1968–69 Port Vale F.C. season
Encyclopedia
The 1968–69 season was Port Vale
's fifty-seventh season of football in the Football League
, and their fourth successive season (fifth overall) in the Fourth Division
. New manager Gordon Lee
used the season to consolidate the club after it was readmitted to the Football League immediately after being expelled for illegal payment of players. Managing 46 goals scored and conceded, and 46 points gained in 46 games, he had built a solid base for future progress. However the club's financial problems continued, as another loss was made to increase the club's debt levels.
thus began work on rebuilding his squad, announcing a team approach with an additional 'individual coaching plan' for players to improve their personal weaknesses. Lee was big on coaching, and replaced cross country running
exercises with realistic match-day situations. Stanley Matthews
would become more of a scout and would only visit Burslem
on a weekly basis, he also agreed to allow the £9,000 owed to him in payments delayed until the club were on a sounder financial footing. His name removed from his office door, he 'gradually drifted out of the picture'. Three signings of note included: 'tenacious' wing-half John King (Tranmere Rovers
); Wales international
winger Graham Williams
(Tranmere Rovers
); and teenager Bobby Gough
(Walsall
).
The season opened with four Roy Chapman goals in four games, though only three points were won in the first six encounters. With Sharratt out injured, in came 'part-time, pipe-smoking civil servant
' Geoff Hickson
on loan from Crewe Alexandra
. Lee quickly earned the respect of the Vale fans despite his team lying bottom of the table in mid-September. A new club mascot
was unveiled at this time – 'Prince Val'. Some good home performances lifted the club off the bottom of the table, including a 4–1 thumping of Scunthorpe United
and a stylish back-heeled goal from Roy Sproson
in a 1–1 draw with Lincoln City
. Chapman then developed sciatica
and had to be rested until December. An excellent defence helped the club then to achieve a five game unbeaten run in the league. In November, goalkeeper Keith Ball
was signed from Walsall
for 'a small fee' and Graham Newton
joined on trial after leaving the Atlanta Chiefs
. On Boxing day
, Vale travelled to Sincil Bank
, where they beat second-placed Lincoln 1–0 in front of 12,208 spectators. Soon after Bill Asprey
retired as a player to coach at Sheffield Wednesday
.
A 5–0 mauling of Newport County
on 18 January sent the Vale into the top half of the table, though just one goal was scored and one point gained in the next four games. In March, Lee adopted a more 'hit and run' style, and saw his team achieve three straight wins. On the 29th, with the club seeming safe from re-election, 'hooliganism
reared its ugly head' as Chester
found their team bus smashed with bricks following a 2–1 loss at Burslem
. On 21 April, Sproson made his 700th league appearance in a 1–0 win over struggling Grimsby Town
. The final day was a 1–1 draw with wooden-spoon club Bradford Park Avenue
, though the Vale had five goals disallowed. Nevertheless this game was the first of a club-record nineteen league game streak without a loss that would end on 22 November 1969 the following season.
They finished in thirteenth place with 46 points from their 46 games, scoring 46 and conceding 46 goals.
(Chester); Mick Mahon
(York City
); Jimmy Goodfellow
(Workington); Graham Williams (Runcorn); and Milija Aleksic (Eastwood
). Lee claimed 'it was a hard decision, but I have had to create room for improvement'. Roy Chapman was offered a new contract, but opted instead to sign with Chester.
, with Sharrat injured and Hickson re-called by Crewe, seventeen year old Milija Aleksic
was roped in to play in the First Round clash with Third Division
Shrewsbury Town
. He also played in the replay following the 1–1 draw, and the club progressed with a 3–1 win over their 'lacklustre' opponents. The "Valiants" also required a replay to progress past Workington
. Vale then exited at the Third Round with a 1–0 defeat at Vicarage Road
to Watford
.
In the League Cup
, defeat came in the First Round to Wrexham at the Racecourse Ground
. Stuart Sharrat
cracked a kneecap in the game and later contracted a virus
in his blood
, which kept him out of action for the rest of the season.
P = Matches played; W = Matches won; D = Matches drawn; L = Matches lost; F = Goals for; A = Goals against; GA = Goal average; Pts = Points
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 fifty-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 successive season (fifth overall) in the Fourth Division
Football League Fourth Division
The Fourth Division of The Football League was the fourth-highest division in the English football league system from the 1958–59 season until the creation of the Premier League prior to the 1992–93 season...
. New manager Gordon Lee
Gordon Lee (footballer)
Gordon Francis Lee is a former English footballer and football manager.A right-back during his playing days, he moved from Hednesford Town to Aston Villa in 1955...
used the season to consolidate the club after it was readmitted to the Football League immediately after being expelled for illegal payment of players. Managing 46 goals scored and conceded, and 46 points gained in 46 games, he had built a solid base for future progress. However the club's financial problems continued, as another loss was made to increase the club's debt levels.
Fourth Division
On 8 June, the club's future was decided, as a vote of 39 to 9 allowed the club readmission to the Football League, despite the conclusion of an investigation earlier in the year which ruled that the club should be expelled from the League. New manager Gordon LeeGordon Lee (footballer)
Gordon Francis Lee is a former English footballer and football manager.A right-back during his playing days, he moved from Hednesford Town to Aston Villa in 1955...
thus began work on rebuilding his squad, announcing a team approach with an additional 'individual coaching plan' for players to improve their personal weaknesses. Lee was big on coaching, and replaced cross country running
Cross country running
Cross country running is a sport in which people run a race on open-air courses over natural terrain. The course, typically long, may include surfaces of grass and earth, pass through woodlands and open country, and include hills, flat ground and sometimes gravel road...
exercises with realistic match-day situations. Stanley Matthews
Stanley Matthews
Sir Stanley Matthews, CBE was an English footballer. Often regarded as one of the greatest players of the English game, he is the only player to have been knighted while still playing, as well as being the first winner of both the European Footballer of the Year and the Football Writers'...
would become more of a scout and would only visit Burslem
Burslem
The town of Burslem, known as the Mother Town, is one of the six towns that amalgamated to form the current city of Stoke-on-Trent, in the ceremonial county of Staffordshire, in the Midlands of England.-Topography:...
on a weekly basis, he also agreed to allow the £9,000 owed to him in payments delayed until the club were on a sounder financial footing. His name removed from his office door, he 'gradually drifted out of the picture'. Three signings of note included: 'tenacious' wing-half John King (Tranmere Rovers
Tranmere Rovers F.C.
Tranmere Rovers Football Club are an English team based in Birkenhead, Wirral. The club currently compete in League One, the third tier of the English football league system...
); Wales international
Wales national football team
The Wales national football team represents Wales in international football. It is controlled by the Football Association of Wales , the governing body for football in Wales, and the third oldest national football association in the world. The team have only qualified for a major international...
winger Graham Williams
Graham Williams (footballer born 1936)
Graham George Williams is a former Welsh footballer.-Career:Williams played for Wrexham in Oswestry Town, Bradford City, Everton, Swansea Town, Wellington Town and Tranmere Rovers before joining Port Vale in July 1968...
(Tranmere Rovers
Tranmere Rovers F.C.
Tranmere Rovers Football Club are an English team based in Birkenhead, Wirral. The club currently compete in League One, the third tier of the English football league system...
); and teenager Bobby Gough
Bobby Gough
Robert George "Bobby" Gough is an English former footballer who played as a forward. In a fifteen year professional career in the Football League he scored 114 goals in 474 league appearances....
(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...
).
The season opened with four Roy Chapman goals in four games, though only three points were won in the first six encounters. With Sharratt out injured, in came 'part-time, pipe-smoking civil servant
Civil service
The term civil service has two distinct meanings:* A branch of governmental service in which individuals are employed on the basis of professional merit as proven by competitive examinations....
' Geoff Hickson
Geoff Hickson
George Geoffrey Hickson is an English former footballer.-Playing career:Hickson played for Coventry City, Liverpool, Blackburn Rovers, Stoke City and Crewe Alexandra. Whilst at Crewe he was loaned to Fourth Division Port Vale in August 1968. He played in the clubs next twenty matches, but was...
on loan from Crewe Alexandra
Crewe Alexandra F.C.
Crewe Alexandra Football Club is an English professional football club based in Crewe, Cheshire. Nicknamed The Railwaymen due to the town's links with the rail industry, they currently play in Football League Two, the fourth tier of English football, and are based at the Alexandra Stadium.The club...
. Lee quickly earned the respect of the Vale fans despite his team lying bottom of the table in mid-September. A new club mascot
Mascot
The term mascot – defined as a term for any person, animal, or object thought to bring luck – colloquially includes anything used to represent a group with a common public identity, such as a school, professional sports team, society, military unit, or brand name...
was unveiled at this time – 'Prince Val'. Some good home performances lifted the club off the bottom of the table, including a 4–1 thumping of Scunthorpe United
Scunthorpe United F.C.
Scunthorpe United Football Club is an English association football team based in the town of Scunthorpe, North Lincolnshire, who play in the Football League One....
and a stylish back-heeled goal from Roy Sproson
Roy Sproson
Roy Sproson was an English footballer and football manager for Port Vale. A one-club man, he holds the all-time appearance record for Vale, making 837 starts for Vale between 1950 and 1972. This includes a run of 128 consecutive appearances between April 1954 and March 1957...
in a 1–1 draw with Lincoln City
Lincoln City F.C.
Lincoln City Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Lincoln, Lincolnshire. The club are currently members of the Conference National in 2011–12 following relegation from the Football League....
. Chapman then developed sciatica
Sciatica
Sciatica is a set of symptoms including pain that may be caused by general compression or irritation of one of five spinal nerve roots that give rise to each sciatic nerve, or by compression or irritation of the left or right or both sciatic nerves. The pain is felt in the lower back, buttock, or...
and had to be rested until December. An excellent defence helped the club then to achieve a five game unbeaten run in the league. In November, goalkeeper Keith Ball
Keith Ball
Keith Ball an English footballer. He was a short but agile goalkeeper who made 145 appearances for Port Vale and enjoyed three spells with Walsall.-Playing career:...
was signed from 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...
for 'a small fee' and Graham Newton
Graham Newton
Graham Wilfred Newton is an English former footballer.-Playing career:Newton played for Wolverhampton Wanderers, Blackpool, Walsall, Coventry City, Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic and American side Atlanta Chiefs before returning to England to join Port Vale on a trial basis in November 1968...
joined on trial after leaving the Atlanta Chiefs
Atlanta Chiefs
The Atlanta Chiefs were a soccer team based in Atlanta, Georgia that played in the NPSL and NASL from 1967 to 1972. Their home fields were Atlanta Stadium and Tara Stadium . The club was the brainchild of Dick Cecil, then Vice President of the Atlanta Braves baseball franchise who were the Chiefs'...
. On Boxing day
Boxing Day
Boxing Day is a bank or public holiday that occurs on 26 December, or the first or second weekday after Christmas Day, depending on national or regional laws. It is observed in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and some other Commonwealth nations. In Ireland, it is recognized as...
, Vale travelled to Sincil Bank
Sincil Bank
Sincil Bank is a football stadium in Lincoln, England and has been the home of Lincoln City since 1895. Previously, Lincoln City had played at the nearby John O'Gaunts ground since the club's 1884 inception. Sincil Bank has an overall capacity of 10,120 and is colloquially known to fans as "The...
, where they beat second-placed Lincoln 1–0 in front of 12,208 spectators. Soon after Bill Asprey
Bill Asprey
William Asprey is an English former football player and manager. He spent thirteen years as a player with Stoke City, also managing the club for a brief period in the mid 1980s.-Playing career:...
retired as a player to coach at Sheffield Wednesday
Sheffield Wednesday F.C.
Sheffield Wednesday Football Club are a football club based in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England, who are currently competing in the Football League One in the 2011-12 season, in England. Sheffield Wednesday are one of the oldest professional clubs in the world and the fourth oldest in the...
.
A 5–0 mauling of 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...
on 18 January sent the Vale into the top half of the table, though just one goal was scored and one point gained in the next four games. In March, Lee adopted a more 'hit and run' style, and saw his team achieve three straight wins. On the 29th, with the club seeming safe from re-election, 'hooliganism
Football hooliganism
Football hooliganism, sometimes referred to by the British media as the English Disease, is unruly and destructive behaviour—such as brawls, vandalism and intimidation—by association football club fans...
reared its ugly head' as Chester
Chester City F.C.
Chester City Football Club was an English football team from Chester. The club was founded as Chester F.C., and joined the Football League in 1931, spending most of their time in the lower divisions. They changed their name to Chester City in 1983. Chester won their first league title in 2004, the...
found their team bus smashed with bricks following a 2–1 loss at Burslem
Burslem
The town of Burslem, known as the Mother Town, is one of the six towns that amalgamated to form the current city of Stoke-on-Trent, in the ceremonial county of Staffordshire, in the Midlands of England.-Topography:...
. On 21 April, Sproson made his 700th league appearance in a 1–0 win over struggling Grimsby Town
Grimsby Town F.C.
Grimsby Town Football Club is an English football club based in the seaside town of Cleethorpes, in North East Lincolnshire, England, who compete in the Conference National. They were formed in 1878 as Grimsby Pelham and later became Grimsby Town...
. The final day was a 1–1 draw with wooden-spoon club Bradford Park Avenue
Bradford Park Avenue A.F.C.
Bradford Association Football Club, previously also known as Bradford and since its reformation in the 1970s now referred to as Bradford Park Avenue, is a football club based in Bradford, West Yorkshire, England...
, though the Vale had five goals disallowed. Nevertheless this game was the first of a club-record nineteen league game streak without a loss that would end on 22 November 1969 the following season.
They finished in thirteenth place with 46 points from their 46 games, scoring 46 and conceding 46 goals.
Finances
On the financial side, a £10,900 loss was made despite donations of £16,734 from the Sportsmen's Association and the Development Fund. This left the club's total debts standing at £178,277. The club needed an average home attendance of 6,000 to break even, and were almost two thousand short of this total. More stringent economies were thus imposed upon the club. Five professionals left on free transfers: Mick CullertonMick Cullerton
Michael Joseph Cullerton is a former Scottish footballer. He is noted for his two spells with Port Vale, as well as for being Stafford Rangers' star forward as they were one of the elite non-league clubs in the 1970s....
(Chester); Mick Mahon
Mick Mahon
Michael John "Mick" Mahon is an English former footballer.A former North Shields and Loughborough United player, he turned professional with Port Vale in 1967. He spent two years with the club, before joining York City for the 1969–70 season. Following this he spent three years with Colchester...
(York City
York City F.C.
York City Football Club is an English football club based in York, North Yorkshire. The club participates in the Conference National, the fifth tier of English football. Founded in 1922, they joined the Football League in 1929, and have spent most of their history in the lower divisions...
); Jimmy Goodfellow
Jimmy Goodfellow
James "Jimmy" Goodfellow is a former English professional footballer and manager.-Playing career:Attending Hendon Boarding School as a youngster, Goodfellow signed for Newcastle United, despite being a Sunderland fan, but was released by the club at the age of 17 without making an appearance...
(Workington); Graham Williams (Runcorn); and Milija Aleksic (Eastwood
Eastwood Town F.C.
Eastwood Town F.C. is a football club from Eastwood, Nottinghamshire formed in 1953, currently playing in the Conference North.-History:Although there was a football club named Eastwood Town operating in the Nottinghamshire Alliance in 1921, its was only in existence for two years. It was not until...
). Lee claimed 'it was a hard decision, but I have had to create room for improvement'. Roy Chapman was offered a new contract, but opted instead to sign with Chester.
Cup competitions
In the FA CupFA 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...
, with Sharrat injured and Hickson re-called by Crewe, seventeen year old Milija Aleksic
Milija Aleksic
Milija Anthony Aleksic is an English former football goalkeeper.Released by Port Vale in 1969, he played for Eastwood before lifting the FA Trophy with Stafford Rangers in 1972. The next year he returned to the Football League with Plymouth Argyle, before he was signed by Luton Town in 1976...
was roped in to play in the First Round clash with Third Division
Football League Third Division
The Football League Third Division was the 3 tier of English Football from 1920 until 1992 when after the formation of the Football Association Premier League saw the league renamed The Football League Division Two...
Shrewsbury Town
Shrewsbury Town F.C.
Shrewsbury Town Football Club is an English Association football club based in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, who play in League Two, the fourth tier of English football. The club was formed in 1886 and has played in all the bottom three divisions in various guises since being elected into the Football...
. He also played in the replay following the 1–1 draw, and the club progressed with a 3–1 win over their 'lacklustre' opponents. The "Valiants" also required a replay to progress past Workington
Workington A.F.C.
Workington A.F.C. is an English football club from Workington, Cumbria. They are in the Conference North, and play their home matches at Borough Park, which has a capacity of 3,101 . The club play in red, and are known locally as the Reds...
. Vale then exited at the Third Round with a 1–0 defeat at Vicarage Road
Vicarage Road
Vicarage Road, a stadium in Watford, Hertfordshire, England, is the home of the football club Watford and their tenants, the Saracens rugby union club. An all-seater stadium, its current capacity is 17,477.-History:...
to 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...
.
In the League Cup
Football League Cup
The Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup or, from current sponsorship, the Carling Cup, is an English association football competition. Like the FA Cup, it is played on a knockout basis...
, defeat came in the First Round to Wrexham at the Racecourse Ground
Racecourse Ground
The Glyndŵr University Racecourse Stadium AKA The Racecourse Ground is a stadium located in Wrexham, North Wales. It is the home of Wrexham F.C. and, since 2010, the Crusaders Rugby League team who play in the engage Super League...
. Stuart Sharrat
Stuart Sharrat
Stuart Edgar Sharrat is a former English footballer. He was a goalkeeper who made 152 appearances for Port Vale – 143 in the Football League, 5 in the FA Cup and 4 in the League Cup.-Playing career:...
cracked a kneecap in the game and later contracted a virus
Virus
A virus is a small infectious agent that can replicate only inside the living cells of organisms. Viruses infect all types of organisms, from animals and plants to bacteria and archaea...
in his blood
Blood
Blood is a specialized bodily fluid in animals that delivers necessary substances such as nutrients and oxygen to the cells and transports metabolic waste products away from those same cells....
, which kept him out of action for the rest of the season.
Final league table
| P | W | D | L | F | A | GA | Pts | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Doncaster Rovers Doncaster Rovers F.C. Doncaster Rovers Football Club is an English football club, based at the Keepmoat Stadium in Doncaster, South Yorkshire. The team currently competes in the Football League Championship, after being promoted via the League One play-offs in 2008, and have remained there since.The club was founded in... |
46 | 21 | 17 | 8 | 65 | 38 | 1.711 | 59 |
| 2 | Halifax Town Halifax Town A.F.C. Halifax Town Association Football Club were an English football team who most recently played in the Conference National, although prior to that they participated in the Football League for over eighty years... |
46 | 20 | 17 | 9 | 53 | 37 | 1.432 | 57 |
| 3 | 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... |
46 | 18 | 20 | 8 | 68 | 35 | 1.943 | 56 |
| 4 | Bradford City Bradford City A.F.C. Bradford City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Bradford, West Yorkshire, playing in League Two.... |
46 | 18 | 20 | 8 | 65 | 46 | 1.413 | 56 |
| 5 | Darlington Darlington F.C. Darlington Football Club is a professional association football club based in Darlington, County Durham, currently playing in the Conference National. The club was founded in 1883, and originally played its games at Feethams, before moving to the Darlington Arena in 2003... |
46 | 17 | 18 | 11 | 62 | 45 | 1.378 | 52 |
| 6 | Colchester United Colchester United F.C. Colchester United Football Club is an English football club based in Colchester. The club was formed in 1937, and briefly shared their old Layer Road home with now defunct side Colchester Town who had previously used the ground from 1910.... |
46 | 20 | 12 | 14 | 57 | 53 | 1.075 | 52 |
| 7 | 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... |
46 | 19 | 13 | 14 | 78 | 61 | 1.279 | 51 |
| 8 | Lincoln City Lincoln City F.C. Lincoln City Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Lincoln, Lincolnshire. The club are currently members of the Conference National in 2011–12 following relegation from the Football League.... |
46 | 17 | 17 | 12 | 54 | 52 | 1.038 | 51 |
| 9 | Wrexham | 46 | 18 | 14 | 14 | 61 | 52 | 1.173 | 50 |
| 10 | 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... |
46 | 19 | 11 | 16 | 58 | 54 | 1.074 | 49 |
| 11 | Brentford Brentford F.C. Brentford Football Club are a professional English football club based in Brentford in the London Borough of Hounslow. They are currently playing in Football League One.... |
46 | 18 | 12 | 16 | 64 | 65 | 0.985 | 48 |
| 12 | Workington Workington A.F.C. Workington A.F.C. is an English football club from Workington, Cumbria. They are in the Conference North, and play their home matches at Borough Park, which has a capacity of 3,101 . The club play in red, and are known locally as the Reds... |
46 | 15 | 17 | 14 | 40 | 43 | 0.930 | 47 |
| 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... |
46 | 16 | 14 | 16 | 46 | 46 | 1.000 | 46 |
| 14 | Chester Chester City F.C. Chester City Football Club was an English football team from Chester. The club was founded as Chester F.C., and joined the Football League in 1931, spending most of their time in the lower divisions. They changed their name to Chester City in 1983. Chester won their first league title in 2004, the... |
46 | 16 | 13 | 17 | 76 | 66 | 1.152 | 45 |
| 15 | 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... |
46 | 19 | 7 | 20 | 66 | 66 | 1.000 | 45 |
| 16 | Scunthorpe United Scunthorpe United F.C. Scunthorpe United Football Club is an English association football team based in the town of Scunthorpe, North Lincolnshire, who play in the Football League One.... |
46 | 18 | 8 | 20 | 61 | 60 | 1.017 | 44 |
| 17 | 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... |
46 | 16 | 11 | 19 | 66 | 65 | 1.015 | 43 |
| 18 | Peterborough United Peterborough United F.C. Peterborough United Football Club are a professional English football club based in Peterborough. Peterborough United formed in 1934 and played in the old Midland League, which they won six times; eventually being admitted to the Football League in 1960, replacing Gateshead. Their home ground is... |
46 | 13 | 16 | 17 | 60 | 57 | 1.053 | 42 |
| 19 | 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... |
46 | 12 | 18 | 16 | 48 | 57 | 0.842 | 42 |
| 20 | Chesterfield Chesterfield F.C. Chesterfield Football Club is an English football club based in Chesterfield, Derbyshire. The club currently plays in Football League One, the third tier of English football. Despite being the fourth oldest Football League club in England, they have spent most of their existence in the lower... |
46 | 13 | 15 | 18 | 43 | 50 | 0.860 | 41 |
| 21 | York City York City F.C. York City Football Club is an English football club based in York, North Yorkshire. The club participates in the Conference National, the fifth tier of English football. Founded in 1922, they joined the Football League in 1929, and have spent most of their history in the lower divisions... |
46 | 14 | 11 | 21 | 53 | 75 | 0.707 | 39 |
| 22 | 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... |
46 | 11 | 14 | 21 | 49 | 74 | 0.662 | 36 |
| 23 | Grimsby Town Grimsby Town F.C. Grimsby Town Football Club is an English football club based in the seaside town of Cleethorpes, in North East Lincolnshire, England, who compete in the Conference National. They were formed in 1878 as Grimsby Pelham and later became Grimsby Town... |
46 | 9 | 15 | 22 | 47 | 69 | 0.681 | 33 |
| 24 | Bradford Park Avenue Bradford Park Avenue A.F.C. Bradford Association Football Club, previously also known as Bradford and since its reformation in the 1970s now referred to as Bradford Park Avenue, is a football club based in Bradford, West Yorkshire, England... |
46 | 5 | 10 | 31 | 32 | 106 | 0.302 | 20 |
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 Fourth Division
| Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Scorers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 August 1968 | Chesterfield Chesterfield F.C. Chesterfield Football Club is an English football club based in Chesterfield, Derbyshire. The club currently plays in Football League One, the third tier of English football. Despite being the fourth oldest Football League club in England, they have spent most of their existence in the lower... |
|A | 1–3 | 7,158 | Chapman |
| 17 August 1968 | Peterborough United Peterborough United F.C. Peterborough United Football Club are a professional English football club based in Peterborough. Peterborough United formed in 1934 and played in the old Midland League, which they won six times; eventually being admitted to the Football League in 1960, replacing Gateshead. Their home ground is... |
|H | 1–0 | 5,085 | Chapman |
| 24 August 1968 | Brentford Brentford F.C. Brentford Football Club are a professional English football club based in Brentford in the London Borough of Hounslow. They are currently playing in Football League One.... |
|A | 1–3 | 7,443 | Chapman |
| 31 August 1968 | 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... |
|H | 1–1 | 4,591 | Chapman |
| 6 September 1968 | Chester Chester City F.C. Chester City Football Club was an English football team from Chester. The club was founded as Chester F.C., and joined the Football League in 1931, spending most of their time in the lower divisions. They changed their name to Chester City in 1983. Chester won their first league title in 2004, the... |
|A | 0–2 | 8,144 | |
| 14 September 1968 | Doncaster Rovers Doncaster Rovers F.C. Doncaster Rovers Football Club is an English football club, based at the Keepmoat Stadium in Doncaster, South Yorkshire. The team currently competes in the Football League Championship, after being promoted via the League One play-offs in 2008, and have remained there since.The club was founded in... |
|H | 0–2 | 4,616 | |
| 16 September 1968 | York City York City F.C. York City Football Club is an English football club based in York, North Yorkshire. The club participates in the Conference National, the fifth tier of English football. Founded in 1922, they joined the Football League in 1929, and have spent most of their history in the lower divisions... |
|H | 3–0 | 3,466 | Chapman, Gough Bobby Gough Robert George "Bobby" Gough is an English former footballer who played as a forward. In a fifteen year professional career in the Football League he scored 114 goals in 474 league appearances.... , Cullerton Mick Cullerton Michael Joseph Cullerton is a former Scottish footballer. He is noted for his two spells with Port Vale, as well as for being Stafford Rangers' star forward as they were one of the elite non-league clubs in the 1970s.... |
| 20 September 1968 | Colchester United Colchester United F.C. Colchester United Football Club is an English football club based in Colchester. The club was formed in 1937, and briefly shared their old Layer Road home with now defunct side Colchester Town who had previously used the ground from 1910.... |
|A | 0–1 | 6,441 | |
| 28 September 1968 | Scunthorpe United Scunthorpe United F.C. Scunthorpe United Football Club is an English association football team based in the town of Scunthorpe, North Lincolnshire, who play in the Football League One.... |
|H | 4–1 | 3,823 | Chapman (2), Goodfellow Jimmy Goodfellow James "Jimmy" Goodfellow is a former English professional footballer and manager.-Playing career:Attending Hendon Boarding School as a youngster, Goodfellow signed for Newcastle United, despite being a Sunderland fan, but was released by the club at the age of 17 without making an appearance... , 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.... |
| 30 September 1968 | 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 | 1–0 | 5,235 | Gough Bobby Gough Robert George "Bobby" Gough is an English former footballer who played as a forward. In a fifteen year professional career in the Football League he scored 114 goals in 474 league appearances.... |
| 5 October 1968 | Lincoln City Lincoln City F.C. Lincoln City Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Lincoln, Lincolnshire. The club are currently members of the Conference National in 2011–12 following relegation from the Football League.... |
|H | 1–1 | 6,152 | Sproson Roy Sproson Roy Sproson was an English footballer and football manager for Port Vale. A one-club man, he holds the all-time appearance record for Vale, making 837 starts for Vale between 1950 and 1972. This includes a run of 128 consecutive appearances between April 1954 and March 1957... |
| 8 October 1968 | 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 | 1–3 | 3,981 | Chapman |
| 12 October 1968 | 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 | 0–0 | 4,127 | |
| 19 October 1968 | Halifax Town Halifax Town A.F.C. Halifax Town Association Football Club were an English football team who most recently played in the Conference National, although prior to that they participated in the Football League for over eighty years... |
|H | 1–1 | 4,493 | Morris Mick Morris (footballer) Michael John Morris is a former English footballer.-Playing career:Morris played for Barking, Grays Athletic, West Ham United, Faversham Town and Oxford United before joining Port Vale in July 1967. He was a part of the 1969–70 Football League Fourth Division promotion-winning side and was an... |
| 26 October 1968 | 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 | 0–1 | 6,091 | |
| 2 November 1968 | Workington Workington A.F.C. Workington A.F.C. is an English football club from Workington, Cumbria. They are in the Conference North, and play their home matches at Borough Park, which has a capacity of 3,101 . The club play in red, and are known locally as the Reds... |
|H | 3–1 | 2,953 | Sproson Roy Sproson Roy Sproson was an English footballer and football manager for Port Vale. A one-club man, he holds the all-time appearance record for Vale, making 837 starts for Vale between 1950 and 1972. This includes a run of 128 consecutive appearances between April 1954 and March 1957... , Morris Mick Morris (footballer) Michael John Morris is a former English footballer.-Playing career:Morris played for Barking, Grays Athletic, West Ham United, Faversham Town and Oxford United before joining Port Vale in July 1967. He was a part of the 1969–70 Football League Fourth Division promotion-winning side and was an... , Williams Graham Williams (footballer born 1936) Graham George Williams is a former Welsh footballer.-Career:Williams played for Wrexham in Oswestry Town, Bradford City, Everton, Swansea Town, Wellington Town and Tranmere Rovers before joining Port Vale in July 1968... |
| 4 November 1968 | 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 | 1–1 | 3,668 | Wilson Ron Wilson (footballer) Ronald "Ron" Wilson is a Scottish former footballer who played as a left-back. He played 300 games in an eleven year career in the Football League, scoring five goals.... |
| 8 November 1968 | 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 | 0–0 | 3,137 | |
| 23 November 1968 | Grimsby Town Grimsby Town F.C. Grimsby Town Football Club is an English football club based in the seaside town of Cleethorpes, in North East Lincolnshire, England, who compete in the Conference National. They were formed in 1878 as Grimsby Pelham and later became Grimsby Town... |
|A | 1–1 | 3,313 | Goodfellow Jimmy Goodfellow James "Jimmy" Goodfellow is a former English professional footballer and manager.-Playing career:Attending Hendon Boarding School as a youngster, Goodfellow signed for Newcastle United, despite being a Sunderland fan, but was released by the club at the age of 17 without making an appearance... |
| 30 November 1968 | Wrexham | |H | 1–0 | 5,421 | Sproson Roy Sproson Roy Sproson was an English footballer and football manager for Port Vale. A one-club man, he holds the all-time appearance record for Vale, making 837 starts for Vale between 1950 and 1972. This includes a run of 128 consecutive appearances between April 1954 and March 1957... |
| 14 December 1968 | 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 | 0–2 | 4,169 | |
| 21 December 1968 | Halifax Town Halifax Town A.F.C. Halifax Town Association Football Club were an English football team who most recently played in the Conference National, although prior to that they participated in the Football League for over eighty years... |
|A | 1–2 | 3,806 | Chapman |
| 26 December 1968 | Lincoln City Lincoln City F.C. Lincoln City Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Lincoln, Lincolnshire. The club are currently members of the Conference National in 2011–12 following relegation from the Football League.... |
|A | 1–0 | 12,208 | Newton Graham Newton Graham Wilfred Newton is an English former footballer.-Playing career:Newton played for Wolverhampton Wanderers, Blackpool, Walsall, Coventry City, Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic and American side Atlanta Chiefs before returning to England to join Port Vale on a trial basis in November 1968... |
| 28 December 1968 | 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 | 1–0 | 5,431 | Chapman |
| 11 January 1969 | Workington Workington A.F.C. Workington A.F.C. is an English football club from Workington, Cumbria. They are in the Conference North, and play their home matches at Borough Park, which has a capacity of 3,101 . The club play in red, and are known locally as the Reds... |
|A | 0–0 | 2,538 | |
| 18 January 1969 | 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 | 5–0 | 4,040 | Mahon Mick Mahon Michael John "Mick" Mahon is an English former footballer.A former North Shields and Loughborough United player, he turned professional with Port Vale in 1967. He spent two years with the club, before joining York City for the 1969–70 season. Following this he spent three years with Colchester... (2), Sproson Roy Sproson Roy Sproson was an English footballer and football manager for Port Vale. A one-club man, he holds the all-time appearance record for Vale, making 837 starts for Vale between 1950 and 1972. This includes a run of 128 consecutive appearances between April 1954 and March 1957... , Morris Mick Morris (footballer) Michael John Morris is a former English footballer.-Playing career:Morris played for Barking, Grays Athletic, West Ham United, Faversham Town and Oxford United before joining Port Vale in July 1967. He was a part of the 1969–70 Football League Fourth Division promotion-winning side and was an... , Green John Green (footballer) John Green was an English professional footballer who played as a midfielder. He played a total of 250 league games in the Football League.... |
| 1 February 1969 | Darlington Darlington F.C. Darlington Football Club is a professional association football club based in Darlington, County Durham, currently playing in the Conference National. The club was founded in 1883, and originally played its games at Feethams, before moving to the Darlington Arena in 2003... |
|A | 0–1 | 5,071 | |
| 24 February 1969 | 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 | 1–1 | 10,888 | Mahon Mick Mahon Michael John "Mick" Mahon is an English former footballer.A former North Shields and Loughborough United player, he turned professional with Port Vale in 1967. He spent two years with the club, before joining York City for the 1969–70 season. Following this he spent three years with Colchester... |
| 1 March 1969 | Chesterfield Chesterfield F.C. Chesterfield Football Club is an English football club based in Chesterfield, Derbyshire. The club currently plays in Football League One, the third tier of English football. Despite being the fourth oldest Football League club in England, they have spent most of their existence in the lower... |
|H | 0–1 | 3,610 | |
| 5 March 1969 | 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 | 0–3 | 5,020 | |
| 8 March 1969 | Peterborough United Peterborough United F.C. Peterborough United Football Club are a professional English football club based in Peterborough. Peterborough United formed in 1934 and played in the old Midland League, which they won six times; eventually being admitted to the Football League in 1960, replacing Gateshead. Their home ground is... |
|A | 1–0 | 5,337 | Mahon Mick Mahon Michael John "Mick" Mahon is an English former footballer.A former North Shields and Loughborough United player, he turned professional with Port Vale in 1967. He spent two years with the club, before joining York City for the 1969–70 season. Following this he spent three years with Colchester... |
| 10 March 1969 | Darlington Darlington F.C. Darlington Football Club is a professional association football club based in Darlington, County Durham, currently playing in the Conference National. The club was founded in 1883, and originally played its games at Feethams, before moving to the Darlington Arena in 2003... |
|A | 1–0 | 3,957 | Morris Mick Morris (footballer) Michael John Morris is a former English footballer.-Playing career:Morris played for Barking, Grays Athletic, West Ham United, Faversham Town and Oxford United before joining Port Vale in July 1967. He was a part of the 1969–70 Football League Fourth Division promotion-winning side and was an... |
| 15 March 1969 | Brentford Brentford F.C. Brentford Football Club are a professional English football club based in Brentford in the London Borough of Hounslow. They are currently playing in Football League One.... |
|H | 4–1 | 4,478 | James (2 [1 pen]), Wilson Ron Wilson (footballer) Ronald "Ron" Wilson is a Scottish former footballer who played as a left-back. He played 300 games in an eleven year career in the Football League, scoring five goals.... , Carrick David Carrick Matthew David Carrick was an English footballer.-Playing career:Carrick played for Wolverhampton Wanderers, Wrexham and Altrincham before joining Port Vale in January 1969. He played in sixteen consecutive games between February and April of that year, but only scored the one goal before being... |
| 22 March 1969 | 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... |
|A | 0–1 | 4,860 | |
| 24 March 1969 | 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 | 0–0 | 4,140 | |
| 29 March 1969 | Chester Chester City F.C. Chester City Football Club was an English football team from Chester. The club was founded as Chester F.C., and joined the Football League in 1931, spending most of their time in the lower divisions. They changed their name to Chester City in 1983. Chester won their first league title in 2004, the... |
|H | 2–1 | 4,690 | Green John Green (footballer) John Green was an English professional footballer who played as a midfielder. He played a total of 250 league games in the Football League.... , Sproson Roy Sproson Roy Sproson was an English footballer and football manager for Port Vale. A one-club man, he holds the all-time appearance record for Vale, making 837 starts for Vale between 1950 and 1972. This includes a run of 128 consecutive appearances between April 1954 and March 1957... |
| 4 April 1969 | York City York City F.C. York City Football Club is an English football club based in York, North Yorkshire. The club participates in the Conference National, the fifth tier of English football. Founded in 1922, they joined the Football League in 1929, and have spent most of their history in the lower divisions... |
|A | 1–3 | 4,999 | Chapman |
| 5 April 1969 | Scunthorpe United Scunthorpe United F.C. Scunthorpe United Football Club is an English association football team based in the town of Scunthorpe, North Lincolnshire, who play in the Football League One.... |
|A | 1–0 | 2,966 | James |
| 8 April 1969 | Bradford City Bradford City A.F.C. Bradford City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Bradford, West Yorkshire, playing in League Two.... |
|H | 1–1 | 5,963 | James |
| 12 April 1969 | Colchester United Colchester United F.C. Colchester United Football Club is an English football club based in Colchester. The club was formed in 1937, and briefly shared their old Layer Road home with now defunct side Colchester Town who had previously used the ground from 1910.... |
|H | 0–0 | 3,774 | |
| 16 April 1969 | Bradford City Bradford City A.F.C. Bradford City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Bradford, West Yorkshire, playing in League Two.... |
|A | 2–2 | 8,772 | McLaren Tommy McLaren Thomas "Tommy" McLaren was a Scottish footballer who played as a midfielder.He moved from Berwick Rangers to Port Vale in November 1967. He spent ten years at Vale Park, racking up 369 league and cup appearances... , Sproson Roy Sproson Roy Sproson was an English footballer and football manager for Port Vale. A one-club man, he holds the all-time appearance record for Vale, making 837 starts for Vale between 1950 and 1972. This includes a run of 128 consecutive appearances between April 1954 and March 1957... |
| 19 April 1969 | Doncaster Rovers Doncaster Rovers F.C. Doncaster Rovers Football Club is an English football club, based at the Keepmoat Stadium in Doncaster, South Yorkshire. The team currently competes in the Football League Championship, after being promoted via the League One play-offs in 2008, and have remained there since.The club was founded in... |
|A | 0–2 | 9,795 | |
| 21 April 1969 | Grimsby Town Grimsby Town F.C. Grimsby Town Football Club is an English football club based in the seaside town of Cleethorpes, in North East Lincolnshire, England, who compete in the Conference National. They were formed in 1878 as Grimsby Pelham and later became Grimsby Town... |
|H | 1–0 | 2,679 | Mahon Mick Mahon Michael John "Mick" Mahon is an English former footballer.A former North Shields and Loughborough United player, he turned professional with Port Vale in 1967. He spent two years with the club, before joining York City for the 1969–70 season. Following this he spent three years with Colchester... |
| 25 April 1969 | Bradford Park Avenue Bradford Park Avenue A.F.C. Bradford Association Football Club, previously also known as Bradford and since its reformation in the 1970s now referred to as Bradford Park Avenue, is a football club based in Bradford, West Yorkshire, England... |
|H | 1–1 | 3,873 | Sproson Roy Sproson Roy Sproson was an English footballer and football manager for Port Vale. A one-club man, he holds the all-time appearance record for Vale, making 837 starts for Vale between 1950 and 1972. This includes a run of 128 consecutive appearances between April 1954 and March 1957... |
| 28 April 1969 | Wrexham | |A | 0–2 | 3,787 | |
| 5 May 1969 | Bradford Park Avenue Bradford Park Avenue A.F.C. Bradford Association Football Club, previously also known as Bradford and since its reformation in the 1970s now referred to as Bradford Park Avenue, is a football club based in Bradford, West Yorkshire, England... |
|A | 1–0 | 1,572 | McLaren Tommy McLaren Thomas "Tommy" McLaren was a Scottish footballer who played as a midfielder.He moved from Berwick Rangers to Port Vale in November 1967. He spent ten years at Vale Park, racking up 369 league and cup appearances... |
FA Cup
| Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Goalscorers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| R1 | 16 November 1968 | Shrewsbury Town Shrewsbury Town F.C. Shrewsbury Town Football Club is an English Association football club based in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, who play in League Two, the fourth tier of English football. The club was formed in 1886 and has played in all the bottom three divisions in various guises since being elected into the Football... |
A | 1–1 | 5,933 | Gough Bobby Gough Robert George "Bobby" Gough is an English former footballer who played as a forward. In a fifteen year professional career in the Football League he scored 114 goals in 474 league appearances.... |
| R1 Replay | 18 November 1968 | Shrewsbury Town Shrewsbury Town F.C. Shrewsbury Town Football Club is an English Association football club based in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, who play in League Two, the fourth tier of English football. The club was formed in 1886 and has played in all the bottom three divisions in various guises since being elected into the Football... |
H | 3–1 | 8,800 | Gough Bobby Gough Robert George "Bobby" Gough is an English former footballer who played as a forward. In a fifteen year professional career in the Football League he scored 114 goals in 474 league appearances.... , Mahon Mick Mahon Michael John "Mick" Mahon is an English former footballer.A former North Shields and Loughborough United player, he turned professional with Port Vale in 1967. He spent two years with the club, before joining York City for the 1969–70 season. Following this he spent three years with Colchester... , Morris Mick Morris (footballer) Michael John Morris is a former English footballer.-Playing career:Morris played for Barking, Grays Athletic, West Ham United, Faversham Town and Oxford United before joining Port Vale in July 1967. He was a part of the 1969–70 Football League Fourth Division promotion-winning side and was an... |
| R2 | 7 December 1968 | Workington Workington A.F.C. Workington A.F.C. is an English football club from Workington, Cumbria. They are in the Conference North, and play their home matches at Borough Park, which has a capacity of 3,101 . The club play in red, and are known locally as the Reds... |
H | 0–0 | 7,635 | |
| R2 Replay | 11 December 1968 | Workington Workington A.F.C. Workington A.F.C. is an English football club from Workington, Cumbria. They are in the Conference North, and play their home matches at Borough Park, which has a capacity of 3,101 . The club play in red, and are known locally as the Reds... |
A | 2–1 | 6,038 | Chapman, James |
| R3 | 4 January 1969 | 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 | 0–2 | 14,076 |
League Cup
| Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Goalscorers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| R1 | 14 August 1968 | Wrexham | A | 0–2 | 6,927 |
Appearances
| Pos. | Name | Football League | FA Cup | League Cup | Total | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| GK |  Stuart SharratStuart Sharrat Stuart Edgar Sharrat is a former English footballer. He was a goalkeeper who made 152 appearances for Port Vale – 143 in the Football League, 5 in the FA Cup and 4 in the League Cup.-Playing career:... |
4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| GK | Geoff Hickson Geoff Hickson George Geoffrey Hickson is an English former footballer.-Playing career:Hickson played for Coventry City, Liverpool, Blackburn Rovers, Stoke City and Crewe Alexandra. Whilst at Crewe he was loaned to Fourth Division Port Vale in August 1968. He played in the clubs next twenty matches, but was... |
17 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 17 | 0 |
| GK | Milija Aleksic Milija Aleksic Milija Anthony Aleksic is an English former football goalkeeper.Released by Port Vale in 1969, he played for Eastwood before lifting the FA Trophy with Stafford Rangers in 1972. The next year he returned to the Football League with Plymouth Argyle, before he was signed by Luton Town in 1976... |
0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| GK | Keith Ball Keith Ball Keith Ball an English footballer. He was a short but agile goalkeeper who made 145 appearances for Port Vale and enjoyed three spells with Walsall.-Playing career:... |
25 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 28 | 0 |
| DF | Roy Sproson Roy Sproson Roy Sproson was an English footballer and football manager for Port Vale. A one-club man, he holds the all-time appearance record for Vale, making 837 starts for Vale between 1950 and 1972. This includes a run of 128 consecutive appearances between April 1954 and March 1957... |
42 | 7 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 49 | 7 |
| DF | Clint Boulton Clint Boulton Clinton William Boulton is an English former professional football defender.-Playing career:Boulton was born in Stoke-on-Trent and began his career as an apprentice with local league club Port Vale in July 1963, making his debut in the 1964–65 season, and turning professional in August 1965... |
41 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 46 | 0 |
| DF |  Ron WilsonRon Wilson (footballer) Ronald "Ron" Wilson is a Scottish former footballer who played as a left-back. He played 300 games in an eleven year career in the Football League, scoring five goals.... |
46 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 52 | 2 |
| DF | Gordon Logan Gordon Logan Gordon Taylor Logan is a former Scottish footballer.-Playing career:Logan graduated through Vale juniors to sign professional forms in March 1967. He played 42 games for the club over the next two seasons, however never had a regular run in the team and was given a free transfer in May 1970. He... |
4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| DF | Bill Asprey Bill Asprey William Asprey is an English former football player and manager. He spent thirteen years as a player with Stoke City, also managing the club for a brief period in the mid 1980s.-Playing career:... |
9 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 11 | 0 |
| DF | Keith Broomhall Keith Broomhall Keith Leslie Broomhall is an English former footballer.-Playing career:Broomhall joined Port Vale as an apprentice in October 1967. He made a substitute appearance in a 1–0 home win over Grimsby Town on 21 April 1969, before making his full debut a week later as right-back in a 2–0 defeat at Wrexham... |
2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| MF | Mick Mahon Mick Mahon Michael John "Mick" Mahon is an English former footballer.A former North Shields and Loughborough United player, he turned professional with Port Vale in 1967. He spent two years with the club, before joining York City for the 1969–70 season. Following this he spent three years with Colchester... |
33 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 37 | 6 |
| MF | Stuart Chapman Stuart Chapman Stuart Chapman is an English former footballer.-Playing career:Chapman joined Port Vale as an amateur in June 1966 and made his debut in a 2–2 home draw with Lincoln City on 3 May 1967. He signed as a professional in May 1969, but was given a free transfer just twelve months later... |
5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| MF | Jimmy Goodfellow Jimmy Goodfellow James "Jimmy" Goodfellow is a former English professional footballer and manager.-Playing career:Attending Hendon Boarding School as a youngster, Goodfellow signed for Newcastle United, despite being a Sunderland fan, but was released by the club at the age of 17 without making an appearance... |
31 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 36 | 2 |
| MF | Tommy McLaren Tommy McLaren Thomas "Tommy" McLaren was a Scottish footballer who played as a midfielder.He moved from Berwick Rangers to Port Vale in November 1967. He spent ten years at Vale Park, racking up 369 league and cup appearances... |
18 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 19 | 2 |
| MF | John Green John Green (footballer) John Green was an English professional footballer who played as a midfielder. He played a total of 250 league games in the Football League.... |
12 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 2 |
| MF |  Graham WilliamsGraham Williams (footballer born 1936) Graham George Williams is a former Welsh footballer.-Career:Williams played for Wrexham in Oswestry Town, Bradford City, Everton, Swansea Town, Wellington Town and Tranmere Rovers before joining Port Vale in July 1968... |
23 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 25 | 1 |
| MF | John King |
40 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 46 | 0 |
| MF | Malcolm Bailey Malcolm Bailey Malcolm Roy Bailey is an English former footballer who played as a right-half.He failed to establish himself in the Football League with Port Vale, and so went into non-league football with Northwich Victoria and Runcorn in the 1970s... |
2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| FW | John James |
34 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 39 | 5 |
| FW | Mick Cullerton Mick Cullerton Michael Joseph Cullerton is a former Scottish footballer. He is noted for his two spells with Port Vale, as well as for being Stafford Rangers' star forward as they were one of the elite non-league clubs in the 1970s.... |
23 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 28 | 1 |
| FW | Roy Chapman |
30 | 11 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 34 | 12 |
| FW | Mick Morris Mick Morris (footballer) Michael John Morris is a former English footballer.-Playing career:Morris played for Barking, Grays Athletic, West Ham United, Faversham Town and Oxford United before joining Port Vale in July 1967. He was a part of the 1969–70 Football League Fourth Division promotion-winning side and was an... |
32 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 38 | 5 |
| FW | Graham Newton Graham Newton Graham Wilfred Newton is an English former footballer.-Playing career:Newton played for Wolverhampton Wanderers, Blackpool, Walsall, Coventry City, Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic and American side Atlanta Chiefs before returning to England to join Port Vale on a trial basis in November 1968... |
4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 1 |
| FW | Bob Mountford Bob Mountford Robert "Bob" William Mountford was an English footballer who played 277 matches in the Football League for various clubs, scoring 64 goals.-Playing career:... |
1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| FW | Bobby Gough Bobby Gough Robert George "Bobby" Gough is an English former footballer who played as a forward. In a fifteen year professional career in the Football League he scored 114 goals in 474 league appearances.... |
36 | 2 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 42 | 4 |
| FW | David Carrick David Carrick Matthew David Carrick was an English footballer.-Playing career:Carrick played for Wolverhampton Wanderers, Wrexham and Altrincham before joining Port Vale in January 1969. He played in sixteen consecutive games between February and April of that year, but only scored the one goal before being... |
16 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 1 |
All competitions
| Scorer | Goals |
|---|---|
| Roy Chapman |
12 |
| Roy Sproson Roy Sproson Roy Sproson was an English footballer and football manager for Port Vale. A one-club man, he holds the all-time appearance record for Vale, making 837 starts for Vale between 1950 and 1972. This includes a run of 128 consecutive appearances between April 1954 and March 1957... |
7 |
| Mick Mahon Mick Mahon Michael John "Mick" Mahon is an English former footballer.A former North Shields and Loughborough United player, he turned professional with Port Vale in 1967. He spent two years with the club, before joining York City for the 1969–70 season. Following this he spent three years with Colchester... |
6 |
| John James |
5 |
| Mick Morris Mick Morris (footballer) Michael John Morris is a former English footballer.-Playing career:Morris played for Barking, Grays Athletic, West Ham United, Faversham Town and Oxford United before joining Port Vale in July 1967. He was a part of the 1969–70 Football League Fourth Division promotion-winning side and was an... |
|
| Bobby Gough Bobby Gough Robert George "Bobby" Gough is an English former footballer who played as a forward. In a fifteen year professional career in the Football League he scored 114 goals in 474 league appearances.... |
4 |
| Jimmy Goodfellow Jimmy Goodfellow James "Jimmy" Goodfellow is a former English professional footballer and manager.-Playing career:Attending Hendon Boarding School as a youngster, Goodfellow signed for Newcastle United, despite being a Sunderland fan, but was released by the club at the age of 17 without making an appearance... |
2 |
| Tommy McLaren Tommy McLaren Thomas "Tommy" McLaren was a Scottish footballer who played as a midfielder.He moved from Berwick Rangers to Port Vale in November 1967. He spent ten years at Vale Park, racking up 369 league and cup appearances... |
|
| John Green John Green (footballer) John Green was an English professional footballer who played as a midfielder. He played a total of 250 league games in the Football League.... |
|
| Ron Wilson Ron Wilson (footballer) Ronald "Ron" Wilson is a Scottish former footballer who played as a left-back. He played 300 games in an eleven year career in the Football League, scoring five goals.... |
|
| Graham Newton Graham Newton Graham Wilfred Newton is an English former footballer.-Playing career:Newton played for Wolverhampton Wanderers, Blackpool, Walsall, Coventry City, Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic and American side Atlanta Chiefs before returning to England to join Port Vale on a trial basis in November 1968... |
1 |
| David Carrick David Carrick Matthew David Carrick was an English footballer.-Playing career:Carrick played for Wolverhampton Wanderers, Wrexham and Altrincham before joining Port Vale in January 1969. He played in sixteen consecutive games between February and April of that year, but only scored the one goal before being... |
|
| Graham Williams Graham Williams (footballer born 1936) Graham George Williams is a former Welsh footballer.-Career:Williams played for Wrexham in Oswestry Town, Bradford City, Everton, Swansea Town, Wellington Town and Tranmere Rovers before joining Port Vale in July 1968... |
|
| Mick Cullerton Mick Cullerton Michael Joseph Cullerton is a former Scottish footballer. He is noted for his two spells with Port Vale, as well as for being Stafford Rangers' star forward as they were one of the elite non-league clubs in the 1970s.... |
|
League
| Scorer | Goals |
|---|---|
| Roy Chapman |
11 |
| Roy Sproson Roy Sproson Roy Sproson was an English footballer and football manager for Port Vale. A one-club man, he holds the all-time appearance record for Vale, making 837 starts for Vale between 1950 and 1972. This includes a run of 128 consecutive appearances between April 1954 and March 1957... |
7 |
| Mick Mahon Mick Mahon Michael John "Mick" Mahon is an English former footballer.A former North Shields and Loughborough United player, he turned professional with Port Vale in 1967. He spent two years with the club, before joining York City for the 1969–70 season. Following this he spent three years with Colchester... |
5 |
| John James |
4 |
| Mick Morris Mick Morris (footballer) Michael John Morris is a former English footballer.-Playing career:Morris played for Barking, Grays Athletic, West Ham United, Faversham Town and Oxford United before joining Port Vale in July 1967. He was a part of the 1969–70 Football League Fourth Division promotion-winning side and was an... |
|
| Bobby Gough Bobby Gough Robert George "Bobby" Gough is an English former footballer who played as a forward. In a fifteen year professional career in the Football League he scored 114 goals in 474 league appearances.... |
2 |
| Jimmy Goodfellow Jimmy Goodfellow James "Jimmy" Goodfellow is a former English professional footballer and manager.-Playing career:Attending Hendon Boarding School as a youngster, Goodfellow signed for Newcastle United, despite being a Sunderland fan, but was released by the club at the age of 17 without making an appearance... |
|
| Tommy McLaren Tommy McLaren Thomas "Tommy" McLaren was a Scottish footballer who played as a midfielder.He moved from Berwick Rangers to Port Vale in November 1967. He spent ten years at Vale Park, racking up 369 league and cup appearances... |
|
| John Green John Green (footballer) John Green was an English professional footballer who played as a midfielder. He played a total of 250 league games in the Football League.... |
|
| Ron Wilson Ron Wilson (footballer) Ronald "Ron" Wilson is a Scottish former footballer who played as a left-back. He played 300 games in an eleven year career in the Football League, scoring five goals.... |
|
| Graham Newton Graham Newton Graham Wilfred Newton is an English former footballer.-Playing career:Newton played for Wolverhampton Wanderers, Blackpool, Walsall, Coventry City, Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic and American side Atlanta Chiefs before returning to England to join Port Vale on a trial basis in November 1968... |
1 |
| David Carrick David Carrick Matthew David Carrick was an English footballer.-Playing career:Carrick played for Wolverhampton Wanderers, Wrexham and Altrincham before joining Port Vale in January 1969. He played in sixteen consecutive games between February and April of that year, but only scored the one goal before being... |
|
| Graham Williams Graham Williams (footballer born 1936) Graham George Williams is a former Welsh footballer.-Career:Williams played for Wrexham in Oswestry Town, Bradford City, Everton, Swansea Town, Wellington Town and Tranmere Rovers before joining Port Vale in July 1968... |
|
| Mick Cullerton Mick Cullerton Michael Joseph Cullerton is a former Scottish footballer. He is noted for his two spells with Port Vale, as well as for being Stafford Rangers' star forward as they were one of the elite non-league clubs in the 1970s.... |
|