1970–71 Port Vale F.C. season

The 1970–71 season was Port Vale's 59th season of football in the Football League, and their first (seventh overall) season back in the Third Division following their promotion from the Fourth Division.[1] Gordon Lee led his team to safety in the league, though Vale exited both cup competitions at the first stage.

Port Vale
1970–71 season
ChairmanMark Singer (until February)
Graham Bourne (from February)
ManagerGordon Lee
StadiumVale Park
Football League Third Division17th (42 Points)
FA CupFirst Round
(knocked out by Notts County)
League CupFirst Round
(knocked out by Walsall)
Player of the YearTommy McLaren
Top goalscorerLeague: John James (15)
All: John James (15)
Highest home attendance11,224 vs. Aston Villa, 19 October 1970
Lowest home attendance3,450 vs. Reading, 13 March 1971
Average home league attendance5,437
Biggest win4–0 vs. Swansea City, 17 October 1970
Biggest defeat3–7 vs. Shrewsbury Town, 12 September 1970

Overview

Third Division

The pre-season saw the arrival of centre-half Roy Cross (Walsall); inside-forward Brian Horton (Hednesford Town); and full-back Mick Hopkinson (Mansfield Town).[1]

The season began with two wins, but a run of one win in ten games then followed. In September, four of the five directors resigned, one of them (Len Cliff) stated that "the club is being run by outsiders".[1] A new board was formed by November.[1] Meanwhile, on 13 September the club suffered a loss of 7–3 at Gay Meadow to Shrewsbury Town, despite a Bobby Gough hat-trick – the match also saw a sending off, an attempted pitch invasion, and a £35 fine for Gordon Lee for remarks he made to referee Ricky Nicholson.[1] Tommy McLaren then returned from injury to lead Vale on a four match winning streak that included a 2–0 win over fallen-giants Aston Villa in front of a Burslem crowd of 11,224 fans.[1] Four straight defeats soon came after this sequence however, as Vale's form was patchy.[1] In December, Ron Wilson left the club as he emigrated to South Africa due to his son's ill health.[1] A 1–0 defeat at Villa Park on 16 January was the first of a nine match streak without a victory.[1] At the end of the month Lee signed John Brodie from Northern Premier League side Bradford Park Avenue for £250.[1] During this spell forward Sammy Morgan began to be jeered by fans after losing his scoring touch.[1] He also began studying to be a teacher.[1] Lee said that "I really feel some of our lads have been singled out by the boo boys. If only they realised that encouragement can lift players, things would be so much better".[1] In February, Mark Singer resigned as chairman, and was replaced by Graham Bourne.[1] By then the club were hovering above the relegation zone, but a record of just ten goals conceded in their final twelve games was enough to secure safety, with Brian Horton in good form.[1]

They finished in seventeenth spot, their 42 points leaving them three clear of relegation.[1] John James was the top-scorer with fifteen goals.[1] As a reward for their endeavours, the players were taken on a working holiday to Benidorm, Spain.[1]

Finances

On the financial side, a profit of £3,424 was made, the club's first profitable season since 1962–63.[1] A £19,322 donation from the Sportsmen's Association and the Development Fund helped to reduce the club's total debt to £134,640.[1] Three players were released: Mick Hopkinson (Boston United); John Green (Northwich Victoria); and John King (Wigan Athletic).[1]

Cup competitions

In the FA Cup, Vale were knocked out in the First Round by Fourth Division Notts County 1–0 in a 'physical' encounter at Meadow Lane.[1]

In the League Cup, Vale were eliminated once again at the first stage, this time Walsall left Burslem with a 1–0 win.

League table
Main article: 1970–71 Football League
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GAv Pts
15 Plymouth Argyle 46 12 19 15 63 63 1.000 43
16 Rochdale 46 14 15 17 61 68 0.897 43
17 Port Vale 46 15 12 19 52 59 0.881 42
18 Tranmere Rovers 46 10 22 14 45 55 0.818 42
19 Bradford City 46 13 14 19 49 62 0.790 40
Source: rsssf.com

Results

Port Vale's score comes first

Results by matchday
Round12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031323334353637383940414243444546
GroundAHAAHAHHAAHAHHHAHHAAHAHAHAAHAHAHAAHHAAHAHAHAHH
ResultWWLLWLDLLLDDWWWWDLLLLWLWWLDLDDLDLLWWDLWDLLWDWD
Position11410615141619181919171211991014161816181512151315151418192020181315151516181816171517
Source: Statto[2]
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

Matches
DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers
15 August 1970Swansea CityA2–010,713Wilson, Morgan
22 August 1970RochdaleH4–16,196McLaren (2), James, Morris
29 August 1970Plymouth ArgyleA1–27,753Morgan
1 September 1970Bristol RoversA0–37,931
5 September 1970Preston North EndH1–06,954James (pen)
12 September 1970Shrewsbury TownA3–75,856Gough (3)
19 September 1970GillinghamH1–15,178James
21 September 1970ChesterfieldH0–25,930
26 September 1970WalsallA1–35,456James (pen)
28 September 1970Mansfield TownA0–28,121
3 October 1970BarnsleyH1–34,490Gough
10 October 1970Brighton & Hove AlbionA0–09,383
17 October 1970Swansea CityH4–04,962Gough (2), James, Morris
19 October 1970Aston VillaH2–011,224James, Gough
24 October 1970Rotherham UnitedH1–07,215McLaren
31 October 1970BuryA3–23,669Lacey, Horton, Boulton
7 November 1970Tranmere RoversH2–25,495Morris, McLaren
9 November 1970FulhamH0–18,728
14 November 1970ReadingA1–25,036Morris
28 November 1970Halifax TownA0–23,404
5 December 1970Torquay UnitedH0–14,252
19 December 1970RochdaleA3–03,619James, Summerscales, Morris
26 December 1970WrexhamH0–36,303
2 January 1971Doncaster RoversA2–12,997Cross, Gough
9 January 1971Mansfield TownH2–04,412Morris, James
16 January 1971Aston VillaA0–128,933
23 January 1971Bradford CityA1–14,436Morris
30 January 1971Halifax TownH0–14,059
5 February 1971Torquay UnitedA1–16,817Morris
12 February 1971Bradford CityH0–04,361
20 February 1971FulhamA1–410,389Green
27 February 1971BuryH0–03,805
6 March 1971Rotherham UnitedA1–26,866James
10 March 1971ChesterfieldA0–37,592
13 March 1971ReadingH3–13,450McLaren (2), Morgan
15 March 1971Doncaster RoversH1–04,782James (pen)
22 March 1971Tranmere RoversA1–13,734James
27 March 1971Preston North EndA0–116,591
3 April 1971Plymouth ArgyleH2–13,518James, Morgan
10 April 1971WrexhamA1–18,186Boulton
12 April 1971Shrewsbury TownH0–15,655
13 April 1971BarnsleyA0–14,837
17 April 1971Brighton & Hove AlbionH2–13,789Morgan (2)
24 April 1971GillinghamA1–12,207James
26 April 1971Bristol RoversH2–04,525James (2)
1 May 1971WalsallH1–15,758Lacey

FA Cup
Main article: 1970–71 FA Cup
RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorers
R121 November 1970Notts CountyA0–115,965

League Cup
Main article: 1970–71 Football League Cup
RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorers
R118 August 1970WalsallH0–16,605

Player statistics

Appearances
Pos. Name Football League FA Cup League Cup Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
GK Keith Ball 2801010300
GK Stuart Sharratt 1800000180
DF Roy Sproson 60001070
DF Clint Boulton 4521010472
DF Ron Wilson 1610010171
DF Bill Summerscales 71000071
DF Roy Cross 4211000431
DF Mick Hopkinson 1301000140
DF John Brodie 1900000190
MF Tommy McLaren 3661010386
MF John Green 2511010271
MF John King 2600010270
MF Brian Horton 3911000401
MF Tony Lacey 4421010462
FW John James 451510104715
FW Mick Morris 4681010488
FW Bobby Gough 3681000378
FW Sammy Morgan 3861010406
FW Bob Mountford 10000010

Top scorers
Place Position Nation Name Third Division FA Cup League Cup Total
1FW EnglandJohn James150015
2FW EnglandMick Morris8008
–FW EnglandBobby Gough8008
4MF ScotlandTommy McLaren6006
–FW Northern IrelandSammy Morgan6006
6MF EnglandTony Lacey2002
–DF EnglandClint Boulton2002
8DF ScotlandRon Wilson1001
–DF EnglandBill Summerscales1001
–DF EnglandRoy Cross1001
–MF EnglandJohn Green1001
–MF EnglandBrian Horton1001
TOTALS 52 0 0 52

Transfers

Transfers in
Date from Position Nationality Name From Fee Ref.
June 1970DFRoy CrossWalsallFree transfer[3]
July 1970DFMick HopkinsonMansfield TownFree transfer[3]
July 1970MFBrian HortonHednesford Town'a pint of shandy'[3]
January 1971DFJohn BrodieBradford Park Avenue£250[3]

Transfers out
Date from Position Nationality Name To Fee Ref.
December 1970DFRon Wilson HellenicReleased[3]
May 1971DFMick HopkinsonBoston UnitedFree transfer[3]
May 1971MFJohn KingWigan AthleticFree transfer[3]
Summer 1971MFJohn GreenNorthwich VictoriaReleased[3]

References
Specific
  1. Kent, Jeff (1990). "Surviving on a Shoestring (1969–1979)". The Valiants' Years: The Story Of Port Vale. Witan Books. pp. 227–257. ISBN 0-9508981-4-7.
  2. Port Vale 1970–1971 : Results & Fixtures Archived 4 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine. 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.
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