1892–93 Burslem Port Vale F.C. season

The 1892–93 season was Burslem Port Vale's first season of football in the English Football League. The club were founding members of the Football League Second Division, the First Division having been in operation for four seasons prior to 1892–93. A learning curve for the club, it marked the first of four seasons of struggle in what was rapidly becoming the second tier of the strongest league in the world. This learning curve was punctuated by the biggest league defeat in the club's history, a 10–0 humiliation in a snowstorm at home to Sheffield United on 10 December 1892, still a Football League record for a home defeat.[1]

Burslem Port Vale
1892–93 season
StadiumAthletic Ground
Football League Second Division11th (15 Points)
FA CupFirst Qualifying Round
(knocked out by Burton Swifts)
Birmingham Senior CupSecond Round
(knocked out by Aston Villa)
Staffordshire Senior CupFirst Round
(knocked out by Burton Wanderers)
Top goalscorerLeague: Meshach Dean (5)
All: Meshach Dean (6)
Highest home attendance2,000 vs Darwen, 1 October 1892
Lowest home attendance500 vs Grimsby Town, 17 February 1893
Average home league attendance1,344+
Biggest win4–0 vs. Northwich Victoria, 4 March 1893
Biggest defeat0–10 vs. Sheffield United, 10 December 1892

Other than the record defeat (which saw right-half Billy Delves play in goal[1]), and two away performances where five goals were conceded, the Vale were competitive in most matches, winning three of their games by at least a three-goal margin. If not for the capitulation to Sheffield United then the club would have had one of the better defensive records in the league. However a run of one goal scored in five consecutive games highlighted their lack of offensive firepower. This run saw them lose eight of ten games.

Winning Football League status

Having spent their early history playing only friendly matches, cup games, and in minor leagues such as the Midland Football League; 1892–93 marked the club's first season in the English Football League.[1] The Football League's merger with the Football Alliance saw the club granted Second Division status, due to their third place standing in the Midland League in 1891–92, along with Northwich Victoria and Sheffield United.

Overview

Second Division

The pre-season started terribly, star striker Frank McGinnes dying of kidney disease before a ball was kicked.[1] His replacement was Wallace Bliss, and local headmaster Fred Farrington was appointed captain.[1] The first match continued in desperately poor fashion; Billy Beats missed the train, and so Vale played with ten men against Small Heath, losing 5–1, with Bliss scoring the club's first Football League goal – his only goal in the league ever. Away matches were difficult for the "Valeites" as players had trouble gaining permission from their employers to miss work.[1] Vale suffered a 10–0 defeat in a snowstorm at home to Sheffield United on 10 December, a Football League record for a home defeat.[2]

Finishing in 11th place, they finished one place above bottom club Walsall Town Swifts, and level on points with Crewe Alexandra. Their fifteen points were less than half the tally of champions Small Heath (who were not promoted after losing their 'Test Match'). A time of expansion for the competition, they retained their league status despite their poor showing (disbanded Bootle were the only team to lose their status), and the next season three more teams were added to the league. Vale's defence performed admirably (most of the time), however Vale only scored 30 goals in their 22 league games. Their first ever point came at Bootle, and their first ever win was a 4–1 home victory over Crewe Alexandra.

Cup competitions

Despite reaching the Fifth Round of the FA Cup in 1885–86, they failed to make it through the qualifying stages this time round. In the Staffordshire Senior Cup they exited in the First Round to Burton Wanderers, and in the Birmingham Senior Cup they left at the Second Round after a 4–1 defeat by Aston Villa.

Billy Beats, one of the club's key players during the campaign.

League table

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GAv Pts Qualification
8 Bootle 22 8 3 11 49 63 0.778 19 Resigned[lower-alpha 1]
9 Lincoln City 22 7 3 12 45 51 0.882 17 Re-elected
10 Crewe Alexandra 22 6 3 13 42 69 0.609 15
11 Burslem Port Vale 22 6 3 13 30 57 0.526 15
12 Walsall Town Swifts 22 5 3 14 37 75 0.493 13
Source:
Notes:
  1. Disbanded at the end of the season apparently due to financial problems.

Results

Burslem Port Vale's score comes first

Football League Second Division

Results by matchday

Round12345678910111213141516171819202122
GroundAAAHHHHAAHAHHAHAHAHAHA
ResultLLDWLWLWLDLLLLWLLLWDLW
Position101297877677788889111212111111
Source: Statto[3]
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

Matches

DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers
3 September 1892Small HeathA1–52,500Bliss
10 September 1892ArdwickA0–22,000
12 September 1892BootleA1–13,000Dean
24 September 1892Crewe AlexandraH4–11,500Farrington (2), Walker, Dean
1 October 1892DarwenH2–42,000Walker, Bliss
8 October 1892Burton SwiftsH1–0Farrington
10 October 1892ArdwickH1–21,000Walker
22 October 1892Lincoln CityA4–31,000J.Mountford, Bliss, unknown, unknown
5 November 1892DarwenA1–43,000Farrington
12 November 1892BootleH0–01,300
26 November 1892Crewe AlexandraA0–5
3 December 1892Lincoln CityH1–2Beats
10 December 1892Sheffield UnitedH0–101,000
17 December 1892Sheffield UnitedA0–42,000
31 December 1892Walsall Town SwiftsH3–01,000Lander (2), unknown
14 January 1893Grimsby TownA0–2500
11 February 1893Grimsby TownH0–1500
18 February 1893Walsall Town SwiftsA0–31,000
4 March 1893Northwich VictoriaH4–0800Wood (2), Beats, Dean
18 March 1893Burton SwiftsA3–3Dean (2), Scarratt
25 March 1893Small HeathH0–33,000
8 April 1893Northwich VictoriaA4–21,000Beats (2), G.Mountford (2)

FA Cup

RoundDateOpponentVenueResultGoalscorers
1Q15 October 1892Burton SwiftsH0–2

Birmingham Senior Cup

RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorers
22 February 1893Aston VillaH1–42,000Elson

Staffordshire Senior Cup

RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorers
17 January 1893Burton WanderersH2–4100Scarratt, Dean

Player statistics

Appearances

Pos. Name League FA Cup Other Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
GK Joe Frail 1901020220
GK Levi Higginson 10000010
DF James Clutton 2101020240
DFW. Downwood 30100040
DFC. McAlpine 1000010110
DFW.E. Powell 30000030
DF Albert Skinner 10000010
DF George Youds 20000020
MF Meshach Dean 1651021196
MF Billy Delves 20000020
MF Billy Elson 1601021191
MFFred Farrington (c) 1841010204
MFW. Jones 10000010
MF Bob McCrindle 2001020230
MF Jos Randles 20000020
MF Jimmy Scarratt 2011021232
MFJames Smith 40100050
MFTommy Walker 1531020183
MF Alf Wood 72002092
FWJames Mountford 11000011
FW Billy Beats 2141010234
FW Wallace Bliss 1331000143
FW Jimmy Ditchfield 1100010120
FWCharles Garner 10000010
FWJohnny Lander 32000032
FWWilliam McFarlane 40000040
FWGeorge Mountford 32000043
FW John Nash 20000020
FW Arthur Pimlott 10000010

Top scorers

Place Position Nation Name Midland League FA Cup Other Total
1MF EnglandMeshach Dean5016
2FW EnglandBilly Beats4004
MFFred Farrington4004
4MFTommy Walker3003
FW EnglandWallace Bliss3003
6FWGeorge Mountford2002
MF EnglandAlf Wood2002
FWJohnny Lander2002
MF EnglandJimmy Scarratt1012
10MF EnglandBilly Elson0011
FWJames Mountford1001
Unknown3003
TOTALS 30 0 6 36

Transfers

Transfers in

Date from Position Nationality Name From Fee Ref.
October 1892DFC. McAlpineDarlingtonFree transfer[4]
November 1892DFGeorge YoudsKettering TownFree transfer[4]
December 1892MFAlf WoodSmallthorne AlbionFree transfer[4]

Transfers out

Date from Position Nationality Name To Fee Ref.
February 1893DFC. McAlpineReleased[4]
March 1893MFTommy WalkerBurton SwiftsFree transfer[4]
Summer 1893FWWallace BlissReleased[4]
Summer 1893MFBilly DelvesReleased[4]
Summer 1893DFW. DownwoodReleased[4]
Summer 1893FWCharles GarnerReleased[4]
Summer 1893MFW. Jones)Released[4]
Summer 1893MFJohnny LanderReleased[4]
Summer 1893FWWilliam McFarlaneReleased[4]
Summer 1893FWGeorge MountfordReleased[4]
Summer 1893MFJames MountfordReleased[4]
Summer 1893FWJohn NashReleased[4]
Summer 1893FWArthur PimlottReleased[4]
Summer 1893DFW.E. PowellReleased[4]
Summer 1893DFAlbert SkinnerReleased[4]

References

Specific
  1. Kent, Jeff (1990). "Trying to make the Grade (1888-1898)". The Valiants' Years: The Story Of Port Vale. Witan Books. pp. 26–50. ISBN 0-9508981-4-7.
  2. Fielding, Rob (15 January 2018). "Clipping: A match report on Vale's record defeat..." onevalefan.co.uk. Retrieved 5 June 2020.
  3. Port Vale 1892–1893 : Results & Fixtures Archived 19 January 2016 at the Wayback Machine. Statto Organisation. Retrieved 28 April 2012.
  4. Kent, Jeff (1996). Port Vale Personalities. Witan Books. ISBN 0-9529152-0-0.
General
  • Kent, Jeff (1993). The Port Vale Record 1879-1993. Witan Books. ISBN 0-9508981-9-8.
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