1934–35 Port Vale F.C. season explained

Club:Port Vale
Season:1934–35
Manager:Tom Holford
Chairman:Frank Huntbach
Stadium:The Old Recreation Ground
League: Second Division
League Result:18th (34 Points)
Cup1:FA Cup
Cup1 Result:Third Round
League Topscorer:Tom Nolan (16)
Season Topscorer:Tom Nolan (16)
Lowest Attendance:3,860 vs. Fulham, 27 April 1935
Average Attendance:8,463
Largest Win:4–0 vs. Barnsley, 5 January 1935
Largest Loss:0–8 vs. Brentford, 20 April 1935
Pattern So1:_color_3_stripes_red
Leftarm1:ff0000
Body1:ff0000
Rightarm1:ff0000
Shorts1:ffffff
Socks1:000000
Prevseason:1933–34
Nextseason:1935–36

The 1934–35 season was Port Vale's 29th season of football in the English Football League and their fifth-successive season (28th overall) in the Second Division.[1] A positive start to the season raised hope of promotion; however, from October onwards the club performed so poorly as to finish fifth-from-bottom. One event of note was a six-week discussion over a possible change of name; the names Stoke Central, Stoke United, Stoke North End, and Hanley Port Vale were considered – however, none of these names attracted enough support to institute a change.

Overview

Second Division

The pre-season saw the arrival of eight new signings, the most significant of these were: 'safe as houses' goalkeeper John Potts (Leeds United), 'outstanding' outside-right John Friar (Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic), inside-left David Galloway (Preston North End), and centre-half Joe Craven (Swansea Town).

The season started with just one defeat in the opening eight games, leaving the club in fourth place by the end of September – mostly down to the goalscoring partnership of Friar and Nolan. Home victories over Sheffield United, Southampton, Manchester United, and Burnley nevertheless saw attendances of only 7,311 to 11,975. Following this they went on a run of twelve games without a win, with an over-reliance on Friar and Nolan in attack, whilst the defence lacked understanding. The team was changed around but to no avail, as they slipped down the league towards a relegation battle. In the middle of December Friar was sold on to Preston North End, having scored ten goals in eighteen games, with the 'more steady' Ted Critchley heading in the other direction. Their poor form was halted with a Christmas day victory over Bradford City. The team were then inconsistent until the end of the season.

The 2 February matchday programme (for a 2–1 victory over Swansea) recorded a discussion on whether or not the club should change its name. Concluding that many people didn't know where Port Vale was, Stoke Central and Stoke United were put forward as possible new names. A discussion with the fans resulted, in which Stoke United was decided as the best alternative, despite calls from some for the name Hanley to be included. On 2 March (a 1–1 draw with Norwich City), each supporter was given a ballot slip upon entering The Old Recreation Ground, with the result of the poll being that 3,737 were in favour of a change of name, and 3,633 opposed a change. A shareholders' meeting on 18 March at the Grand Hotel (Hanley) saw the directors suggest the name of Stoke North End to the 100 members present. Finding little support, a resolution was instead passed for the new name of Hanley Port Vale. The Football League forced them to wait until the end of the season to implement a name change, having already printed countless papers with the original name. However, the new name proved unpopular with the public, who criticized the club for being too parochial and lacking civic pride. The name change never occurred.

Back on the pitch, the team were bobbing along, picking up enough points to avoid relegation concerns – whereas Oldham Athletic and Notts County were rapidly drifting away from safety. On 9 March at St James' Park the Vale picked up a shock result by beating promotion hopefuls Newcastle United 2–1 – their first away win in 24 attempts, ending a run going back to January 1934. Nolan's stand-in James Baker bagged both of the goals. On 19 April, a 5–3 beating of Notts County proved enough to guarantee safety, yet Vale still earned just two points from their final four games. On 20 April, they lost a massive 8–0 to champions Brentford – the biggest defeat in the division that season.

They finished eighteenth with 34 points, eight points clear of relegation and 22 points short of promotion. Away from home, they recorded just one win, whilst in front of goal, their 55 goals scored was their lowest total since 1925 (after which the offside rule had been changed to make scoring easier). Tom Nolan's sixteen goals and the departed John Friar's ten goals were the only significant contributions.

Finances

On the financial side, a mere £11,120 was made on the gates, though a £3,775 credit on transfers ensured a profit of £2,415. Only fourteen players were retained, with those leaving including: James Baker (Barrow), Bob Morton (Throckley Welfare), Jack Blackwell (Boston United), Joe Craven (Newport County), David Galloway (Carlisle United), Ted Critchley (South Liverpool), and 128 game veteran Jack Round (also Carlisle).

Cup competitions

In the FA Cup, Vale were defeated 2–1 by eventual runners-up West Bromwich Albion of the First Division at The Hawthorns. The 18,989 crowd saw £1,000 raised in gate receipts, and a comeback from the "Throstles" just six minutes from time. This meant they exited in the Third Round for the third consecutive season.

League table

See main article: 1934–35 Football League.

Results

Port Vale's score comes first

Football League Second Division

Matches

DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers
25 August 1934 Sheffield UnitedH2–011,975Nolan, Friar
27 August 1934 SouthamptonA0–06,977
1 September 1934 BarnsleyA0–29,370
3 September 1934 SouthamptonH4–17,746Friar (2), Nolan, Morton
8 September 1934 Plymouth ArgyleH2–210,133Nolan (2)
15 September 1934 Manchester UnitedH3–29,037Friar (2 [1 pen]), Nolan
22 September 1934 Swansea TownA1–15,698Nolan
29 September 1934 BurnleyH3–17,311Friar (2), Nolan
6 October 1934 Oldham AthleticA0–26,069
13 October 1934 Bolton WanderersH1–316,839Nolan
20 October 1934 Norwich CityA0–014,195
27 October 1934 Newcastle UnitedH1–311,036Rhodes
3 November 1934 West Ham UnitedA1–319,391Rhodes
10 November 1934 BlackpoolH2–27,656Gunn, Rhodes
17 November 1934 BuryA1–38,278Friar
24 November 1934 Hull CityH1–26,086Friar
1 December 1934 Nottingham ForestA0–213,576
8 December 1934 BrentfordH2–28,054Friar, Nolan
15 December 1934 FulhamA0–28,138
22 December 1934 Bradford Park AvenueH1–16,251Morton
25 December 1934 Bradford CityH1–08,436Nolan
26 December 1934 Bradford CityA0–313,727
29 December 1934 Sheffield UnitedA0–316,520
5 January 1935 BarnsleyH4–06,074Rhodes, Morton, Mitcheson, Blackwell
19 January 1935 Plymouth ArgyleA1–214,051Rhodes
2 February 1935 Swansea TownH2–17,081Nolan (2)
6 February 1935 Manchester UnitedA1–27,372Rhodes
9 February 1935 BurnleyA2–29,830Dean (2)
16 February 1935 Oldham AthleticH2–05,473Dean, Critchley
23 February 1935 Bolton WanderersA0–218,897
2 March 1935 Norwich CityH1–18,284Morton
9 March 1935 Newcastle UnitedA2–123,934Baker (2)
16 March 1935 West Ham UnitedH2–212,853Baker, Mitcheson
23 March 1935 BlackpoolA1–37,268Baker
30 March 1935 BuryH0–17,869
6 April 1935 Hull CityA0–13,569
13 April 1935 Nottingham ForestH2–06,389Nolan (2)
19 April 1935 Notts CountyH5–39,010Birks (2), Mitcheson (2), Nolan
20 April 1935 BrentfordA0–818,194
22 April 1935 Notts CountyA2–36,765Blackwell, Nolan
27 April 1935 FulhamH1–13,860Birks
4 May 1935 Bradford Park AvenueA1–13,634Birks

FA Cup

See main article: 1934–35 FA Cup.

!Round!!Date!!Opponent!!Venue!!Result!!Attendance!!Goalscorers
R312 January 1935 West Bromwich AlbionA1–218,989Morton

Player statistics

Appearances and goals

Pos.NameFootball LeagueFA CupTotal
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
GK John Potts42010430
DF George Shenton15000150
DF Jack Vickers26010270
DF Trevor Rhodes35610366
DF Ernest Breeze25010260
DF Percy Thorpe100010
DF Jim Kelso15000150
DF Eric Hayward400040
MF Roger Jones29010300
MF Jack Round26010270
MF Bob Morton35411365
MF Cliff Birks11400114
MF Albert Purcell200020
MF Ken Gunn31100311
MF Albert Titley400040
MF John Friar1810001810
MF Arthur Caldwell100010
MF Joe Craven11000110
MF Sam Briddon000000
FW Tom Nolan3916104016
FW Fred Mitcheson31410324
FW Jack Blackwell12200122
FW David Galloway12000120
FW Ted Critchley18110191
FW Luke Dean10300103
FW James Baker940094

Top scorers

width=60Placewidth=60Positionwidth=180Nationwidth=150Namewidth=80Second Divisionwidth=80FA Cupwidth=80Total
1FWTom Nolan16016
2MFJohn Friar10010
3DFTrevor Rhodes606
4MFBob Morton415
5MFCliff Birks404
–FWFred Mitcheson404
–FWJames Baker404
8FWLuke Dean303
9FWJack Blackwell202
10MFKen Gunn101
–FWTed Critchley101
–––Own goals000
TOTALS55156

Transfers

Transfers in

Date fromPositionNationalityNameFromFeeRef.
May 1934 GK Free transfer [2]
May 1934 MF Free transfer
June 1934 FW Free transfer
June 1934 DF Free transfer
June 1934 FW Free transfer
June 1934 DF Free transfer
July 1934 MF Free transfer
July 1934 DF Hanley and Wardle's Free transfer
August 1934 FW Downing's Tileries Free transfer
November 1934 DF Free transfer
December 1934 FW Exchange
May 1935 MF Free transfer

Transfers out

Date fromPositionNationalityNameToFeeRef.
December 1934 MF Exchange
May 1935 FW Released
May 1935 DF Free transfer
May 1935 MF Free transfer
July 1935 FW Free transfer
Summer 1935 DF Newport County Free transfer
Summer 1935 FW Released
Summer 1935 FW Free transfer
Summer 1935 MF Throckley Welfare Free transfer
Summer 1935 MF Released
Summer 1935 DF Released

References

Specific
General

Notes and References

  1. Book: Kent, Jeff. The Valiants' Years: The Story Of Port Vale. Witan Books. 1990. 124–150. From Glory to Despair (1929–1939). 978-0-9508981-4-8.
  2. Book: Kent, Jeff. Port Vale Personalities. Witan Books. 1996. 0-9529152-0-0.

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "1934–35 Port Vale F.C. season".

Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2025, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy.