1945–46 Port Vale F.C. season

The 1945–46 season was Port Vale's third and final season of football in the wartime league system of World War II.[1] Despite low expectations the club turned a profit in the Third Division (South) North, finishing third in the initial table. They reached the third round of the FA Cup, though ended the season with a disappointing finish in the Third Division (South) North Cup. Overall though the club were in healthy position to resume playing in the Football League the following season.

Port Vale
1945–46 season
ChairmanTom Flint
ManagerBilly Frith
StadiumOld Recreation Ground
Third Division (South) North3rd (24 points)
FA CupThird Round
(knocked out by Bradford (Park Avenue))
Third Division (South) North Cup8th (14 points)
Top goalscorerLeague: Bill Pointon (9)
All: Bill Pointon (19)
Highest home attendance11,388 vs. Queens Park Rangers, 30 March 1946
Lowest home attendance2,632 vs. Notts County, 26 January 1946
Average home league attendance7,212
Biggest win4–0 (twice) and 5–1
Biggest defeat1–4 vs. Queens Park Rangers, 29 September 1945

Overview

The Port Vale management were concerned to learn that they were to compete in the Third Division (South) region for the 1945–46 season, which they felt would result in less revenue and greater expenditure than being in the North division, even though they were still somewhat confusingly placed in the North region of the South Division.[1] They appointed 33-year old former Coventry City half-back Billy Frith as the club's new manager, as predecessor David Pratt was unable to gain release from the Royal Air Force.[1] Again the playing squad was made up mainly of young players and guests, with Scottish inside-right Isaac McDowell being a regular guest.[1] They opened the campaign with three victories from three games, Ralph Gregory proving a revelation on leave from the Royal Marines, scoring a hat-trick in a 4–3 win at Norwich City.[1] However seven games without a victory began with the return fixture with Norwich, before they were boosted by the return of the now demobilised goalkeeper Arthur Jepson.[1] They picked up six of a possible eight points in October and continued their good form right up until the end of the league programme on New Year's Day.[1] They finished in third-place with 24 points in 20 games, eight points behind champions Queens Park Rangers.[1]

The progressed past Wellington Town and Liverpool County Combination amateurs Marine to reach the third round of the FA Cup, which was now being played over two legs.[1] They "put up a grand show" against Bradford (Park Avenue) at Park Avenue, losing 2–1.[1] They then had to settle for a 1–1 draw at home, being denied a penalty and then having a goal ruled out for offside late in the game.[1] A 16 game Third Division (South) North Cup series then began, with the top two teams entering the division's semi-finals.[1] Though they fared poorly, they were fortunate enough to have goalkeeper George Heppell demobilised in time to take the place of an injured Arthur Jepson.[1] Tommy Cheadle made his club debut in a 4–1 home victory over Ipswich Town on 2 March.[1] However this was only one of two victories in the final ten games as Frith experimented with different line-ups in an effort to find a winning combination.[1] They ended the season in eighth-place, picking up 14 points from 16 games. Bill Pointon proved to be a consistent goalscorer, hitting 19 goals in all. The club made a profit of £1,265 on the season, having made a healthy £13,475 in gate receipt money.[1] The City Council agreed to extend the lease on the Old Recreation Ground until June 1950, leaving ample time for Vale Park to be constructed.[1]

Results

Port Vale's score comes first

Legend
Win Draw Loss

League table
Main article: 1944–45 in English football
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GR Pts
2 Norwich City 20 11 4 5 54 31 1.742 26
3 Port Vale 20 9 6 5 34 25 1.360 24
4 Watford 20 10 2 8 42 47 0.894 22
Source: Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation

Matches
DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers
25 August 1945Ipswich TownH3–26,080Pointon, Bellis, Jones
30 August 1945Norwich CityA4–37,507Gregory (3), Allen
1 September 1945Ipswich TownA1–011,512Gregory
3 September 1945Norwich CityH2–27,426Gregory, McDowell
8 September 1945NorthamptonA0–15,815
15 September 1945NorthamptonH0–06,534
19 September 1945Notts CountyA1–35,857McDowell
22 September 1945Queens Park RangersH0–08,382
29 September 1945Queens Park RangersA1–413,797Pointon
6 October 1945Clapton OrientA1–14,817Cumner
13 October 1945Clapton OrientH4–07,791Pointon (2), Bellis, Jones
20 October 1945WatfordH2–17,607Bellis, Pointon
27 October 1945WatfordA2–25,528Allen, Bellis
1 December 1945Mansfield TownA2–13,761McDowell, o.g.
22 December 1945Southend UnitedA0–22,544
24 December 1945Mansfield TownH2–06,000Davies (2)
25 December 1945WalsallA5–15,804Pointon (2), Shore, Davies, Bellis
26 December 1945WalsallH0–111,200
29 December 1945Notts CountyH3–08,200Pointon (2), Bellis
1 January 1946Southend UnitedH1–12,900Shore

FA Cup
RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers
R1 Leg 117 November 1944Wellington TownH4–08,700McDowell (2), Pointon, o.g.
R1 Leg 224 November 1944Wellington TownA2–05,056Bellis, McDowell
R2 Leg 18 December 1944MarineH3–15,800Allen (2), Gregory
R2 Leg 215 December 1944MarineA1–15,000Gregory
R3 Leg 15 January 1945Bradford (Park Avenue)A1–213,000Bellis
R3 Leg 27 January 1945Bradford (Park Avenue)H1–111,086Bellis

League table
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GR Pts
7 Clapton Orient 16 6 3 7 22 31 0.710 15
8 Port Vale 16 5 4 7 21 25 0.840 14
9 Northampton Town 16 5 2 9 27 29 0.931 12
Source: Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation

Matches
DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers
12 January 1946WalsallA1–35,523Bellis
19 January 1946WalsallH1–03,229Cooper
26 January 1946Notts CountyH2–12,632Wootton, Pointon
2 February 1946Notts CountyA2–35,000Pointon, Gardner
9 February 1946Bristol RoversA2–49,500Pointon (2)
16 February 1946Bristol RoversH1–04,554Pointon
23 February 1946Ipswich TownA0–17,500
2 March 1946Ipswich TownH4–13,200Bellis (2), Pointon (2)
9 March 1946Clapton OrientA0–06,197
16 March 1946Clapton OrientH2–28,283Pointon, Bellis
23 March 1946Queens Park RangersA2–413,274Shore, Pointon
30 March 1946Queens Park RangersH0–211,388
6 April 1946Mansfield TownA1–25,777Bellis
13 April 1946Mansfield TownH0–06,768
20 April 1946Southend UnitedH2–17,016Cheadle, Bellis
22 April 1946Southend UnitedA1–18,500Bellis

Player statistics

Appearances
Pos. Name League FA Cup Region Cup Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
GK Arthur Jepson 1006040200
GK Harry Prince 1000020120
GK George Heppell 0000100100
DF Harry Griffiths 1806080320
DF Bob Pursell 15030100280
DF Jess Sproson 20000020
DF Cyril Johnson 00001010
DF Tommy Cheadle 00009191
DF Roy Felton 705030150
DF Stan Kelley 00001010
DF Reg Potts 40000040
DF Roger Whittle 20000020
MF Wilf Smith 13060160350
MF Alf Bellis 156631273316
MF Murdoch Dickie 10000010
MF Bob Allen 926290224
MF Billy Buckley 10000010
MF Jack Clunn 10000010
MF Arthur Cooper 19060161411
MF Harold Jervis 40000040
MF Frank Pointon 60002080
MF Arthur Cumberlidge 00002020
MF George Gould 30000030
MF Francis Jones 52000052
MF Bill McGarry 20000020
MF Ted Oldfield 2020110150
MF Ted Shore 1025091243
MF Dennis Simpson 00001010
MF Frank Soo 10000010
MF Don Triner 00003030
MF Ken Watkin 00001010
MF Ernie Willett 00001010
FW Ralph Gregory 652220107
FW Isaac McDowell 1234310176
FW Edward Nutting 10001020
FW Bill Pointon 139511393119
FW Eric Prince 20000020
FW Bert Wright 00001010
FW Ellis Birchall 20100030
FW Billy Byrne 00001010
FW Horace Cumner 71000071
FW Eddie Davies 532030103
FW Ken Faulkner 10000010
FW Fred Gardner 00003131
FW Jimmy Hutchinson 00001010
FW George James 10000010
FW John Lowndes 10000010
FW Colin Lyman 00004040
FW George Willis 00001010
FW Len Wootton 9010141251

Top scorers
Place Position Nation Name Third Division North FA Cup North Cup Total
1FW EnglandBill Pointon91919
2MF EnglandAlf Bellis63716
3FW EnglandRalph Gregory5207
4FW ScotlandIsaac McDowell3306
5MF EnglandBob Allen2204
6MF EnglandTed Shore2013
–FW EnglandEddie Davies3003
8MF EnglandFrancis Jones2002
9FW WalesHorace Cumner1001
–DF EnglandTommy Cheadle0011
–MF EnglandArthur Cooper0011
–FW EnglandFred Gardner0011
–FW EnglandLen Wootton0011
–––Own goals1102
TOTALS 34 12 21 67

Transfers

Transfers in
Date from Position Nationality Name From Fee Ref.
August 1945DFFrancis JonesFree transfer[2]
August 1945DFReg PottsStoke CityFree transfer[2]
August 1945FWLen WoottonFree transfer[2]
September 1945MFTed ShoreFree transfer[2]
December 1945MFTed OldfieldHelsbyFree transfer[2]
January 1946FWGeorge JamesFree transfer[2]
March 1946FWBilly ByrneFree transfer[2]
March 1946DFTommy CheadleFree transfer[2]

Transfers out
Date from Position Nationality Name To Fee Ref.
Autumn 1945MFMurdoch DickieGuildford CityReleased[2]
1946MFHarold JervisRoyal Air ForceReleased[2]
1946DFFrancis JonesReleased[2]
January 1946MFIsaac McDowell CowdenbeathReleased[2]
May 1946FWEdward NuttingReleased[2]
Summer 1946MFBilly BuckleyReleased[2]
Summer 1946MFJack ClunnReleased[2]
Summer 1946MFArthur CumberlidgeNorthwich VictoriaReleased[2]
Summer 1946DFRoy FeltonCrystal PalaceRefused terms[2]
Summer 1946FWGeorge JamesReleased[2]
Summer 1946FWCyril JohnsonReleased[2]
Summer 1946DFRoger WhittleReleased[2]

References
Specific
  1. Kent, Jeff (1990). "Creating Sunshine from the Shadows (1939–1950)". The Valiants' Years: The Story Of Port Vale. Witan Books. pp. 151–171. ISBN 0-9508981-4-7.
  2. 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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