Port Vale
1946–47 season
ChairmanWilliam Holdcroft
ManagerBilly Frith
(until October)
Gordon Hodgson
(from October)
StadiumThe Old Recreation Ground
Football League Third Division South10th (43 Points)
FA CupFourth Round
(knocked out by Blackburn Rovers)
Top goalscorerLeague: Morris Jones (23)
All: Morris Jones (26)
Highest home attendance14,490 vs. Exeter City, 7 September 1946
Lowest home attendance4,928 vs. Bournemouth, 10 March 1947
Average home league attendance10,582
Biggest win5–1 (three games)
Biggest defeat0–4 vs. Cardiff City, 12 October 1946

The 1946–47 season was Port Vale's 35th season of football in the English Football League, and their second full season in the Third Division South.[1] It was their first full season following the outbreak of war in Europe, they thus continued where they left off in 1938–39, albeit after seven seasons of wartime football. Starting its post-war period modestly on the pitch with a tenth-place finish, the club still handed débuts to future legends Tommy Cheadle and Ronnie Allen, whilst work continued to complete 'The Wembley of the North'.

A club record was started on 19 October 1946, that would be completed on 13 March 1948, with a 33 long run of home games in which Vale's opposition failed to keep a clean sheet.

Manager Gordon Hodgson during his playing days.

WWII Football

Two games into a standard 1939–40 season, Vale were bottom of the Third Division South, and when war was initiated on 1 September all sports gatherings were prohibited and the season was cancelled.[1] A week later and Stoke-on-Trent was one of many places to be permitted to host football matches.[1] However, almost all of the club's players volunteered or were conscripted to fight Nazi Germany.[1] Vale played numerous friendlies, as well as taking part in the regional war leagues.[1] They finished eighth in the West League in 1939–40.[1] Unable to raise sufficient finances from 1940 onwards, they only put forward an amateur side filled with young players in the North Staffordshire League, also entering cup competitions such as The Sentinel Cup.[1] They recorded some very one-sided victories over local amateur teams such as Shelton Labour, Hanley Deep Pit, and Northwood Mission.[1] Some of Vale's top professionals signed to sides such as Stoke City, Crewe Alexandra, and Manchester United.[1] Players that guested for the club included names such as Peter Doherty, Micky Fenton, Frank Soo and Dennis Wilshaw.[1] Guest players often made up half of the first XI, filling the gaps left by Vale's players on active service.[1]

The club came close to folding in summer 1943 when club president Mayor W.M.Huntbach died, leaving the club liable for £3,000 worth of debt, in addition to the £1,000 a year debit they were recording during the war.[1] Appeals to The Football Association fell on deaf ears.[1] The directors therefore agreed a £13,500 sale of The Old Recreation Ground to Stoke-on-Trent Corporation (the local council).[1] Their application to the council to rent the stadium back was rejected.[1] The sale was agreed without the support of shareholders, though the directors justified the sale by arguing that the stadium was a financial burden, especially as local vandals, hooligans and yobs regularly stole and trashed areas of the stadium.[1] Nevertheless, Port Vale were then a club without any professional players and without a stadium.[1] In October 1943 the council relented and allowed rent to be paid until April 1944.[1] Then the council agreed to rent the stadium at a longer term for £400 a year.[1]

The search for a new ground took them to Hamil Road, Burslem; opposite a site the club occupied between 1884 and 1886.[1] The rough land used for fly-tipping was valued at £30,000, and the Brownhills Estates Company and the Supporters' Club launched a New Ground Appeal.[1] In September 1944 the land was acquired, and work began on a 70,000 capacity 'Wembley of the North'.[1] These were ambitious plans for a club that had in the past recorded attendances as low as 3,000 from fair-weather fans.[1] In the meantime the club took part in the 1944–45 Football League North league.[1] Club director and former Northern Ireland international Jack Diffin took the position of manager.[1] He was replaced by David Pratt in December 1944.[1] For the 1945–46 season they were placed in the Third Division South (North Region), with new manager Billy Frith.[1] The Council agreed to allow the Vale to rent The Old Recreation Ground until 24 June 1950.[1] Plans for the new stadium now were expanded to a massive 80,000 capacity.[1]

Three former Port Vale players known to have been killed in the war were Tom Cooper, Haydn Dackins, and Sam Jennings. Meanwhile, Jack Roberts became a hero without losing his life, rising to the rank of Sergeant, he was captured in Tunisia, however, managed to escape from a prisoner-of-war camp to return home.[2]

Overview

Third Division South

Of the 1938–39 squad there were six who returned for the 1946–47 campaign: goalkeepers George Heppell and Arthur Jepson; defender Harry Griffiths; and midfielders Alf Bellis, Wilf Smith, and Don Triner. The rest had been recruited between 1939 and 1946. Three players specifically recruited in summer 1946 to help win promotion were experienced forward Colin Lyman (signed from Tottenham Hotspur for 'fairly substantial fee'); 'the assassin' Garth Butler (Derby County); and half-back Norman Hallam (Chelsea).[1] Also £1,000 was spent on "The Rec", with 23 new barriers and six new turnstiles installed.[1] Tickets were priced at £5 for a season, or one shilling on the day.[1]

The season started with a goalless draw at the Withdean Stadium, before a 2–1 defeat by Exeter City in front of 14,490 home fans.[1] This attendance was excellent, though would not be bettered all season. With Heppell in fine form in goal, Jepson was sold to Stoke City for £3,750.[1] With Vale in poor form at the bottom of the league, manager Billy Frith resigned on 11 October, detailing a list of complaints against the directors, generally accusing them of undermining him and failing to support him sufficiently.[1] Soon Cardiff City won at "the Rec" by four goals to nil, after which Lyman put in a transfer request.[1] On 17 October, the club bought Jimmy Todd from Blackpool for then-club record fee, on the recommendation of Stanley Matthews.[1] Lyman was then sold to Nottingham Forest for a higher fee than was paid for him earlier in the year.[1] Gordon Hodgson was then appointed manager ahead of forty other applicants.[1] Finding his team's unconvincing away from home he soon began to search for new players.[1]

Results soon turned around, and Hodgson's coaching and planning were credited with the success.[1] However, many games were put on hold until May, due to the exceptionally disruptive winter weather.[1] Hodgson also helped to set up a youth program, arranging visits to schools, trials, and the running of two junior sides.[1] In March 1947 he signed centre-half Eric Eastwood from Manchester City for a four figure fee.[1] Experimenting with the first eleven, from 10 March to 19 April the team went on a run of one victory in eight games. Promotion hopeless and re-election unlikely, the experiments proceeded into the postponed games in May, when three consecutive away 1–0 defeats were followed by high-scoring victories at home to Crystal Palace and Southend United.[1] Also the experienced Jack Smith was brought in from Manchester United.[1]

They finished in tenth place with 43 points from 42 games.[1] Top scorer Morris Jones hit a very respectable tally of 26 goals, with double figure hauls from Bill Pointon and Alf Bellis.[1]

Finances

On the financial side, a profit of £4,133 was recorded, then a club-record.[1] League football had brought £20,872 in gross gate receipts, with the wage bill at £8,927.[1] Twenty-one players were retained, and Harry Griffiths retirement was the only departure of note.[1]

Cup competitions

In the FA Cup, Vale beat amateur side Finchley, league rivals Watford, and Second Division Millwall to reach the Fourth Round. There they came unstuck with a 2–0 defeat at Ewood Park to Second Division Blackburn Rovers in front of 32,900 spectators.[1]

League table

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GAv Pts
8 Southend United 42 17 10 15 71 60 1.183 44
9 Reading 42 16 11 15 83 74 1.122 43
10 Port Vale 42 17 9 16 68 63 1.079 43
11 Torquay United 42 15 12 15 52 61 0.852 42
12 Notts County 42 15 10 17 63 63 1.000 40
Source:

Results

Port Vale's score comes first

Football League Third Division South

Results by matchday

Round123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627282930313233343536373839404142
GroundAHHAAHHAAHHAHAHAAAAHHAHHAHAHHAHHAAHAHAAAHH
ResultDLDWLWDLLLWWWLWLLDDWWDWWLWWWDLWLLLDDWLLLWW
Position8211712191311111719181611141114161717141211108111097777891012108911121110
Source: Statto[3]
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

Matches

DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers
31 August 1946Brighton & Hove AlbionA0–011,412
7 September 1946Exeter CityH1–214,490M.Jones
9 September 1946Northampton TownH1–18,709Lyman
14 September 1946Mansfield TownA3–011,207Byrne, Bellis, M.Jones
21 September 1946Bristol CityA0–321,284
23 September 1946Notts CountyH4–18,574Bellis (2), Byrne, M.Jones
28 September 1946Swindon TownH1–112,900M.Jones
3 October 1946Notts CountyA2–39,542Pointon (2)
5 October 1946BournemouthA0–311,642
12 October 1946Cardiff CityH0–410,724
19 October 1946Torquay UnitedH2–110,618Bellis, M.Jones
26 October 1946Crystal PalaceA2–114,492Bellis, Wootton
2 November 1946ReadingH5–110,891Triner, Bellis, M.Jones, Pointon, Cheadle
9 November 1946WalsallA1–412,171Hallam
16 November 1946WatfordH3–09,539M.Jones (3)
23 November 1946Ipswich TownA1–213,001Bellis
7 December 1946Queens Park RangersA0–214,251
21 December 1946Bristol RoversA0–05,750
25 December 1946AldershotA0–03,449
26 December 1946AldershotH4–214,076Pointon (2), Prince, Triner
28 December 1946Brighton & Hove AlbionH4–112,061Prince, M.Jones, Triner, Pointon
4 January 1947Exeter CityA1–18,694M.Jones
16 January 1947Leyton OrientH2–16,753Cheadle, M.Jones
18 January 1947Mansfield TownH4–114,390Pointon (2), M.Jones, Triner
1 February 1947Swindon TownA1–29,935M.Jones
17 February 1947Bristol CityH2–18,264Pointon, Triner
8 March 1947ReadingA2–07,863Pointon, Triner
10 March 1947BournemouthH1–04,928M.Jones
15 March 1947WalsallH2–210,787M.Jones (2)
22 March 1947WatfordA0–26,370
29 March 1947Ipswich TownH1–010,426M.Jones
4 April 1947Norwich CityH1–313,978Cheadle
5 April 1947Leyton OrientA3–512,371F.Jones, Bellis, Allen
7 April 1947Norwich CityA0–329,985
12 April 1947Queens Park RangersH2–212,500Bellis, M.Jones
19 April 1947Southend UnitedA1–18,762M.Jones
26 April 1947Bristol RoversH2–18,323M.Jones, Eastwood
3 May 1947Northampton TownA0–16,258
10 May 1947Cardiff CityA0–136,732
24 May 1947Torquay UnitedA0–15,943
26 May 1947Crystal PalaceH4–210,414Allen (2), Pointon, Smith
31 May 1947Southend UnitedH5–18,879M.Jones (2), Allen (2), Bellis

FA Cup

RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorers
R130 November 1946FinchleyH5–18,756Bellis (2), Pointon, M.Jones, Wootton
R214 December 1946WatfordA1–18,498M.Jones
R2 Replay16 December 1946WatfordH2–17,342M.Jones, Wootton
R311 January 1947MillwallA3–024,779Pointon (2), Triner
R425 January 1947Blackburn RoversA0–232,900

Player statistics

Appearances

Pos. Name Football League FA Cup Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
GKEngland George Heppell 42050470
DFEngland Harry Griffiths 800080
DFEngland Fred Jones 12100121
DFEngland Basil Hayward 200020
DFEngland Tommy Cheadle 32350373
DFEngland Jack Chew 9030120
DFEngland Garth Butler 12000120
DFScotland Bob Pursell 32050370
MFEngland Alf Bellis 3810524312
MFEngland Wilf Smith 25020270
MFEngland Don Triner 20621227
MFNorthern Ireland Jimmy Todd 31050360
MFEngland Ernie Willett 100010
MFEngland Ted Oldfield 100010
MFEngland Alan Martin 14000140
MFEngland Bill McGarry 700070
MFEngland Eric Eastwood 610061
MFEngland Norman Hallam 22150271
MFEngland Arthur Cooper 400040
FWEngland Len Wootton 10132133
FWEngland Jack Smith 310031
FWEngland Bill Pointon 3011533514
FWEngland Colin Lyman 11100111
FWEngland Morris Jones 3923534426
FWEngland Joe Dixon 100010
FWEngland Eddie Davies 300030
FWEngland Billy Byrne 15210162
FWEngland Ronnie Allen 18500185
FWEngland Eric Prince 14240182

Top scorers

Place Position Nation Name Third Division South FA Cup Total
1FW EnglandMorris Jones23326
2FW EnglandBill Pointon11314
3MF EnglandAlf Bellis10212
4MF EnglandDon Triner617
5FW EnglandRonnie Allen505
6DF EnglandTommy Cheadle303
–FW EnglandLen Wootton123
8FW EnglandBilly Byrne202
–MF EnglandEric Prince202
10FW EnglandColin Lyman101
–DF EnglandFred Jones101
–MF EnglandEric Eastwood101
–FW EnglandNorman Hallam101
–FW EnglandJack Smith101
TOTALS 68 11 79

Transfers

Transfers in

Date from Position Nationality Name From Fee Ref.
May 1946MFEnglandNorman HallamChelseaFree transfer[4]
May 1946DFEnglandBasil HaywardNorthwood MissionFree transfer[4]
May 1946MFEnglandColin LymanTottenham Hotspur'fairly substantial'[4]
June 1946DFEnglandGarth ButlerDerby CountyFree transfer[4]
June 1946DFEnglandFred JonesSouth LiverpoolFree transfer[4]
October 1946FWEnglandJoe DixonNorthampton TownFree transfer[4]
October 1946MFNorthern IrelandJimmy ToddBlackpool'club record four-figure fee'[4]
March 1947DFEnglandEric EastwoodManchester City'four-figure fee'[4]
March 1947FWEnglandJack SmithBlackburn Rovers'four-figure fee'[4]

Transfers out

Date from Position Nationality Name To Fee Ref.
October 1946MFEnglandColin LymanNottingham Forest'substantial profit'[4]
November 1946FWEnglandEddie DaviesWitton AlbionFree transfer[4]
January 1947FWEnglandLen WoottonScotland Queen of the SouthFree transfer[4]
March 1947FWEnglandJoe DixonWitton AlbionFree transfer[4]
March 1947MFEnglandErnie WillettWitton AlbionFree transfer[4]
April 1947MFEnglandArthur CooperReleased[4]
July 1947FWEnglandBilly ByrneCrewe AlexandraFree transfer[4]
Summer 1947DFEnglandJack ChewReleased[4]
Summer 1947DFEnglandHarry GriffithsReleased[4]
Summer 1947DFEnglandFred JonesReleased[4]
Summer 1947MFEnglandTed OldfieldReleased[4]

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 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 Kent, Jeff (1990). "Creating Sunshine from the Shadows (1939–1950)". The Valiants' Years: The Story Of Port Vale. Witan Books. pp. 151–171. ISBN 0-9508981-4-7.
  2. ↑ Kent, Jeff (1996). Port Vale Personalities. Witan Books. p. 252. ISBN 0-9529152-0-0.
  3. ↑ Port Vale 1946–1947 : Results & Fixtures Archived 4 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine. Statto Organisation. Retrieved 28 April 2012.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 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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