Port Vale
1936–37 season
ChairmanFrank Huntbach
ManagerWarney Cresswell
StadiumThe Old Recreation Ground
Football League Third Division North11th (44 Points)
FA CupThird Round
(knocked out by Sheffield Wednesday)
Football League Third Division North CupSemi-finals
(knocked out by Chester)
Top goalscorerLeague: Tommy Ward (14)
All: Tommy Ward (18)
Highest home attendance12,950 vs. Chester, 5 December 1936
Lowest home attendance2,148 vs. Rochdale, 17 April 1937
Average home league attendance7,298
Biggest win4–0 (twice) and 5–1
Biggest defeat1–7 vs. Mansfield Town, 27 March 1937

The 1936–37 season was Port Vale's 31st season of football in the English Football League, and their first season (second overall) back in the Third Division North following their relegation from the Second Division.[1] For the first time in the club's history, rivals Stoke City were playing two leagues above them. The "Valiants" played in white shirts and black socks – a look that they kept for the rest of the century and beyond. Manager Warney Cresswell would prove to be the first of Vale's managers to be recognizable as a manager to modern observers, training the players to ensure fitness, allowing them to relax together as a group, and searching the country for fresh talent. His modern techniques were not enough to ensure promotion, despite a mid-season unbeaten run of thirteen games in an otherwise unremarkable season.

Chairman Frank Huntbach.

Overview

Third Division North

During the pre-season build-up, former England international full-back Warney Cresswell was appointed as manager-coach, filling a position which had remained vacant since September 1936.[1] Described as 'a very knowledgeable man about football', he increased the playing staff to twenty, signing winger Gerry Kelly (Chester); right-half Tommy Ward (Grimsby Town); and left-half Spencer Evans (Altrincham).[1] Cresswell also began running the players and pushing them in the gym, in order to get them fit for the season.[1] In between heavy training sessions he encouraged the players to relax with snooker and billiards competitions.[1] The club also decided to introduce a new strip of white shirts and black shorts, a look they retain to this day.[1]

The season opened with two defeats, as Vale found it tough to acclimatize to third-tier football, their 3–1 home defeat to Hull City came despite them doing the double over the "Tigers" the previous season.[1] Following this, George Stabb transferred to Bradford Park Avenue, in a deal which saw Tom Nolan return to The Old Recreation Ground.[1] Continuing their poor form, by the end of September they were seventh from bottom.[1] This prompted Cresswell to sign inside-forward Alfred Dickinson from Everton.[1] On 26 September, Nolan scored a hat-trick past Stockport County, but the Vale would have to wait a little longer before getting into their stride.[1] Seven changes were made for the 24 October win over Hartlepools United, and the wait would be worth it, as Vale then went on a thirteen-game unbeaten run.[1] Nevertheless, Cresswell continued to travel the country in the hunt for talented young amateurs.[1] By the end of October the 40,000 Shilling Fund completed its mission.[1] With Ward scoring two hat-tricks during the spell, Michael Curley and George Heywood were judged as surplus to requirements, and moved on to Colwyn Bay and Southport respectively.[1] Fred Obrey also proved to be a revelation in the centre of the pitch.[1]

By the time Vale lost their unbeaten run – 1–0 at struggling Darlington's Feethams – they were up to fourth in the table.[1] Vale were then in indifferent form for the remainder of the season, as their promotion hopes petered away.[1] On 27 March a heavy 7–1 defeat was recorded to Mansfield Town at Field Mill.[1] Cresswell's contract was cancelled by mutual consent, and he quickly took up the management reins at Third Division South side Northampton Town.[1]

They finished in eleventh position with 44 points.[1] This meant they were sixteen points short of promotion and twelve points clear of the re-election zones. With 58 goals scored they had the third weakest attack in the division, and had almost half the tally of runners-up Lincoln City.[1]

Finances

On the financial side, a profit of £401 was made, though £1,923 of income came through the Shilling Fund.[1] Gate receipts had tailed off by another £1,065; whilst the wage bill was trimmed to £5,656 and a transfer credit of £465 was made.[1] Fourteen players departed at the season's end, including: Ken Gunn (sold to Creswell's Northampton Town); Eric Hayward (sold to Blackpool); goalkeeper Allan Todd (refused terms and was transferred to Nottingham Forest); fourteen-year club veteran Roger Jones (retirement); and Gerry Kelly (signed with Southampton).[1] The club also petitioned the Football League for a switch to the Third Division South, where gates were believed to be higher, however, the League replied that circumstance and not applications determined where club's were placed – despite this Mansfield Town were the ones transferred, Mansfield being a town some 40 miles (64 km) north of Stoke-on-Trent.[1]

Cup competitions

In the FA Cup, they fell at the Third Round to First Division Sheffield Wednesday with a 2–0 defeat at Hillsborough, having been forced to play six reserves due to injury.[1] In the short-lived Football League Third Division North Cup, the club progressed to the semi-finals with victories over Mansfield Town (2–0), Stockport County (4–0), and Rotherham United (1–0); where they lost 3–0 to Chester.[1] Attendances of around 100 exemplified the lack of interest in the competition.[1]

League table

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GAv Pts Promotion or relegation
1 Stockport County (C, P) 42 23 14 5 84 39 2.154 60 Promotion to the Second Division
2 Lincoln City 42 25 7 10 103 57 1.807 57
3 Chester 42 22 9 11 87 57 1.526 53
4 Oldham Athletic 42 20 11 11 77 59 1.305 51
5 Hull City 42 17 12 13 68 69 0.986 46
6 Hartlepools United 42 19 7 16 75 69 1.087 45
7 Halifax Town 42 18 9 15 68 63 1.079 45
8 Wrexham 42 16 12 14 71 57 1.246 44
9 Mansfield Town 42 18 8 16 91 76 1.197 44 Transferred to the Third Division South
10 Carlisle United 42 18 8 16 65 68 0.956 44
11 Port Vale 42 17 10 15 58 64 0.906 44
12 York City 42 16 11 15 79 70 1.129 43
13 Accrington Stanley 42 16 9 17 76 69 1.101 41
14 Southport 42 12 13 17 73 87 0.839 37
15 New Brighton 42 13 11 18 55 70 0.786 37
16 Barrow 42 13 10 19 70 86 0.814 36
17 Rotherham United 42 14 7 21 78 91 0.857 35
18 Rochdale 42 13 9 20 69 86 0.802 35
19 Tranmere Rovers 42 12 9 21 71 88 0.807 33
20 Crewe Alexandra 42 10 12 20 55 83 0.663 32
21 Gateshead 42 11 10 21 63 98 0.643 32 Re-elected
22 Darlington 42 8 14 20 66 96 0.688 30
Source: rsssf.com
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal average; 3) Goals scored
(C) Champions; (P) Promoted

Results

Port Vale's score comes first

Football League Third Division North

Results by matchday

Round123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627282930313233343536373839404142
GroundHAAHHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHHAAHAHAHAHAHHAAHHAH
ResultLLWWDLLWLDLWDWWWDWWWWDDWLWLLWWWLLLWDLLDDLW
Position1821179121316111514181413131398665555455665444654466671111
Source: Statto[2]
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

Matches

DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers
29 August 1936Hull CityH1–39,207Miller
2 September 1936New BrightonA0–24,522
5 September 1936GatesheadA1–04,538Rhodes
7 September 1936New BrightonH3–16,096Roberts (2), Rhodes
12 September 1936DarlingtonH2–27,628Caldwell, Nolan
14 September 1936Oldham AthleticA1–53,622Roberts
19 September 1936WrexhamA0–17,746
26 September 1936Stockport CountyH3–09,407Nolan (3)
3 October 1936Rotherham UnitedA0–27,032
10 October 1936York CityH1–17,627Caldwell
17 October 1936Carlisle UnitedA2–54,691Nolan, Rhodes
24 October 1936Hartlepools UnitedH1–06,659Roberts
31 October 1936SouthportA3–37,483Roberts (2), Nolan
7 November 1936Tranmere RoversH2–16,551Roberts, Nolan
14 November 1936Halifax TownA1–07,443Goodfellow
21 November 1936Mansfield TownH5–18,983Jones (3), Ward, Dean
28 November 1936ChesterA0–07,616
5 December 1936ChesterH4–012,950Ward (3), Rhodes (pen)
12 December 1936RochdaleA0–02,218
19 December 1936BarrowH3–28,431Nolan (2), Kelly
25 December 1936Accrington StanleyA3–25,997Ward (2), Jones
26 December 1936Hull CityA1–114,928Ward
28 December 1936Accrington StanleyH1–18,030Ward
2 January 1937GatesheadH4–28,472Ward (3), Dean
9 January 1937DarlingtonA0–15,177
20 January 1937Crewe AlexandraA1–02,059Kelly
23 January 1937WrexhamH0–37,432
30 January 1937Stockport CountyA0–110,690
6 February 1937Rotherham UnitedH2–17,440Dean, Rhodes
13 February 1937York CityA2–14,241Obrey, Jones
20 February 1937Carlisle UnitedH1–06,585Ward
27 February 1937Hartlepools UnitedA0–22,645
6 March 1937SouthportH0–26,986
13 March 1937Tranmere RoversA2–45,732Ward (2)
20 March 1937Halifax TownH3–18,815Jones (3)
26 March 1937Lincoln CityH1–16,243Dean
27 March 1937Mansfield TownA1–76,348Jones
29 March 1937Lincoln CityA0–113,715
3 April 1937Crewe AlexandraH0–06,365
17 April 1937RochdaleH1–12,148Nolan
24 April 1937BarrowA1–34,298Nolan
1 May 1937Oldham AthleticH1–02,353Roberts

FA Cup

RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorers
R316 January 1937Sheffield WednesdayA0–227,450

Third Division North Cup

RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorers
111 November 1936Mansfield TownA2–01,000Ward (2)
28 February 1937Stockport CountyH4–0100+Ward (2), Evans, Tunnicliffe
38 March 1937Rotherham UnitedH1–01,000Nolan
SF10 April 1937ChesterA0–3

Player statistics

Appearances

Pos. Name Football League FA Cup Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
GKScotland Allan Todd 39000430
GKWales John Jones 301040
DFEngland Trevor Rhodes 33500365
DFEngland Eric Hayward 18010210
DFEngland Roderick Welsh 17010210
DFEngland George Heywood 200020
DFEngland Harry Griffiths 800080
DFEngland Claude Barrett 19000190
DFEngland Bill Wright 000000
MFEngland Roger Jones 36910399
MFScotland Ken Gunn 37000400
MFEngland Arthur Caldwell 13200142
MFEngland Frank Ryder 601080
MFEngland Michael Curley 300030
MFEngland Tommy Ward 2714103218
MFEngland Billy Tunnicliffe 200031
MFEngland Wilf Smith 100010
MFEngland Fred Obrey 29110331
MFEngland Gerry Kelly 20210212
MFEngland Jack Harrison 200040
MFWales Spencer Evans 34010381
MFEngland Arthur Cumberlidge 800090
MFEngland Percy Adams 100010
MFEngland Edwin Blunt 000000
FWEngland Luke Dean 13400144
FWEngland Jack Roberts 15800168
FWEngland George Stabb 200020
FWEngland Tom Nolan 3711104112
FWScotland Peter Miller 13110171
FWEngland Arthur Ford 300040
FWEngland Syd Goodfellow 16100161
FWWales Alfred Dickinson 500050

Top scorers

Place Position Nation Name Third Division North FA Cup Northern Cup Total
1MF EnglandTommy Ward140418
2FW EnglandTom Nolan110112
3MF EnglandRoger Jones9009
4FW EnglandJack Roberts8008
5DF EnglandTrevor Rhodes5005
6FW EnglandLuke Dean4004
7MF EnglandArthur Caldwell2002
–MF EnglandGerry Kelly2002
8FW ScotlandPeter Miller1001
–FW EnglandSyd Goodfellow1001
–MF EnglandBilly Tunnicliffe0011
–MF EnglandFred Obrey1001
–MF WalesSpencer Evans0011
TOTALS 58 0 7 65

Transfers

Transfers in

Date from Position Nationality Name From Fee Ref.
May 1936MFEnglandJack HarrisonSneyd CollieryFree transfer[3]
June 1936DFEnglandClaude BarrettBradford Park AvenueFree transfer[3]
June 1936MFEnglandGerry KellyChester'Substantial'[3]
June 1936FWScotlandPeter MillerRotherham UnitedFree transfer[3]
June 1936MFEnglandTommy WardGrimsby TownFree transfer[3]
July 1936DFWalesSpencer EvansAltrinchamFree transfer[3]
August 1936FWEnglandArthur FordWolverhampton WanderersFree transfer[3]
September 1936FWWalesAlfred DickinsonEvertonFree transfer[3]
September 1936FWEnglandTom NolanBradford Park AvenueExchange[3]
October 1936FWEnglandSyd GoodfellowSilverdaleFree transfer[3]

Transfers out

Date from Position Nationality Name To Fee Ref.
May 1936MFEnglandFred ObreyLongtonFree transfer[3]
September 1936MFEnglandGeorge StabbBradford Park AvenueFree transfer[3]
October 1936FWWalesAlfred DickinsonEvertonFree transfer[3]
October 1936MFEnglandWilf SmithSneyd CollieryFree transfer[3]
November 1936MFEnglandMichael CurleyColwyn BayFree transfer[3]
November 1936DFEnglandRoderick WelshSouthportFree transfer[3]
April 1937DFEnglandClaude BarrettYork CityFree transfer[3]
April 1937FWEnglandSyd GoodfellowNorthern Ireland GlentoranFree transfer[3]
April 1937MFEnglandJack HarrisonReleased[3]
April 1937GKWalesJohn JonesNorthampton TownFree transfer[3]
April 1937FWScotlandPeter MillerReleased[3]
April 1937MFEnglandFrank RyderReleased[3]
May 1937MFScotlandKen GunnNorthampton TownFree transfer[3]
May 1937DFEnglandEric HaywardBlackpoolFree transfer[3]
Summer 1937MFEnglandRoger JonesReleased[3]
Summer 1937GKScotlandAllan ToddNottingham ForestExchange[3]
August 1937FWEnglandLuke DeanNorthwich VictoriaFree transfer[3]
August 1937MFEnglandGerry KellySouthamptonFree transfer[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 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 Kent, Jeff (1990). "From Glory to Despair (1929–1939)". The Valiants' Years: The Story Of Port Vale. Witan Books. pp. 124–150. ISBN 978-0-9508981-4-8.
  2. ↑ Port Vale 1936–1937 : Results & Fixtures Archived 4 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine. 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 23 24 25 26 27 28 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 978-0-9508981-9-3.
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