Wikipedia

1947–48 Port Vale F.C. season

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.

Port Vale
1947–48 season
ChairmanWilliam Holdcroft
ManagerGordon Hodgson
StadiumThe Old Recreation Ground
Football League Third Division South8th (43 Points)
FA CupFirst Round
(knocked out by Crystal Palace)
Top goalscorerLeague: Ronnie Allen (13)
All: Ronnie Allen (13)
Highest home attendance18,147 vs. Notts County, 28 February 1948
Lowest home attendance5,602 vs. Exeter City, 24 April 1948
Average home league attendance13,569
Biggest win7–0 vs. Watford, 15 September 1947
Biggest defeat0–5 vs. Torquay United, 7 February 1948
Manager Gordon Hodgson during his playing days.

Overview edit

Third Division South edit

The pre-season saw the arrival of outside-right John Currie from Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic.[1] The total number of players at the club was 81, though the vast majority of these amateurs who never played for the first-team.[1] Standing season tickets were reduced to £3 13s, in an attempt to boost support.[1]

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.[1] Following this the Vale were exceptional at home but poor away, as their unbeaten run at home reached fifteen games.[1] 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.[1] The defence seeming too weak for a promotion push, Harry Hubbick was signed from Bolton Wanderers in October.[1] The Sentinel's "Placer" complained of the weakened passing of the post-war generation, in both the Vale side and in footballers in general.[1] In November Morris Jones was sold to Swindon Town for £2,500, having handed in a transfer request.[1] Gordon Hodgson searched for new attacking talents, leaving his players to relax with games of table tennis, darts, and reading material.[1] On Christmas day a 5–0 win was recorded over Brighton & Hove Albion, with defender Tommy Cheadle put into the centre-forward role.[1] This marked the start of an eight match unbeaten run which took the "Valiants" into fourth place by the end of January.[1]

Hodgson's policy of youth over experience led many older players to hand in transfer requests.[1] In January Alf Bellis was traded to Bury in exchange for Walter Keeley and 'a substantial fee'.[1] 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 3 inches (7.6 cm) of snow at Southend United.[1] The club's promotion hopes faded with a defeat by Notts County at the Rec, England star Tommy Lawton scoring the winner.[1] In preparation for next season Joe Dale was signed from Manchester United for £1,000.[1] 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 at the same time.[1]

They finished in eighth place with 43 points, thereby barely improving on the previous season.[1] Ronnie Allen was the top-scorer with just thirteen goals. Scoring was very much a team effort.

Finances edit

On the financial side, a loss of £1,292 was reported – mainly due to a transfer debit.[1] Gate receipts had increased to £26,666 and the wage bill had risen drastically to £13,647.[1] 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 at a cost of £100.[1] Meanwhile Norman Hallam departed in the summer, who left the area to become a Methodist Minister in Carlisle.[1]

Cup competitions edit

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

League table edit

Main article: 1947–48 Football League

Pos Team
 Pld W D L GF GA GAv Pts
6 Notts County 42 19 8 15 68 59 1.153 46
7 Bristol City 42 18 7 17 77 65 1.185 43
8 Port Vale 42 16 11 15 63 54 1.167 43
9 Southend United 42 15 13 14 51 58 0.879 43
10 Reading 42 15 11 16 56 58 0.966 41
Source: [citation needed]

Results edit

Port Vale's score comes first

Football League Third Division South edit

Results by matchday edit

Round123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627282930313233343536373839404142
GroundHAAHHAAHHAHAHAHAHAAHAHHAHHAHAHAHAHHAAAHAHA
ResultDWLWWDLWDLWLDLWLWWLWDWWDWWLWDLLWLLWLLDLDDD
Position12410644935778911910881179866544444546656766788
Source: Statto[2]
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

Matches edit

Date Opponent Venue Result Attendance Scorers
23 August 1947 Bristol Rovers H 1–1 15,714 Pointon
27 August 1947 Norwich City A 2–1 22,024 Cheadle, Smith
30 August 1947 Northampton Town A 1–4 9,404 Smith
1 September 1947 Norwich City H 2–0 11,688 Pointon, Smith
6 September 1947 Aldershot H 6–4 13,840 Allen (3), Jones (3)
10 September 1947 Watford A 1–1 8,802 Hallam
13 September 1947 Crystal Palace A 0–2 15,063
15 September 1947 Watford H 7–0 12,232 Allen (3), Hallam (2), Smith (2)
20 September 1947 Torquay United H 1–1 17,092 Bellis
27 September 1947 Swindon Town A 0–1 16,828
4 October 1947 Southend United H 2–1 15,106 Allen, Smith
11 October 1947 Notts County A 1–2 20,172 Bellis
18 October 1947 Swansea Town H 1–1 14,355 Smith
25 October 1947 Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic A 0–3 17,025
1 November 1947 Ipswich Town H 4–1 14,878 Martin (2), Allen, Pointon
8 November 1947 Bristol City A 1–2 27,740 Allen
15 November 1947 Reading H 1–0 13,305 Smith
22 November 1947 Walsall A 2–1 15,309 Bellis, Allen
20 December 1947 Bristol Rovers A 1–2 11,651 Martin
25 December 1947 Brighton & Hove Albion H 5–0 11,431 Cheadle (2), McGarry, Martin, Triner
27 December 1947 Brighton & Hove Albion A 2–2 7,329 Cheadle, Martin
3 January 1948 Northampton Town H 1–0 12,905 Bellis
10 January 1948 Leyton Orient H 3–0 12,225 Keeley (2), Cheadle
17 January 1948 Aldershot A 1–1 4,459 Cheadle
24 January 1948 Newport County H 4–1 10,816 Pointon (2), Keeley, Martin (pen)
31 January 1948 Crystal Palace H 4–1 13,419 Cheadle (2), Allen, Pointon
7 February 1948 Torquay United A 0–5 6,067
14 February 1948 Swindon Town H 1–0 14,263 Pointon
21 February 1948 Southend United A 1–1 3,961 Martin
28 February 1948 Notts County H 1–2 18,147 Allen
6 March 1948 Swansea Town A 0–2 18,180
13 March 1948 Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic H 2–1 15,221 Allen, Martin
20 March 1948 Ipswich Town A 1–2 11,100 Pointon
26 March 1948 Queens Park Rangers H 0–2 17,889
27 March 1948 Bristol City H 1–0 12,541 Pointon
29 March 1948 Queens Park Rangers A 1–2 24,053 Pointon
3 April 1948 Reading A 0–2 12,293
7 April 1948 Exeter City A 0–0 7,653
10 April 1948 Walsall H 0–1 12,282
17 April 1948 Leyton Orient A 0–0 12,430
24 April 1948 Exeter City H 1–1 5,602 Smith
1 May 1948 Newport County A 0–0 8,309

FA Cup edit

Main article: 1947–48 FA Cup
Round Date Opponent Venue Result Attendance Goalscorers
R1 29 November 1947 Crystal Palace A 1–2 13,000 Smith

Player statistics edit

Appearances edit

Pos. Name Football League FA Cup Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
GK   George Heppell 39 0 1 0 40 0
DF   Basil Hayward 24 0 0 0 24 0
DF   Tommy Cheadle 23 8 0 0 23 8
DF   Garth Butler 39 0 1 0 40 0
DF   Bob Pursell 7 0 0 0 7 0
DF   Harry Hubbick 30 0 1 0 31 0
MF   Alf Bellis 17 4 1 0 18 4
MF   Wilf Smith 1 0 0 0 1 0
MF   Don Triner 2 1 0 0 2 1
MF   Jimmy Todd 24 0 0 0 24 0
MF   Alan Martin 42 8 1 0 43 8
MF   Bill McGarry 26 1 1 0 27 1
MF   Eric Eastwood 18 0 1 0 19 0
MF   Norman Hallam 29 3 1 0 30 3
MF   Walter Keeley 16 3 0 0 16 3
MF   Joe Dale 3 0 0 0 3 0
MF   John Currie 9 0 0 0 9 0
MF   Ted Shore 3 0 0 0 3 0
FW   Jack Smith 26 9 1 1 27 10
FW   Bill Pointon 29 10 1 0 30 10
FW   Morris Jones 14 3 0 0 14 3
FW   Ronnie Allen 38 13 1 0 39 13
FW   Eric Prince 3 0 0 0 3 0

Top scorers edit

Place Position Nation Name Third Division South FA Cup Total
1 FW   England Ronnie Allen 13 0 13
2 FW   England Bill Pointon 10 0 10
– FW   England Jack Smith 9 1 10
4 MF   England Alan Martin 8 0 8
– DF   England Tommy Cheadle 8 0 8
6 MF   England Alf Bellis 4 0 4
7 FW   England Morris Jones 3 0 3
– MF   England Norman Hallam 3 0 3
– MF   England Walter Keeley 3 0 3
10 MF   England Bill McGarry 1 0 1
– MF   England Don Triner 1 0 1
TOTALS 63 1 64

Transfers edit

Transfers in edit

Date from Position Nationality Name From Fee Ref.
June 1947 FW   Len Barber Bury Free transfer [3]
June 1947 MF   John Currie Bournemouth and Boscombe Athletic Free transfer [3]
October 1947 DF   Harry Hubbick Bolton Wanderers £1,000 [3]
January 1948 MF   Walter Keeley Bury Exchange [3]
April 1948 MF   Joe Dale Manchester United £1,000 [3]

Transfers out edit

Date from Position Nationality Name To Fee Ref.
November 1947 FW   Morris Jones Swindon Town £2,500 [3]
January 1948 MF   Alf Bellis Bury 'Substantial' [3]
February 1948 FW   Eric Prince Macclesfield Town Released [3]
Summer 1948 MF   John Currie Released [3]
Summer 1948 MF   Ted Shore Coventry City Released [3]
Summer 1948 FW   Jack Smith Congleton Town 'Free transfer [3]
Summer 1948 MF   Don Triner Witton Albion Released [3]

References edit

Specific
  1. ^ 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 Kent, Jeff (1990). "Creating Sunshine from the Shadows (1939–1950)". The Valiants' Years: The Story Of Port Vale. Witan Books. pp. 151–171. ISBN 0-9508981-4-7.
  2. ^ Port Vale 1947–1948 : Results & Fixtures Archived 16 September 2015 at the Wayback Machine. Statto Organisation. Retrieved 28 April 2012.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Kent, Jeff (1996). Port Vale Personalities. Witan Books. ISBN 0-9529152-0-0.
General
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