1947–48 Port Vale F.C. season explained

Club:Port Vale
Season:1947–48
Manager:Gordon Hodgson
Chairman:William Holdcroft
Stadium:The Old Recreation Ground
League:Football League
League Result:8th (43 Points)
Cup1:FA Cup
Cup1 Result:First Round
League Topscorer:Ronnie Allen (13)
Season Topscorer:Ronnie Allen (13)
Lowest Attendance:5,602 vs. Exeter City, 24 April 1948
Average Attendance:13,569
Largest Win:7–0 vs. Watford, 15 September 1947
Largest Loss:0–5 vs. Torquay United, 7 February 1948
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Prevseason:1946–47
Nextseason:1948–49

The 1947–48 season was Port Vale's 36th season of football in the English Football League, and their third full season in the Third Division South.[1] Gaining just three of their sixteen victories away from home, they were very much a club of two teams. Manager Gordon Hodgson continued his policy of developing young players whilst work on the new stadium continued. Their club record run without failing to score reached 33 games, ending on 13 March 1948, having begun on 19 October 1946.

Overview

Third Division South

The pre-season saw the arrival of outside-right John Currie from Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic. The total number of players at the club was 81, though the vast majority of these amateurs who never played for the first-team. Standing season tickets were reduced to £3 13s, in an attempt to boost support.

The season began with a 1–1 draw with Bristol Rovers in front of 15,714 supporters, followed four days later by a 2–1 win at Carrow Road. Following this the Vale were exceptional at home but poor away, as their unbeaten run at home reached fifteen games. Their home form was exemplified by 6–4 and 7–0 wins over Aldershot and Watford respectively, in which Ronnie Allen scored a hat-trick in both games, and Morris Jones score a hat-trick past Aldershot. The defence seeming too weak for a promotion push, Harry Hubbick was signed from Bolton Wanderers in October. The Sentinels "Placer" complained of the weakened passing of the post-war generation, in both the Vale side and in footballers in general. In November Morris Jones was sold to Swindon Town for £2,500, having handed in a transfer request. Gordon Hodgson searched for new attacking talents, leaving his players to relax with games of table tennis, darts, and reading material. On Christmas day a 5–0 win was recorded over Brighton & Hove Albion, with defender Tommy Cheadle put into the centre-forward role. This marked the start of an eight match unbeaten run which took the "Valiants" into fourth place by the end of January.

Hodgson's policy of youth over experience led many older players to hand in transfer requests. In January Alf Bellis was traded to Bury in exchange for Walter Keeley and 'a substantial fee'. A 5–0 thrashing at muddy Plainmoor from Torquay United in February was followed by a win over Swindon Town which was disturbed by a dog on the pitch, whilst the week after came a draw in 3inches of snow at Southend United. The club's promotion hopes faded with a defeat by Notts County at the Rec, England star Tommy Lawton scoring the winner. In preparation for next season Joe Dale was signed from Manchester United for £1,000. The last game of the season attracted 5,602 spectators – the lowest total of the season – ironically, this was against Exeter City, their opponents in the highest attended home game of the previous campaign. This low attendance was partly blamed on the FA Cup final, which was broadcast simultaneously.

They finished in eighth place with 43 points, barely improving on the previous season. Ronnie Allen was the top-scorer with just thirteen goals. Scoring was very much a team effort.

Finances

On the financial side, a loss of £1,292 was reported – mainly due to a transfer debit. Gate receipts had increased to £26,666 and the wage bill had risen drastically to £13,647. Cash was needed for the ongoing construction of 'The Wembley of the North', and so schemes such as the '100 Club' were introduced, offering supporters a seat for life at the stadium for £100. Meanwhile, Norman Hallam departed in the summer and left the area to become a Methodist Minister in Carlisle.

Cup competitions

In the FA Cup, Vale fell at the first hurdle, losing 2–1 to Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park in a below-par performance.

League table

See main article: 1947–48 Football League.

Results

Port Vale's score comes first

Football League Third Division South

Matches

DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers
23 August 1947 Bristol RoversH1–115,714Pointon
27 August 1947 Norwich CityA2–122,024Cheadle, Smith
30 August 1947 Northampton TownA1–49,404Smith
1 September 1947 Norwich CityH2–011,688Pointon, Smith
6 September 1947 AldershotH6–413,840Allen (3), Jones (3)
10 September 1947 WatfordA1–18,802Hallam
13 September 1947 Crystal PalaceA0–215,063
15 September 1947 WatfordH7–012,232Allen (3), Hallam (2), Smith (2)
20 September 1947 Torquay UnitedH1–117,092Bellis
27 September 1947 Swindon TownA0–116,828
4 October 1947 Southend UnitedH2–115,106Allen, Smith
11 October 1947 Notts CountyA1–220,172Bellis
18 October 1947 Swansea TownH1–114,355Smith
25 October 1947 Bournemouth & Boscombe AthleticA0–317,025
1 November 1947 Ipswich TownH4–114,878Martin (2), Allen, Pointon
8 November 1947 Bristol CityA1–227,740Allen
15 November 1947 ReadingH1–013,305Smith
22 November 1947 WalsallA2–115,309Bellis, Allen
20 December 1947 Bristol RoversA1–211,651Martin
25 December 1947 Brighton & Hove AlbionH5–011,431Cheadle (2), McGarry, Martin, Triner
27 December 1947 Brighton & Hove AlbionA2–27,329Cheadle, Martin
3 January 1948 Northampton TownH1–012,905Bellis
10 January 1948 Leyton OrientH3–012,225Keeley (2), Cheadle
17 January 1948 AldershotA1–14,459Cheadle
24 January 1948 Newport CountyH4–110,816Pointon (2), Keeley, Martin (pen)
31 January 1948 Crystal PalaceH4–113,419Cheadle (2), Allen, Pointon
7 February 1948 Torquay UnitedA0–56,067
14 February 1948 Swindon TownH1–014,263Pointon
21 February 1948 Southend UnitedA1–13,961Martin
28 February 1948 Notts CountyH1–218,147Allen
6 March 1948 Swansea TownA0–218,180
13 March 1948 Bournemouth & Boscombe AthleticH2–115,221Allen, Martin
20 March 1948 Ipswich TownA1–211,100Pointon
26 March 1948 Queens Park RangersH0–217,889
27 March 1948 Bristol CityH1–012,541Pointon
29 March 1948 Queens Park RangersA1–224,053Pointon
3 April 1948 ReadingA0–212,293
7 April 1948 Exeter CityA0–07,653
10 April 1948 WalsallH0–112,282
17 April 1948 Leyton OrientA0–012,430
24 April 1948 Exeter CityH1–15,602Smith
1 May 1948 Newport CountyA0–08,309

FA Cup

See main article: 1947–48 FA Cup.

!Round!!Date!!Opponent!!Venue!!Result!!Attendance!!Goalscorers
R129 November 1947 Crystal PalaceA1–213,000Smith

Player statistics

Appearances

Pos.NameFootball LeagueFA CupTotal
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
GK George Heppell39010400
DF Basil Hayward24000240
DF Tommy Cheadle23800238
DF Garth Butler39010400
DF Bob Pursell700070
DF Harry Hubbick30010310
MF Alf Bellis17410184
MF Wilf Smith100010
MF Don Triner210021
MF Jimmy Todd24000240
MF Alan Martin42810438
MF Bill McGarry26110271
MF Eric Eastwood18010190
MF Norman Hallam29310303
MF Walter Keeley16300163
MF Joe Dale300030
MF John Currie900090
MF Ted Shore300030
FW Jack Smith269112710
FW Bill Pointon2910103010
FW Morris Jones14300143
FW Ronnie Allen3813103913
FW Eric Prince300030

Top scorers

width=60Placewidth=60Positionwidth=180Nationwidth=150Namewidth=80Third Division Southwidth=80FA Cupwidth=80Total
1FWRonnie Allen13013
2FWBill Pointon10010
FWJack Smith9110
4MFAlan Martin808
DFTommy Cheadle808
6MFAlf Bellis404
7FWMorris Jones303
MFNorman Hallam303
MFWalter Keeley303
10MFBill McGarry101
MFDon Triner101
TOTALS63164

Transfers

Transfers in

Date fromPositionNationalityNameFromFeeRef.
June 1947 FW Free transfer [2]
June 1947 MF Free transfer
October 1947 DF £1,000
January 1948 MF Bury Exchange
April 1948 MF £1,000

Transfers out

Date fromPositionNationalityNameToFeeRef.
November 1947 FW £2,500
January 1948 MF 'Substantial'
February 1948 FW Released
Summer 1948 MF Released
Summer 1948 MF Released
Summer 1948 FW 'Free transfer
Summer 1948 MF Released

References

Specific
General

Notes and References

  1. Book: Kent, Jeff. The Valiants' Years: The Story Of Port Vale. Witan Books. 1990. 151–171. Creating Sunshine from the Shadows (1939–1950). 0-9508981-4-7.
  2. Book: Kent, Jeff. Port Vale Personalities. Witan Books. 1996. 0-9529152-0-0.