1948–49 Port Vale F.C. season
Encyclopedia
The 1948–49 season was Port Vale
Port Vale F.C.
Port Vale Football Club is an English football club currently playing in Football League Two. They are based in Burslem, Staffordshire — one of six towns that make up the city of Stoke-on-Trent. The club's traditional rivals in the city are Stoke City, and games between the two clubs are known as...

's thirty-seventh season of football in the Football League
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...

, and their fourth full season in the Third Division South
Football League Third Division South
The Football League Third Division South was a level of English professional football which ran in parallel to Third Division North from 1921 to 1958....

. A promotion campaign soon tailed off into an unremarkable mid-table finish, as bad form persuaded the club to sell off Bill Pointon
Bill Pointon
William James Pointon is a former professional footballer.-Playing career:Pointon joined Port Vale as a war-time player in February 1941. Due to the Second World War his debut did not come until 16 September 1944, in the meantime he guested for Portsmouth, Stoke City and Brighton & Hove Albion...

 for a then-club record fee.

Third Division South

The pre-season saw the club attempt to sign Huddersfield Town
Huddersfield Town F.C.
Huddersfield Town Football Club is an English football club formed in 1908 and based in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire. They currently play in League One...

's star forward Peter Doherty
Peter Doherty (footballer)
Peter Dermot Doherty was a Northern Ireland international footballer and manager who played for Manchester City.An inside left, he was one of the top players of his time, winning a league title with Manchester City, an F.A. Cup final with Derby County in which he scored, and gained 16 caps for...

, when this failed Gordon Hodgson
Gordon Hodgson
Gordon Hodgson was a South African-born English sportsman, being best known for as a striker for Liverpool and also a first-class cricketer for Lancashire, he also excelled at baseball....

 instead signed Liverpool
Liverpool F.C.
Liverpool Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Liverpool, Merseyside. Liverpool has won eighteen League titles, second most in English football, seven FA Cups and a record seven League Cups...

 left-wing duo Stan Palk and Mick Hulligan
Mick Hulligan
Michael John Hulligan was an English footballer. He made 209 appearances and scored 23 goals for Port Vale.-Playing career:...

 for £10,000. Striker Walter Aveyard
Walter Aveyard
Walter Aveyard was an English footballer who made more than 100 appearances in the Football League, playing for Sheffield Wednesday, Birmingham City, Port Vale and Accrington Stanley.-Playing career:...

 was also signed from Birmingham City
Birmingham City F.C.
Birmingham City Football Club is a professional association football club based in the city of Birmingham, England. Formed in 1875 as Small Heath Alliance, they became Small Heath in 1888, then Birmingham in 1905, finally becoming Birmingham City in 1943.They were relegated at the end of the...

, despite his belief that a leg injury had finished him. Fans were convinced promotion to the Second Division
Football League Second Division
From 1892 until 1992, the Football League Second Division was the second highest division overall in English football.This ended with the creation of the FA Premier League, prior to the start of the 1992–93 season, which caused an administrative split between The Football League and the teams...

 was possible, and so there was a surge in season ticket sales.

The season started with seven points from the opening four games, leaving the club top of the table. The season-high 18,497 fans that turned up for a 3–0 win over Aldershot
Aldershot F.C.
Aldershot Football Club was an English Football League club, which was wound up in the High Court in March 1992. They became the first Football League club since Accrington Stanley to resign from the League during the course of a season. The club was nicknamed the Shots for both the last syllable...

 were impressed by the skill of the three new signings. The club's good form continued to the end of September, despite the sale of Walter Keeley
Walter Keeley
Walter Keeley was an English footballer.-Playing career:Keeley played for the RAF, Accrington Stanley, Manchester United and Bury before joining Port Vale, along with 'a substantial fee', in exchange for Alf Bellis in January 1948. He made an excellent debut, scoring twice in a 3–0 home win over...

 to Accrington Stanley
Accrington Stanley F.C. (1891)
Accrington Stanley was an English football club based in Accrington, Lancashire. Established in 1891, the club played in the Football League between 1921 and 1962, when the club became only the second ever to resign from the League mid-season. The club went into liquidation in 1966...

 for £1,500 – who had found himself relegated to the sidelines by Hulligan's good performances. After this Hulligan broke his ankle, whilst other injuries also hit the squad. Six weeks of six defeats in seven games followed, leaving Vale sixth from bottom. During this spell Joe Dale
Joe Dale
Joseph "Joe" Dale was an English footballer.-Playing career:Dale played for Witton Albion before he transferred to Manchester United in June 1947. He made his United debut on 27 September 1947 in a 2–1 win at Preston North End. He only played one further game before he was bought by Port Vale for...

 was offloaded to Witton Albion
Witton Albion F.C.
Witton Albion F.C. are a football club based in Northwich, England. They were founded in 1887. They have won the Cheshire Senior Cup 11 times since 1902. Their most recent success in this competition was in 2006, when they defeated Stalybridge Celtic in the final. They have also reached the FA Cup...

, as Hodgson attempted to fill the gaps in the first team with young reserves. Winning three games on the trot, the Vale put an end to this bad spell, also keeping three clean sheets.

Over the Christmas
Christmas
Christmas or Christmas Day is an annual holiday generally celebrated on December 25 by billions of people around the world. It is a Christian feast that commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ, liturgically closing the Advent season and initiating the season of Christmastide, which lasts twelve days...

 period talk was dominated by 'The Wembley of the North
Vale Park
Vale Park is a football stadium in Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent, England. It is the home ground of Port Vale F.C., who have played at the ground since 1950....

', which had been projected as a 80,000 capacity stadium, now it was planned as a 40,000 capacity ground with room for future expansion. Finding just fifty members for the '100 club', the financing was helped by a £8,000 grant from The Football Association
The Football Association
The Football Association, also known as simply The FA, is the governing body of football in England, and the Crown Dependencies of Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man. It was formed in 1863, and is the oldest national football association...

. In January the club initiated a fire-sale of players: Bill Pointon
Bill Pointon
William James Pointon is a former professional footballer.-Playing career:Pointon joined Port Vale as a war-time player in February 1941. Due to the Second World War his debut did not come until 16 September 1944, in the meantime he guested for Portsmouth, Stoke City and Brighton & Hove Albion...

 went to Queens Park Rangers
Queens Park Rangers F.C.
Queens Park Rangers Football Club is an English professional football club, based in White City, Hammersmith and Fulham, west London. As the 2010-11 Football League Championship champions, they now play in the top tier of English football the Premier League, for the first time in 15 years...

 for a then-club record five-figure fee, whilst Harry Hubbick
Harry Hubbick
Henry Edward Hubbick was an English footballer.-Playing career:After leaving school Hubbick worked as a coal miner. In his free time he played football for Jarrow, Blyth Spartans and Spennymoor United before signing for professional club Burnley in 1935...

 was sold to Rochdale
Rochdale A.F.C.
Rochdale Association Football Club is an English professional football club based in Rochdale, Greater Manchester. They play their home matches at Spotland Stadium. Formed in 1907, they were accepted into the Football League in 1921...

 for around £1,000. Meanwhile the club transfer listed Palk, Aveyard, and Eric Eastwood (who all lived outside North Staffordshire
North Staffordshire
North Staffordshire describes an area of Staffordshire, in the West Midlands region of England. It contains the Borough of Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire Moorlands and the City of Stoke-on-Trent. The Stoke and Newcastle areas make up The Potteries Urban Area, whilst the Moorlands are largely...

); whilst Hulligan returned from injury. A two month run without a win followed, in which Hodgson again experimented with the first eleven. This run finally ended with a 1–0 win over Notts County on 9 April. Nine days later at Ashton Gate, keeper Harry Prince
Harry Prince
Harold Prince is an English former footballer.-Playing career:Prince played for Bucknall before graduating through the Port Vale youth side to sign professional forms with the Vale in September 1941. With World War II raging, he transferred to Wolverhampton Wanderers in July 1943 without having...

 was given a chance in place of regular George Heppell
George Heppell
George Heppell was an English football goalkeeper who made over 200 appearances for Port Vale.-Playing career:...

, who embarrassed himself by attempting to punch a forty yard punt from Stone, only to miss the ball entirely and thereby concede the equalizer. Later in the month, Hodgson signed George King
George King (footballer)
George King is an English former footballer. He is the elder brother of goalkeeper Ray King.-Playing career:King played for the Royal Air Force, Newcastle United and Hull City before joining Port Vale for a four-figure fee in April 1949. Scoring twice on his debut; a 3–1 home win over Torquay...

 from Hull City
Hull City A.F.C.
Hull City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Kingston upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, founded in 1904. The club participates in the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football...

 for a four-figure fee. King scored twice in his debut against Torquay United
Torquay United F.C.
Torquay United Football Club, nicknamed the Gulls, are an English association football club based in the tourist resort town of Torquay, Devon. They played in the Conference National in 2008–09, but were promoted to Football League Two after a 2–0 win over Cambridge United on 17 May 2009 at Wembley...

.

They finished a disappointing thirteenth, boasting just 39 points. They had scored twelve fewer goals than the previous campaign, though their defensive record was identical. Harry Prince's move to Stafford Rangers
Stafford Rangers F.C.
Stafford Rangers Football Club is a semi-professional English football team from Stafford which plays in the Northern Premier League Premier Division.The team wear black and white stripes with black shorts...

 was the only significant departure of the summer.

Finances

On the financial side, a large transfer credit helped the club record a gross profit of £7,120. Gate receipts had declined to £25,831, whilst wages had risen to £16,095. The Burslem Supporters Club put forward a donation of £600, and the club issued 22,000 new five shilling
Shilling
The shilling is a unit of currency used in some current and former British Commonwealth countries. The word shilling comes from scilling, an accounting term that dates back to Anglo-Saxon times where it was deemed to be the value of a cow in Kent or a sheep elsewhere. The word is thought to derive...

 shares to help with the New Ground Fund.

Cup competitions

In the FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...

, Vale were knocked out in the First Round by Notts County
Notts County F.C.
Notts County Football Club are an English professional football club based in Nottingham. They are the oldest of all the clubs in the world that are now professional, having been formed in 1862. They currently play in League One of The Football League, the third tier of the English football system...

 at Meadow Lane
Meadow Lane
Not to be confused with The Meadow, home of Southern Football League Premier Division football team Chesham UnitedThe Meadow Lane Stadium is a football stadium in Nottingham, England...

 in front of 36,514 spectators.

Final league table

P WDLFAGAPts
1 Swansea Town
Swansea City A.F.C.
Swansea City Association Football Club are a Welsh professional football club based in Swansea, Wales. One of the most successful clubs in Welsh football, it has won 10 Welsh Cups and led the English Football League First Division in December 1981, before finishing the season in 6th position...

42 27 8 7 87 34 2.559 62
2 Reading
Reading F.C.
Reading Football Club is an English association football club based in the town of Reading, Berkshire who currently play in the Championship...

42 25 5 12 77 50 1.540 55
3 Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic
A.F.C. Bournemouth
A.F.C. Bournemouth is an English football club currently playing in Football League One. The club plays at Dean Court in Kings Park, Boscombe, Bournemouth, Dorset and have been in existence since 1899....

42 22 8 12 69 48 1.438 52
4 Swindon Town
Swindon Town F.C.
Swindon Town Football Club are a team based in Swindon, Wiltshire. Currently in League Two, Swindon have been managed by Paolo Di Canio since 23 May 2011...

42 18 15 9 64 56 1.143 51
5 Bristol Rovers
Bristol Rovers F.C.
Bristol Rovers Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Bristol, that competes in Football League Two. The team plays its home matches at the Memorial Stadium, in the Horfield area of the city....

42 19 10 13 61 51 1.196 48
6 Brighton & Hove Albion
Brighton & Hove Albion F.C.
Brighton & Hove Albion Football Club are an English association football club based in the coastal city of Brighton & Hove, East Sussex. They currently play in the Football League Championship, the second tier of the English football league system....

42 15 18 9 55 55 1.000 48
7 Ipswich Town
Ipswich Town F.C.
Ipswich Town Football Club are an English professional football team based in Ipswich, Suffolk. As of 2011, they play in the Football League Championship, having last appeared in the Premier League in 2001–02....

42 18 9 15 78 77 1.013 45
8 Millwall
Millwall F.C.
Millwall Football Club is an English professional football club based in South Bermondsey, south east London, that plays in the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football. Founded as Millwall Rovers in 1885, the club has retained its name despite having last played in the...

42 17 11 14 63 64 0.984 45
9 Torquay United
Torquay United F.C.
Torquay United Football Club, nicknamed the Gulls, are an English association football club based in the tourist resort town of Torquay, Devon. They played in the Conference National in 2008–09, but were promoted to Football League Two after a 2–0 win over Cambridge United on 17 May 2009 at Wembley...

42 17 11 14 65 70 0.929 45
10 Norwich City
Norwich City F.C.
Norwich City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Norwich, Norfolk. As of the 2011–12 season, Norwich City are again playing in the Premier League after a six-year absence, having finished as runner up in the Championship in 2010–11 and winning automatic promotion.The...

42 16 12 14 67 49 1.367 44
11 Notts County
Notts County F.C.
Notts County Football Club are an English professional football club based in Nottingham. They are the oldest of all the clubs in the world that are now professional, having been formed in 1862. They currently play in League One of The Football League, the third tier of the English football system...

42 19 5 18 102 68 1.500 43
12 Exeter City
Exeter City F.C.
Exeter City Football Club is an English football club, based in Exeter, which is owned by its fans through the Exeter City Supporters Trust.The club was a member of the Football League from 1920 to 2003...

42 15 10 17 63 76 0.829 40
13 Port Vale
Port Vale F.C.
Port Vale Football Club is an English football club currently playing in Football League Two. They are based in Burslem, Staffordshire — one of six towns that make up the city of Stoke-on-Trent. The club's traditional rivals in the city are Stoke City, and games between the two clubs are known as...

42 14 11 17 51 54 0.944 39
14 Walsall
Walsall F.C.
Walsall Football Club are an English association football club based in Walsall, West Midlands. They currently play in League One. The club was founded in 1888 as Walsall Town Swifts, an amalgamation of Walsall Town F.C. and Walsall Swifts F.C. The club was one of the founder members of the Second...

42 15 8 19 56 64 0.875 38
15 Newport County
Newport County A.F.C.
Newport County Association Football Club are a professional football club based in the city of Newport, south Wales, who currently play in the Conference National, the highest level of the National League System and fifth highest of the overall English football league system...

42 14 9 19 68 92 0.739 37
16 Bristol City
Bristol City F.C.
Bristol City Football Club is one of two football league clubs in Bristol, England . They play at Ashton Gate, located in the south-west of the City...

42 11 14 17 44 62 0.710 36
17 Watford
Watford F.C.
Watford Football Club is an English professional football club based in Watford, Hertfordshire. It is often referred to as Watford F.C., Watford, or by the team's nickname The Hornets . Watford Rovers, Founded in 1881, entered the FA Cup for the first time in 1886, and the Southern League a decade...

42 10 15 17 41 54 0.759 35
18 Southend United
Southend United F.C.
Southend United Football Club is an English football club based at Roots Hall Stadium, Prittlewell, Southend-on-Sea, Essex, who play in Football League Two. Their home ground is Roots Hall, and the club plan to move into a new 22,000-seater stadium located at Fossetts Farm.-Stadium:The club has had...

42 9 16 17 41 46 0.891 34
19 Leyton Orient
Leyton Orient F.C.
Leyton Orient F.C. are an English professional football club in East London. They currently play in Football League One and are known to their fans as the O's.Leyton Orient have spent one season in the top flight of English football, in 1962–63...

42 11 12 19 58 80 0.725 34
20 Northampton Town
Northampton Town F.C.
Northampton Town Football Club are an English professional football club based in Northampton, Northamptonshire. They currently play in Football League Two, the lowest league division, after being relegated from League One on the last day of the 2008–09 season...

42 12 9 21 51 62 0.823 33
21 Aldershot
Aldershot F.C.
Aldershot Football Club was an English Football League club, which was wound up in the High Court in March 1992. They became the first Football League club since Accrington Stanley to resign from the League during the course of a season. The club was nicknamed the Shots for both the last syllable...

42 11 11 20 48 59 0.814 33
22 Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace F.C.
Crystal Palace Football Club are an English Football league club based in South Norwood, London. The team plays its home matches at Selhurst Park, where they have been based since 1924. The club currently competes in the second tier of English Football, The Championship.Crystal Palace was formed in...

42 8 11 23 38 76 0.500 27


P = Matches played; W = Matches won; D = Matches drawn; L = Matches lost; F = Goals for; A = Goals against; GA = Goal average; Pts = Points

Legend

Win Draw Loss

Football League Third Division South

DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers
21 August 1948 Millwall
Millwall F.C.
Millwall Football Club is an English professional football club based in South Bermondsey, south east London, that plays in the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football. Founded as Millwall Rovers in 1885, the club has retained its name despite having last played in the...

A 1–1 32,122 Aveyard
Walter Aveyard
Walter Aveyard was an English footballer who made more than 100 appearances in the Football League, playing for Sheffield Wednesday, Birmingham City, Port Vale and Accrington Stanley.-Playing career:...

23 August 1948 Reading
Reading F.C.
Reading Football Club is an English association football club based in the town of Reading, Berkshire who currently play in the Championship...

H 3–0 17,394 Aveyard
Walter Aveyard
Walter Aveyard was an English footballer who made more than 100 appearances in the Football League, playing for Sheffield Wednesday, Birmingham City, Port Vale and Accrington Stanley.-Playing career:...

 (2), Hulligan
Mick Hulligan
Michael John Hulligan was an English footballer. He made 209 appearances and scored 23 goals for Port Vale.-Playing career:...

28 August 1948 Aldershot
Aldershot F.C.
Aldershot Football Club was an English Football League club, which was wound up in the High Court in March 1992. They became the first Football League club since Accrington Stanley to resign from the League during the course of a season. The club was nicknamed the Shots for both the last syllable...

H 3–0 18,497 Hulligan
Mick Hulligan
Michael John Hulligan was an English footballer. He made 209 appearances and scored 23 goals for Port Vale.-Playing career:...

 (2), Dale
Joe Dale
Joseph "Joe" Dale was an English footballer.-Playing career:Dale played for Witton Albion before he transferred to Manchester United in June 1947. He made his United debut on 27 September 1947 in a 2–1 win at Preston North End. He only played one further game before he was bought by Port Vale for...

1 September 1948 Reading
Reading F.C.
Reading Football Club is an English association football club based in the town of Reading, Berkshire who currently play in the Championship...

A 2–1 13,955 Palk, Martin
4 September 1948 Brighton & Hove Albion
Brighton & Hove Albion F.C.
Brighton & Hove Albion Football Club are an English association football club based in the coastal city of Brighton & Hove, East Sussex. They currently play in the Football League Championship, the second tier of the English football league system....

A 0–1 20,383
6 September 1948 Swindon Town
Swindon Town F.C.
Swindon Town Football Club are a team based in Swindon, Wiltshire. Currently in League Two, Swindon have been managed by Paolo Di Canio since 23 May 2011...

H 2–0 17,581 Palk, Pointon
Bill Pointon
William James Pointon is a former professional footballer.-Playing career:Pointon joined Port Vale as a war-time player in February 1941. Due to the Second World War his debut did not come until 16 September 1944, in the meantime he guested for Portsmouth, Stoke City and Brighton & Hove Albion...

11 September 1948 Southend United
Southend United F.C.
Southend United Football Club is an English football club based at Roots Hall Stadium, Prittlewell, Southend-on-Sea, Essex, who play in Football League Two. Their home ground is Roots Hall, and the club plan to move into a new 22,000-seater stadium located at Fossetts Farm.-Stadium:The club has had...

H 0–2 16,592
15 September 1948 Swindon Town
Swindon Town F.C.
Swindon Town Football Club are a team based in Swindon, Wiltshire. Currently in League Two, Swindon have been managed by Paolo Di Canio since 23 May 2011...

A 2–0 16,894 Allen
Ronnie Allen
Ronald "Ronnie" Allen was an English international football player and manager. He was a professional footballer for nineteen years, between 1946 and 1964, making 638 appearances in the Football League, and scoring 276 goals. He also won five caps for England national team...

, Aveyard
Walter Aveyard
Walter Aveyard was an English footballer who made more than 100 appearances in the Football League, playing for Sheffield Wednesday, Birmingham City, Port Vale and Accrington Stanley.-Playing career:...

18 September 1948 Northampton Town
Northampton Town F.C.
Northampton Town Football Club are an English professional football club based in Northampton, Northamptonshire. They currently play in Football League Two, the lowest league division, after being relegated from League One on the last day of the 2008–09 season...

A 2–2 9,964 Allen
Ronnie Allen
Ronald "Ronnie" Allen was an English international football player and manager. He was a professional footballer for nineteen years, between 1946 and 1964, making 638 appearances in the Football League, and scoring 276 goals. He also won five caps for England national team...

, Aveyard
Walter Aveyard
Walter Aveyard was an English footballer who made more than 100 appearances in the Football League, playing for Sheffield Wednesday, Birmingham City, Port Vale and Accrington Stanley.-Playing career:...

25 September 1948 Norwich City
Norwich City F.C.
Norwich City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Norwich, Norfolk. As of the 2011–12 season, Norwich City are again playing in the Premier League after a six-year absence, having finished as runner up in the Championship in 2010–11 and winning automatic promotion.The...

H 0–0 15,361
2 October 1948 Exeter City
Exeter City F.C.
Exeter City Football Club is an English football club, based in Exeter, which is owned by its fans through the Exeter City Supporters Trust.The club was a member of the Football League from 1920 to 2003...

A 1–2 10,672 Martin
9 October 1948 Swansea Town
Swansea City A.F.C.
Swansea City Association Football Club are a Welsh professional football club based in Swansea, Wales. One of the most successful clubs in Welsh football, it has won 10 Welsh Cups and led the English Football League First Division in December 1981, before finishing the season in 6th position...

H 0–2 17,888
16 October 1948 Newport County
Newport County A.F.C.
Newport County Association Football Club are a professional football club based in the city of Newport, south Wales, who currently play in the Conference National, the highest level of the National League System and fifth highest of the overall English football league system...

A 2–2 10,037 Aveyard
Walter Aveyard
Walter Aveyard was an English footballer who made more than 100 appearances in the Football League, playing for Sheffield Wednesday, Birmingham City, Port Vale and Accrington Stanley.-Playing career:...

 (2)
23 October 1948 Ipswich Town
Ipswich Town F.C.
Ipswich Town Football Club are an English professional football team based in Ipswich, Suffolk. As of 2011, they play in the Football League Championship, having last appeared in the Premier League in 2001–02....

H 1–2 11,424 Aveyard
Walter Aveyard
Walter Aveyard was an English footballer who made more than 100 appearances in the Football League, playing for Sheffield Wednesday, Birmingham City, Port Vale and Accrington Stanley.-Playing career:...

30 October 1948 Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic
A.F.C. Bournemouth
A.F.C. Bournemouth is an English football club currently playing in Football League One. The club plays at Dean Court in Kings Park, Boscombe, Bournemouth, Dorset and have been in existence since 1899....

A 0–2 18,436
6 November 1948 Walsall
Walsall F.C.
Walsall Football Club are an English association football club based in Walsall, West Midlands. They currently play in League One. The club was founded in 1888 as Walsall Town Swifts, an amalgamation of Walsall Town F.C. and Walsall Swifts F.C. The club was one of the founder members of the Second...

H 0–2 11,559
13 November 1948 Notts County
Notts County F.C.
Notts County Football Club are an English professional football club based in Nottingham. They are the oldest of all the clubs in the world that are now professional, having been formed in 1862. They currently play in League One of The Football League, the third tier of the English football system...

A 1–2 29,332 Aveyard
Walter Aveyard
Walter Aveyard was an English footballer who made more than 100 appearances in the Football League, playing for Sheffield Wednesday, Birmingham City, Port Vale and Accrington Stanley.-Playing career:...

20 November 1948 Bristol Rovers
Bristol Rovers F.C.
Bristol Rovers Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Bristol, that competes in Football League Two. The team plays its home matches at the Memorial Stadium, in the Horfield area of the city....

H 2–0 10,342 Cheadle
Tommy Cheadle
Thomas Cheadle was an English footballer. He played for Port Vale in various positions for over a decade...

, Palk
18 December 1948 Millwall
Millwall F.C.
Millwall Football Club is an English professional football club based in South Bermondsey, south east London, that plays in the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football. Founded as Millwall Rovers in 1885, the club has retained its name despite having last played in the...

H 1–0 7,738 Pointon
Bill Pointon
William James Pointon is a former professional footballer.-Playing career:Pointon joined Port Vale as a war-time player in February 1941. Due to the Second World War his debut did not come until 16 September 1944, in the meantime he guested for Portsmouth, Stoke City and Brighton & Hove Albion...

25 December 1948 Leyton Orient
Leyton Orient F.C.
Leyton Orient F.C. are an English professional football club in East London. They currently play in Football League One and are known to their fans as the O's.Leyton Orient have spent one season in the top flight of English football, in 1962–63...

H 3–0 9,480 Allen
Ronnie Allen
Ronald "Ronnie" Allen was an English international football player and manager. He was a professional footballer for nineteen years, between 1946 and 1964, making 638 appearances in the Football League, and scoring 276 goals. He also won five caps for England national team...

, Pointon
Bill Pointon
William James Pointon is a former professional footballer.-Playing career:Pointon joined Port Vale as a war-time player in February 1941. Due to the Second World War his debut did not come until 16 September 1944, in the meantime he guested for Portsmouth, Stoke City and Brighton & Hove Albion...

, Hubbick
Harry Hubbick
Henry Edward Hubbick was an English footballer.-Playing career:After leaving school Hubbick worked as a coal miner. In his free time he played football for Jarrow, Blyth Spartans and Spennymoor United before signing for professional club Burnley in 1935...

27 December 1948 Leyton Orient
Leyton Orient F.C.
Leyton Orient F.C. are an English professional football club in East London. They currently play in Football League One and are known to their fans as the O's.Leyton Orient have spent one season in the top flight of English football, in 1962–63...

A 0–2 8,953
1 January 1949 Aldershot
Aldershot F.C.
Aldershot Football Club was an English Football League club, which was wound up in the High Court in March 1992. They became the first Football League club since Accrington Stanley to resign from the League during the course of a season. The club was nicknamed the Shots for both the last syllable...

A 1–0 4,510 Pointon
Bill Pointon
William James Pointon is a former professional footballer.-Playing career:Pointon joined Port Vale as a war-time player in February 1941. Due to the Second World War his debut did not come until 16 September 1944, in the meantime he guested for Portsmouth, Stoke City and Brighton & Hove Albion...

8 January 1949 Watford
Watford F.C.
Watford Football Club is an English professional football club based in Watford, Hertfordshire. It is often referred to as Watford F.C., Watford, or by the team's nickname The Hornets . Watford Rovers, Founded in 1881, entered the FA Cup for the first time in 1886, and the Southern League a decade...

H 3–1 8,681 Aveyard
Walter Aveyard
Walter Aveyard was an English footballer who made more than 100 appearances in the Football League, playing for Sheffield Wednesday, Birmingham City, Port Vale and Accrington Stanley.-Playing career:...

 (2), Allen
Ronnie Allen
Ronald "Ronnie" Allen was an English international football player and manager. He was a professional footballer for nineteen years, between 1946 and 1964, making 638 appearances in the Football League, and scoring 276 goals. He also won five caps for England national team...

15 January 1949 Brighton & Hove Albion
Brighton & Hove Albion F.C.
Brighton & Hove Albion Football Club are an English association football club based in the coastal city of Brighton & Hove, East Sussex. They currently play in the Football League Championship, the second tier of the English football league system....

H 3–4 9,562 Martin, Pointon
Bill Pointon
William James Pointon is a former professional footballer.-Playing career:Pointon joined Port Vale as a war-time player in February 1941. Due to the Second World War his debut did not come until 16 September 1944, in the meantime he guested for Portsmouth, Stoke City and Brighton & Hove Albion...

, Aveyard
Walter Aveyard
Walter Aveyard was an English footballer who made more than 100 appearances in the Football League, playing for Sheffield Wednesday, Birmingham City, Port Vale and Accrington Stanley.-Playing career:...

22 January 1949 Southend United
Southend United F.C.
Southend United Football Club is an English football club based at Roots Hall Stadium, Prittlewell, Southend-on-Sea, Essex, who play in Football League Two. Their home ground is Roots Hall, and the club plan to move into a new 22,000-seater stadium located at Fossetts Farm.-Stadium:The club has had...

A 0–0 9,713
5 February 1949 Northampton Town
Northampton Town F.C.
Northampton Town Football Club are an English professional football club based in Northampton, Northamptonshire. They currently play in Football League Two, the lowest league division, after being relegated from League One on the last day of the 2008–09 season...

H 1–0 9,369 Allen
Ronnie Allen
Ronald "Ronnie" Allen was an English international football player and manager. He was a professional footballer for nineteen years, between 1946 and 1964, making 638 appearances in the Football League, and scoring 276 goals. He also won five caps for England national team...

12 February 1949 Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace F.C.
Crystal Palace Football Club are an English Football league club based in South Norwood, London. The team plays its home matches at Selhurst Park, where they have been based since 1924. The club currently competes in the second tier of English Football, The Championship.Crystal Palace was formed in...

A 1–1 12,409 Cheadle
Tommy Cheadle
Thomas Cheadle was an English footballer. He played for Port Vale in various positions for over a decade...

19 February 1949 Norwich City
Norwich City F.C.
Norwich City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Norwich, Norfolk. As of the 2011–12 season, Norwich City are again playing in the Premier League after a six-year absence, having finished as runner up in the Championship in 2010–11 and winning automatic promotion.The...

A 0–2 26,323
26 February 1949 Exeter City
Exeter City F.C.
Exeter City Football Club is an English football club, based in Exeter, which is owned by its fans through the Exeter City Supporters Trust.The club was a member of the Football League from 1920 to 2003...

H 1–1 8,437 o.g.
Own goal
An own net occurs in goal-scoring games when a player scores a goal that is registered against his or her own team. It is usually accidental, and may be a result of an attempt at defensive play that failed or was spoiled by opponents....

5 March 1949 Swansea Town
Swansea City A.F.C.
Swansea City Association Football Club are a Welsh professional football club based in Swansea, Wales. One of the most successful clubs in Welsh football, it has won 10 Welsh Cups and led the English Football League First Division in December 1981, before finishing the season in 6th position...

A 1–3 13,769 Allen
Ronnie Allen
Ronald "Ronnie" Allen was an English international football player and manager. He was a professional footballer for nineteen years, between 1946 and 1964, making 638 appearances in the Football League, and scoring 276 goals. He also won five caps for England national team...

12 March 1949 Newport County
Newport County A.F.C.
Newport County Association Football Club are a professional football club based in the city of Newport, south Wales, who currently play in the Conference National, the highest level of the National League System and fifth highest of the overall English football league system...

H 1–2 9,487 Hulligan
Mick Hulligan
Michael John Hulligan was an English footballer. He made 209 appearances and scored 23 goals for Port Vale.-Playing career:...

19 March 1949 Ipswich Town
Ipswich Town F.C.
Ipswich Town Football Club are an English professional football team based in Ipswich, Suffolk. As of 2011, they play in the Football League Championship, having last appeared in the Premier League in 2001–02....

A 1–4 10,722 Allen
Ronnie Allen
Ronald "Ronnie" Allen was an English international football player and manager. He was a professional footballer for nineteen years, between 1946 and 1964, making 638 appearances in the Football League, and scoring 276 goals. He also won five caps for England national team...

26 March 1949 Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic
A.F.C. Bournemouth
A.F.C. Bournemouth is an English football club currently playing in Football League One. The club plays at Dean Court in Kings Park, Boscombe, Bournemouth, Dorset and have been in existence since 1899....

H 0–2 8,560
30 March 1949 Torquay United
Torquay United F.C.
Torquay United Football Club, nicknamed the Gulls, are an English association football club based in the tourist resort town of Torquay, Devon. They played in the Conference National in 2008–09, but were promoted to Football League Two after a 2–0 win over Cambridge United on 17 May 2009 at Wembley...

A 0–0 6,483
2 April 1949 Walsall
Walsall F.C.
Walsall Football Club are an English association football club based in Walsall, West Midlands. They currently play in League One. The club was founded in 1888 as Walsall Town Swifts, an amalgamation of Walsall Town F.C. and Walsall Swifts F.C. The club was one of the founder members of the Second...

A 1–1 9,767 Martin
9 April 1949 Notts County
Notts County F.C.
Notts County Football Club are an English professional football club based in Nottingham. They are the oldest of all the clubs in the world that are now professional, having been formed in 1862. They currently play in League One of The Football League, the third tier of the English football system...

H 1–0 12,198 Martin
15 April 1949 Bristol City
Bristol City F.C.
Bristol City Football Club is one of two football league clubs in Bristol, England . They play at Ashton Gate, located in the south-west of the City...

H 4–2 13,571 Allen
Ronnie Allen
Ronald "Ronnie" Allen was an English international football player and manager. He was a professional footballer for nineteen years, between 1946 and 1964, making 638 appearances in the Football League, and scoring 276 goals. He also won five caps for England national team...

 (2), Martin, Hulligan
Mick Hulligan
Michael John Hulligan was an English footballer. He made 209 appearances and scored 23 goals for Port Vale.-Playing career:...

16 April 1949 Bristol Rovers
Bristol Rovers F.C.
Bristol Rovers Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Bristol, that competes in Football League Two. The team plays its home matches at the Memorial Stadium, in the Horfield area of the city....

A 1–4 15,477 Aveyard
Walter Aveyard
Walter Aveyard was an English footballer who made more than 100 appearances in the Football League, playing for Sheffield Wednesday, Birmingham City, Port Vale and Accrington Stanley.-Playing career:...

18 April 1949 Bristol City
Bristol City F.C.
Bristol City Football Club is one of two football league clubs in Bristol, England . They play at Ashton Gate, located in the south-west of the City...

A 1–1 11,094 Palk
23 April 1949 Torquay United
Torquay United F.C.
Torquay United Football Club, nicknamed the Gulls, are an English association football club based in the tourist resort town of Torquay, Devon. They played in the Conference National in 2008–09, but were promoted to Football League Two after a 2–0 win over Cambridge United on 17 May 2009 at Wembley...

H 3–1 11,914 King
George King (footballer)
George King is an English former footballer. He is the elder brother of goalkeeper Ray King.-Playing career:King played for the Royal Air Force, Newcastle United and Hull City before joining Port Vale for a four-figure fee in April 1949. Scoring twice on his debut; a 3–1 home win over Torquay...

 (2), McGarry
Bill McGarry
William Harry "Bill" McGarry was an English international football player and manager.A right-half as a player, he joined Port Vale following the end of World War II, and spent the next six years with the club. He then moved on to Huddersfield Town in 1951, where he would spend the next ten years...

30 April 1949 Watford
Watford F.C.
Watford Football Club is an English professional football club based in Watford, Hertfordshire. It is often referred to as Watford F.C., Watford, or by the team's nickname The Hornets . Watford Rovers, Founded in 1881, entered the FA Cup for the first time in 1886, and the Southern League a decade...

A 1–2 6,316 Allen
Ronnie Allen
Ronald "Ronnie" Allen was an English international football player and manager. He was a professional footballer for nineteen years, between 1946 and 1964, making 638 appearances in the Football League, and scoring 276 goals. He also won five caps for England national team...

7 May 1949 Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace F.C.
Crystal Palace Football Club are an English Football league club based in South Norwood, London. The team plays its home matches at Selhurst Park, where they have been based since 1924. The club currently competes in the second tier of English Football, The Championship.Crystal Palace was formed in...

H 0–0 7,821

FA Cup

RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorers
R1 27 November 1948 Notts County
Notts County F.C.
Notts County Football Club are an English professional football club based in Nottingham. They are the oldest of all the clubs in the world that are now professional, having been formed in 1862. They currently play in League One of The Football League, the third tier of the English football system...

A 1–2 36,514 Martin

Appearances

Pos. Name Football League FA Cup Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
GK   George Heppell
George Heppell
George Heppell was an English football goalkeeper who made over 200 appearances for Port Vale.-Playing career:...

37 0 1 0 38 0
GK   Ray Hancock
Ray Hancock
Charles Raymond Hancock is a former English footballer. He is Ken Hancock's elder brother.-Playing career:Hancock played for Abbey Hulton United and Bury before joining Port Vale in May 1948. By September 1952, at age 27, he was believed to be experienced enough to be the first choice keeper, but...

3 0 0 0 3 0
GK   Harry Prince
Harry Prince
Harold Prince is an English former footballer.-Playing career:Prince played for Bucknall before graduating through the Port Vale youth side to sign professional forms with the Vale in September 1941. With World War II raging, he transferred to Wolverhampton Wanderers in July 1943 without having...

2 0 0 0 2 0
DF   Basil Hayward
Basil Hayward
Carl Basil Hayward was an English footballer player and manager. He was the younger brother of Doug and Eric Hayward....

41 0 1 0 42 0
DF   Tommy Cheadle
Tommy Cheadle
Thomas Cheadle was an English footballer. He played for Port Vale in various positions for over a decade...

22 2 1 0 23 2
DF   Garth Butler
Garth Butler
Walter Garth Butler an English footballer. He was nicknamed 'the assassin' for his habit of taking several different coloured pills before a match.-Playing career:Butler joined Port Vale from Derby County in June 1946...

33 0 1 0 34 0
DF   Harry Hubbick
Harry Hubbick
Henry Edward Hubbick was an English footballer.-Playing career:After leaving school Hubbick worked as a coal miner. In his free time he played football for Jarrow, Blyth Spartans and Spennymoor United before signing for professional club Burnley in 1935...

20 1 1 0 21 1
DF   Reg Potts
Reg Potts
Reginald Potts was an English football defender, nicknamed Dan after Desperate Dan.A key member of Port Vale's history, Potts played close to 300 league games for the club between 1945 and 1957...

19 0 0 0 19 0
DF   Jim Elsby
Jim Elsby
James Elsby is an English former footballer. His nephew is Ian Elsby, also a now retired footballer who played for Port Vale.-Playing career:...

1 0 0 0 1 0
MF   Wilf Smith 1 0 0 0 1 0
MF   Jimmy Todd
Jimmy Todd
James "Jimmy" Todd was a footballer from Northern Ireland who played most notably for Port Vale in the 1940s and '50s.-Playing career:...

11 0 0 0 11 0
MF   Alan Martin 42 6 1 1 43 7
MF   Bill McGarry
Bill McGarry
William Harry "Bill" McGarry was an English international football player and manager.A right-half as a player, he joined Port Vale following the end of World War II, and spent the next six years with the club. He then moved on to Huddersfield Town in 1951, where he would spend the next ten years...

40 1 1 0 41 1
MF   Eric Eastwood 4 0 0 0 4 0
MF   Walter Keeley
Walter Keeley
Walter Keeley was an English footballer.-Playing career:Keeley played for the RAF, Accrington Stanley, Manchester United and Bury before joining Port Vale, along with 'a substantial fee', in exchange for Alf Bellis in January 1948. He made an excellent debut, scoring twice in a 3–0 home win over...

2 0 0 0 2 0
MF   Joe Dale
Joe Dale
Joseph "Joe" Dale was an English footballer.-Playing career:Dale played for Witton Albion before he transferred to Manchester United in June 1947. He made his United debut on 27 September 1947 in a 2–1 win at Preston North End. He only played one further game before he was bought by Port Vale for...

6 1 0 0 6 1
MF   Mick Hulligan
Mick Hulligan
Michael John Hulligan was an English footballer. He made 209 appearances and scored 23 goals for Port Vale.-Playing career:...

28 5 0 0 28 5
MF   Alan Bennett
Alan Bennett (English footballer)
Alan Bennett is a former English footballer.-Playing style:A skilful and speedy winger, he required the protection of his teammates to prevent opposition hatchet men taking him out of the game.-Playing career:...

1 0 0 0 1 0
MF   Bernard Jones
Bernard Jones
Bernard Jones is an English former footballer.-Playing career:Jones played for Crewe Alexandra and Longport before joining Port Vale in October 1948. He played six league and one FA Cup game in the 1948–49 season...

6 0 1 0 7 0
FW   Bill Pointon
Bill Pointon
William James Pointon is a former professional footballer.-Playing career:Pointon joined Port Vale as a war-time player in February 1941. Due to the Second World War his debut did not come until 16 September 1944, in the meantime he guested for Portsmouth, Stoke City and Brighton & Hove Albion...

15 5 0 0 15 5
FW   Ronnie Allen
Ronnie Allen
Ronald "Ronnie" Allen was an English international football player and manager. He was a professional footballer for nineteen years, between 1946 and 1964, making 638 appearances in the Football League, and scoring 276 goals. He also won five caps for England national team...

40 10 1 0 41 10
FW   Lewis White
Lewis White
Lewis White is an English former footballer.-Playing career:White signed professional forms with Port Vale in October 1948. His only appearance came at outside-right in a 2–1 home defeat to Ipswich Town on 23 October 1948. He was transferred to Winsford United in July 1949.-References:...

1 0 0 0 1 0
FW   Pat Raftery
Pat Raftery
Patrick Thomas Raftery is an English former footballer.-Playing career:Raftery played for Stanfields, Norton Miners, Harriseahead, Ravensdale and Hull City before joining Port Vale as an amateur in November 1948. After making his debut in a 3–0 home win over Leyton Orient on Christmas day of 1948...

2 0 0 0 2 0
FW   John Sherratt
John Sherratt
John Hubert Sherratt is an English former amateur footballer.-Playing career:Sherratt joined Port Vale in January 1949 and made his debut in a 3–1 defeat at Swansea Town on 5 March 1949. He played just one more game that season before being released upon its conclusion.-References:...

2 0 0 0 2 0
FW   George King
George King (footballer)
George King is an English former footballer. He is the elder brother of goalkeeper Ray King.-Playing career:King played for the Royal Air Force, Newcastle United and Hull City before joining Port Vale for a four-figure fee in April 1949. Scoring twice on his debut; a 3–1 home win over Torquay...

2 2 0 0 2 2
FW   George O'Neill 5 0 0 0 5 0
FW   Stan Palk 42 4 1 0 43 4
FW   Walter Aveyard
Walter Aveyard
Walter Aveyard was an English footballer who made more than 100 appearances in the Football League, playing for Sheffield Wednesday, Birmingham City, Port Vale and Accrington Stanley.-Playing career:...

34 13 1 0 35 13


All competitions

Scorer Goals
  Walter Aveyard
Walter Aveyard
Walter Aveyard was an English footballer who made more than 100 appearances in the Football League, playing for Sheffield Wednesday, Birmingham City, Port Vale and Accrington Stanley.-Playing career:...

13
  Ronnie Allen
Ronnie Allen
Ronald "Ronnie" Allen was an English international football player and manager. He was a professional footballer for nineteen years, between 1946 and 1964, making 638 appearances in the Football League, and scoring 276 goals. He also won five caps for England national team...

10
  Alan Martin 7
  Bill Pointon
Bill Pointon
William James Pointon is a former professional footballer.-Playing career:Pointon joined Port Vale as a war-time player in February 1941. Due to the Second World War his debut did not come until 16 September 1944, in the meantime he guested for Portsmouth, Stoke City and Brighton & Hove Albion...

5
  Mick Hulligan
Mick Hulligan
Michael John Hulligan was an English footballer. He made 209 appearances and scored 23 goals for Port Vale.-Playing career:...

  Stan Palk 4
  George King
George King (footballer)
George King is an English former footballer. He is the elder brother of goalkeeper Ray King.-Playing career:King played for the Royal Air Force, Newcastle United and Hull City before joining Port Vale for a four-figure fee in April 1949. Scoring twice on his debut; a 3–1 home win over Torquay...

2
  Tommy Cheadle
Tommy Cheadle
Thomas Cheadle was an English footballer. He played for Port Vale in various positions for over a decade...

  Harry Hubbick
Harry Hubbick
Henry Edward Hubbick was an English footballer.-Playing career:After leaving school Hubbick worked as a coal miner. In his free time he played football for Jarrow, Blyth Spartans and Spennymoor United before signing for professional club Burnley in 1935...

1
  Bill McGarry
Bill McGarry
William Harry "Bill" McGarry was an English international football player and manager.A right-half as a player, he joined Port Vale following the end of World War II, and spent the next six years with the club. He then moved on to Huddersfield Town in 1951, where he would spend the next ten years...

  Joe Dale
Joe Dale
Joseph "Joe" Dale was an English footballer.-Playing career:Dale played for Witton Albion before he transferred to Manchester United in June 1947. He made his United debut on 27 September 1947 in a 2–1 win at Preston North End. He only played one further game before he was bought by Port Vale for...


League

Scorer Goals
  Walter Aveyard
Walter Aveyard
Walter Aveyard was an English footballer who made more than 100 appearances in the Football League, playing for Sheffield Wednesday, Birmingham City, Port Vale and Accrington Stanley.-Playing career:...

13
  Ronnie Allen
Ronnie Allen
Ronald "Ronnie" Allen was an English international football player and manager. He was a professional footballer for nineteen years, between 1946 and 1964, making 638 appearances in the Football League, and scoring 276 goals. He also won five caps for England national team...

10
  Alan Martin 6
  Bill Pointon
Bill Pointon
William James Pointon is a former professional footballer.-Playing career:Pointon joined Port Vale as a war-time player in February 1941. Due to the Second World War his debut did not come until 16 September 1944, in the meantime he guested for Portsmouth, Stoke City and Brighton & Hove Albion...

5
  Mick Hulligan
Mick Hulligan
Michael John Hulligan was an English footballer. He made 209 appearances and scored 23 goals for Port Vale.-Playing career:...

  Stan Palk 4
  George King
George King (footballer)
George King is an English former footballer. He is the elder brother of goalkeeper Ray King.-Playing career:King played for the Royal Air Force, Newcastle United and Hull City before joining Port Vale for a four-figure fee in April 1949. Scoring twice on his debut; a 3–1 home win over Torquay...

2
  Tommy Cheadle
Tommy Cheadle
Thomas Cheadle was an English footballer. He played for Port Vale in various positions for over a decade...

  Harry Hubbick
Harry Hubbick
Henry Edward Hubbick was an English footballer.-Playing career:After leaving school Hubbick worked as a coal miner. In his free time he played football for Jarrow, Blyth Spartans and Spennymoor United before signing for professional club Burnley in 1935...

1
  Bill McGarry
Bill McGarry
William Harry "Bill" McGarry was an English international football player and manager.A right-half as a player, he joined Port Vale following the end of World War II, and spent the next six years with the club. He then moved on to Huddersfield Town in 1951, where he would spend the next ten years...

  Joe Dale
Joe Dale
Joseph "Joe" Dale was an English footballer.-Playing career:Dale played for Witton Albion before he transferred to Manchester United in June 1947. He made his United debut on 27 September 1947 in a 2–1 win at Preston North End. He only played one further game before he was bought by Port Vale for...

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