1969–70 Port Vale F.C. season

Port Vale

1969–70 season
Chairman	Arthur McPherson (until March) Mark Singer (from March)
Manager	Gordon Lee
Stadium	Vale Park
Football League Fourth Division	4th (59 Points)
FA Cup	Second Round (knocked out by Tranmere Rovers)
League Cup	First Round (knocked out by Tranmere Rovers)
Player of the Year	John Green
Top goalscorer	League: John James (14) All: John James (17)
Highest home attendance	12,538 vs. Crewe Alexandra, 15 September 1969
Lowest home attendance	3,955 vs. York City, 7 February 1970
Average home league attendance	6,894
Biggest win	4–0 vs. Darlington, 21 March 1970
Biggest defeat	0–2 (twice) and 1–3
Home colours
← 1968–69 1970–71 →

The 1969–70 season was Port Vale's 58th season of football in the English Football League, and their fifth-successive season (sixth overall) in the Fourth Division.^[1] They achieved promotion with a fourth-place finish, taking them back into the Third Division. They started the season with an eighteen match unbeaten run in the league, and finished with nine games unbeaten following a dip in form around January. Manager Gordon Lee credited the teamwork and fitness of an extremely settled side for the promotion campaign, as ten players made at least 35 league appearances.

Overview

Fourth Division

In the pre-season there were talks of bringing speedway to Vale Park, introducing a new team to the British League Division Two.^[1] However, many were opposed to the idea, and a 2,600 strong petition was given to local MP John Forrester.^[1] The idea was killed when the council failed to grant planning permission, despite a 3,000 strong petition in favour of the proposal.^[1] The club had hoped to profit from the venture, however, many locals were concerned about noise pollution.^[1] Gordon Lee meanwhile had little in the way of funds when it came to signing new players, and so he was only able to bring in three new attackers on free transfers: Ken Wookey (Newport County); Stuart Shaw (Southport); and Eric Magee (Oldham Athletic).^[1]

They continued on from their unbeaten result at the end of the previous season, to make a club-record unbeaten sequence of ten away games, and nineteen games home and away {5 May to 8 November}. Five of these results were goalless draws, as the defence proved stronger than the attack following the departure of top-scorer Roy Chapman at the end of the previous season.^[1] Nevertheless, the run put them at the top of the table, and Lee credited his team's hard work and fitness.^[1] John James played on despite an injured ankle, Mick Morris found himself a permanent fixture as an energetic utility man, whilst Tommy McLaren also worked his way into the first XI.^[1] The defence conceded just six goals in the opening fifteen league games. The run included a 1–0 win over Chesterfield at Saltergate, a 2–0 win over nearby Crewe Alexandra in front of a season-best Burslem crowd of 12,538, and a 'war of attrition' in a 1–1 draw 'full of ugly incidents' with Wrexham at the Racecourse Ground in front of a crowd of 19,946.^[1] Some 5,000 Vale supporters had travelled to Wrexham on a British Rail 'Soccer Special' to witness the top-of-the-table clash, and saw two red cards as Wrexham's Steve Ingle and Vale's John James were both sent off.^[2] Their 22 November fixture at the Old Showground with Scunthorpe United could have seen the Vale equal the best start to an English League season in the twentieth century.^[1] After a Wookey goal put them ahead they lost after a disputed penalty and a bizarre own goal from Roy Sproson.^[1] Meanwhile, Vale could not afford the £500 registration fee for Ian Buxton following the player's departure from Notts County, and so the club could only sign him for an initial three-month period.^[1]

Injuries and suspensions helped to dent the Vale's form, as they lost their status as league leaders.^[1] On 17 January, Sproson made his 800th senior appearance in a 2–0 victory over Exeter City.^[1] In an attempt to lift the club, Lee signed wing-half Tony Lacey on loan from Stoke City, and also bought Bill Summerscales from Leek Town for £400.^[1] Heading into a six-game unbeaten run, Lee signed Buxton permanently, despite the player's decision to retire at the end of the season.^[1] In March, Chairman Arthur McPherson pleaded guilty to receiving stolen goods and so was sentenced to an eighteen-month suspended sentence and fined £1,500.^[1] Resigning his position at the club, he was replaced by Mark Singer.^[1] On 9 March, the match against Hartlepool had to be suspended for five minutes after Vale fans continually pelted the opposition keeper with snowballs.^[1] Signing Lacey permanently for £2,500, and Sammy Morgan on a free from Gorleston, Vale were in a close battle for promotion .^[1] Unbeaten in their final nine games, they secured promotion with what The Sentinel's Peter Hewitt called a 'blockade formula' – they conceded just four goals in this run.^[1]

They finished in fourth place with 59 points, three points clear of fifth place. His side promoted, Lee said that 'no team could have deserved reward as much for their hard work and strength of character'.^[1] With 33 goals conceded, only Chesterfield conceded fewer.^[1] Only seventeen players were used all season, whilst eight barely missed a game between them.^[1] On 31 May, they played a Potteries derby friendly with First Division Stoke and won 3–2 at the Victoria Ground.^[1]

Finances

On the financial side, a loss of £3,003 was made despite fund raising donations of £17,925.^[1] Gate receipts were up by over £13,000 as home attendances were encouraging, however, expenditure had increased and there was a transfer deficit of £2,900.^[1] Six players were let go at the season's end, including Ken Wookey (Workington); Stuart Shaw (Morecambe); Eric Magee (Linfield); Stuart Chapman (Stafford Rangers); and Gordon Logan (Kettering Town).^[1]

Cup competitions

In the FA Cup, they had to overcome Northern Premier League Wigan Athletic at Springfield Park, but could only manage a 1–1 draw.^[1] After a 2–2 draw back in Stoke-on-Trent, the second replay was held at Old Trafford, Manchester.^[1] James scored two minutes from the end of extra time to finally kill off the non-leaguers.^[1] After a 3–1 defeat at Prenton Park to Tranmere Rovers in a replay, the Vale were out of the competition with a profit of £5,000 from their five games.^[1]

In the League Cup, a First Round exit came courtesy of Third Division Tranmere Rovers at Vale Park.

League table

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GAv	Pts	Promotion or relegation
2	Wrexham	46	26	9	11	84	49	1.714	61	Promoted
3	Swansea City	46	21	18	7	66	45	1.467	60
4	Port Vale	46	20	19	7	61	33	1.848	59
5	Brentford	46	20	16	10	58	39	1.487	56
6	Aldershot	46	20	13	13	78	65	1.200	53	Qualified for 1970 Watney Cup[a]

Results

Port Vale's score comes first

Football League Fourth Division

Results by matchday

Matches

Date	Opponent	Venue	Result	Attendance	Scorers
9 August 1969	Peterborough United	H	0–0	5,453
16 August 1969	Chesterfield	A	1–0	5,062	Sproson
23 August 1969	Northampton Town	H	4–1	4,809	Green, Wookey, Gough, Magee
27 August 1969	Lincoln City	A	0–0	6,865
30 August 1969	Colchester United	A	0–0	6,323
6 September 1969	Chester	H	3–0	6,874	James, Wookey, Green
13 September 1969	Oldham Athletic	A	3–2	5,777	Gough, Logan, James
15 September 1969	Crewe Alexandra	H	2–0	12,538	James, Morris
20 September 1969	Grimsby Town	H	1–0	8,787	James (pen)
27 September 1969	Exeter City	A	2–1	5,503	Green, McLaren
29 September 1969	Southend United	A	1–1	7,704	James
4 October 1969	Aldershot	H	0–0	8,858
6 October 1969	Chesterfield	H	1–1	9,506	Wookey
11 October 1969	York City	A	1–0	7,195	Gough
18 October 1969	Swansea City	H	0–0	7,195
25 October 1969	Wrexham	A	1–1	19,946	McLaren
1 November 1969	Newport County	H	3–1	7,477	Sproson (2), Boulton
8 November 1969	Bradford Park Avenue	A	2–1	3,498	o.g., Boulton
22 November 1969	Scunthorpe United	A	1–2	5,750	Wookey
29 November 1969	Workington	H	3–1	4,891	James (2), Sproson
13 December 1969	Oldham Athletic	H	1–0	5,387	Buxton
20 December 1969	Chester	A	1–1	5,235	McLaren
26 December 1969	Northampton Town	A	0–2	7,522
10 January 1970	Grimsby Town	A	0–2	4,654
17 January 1970	Exeter City	H	2–0	4,633	o.g., James
24 January 1970	Brentford	A	0–1	8,661
31 January 1970	Aldershot	A	0–2	6,858
7 February 1970	York City	H	1–1	3,955	Gough
21 February 1970	Bradford Park Avenue	H	4–1	4,416	James (3), Boulton
23 February 1970	Southend United	H	3–0	6,333	Gough (2), James
28 February 1970	Swansea City	A	0–0	6,576
2 March 1970	Darlington	A	2–2	2,152	Boulton, James
9 March 1970	Hartlepool	H	3–0	5,456	Boulton (2), Lacey
14 March 1970	Workington	A	2–3	2,047	Buxton, Gough
16 March 1970	Brentford	H	0–0	7,944
21 March 1970	Darlington	H	4–0	4,717	Buxton (2), Green, Gough
23 March 1970	Scunthorpe United	H	1–2	6,394	Gough
28 March 1970	Hartlepool	A	2–0	2,227	Morris, Buxton
30 March 1970	Newport County	A	1–1	2,218	Morgan
1 April 1970	Wrexham	H	1–0	10,954	James (pen)
4 April 1970	Lincoln City	H	0–0	7,414
8 April 1970	Notts County	A	2–1	5,010	Sproson, Buxton
15 April 1970	Crewe Alexandra	A	0–0	7,155
18 April 1970	Notts County	H	1–1	8,042	Morris
22 April 1970	Peterborough United	A	0–0	3,844
25 April 1970	Colchester United	H	1–1	5,626	McLaren

FA Cup

Round	Date	Opponent	Venue	Result	Attendance	Goalscorers
R1	15 November 1969	Wigan Athletic	A	1–1	12,622	James
R1 Replay	18 November 1969	Wigan Athletic	H	2–2	9,703	McLaren, Sproson
R1 Replay	24 November 1969	Wigan Athletic	N	1–0	16,453	James
R2	6 December 1969	Tranmere Rovers	H	2–2	6,883	James, Green
R2 Replay	8 December 1969	Tranmere Rovers	A	1–3	7,156	Magee

League Cup

Round	Date	Opponent	Venue	Result	Attendance	Goalscorers
R1	13 August 1969	Tranmere Rovers	H	0–1	4,955

Player statistics

Appearances

Pos.	Name	Football League		FA Cup		League Cup		Total
		Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
GK	Keith Ball	46	0	5	0	1	0	52	0
DF	Roy Sproson	46	5	5	1	1	0	52	6
DF	Clint Boulton	46	6	5	0	1	0	52	6
DF	Ron Wilson	46	0	3	0	1	0	50	0
DF	Gordon Logan	9	1	5	0	0	0	14	1
DF	Bill Summerscales	4	0	0	0	0	0	4	0
MF	Stuart Chapman	1	0	2	0	0	0	3	0
MF	Tommy McLaren	35	4	5	1	1	0	41	5
MF	John Green	46	4	5	1	1	0	52	5
MF	John King	35	0	5	0	1	0	41	0
MF	Tony Lacey	18	1	0	0	0	0	18	1
MF	Stuart Shaw	3	0	2	0	0	0	5	0
MF	Howard Moore	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
FW	John James	43	14	4	3	1	0	48	17
FW	Mick Morris	45	3	5	0	0	0	50	3
FW	Bobby Gough	45	9	2	0	1	0	48	9
FW	Ian Buxton	18	6	0	0	0	0	18	6
FW	Ken Wookey	24	4	4	0	1	0	29	4
FW	Sammy Morgan	1	1	0	0	0	0	1	1
FW	Eric Magee	18	1	2	1	1	0	21	2

Top scorers

Place	Position	Nation	Name	Fourth Division	FA Cup	League Cup	Total
1	FW	England	John James	14	3	0	17
2	FW	England	Bobby Gough	9	0	0	9
3	FW	England	Ian Buxton	6	0	0	6
–	DF	England	Clint Boulton	6	0	0	6
–	DF	England	Roy Sproson	5	1	0	6
6	MF	England	John Green	4	1	0	5
–	MF	Scotland	Tommy McLaren	4	1	0	5
8	FW	Wales	Ken Wookey	4	0	0	4
9	FW	England	Mick Morris	3	0	0	3
10	FW	Northern Ireland	Eric Magee	1	1	0	2
11	FW	Northern Ireland	Sammy Morgan	1	0	0	1
–	MF	England	Tony Lacey	1	0	0	1
–	DF	Scotland	Gordon Logan	1	0	0	1
–	–	–	Own goals	2	0	0	2
			TOTALS	61	7	0	68

Transfers

Transfers in

Date from	Position	Nationality	Name	From	Fee	Ref.
July 1969	MF		Stuart Shaw	Southport	Free transfer	[4]
July 1969	FW		Eric Magee	Oldham Athletic	Free transfer	[4]
July 1969	FW		Ken Wookey	Newport County	Free transfer	[4]
December 1969	FW		Ian Buxton	Notts County	£500	[4]
January 1970	FW		Sammy Morgan	Gorleston	Free transfer	[4]
February 1970	DF		Bill Summerscales	Leek Town	£400	[4]
April 1970	MF		Tony Lacey	Stoke City	£2,500	[4]

Transfers out

Date from	Position	Nationality	Name	To	Fee	Ref.
May 1970	MF		Malcolm Bailey	Northwich Victoria	Free transfer	[4]
May 1970	DF		Gordon Logan	Kettering Town	Free transfer	[4]
May 1970	FW		Eric Magee	Linfield	Free transfer	[4]
May 1970	MF		Stuart Shaw	Morecambe	Free transfer	[4]
May 1970	FW		Ken Wookey	Workington	Free transfer	[4]
Summer 1970	FW		Ian Buxton	Ilkeston Town	Retired	[4]
Summer 1970	MF		Stuart Chapman	Stafford Rangers	Free transfer	[4]

Loans in

Date from	Position	Nationality	Name	From	Date to	Ref.
February 1970	MF		Tony Lacey	Stoke City	April 1970	[4]

References

Specific

General

• Kent, Jeff (1993). The Port Vale Record 1879–1993. Witan Books. ISBN 0-9508981-9-8.