1974–75 Port Vale F.C. season

Port Vale
1974–75 season
Chairman	Mark Singer
Manager	Roy Sproson
Stadium	Vale Park
Football League Third Division	6th (51 Points)
FA Cup	First Round; (knocked out by Lincoln City)
League Cup	First Round; (knocked out by Northampton Town)
Player of the Year	John Connaughton
Top goalscorer	League: Ray Williams (14); All: Terry Bailey, Ray Williams (14 each)
Highest home attendance	9,135 vs. Blackburn Rovers, 26 April 1975
Lowest home attendance	2,704 vs. Gillingham, 7 September 1974
Average home league attendance	4,346
Biggest win	4–0 vs. Huddersfield Town, 14 December 1974
Biggest defeat	0–3 and 1–4
	Home colours
	Home colours
	← 1973–74 1975–76 →

The 1974–75 season was Port Vale's 63rd season of football in the Football League, and their fifth successive season (11th overall) in the Third Division.^[1] It was Roy Sproson's first full season in charge. With cross-town rivals Stoke City competing in Europe and running close for the First Division title, Vale's attendances waned, as they were the third least-supported club in the division. This was despite a promotion challenging season that eventually ended with a sixth-place finish. Vale exited both cup competitions in the opening rounds.

Overview[]

Third Division[]

The pre-season saw Roy Sproson attempt to construct a new attacking style by signing attacking midfielder Terry Bailey from Stafford Rangers for £2,500, winger Frank Sharp from Grimsby Town, and goalkeeper John Connaughton from Sheffield United.^[1] There was also a dispute with John Woodward who asked for a transfer after a disagreement over his contract; Sproson said "he is trying to hold us to ransom and we are not having that".^[1]

The season opened with two Bailey goals, though Vale would have to wait until their fourth match for a victory, at which point their coffers were boosted by £10,000 following Sammy Morgan's success at Aston Villa.^[1] In September, Sproson made a £10,000 bid for Keith Leonard that was rejected.^[1] Instead he brought in young left-back Garry Dulson on loan from Nottingham Forest, and later bought him permanently for £5,000, using another £5,400 Villa were forced to pay Vale after Morgan hit another target.^[1] The "Valiants" proved difficult to beat, and heading into Christmas they won six of their last nine league games.^[1] Their 4–0 win over Huddersfield Town lifted them into third place, though attendances were still below 4,000.^[1] A 3–1 win over Southend United at Roots Hall then put the club into second spot, at which point Bob Mountford was sold to Rochdale for £2,000.^[1] A four-day holiday in Benidorm in the new year did not seem to help the Vale, as three straight defeats followed to drag them down the table.^[1] To halt the slide Sproson bought striker Derek Brownbill from Liverpool for £5,000.^[1] Two sendings off in a 3–1 defeat at Leeds Road – John Brodie also managed to break his leg in the challenge that earned him a red card – forced Sproson to defend his team after that took the Vale's red card tally to seven for the season.^[1] Nevertheless, a solid spell put Vale back into the promotion race by March, though their form dropped off again, and their hopes were crushed completely on 26 April with a 3–1 defeat at home to Gordon Lee's champions-elect Blackburn Rovers.^[1]

They finished in sixth place with 51 points, leaving them four points shy of promoted Charlton Athletic.^[1] Just two home losses were matched by only three victories on the road.^[1] The three main scorers were Ray Williams (14), Terry Bailey (14), and Brian Horton (13).^[1] At the end of the season the players took a break in Malta, where they drew 1–1 with Floriana.^[1] Tommy McLaren spent the summer in Oregon, playing for the Portland Timbers.^[1]

Finances[]

On the financial side, a loss was made of £16,964 despite donations of £13,803 from the development funds.^[1] The supporters group also paid £1,200 for video equipment, allowing the club to record games and show players their mistakes.^[2] The average home attendance of 4,346 was the third-lowest in the division.^[1] Wages stood at £72,874, gate receipts took in £43,199, and there was a loss in the transfer market of £6,000.^[1] The financial situation meant that seven players were released and thirteen were retained.^[1] Amongst those departing were: John Woodward (Scunthorpe United); Frank Sharp (Northwich Victoria); Roy Cross (Nuneaton Borough); Bill Summerscales (Rochdale); and Reg Edwards (Brereton Social).^[1]

Cup competitions[]

In the FA Cup, Vale lost their First Round Replay 2–0 at Lincoln City's Sincil Bank, following a 2–2 draw in Burslem.^[1] Dulson scored an own goal in the original match and was sent off in the replay for punching Dick Krzywicki.^[1]

In the League Cup, Vale left the competition at the first stage with a 1–0 defeat at Fourth Division Northampton Town's Sixfields Stadium.^[1]

League table[]

Pos	Team v t	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GAv	Pts
4	Swindon Town	46	21	11	14	64	58	1.103	53
5	Crystal Palace	46	18	15	13	66	57	1.158	51
6	Port Vale	46	18	15	13	61	54	1.130	51
7	Peterborough United	46	19	12	15	47	53	0.887	50
8	Walsall	46	18	13	15	67	52	1.288	49

Source: rsssf.com

Results[]

Port Vale's score comes first

Football League Third Division[]

Results by matchday[]

Round	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	21	22	23	24	25	26	27	28	29	30	31	32	33	34	35	36	37	38	39	40	41	42	43	44	45	46
Ground	A	H	A	H	A	A	H	A	H	A	A	H	A	A	H	A	H	H	A	A	H	H	A	H	A	A	H	A	H	A	H	H	H	A	H	H	A	H	A	H	A	H	A	A	H	H
Result	D	D	L	W	L	D	W	D	D	L	D	W	L	D	W	W	D	W	L	W	W	W	L	W	W	L	L	L	D	D	D	W	W	L	W	W	D	W	L	D	D	W	D	L	L	W
Position	9	9	22	14	16	16	12	16	12	16	16	13	14	14	13	13	11	11	14	10	9	3	7	2	2	6	7	11	9	10	9	9	7	9	7	4	6	5	5	5	6	4	4	6	8	6

Source: Statto^[3]
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

Matches[]

Date	Opponent	Venue	Result	Attendance	Scorers
17 August 1974	Wrexham	A	2–2	6,314	Bailey (2)
24 August 1974	Swindon Town	H	2–2	3,446	Williams, Sharp
31 August 1974	Grimsby Town	A	0–3	5,383
7 September 1974	Gillingham	H	2–1	2,704	Horton (pen), Sharp
13 September 1974	Tranmere Rovers	A	0–1	3,033
18 September 1974	Brighton & Hove Albion	A	1–1	12,340	Bailey
21 September 1974	Hereford United	H	3–0	3,433	Williams, Horton, Bailey
28 September 1974	Halifax Town	A	1–1	1,935	Bailey
30 September 1974	Colchester United	H	2–2	3,722	Williams, Bailey
5 October 1974	Aldershot	A	1–2	3,406	Horton
8 October 1974	Walsall	A	0–0	6,507
12 October 1974	Plymouth Argyle	H	2–0	3,634	Horton, Woodward
15 October 1974	Colchester United	A	0–2	5,184
19 October 1974	Blackburn Rovers	A	2–2	9,777	Bailey, Woodward
26 October 1974	Crystal Palace	H	2–1	5,148	Bailey, Horton
2 November 1974	Bournemouth	A	2–1	5,143	Williams (2)
4 November 1974	Walsall	H	1–1	4,859	Williams
9 November 1974	Chesterfield	H	3–2	3,941	Woodward (2), Williams
16 November 1974	Watford	A	2–3	6,659	Bailey, o.g.
30 November 1974	Peterborough United	A	2–0	7,627	Chadwick, Horton
7 December 1974	Bury	H	1–0	4,038	Horton (pen)
14 December 1974	Huddersfield Town	H	4–0	3,986	Horton, Chadwick, Bailey, Lacey
21 December 1974	Preston North End	A	0–1	8,743
26 December 1974	Tranmere Rovers	H	1–0	6,196	Horton
28 December 1974	Southend United	A	3–1	6,535	Williams, Chadwick, Horton (pen)
11 January 1975	Bury	A	1–3	7,204	Horton
18 January 1975	Peterborough United	H	1–3	4,979	Horton
1 February 1975	Chesterfield	A	0–1	4,348
8 February 1975	Bournemouth	H	0–0	3,710
15 February 1975	Charlton Athletic	A	2–2	9,449	Chadwick (2)
22 February 1975	Watford	H	0–0	4,164
1 March 1975	Grimsby Town	H	1–0	3,335	Williams
3 March 1975	Charlton Athletic	H	1–0	4,638	Brownbill
8 March 1975	Huddersfield Town	A	1–3	6,705	Williams
15 March 1975	Halifax Town	H	2–1	3,334	Brownbill, Bailey
17 March 1975	Wrexham	H	2–0	4,661	McLaren, Lacey
22 March 1975	Gillingham	A	0–0	7,524
29 March 1975	Preston North End	H	2–1	6,583	Bailey (2)
31 March 1975	Hereford United	A	0–1	6,976
1 April 1975	Southend United	H	0–0	4,178
5 April 1975	Crystal Palace	A	1–1	15,195	Horton (pen)
12 April 1975	Aldershot	H	3–1	3,382	Williams (2), Brownbill
19 April 1975	Plymouth Argyle	A	1–1	22,447	Brownbill
22 April 1975	Swindon Town	A	2–3	7,637	Harris, Williams
26 April 1975	Blackburn Rovers	H	1–4	9,135	Williams
28 April 1975	Brighton & Hove Albion	H	1–0	2,754	Woodward

FA Cup[]


Round	Date	Opponent	Venue	Result	Attendance	Goalscorers
R1	23 November 1974	Lincoln City	H	2–2	4,840	Bailey, Mountford
R1 Replay	27 November 1974	Lincoln City	A	0–2	6,824

League Cup[]


Round	Date	Opponent	Venue	Result	Attendance	Goalscorers
R1	20 August 1974	Northampton Town	A	0–1	5,688

Player statistics[]

Appearances[]

Pos.	Name	Football League		FA Cup		League Cup		Total
Pos.	Name	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
GK	Reg Edwards	2	0	0	0	0	0	2	0
GK	John Connaughton	44	0	2	0	1	0	47	0
DF	Bill Summerscales	27	0	1	0	1	0	29	0
DF	Roy Cross	2	0	0	0	0	0	2	0
DF	John Brodie	28	0	1	0	1	0	30	0
DF	Neil Griffiths	12	0	1	0	1	0	14	0
DF	David Harris	20	1	1	0	1	0	22	1
DF	Garry Dulson	32	0	2	0	0	0	34	0
MF	Tommy McLaren	39	1	2	0	1	0	42	1
MF	Brian Horton	44	13	2	0	4	0	47	13
MF	Tony Lacey	39	2	1	0	0	0	40	2
MF	Colin Tartt	37	0	1	0	0	0	38	0
MF	John Ridley	18	0	0	0	1	0	19	0
MF	Keith Chadwick	22	5	1	0	0	0	23	5
MF	Frank Sharp	24	2	2	0	1	0	27	2
MF	Terry Bailey	44	13	2	1	1	0	47	14
MF	Kenny Beech	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	0
FW	Bob Mountford	3	0	2	1	0	0	5	1
FW	John Woodward	39	5	2	0	0	0	41	5
FW	Ray Williams	40	14	0	0	1	0	41	14
FW	Derek Brownbill	16	4	0	0	0	0	16	4

Top scorers[]

Place	Position	Nation	Name	Third Division	FA Cup	Total
1	FW	England	Ray Williams	14	0	14
–	MF	England	Terry Bailey	13	1	14
3	MF	England	Brian Horton	13	0	13
4	MF	England	Keith Chadwick	5	0	5
–	FW	England	John Woodward	5	0	5
6	FW	England	Derek Brownbill	4	0	4
7	MF	England	Tony Lacey	2	0	2
–	MF	Scotland	Frank Sharp	2	0	2
9	MF	Scotland	Tommy McLaren	1	0	1
–	DF	England	David Harris	1	0	1
–	FW	England	Bob Mountford	0	1	1
–	–	–	Own goals	1	0	1
			TOTALS	61	2	63

Transfers[]

Transfers in[]

Date from	Position	Name	From	Fee	Ref.
May 1974	MF	Terry Bailey	Stafford Rangers	£3,000	^[4]
May 1974	GK	John Connaughton	Sheffield United	Free transfer	^[4]
May 1974	MF	Frank Sharp	Grimsby Town	Free transfer	^[4]
November 1974	DF	Garry Dulson	Nottingham Forest	£5,000	^[4]
February 1975	FW	Derek Brownbill	Liverpool	£5,000	^[4]

Transfers out[]

Date from	Position	Name	To	Fee	Ref.
December 1974	FW	Bob Mountford	Rochdale	£2,000	^[4]
May 1975	DF	Andy Carr	Northwich Victoria	Free transfer	^[4]
May 1975	DF	Roy Cross	Nuneaton Borough	Free transfer	^[4]
May 1975	GK	Reg Edwards	Brereton Social	Free transfer	^[4]
May 1975	MF	Frank Sharp	Northwich Victoria	Free transfer	^[4]
May 1975	DF	Bill Summerscales	Rochdale	Free transfer	^[4]
May 1975	FW	John Woodward	Scunthorpe United	Free transfer	^[4]

Loans in[]

Date from	Position	Nationality	Name	To	Date to	Ref.
October 1974	DF		Garry Dulson	Nottingham Forest	November 1974	^[4]

Loans out[]

Date from	Position	Nationality	Name	To	Date to	Ref.
October 1974	FW		Bob Mountford	Scunthorpe United	November 1974	^[4]
December 1974	FW		Bob Mountford	Crewe Alexandra	December 1974	^[4]

References[]

Specific

^ 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). "Surviving on a Shoestring (1969–1979)". The Valiants' Years: The Story Of Port Vale. Witan Books. pp. 227–257. ISBN 0-9508981-4-7.
^ Kent, Jeff (December 1991). Port Vale Tales: A Collection Of Stories, Anecdotes And Memories. Witan Books. p. 42. ISBN 0-9508981-6-3.
^ Port Vale 1974–1975 : Results & Fixtures Archived 4 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine. Statto Organisation. Retrieved 28 April 2012.
^ Jump up to: ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k ^l ^m ⁿ ^o 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.

[Kent-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). "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] Kent, Jeff (December 1991). Port Vale Tales: A Collection Of Stories, Anecdotes And Memories. Witan Books. p. 42. ISBN 0-9508981-6-3.

[3] Port Vale 1974–1975 : Results & Fixtures Archived 4 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine. Statto Organisation. Retrieved 28 April 2012.

[transfers-4] Jump up to: ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k ^l ^m ⁿ ^o Kent, Jeff (1996). Port Vale Personalities. Witan Books. ISBN 0-9529152-0-0.

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