1970–71 Port Vale F.C. season

Port Vale
1970–71 season
Chairman Mark Singer
(until February)
Graham Bourne
(February onwards)
Manager Gordon Lee
Stadium Vale Park
Football League Third Division 17th (42 Points)
FA Cup First Round
League Cup First Round
Player of the Year Tommy McLaren
Top goalscorer League: John James (15)
All: John James (15)
Highest home attendance 11,224 vs. Aston Villa (19 October 1970)
Lowest home attendance 3,450 vs. Reading (13 March 1971)
Average home league attendance 5,437
Home colours

The 1970–71 season was Port Vale's 59th season of football in the Football League, and their first (seventh overall) season back in the Third Division following their promotion from the Fourth Division.[1] Gordon Lee led his team to safety in the league, though Vale exited both cup competitions at the first stage.

Overview

Third Division

The pre-season saw the arrival of centre-half Roy Cross (Walsall); inside-forward Brian Horton (Hednesford Town); and full-back Mick Hopkinson (Mansfield Town).[1]

The season began with two wins, but a run of one win in ten games then followed. In September, four of the five directors resigned, one of them (Len Cliff) stated that "the club is being run by outsiders".[1] A new board was formed by November.[1] Meanwhile, on 13 September the club suffered a loss of 7–3 at Gay Meadow to Shrewsbury Town, despite a Bobby Gough hat-trick – the match also saw a sending off, an attempted pitch invasion, and a £35 fine for Gordon Lee for remarks he made to referee Ricky Nicholson.[1] Tommy McLaren then returned from injury to lead Vale on a four match winning streak that included a 2–0 win over fallen-giants Aston Villa in front of a Burslem crowd of 11,224 fans.[1] Four straight defeats soon came after this sequence however, as Vale's form was patchy.[1] In December, Ron Wilson left the club as he emigrated to South Africa due to his son's ill health.[1] A 1–0 defeat at Villa Park on 16 January was the first of a nine match streak without a victory.[1] At the end of the month Lee signed John Brodie from Northern Premier League side Bradford Park Avenue for £250.[1] During this spell forward Sammy Morgan began to be jeered by fans after losing his scoring touch.[1] He also began studying to be a teacher.[1] Lee said that "I really feel some of our lads have been singled out by the boo boys. If only they realised that encouragement can lift players, things would be so much better".[1] In February, Mark Singer resigned as chairman, and was replaced by Graham Bourne.[1] By then the club were hovering above the relegation zone, but a record of just ten goals conceded in their final twelve games was enough to secure safety, with Brian Horton in good form.[1]

They finished in seventeenth spot, their 42 points leaving them three clear of relegation.[1] John James was the top-scorer with fifteen goals.[1] As a reward for their endeavours, the players were taken on a working holiday to Benidorm, Spain.[1]

Finances

On the financial side, a profit of £3,424 was made, the club's first profitable season since 1962–63.[1] A £19,322 donation from the Sportsmen's Association and the Development Fund helped to reduce the club's total debt to £134,640.[1] Three players were released: Mick Hopkinson (Boston United); John Green (Northwich Victoria); and John King (Wigan Athletic).[1]

Cup competitions

In the FA Cup, Vale were knocked out in the First Round by Fourth Division Notts County 1–0 in a 'physical' encounter at Meadow Lane.[1]

In the League Cup, Vale were eliminated once again at the first stage, this time Walsall left Burslem with a 1–0 win.

Final league table

P WDLFAGAPts
1Preston North End462217763391.61561
2Fulham4624121068411.65960
3Halifax Town4622121274551.34556
4Aston Villa4619151254461.17453
5Chesterfield4617171266381.73751
6Bristol Rovers4619131469501.38051
7Mansfield Town4618151364621.03251
8Rotherham United4617161364601.06750
9Wrexham4618131572651.10849
10Torquay United4619111654570.94749
11Swansea City4615161559561.05446
12Barnsley4617111849520.94245
13Shrewsbury Town4616131758620.93545
14Brighton & Hove Albion4614161650471.06444
15Plymouth Argyle4612191563631.00043
16Rochdale4614151761680.89743
17Port Vale4615121952590.88142
18Tranmere Rovers4610221445550.81842
19Bradford City4613141949620.79040
20Walsall4614112151570.89539
21Reading4614112148850.56539
22Bury4612132152600.86737
23Doncaster Rovers461392445660.68235
24Gillingham4610132342670.62733

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

Results

Port Vale's score comes first

Legend

Win Draw Loss
Round12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031323334353637383940414243444546
GroundAHAAHAHHAAHAHHHAHHAAHAHAHAAHAHAHAAHHAAHAHAHAHH
Result W W L L W L D L L L D D W W W W D L L L L W L W W L D L D D L D L L W W D L W D L L W D W D
Position 1 1 4 10 6 15 14 16 19 18 19 19 17 12 11 9 9 10 14 16 18 16 18 15 12 15 13 15 15 14 18 19 20 20 18 13 15 15 15 16 18 18 16 17 15 17

Sourced from Statto.[2]

Football League Third Division

DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers
15 August 1970 Swansea CityA2–010,713Wilson, Morgan
22 August 1970 RochdaleH4–16,196McLaren (2), James, Morris
29 August 1970 Plymouth ArgyleA1–27,753Morgan
1 September 1970 Bristol RoversA0–37,931
5 September 1970 Preston North EndH1–06,954James (pen)
12 September 1970 Shrewsbury TownA3–75,856Gough (3)
19 September 1970 GillinghamH1–15,178James
21 September 1970 ChesterfieldH0–25,930
26 September 1970 WalsallA1–35,456James (pen)
28 September 1970 Mansfield TownA0–28,121
3 October 1970 BarnsleyH1–34,490Gough
10 October 1970 Brighton & Hove AlbionA0–09,383
17 October 1970 Swansea CityH4–04,962Gough (2), James, Morris
19 October 1970 Aston VillaH2–011,224James, Gough
24 October 1970 Rotherham UnitedH1–07,215McLaren
31 October 1970 BuryA3–23,669Lacey, Horton, Boulton
7 November 1970 Tranmere RoversH2–25,495Morris, McLaren
9 November 1970 FulhamH0–18,728
14 November 1970 ReadingA1–25,036Morris
28 November 1970 Halifax TownA0–23,404
5 December 1970 Torquay UnitedH0–14,252
19 December 1970 RochdaleA3–03,619James, Summerscales, Morris
26 December 1970 WrexhamH0–36,303
2 January 1971 Doncaster RoversA2–12,997Cross, Gough
9 January 1971 Mansfield TownH2–04,412Morris, James
16 January 1971 Aston VillaA0–128,933
23 January 1971 Bradford CityA1–14,436Morris
30 January 1971 Halifax TownH0–14,059
5 February 1971 Torquay UnitedA1–16,817Morris
12 February 1971 Bradford CityH0–04,361
20 February 1971 FulhamA1–410,389Green
27 February 1971 BuryH0–03,805
6 March 1971 Rotherham UnitedA1–26,866James
10 March 1971 ChesterfieldA0–37,592
13 March 1971 ReadingH3–13,450McLaren (2), Morgan
15 March 1971 Doncaster RoversH1–04,782James (pen)
22 March 1971 Tranmere RoversA1–13,734James
27 March 1971 Preston North EndA0–116,591
3 April 1971 Plymouth ArgyleH2–13,518James, Morgan
10 April 1971 WrexhamA1–18,186Boulton
12 April 1971 Shrewsbury TownH0–15,655
13 April 1971 BarnsleyA0–14,837
17 April 1971 Brighton & Hove AlbionH2–13,789Morgan (2)
24 April 1971 GillinghamA1–12,207James
26 April 1971 Bristol RoversH2–04,525James (2)
1 May 1971 WalsallH1–15,758Lacey

FA Cup

Main article: 1970–71 FA Cup
RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorers
R121 November 1970 Notts CountyA0–115,965

League Cup

RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorers
R118 August 1970 WalsallH0–16,605

Player statistics

Appearances

Pos. Name Football League FA Cup League Cup Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
GKEngland Keith Ball 2801010300
GKEngland Stuart Sharratt 1800000180
DFEngland Roy Sproson 60001070
DFEngland Clint Boulton 4521010472
DFScotland Ron Wilson 1610010171
DFEngland Bill Summerscales 71000071
DFEngland Roy Cross 4211000431
DFEngland Mick Hopkinson 1301000140
DFEngland John Brodie 1900000190
MFScotland Tommy McLaren 3661010386
MFEngland John Green 2511010271
MFEngland John King 2600010270
MFEngland Brian Horton 3911000401
MFEngland Tony Lacey 4421010462
FWEngland John James 451510104715
FWEngland Mick Morris 4681010488
FWEngland Bobby Gough 3681000378
FWNorthern Ireland Sammy Morgan 3861010406
FWEngland Bob Mountford 10000010

Scorers

All competitions

Scorer Goals
England John James 15
England Mick Morris 8
England Bobby Gough
Scotland Tommy McLaren 6
Northern Ireland Sammy Morgan
England Tony Lacey 2
England Clint Boulton
Scotland Ron Wilson 1
England Bill Summerscales
England Roy Cross
England John Green
England Brian Horton

League

Scorer Goals
England John James 15
England Mick Morris 8
England Bobby Gough
Scotland Tommy McLaren 6
Northern Ireland Sammy Morgan
England Tony Lacey 2
England Clint Boulton
Scotland Ron Wilson 1
England Bill Summerscales
England Roy Cross
England John Green
England Brian Horton

Transfers

Transfers in

Date from Position Nationality Name From Fee Ref.
June 1970 DF England Roy Cross Walsall Free transfer [3]
July 1970 DF England Mick Hopkinson Mansfield Town Free transfer [3]
July 1970 MF England Brian Horton Hednesford Town 'a pint of shandy' [3]
January 1971 DF England John Brodie Bradford Park Avenue £250 [3]

Transfers out

Date from Position Nationality Name To Fee Ref.
December 1970 DF Scotland Ron Wilson South Africa Hellenic Released [3]
May 1971 DF England Mick Hopkinson Boston United Free transfer [3]
May 1971 MF England John King Wigan Athletic Free transfer [3]
Summer 1971 MF England John Green Northwich Victoria Released [3]

References

Specific
  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 Kent, Jeff (1990). "Surviving on a Shoestring (1969–1979)". The Valiants' Years: The Story Of Port Vale. Witan Books. pp. 227–257. ISBN 0-9508981-4-7.
  2. Port Vale 1970–1971 : Results & Fixtures. Statto Organisation. Retrieved 28 April 2012.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Kent, Jeff (1996). Port Vale Personalities. Witan Books. ISBN 0-9529152-0-0.
General
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