Port Vale
1969–70 season
ChairmanArthur McPherson
(until March)
Mark Singer
(from March)
ManagerGordon Lee
StadiumVale Park
Football League Fourth Division4th (59 Points)
FA CupSecond Round
(knocked out by Tranmere Rovers)
League CupFirst Round
(knocked out by Tranmere Rovers)
Player of the YearJohn Green
Top goalscorerLeague: John James (14)
All: John James (17)
Highest home attendance12,538 vs. Crewe Alexandra, 15 September 1969
Lowest home attendance3,955 vs. York City, 7 February 1970
Average home league attendance6,894
Biggest win4–0 vs. Darlington, 21 March 1970
Biggest defeat0–2 (twice) and 1–3

The 1969–70 season was Port Vale's 58th season of football in the English Football League, and their fifth-successive season (sixth overall) in the Fourth Division.[1] They achieved promotion with a fourth-place finish, taking them back into the Third Division. They started the season with an eighteen match unbeaten run in the league, and finished with nine games unbeaten following a dip in form around January. Manager Gordon Lee credited the teamwork and fitness of an extremely settled side for the promotion campaign, as ten players made at least 35 league appearances.

Overview

Fourth Division

In the pre-season there were talks of bringing speedway to Vale Park, introducing a new team to the British League Division Two.[1] However, many were opposed to the idea, and a 2,600 strong petition was given to local MP John Forrester.[1] The idea was killed when the council failed to grant planning permission, despite a 3,000 strong petition in favour of the proposal.[1] The club had hoped to profit from the venture, however, many locals were concerned about noise pollution.[1] Gordon Lee meanwhile had little in the way of funds when it came to signing new players, and so he was only able to bring in three new attackers on free transfers: Ken Wookey (Newport County); Stuart Shaw (Southport); and Eric Magee (Oldham Athletic).[1]

They continued on from their unbeaten result at the end of the previous season, to make a club-record unbeaten sequence of ten away games, and nineteen games home and away {5 May to 8 November}. Five of these results were goalless draws, as the defence proved stronger than the attack following the departure of top-scorer Roy Chapman at the end of the previous season.[1] Nevertheless, the run put them at the top of the table, and Lee credited his team's hard work and fitness.[1] John James played on despite an injured ankle, Mick Morris found himself a permanent fixture as an energetic utility man, whilst Tommy McLaren also worked his way into the first XI.[1] The defence conceded just six goals in the opening fifteen league games. The run included a 1–0 win over Chesterfield at Saltergate, a 2–0 win over nearby Crewe Alexandra in front of a season-best Burslem crowd of 12,538, and a 'war of attrition' in a 1–1 draw 'full of ugly incidents' with Wrexham at the Racecourse Ground in front of a crowd of 19,946.[1] Some 5,000 Vale supporters had travelled to Wrexham on a British Rail 'Soccer Special' to witness the top-of-the-table clash, and saw two red cards as Wrexham's Steve Ingle and Vale's John James were both sent off.[2] Their 22 November fixture at the Old Showground with Scunthorpe United could have seen the Vale equal the best start to an English League season in the twentieth century.[1] After a Wookey goal put them ahead they lost after a disputed penalty and a bizarre own goal from Roy Sproson.[1] Meanwhile, Vale could not afford the £500 registration fee for Ian Buxton following the player's departure from Notts County, and so the club could only sign him for an initial three-month period.[1]

Injuries and suspensions helped to dent the Vale's form, as they lost their status as league leaders.[1] On 17 January, Sproson made his 800th senior appearance in a 2–0 victory over Exeter City.[1] In an attempt to lift the club, Lee signed wing-half Tony Lacey on loan from Stoke City, and also bought Bill Summerscales from Leek Town for £400.[1] Heading into a six-game unbeaten run, Lee signed Buxton permanently, despite the player's decision to retire at the end of the season.[1] In March, Chairman Arthur McPherson pleaded guilty to receiving stolen goods and so was sentenced to an eighteen-month suspended sentence and fined £1,500.[1] Resigning his position at the club, he was replaced by Mark Singer.[1] On 9 March, the match against Hartlepool had to be suspended for five minutes after Vale fans continually pelted the opposition keeper with snowballs.[1] Signing Lacey permanently for £2,500, and Sammy Morgan on a free from Gorleston, Vale were in a close battle for promotion .[1] Unbeaten in their final nine games, they secured promotion with what The Sentinel's Peter Hewitt called a 'blockade formula' – they conceded just four goals in this run.[1]

They finished in fourth place with 59 points, three points clear of fifth place. His side promoted, Lee said that 'no team could have deserved reward as much for their hard work and strength of character'.[1] With 33 goals conceded, only Chesterfield conceded fewer.[1] Only seventeen players were used all season, whilst eight barely missed a game between them.[1] On 31 May, they played a Potteries derby friendly with First Division Stoke and won 3–2 at the Victoria Ground.[1]

Finances

On the financial side, a loss of £3,003 was made despite fund raising donations of £17,925.[1] Gate receipts were up by over £13,000 as home attendances were encouraging, however, expenditure had increased and there was a transfer deficit of £2,900.[1] Six players were let go at the season's end, including Ken Wookey (Workington); Stuart Shaw (Morecambe); Eric Magee (Linfield); Stuart Chapman (Stafford Rangers); and Gordon Logan (Kettering Town).[1]

Cup competitions

In the FA Cup, they had to overcome Northern Premier League Wigan Athletic at Springfield Park, but could only manage a 1–1 draw.[1] After a 2–2 draw back in Stoke-on-Trent, the second replay was held at Old Trafford, Manchester.[1] James scored two minutes from the end of extra time to finally kill off the non-leaguers.[1] After a 3–1 defeat at Prenton Park to Tranmere Rovers in a replay, the Vale were out of the competition with a profit of £5,000 from their five games.[1]

In the League Cup, a First Round exit came courtesy of Third Division Tranmere Rovers at Vale Park.

League table

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GAv Pts Promotion or relegation
2 Wrexham 46 26 9 11 84 49 1.714 61 Promoted
3 Swansea City 46 21 18 7 66 45 1.467 60
4 Port Vale 46 20 19 7 61 33 1.848 59
5 Brentford 46 20 16 10 58 39 1.487 56
6 Aldershot 46 20 13 13 78 65 1.200 53 Qualified for 1970 Watney Cup[lower-alpha 1]
Source: rsssf.com
Notes:
  1. ↑ The two teams who scored the most goals in each division, and did not qualify for Europe and were not promoted, qualified for the Watney Cup.

    Results

    Port Vale's score comes first

    Football League Fourth Division

    Results by matchday

    Round12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031323334353637383940414243444546
    GroundHAHAAHAHHAAHHAHAHAAHHAAAHAAHHHAAHAHHHAAHHAAHAH
    ResultDWWDDWWWWWDDDWDDWWLWWDLLWLLDWWDWWLDWLWDWDWDDDD
    Position7313311111111111112321222244322234533433333344
    Source: Statto[3]
    A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

    Matches

    DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers
    9 August 1969Peterborough UnitedH0–05,453
    16 August 1969ChesterfieldA1–05,062Sproson
    23 August 1969Northampton TownH4–14,809Green, Wookey, Gough, Magee
    27 August 1969Lincoln CityA0–06,865
    30 August 1969Colchester UnitedA0–06,323
    6 September 1969ChesterH3–06,874James, Wookey, Green
    13 September 1969Oldham AthleticA3–25,777Gough, Logan, James
    15 September 1969Crewe AlexandraH2–012,538James, Morris
    20 September 1969Grimsby TownH1–08,787James (pen)
    27 September 1969Exeter CityA2–15,503Green, McLaren
    29 September 1969Southend UnitedA1–17,704James
    4 October 1969AldershotH0–08,858
    6 October 1969ChesterfieldH1–19,506Wookey
    11 October 1969York CityA1–07,195Gough
    18 October 1969Swansea CityH0–07,195
    25 October 1969WrexhamA1–119,946McLaren
    1 November 1969Newport CountyH3–17,477Sproson (2), Boulton
    8 November 1969Bradford Park AvenueA2–13,498o.g., Boulton
    22 November 1969Scunthorpe UnitedA1–25,750Wookey
    29 November 1969WorkingtonH3–14,891James (2), Sproson
    13 December 1969Oldham AthleticH1–05,387Buxton
    20 December 1969ChesterA1–15,235McLaren
    26 December 1969Northampton TownA0–27,522
    10 January 1970Grimsby TownA0–24,654
    17 January 1970Exeter CityH2–04,633o.g., James
    24 January 1970BrentfordA0–18,661
    31 January 1970AldershotA0–26,858
    7 February 1970York CityH1–13,955Gough
    21 February 1970Bradford Park AvenueH4–14,416James (3), Boulton
    23 February 1970Southend UnitedH3–06,333Gough (2), James
    28 February 1970Swansea CityA0–06,576
    2 March 1970DarlingtonA2–22,152Boulton, James
    9 March 1970HartlepoolH3–05,456Boulton (2), Lacey
    14 March 1970WorkingtonA2–32,047Buxton, Gough
    16 March 1970BrentfordH0–07,944
    21 March 1970DarlingtonH4–04,717Buxton (2), Green, Gough
    23 March 1970Scunthorpe UnitedH1–26,394Gough
    28 March 1970HartlepoolA2–02,227Morris, Buxton
    30 March 1970Newport CountyA1–12,218Morgan
    1 April 1970WrexhamH1–010,954James (pen)
    4 April 1970Lincoln CityH0–07,414
    8 April 1970Notts CountyA2–15,010Sproson, Buxton
    15 April 1970Crewe AlexandraA0–07,155
    18 April 1970Notts CountyH1–18,042Morris
    22 April 1970Peterborough UnitedA0–03,844
    25 April 1970Colchester UnitedH1–15,626McLaren

    FA Cup

    RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorers
    R115 November 1969Wigan AthleticA1–112,622James
    R1 Replay18 November 1969Wigan AthleticH2–29,703McLaren, Sproson
    R1 Replay24 November 1969Wigan AthleticN1–016,453James
    R26 December 1969Tranmere RoversH2–26,883James, Green
    R2 Replay8 December 1969Tranmere RoversA1–37,156Magee

    League Cup

    RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorers
    R113 August 1969Tranmere RoversH0–14,955

    Player statistics

    Appearances

    Pos. Name Football League FA Cup League Cup Total
    Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
    GKEngland Keith Ball 4605010520
    DFEngland Roy Sproson 4655110526
    DFEngland Clint Boulton 4665010526
    DFScotland Ron Wilson 4603010500
    DFScotland Gordon Logan 915000141
    DFEngland Bill Summerscales 40000040
    MFEngland Stuart Chapman 10200030
    MFScotland Tommy McLaren 3545110415
    MFEngland John Green 4645110525
    MFEngland John King 3505010410
    MFEngland Tony Lacey 1810000181
    MFEngland Stuart Shaw 30200050
    MFEngland Howard Moore 00000000
    FWEngland John James 431443104817
    FWEngland Mick Morris 4535000503
    FWEngland Bobby Gough 4592010489
    FWEngland Ian Buxton 1860000186
    FWWales Ken Wookey 2444010294
    FWNorthern Ireland Sammy Morgan 11000011
    FWNorthern Ireland Eric Magee 1812110212

    Top scorers

    Place Position Nation Name Fourth Division FA Cup League Cup Total
    1FW EnglandJohn James143017
    2FW EnglandBobby Gough9009
    3FW EnglandIan Buxton6006
    –DF EnglandClint Boulton6006
    –DF EnglandRoy Sproson5106
    6MF EnglandJohn Green4105
    –MF ScotlandTommy McLaren4105
    8FW WalesKen Wookey4004
    9FW EnglandMick Morris3003
    10FW Northern IrelandEric Magee1102
    11FW Northern IrelandSammy Morgan1001
    –MF EnglandTony Lacey1001
    –DF ScotlandGordon Logan1001
    –––Own goals2002
    TOTALS 61 7 0 68

    Transfers

    Transfers in

    Date from Position Nationality Name From Fee Ref.
    July 1969MFEnglandStuart ShawSouthportFree transfer[4]
    July 1969FWEnglandEric MageeOldham AthleticFree transfer[4]
    July 1969FWEnglandKen WookeyNewport CountyFree transfer[4]
    December 1969FWEnglandIan BuxtonNotts County£500[4]
    January 1970FWNorthern IrelandSammy MorganGorlestonFree transfer[4]
    February 1970DFEnglandBill SummerscalesLeek Town£400[4]
    April 1970MFEnglandTony LaceyStoke City£2,500[4]

    Transfers out

    Date from Position Nationality Name To Fee Ref.
    May 1970MFEnglandMalcolm BaileyNorthwich VictoriaFree transfer[4]
    May 1970DFScotlandGordon LoganKettering TownFree transfer[4]
    May 1970FWEnglandEric MageeNorthern Ireland LinfieldFree transfer[4]
    May 1970MFEnglandStuart ShawMorecambeFree transfer[4]
    May 1970FWEnglandKen WookeyWorkingtonFree transfer[4]
    Summer 1970FWEnglandIan BuxtonIlkeston TownRetired[4]
    Summer 1970MFEnglandStuart ChapmanStafford RangersFree transfer[4]

    Loans in

    Date from Position Nationality Name From Date to Ref.
    February 1970MFEnglandTony LaceyStoke CityApril 1970[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 Kent, Jeff (1990). "Surviving on a Shoestring (1969–1979)". The Valiants' Years: The Story Of Port Vale. Witan Books. pp. 227–257. ISBN 0-9508981-4-7.
    2. ↑ Baggaley, Mike (6 November 2023). "Taking chances and limited options as Port Vale prepare for Wrexham". Valiant's Substack. Retrieved 12 November 2023.
    3. ↑ Port Vale 1969–1970 : 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 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.
    This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.