1894–95 Burslem Port Vale F.C. season

Overview

Second Division

With financial losses reported, Port Vale restricted themselves to promoting reserve team players alongside new defenders Dick Ray (Macclesfield), Walter Wilson (Mansfield Town) and Frank Haslam (Mansfield Town). Top scorer Billy Beats was retained, though. A 1–0 opening day victory over Walsall Town Swifts betrayed what would be a difficult season for the "Valeites". A Scotsman named Mr Wilson was signed after this game, but he decided to instead meet two friends in Stockport and went on holiday to the Isle of Man. Wilson never made it to Staffordshire. Five defeats followed the opening day victory as the forward line rarely troubled the opposition goalkeepers. Scottish forward James Smith was signed from Kilmarnock and he made a scoring debut in a 4–4 home draw with Newcastle United on 6 October. Beats scored the only goal against Burton Wanderers two weeks later, only for seven consecutive losses to follow. In the 4–0 defeat at eventual champions Bury on 10 November, Jimmy Scarratt exited on a stretcher and spent the next four months hospitalised with a knee injury. Walter Wilson and John Edwards were offloaded to Nelson and Stockport County respectively. By December, the club were bottom of the league with dwindling attendances, rising player wages, and a £60 deficit to overcome. Only 1,000 spectators turned up to the Athletic Ground to witness a 5–2 defeat to Newton Heath on Christmas Eve, whilst Vale fell to a 7–0 defeat at Woolwich Arsenal on Christmas Day.

After a 3–0 defeat at Newton Heath on New Year's Day, The Staffordshire Sentinel reported that "five worse shooters could not be found in any team in England". The losing run ended four days later with a 2–2 draw at Crewe Alexandra, the only team in the division with a worse record. Only 300 fans turned out to see Woolwich Arsenal win 1–0 in Cobridge on 19 January. The club continued to try desperately to sign new forwards, to no avail. They lost 10–0 at Notts County on 26 February, after three players (Dick Ray, George Eccles and Meshach Dean) failed to turn up, leaving reserve players to make up the numbers. This defeat was followed by a reorganisation effort, after which results improved. On 4 March, the first league win in five months was attained with a 2–0 home victory over Burton Swifts. A 4–0 defeat at Burton Wanderers followed. On 16 March, though, came a 7–1 demolition of Lincoln City. The team were then beaten 2–1 at high-flying Leicester Fosse. Vale recorded a 5–0 victory over Grimsby Town, the division's highest scorers, which ended Grimsby's promotion chances. They travelled to St James' Park and won their first away match of the season, with the Newcastle United home fans reportedly cheering the visitors "for their plucky display". The season ended with a 4–0 home win over Crewe Alexandra. Vale had amassed 18 points from 30 games, conceding 77 goals, including 54 in their 15 away fixtures, but were re-elected to the league with the joint-highest number of votes.

Goalkeeper Tom Baddeley was the only ever-present throughout the season, with left-back Dick Ray missing just one game due to missing the train. Billy Beats, George Samuel Eccles, Meshach Dean, and Alf Wood, favourites of previous campaigns, rarely missed a match. At the end of the season, Wood left for Southampton, and Ray for Manchester City. Billy Beats was sold to Wolverhampton Wanderers for an £80 fee and a £50 benefit match. With their places filled with reserves, the next season looked bleak.

Finances

Financially, the club struggled, with attendance down due to continuing defeats, and the pay raises the players had for the good work the previous season damaged the budget. An end-of-season meeting saw the club's directors considering disbanding the club or floating the club as a Limited liability company.

Cup competitions

For the fourth consecutive season, they exited the FA Cup in the first round of qualification, for the second consecutive season, they scored three goals in their defeat; this time Stourbridge scored five. Vale had appeared overconfident and began the match at a walking pace. They exited the Staffordshire Senior Cup and the second round and the Birmingham Senior Cup at the first round, losing 1–0 to eventual Midland League champions Loughborough in the latter competition amid another poor display from the forward line.

Results

Football League Second Division

Main article: 1894–95 Football League

League table

Results by matchday

Matches

FA Cup

Main article: 1894–95 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. [http://www.statto.com/football/teams/port-vale/1894-1895/results Port Vale 1894–1895 : Results & Fixtures] {{Webarchive. link. (7 September 2015 . Statto Organisation. Retrieved 28 April 2012.)
3. Kent, Jeff. (1996). "Port Vale Personalities". Witan Books.