1975–76 Port Vale F.C. season
1975–76 season | ||
---|---|---|
Chairman | Mark Singer | |
Manager | Roy Sproson | |
Stadium | Vale Park | |
Football League Third Division | 12th (46 Points) | |
FA Cup | Second Round (knocked out by Huddersfield Town) | |
League Cup | First Round (knocked out by Hereford United) | |
Player of the Year | John Ridley | |
Top goalscorer | League: Mick Cullerton (17) All: Mick Cullerton (21) | |
Highest home attendance | 6,121 vs. Crystal Palace, 4 October 1975 | |
Lowest home attendance | 2,789 vs. Grimsby Town, 20 December 1975 | |
Average home league attendance | 4,133 | |
Biggest win | 3–0 (twice) and 4–1 | |
Biggest defeat | 0–3 (twice) | |
| ||
The
Overview
Third Division
The pre-season saw failed attempts by Roy Sproson to sign Wales internationals Mike England and Wyn Davies.[1] Instead he bought back Mick Cullerton from Stafford Rangers for £4,000, who had scored over seventy goals for Rangers in his two seasons away from Burslem.[1] Another former player, Ken Hancock, re-signed as a player-coach, however, he soon found himself unable to play as he had received a pay-out upon his retirement in 1973.[1] Just two days before the opening game Sproson quickly signed Terry Lees from Stoke City for £3,000 and Geoff Morris from Bangor City for £200.[1]
The season opened with five draws, followed by two victories which took the Vale up to second.[1] Six games without a win soon brought the "Valiants" tumbling down the table though, as Cullerton lost his scoring touch.[1] At the end of October arrived Steve Taylor on loan from Bolton Wanderers, who put more 'bite' into the Vale attack.[1] Home fans turned against the players, and coach Reg Berks was 'appalled by some of the abuse hurled at the players'.[1] Taylor scored a brace past Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough on 8 November, only to return immediately back to Bolton.[1] The team's poor disciplinary record continued from the previous campaigns, and The Football Association put the club 'under constant review' after Sproson arrived 45 minutes late to a disciplinary hearing in London after missing his train.[1] Cullerton was back in scoring form as the Vale picked up victories and rose up the table.[1] A season-low crowd of 2,789 on 20 December saw Vale come from 3–0 down to Grimsby Town to win the match 4–3.[1] To motivate the players coach Reg Berks had told them at half-time that he was facing the sack if the team lost the game.[2] The promotion-chasers pulled away from Vale in the New Year however.[1] A rare event occurred on 17 January, when the Vale directors permitted rivals Stoke to play a home game to Middlesbrough at Vale Park.[1] This happened because a severe gale severely damaged the Victoria Ground, whilst the gale also caused £2,000 worth of damage to Vale Park, the damage to Stoke's ground was much more severe.[1] A crowd of 21,009 saw Stoke win 1–0, the highest crowd at Vale Park in over a decade. Vale's campaign carried on, though injuries built up Ray Williams managed to break a 21-game goal drought to earn a credible point at Cardiff City's Ninian Park on 25 February.[1] Eight more points in the next four games took the club to within three points of the promotion zone.[1] Yet in March the club sold Brian Horton to Brighton & Hove Albion for £30,000, a sum the club needed to balance the books.[1] The club's form suffered immediately, and mid-table was the result.[1] On 10 April, Brighton beat Vale 3–0 at the Withdean Stadium, and John Brodie broke his leg.[1]
They finished in twelfth place with 46 points.[1] Mick Cullerton hit 21 goals in all competitions to become the club's top scorer.[1] To celebrate the club's centenary, a friendly was played with Stoke City, which finished 1–1 in front of 9,825 spectators.[1] Stoke generously allowed the Vale to pocket the entire £6,500 worth of takings from the match.[3]
Finances
On the financial side, the Horton transfer and donations of £19,965 from the Development Fund ensured a profit of £24,819.[1] An increase in ticket prices offset the cost of a reduced average gate.[1] An income of £2,775 was gained from renting out space to market traders, however, Stoke-on-Trent Council soon put a stop to this.[1] Geoff Morris left on a free transfer in the summer, signing with Kidderminster Harriers.[1]
Cup competitions
In the FA Cup, Vale progressed past Southern League Grantham 4–1 in Burslem following a 2–2 draw away. This proved a lucky escape for Vale as Brownbill's equalizing goal at Grantham was allowed to stand despite an obvious handball.[4] Many Vale supporters said that the linesman had raised his flag, only to lower it after being threatened by irate Vale spectators.[5] In the Second Round they faced Fourth Division Huddersfield Town at Leeds Road, and were eliminated 2–1.
In the
League table
Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GAv | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Hereford United (C, P) | 46 | 26 | 11 | 9 | 86 | 55 | 1.564 | 63 | Promotion to the Second Division |
2 | Cardiff City (P) | 46 | 22 | 13 | 11 | 69 | 48 | 1.438 | 57 | Cup Winners' Cup preliminary round and promotion to the Second Division |
3 | Millwall (P) | 46 | 20 | 16 | 10 | 54 | 43 | 1.256 | 56 | Promotion to the Second Division |
4 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 46 | 22 | 9 | 15 | 78 | 53 | 1.472 | 53 | |
5 | Crystal Palace | 46 | 18 | 17 | 11 | 61 | 46 | 1.326 | 53 | |
6 | Wrexham | 46 | 20 | 12 | 14 | 66 | 55 | 1.200 | 52 | |
7 | Walsall | 46 | 18 | 14 | 14 | 74 | 61 | 1.213 | 50 | |
8 | Preston North End | 46 | 19 | 10 | 17 | 62 | 57 | 1.088 | 48 | |
9 | Shrewsbury Town | 46 | 19 | 10 | 17 | 61 | 59 | 1.034 | 48 | |
10 | Peterborough United | 46 | 15 | 18 | 13 | 63 | 63 | 1.000 | 48 | |
11 | Mansfield Town | 46 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 58 | 52 | 1.115 | 47 | |
12 | Port Vale | 46 | 15 | 16 | 15 | 55 | 54 | 1.019 | 46 | |
13 | Bury | 46 | 14 | 16 | 16 | 51 | 46 | 1.109 | 44 | |
14 | Chesterfield | 46 | 17 | 9 | 20 | 69 | 69 | 1.000 | 43 | |
15 | Gillingham | 46 | 12 | 19 | 15 | 58 | 68 | 0.853 | 43 | |
16 | Rotherham United | 46 | 15 | 12 | 19 | 54 | 65 | 0.831 | 42 | |
17 | Chester | 46 | 15 | 12 | 19 | 43 | 62 | 0.694 | 42 | |
18 | Grimsby Town | 46 | 15 | 10 | 21 | 62 | 74 | 0.838 | 40 | |
19 | Swindon Town | 46 | 16 | 8 | 22 | 62 | 75 | 0.827 | 40 | |
20 | Sheffield Wednesday | 46 | 12 | 16 | 18 | 48 | 59 | 0.814 | 40 | |
21 | Aldershot (R) | 46 | 13 | 13 | 20 | 59 | 75 | 0.787 | 39 | Relegation to the Fourth Division |
22 | Colchester United (R) | 46 | 12 | 14 | 20 | 41 | 65 | 0.631 | 38 | |
23 | Southend United (R) | 46 | 12 | 13 | 21 | 65 | 75 | 0.867 | 37 | |
24 | Halifax Town (R) | 46 | 11 | 13 | 22 | 41 | 61 | 0.672 | 35 |
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
Matches
Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Scorers |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
16 August 1975 | Hereford United | A | 0–0 | 6,219 | |
23 August 1975 | Preston North End | H | 1–1 | 4,282 | Cullerton |
30 August 1975 | Peterborough United | A | 0–0 | 6,065 | |
6 September 1975 | Brighton & Hove Albion | H | 1–1 | 3,289 | Morris |
13 September 1975 | Southend United | A | 3–3 | 4,569 | Dulson, Cullerton (pen), Tartt |
20 September 1975 | Swindon Town | H | 3–0 | 3,720 | Bailey (2), Cullerton |
22 September 1975 | Cardiff City | H | 2–1 | 5,143 | Cullerton, Lees |
27 September 1975 | Wrexham | A | 0–1 | 3,863 | |
4 October 1975 | Crystal Palace | H | 0–0 | 6,121 | |
11 October 1975 | Gillingham | A | 1–2 | 5,041 | Chadwick |
18 October 1975 | Chesterfield | H | 1–1 | 3,892 | Cullerton |
21 October 1975 | Shrewsbury Town | A | 0–1 | 4,673 | |
25 October 1975 | Colchester United | A | 0–1 | 3,053 | |
1 November 1975 | Rotherham United | H | 1–0 | 3,921 | Ridley |
3 November 1975 | Aldershot | H | 0–1 | 3,917 | |
8 November 1975 | Sheffield Wednesday | A | 3–0 | 11,035 | Taylor (2), Chadwick |
15 November 1975 | Chester | H | 0–1 | 3,908 | |
29 November 1975 | Millwall | H | 2–0 | 3,580 | Horton (2) |
6 December 1975 | Walsall | A | 1–3 | 4,526 | Horton |
20 December 1975 | Grimsby Town | H | 4–3 | 2,789 | Cullerton (2), Harris, Lees |
26 December 1975 | Halifax Town | A | 3–1 | 2,959 | Cullerton (2), Brownbill |
27 December 1975 | Bury | H | 2–1 | 5,957 | Cullerton, Bailey |
3 January 1976 | Mansfield Town | A | 1–3 | 5,417 | Cullerton |
10 January 1976 | Peterborough United | H | 2–0 | 4,013 | Cullerton, Horton |
17 January 1976 | Swindon Town | A | 1–2 | 5,730 | Brownbill |
24 January 1976 | Chesterfield | A | 1–0 | 4,058 | Cullerton |
31 January 1976 | Shrewsbury Town | H | 0–0 | 3,835 | |
7 February 1976 | Aldershot | A | 0–2 | 3,446 | |
9 February 1976 | Southend United | H | 1–1 | 3,494 | Harris |
16 February 1976 | Sheffield Wednesday | H | 1–0 | 5,569 | Brownbill |
21 February 1976 | Chester | A | 0–1 | 5,914 | |
25 February 1976 | Cardiff City | A | 1–1 | 9,109 | Williams |
28 February 1976 | Colchester United | H | 3–2 | 3,803 | Cullerton, Brownbill, Bailey |
6 March 1976 | Rotherham United | A | 2–1 | 4,338 | Dulson, Williams |
9 March 1976 | Crystal Palace | A | 2–2 | 23,032 | Cullerton, Tartt |
13 March 1976 | Gillingham | H | 1–1 | 3,517 | Williams |
20 March 1976 | Millwall | A | 0–1 | 7,116 | |
27 March 1976 | Walsall | H | 1–2 | 4,870 | Bailey |
30 March 1976 | Grimsby Town | A | 1–1 | 4,533 | Cullerton (pen) |
3 April 1976 | Hereford United | H | 1–1 | 4,430 | Griffiths |
5 April 1976 | Wrexham | H | 3–1 | 3,604 | Bailey (2), Tartt |
10 April 1976 | Brighton & Hove Albion | A | 0–3 | 19,194 | |
17 April 1976 | Halifax Town | H | 1–1 | 3,169 | Beech |
19 April 1976 | Bury | A | 2–1 | 4,609 | Cullerton, McLaren |
20 April 1976 | Mansfield Town | H | 2–2 | 4,239 | Bailey, Tartt |
24 April 1976 | Preston North End | A | 0–3 | 5,783 |
FA Cup
Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Goalscorers |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
R1 | 20 November 1975 | Grantham | A | 2–2 | 2,853 | Brownbill (2) |
R1 Replay | 24 November 1975 | Grantham | H | 4–1 | 4,851 | Brownbill (2), Cullerton, Tartt |
R2 | 13 December 1975 | Huddersfield Town | A | 1–2 | 6,218 | Brownbill |
League Cup
Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Goalscorers |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
R1 1st Leg | 20 August 1975 | Hereford United | H | 4–2 | 3,787 | Cullerton (3 [1 pen]), Bailey |
R1 2nd Leg | 20 August 1975 | Hereford United | A | 0–2 | 4,107 | |
R1 Replay | 1 September 1975 | Hereford United | N | 0–1 | 3,676 |
Player statistics
Appearances
Pos. | Name | Football League | FA Cup | League Cup | Total | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
GK | John Connaughton | 45 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 51 | 0 |
GK | David Ryan | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
DF | John Brodie | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 0 |
DF | Neil Griffiths | 32 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 35 | 1 |
DF | David Harris | 32 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 37 | 2 |
DF | Garry Dulson | 30 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 34 | 2 |
DF | Trevor Robson | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
DF | Terry Lees | 41 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 47 | 2 |
MF | Tommy McLaren | 31 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 35 | 1 |
MF | Brian Horton | 31 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 35 | 4 |
MF | Colin Tartt | 42 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 48 | 5 |
MF | John Ridley | 46 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 52 | 1 |
MF | Keith Chadwick | 14 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 18 | 2 |
MF | Terry Bailey | 43 | 8 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 49 | 9 |
MF | Kenny Beech | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 1 |
MF | Geoff Morris | 15 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 17 | 1 |
FW | Ray Williams | 29 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 34 | 3 |
FW | Derek Brownbill | 36 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 41 | 9 |
FW | Steve Taylor | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 2 |
FW | Mick Cullerton | 41 | 17 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 47 | 21 |
FW | Tony Betts | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Top scorers
Place | Position | Nation | Name | Third Division | FA Cup | League Cup | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | FW | Scotland | Mick Cullerton | 17 | 1 | 3 | 21 |
2 | MF | England | Terry Bailey | 8 | 0 | 1 | 9 |
– | FW | England | Derek Brownbill | 4 | 5 | 0 | 9 |
4 | MF | England | Colin Tartt | 4 | 1 | 0 | 5 |
5 | MF | England | Brian Horton | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
6 | FW | England | Ray Williams | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
7 | MF | England | Keith Chadwick | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
– | FW | England | Steve Taylor | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
– | DF | England | David Harris | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
– | DF | England | Garry Dulson | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
– | DF | England | Terry Lees | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
12 | MF | Scotland | Tommy McLaren | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
– | DF | England | Neil Griffiths | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
– | MF | England | John Ridley | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
– | MF | England | Kenny Beech | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
– | MF | England | Geoff Morris | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
TOTALS | 55 | 7 | 4 | 66 |
Transfers
Transfers in
Date from | Position | Nationality | Name | From | Fee | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
June 1975 | FW | Mick Cullerton | Stafford Rangers | £5,000 | [7] | |
August 1975 | MF | Terry Lees | Stoke City | £3,000 | [7] | |
August 1975 | MF | Geoff Morris | Bangor City | £200 | [7] | |
September 1975 | FW | Tony Betts | Portland Timbers |
Trial | [7] |
Transfers out
Date from | Position | Nationality | Name | To | Fee | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
November 1975 | FW | Tony Betts | Boldmere St. Michael's | Trial ended | [7] | |
10 March 1976 | MF | Brian Horton | Brighton & Hove Albion | £30,000 | [7] | |
May 1976 | MF | Geoff Morris | Kidderminster Harriers | Free transfer | [7] | |
August 1976 | MF | Terry Lees | Sparta Rotterdam | £25,000 | [7] |
Loans in
Date from | Position | Nationality | Name | From | Date to | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
29 October 1975 | FW | Steve Taylor | Bolton Wanderers | November 1975 | [7] | |
16 January 1976 | GK | David Ryan | Manchester United | January 1976 | [7] |
References
- Specific
- ^ ISBN 0-9508981-4-7.
- ISBN 0-9508981-6-3.
- ISBN 0-9529152-3-5.
- ISBN 0-9508981-6-3.
- ^ Johnson, Dave. Fifty Shades of Black & White: Tales From the Vale. p. 178.
- ^ Port Vale 1975–1976 : Results & Fixtures Archived 15 September 2016 at the Wayback Machine. Statto Organisation. Retrieved 28 April 2012.
- ^ ISBN 0-9529152-0-0.
- General
- Kent, Jeff (1993). The Port Vale Record 1879-1993. Witan Books. ISBN 0-9508981-9-8.