,000
25 February 1922 Crystal Palace H 3–0 14,000 Lauder, Agnew, Collinge (pen)
4 March 1922 Rotherham County A 1–0 8,000 Page
11 March 1922 Rotherham County H 1–0 12,000 Page
18 March 1922 The Wednesday H 1–0 12,000 Collinge (pen)
1 April 1922 Fulham H 1–1 10,000 Page
3 April 1922 The Wednesday H 0–2 6,000
8 April 1922 Fulham A 0–1 15,000
14 April 1922 Leicester City H 1–1 10,000 Fitchford
15 April 1922 Blackpool A 1–0 14,000 Collinge (pen)
17 April 1922 Leicester City A 0–3 15,000
22 April 1922 Blackpool H 1–0 15,000 Fitchford
29 April 1922 Bradford Park Avenue H 1–0 10,998 Agnew
6 May 1922 Bradford Park Avenue A 0–2 10,000

FA Cup

Main article: 1921–22 FA Cup
Round Date Opponent Venue Result Attendance Goalscorers
1R 7 January 1922 Stoke A 2–4 14,471 Page, Brough

North Staffordshire Infirmary Cup

Round Date Opponent Venue Result Attendance Goalscorers
Final 9 May 1922 Stoke A 0–0 3,000

Player statistics

Appearances and goals

Pos. Name Football League FA Cup Other Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
GK Walter Smith 13 0 0 0 0 0 13 0
GK Alfred Bourne 13 0 0 0 0 0 13 0
GK Ernest Blackham 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
GK Teddy Peers 15 0 1 0 1 0 17 0
DF Peter Pursell 30 0 1 0 1 0 32 0
DF Bob Pursell 28 0 1 0 0 0 29 0
DF Len Birks 6 0 0 0 1 0 7 0
DF William Lavery 5 0 0 0 0 0 5 0
DF Billy Twemlow 18 0 1 0 0 0 19 0
MF Tom Holford 5 0 1 0 1 0 7 0
MF Joe Brough 8 0 1 1 0 0 9 1
MF Billy Fitchford 6 3 0 0 1 0 7 3
MF Frank Simon 7 1 0 0 0 0 7 1
MF Ernest Collinge 41 5 1 0 1 0 43 5
MF Bob Connelly 38 7 1 0 0 0 39 7
MF Robert Firth 39 5 1 0 1 0 41 5
MF Jack Hampson 30 3 0 0 1 0 31 3
FW Billy Briscoe 33 1 0 0 1 0 34 1
FW Tom Page 37 9 1 1 1 0 39 10
FW John Johnstone 3 0 0 0 0 0 3 0
FW Albert Hayes 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 0
FW Frank Cartledge 4 0 0 0 1 0 5 0
FW Billy Agnew 31 5 0 0 0 0 31 5
FW Tom Collinge 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
FW Andrew Finlay 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
FW Alex Lauder 21 3 0 0 0 0 21 3
FW Albert Pearson 19 1 0 0 1 0 20 1
FW Jack Peart 7 0 0 0 0 0 7 0
FW Harry Littlehales 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Top scorers

Place Position Nation Name Second Division FA Cup Infirmary Cup Total
1 FW  England Tom Page 9 1 0 10
2 MF  Scotland Bob Connelly 7 0 0 7
3 FW  Scotland Billy Agnew 5 0 0 5
– MF  England Robert Firth 5 0 0 5
– MF  England Ernest Collinge 5 0 0 5
6 MF  England Billy Fitchford 3 0 0 3
– MF  Wales Jack Hampson 3 0 0 3
– FW  Scotland Alex Lauder 3 0 0 3
9 FW  England Albert Pearson 1 0 0 1
– FW  England Billy Briscoe 1 0 0 1
– MF  England Frank Simon 1 0 0 1
– MF  England Joe Brough 0 1 0 1
TOTALS 43 2 0 45

Transfers

Transfers in

Date from Position Nationality Name From Fee Ref.
May 1921 FW Albert Pearson Liverpool Free transfer [3]
June 1921 MF Robert Firth Nottingham Forest Free transfer [3]
June 1921 MF Jack Hampson Aston Villa £1,000 [3]
August 1921 MF Bob Connelly Shettleston Juniors Free transfer [3]
August 1921 DF Billy Twemlow Stoke Free transfer [3]
September 1921 FW Billy Agnew Falkirk Free transfer [3]
September 1921 FW Andrew Finlay Glasgow Shawfield Free transfer [3]
November 1921 FW Alex Lauder Partick Thistle £300 [3]
December 1921 DF William Lavery Johnstone Free transfer [3]
January 1922 GK Teddy Peers Wolverhampton Wanderers Free transfer [3]
January 1922 FW Jack Peart Ebbw Vale Steel & Iron Company Free transfer [3]

Transfers out

Date from Position Nationality Name To Fee Ref.
January 1922 MF James Wootton Nelson Free transfer [3]
Summer 1922 GK Alfred Bourne Released [3]
Summer 1922 FW Joe Brough Retired [3]
Summer 1922 FW Frank Cartledge Congleton Town Released [3]
Summer 1922 FW Tom Collinge Released [3]
Summer 1922 MF John Davis Macclesfield Released [3]
Summer 1922 FW Andrew Finlay Airdrieonians Released [3]
Summer 1922 MF Robert Firth Southend United Released [3]
Summer 1922 FW Albert Hayes Tranmere Rovers Released [3]
Summer 1922 FW John Johnstone Released [3]
Summer 1922 FW Alex Lauder Released [3]
Summer 1922 DF Tom Lyons Walsall Released [3]
Summer 1922 MF Jack Mellor New Mills Free transfer [3]
Summer 1922 FW Albert Pearson Llanelly Released [3]
Summer 1922 FW Jack Peart Norwich City Released [3]
Summer 1922 DF Frank Simon Released [3]
Summer 1922 GK Walter Smith Plymouth Argyle Released [3]

References

Specific
  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s Kent, Jeff (1990). "Keeping in Good Company (1919-1929)". The Valiants' Years The Story Of Port Vale. Witan Books. pp. 98–123. ISBN 0-9508981-4-7.
  2. ^ Port Vale 1921–1922 : Results & Fixtures Archived 4 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine. Statto Organisation. Retrieved 28 April 2012.
  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.
General
  • Kent, Jeff (1993). The Port Vale Record 1879-1993. Witan Books. ISBN 0-9508981-9-8.
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