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1906–07 Burslem Port Vale F.C. season

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Burslem Port Vale
1906–07 season
ChairmanRobert Audley
ManagerSam Bennion
StadiumAthletic Ground
Football League Second Division16th (31 Points)
FA CupSecond Round
(knocked out by Notts County)
Staffordshire Senior CupSemi-final
(knocked out by Aston Villa Reserves)
Top goalscorerLeague: Billy Beats (13)
All: Billy Beats (15)
Highest home attendance10,000 vs Irthlingborough Town, 12 January 1906
Notts County, 2 February 1906
Lowest home attendance1,500 vs Wolverhampton Wanderers, 16 March 1907
Average home league attendance4,147+
Biggest win7–0 vs. Burton United, 1 April 1907
Biggest defeat0–6 vs. Burnley, 13 October 1906

The 1906–07 season was Burslem Port Vale's ninth consecutive season (13th overall) of football in the English Football League.[1] The club resigned from the league on 14 June 1907.

On the pitch, the team put in win-or-lose performances and went for a club record 20 games – from 10 September 1906 to 19 January 1907 – without sharing the points (nine wins, eleven losses). Another record was set with a 7–1 win over Irthlingborough Town in the First Round of the FA Cup – their highest-ever margin of victory in the competition.

The club folded at the end of the season after the chairman decided that it had no viable future. However, Cobridge Church immediately took on the name of Port Vale and worked its way back to the Football League for the 1919–20 season.

Bert Eardley waited until a new Port Vale rose from the ashes of the old before he played league football again.
Even the return of Billy Beats couldn't save the club.
Joe Brough would play for Stoke, Tottenham Hotspur, Liverpool, and Bristol City, yet still return to Vale in time for their return to the Football League.
George Price left the professional game when Port Vale ceased to exist.

Overview

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Second Division

[edit]

Despite the club's ever-worsening financial situation, Vale managed to bring back former top scorer, and former England international, Billy Beats; he was appointed captain upon his return.[1] Gambling that big signings would attract big crowds, right-back Hughie Dunn was also brought in from Bristol Rovers; inside-right William Dodds signed from Southwick; with former player Tom Coxon returning from Middlesbrough.[1] Sam Bennion took charge of team affairs after Tommy Clare's wages were too high to maintain.[1]

The club started the season well, with three wins in their opening six games; 6,000 turned up for the opening game.[1] This was followed by four defeats on the bounce. Still, by winning five of their ten games in November and December the club put themselves in a decent position by Christmas.[1] The club were two different sides at home and away, thumping Stockport County 5–0 at home and losing 6–0 at Burnley.[1] Their first away win in ten months came at Blackpool on 22 December.[1] They on to win just four league games in 1907, though did pick up points in the majority of their matches, going on a streak of six draws in ten games.[1]

Vale just evaded a place in the re-election zones, finishing two points above the (potential) drop. For the second successive season, the "Valeites" had the weakest defence in the league, conceding 83 goals.[1] They were poor on their travels, losing sixteen of their nineteen games away from home. Back at the Athletic Ground, they lost just three games.

Billy Beats was top scorer with fifteen goals in all competitions; he was ably assisted by William Dodds, Tom Coxon, Robert Carter, and Harry Mountford, who all hit double figures.[1] An extremely settled side, only nineteen players were used in the league, with Dodds a league ever-present.

Cup competitions

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The club had a good campaign in the FA Cup, picking up their biggest ever win in the competition with a 7–1 trouncing of Irthlingborough Town. They took First Division Notts County to a replay in the Second Round before losing comprehensively 5–0 at Trent Bridge. Nevertheless, both rounds attracted 10,000 supporters at Vale, which greatly boosted the club's ailing finances.[1]

In the Staffordshire Senior Cup, the club almost exclusively used their reserve team players but managed to reach the semi-finals, where they were knocked out by Aston Villa Reserves.[1] To reach they semi-final they had to overcome struggling league rivals Burton United. However, this took two replays – a 7–0 romp preceded by 3–3 and 1–1 draws.[1]

Financial collapse and closure

[edit]

On 18 May 1907, Robert Audley and Sam Gleaves appealed to the directors to pump more money into the club and appealed in The Sentinel for local supporters to donate.[1] This appeal was met with resounding indifference, and so the club resigned from the Football League on 14 June 1907.[1] The Football Association had already issued their fixture list (which had pitted Port Vale against relegated Stoke for the first time) and were furious with the club for quitting so suddenly at such a late stage.[1]

Robert Audley justified the decision to quit the league by pointing out that the season's £200 loss was as good a figure as could be expected in the future, with the past seven campaigns taking in an average of £1,500, supplemented by an average of £400 in transfer takings.[1] He claimed "this total could not be expected to pay the expenses of a league club", especially with creditors closing in, the bank refusing an overdraft, and summer wages to be paid.[1] That so few came forward to help the club in its time of need came to be the final straw for Audley.[1]

"To the few hundreds of loyal supporters, I tender my best thanks for their support, and I join in their regrets that sufficient financial support could not be found to continue the club."

— Robert Audley's final words in his letter to The Sentinel.[1]

Many of the players joined Stoke and newly elected Oldham Athletic, and Burslem Port Vale was finished.[1]

Cobridge Church

[edit]

Port Vale's history would have ended at this point had it not been for an unexpected twist. North Staffordshire Church League champions Cobridge Church were accepted into the North Staffordshire Federation League, which was still a very minor league.[2] Joint-secretaries Millward and E.C.Brundrett had very big ambitions however. They sought permission from the Football Association to change the club's name to Port Vale and bought the old club's ground.[2] To signify their roots, they renamed their reserve side to Cobridge Church.[2] Technically, the Port Vale of before 1907 was a separate entity to the Port Vale of after 1907, however, spiritually the club continued its existence from its 1876 founding onwards. In December 1908, a group of ex-directors, led by Sam Bennion, bought into the club, meaning that the new club played at the same ground, had similar owners, a similar name, and played continuously from 1906–07 to 1907–08 and beyond.[3]

Manager Sam Bennion

League table

[edit]

Pos Team
 Pld W D L GF GA GAv Pts Promotion or relegation
14 Gainsborough Trinity 38 14 5 19 45 72 0.625 33
15 Glossop 38 13 6 19 53 79 0.671 32
16 Burslem Port Vale[a] 38 12 7 19 60 83 0.723 31 Failed re-election
17 Clapton Orient 38 11 8 19 45 67 0.672 30
18 Chesterfield Town 38 11 7 20 50 66 0.758 29 Re-elected
Source: [citation needed]
Notes:
  1. ^ Burslem Port Vale resigned from the Football League due to financial difficulties.

Results

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Burslem Port Vale's score comes first

Football League Second Division

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Main article: 1906–07 Football League

Results by matchday

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Round1234567891011121314151617181920212223242526272829303132333435363738
GroundHAHHAHAAHAHAHAHHAHAAHAHHAHAHAHAAHAAHAH
ResultLDWWLWLLLLWLWLWWWLLLWLDDLDLDLDLDWLLWLW
Position16138586915151514161314111111111112121313141413141415141415151517161816
Source: Statto[4]
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

Matches

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Date Opponent Venue Result Attendance Scorers
1 September 1906 Leicester Fosse H 1–2 6,000 Dodds
8 September 1906 Nottingham Forest A 2–2 4,500 Coxon, Beats
10 September 1906 West Bromwich Albion H 2–1 4,000 Beats, Paddock
15 September 1906 Lincoln City H 4–2 5,000 Mountford, Beats, Coxon, Carter
22 September 1906 Burton United A 0–2 3,000
29 September 1906 Grimsby Town H 3–2 4,000 Mountford, Beats, Holyhead
6 October 1906 Chesterfield A 2–4 2,000 Mountford, Dodds
13 October 1906 Burnley A 0–6 4,000
20 October 1906 Leeds City H 1–2 4,000 Beats
27 October 1906 Barnsley A 2–3 1,000 Paddock, Coxon
3 November 1906 Chelsea H 2–0 5,000 Dodds (2)
10 November 1906 Wolverhampton Wanderers A 2–6 3,000 Dodds, Price
17 November 1906 Clapton Orient H 3–2 Beats, Carter, Eardley
24 November 1906 Gainsborough Trinity A 0–2
1 December 1906 Stockport County H 5–0 6,000 Dodds, Carter, Holyhead, Beats, Mountford
15 December 1906 Glossop H 4–1 5,000 Beats, Dodds, Mountford, Carter
22 December 1906 Blackpool A 1–0 2,000 Dodds
25 December 1906 Bradford City H 2–3 8,000 Beats, Carter
26 December 1906 West Bromwich Albion A 0–3 12,000
29 December 1906 Leicester Fosse A 1–4 8,000 Beats
5 January 1907 Nottingham Forest H 4–2 4,000 Coxon (2), Mountford, Beats
19 January 1907 Lincoln City A 0–4 3,000
26 January 1907 Burton United H 0–0 3,000
9 February 1907 Chesterfield H 2–2 Carter, Mountford
12 February 1907 Bradford City A 2–3 3,000 Beats, Coxon
16 February 1907 Burnley H 4–4 3,000 Coxon, Carter, Dodds, Beats
23 February 1907 Leeds City A 0–2 7,000
2 March 1907 Barnsley H 2–2 3,000 Price, Dodds
9 March 1907 Chelsea A 1–2 8,000 Carter
16 March 1907 Wolverhampton Wanderers H 0–0 1,500
21 March 1907 Grimsby Town A 0–2 2,000
23 March 1907 Clapton Orient A 1–1 Carter
30 March 1907 Gainsborough Trinity H 1–0 4,000 Mountford
1 April 1907 Hull City A 1–4 8,000 Paddock
6 April 1907 Stockport County A 0–3 1,000
13 April 1907 Hull City H 2–1 2,000 Brough, Carter
20 April 1907 Glossop A 0–4 2,000
27 April 1907 Blackpool H 3–0 3,000 Coxon (2), Dodds

FA Cup

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Main article: 1906–07 FA Cup
Round Date Opponent Venue Result Attendance Goalscorers
5Q 8 December 1907 Swindon Town A 2–1 6,000 Coxon, Dodds
1R 12 January 1907 Irthlingborough Town H 7–1 10,000 Coxon (2), Dodds (2), Beats, Carter, Mountford
2R 2 February 1907 Notts County H 2–2 10,000 Beats, Mountford
1R Replay 6 February 1907 Notts County A 0–5 10,000

Staffordshire Senior Cup

[edit]
Round Date Opponent Venue Result Attendance Goalscorers
1 5 November 1906 Burton United H 3–3 Mountford, unknown
Replay 25 December 1906 Burton United A 1–1 unknown
Replay 1 April 1907 Burton United H 7–0 unknown
SF 15 April 1907 Aston Villa Reserves A 0–3 unknown

Player statistics

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Appearances and goals

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Pos. Name League FA Cup Other Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
GK England Arthur Box 12 0 0 0 0 0 12 0
GK England Howard Matthews 26 0 4 0 0 0 30 0
GK Philip Sampher 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0
DF England James Hamilton 33 0 4 0 1 0 38 0
DF England William Cope 17 0 0 0 0 0 17 0
DF Scotland Hughie Dunn 27 0 4 0 0 0 31 0
MF England Bert Eardley 26 1 4 0 0 0 30 1
MF England William Bradbury 1 0 0 0 1 0 2 0
MF England Joseph Holyhead 35 2 4 0 0 0 39 2
MF England Vic Horrocks 10 0 0 0 0 0 10 0
MF England Robert Carter 34 10 4 1 1 0 39 11
MF Hugh Walley 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
MF England Sam Baddeley 30 0 4 0 1 0 35 0
MF England Tom Coxon 37 9 4 3 1 0 42 12
MF Ernest Chappell 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0
MF England Walter Rogers 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
FW England George Price 7 2 0 0 0 0 7 2
FW England Harry Mountford 32 8 4 2 1 1 37 11
FW England John Paddock 8 3 1 0 0 0 9 3
FW England Billy Beats 33 13 4 2 1 0 38 15
FW England Joe Brough 11 1 0 0 1 0 12 1
FW England William Dodds 38 11 3 3 1 0 42 14
FW Scotland Andy McGuigan 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
FW England William Weston 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Top scorers

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Place Position Nation Name Second Division FA Cup Staffs Cup Total
1 FW  England Billy Beats 13 2 0 15
2 FW  England William Dodds 11 3 0 14
3 MF  England Tom Coxon 9 3 0 12
4 MF  England Robert Carter 10 1 0 11
– FW  England Harry Mountford 8 2 1 11
6 FW  England John Paddock 3 0 0 3
7 MF  England Joseph Holyhead 2 0 0 2
– FW  England George Price 2 0 0 2
9 FW  England Joe Brough 1 0 0 1
– MF  England Bert Eardley 1 0 0 1
– – – Unknown 0 0 4 4
TOTALS 60 11 5 76

Transfers

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Transfers in

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Date from Position Nationality Name From Fee Ref.
Summer 1906 MF England Joe Brough Smallthorne Free transfer [5]
May 1906 MF England Tom Coxon Middlesbrough Free transfer [5]
May 1906 GK England Howard Matthews Langley St. Michael's Free transfer [5]
June 1906 FW England William Dodds Southwick Free transfer [5]
August 1906 FW England Billy Beats Bristol Rovers Free transfer [5]
August 1906 DF Scotland Hughie Dunn Bristol Rovers Free transfer [5]
August 1906 FW England John Paddock Wellington Town Free transfer [5]

Transfers out

[edit]
Date from Position Nationality Name To Fee Ref.
June 1907 DF England Sam Baddeley Stoke Released [5]
June 1907 FW England Billy Beats Reading Released [5]
June 1907 GK England Arthur Box Stoke Released [5]
June 1907 MF England William Bradbury Fegg Hayes Released [5]
June 1907 MF England Joe Brough Stoke Released [5]
June 1907 MF England Robert Carter Stockport County Released [5]
June 1907 DF England William Cope Stoke Released [5]
June 1907 MF England Tom Coxon Stoke Released [5]
June 1907 FW England William Dodds Oldham Athletic Released [5]
June 1907 DF Scotland Hughie Dunn Released [5]
June 1907 MF England Bert Eardley Released [5]
June 1907 MF England Ebenezer Grant Released [5]
June 1907 DF England James Hamilton Burslem Town Released [5]
June 1907 MF England Joseph Holyhead Wednesbury Old Athletic Released [5]
June 1907 MF Vic Horrocks Goldenhill United Released [5]
June 1907 GK England Howard Matthews Burton United Released [5]
June 1907 FW England Harry Mountford Hanley Swifts Released [5]
June 1907 FW England John Paddock Wellington Town Released [5]
June 1907 FW England George Price Released [5]
June 1907 DF Arthur Shelley Released [5]
June 1907 MF Hugh Walley Burton Swifts Released [5]

References

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Specific
  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v Kent, Jeff (1990). "The Hopeless Struggle (1898-1907)". The Valiants' Years: The Story Of Port Vale. Witan Books. pp. 50–70. ISBN 0-9508981-4-7.
  2. ^ a b c Kent, Jeff (1990). "The Hard Road Back (1907-1919)". The Valiants' Years: The Story Of Port Vale. Witan Books. pp. 50–70. ISBN 0-9508981-4-7.
  3. ^ What If There Had Been No Port In The Vale?: Startling Port Vale Stories! (Witan Books, 2011, ISBN 978-0-9529152-8-7)
  4. ^ Port Vale 1906–1907 : Results & Fixtures Archived 6 September 2015 at the Wayback Machine. Statto Organisation. Retrieved 28 April 2012.
  5. ^ 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 aa ab Kent, Jeff (1996). Port Vale Personalities. Witan Books. ISBN 0-9529152-0-0.
General
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