1893–94 Burslem Port Vale F.C. season

Overview

Second Division

Two signings were made to improve the team for the season – wingers Lewis Campbell from Aston Villa and Alex Sands. Supporters complained of high ticket prices and subsequently only 2,500 came to see the season-opening victory over Ardwick. Ardwick goalkeeper William Douglas was so disgusted with his side's performance in the 4–2 Vale win that he left the Athletic Ground before the match had finished, so the visitors ended the game playing with ten men. September was a perfect month for the "Valeites", achieving as they did seven wins out of seven games, scoring 30 goals in the process. Although two of these came against whipping boys Northwich Victoria, they did take apart reigning league champions Small Heath by five goals to nil. During this run, on 9 September, Lewis Campbell became the first Vale player to score a league hat-trick, and also four goals in one game, as his team brushed aside Walsall Town Swifts 5–0. Seven days later, Vale defeated Crewe Alexandra 4–2, with it reported that their opposition "half-backs were guilty of kicking too hard, while the forwards showed no combination".

The winning run came to an end with an 8–1 collapse at a highly physical Ardwick, which Vale had only been losing by one goal at half-time before goalkeeper Joe Frail gave up in the second half. Two further defeats followed, including a 6–1 thumping at Notts County on 26 October. James Logan scored a hat-trick, and Notts won 6–1 to move into first place. The Vale rallied to a 1–0 win at Rotherham Town two days later, despite club secretary Dick Danks having to play in goal as Frail had missed his train. Frail was suspended by the club for the rest of the campaign. The team were in third place by December, beating Grimsby Town 6–1 following a 4–0 loss on the road, whilst a 1–1 draw at Crewe Alexandra was hard fought as Crewe fans attempted to physically attack both Vale fans and half-back Billy Elson, before a scrimmage erupted in the dressing room.

A home win over Burton Swifts was followed by defeats on the road at Woolwich Arsenal, Newcastle United and Middlesbrough Ironopolis. On 6 January, new goalkeeper Hugh Mackay played at outside-right in a 2–1 home victory over Woolwich Arsenal in a game that raised just £15 in gate receipts. The promotion push slowly came to an end, ending completely with a 2–1 home defeat to bottom club Walsall Town Swifts. Two weeks later, Vale claimed a 2–2 draw at Lincoln City despite starting the game with ten men as both William Rhodes and stand-in Jos Randles missed their trains, leading to club official Sam Bennion to change from linesman to left-back 25 minutes into the game. Vale were beaten 6–0 away at champions Small Heath, as the Small Heath forwards had "rarely been seen to greater advantage". and ended the league season with a 2–2 home draw and 2–1 away defeat with Liverpool, with Liverpool scoring late goals in both encounters.

Vale racked up 30 points, 10 points away from both the chance of promotion and the risk of relegation. Meshach Dean, Bob McCrindle, Billy Beats, and Alf Wood were all ever-presents, with Jimmy Scarratt and Lewis Campbell missing just one game each. At the end of the season, McCrindle moved South, and Campbell also left the area due to his wife not liking Burslem, though star striker Beats remained. The club had taken £954 in gate receipts, spent £551 in wages, making a narrow loss as total expenditure of £1,265 over total income of £1,237.

Cup competitions

For the second successive season, they exited the FA Cup at the first qualifying stage thanks to a defeat at home to Burton Swifts. Full-back James Clutton broke his leg in the match and his football career was ended. In the Staffordshire Senior Cup, they exited in the second round to Wolverhampton Wanderers after a 6–4 loss – Billy Beats scored a hat-trick yet still found himself on the losing side as Vale conceded four goals after leading 4–2. In the Birmingham Senior Cup, they left in the second round after a 3–1 defeat at West Bromwich Albion.

Results

Football League Second Division

Main article: 1893–94 Football League

League table

Results by matchday

Matches

FA Cup

Main article: 1893–94 FA Cup

Birmingham Senior Cup

Staffordshire Senior Cup

Player statistics

Appearances and goals

:Key to positions: GK – Goalkeeper; FB – Full back; HB – Half back; FW – Forward

Top scorers

Transfers

Transfers in

Transfers out

References

;Specific

;General

References

1. Kent, Jeff. (1990). "The Valiants' Years: The Story Of Port Vale". Witan Books.
2. (30 September 1893). "Notes on Sport". Leicester Chronicle and the Leicestershire Mercury.
3. (18 September 2024). "Read an 1893 match report as Port Vale thrash rivals Crewe". onevalefan.co.uk.
4. (26 October 1893). "This Day's Football – The League–Division II – Notts v. Burslem Port Vale". Nottingham Evening Post.
5. (26 March 1894). "Notes on Sport". Birmingham Daily Post.
6. [http://www.statto.com/football/teams/port-vale/1893-1894/results Port Vale 1893–1894 : Results & Fixtures] {{Webarchive. link. (29 May 2015 . Statto Organisation. Retrieved 28 April 2012.)
7. Kent, Jeff. (1996). "Port Vale Personalities". Witan Books.