1904–05 Burslem Port Vale F.C. season

Burslem Port Vale
1904–05 season
Chairman Robert Audley
Manager Sam Gleaves
Stadium Athletic Ground
Football League Second Division 16th (27 Points)
FA Cup Sixth Qualification Round
Birmingham Senior Cup Semi-final
Staffordshire Senior Cup First Round
Top goalscorer League: Dick Allman (8)
All: Dick Allman (8)
Highest home attendance 5,000 vs Manchester United (3 September 1904)
Lowest home attendance 500 vs Bradford City (21 January 1905) & vs Doncaster Rovers (18 March 1905)
Average home league attendance 2,536+
Home colours

The 1904–05 season was Burslem Port Vale's seventh consecutive season (11th overall) of football in the Football League.[1] A poor season, the club had to apply (successfully) for re-election. The club had to continue their policy of selling their best players to survive.

An extremely poor defence saw some embarrassing scorelines away from home, and the lack of a consistent goalscorer was also a cause for concern.

Bert Eardley, was in his sixth season with Vale.
George Price was, as ever, a vital member of the first team.
Adrian Capes failed to find the form that saw him the club's top scorer for the previous four seasons.
Right-back Ernest Mullineux was sold for £600.
Half-back Harry Croxton was an ever-present.
Albert Cook as usual made only sporadic appearances.

Overview

Second Division

A rather quiet pre-season saw no signings of note, however past player, outside-right Dick Evans re-signed from Southampton in September.[1] This return was ended in his second game of the season – a Staffordshire Senior Cup defeat to Wolves – when he suffered a career-ending injury.[1]

The first game of the season saw 5,000 turn up to witness a 2–2 draw with Manchester United, this positive start soon ended as despite going their first four games unbeaten, the club had to wait until their ninth match for their first victory. On 5 November 1904, the club's record 29 away games without a win streak came to an end with a 3–0 victory at Grimsby Town.[1] The next match saw Liverpool win 2–1 thanks to a goal that never actually crossed the line – the referee had to leave the pitch under escort.[1] Following the sale of key players in December, the form of the "Valeites" took a hit as from 4 December to the end of February they recorded just two victories – both against West Bromwich Albion.[1] This run included heavy defeats at Manchester United and Burnley. In February the club's revival was helped by new signing Robert Carter, as six of the last seven home games were wins.[1] Despite this they still suffered on their travels, taking an 8–1 hammering at Anfield.

The club finished in sixteenth place, though their 27 points saw them just one point off Blackpool, and six points off seventh place. Burton United and Doncaster Rovers both finished well below Vale, and at the end of the season both Vale and Burton were re-elected.[1]

Dick Allman was top scorer with a pitiful eight goals, though scoring proved to be a team effort to give Vale a reasonable total of 47 league goals. However, in defensive terms the season was awful, their 72 conceded would always guarantee a battle against dropping into the lottery of the re-election zones.

Allman left for Reading at the season's end.[1] Harry Croxton was an ever-present, and other regulars included goalkeeper Harry Cotton, and outfielders Sam Whittingham, Joseph Holyhead, George Price, and Adrian Capes. Manager Sam Gleaves stepped down at the end of the season, and was given the position of director, his replacement was former player Tommy Clare.[1]

Finances

The financial outlook was as grim as ever, as directors were forced to sell Ernest Mullineux and Tom Simpson to Bury for £600 and £200 respectively.[1] This gave the club a season profit of £140, and reduced club debt to just £33, however gate receipts had fallen by £150.[1]

Cup competitions

The club came up against tough competition in both county cup competitions, losing 1–0 to Wolverhampton Wanderers in the First Round of the Staffordshire Senior Cup.[1] They found rather more success in the Birmingham Senior Cup, where Vale defeated rivals Stoke with a Tom Simpson hat-trick at home, following a goalless draw at the Victoria Ground.[1] This achievement was less significant due to a slight from Stoke, who only sent out their reserve side.[1] Following this success the club lost in the semi-final to Second Division rivals West Bromwich Albion.[1] The club yet again failed to qualify for the FA Cup, losing narrowly to Barnsley in the qualification stages.[1]

Final league table

Pos Team Pld W D L F A W D L F A F A GA GD Pts
1Liverpool34143060121313331393253.720+ 6858
2Bolton Wanderers34150253161223341687322.719+ 5556
3Manchester United3416016010854212081302.700+ 5153
4Bristol City3412324012719263366451.467+ 2142
5Chesterfield Town349622611557182444351.257+ 939
6Gainsborough Trinity34114232153410294361581.052+ 336
7Barnsley3411422913311394338560.679– 1833
8Bradford City3485431204310142945490.918– 432
9Lincoln City3494431163311112542411.024+ 131
10West Bromwich Albion3482729205210282857481.188+ 930
11Burnley34101631212510123143520.827– 930
12Glossop347552314359143237460.804– 930
13Grimsby Town3493522142510113233460.717– 1330
14Leicester Fosse3483630253410103040550.727– 1529
15Blackpool3485426151511103336480.750– 1228
16Burslem Port Vale3474628253311194747720.653– 2527
17Burton United3472820291214105530840.357– 5420
18Doncaster Rovers34321212320017114923810.284– 588

Pld = Matches played; W = Matches won; D = Matches drawn; L = Matches lost; F = Goals for; A = Goals against;
GA = Goal average; GD = Goal difference; Pts = Points

Results

Burslem Port Vale's score comes first

Legend

Win Draw Loss
Round12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031323334
GroundHHAHAHAHHAHAAHAAAHHAAHAHAHAHHAAHHA
Result D D D D L L L L W W L D W L L W L L D D L W L W L W L W L L L W W L
Position 11 7 9 6 13 13 15 16 15 10 11 11 11 12 15 12 14 15 16 15 16 16 16 16 16 15 16 16 16 16 16 16 16 16

Sourced from Statto.[2]

Football League Second Division

DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers
3 September 1904 Manchester UnitedH2–25,000Bowen, Allman
5 September 1904 BlackpoolH2–2Capes, Eardley
10 September 1904 GlossopA0–04,000
17 September 1904 Chesterfield TownH0–03,500
24 September 1904 Bradford CityA1–210,000Holyhead
1 October 1904 Lincoln CityH0–1
8 October 1904 Leicester FosseA0–33,000
15 October 1904 BarnsleyH0–23,000
29 October 1904 BurnleyH3–11,500Simpson (2), Mountford
5 November 1904 Grimsby TownA3–02,500Mountford, Simpson, Price
12 November 1904 LiverpoolH1–23,000Price
19 November 1904 Doncaster RoversH2–21,800Eardley, o.g.
3 December 1904 Burton UnitedA3–2Eardley (2), Simpson
17 December 1904 Bolton WanderersH1–23,000Whittingham
24 December 1904 Bristol CityA2–46,000Allman (2)
26 December 1904 West Bromwich AlbionA1–03,000Allman
31 December 1904 Manchester UnitedA1–615,000Price
7 January 1905 GlossopH0–12,000
21 January 1905 Bradford CityH1–11,000Croxton
28 January 1905 Lincoln CityA3–33,000Croxton, Capes, Cope
11 February 1905 BarnsleyA0–3
18 February 1905 West Bromwich AlbionH3–23,500Carter (2), Allman
25 February 1905 BurnleyA0–51,000
4 March 1905 Grimsby TownH2–02,000Capes, Whittingham
11 March 1905 BlackpoolA0–31,400
18 March 1905 Doncaster RoversH2–01,000Price, Whittingham
25 March 1905 Gainsborough TrinityA0–1
1 April 1905 Burton UnitedH4–2Allman, Price, Carter, Mountford
3 April 1905 Leicester FosseH1–32,000Allman
8 April 1905 LiverpoolA1–814,000Croxton
15 April 1905 Bolton WanderersA1–312,000Horrocks
21 April 1905 Gainsborough TrinityH3–23,000Horrocks, Carter, Thomas
22 April 1905 Bristol CityH3–22,000Allman, Capes, Carter
24 April 1905 Chesterfield TownA1–24,000Price

FA Cup

Main article: 1904–05 FA Cup
RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorers
6Q10 December 1904 BarnsleyA0–02,000
6Q Replay15 December 1904 BarnsleyH1–2Loverseed

Birmingham Senior Cup

RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorers
126 September 1904StokeA0–0
Replay3 October 1904StokeH3–1Simpson (3)
SF22 October 1904West Bromwich AlbionA1–23,000Price

Staffordshire Senior Cup

RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorers
112 September 1903Wolverhampton WanderersH0–1handful

Player statistics

Appearances

Pos. Name League FA Cup Other Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
GKEngland Harry Cotton 3102030360
GKEngland Arthur Box 30001040
DFEngland Ernest Mullineux 1300040170
DFEngland James Hamilton 2302000250
DFEngland William Cope 2212010251
DF Thomas Reaney 30000030
MFEngland Bert Eardley 1642010194
MF Harry Croxton 3432040403
MFEngland Sam Whittingham 3132040373
MFEngland William Bradbury 30001040
MFEngland Joseph Holyhead 3312030381
MFEngland Vic Horrocks 42000042
MFEngland Ben Jones 10000010
MF Albert Cook 50000050
MFEngland Robert Carter 1450000145
MFEngland George Bowen 61001071
FWEngland George Price 2962031347
FWEngland Adrian Capes 3042030354
FW Tom Simpson 1040033137
FWEngland William Loverseed 20211051
FWEngland Dick Allman 2780020298
FWEngland Harry Mountford 2432020283
FWEngland William Thomas 21000021
FW Edward Williams 50001060
FW Enoch Rowley 10000010
FWEngland Dick Evans 10001020
FW W. Edwards 10000010

Scorers

All competitions

Scorer Goals
England Dick Allman 8
Tom Simpson 7
England George Price
England Robert Carter 5
England Adrian Capes 4
England Bert Eardley
England Harry Mountford 3
England Sam Whittingham
Harry Croxton
England Vic Horrocks 2
England George Bowen 1
England William Cope
England Joseph Holyhead
England William Thomas
England William Loverseed

League

Scorer Goals
England Dick Allman 8
England George Price 6
England Robert Carter 5
England Adrian Capes 4
England Bert Eardley
Tom Simpson
England Harry Mountford 3
England Sam Whittingham
Harry Croxton
England Vic Horrocks 2
England George Bowen 1
England William Cope
England Joseph Holyhead
England William Thomas

Transfers

Transfers in

Date from Position Nationality Name From Fee Ref.
1904 MF England Robert Carter Selbourne Free transfer [3]
August 1904 MF England George Bowen Wolverhampton Wanderers Free transfer [3]
August 1904 GK England Arthur Box Stoke Free transfer [3]
August 1904 DF England William Cope Mount Pleasant Free transfer [3]
August 1904 FW W. Edwards Crewe Alexandra Free transfer [3]
August 1904 MF England Ben Jones Alsagers Bank Church Free transfer [3]
August 1904 DF Thomas Reaney Bridgetown Amateurs Free transfer [3]
September 1904 FW England Dick Evans Southampton Free transfer [3]
September 1904 FW Enoch Rowley Biddulph Free transfer [3]
April 1905 MF Vic Horrocks Goldenhill United Free transfer [3]

Transfers out

Date from Position Nationality Name To Fee Ref.
1904 FW England Dick Evans Retired [3]
December 1904 DF England Ernest Mullineux Bury £600 [3]
December 1904 FW Tom Simpson Bury £200 [3]
May 1905 FW England Dick Allman Reading Free transfer [3]
Summer 1905 MF England George Bowen Released [3]
Summer 1905 GK Harry Cotton Crewe Alexandra Free transfer [3]
Summer 1905 FW England Sam Howshall Salisbury City Free transfer [3]
Summer 1905 FW England William Loverseed Released [3]
Summer 1905 DF W. H. Machin Released [3]
Summer 1905 DF Thomas Reaney Released [3]
Summer 1905 FW Enoch Rowley Released [3]
Summer 1905 FW England Edward Williams Released [3]

References

Specific
  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 Kent, Jeff (1990). "The Hopeless Struggle (1898-1907)". The Valiants' Years: The Story Of Port Vale. Witan Books. pp. 50–70. ISBN 0-9508981-4-7.
  2. Port Vale 1904–1905 : Results & Fixtures. Statto Organisation. Retrieved 28 April 2012.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 Kent, Jeff (1996). Port Vale Personalities. Witan Books. ISBN 0-9529152-0-0.
General
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