1966–67 Port Vale F.C. season

The 1966–67 season was Port Vale's 55th season of football in the English Football League, and their second successive season (third overall) in the Fourth Division.[1] Again hopeful of escape from the basement division, Vale could only manage a mid-table finish. Player-manager Jackie Mudie resigned at the end of the season. Veteran defender Roy Sproson became the club's first ever Player of the Year winner.

Port Vale
1966–67 season
ChairmanFred Pinfold
ManagerJackie Mudie
StadiumVale Park
Football League Fourth Division13th (43 Points)
FA CupSecond Round
(knocked out by Barnsley)
League CupFirst Round
(knocked out by Walsall)
Player of the YearRoy Sproson
Top goalscorerLeague: Mick Cullerton (12)
All: Mick Cullerton (12)
Highest home attendance12,784 vs. Barnsley, 16 January 1967
Lowest home attendance2,554 vs. York City, 24 April 1967
Average home league attendance5,114
Biggest win5–0 vs. Rochdale, 28 March 1967
Biggest defeat1–4 vs. Southend United, 14 October 1966

Overview

Fourth Division

The pre-season saw general manager Stanley Matthews injured in a car accident with a National Coal Board lorry on 29 July, Jackie Mudie was also in the car but remained relatively unharmed.[1] As Matthews recovered in came four new forwards, the most significant of which was Crystal Palace's Ian Lawson.[1] Lawson cost £1,000 with an additional £1,000 signing on fee.[1] Other new faces included winger Mick Mahon (Loughborough United); inside-forward Jimmy Goodfellow (Bishop Auckland); and Billy McCartney (Rangers).[1] There was a kit change to an all-white strip, upon the suggestion of Stanley Matthews.[1]

The season opened with a 2–1 home win over Southport using an optimistic 4–2–4 formation.[1] Following Roy Sproson's winning goal there was a pitch invasion – by then a disturbingly common occurrence.[1] Six games without a loss followed, leaving the club in fourth position.[1] Goals were still rare however, and so Lawson was dropped from the first eleven, despite the departure of in-form forward John Rowland to Mansfield Town for £6,500.[1] Financial difficulties made the atmosphere around Burslem quite gloomy, not helped by the news that former Valiant John Nicholson had been killed in a car crash.[1] Vale's form suffered, though the defence remained quite strong.[1] Young Scot Mick Cullerton was a ray of sunshine for the club in front of goal.[1]

Good form in the Christmas period continued into an unbeaten January in the league, as the club climbed to within five points of the promotion places.[1] In came forward Mel Charles from Porthmadog for a £1,250 fee.[1] A 1–0 defeat at Gresty Road to Crewe Alexandra in front of an unruly crowd marked the first of a crucial seven game sequence against the promotion hopefuls.[1] A win over Barrow and a draw at Stockport County were succeeded by five straight defeats, killing Vale's promotion hopes dead.[1] They reversed the decline by doing the double over Rochdale within two days, including a 5–0 victory witnessed by 3,004 fans at Vale Park.[1] In April, popular player John Ritchie was sold to Preston North End for £17,500.[1] Mel Charles sidelined with a knee injury, Vale limped to the season's end without a win in their final five games.[1] On 3 May, Stuart Chapman made his debut at the age of fifteen in a 2–2 draw with Lincoln City.[1] Five days later, manager Jackie Mudie tendered his resignation as player-manager, citing 'personal reasons'.[1]

They finished in thirteenth place with 43 points, marking a slight improvement on the previous campaign.[1] Mick Cullerton's twelve goals in all competitions were enough to make him the top-scorer.[1] In the club's first ever Player of the Year ceremony, veteran defender Roy Sproson was bestowed with the honour.[1] Meanwhile, the club's youth team performed brilliantly, reaching the quarter-finals of the FA Youth Cup, where they were eliminated 3–0 by Scunthorpe United.[1]

Finances

On the financial side, there was a loss of £7,925 despite a transfer credit of £20,425 and a donation of £19,381 from the Sportsmen's Association and the Development Pool.[1] Gate receipts were just £30,298, whilst the club's overdraft stood at £82,373.[1] Nine players were released at the end of the season, most notably: Mel Charles (Oswestry Town); Ian Lawson and Brian Taylor (Barnsley); and untested reserve Ray Kennedy – who would take a break from football before returning to the game to play for Liverpool and England.[1] Roddy Georgeson was also released at his own request to work in a bank,[1] though he soon turned out for Dundee before beginning a long career in Scottish football.

Cup competitions

In the FA Cup, a 4–3–3 formation was used to defeat Bradford City 2–1 at Valley Parade with a forty-yard 'goal of a lifetime' from John Ritchie.[1] Vale drew Barnsley in the Second Round, and earned a replay with a 1-1 draw at Oakwell. The replay attracted 12,784 supporters, but "Tykes" ran out 3–1 winners.

In the League Cup, Third Division Walsall knocked out the Vale at the first stage with a 3–1 win.

League table

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GAv Pts
11 Bradford City 46 19 10 17 74 62 1.194 48
12 Halifax Town 46 15 14 17 59 68 0.868 44
13 Port Vale 46 14 15 17 55 58 0.948 43
14 Exeter City 46 14 15 17 50 60 0.833 43
15 Chesterfield 46 17 8 21 60 63 0.952 42
Source: rsssf.com

Results

Port Vale's score comes first

Results by matchday

Round12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031323334353637383940414243444546
GroundHAHHAAHAAHAHHAHAHHAAAHHHAAHAAHHAHAHAHAAHHAHHAA
ResultDDDWDWDLDDLLLWWLWLLDWDDWWLWDLLLLLWWDWLDLWDDDLL
Position4474654991091315141313141417161515151312121111121314171715141313131213121212121213
Source: Statto[2]
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

Matches

DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers
20 August 1966SouthportH2–18,143Rowland, Sproson
27 August 1966Notts CountyA0–05,648
3 September 1966ChesterH1–16,853Georgeson
5 September 1966Bradford CityH3–26,258Mahon, Rowland, Hill
10 September 1966Bradford Park AvenueA1–15,246Rowland
17 September 1966Exeter CityA1–04,789Miles
24 September 1966Crewe AlexandraH1–111,325Hill
28 September 1966Bradford CityA0–23,928
1 October 1966BarrowA2–23,354Goodfellow, Hill
8 October 1966Tranmere RoversH1–16,684Sproson
14 October 1966Southend UnitedA1–412,609Ritchie
17 October 1966ChesterfieldH2–35,649Georgeson, Mahon
22 October 1966WrexhamH0–27,753
29 October 1966AldershotA1–05,047McCartney
5 November 1966Luton TownH1–03,502Mahon
12 November 1966BarnsleyA0–14,823
19 November 1966Newport CountyH2–03,883Miles, Hill
3 December 1966Halifax TownH0–14,002
10 December 1966Hartlepools UnitedA1–25,342Hill
17 December 1966SouthportA0–03,975
27 December 1966Lincoln CityA1–05,268Cullerton
31 December 1966Notts CountyH0–05,359
14 January 1967Bradford Park AvenueH0–04,798
21 January 1967Exeter CityH2–03,450Cullerton (pen), Mahon
28 January 1967ChesterA3–15,586Mahon (2), Cullerton
3 February 1967Crewe AlexandraA0–110,414
11 February 1967BarrowH2–16,267Boulton, Mahon
17 February 1967Stockport CountyA1–19,756Miles
24 February 1967Tranmere RoversA1–28,047Cullerton
4 March 1967Southend UnitedH1–34,695Goodfellow
11 March 1967Stockport CountyH0–26,363
18 March 1967WrexhamA1–27,176Georgeson
25 March 1967BrentfordH1–33,434Ritchie
27 March 1967RochdaleA2–12,254o.g., Goodfellow
28 March 1967RochdaleH5–03,004Georgeson, Poole, Cullerton, Goodfellow, Wilson
1 April 1967Luton TownA1–15,410Wilson
8 April 1967BarnsleyH3–13,209Cullerton (2), Hill
10 April 1967York CityA1–33,834Goodfellow
17 April 1967Newport CountyA1–11,914Cullerton
22 April 1967AldershotH0–23,265
24 April 1967York CityH4–12,554Cullerton (2), Georgeson, Goodfellow
29 April 1967Halifax TownA2–23,562Taylor, Goodfellow
3 May 1967Lincoln CityH2–23,085Cullerton (2)
6 May 1967Hartlepools UnitedH0–03,178
8 May 1967ChesterfieldA1–22,605Boulton
13 May 1967BrentfordA0–23,592

FA Cup

RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorers
R126 November 1966Bradford CityA2–15,712Ritchie, Lawson
R27 January 1967BarnsleyA1–113,343Hill
R2 Replay16 January 1967BarnsleyH1–312,784Boulton

League Cup

RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorers
R123 August 1966WalsallH1–39,181Rowland

Player statistics

Appearances

Pos. Name Football League FA Cup League Cup Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
GK Stuart Sharratt 4503010490
GK Billy McNulty 10000010
DF Roy Sproson 3122010342
DF Terry Alcock 4103010450
DF Clint Boulton 3523110393
DF Ron Wilson 3323000362
DF John Ritchie 2823110323
DF Gordon Logan 70000070
MF Terry Miles 4233000453
MF Mick Mahon 2671010287
MF Jimmy Hill 3663100397
MF Alex Donald 2301000240
MF Stuart Chapman 10000010
MF Malcolm Gibbon 10000010
MF Jimmy Goodfellow 2671010287
MF Mel Charles 70000070
FW Harry Poole 3211010341
FW John Rowland 73001184
FW Jackie Mudie 50200070
FW Brian Taylor 1011000111
FW John James 70001080
FW Roddy Georgeson 2250000225
FW Mick Cullerton 281230003012
FW Billy McCartney 1511000161
FW Mel Lintern 10000010
FW Ian Lawson 801110101

Top scorers

Place Position Nation Name Fourth Division FA Cup League Cup Total
1FW ScotlandMick Cullerton120012
2MF EnglandMick Mahon7007
MF EnglandJimmy Goodfellow7007
MF Northern IrelandJimmy Hill6107
5FW EgyptRoddy Georgeson5005
6FW EnglandJohn Rowland3014
7MF EnglandTerry Miles3003
DF EnglandJohn Ritchie2103
DF EnglandClint Boulton2103
10DF ScotlandRon Wilson2002
DF EnglandRoy Sproson2002
12FW ScotlandBilly McCartney1001
FW EnglandHarry Poole1001
FW EnglandBrian Taylor1001
FW EnglandIan Lawson0101
Own goals1001
TOTALS 55 4 1 60

Transfers

Transfers in

Date from Position Nationality Name From Fee Ref.
1966MFJimmy GoodfellowBishop AucklandFree transfer[3]
June 1966FWBilly McCartneyRangersFree transfer[3]
August 1966FWIan LawsonCrystal Palace£1,000[3]
December 1966MFMel Charles Porthmadog£1,250[3]

Transfers out

Date from Position Nationality Name To Fee Ref.
September 1966FWJohn RowlandMansfield Town£6,500[3]
November 1966MFAlan JohnsonStafford RangersFree transfer[3]
April 1967DFJohn RitchiePreston North End£17,500[3]
May 1967MFMel Charles Oswestry TownFree transfer[3]
May 1967FWIan LawsonBarnsleyFree transfer[3]
May 1967FWBilly McCartney Oswestry TownFree transfer[3]
May 1967FWJackie Mudie Oswestry TownRetired[3]
May 1967GKJimmy O'Neill Cork CelticFree transfer[3]
May 1967MFBrian TaylorBarnsleyFree transfer[3]
July 1967MFRoddy Georgeson DundeeReleased[3]
August 1967DFTerry AlcockBlackpool£30,000[3]

Loans out

Date from Position Nationality Name To Date to Ref.
December 1966GKJimmy O'Neill Cork CelticMay 1967[3]

References

Specific
  1. Kent, Jeff (1990). "Flattering Only to Deceive (1960–1969)". The Valiants' Years: The Story Of Port Vale. Witan Books. pp. 196–226. ISBN 0-9508981-4-7.
  2. Port Vale 1966–1967 : Results & Fixtures. Statto Organisation. Retrieved 28 April 2012.
  3. 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.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.