1971–72 Port Vale F.C. season

Port Vale 1971–72 football season
Port Vale
1971–72 season
ChairmanGraham Bourne
(until January)
Mark Singer
(from January)
ManagerGordon Lee
StadiumVale Park
Football League Third Division15th (41 Points)
FA CupThird Round
(knocked out by Birmingham City)
League CupFirst Round
(knocked out by Shrewsbury Town)
Player of the YearSammy Morgan
Top goalscorerLeague: Bobby Gough (10)
All: Bobby Gough (10)
Highest home attendance11,118 vs. Aston Villa, 6 November 1971
Lowest home attendance2,475 vs. Rochdale, 12 May 1972
Average home league attendance4,366
Biggest win3–0 vs. Swansea City, 18 March 1972
Biggest defeat0–3 (five games)
Home colours

The 1971–72 season was Port Vale's 60th season of football in the Football League, and their second-successive season (eighth overall) back in the Third Division.[1] Roy Sproson's 22-year career at the club came to an end, in what was an otherwise unremarkable campaign.

Overview

Third Division

The pre-season saw the arrival of left-half John Flowers from Doncaster Rovers and full-back Tony Loska from Shrewsbury Town for 'a small fee'.[1] Meanwhile, three players picked up injuries: John James (cartilage), Roy Sproson (ribs), and Stuart Sharratt (ankle); whilst Sammy Morgan threatened to quit altogether after falling out with manager Gordon Lee over his decision to remain resident in Great Yarmouth rather than moving nearer to Burslem.[1] Violence broke out in pre-season games, as the sport was in the grip of hooliganism.[1]

The season opened with a 1–1 draw with Brighton & Hove Albion in front of just 4,384 fans, causing Lee to warn that such low attendances would require him to sell off the club's best players.[1] By the end of September Vale were performing well on the pitch, and off it had sold the main car park to The Co-operative Group for £30,000.[1] Goals were at a premium despite a 4–3 win over York City and 4–4 draw with Aston Villa at Vale Park.[1] Sporadic violence continued to break out at many matches, as local businesses had their windows smashed, local residents were menaced and fights broke out.[1] In November, Clint Boulton was sold to Torquay United for £10,000.[1] The next month Lee brought Ray Harford from Mansfield Town for a £5,000 fee, as well as Keith Lindsey from Southend United for 'a small fee'.[1] Vale comfortable in the league, Chairman Graham Bourne resigned in January, along with colleague and fellow director George Sanders.[1] This left the board of directors with just two members, one of which, previous chairman Mark Singer, was re-elected as chairman.[1] The Sentinel's Chris Harper stated that "Vale will never make progress while they are plagued by trouble at the top".[1] The team continued with good home form, but invariably lost away from Vale Park.[1] On 16 February, Sammy Morgan scored on his debut for Northern Ireland, and picked up six further caps whilst at the club.[1] On 4 March, only 2,809 bothered to turn out for a 1–0 home win over Mansfield Town in strong wind and snow, whilst rivals Stoke City won the 1972 League Cup final in front of a crowd of nearly 100,000 at Wembley Stadium.[1] Vale went on to go ten games without a win, also scoring just one goal in a run of seven games, to the frustration of their supporters.[1] Despite this, the now annual 'Meet the Manager' evening 'warmed the heart' of Lee.[1] A 1–0 win over Barnsley at the end of April ensured the club's safety from the drop.[1] On 8 May, Sproson made his farewell competitive appearance for the club in front of only 2,743 supporters, in a 2–1 defeat to Rotherham United.[1] Lee angrily declared that "the attendance was nothing short of a disgrace to mark the end of a legend".[1] Four days later there was an even smaller turnout for a final day 1–1 draw with Rochdale.[1]

They finished in fifteenth place with 41 points, 30 of which were won at home.[1] With just 43 goals scored, they had the lowest goal tally outside of the bottom four.[1]

Finances

On the financial side, a drop in average home attendance of over a thousand failed to prevent a profit of £596.[1] This profit was due to a £10,000 transfer credit and £13,967 worth of donations from the Sportsmen's Association and the Development Fund.[1] The club's total debt stood at £100,130.[1] Four players were let go at the end of the campaign: Mick Morris (Stafford Rangers), Keith Ball (Stourport), Stuart Sharratt (retired), and John Flowers (Eastwood).[1] Sproson also retired as a player, but stayed on as a scout and coach.[1]

Cup competitions

In the FA Cup, Vale beat Blackburn Rovers 3–1 following a 1–1 draw at Ewood Park. A last-minute Sammy Morgan goal then defeated Fourth Division Darlington in the Second Round.[1] Vale then were defeated 3–0 at St Andrew's by Second Division Birmingham City.

In the League Cup, Vale made 'their annual early exist', losing 2–0 at home to Shrewsbury Town.[1]

League table

Pos Team
  • v
  • t
  • e
 Pld W D L GF GA GAv Pts Qualification or relegation
1 Aston Villa (C, P) 46 32 6 8 85 32 2.656 70 Promotion to the Second Division
2 Brighton & Hove Albion (P) 46 27 11 8 82 47 1.745 65
3 Bournemouth 46 23 16 7 73 37 1.973 62
4 Notts County 46 25 12 9 74 44 1.682 62 Qualification for the Watney Cup
5 Rotherham United 46 20 15 11 69 52 1.327 55
6 Bristol Rovers 46 21 12 13 75 56 1.339 54 Qualification for the Watney Cup
7 Bolton Wanderers 46 17 16 13 51 41 1.244 50
8 Plymouth Argyle 46 20 10 16 74 64 1.156 50
9 Walsall 46 15 18 13 62 57 1.088 48
10 Blackburn Rovers 46 19 9 18 54 57 0.947 47
11 Oldham Athletic 46 17 11 18 59 63 0.937 45
12 Shrewsbury Town 46 17 10 19 73 65 1.123 44
13 Chesterfield 46 18 8 20 57 57 1.000 44
14 Swansea City 46 17 10 19 46 59 0.780 44
15 Port Vale 46 13 15 18 43 59 0.729 41
16 Wrexham 46 16 8 22 59 63 0.937 40 Qualification for the Cup Winners' Cup first round
17 Halifax Town 46 13 12 21 48 61 0.787 38
18 Rochdale 46 12 13 21 57 83 0.687 37
19 York City 46 12 12 22 57 66 0.864 36
20 Tranmere Rovers 46 10 16 20 50 71 0.704 36
21 Mansfield Town (R) 46 8 20 18 41 63 0.651 36 Relegation to the Fourth Division
22 Barnsley (R) 46 9 18 19 32 64 0.500 36
23 Torquay United (R) 46 10 12 24 41 69 0.594 32
24 Bradford City (R) 46 11 10 25 45 77 0.584 32
Source:[citation needed]
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal average; 3) Goals scored
(C) Champions; (P) Promoted; (R) Relegated

Results

Port Vale's score comes first

Football League Third Division

Results by matchday

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

Matches

Date Opponent Venue Result Attendance Scorers
14 August 1971 Brighton & Hove Albion H 1–1 4,384 Horton (pen)
21 August 1971 Swansea City A 1–0 6,457 Morris
28 August 1971 Chesterfield H 0–2 4,416
30 August 1971 Notts County H 0–3 5,298
4 September 1971 Wrexham A 2–1 7,407 Brodie, Horton
11 September 1971 Plymouth Argyle H 0–0 3,707
18 September 1971 Shrewsbury Town A 0–0 5,443
25 September 1971 Halifax Town H 1–0 3,724 Gough
27 September 1971 Blackburn Rovers H 0–0 4,963
2 October 1971 Walsall A 0–2 4,642
9 October 1971 Bolton Wanderers H 1–1 6,394 Horton (pen)
16 October 1971 Brighton & Hove Albion A 1–1 9,007 Mountford
19 October 1971 Bournemouth A 2–3 10,404 Morgan, Gough
23 October 1971 York City H 4–3 4,484 McLaren (2), Gough, Morgan
30 October 1971 Oldham Athletic A 0–1 8,140
6 November 1971 Aston Villa H 4–4 11,118 McLaren, Mountford, Morgan, Loska
13 November 1971 Mansfield Town A 1–0 5,996 Mountford
27 November 1971 Torquay United A 0–3 3,710
4 December 1971 Tranmere Rovers H 2–1 3,701 Morgan, McLaren
18 December 1971 Wrexham H 1–0 4,310 Summerscales
27 December 1971 Bristol Rovers A 1–2 12,073 McLaren
1 January 1972 Shrewsbury Town H 2–1 5,056 Gough, Horton
8 January 1972 Chesterfield A 1–2 6,532 Gough
22 January 1972 Blackburn Rovers A 1–3 8,495 Loska
29 January 1972 Bournemouth H 1–1 4,937 Gough
5 February 1972 Bradford City H 1–0 3,715 Lacey
12 February 1972 York City A 1–2 4,319 Gough
19 February 1972 Oldham Athletic H 1–0 4,506 Morgan
26 February 1972 Aston Villa A 0–2 32,806
4 March 1972 Mansfield Town H 1–0 2,809 Morgan
11 March 1972 Bolton Wanderers A 0–3 6,240
13 March 1972 Rochdale A 2–3 3,157 James, o.g.
18 March 1972 Swansea City H 3–0 3,257 Gough (2), Harford
21 March 1972 Barnsley A 0–0 4,048
25 March 1972 Plymouth Argyle A 0–0 8,801
1 April 1972 Bristol Rovers H 0–0 3,823
3 April 1972 Walsall H 1–1 5,250 Gough
4 April 1972 Halifax Town A 0–2 3,319
8 April 1972 Bradford City A 0–0 2,969
15 April 1972 Torquay United H 0–0 2,737
18 April 1972 Rotherham United A 0–3 4,161
21 April 1972 Tranmere Rovers A 2–3 3,544 McLaren, o.g.
26 April 1972 Notts County A 1–2 9,033 Morgan
29 April 1972 Barnsley H 1–0 2,614 Morris
8 May 1972 Rotherham United H 1–2 2,743 Morris
12 May 1972 Rochdale H 1–1 2,475 Horton (pen)

FA Cup

Round Date Opponent Venue Result Attendance Goalscorers
R1 20 November 1971 Blackburn Rovers A 1–1 6,947 Horton
R1 Replay 22 November 1971 Blackburn Rovers H 3–1 5,717 Horton (2 [1 pen]), Morgan
R2 11 December 1971 Darlington H 1–0 5,402 Morgan
R3 15 January 1972 Birmingham City A 0–3 32,937

League Cup

Round Date Opponent Venue Result Attendance Goalscorers
R1 18 August 1971 Shrewsbury Town H 0–2 4,638

Player statistics

Appearances

Pos. Name Football League FA Cup League Cup Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
GK England Keith Ball 31 0 3 0 1 0 35 0
GK England Stuart Sharratt 15 0 1 0 0 0 16 0
DF England Roy Sproson 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
DF England Clint Boulton 15 0 0 0 1 0 16 0
DF England Bill Summerscales 24 1 5 0 0 0 28 1
DF England Roy Cross 46 0 4 0 1 0 51 0
DF England John Brodie 37 1 4 0 2 0 42 1
DF England Keith Lindsey 16 0 0 0 0 0 16 0
DF England Tony Loska 30 2 4 0 1 0 35 2
MF Scotland Tommy McLaren 45 6 4 0 1 0 50 6
MF England Brian Horton 42 5 4 3 1 0 47 8
MF England Tony Lacey 31 1 2 0 0 0 33 1
MF England Bob Peyton 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 0
MF England John Flowers 34 0 2 0 1 0 37 0
MF England Ray Harford 19 1 0 0 0 0 19 1
FW England John James 14 1 0 0 0 0 14 1
FW England Mick Morris 31 3 2 0 0 0 33 3
FW England Bobby Gough 42 10 4 0 1 0 47 10
FW Northern Ireland Sammy Morgan 36 7 4 2 1 0 41 9
FW England Bob Mountford 21 3 3 0 1 0 25 3

Top scorers

Place Position Nation Name Third Division FA Cup League Cup Total
1 FW  England Bobby Gough 10 0 0 10
2 FW  Northern Ireland Sammy Morgan 7 2 0 9
– MF  Scotland Tommy McLaren 6 0 0 9
4 MF  England Brian Horton 5 3 0 8
5 FW  England Mick Morris 3 0 0 3
6 FW  England Bob Mountford 3 0 0 3
7 DF  England Tony Loska 2 0 0 2
– MF  Scotland Ray Harford 1 0 0 1
– DF  England John Brodie 1 0 0 1
– DF  England Bill Summerscales 1 0 0 1
– MF  England Tony Lacey 1 0 0 1
– FW  England John James 1 0 0 1
– – – Own goals 2 0 0 2
TOTALS 43 5 0 48

Transfers

Transfers in

Date from Position Nationality Name From Fee Ref.
July 1971 DF England Tony Loska Southend United Free transfer [3]
August 1971 MF England John Flowers Doncaster Rovers 'small' [3]
December 1971 DF England Ray Harford Mansfield Town £5,000 [3]
December 1971 DF England Keith Lindsey Southend United 'small' [3]
January 1972 MF England Bob Peyton Chelmsley Town Free transfer [3]

Transfers out

Date from Position Nationality Name To Fee Ref.
November 1971 DF England Clint Boulton Torquay United £10,000 [3]
May 1972 GK England Keith Ball Stourport Free transfer [3]
May 1972 MF England John Flowers Eastwood Free transfer [3]
May 1972 FW England Mick Morris Stafford Rangers Free transfer [3]
May 1972 DF England Roy Sproson Retired [3]
May 1972 GK England Stuart Sharratt Released [3]

References

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 z aa ab ac ad ae 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. ^ Port Vale 1971–1972 : Results & Fixtures Archived 4 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine. Statto Organisation. Retrieved 28 April 2012.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k 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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