1926–27 Port Vale F.C. season

The 1926–27 season was Port Vale's eighth consecutive season of football (21st overall) in the English Football League.[1] Vale finished in eighth position for the third season running, obtaining 45 points, this time coming nine points off promotion to the top tier in English football. For the first time in the club's history, they played in a league above rivals Stoke City. Wilf Kirkham broke a club record by scoring 38 league goals and 41 goals in all competitions.[1] He scored six braces, four hat-tricks, and also scored four goals in one game.

Port Vale
1926–27 season
ChairmanFrank Huntbach
ManagerJoe Schofield
StadiumThe Old Recreation Ground
Football League Second Division8th (45 Points)
FA CupFourth Round
(knocked out by Arsenal)
North Staffordshire Infirmary CupRunners-up
(knocked out by Stoke)
Top goalscorerLeague: Wilf Kirkham (38)
All: Wilf Kirkham (41)
Highest home attendance21,056 vs. Middlesbrough, 15 April 1927
Lowest home attendance5,327 vs. Grimsby Town, 20 November 1926
Average home league attendance10,736
Biggest win7–1 vs. Fulham, 2 April 1927
Biggest defeat0–5 vs. Stoke, 5 May 1927
Back row: Sam Bennion (director), Arden Maddison, Jack Maddock, Tom Fern, Jimmy Oakes, Roger Jones, Tom Holford (trainer)
Front row: Jack Lowe, Tom Page, Wilf Kirkham, Alfred Strange, Billy Briscoe, Bob Connelly
Billy Briscoe was rushed to hospital after one game having collapsed due to concussion.[1]
Chairman Frank Huntbach.
Right-back Jack Maddock posted a 42-game season.
Alfred Strange would go on to represent England after leaving the club.
Club record goalscorer Wilf Kirkham.
Scottish midfielder Bob Connelly.
Goalkeeper Tom Fern.

Overview

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Second Division

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The pre-season additions included Stoke left-half Vic Rouse and Stockport County half-back George Whitcombe.[1]

The season started with just one defeat in the opening ten games, the defeat coming against relegation candidates Darlington. Going into October, the club suffered from injuries, meaning that four of the five games that month ended in defeat, with just two goals scored.[1] Goalkeeper Tom Fern was one of the injured, and so 44-year-old Howard Matthews was re-signed, having left the club nineteen years earlier.[1] To boost the strike-force Stewart Littlewood and Jack Simms were signed from Luton Town and Leek Alexandra respectively.[1] The week after a 6–2 defeat at Fulham, the "Valiants" returned to thrash Grimsby Town 6–1, Kirkham bagging a hat-trick.

In January, Alfred Strange felt unsettled, and so was transferred to The Wednesday in exchange for Harry Anstiss and an unknown sum of money.[1] Strange would later win twenty caps for England in his 30s. In contrast, Anstiss settled in well at the Vale, scoring eleven goals in fifteen league games during his debut season.[1] Meanwhile, injuries occasionally savaged the Vale team, with even Jack Lowe being forced to end his run of 123 consecutive games after spraining his ankle.[1] As the season drew to a close, secretary Joe Schofield was made manager, meaning he was better able to work with the younger players.[1]

Finances

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On the financial side, the club wished to move back to the Athletic Ground due to the lack of space to develop The Old Recreation Ground.[1] However, the council would only offer £20,000 for the land at the Old Rec, and refused to waive the first option on a repurchase, thereby killing the club's ambitions.[1]

Cup competitions

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In the FA Cup, Vale made it through to the Fourth Round after taking Clapton Orient to a replay. This came just two weeks after playing the club twice during Christmas.[1] They then faced First Division Arsenal, and following a draw at The Old Recreation Ground, the "Gunners" won 1–0 at Highbury, before going on to lose in the final.[1] Vale's hard work in the tournament earned them over £4,000 in gate receipts.[1] On 5 May 1927, Vale played Potteries derby rivals Stoke City in the North Staffordshire Royal Infirmary Cup, and lost an embarrassing 5–0 to the Third Division North champions.[1] However, £365 was raised for the local hospital.[2]

League table

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GAv Pts
6 Preston North End 42 20 9 13 74 72 1.028 49
7 Hull City 42 20 7 15 63 52 1.212 47
8 Port Vale 42 16 13 13 88 78 1.128 45
9 Blackpool 42 18 8 16 95 80 1.188 44
10 Oldham Athletic 42 19 6 17 74 84 0.881 44
Source: [citation needed]

Results

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Port Vale's score comes first

Football League Second Division

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Results by matchday

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Round123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627282930313233343536373839404142
GroundAAHAAHHAHHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHHAAHAHHAHHAAHA
ResultWLDDDWWDWDLLLLWLLDDDLWWLDDDWWLLLWWWDWLWLDW
Position81010101297734571111111211111111111110101111121210111112111089898988
Source: Statto[3]
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

Matches

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Date Opponent Venue Result Attendance Scorers
28 August 1926 Bradford City A 2–1 14,077 Kirkham, Strange
30 August 1926 Darlington A 3–4 6,081 Maddock, Lowe, Kirkham
4 September 1926 Chelsea H 0–0 14,720
11 September 1926 Preston North End A 4–4 18,960 Maddock (pen), Lowe, Page, Kirkham
13 September 1926 Southampton A 2–2 8,681 Page, Briscoe
18 September 1926 South Shields H 4–2 12,474 Lowe (2), Kirkham (2)
20 September 1926 Darlington H 3–2 8,827 Lowe, Page, Strange
25 September 1926 Hull City A 0–0 7,793
27 September 1926 Southampton H 3–1 9,594 Page (2), Briscoe
2 October 1926 Wolverhampton Wanderers H 1–1 14,083 Briscoe
9 October 1926 Notts County A 1–2 11,838 Maddison
16 October 1926 Barnsley A 0–2 5,520
23 October 1926 Manchester City H 0–2 14,467
30 October 1926 Portsmouth A 0–4 12,372
6 November 1926 Oldham Athletic H 3–0 7,339 Kirkham (2), Simms
13 November 1926 Fulham A 2–6 3,102 Lowe, Kirkham
20 November 1926 Grimsby Town H 6–1 5,327 Kirkham (3), Maddock, Lowe, Simms
27 November 1926 Blackpool A 2–2 7,656 Strange (2)
4 December 1926 Reading H 1–1 9,340 Kirkham
11 December 1926 Swansea City A 2–2 16,344 Kirkham, Simms
18 December 1926 Nottingham Forest H 0–2 8,046
25 December 1926 Clapton Orient A 2–1 14,378 Littlewood (2)
27 December 1926 Clapton Orient H 3–0 16,457 Kirkham (2), Briscoe
1 January 1927 Middlesbrough A 2–5 26,163 Kirkham (2 [1 pen])
15 January 1927 Bradford City H 0–0 9,732
5 February 1927 South Shields A 3–3 4,603 Kirkham (3)
12 February 1927 Hull City H 0–0 10,654
26 February 1927 Notts County H 6–2 9,368 Kirkham (3), Connelly, Page, Anstiss
5 March 1927 Barnsley H 3–2 8,452 Briscoe, Page, Kirkham
12 March 1927 Manchester City A 1–4 34,281 Page
16 March 1927 Barrow A 0–2 18,169
19 March 1927 Portsmouth H 2–3 10,972 Briscoe, Simms
26 March 1927 Oldham Athletic A 3–1 4,419 Anstiss (2), Kirkham
28 March 1927 Preston North End H 2–0 8,388 Anstiss, Briscoe
2 April 1927 Fulham H 7–1 7,642 Kirkham (4), Anstiss (3)
9 April 1927 Grimsby Town A 4–4 8,717 Page, Kirkham, Lowe, Anstiss
15 April 1927 Middlesbrough H 3–1 21,056 Kirkham (3)
16 April 1927 Blackpool H 2–4 10,749 Anstiss, Kirkham
19 April 1927 Wolverhampton Wanderers A 2–1 11,628 Kirkham, Anstiss
23 April 1927 Reading A 0–2 9,084
30 April 1927 Swansea City H 1–1 7,483 Kirkham
7 May 1927 Nottingham Forest A 3–0 5,455 Anstiss, Kirkham (2)

FA Cup

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Round Date Opponent Venue Result Attendance Goalscorers
R3 8 January 1927 Clapton Orient A 1–1 17,965 Simms
R3 Replay 12 January 1927 Clapton Orient H 5–1 11,450 Kirkham (2), Page, Strange, Simms
R4 29 January 1927 Arsenal H 2–2 18,000 o.g., Kirkham
R4 Replay 2 February 1927 Arsenal A 0–1 35,700

North Staffordshire Infirmary Cup

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Round Date Opponent Venue Result Attendance Goalscorers
final 5 May 1927 Stoke A 0–5 5,950

Player statistics

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Appearances and goals

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Pos. Name Football League FA Cup Other Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
GK   Tom Fern 11 0 0 0 0 0 11 0
GK   George Holdcroft 6 0 0 0 0 0 6 0
GK   Howard Matthews 21 0 4 0 1 0 26 0
GK   Alex Binnie 4 0 0 0 0 0 4 0
DF   Jimmy Oakes 40 0 4 0 1 0 45 0
DF   Jack Maddock 39 3 2 0 1 0 42 3
DF   Billy Wootton 5 0 2 0 0 0 7 0
MF   Bob Connelly 39 1 3 0 1 0 43 1
MF   Roger Jones 7 0 0 0 0 0 7 0
MF   Jack Lowe 40 8 4 0 1 0 45 8
MF   Arden Maddison 15 1 0 0 0 0 15 1
MF   Alfred Strange 24 4 4 1 0 0 28 5
MF   Herbert Smith 13 0 3 0 0 0 16 0
MF   Fred Smith 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 0
MF   George Whitcombe 21 0 3 0 0 0 24 0
MF   Vic Rouse 29 0 3 0 1 0 33 0
MF   Jack Simms 21 4 4 2 0 0 25 6
MF   Phil Griffiths 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
FW   Tom Page 34 9 3 1 1 0 38 10
FW   Wilf Kirkham 41 38 4 3 1 0 46 41
FW   Billy Briscoe 30 7 1 0 1 0 32 7
FW   Arthur Ecclestone 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
FW   Stewart Littlewood 2 2 0 0 0 0 2 2
FW   Percy Oldacre 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
FW   Harry Anstiss 15 11 0 0 1 0 16 11
FW   Charles Heinemann 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Top scorers

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Place Position Nation Name Second Division FA Cup Infirmary Cup Total
1 FW   England Wilf Kirkham 38 3 0 41
2 FW   England Harry Anstiss 11 0 0 11
3 FW   England Tom Page 9 1 0 10
4 MF   England Jack Lowe 8 0 0 8
5 FW   England Billy Briscoe 7 0 0 7
6 MF   England Jack Simms 4 2 0 6
7 MF   England Alfred Strange 4 1 0 5
8 DF   England Jack Maddock 3 0 0 3
9 FW   England Stewart Littlewood 2 0 0 2
10 DF   Scotland Bob Connelly 1 0 0 1
MF   England Arden Maddison 1 0 0 1
Own goals 0 1 0 0
TOTALS 88 8 0 96

Transfers

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Transfers in

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Date from Position Nationality Name From Fee Ref.
May 1926 MF   Jack Mandley Blythe Bridge Boothen Vics [4]
June 1926 GK   George Holdcroft Whitfield Colliery Free transfer [4]
June 1926 MF   Jack Simms Leek Alexandra Free transfer [4]
August 1926 MF   Phil Griffiths Wattstown Free transfer [4]
August 1926 FW   Percy Oldacre Sheffield United Free transfer [4]
August 1926 MF   Vic Rouse Swansea Town Free transfer [4]
August 1926 MF   George Whitcombe Stockport County Free transfer [4]
September 1926 GK   Howard Matthews   Partick Thistle Trial [4]
November 1926 FW   Stewart Littlewood Luton Town Free transfer [4]
October 1926 GK   Howard Matthews Oldham Athletic Free transfer [4]
February 1927 FW   Harry Anstiss Sheffield Wednesday Exchange + 'substantial' fee [4]

Transfers out

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Date from Position Nationality Name To Fee Ref.
October 1926 GK   Howard Matthews   Hamilton Academicals Trial ended [4]
January 1927 FW   Tom Reid Clapton Orient £230 [4]
February 1927 MF   Alfred Strange Sheffield Wednesday 'Substantial' [4]
May 1927 DF   Arden Maddison Oldham Athletic Released [4]
Summer 1927 GK   Sidney Brown Gillingham Released [4]
Summer 1927 GK   Tom Fern Colwyn Bay United Free transfer [4]
Summer 1927 FW   Percy Oldacre Hurst Released [4]
Summer 1927 MF   Fred Smith Released [4]

References

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Specific
  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q 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. ^ Kent, Jeff (November 1998). The Potteries Derbies. Witan Books. p. 126. ISBN 0-9529152-3-5.
  3. ^ Port Vale 1926–1927 : Results & Fixtures Archived 4 March 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 s Kent, Jeff (1996). Port Vale Personalities. Witan Books. ISBN 0-9529152-0-0.
General