Wikipedia

1892–93 Burslem Port Vale F.C. season

The 1892–93 season was Burslem Port Vale's first season of football in the English Football League. The club were founding members of the Football League Second Division, the First Division having been in operation for four seasons before 1892–93. A learning curve for the club, it marked the first of four seasons of struggle in what was rapidly becoming the second tier of the strongest league in the world. This learning curve was punctuated by the biggest league defeat in the club's history, a 10–0 humiliation in a snowstorm at home to Sheffield United on 10 December 1892, still a Football League record for a home defeat.[1]

Burslem Port Vale
1892–93 season
StadiumAthletic Ground
Football League Second Division11th (15 Points)
FA CupFirst Qualifying Round
(knocked out by Burton Swifts)
Birmingham Senior CupSecond Round
(knocked out by Aston Villa)
Staffordshire Senior CupFirst Round
(knocked out by Burton Wanderers)
Top goalscorerLeague: Meshach Dean (5)
All: Meshach Dean (6)
Highest home attendance2,000 vs Darwen, 1 October 1892
Lowest home attendance500 vs Grimsby Town, 17 February 1893
Average home league attendance1,344+
Biggest win4–0 vs. Northwich Victoria, 4 March 1893
Biggest defeat0–10 vs. Sheffield United, 10 December 1892

Other than the record defeat (which saw right-half Billy Delves play in goal[1]) and two away performances where five goals were conceded, the Vale were competitive in most matches, winning three of their games by at least a three-goal margin. If not for the capitulation against Sheffield United, then the club would have had one of the better defensive records in the league. However, a run of one goal scored in five consecutive games highlighted their lack of offensive firepower. This run saw them lose eight of ten games.

Winning Football League status

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Having spent their early history playing only friendly matches, cup games, and in minor leagues such as the Midland Football League; 1892–93 marked the club's first season in the English Football League.[1] The Football League's merger with the Football Alliance saw the club granted Second Division status, due to their third place standing in the Midland League in 1891–92, along with Northwich Victoria and Sheffield United.

Overview

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Second Division

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The pre-season started terribly, with star striker Frank McGinnes dying of kidney disease before a ball was kicked.[1] His replacement was Wallace Bliss, and local headmaster Fred Farrington was appointed captain.[1] The first match continued in desperately poor fashion; Billy Beats missed the train, and so Vale played with ten men against Small Heath, losing 5–1, with Bliss scoring the club's first Football League goal – his only goal in the league ever. Away matches were difficult for the "Valeites" as players had trouble gaining permission from their employers to miss work.[1] Vale suffered a 10–0 defeat in a snowstorm at home to Sheffield United on 10 December, a Football League record for a home defeat.[2]

Finishing in 11th place, they finished one place above the bottom club Walsall Town Swifts and level on points with Crewe Alexandra. Their fifteen points were less than half the tally of champions Small Heath (who were not promoted after losing their 'Test Match'). A time of expansion for the competition, they retained their league status despite their poor showing (disbanded Bootle were the only team to lose their status), and the next season, three more teams were added to the league. Vale's defence performed admirably (most of the time). However, Vale only scored 30 goals in their 22 league games. Their first-ever point came at Bootle, and their first-ever win was a 4–1 home victory over Crewe Alexandra.

Cup competitions

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Despite reaching the Fifth Round of the FA Cup in 1885–86, they failed to make it through the qualifying stages this time round. In the Staffordshire Senior Cup they exited in the First Round to Burton Wanderers, and in the Birmingham Senior Cup they left in the Second Round after a 4–1 defeat by Aston Villa.

 
Billy Beats, one of the club's key players during the campaign.

League table

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Pos Team
 Pld W D L GF GA GAv Pts Qualification or relegation
8 Bootle[a] 22 8 3 11 49 63 0.778 19 Resigned from league
9 Lincoln City 22 7 3 12 45 51 0.882 17 Re-elected
10 Crewe Alexandra 22 6 3 13 42 69 0.609 15
11 Burslem Port Vale 22 6 3 13 30 57 0.526 15
12 Walsall Town Swifts 22 5 3 14 37 75 0.493 13
Source: [citation needed]
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal average; 3) Goals scored
Notes:
  1. ^ Bootle was liquidated at the end of the season.

Results

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Burslem Port Vale's score comes first

Football League Second Division

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Main article: 1892–93 Football League

Results by matchday

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Round12345678910111213141516171819202122
GroundAAAHHHHAAHAHHAHAHAHAHA
ResultLLDWLWLWLDLLLLWLLLWDLW
Position101297877677788889111212111111
Source: Statto[3]
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

Matches

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Date Opponent Venue Result Attendance Scorers
3 September 1892 Small Heath A 1–5 2,500 Bliss
10 September 1892 Ardwick A 0–2 2,000
12 September 1892 Bootle A 1–1 3,000 Dean
24 September 1892 Crewe Alexandra H 4–1 1,500 Farrington (2), Walker, Dean
1 October 1892 Darwen H 2–4 2,000 Walker, Bliss
8 October 1892 Burton Swifts H 1–0 Farrington
10 October 1892 Ardwick H 1–2 1,000 Walker
22 October 1892 Lincoln City A 4–3 1,000 J.Mountford, Bliss, unknown, unknown
5 November 1892 Darwen A 1–4 3,000 Farrington
12 November 1892 Bootle H 0–0 1,300
26 November 1892 Crewe Alexandra A 0–5
3 December 1892 Lincoln City H 1–2 Beats
10 December 1892 Sheffield United H 0–10 1,000
17 December 1892 Sheffield United A 0–4 2,000
31 December 1892 Walsall Town Swifts H 3–0 1,000 Lander (2), unknown
14 January 1893 Grimsby Town A 0–2 500
11 February 1893 Grimsby Town H 0–1 500
18 February 1893 Walsall Town Swifts A 0–3 1,000
4 March 1893 Northwich Victoria H 4–0 800 Wood (2), Beats, Dean
18 March 1893 Burton Swifts A 3–3 Dean (2), Scarratt
25 March 1893 Small Heath H 0–3 3,000
8 April 1893 Northwich Victoria A 4–2 1,000 Beats (2), G.Mountford (2)

FA Cup

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Main article: 1892–93 FA Cup
Round Date Opponent Venue Result Goalscorers
1Q 15 October 1892 Burton Swifts H 0–2

Birmingham Senior Cup

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Round Date Opponent Venue Result Attendance Goalscorers
2 2 February 1893 Aston Villa H 1–4 2,000 Elson

Staffordshire Senior Cup

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Round Date Opponent Venue Result Attendance Goalscorers
1 7 January 1893 Burton Wanderers H 2–4 100 Scarratt, Dean

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   Joe Frail 19 0 1 0 2 0 22 0
GK   Levi Higginson 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
DF   James Clutton 21 0 1 0 2 0 24 0
DF W. Downwood 3 0 1 0 0 0 4 0
DF C. McAlpine 10 0 0 0 1 0 11 0
DF W. E. Powell 3 0 0 0 0 0 3 0
DF   Albert Skinner 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
DF   George Youds 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 0
MF   Meshach Dean 16 5 1 0 2 1 19 6
MF   Billy Delves 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 0
MF   Billy Elson 16 0 1 0 2 1 19 1
MF Fred Farrington (c) 18 4 1 0 1 0 20 4
MF W. Jones 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
MF   Bob McCrindle 20 0 1 0 2 0 23 0
MF   Jos Randles 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 0
MF   Jimmy Scarratt 20 1 1 0 2 1 23 2
MF James Smith 4 0 1 0 0 0 5 0
MF Tommy Walker 15 3 1 0 2 0 18 3
MF   Alf Wood 7 2 0 0 2 0 9 2
FW James Mountford 1 1 0 0 0 0 1 1
FW   Billy Beats 21 4 1 0 1 0 23 4
FW   Wallace Bliss 13 3 1 0 0 0 14 3
FW   Jimmy Ditchfield 11 0 0 0 1 0 12 0
FW Charles Garner 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
FW Johnny Lander 3 2 0 0 0 0 3 2
FW William McFarlane 4 0 0 0 0 0 4 0
FW George Mountford 3 2 0 0 0 0 4 3
FW   John Nash 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 0
FW   Arthur Pimlott 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0

Top scorers

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Place Position Nation Name Midland League FA Cup Other Total
1 MF   England Meshach Dean 5 0 1 6
2 FW   England Billy Beats 4 0 0 4
– MF Fred Farrington 4 0 0 4
4 MF Tommy Walker 3 0 0 3
– FW   England Wallace Bliss 3 0 0 3
6 FW George Mountford 2 0 0 2
– MF   England Alf Wood 2 0 0 2
– FW Johnny Lander 2 0 0 2
– MF   England Jimmy Scarratt 1 0 1 2
10 MF   England Billy Elson 0 0 1 1
– FW James Mountford 1 0 0 1
– – – Unknown 3 0 0 3
TOTALS 30 0 6 36

Transfers

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Transfers in

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Date from Position Nationality Name From Fee Ref.
October 1892 DF C. McAlpine Darlington Free transfer [4]
November 1892 DF George Youds Kettering Town Free transfer [4]
December 1892 MF   Alf Wood Smallthorne Albion Free transfer [4]

Transfers out

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Date from Position Nationality Name To Fee Ref.
February 1893 DF C. McAlpine Released [4]
March 1893 MF Tommy Walker Burton Swifts Free transfer [4]
Summer 1893 FW   Wallace Bliss Released [4]
Summer 1893 MF Billy Delves Released [4]
Summer 1893 DF W. Downwood Released [4]
Summer 1893 FW Charles Garner Released [4]
Summer 1893 MF W. Jones) Released [4]
Summer 1893 MF Johnny Lander Released [4]
Summer 1893 FW William McFarlane Released [4]
Summer 1893 FW George Mountford Released [4]
Summer 1893 MF James Mountford Released [4]
Summer 1893 FW   John Nash Released [4]
Summer 1893 FW   Arthur Pimlott Released [4]
Summer 1893 DF W. E. Powell Released [4]
Summer 1893 DF   Albert Skinner Released [4]

References

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Specific
  1. ^ a b c d e f 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. ^ Fielding, Rob (15 January 2018). "Clipping: A match report on Vale's record defeat..." onevalefan.co.uk. Retrieved 5 June 2020.
  3. ^ Port Vale 1892–1893 : Results & Fixtures Archived 19 January 2016 at the Wayback Machine. Statto Organisation. Retrieved 28 April 2012.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r Kent, Jeff (1996). Port Vale Personalities. Witan Books. ISBN 0-9529152-0-0.
General
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