1932–33 Port Vale F.C. season

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Port Vale
1932–33 season
ChairmanFrank Huntbach
ManagerTom Holford
StadiumThe Old Recreation Ground
Football League Second Division17th (38 Points)
FA CupThird Round
(knocked out by Blackpool)
Top goalscorerLeague: Wilf Kirkham (15)
All: Wilf Kirkham (15)
Highest home attendance19,625 vs. Stoke City, 4 March 1933
Lowest home attendance3,364 vs. Plymouth Argyle, 29 April 1933
Average home league attendance8,876
Biggest win9–1 vs. Chesterfield, 24 September 1932
Biggest defeat0–7 vs. Bradford City, 1 October 1932

The 1932–33 season was Port Vale's 27th season of football in the English Football League, and their third successive season (26th overall) in the Second Division.[1] The season is notable as the last season of football for legendary striker Wilf Kirkham – who finished as top scorer for the sixth time in his Vale career. It is also notable for a 9–1 thrashing of Chesterfield in which Stewart Littlewood scored six goals – both feats are still standing club records. Otherwise an unremarkable season, the club limped to 17th in the league and exited the FA Cup at the Third Round, whilst rivals Stoke City were promoted as champions.

Manager Tom Holford.
Chairman Frank Huntbach was pleased the club's finances.[1]

Overview[]

Second Division[]

The pre-season worries over the Great Depression saw ticket prices reduced, as The Old Recreation Ground's capacity was increased, and a radio-gramophone broadcaster with four loudspeakers was installed.[1] New signings included Bradford Park Avenue outside-left Bob Morton and Cardiff City left-half Jimmy McGrath.[1]

The season began well, an opening day victory over Bury was followed by a useful sequence of results that saw the club climb the table.[1] Their 9–1 win over Chesterfield on 24 September was the biggest victory of the season in the division, and a still standing club record victory in the Football League.[1] Stewart Littlewood scored an incredible six goals that day – also a still standing club record, all within a 57 minute period.[2][1] The Vale followed this record win with a 7–0 defeat at Bradford City's Valley Parade, in what had been dubbed a promotion clash.[1] Shenton twisted his knee in the latter match, and the list of injuries began to mount, Littlewood also requiring an operation to repair cartilage damage.[1] This prompted the signing of Manchester United's highly experienced ex-England international forward Louis Page, brother of ex-Vale player Tom Page.[1]

From 15 October to 3 December Vale were on a run of eight games without a win, six of them defeats.[1] One of these defeats was a 5–0 hammering at Notts County's Meadow Lane, and another was a 1–0 defeat at Stoke City's Victoria Ground in front of 29,296 spectators, yet another was a 4–0 loss at Tottenham Hotspur's White Hart Lane in front of a crowd of 33,071.[1] In December a shake-up in the first eleven brought four successive home victories, though only one point was won from three away games.[1] Stoke defender Len Armitage was brought in to help sure up the defence as the club hovered in mid-table.[1]

In January, ten year veteran left-back Jimmy Oakes was sold to Charlton Athletic for £3,000.[1] On 4 March, Stoke romped home to a 3–1 derby win, with a certain Stanley Matthews scoring his first goal for the "Potters".[1] After this the "Valiants" went five games unbeaten, which started with them picking up a point at Old Trafford.[1] They won three and lost four of their seven April games.[1] The 26 April game against Charlton Athletic at The Valley was remarkable as Oakes became the first ever player to play for opposite teams in the same match – this happened as before his transfer he had played for Vale in a game with the "Addicks" that was called off before full-time due to fog.[1] The final game of the season was a 6–1 beating at Blundell Park by Grimsby Town, though by this time their survival in the division was already ensured.[1]

They finished in seventeenth position with 38 points, four points clear of relegated Chesterfield, and seventeen points short of promoted Spurs. Meanwhile the reserve side won the Cheshire League for the fifth successive season.[1]

Finances[]

On the financial side, a profit of £481 was made due to strict economic management.[1] Wages were reduced and the "A" team was scrapped.[1] Gate receipts had again fallen, now standing at £11,447.[1] Another clear-out of players took place: with Billy Easton, Louis Page, Stewart Littlewood, Tom Tippett, Wilf Kirkham, Jock Leckie, and Ben Davies all leaving on free transfers. Easton joined Aldershot, Page signed with Yeovil & Petters United, Littlewood went to Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic, Tippett joined West Ham United, Leckie went to Stockport County. Kirkham retired as a professional to concentrate on his duties as an educator, turning out as an amateur for Kidderminster Harriers in the Birmingham League.[1]

Cup competitions[]

In the FA Cup, Vale lost 2–1 at First Division relegation strugglers Blackpool's Bloomfield Road in the Third Round.[1]

League table[]

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GAv Pts
15 Notts County 42 15 10 17 67 78 0.859 40
16 Oldham Athletic 42 15 8 19 67 80 0.838 38
17 Port Vale 42 14 10 18 66 79 0.835 38
18 Lincoln City 42 12 13 17 72 87 0.828 37
19 Burnley 42 11 14 17 67 79 0.848 36
Source:[citation needed]

Results[]

Port Vale's score comes first

Football League Second Division[]

Results by matchday[]

Round123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627282930313233343536373839404142
GroundHAAHHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHHAAAHA
ResultWDWLWDWLWLLDLLDLLWLWWDWLLDWLLDDWDDLWLWLLWL
Position153744444588121313151716171614151315151515151615151413141515171516161617
Source: Statto[3]
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

Matches[]

Date Opponent Venue Result Attendance Scorers
27 August 1932 Bury H 1–0 10,120 Kirkham
29 August 1932 Southampton A 2–2 8,151 Littlewood (2)
3 September 1932 Lincoln City A 1–0 11,276 Kirkham
5 September 1932 Southampton H 0–2 8,843
10 September 1932 West Ham United H 4–0 9,582 Morton, Kirkham, Littlewood, Sherlock (pen)
17 September 1932 Fulham A 1–1 21,272 Morton
24 September 1932 Chesterfield H 9–1 9,950 Littlewood (6), Kirkham (2), Morton
1 October 1932 Bradford City A 0–7 12,648
8 October 1932 Swansea Town H 2–1 7,310 Morton, Kirkham
15 October 1932 Notts County A 0–5 9,217
22 October 1932 Stoke City A 0–1 29,296
29 October 1932 Manchester United H 3–3 7,138 Sherlock, Page, Morton
5 November 1932 Tottenham Hotspur A 0–4 33,071
12 November 1932 Nottingham Forest H 0–1 8,088
19 November 1932 Burnley A 1–1 7,940 Kirkham
26 November 1932 Preston North End H 0–1 6,938
3 December 1932 Oldham Athletic A 1–2 4,397 McGrath
10 December 1932 Bradford Park Avenue H 3–1 6,114 McGrath, Kirkham, Mills
17 December 1932 Plymouth Argyle A 1–3 15,567 Page
24 December 1932 Grimsby Town H 4–2 8,342 Tippett (2), Sherlock (pen), Kirkham
27 December 1932 Charlton Athletic H 2–1 12,622 McGrath, Mills
31 December 1932 Bury A 0–0 7,906
7 January 1933 Lincoln City H 3–2 7,263 Kirkham (2), Tippett
21 January 1933 West Ham United A 0–5 13,908
28 January 1933 Fulham H 1–2 5,383 Kirkham
4 February 1933 Chesterfield A 2–2 11,748 Morton, McGrath
11 February 1933 Bradford City H 2–0 9,873 Jones, Littlewood
18 February 1933 Swansea Town A 0–2 8,049
4 March 1933 Stoke City H 1–3 19,625 McGrath
11 March 1933 Manchester United A 1–1 24,690 McGrath
18 March 1933 Tottenham Hotspur H 1–1 14,588 Nolan
20 March 1933 Notts County H 4–0 5,682 Nolan (2), Kirkham, Baker
25 March 1933 Nottingham Forest A 1–1 10,618 Kirkham
1 April 1933 Burnley H 1–1 7,221 o.g.
8 April 1933 Preston North End A 1–3 9,490 Morton
14 April 1933 Millwall H 2–0 11,032 Morton, Nolan
15 April 1933 Oldham Athletic H 2–4 7,317 McGrath (2)
17 April 1933 Millwall A 1–0 7,507 Armitage
22 April 1933 Bradford Park Avenue A 2–4 5,757 Morton, Armitage
26 April 1933 Charlton Athletic A 1–2 5,492 Morton
29 April 1933 Plymouth Argyle H 4–1 3,364 Nolan (3), Kirkham
6 May 1933 Grimsby Town A 1–6 6,349 Nolan

FA Cup[]

Round Date Opponent Venue Result Attendance Goalscorers
R3 14 January 1933 Blackpool A 1–2 15,800 Mills

Player statistics[]

Appearances[]

Pos. Name Football League FA Cup Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
GK England Ben Davies 11 0 1 0 12 0
GK Scotland Jock Leckie 22 0 0 0 22 0
GK Scotland Allan Todd 9 0 0 0 9 0
DF England Jimmy Oakes 12 0 0 0 12 0
DF England George Shenton 28 0 1 0 29 0
DF England William Cope 3 0 0 0 3 0
DF England William Allsop 5 0 0 0 5 0
DF England Arnold Bliss 21 0 1 0 22 0
DF England George Poyser 28 0 0 0 28 0
DF England Len Armitage 10 2 1 0 11 2
MF England Roger Jones 40 1 1 0 41 1
MF England Jack Round 31 0 0 0 31 0
MF England James Henshall 5 0 0 0 5 0
MF England Jimmy McGrath 28 8 1 0 29 8
MF England Fred Mills 36 2 1 1 37 3
MF England Bob Morton 33 10 0 0 33 10
MF England Albert Harrison 3 0 0 0 3 0
MF England Horace Baker 7 1 0 0 7 1
MF England Cliff Birks 21 0 1 0 22 0
MF England Jack Sherlock 24 3 0 0 24 3
FW England Stewart Littlewood 13 10 0 0 13 10
FW England Tom Tippett 8 3 1 0 9 3
FW England Tom Nolan 17 8 0 0 17 8
FW England Billy Easton 3 0 0 0 3 0
FW England Wilf Kirkham 33 15 1 0 34 15
FW England John Smith 6 0 0 0 6 0
FW England Louis Page 18 2 1 0 19 2
FW Wales Robert Davies 5 0 0 0 5 0

Top scorers[]

Place Position Nation Name Second Division FA Cup Total
1 FW  England Wilf Kirkham 15 0 15
2 MF  England Bob Morton 10 0 10
FW  England Stewart Littlewood 10 0 10
4 FW  England Tom Nolan 8 0 8
MF  England Jimmy McGrath 8 0 8
6 MF  England Fred Mills 2 1 3
FW  England Tom Tippett 3 0 3
MF  England Jack Sherlock 3 0 3
9 DF  England Len Armitage 2 0 2
FW  England Louis Page 2 0 2
11 MF  England Roger Jones 1 0 1
MF  England Horace Baker 1 0 1
Own goals 1 0 1
TOTALS 66 1 67

Transfers[]

Transfers in[]

Date from Position Nationality Name From Fee Ref.
May 1932 MF England Jimmy McGrath Cardiff City Free transfer [4]
May 1932 MF England Bob Morton Bradford Park Avenue Free transfer [4]
August 1932 FW England John Smith Derby County Free transfer [4]
October 1932 FW England Louis Page Manchester United Free transfer [4]
October 1932 GK Scotland Allan Todd Scotland Cowdenbeath Free transfer [4]
December 1932 DF England Len Armitage Wales Rhyl Athletic Free transfer [4]
March 1933 DF England Billy Tabram Swansea Town Free transfer [4]

Transfers out[]

Date from Position Nationality Name To Fee Ref.
January 1933 DF England Jimmy Oakes Charlton Athletic £3,000 [4]
April 1933 DF England Arnold Bliss West Ham United Released [4]
May 1933 GK England Ben Davies Released [4]
May 1933 FW England Billy Easton Aldershot Free transfer [4]
May 1933 MF England Albert Harrison Leek Alexandra Free transfer [4]
May 1933 GK Scotland Jock Leckie Stockport County Free transfer [4]
May 1933 FW England John Smith Carlisle United Free transfer [4]
May 1933 FW England Tom Tippett West Ham United Free transfer [4]
July 1933 FW England Stewart Littlewood Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic Free transfer [4]
July 1933 DF England Jack Sherlock Colwyn Bay United Free transfer [4]
Summer 1933 FW England Wilf Kirkham Retired [4]
Summer 1933 FW England Louis Page Released [4]

References[]

Specific
  1. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z Kent, Jeff (1990). "From Glory to Despair (1929–1939)". The Valiants' Years: The Story Of Port Vale. Witan Books. pp. 124–150. ISBN 0-9508981-4-7.
  2. ^ Fielding, Rob (3 October 2019). "Five of the best thumping Port Vale home victories". onevalefan.co.uk. Retrieved 5 June 2020.
  3. ^ Port Vale 1932–1933 : Results & Fixtures Archived 4 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine. Statto Organisation. Retrieved 28 April 2012.
  4. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s 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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