Port Vale
1937–38 season
ChairmanFrank Huntbach
ManagerTom Morgan
(from December)
StadiumThe Old Recreation Ground
Football League Third Division North15th (38 Points)
FA CupFirst Round
(knocked out by Gainsborough Trinity)
Football League Third Division North CupFirst Round
(knocked out by Tranmere Rovers)
Top goalscorerLeague: Jack Roberts (28)
All: Jack Roberts (30)
Highest home attendance10,984 vs. Hull City, 15 April 1938
Lowest home attendance2,992 vs. Rochdale, 30 April 1938
Average home league attendance6,716
Biggest win4–0 and 5–1
Biggest defeat0–5 and 2–7

The 1937–38 season was Port Vale's 32nd season of football in the English Football League, and their second-successive season (third overall) in the Third Division North.[1] With thirty goals, Jack Roberts was the division's top scorer. However, the club managed only a mid-table finish, also exiting both cup competitions at the first stage.

Chairman Frank Huntbach

Overview

Third Division North

The pre-season saw the arrival of goalkeepers James Nicholls and George Heppell (Brentford and Wolverhampton Wanderers); veteran right-back Johnny Rowe (Queen's Park Rangers); left-back Harry Johnson (Newcastle United); winger Charlie Rattray (Mansfield Town); experienced inside-right Arthur Masters (Nottingham Forest); and 'clever' inside-left William Price (Fulham).[1] Pre-season training included bowls, cricket, and practice with rubbers balls and rubber boots to improve ball control.[1] The fans were not optimistic about the campaign, and so ticket sales were low despite lowered prices.[1]

The season began with a 3–0 defeat at Oldham Athletic's Boundary Park.[1] Tom Nolan found himself dropped in favour of Jack Roberts, who immediately went on a run of three goals in three games.[1] The team went on to go six games unbeaten, including a 4–0 win over Barrow in which Roberts scored all four.[1] Their 5–1 win over Hartlepools United – in which Arthur Caldwell scored a hat-trick – took them into seventh in the table.[1] This run ended with a 5–0 drubbing at Valley Parade.[1] After this defeat to Bradford City the Vale signed forward Ken Fish from Aston Villa for 'a sizeable fee'.[1] In November, William Price was released from his contract.[1] The next month the side were on the end of a 7–2 beating by Chester at Sealand Road.[1] Soon after this Tom Morgan was re-appointed as manager, having been demoted to assistant-secretary in June 1932.[1] Immediately following this the club went on a run of one defeat in nine games.[1] During this run Roberts scored a hat-trick past Accrington Stanley in a 4–1 win.[1]

In February, Tommy Ward was traded to Stoke City in exchange for Harry Davies and a small fee.[1] On 5 March, Vale inflicted a 4–3 win over Bradford City, soon after which Sam Baum was signed from Bolton Wanderers just two minutes before the transfer deadline closed.[1] On 15 April, the club saw its first five-figure crowd of the season, as promotion-chasing Hull City took away both the points despite a brace from Roberts.[1] Revenge came at Anlaby Road three days later, when the "Valiants" held a clean sheet to damage the "Tigers" promotion prospects.[1] On the final home game of the season a seventeen-year-old Alf Bellis scored on his debut as Vale beat Rochdale 4–1.[1]

They finished fifteenth with 38 points, just six points clear of the re-election zone.[1] Away from The Old Recreation Ground the side struggled, managing just a single win.[1] Jack Roberts was the club's top goalscorer with 28 league strikes in 37 games – also making him the division's top scorer.[1]

Finances

On the financial side, a bare profit of some £300 was recorded, due to a transfer credit of £2,900.[1] The annual summer clear-out saw the departure of fourteen of the twenty-six players, including Sam Baum; Spencer Evans (Northwich Victoria); Roderick Welsh; Charlie Rattray (Accrington Stanley); Harry Johnson (Hartlepools United); Trevor Rhodes; and Fred Obrey (who was sold to Tranmere Rovers).[1] At the season's end the club were delighted to hear they had been transferred to the Third Division South, where gate receipts were higher.[1] On 27 June another meeting at the Grand Hotel (Hanley) saw the issue of a name change debated, where Stoke United and Stoke North End were again considered.[1] A change of name was advocated by every letter written in by supporters, however, once again there was insufficient time to implement a name change before the upcoming season.[1]

Cup competitions

In the FA Cup, a first-round exit came at the hands of Midland League Gainsborough Trinity, after Trinity won the replay 2–1.[1] In the short-lived Football League Third Division North Cup, Vale went out in the first round to Tranmere Rovers – a 1–1 stalemate at home was followed by a 2–0 defeat in the replay at Prenton Park.[1]

League table

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GAv Pts Promotion
13 New Brighton 42 15 8 19 60 61 0.984 38
14 Bradford City 42 14 10 18 66 69 0.957 38
15 Port Vale 42 12 14 16 65 73 0.890 38 Transferred to the Third Division South
16 Southport 42 12 14 16 53 82 0.646 38
17 Rochdale 42 13 11 18 67 78 0.859 37
Source: rsssf.com

Results

Port Vale's score comes first

Football League Third Division North

Results by matchday

Round123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627282930313233343536373839404142
GroundAHHAAHAHAHHAHAHAAAAHHHHAHHAHAAHAHAHAHHAAHA
ResultLDWLLWWWDWDLWLLLLDLWDDWDDDLWLLWDWLDLLDDLWD
Position2017141417131110997991011131615171414131212111213111313121212121214151414161315
Source: Statto[2]
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

Matches

DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers
28 August 1937Oldham AthleticA0–35,781
30 August 1937GatesheadH2–26,699Caldwell, Roberts
4 September 1937DarlingtonH1–07,233Roberts
8 September 1937GatesheadA1–29,641Roberts
11 September 1937Doncaster RoversA2–311,538Price, Caldwell
13 September 1937New BrightonH3–24,257Caldwell, Roberts, Masters
18 September 1937Crewe AlexandraA2–15,888Price, Roberts
25 September 1937BarrowH4–07,416Roberts (4)
2 October 1937WrexhamA0–05,364
9 October 1937Hartlepools UnitedH5–17,951Caldwell (3), Ward (2)
16 October 1937SouthportH1–18,151Masters
23 October 1937Bradford CityA0–53,176
30 October 1937York CityH3–25,139Masters (2), Caldwell
6 November 1937Tranmere RoversA1–27,597Masters
13 November 1937Halifax TownH0–26,579
20 November 1937Carlisle UnitedA1–34,959Fish
4 December 1937ChesterA2–73,849Roberts (2 [1 pen])
18 December 1937RochdaleA1–13,560Roberts (pen)
27 December 1937Lincoln CityA0–113,354
28 December 1937Lincoln CityH1–05,740Roberts (pen)
1 January 1938Oldham AthleticH2–26,878Roberts, Ward
3 January 1938Rotherham UnitedH0–03,604
8 January 1938Accrington StanleyH4–15,443Roberts (3), Masters
15 January 1938DarlingtonA2–22,330Roberts, Ward
22 January 1938Doncaster RoversH1–17,153Caldwell
29 January 1938Crewe AlexandraH1–15,851Caldwell
5 February 1938BarrowA0–35,759
12 February 1938WrexhamH2–07,861Davies, Caldwell
19 February 1938Hartlepools UnitedA1–24,483Roberts
26 February 1938SouthportA0–13,797
5 March 1938Bradford CityH4–38,022Nolan (2), Davies, Roberts
12 March 1938York CityA2–27,319Roberts (2)
19 March 1938Tranmere RoversH1–09,916Nolan
26 March 1938Halifax TownA1–24,363Roberts
2 April 1938Carlisle UnitedH2–26,463Rattray, Roberts
9 April 1938Accrington StanleyA1–22,990Nolan
15 April 1938Hull CityH2–410,984Roberts (2)
16 April 1938ChesterH2–26,695Nolan (2)
18 April 1938Hull CityA0–013,564
23 April 1938Rotherham UnitedA2–35,346Roberts, Nolan
30 April 1938RochdaleH4–12,992Masters (2), Roberts, Bellis
7 May 1938New BrightonA1–13,259Griffiths

FA Cup

RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorers
R127 November 1937Gainsborough TrinityH1–16,772Roberts
R1 Replay1 December 1937Gainsborough TrinityA1–24,220Roberts

Third Division North Cup

RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorers
111 October 1937Tranmere RoversH1–1900Rattray
Replay10 November 1937Tranmere RoversA0–2500

Player statistics

Appearances

Pos. Name Football League FA Cup Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
GKEngland George Heppell 25010270
GKEngland James Nicholls 17010190
DFEngland Trevor Rhodes 13000140
DFEngland Roderick Welsh 27020310
DFEngland Harry Griffiths 27110281
DFEngland Johnny Rowe 37020400
DFEngland Harry Johnson 19000210
MFEngland Arthur Caldwell 3510103710
MFEngland Tommy Ward 11410144
MFEngland Billy Tunnicliffe 101020
MFEngland Wilf Smith 21000220
MFEngland Fred Obrey 16020180
MFWales Spencer Evans 34020370
MFEngland Arthur Cumberlidge 23010260
MFEngland Arthur Whittaker 000010
MFEngland Charlie Rattray 22110242
MFEngland William Price 13200142
MFEngland Stanley Dimbleby 100020
MFEngland Sam Baum 300030
MFEngland Alf Bellis 110011
MFEngland Frank Briggs 800080
MFEngland Harry Sellars 000000
FWEngland Jack Roberts 3728224030
FWEngland Tom Nolan 18710207
FWEngland Arthur Masters 33820358
FWSouth Africa Ken Fish 511061
FWEngland Harry Davies 15200152

Top scorers

Place Position Nation Name Third Division North FA Cup Northern Cup Total
1FW EnglandJack Roberts282030
2MF EnglandArthur Caldwell100010
3FW EnglandArthur Masters8008
4FW EnglandTom Nolan7007
5MF EnglandTommy Ward4004
6MF EnglandCharlie Rattray1012
–MF EnglandWilliam Price2002
–FW EnglandHarry Davies2002
9FW South AfricaKen Fish1001
–DF EnglandHarry Griffiths1001
–MF EnglandAlf Bellis1001
–––Own goals0000
TOTALS 65 2 1 68

Transfers

Transfers in

Date from Position Nationality Name From Fee Ref.
May 1937GKEnglandGeorge HeppellWolverhampton WanderersFree transfer[3]
May 1937MFEnglandWilliam PriceFulhamFree transfer[3]
May 1937MFEnglandCharlie RattrayMansfield TownFree transfer[3]
May 1937DFEnglandJohnny RoweQueen's Park RangersFree transfer[3]
June 1937MFEnglandStanley DimblebyHull CityFree transfer[3]
June 1937DFEnglandHarry JohnsonNewcastle UnitedFree transfer[3]
June 1937FWEnglandArthur MastersNottingham ForestExchange[3]
June 1937GKEnglandJames NichollsBrentfordFree transfer[3]
November 1937FWSouth AfricaKen FishAston Villa'Sizeable'[3]
February 1938FWEnglandHarry DaviesStoke CityExchange[3]
March 1938MFEnglandSam BaumBolton WanderersFree transfer[3]
March 1938MFEnglandAlf BellisBurnell's IronworksFree transfer[3]
March 1938FWEnglandJoe WheatleyEllesmere Port TownFree transfer[3]

Transfers out

Date from Position Nationality Name To Fee Ref.
September 1937FWEnglandArthur FordWolverhampton WanderersFree transfer[3]
November 1937MFEnglandWilliam PriceMutual consent[3]
February 1938MFEnglandTommy WardStoke City'Small'[3]
May 1938MFEnglandSam BaumReleased[3]
May 1938MFEnglandFrank BriggsAston VillaReleased[3]
May 1938MFEnglandStanley DimblebyReleased[3]
May 1938DFWalesSpencer EvansNorthwich VictoriaFree transfer[3]
May 1938MFEnglandCharlie RattrayAccrington StanleyFree transfer[3]
May 1938FWEnglandBilly TunnicliffeBournemouthFree transfer[3]
May 1938DFEnglandRoderick WelshReleased[3]
June 1938MFEnglandFred ObreyTranmere RoversFree transfer[3]
Summer 1938DFEnglandHarry JohnsonHartlepools UnitedFree transfer[3]
Summer 1938GKEnglandJames NichollsReleased[3]
Summer 1938MFEnglandTrevor RhodesReleased[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 30 Kent, Jeff (1990). "From Glory to Despair (1929–1939)". The Valiants' Years: The Story Of Port Vale. Witan Books. pp. 124–150. ISBN 0-9508981-4-7.
  2. ↑ Port Vale 1937–1938 : Results & Fixtures Archived 19 September 2015 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 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 0-9508981-9-8.
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