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1948–49 Port Vale F.C. season

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Port Vale
1948–49 season
ChairmanWilliam Holdcroft
ManagerGordon Hodgson
StadiumThe Old Recreation Ground
Football League Third Division South13th (39 Points)
FA CupFirst Round
(knocked out by Notts County)
Top goalscorerLeague: Walter Aveyard (13)
All: Walter Aveyard (13)
Highest home attendance18,497 vs. Aldershot, 28 August 1948
Lowest home attendance7,738 vs. Millwall, 18 December 1948
Average home league attendance12,069
Biggest win3–0 (three games)
Biggest defeat1–4 (twice)

The 1948–49 season was Port Vale's 37th season of football in the English Football League and their fourth full season in the Third Division South.[1] A promotion campaign soon tailed off into an unremarkable mid-table finish, as bad form persuaded the club to sell off Bill Pointon for a then-club record fee.

Manager Gordon Hodgson during his playing days.

Overview

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Third Division South

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The pre-season saw the club attempt to sign Huddersfield Town's star forward Peter Doherty when this failed Gordon Hodgson instead signed Liverpool left-wing duo Stan Palk and Mick Hulligan for £10,000.[1] Striker Walter Aveyard was also signed from Birmingham City, despite his belief that a leg injury had finished him.[1] Fans were convinced promotion to the Second Division was possible. So, there was a surge in season ticket sales.[1]

The season started with seven points from the opening four games, leaving the club top of the table.[1] The season-high 18,497 fans that turned up for a 3–0 win over Aldershot were impressed by the skill of the three new signings.[1] The club's good form continued to the end of September, despite the sale of Walter Keeley to Accrington Stanley for £1,500 – who had found himself relegated to the sidelines by Hulligan's good performances.[1] After this Hulligan broke his ankle, whilst other injuries also hit the squad.[1] Six weeks of six defeats in seven games followed, leaving Vale sixth from bottom.[1] During this spell, Joe Dale was offloaded to Witton Albion as Hodgson attempted to fill the gaps in the first-team with young reserves.[1] Winning three games on the trot, the Vale ended this bad spell and kept three clean sheets.

Over the Christmas period, talk was dominated by 'The Wembley of the North', which had been projected as an 80,000-capacity stadium, now it was planned as a 40,000-capacity ground with room for future expansion.[1] Finding just fifty members for the '100 club', the financing was helped by a £8,000 grant from The Football Association.[1] In January the club initiated a fire-sale of players: Bill Pointon went to Queens Park Rangers for a then-club record five-figure fee, whilst Harry Hubbick was sold to Rochdale for around £1,000.[1] Meanwhile, the club transfer listed Palk, Aveyard, and Eric Eastwood (who all lived outside North Staffordshire); whilst Hulligan returned from injury.[1] A two-month run without a win followed, in which Hodgson again experimented with the first XI.[1] This run finally ended with a 1–0 win over Notts County on 9 April.[1] Nine days later at Ashton Gate, keeper Harry Prince was given a chance in place of regular George Heppell, who embarrassed himself by attempting to punch a 40 yards (37 m) punt from Stone, only to miss the ball entirely and thereby concede the equaliser.[1] Later in the month, Hodgson signed George King from Hull City for a four-figure fee.[1] King scored twice in his debut against Torquay United.[1]

They finished a disappointing thirteenth, boasting just 39 points.[1] They had scored twelve fewer goals than the previous campaign. However, their defensive record was identical.[1] Harry Prince's move to Stafford Rangers was the only significant departure of the summer.[1]

Finances

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On the financial side, a large transfer credit helped the club record a gross profit of £7,120.[1] Gate receipts had declined to £25,831, whilst wages had risen to £16,095.[1] The Burslem Supporters Club put forward a donation of £600, and the club issued 22,000 new five shilling shares to help with the New Ground Fund.[1]

Cup competitions

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In the FA Cup, Vale were knocked out in the First Round by Notts County at Meadow Lane in front of 36,514 spectators.[1]

League table

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GAv Pts
11 Notts County 42 19 5 18 102 68 1.500 43
12 Exeter City 42 15 10 17 63 76 0.829 40
13 Port Vale 42 14 11 17 51 54 0.944 39
14 Walsall 42 15 8 19 56 64 0.875 38
15 Newport County 42 14 9 19 68 92 0.739 37
Source: [citation needed]

Results

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Port Vale's score comes first

Football League Third Division South

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Results by matchday

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Round123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627282930313233343536373839404142
GroundAHHAAHHAAHAHAHAHAHHHAAHHAHAAHAHAHAAHHAAHAH
ResultDWWWLWLWDDLLDLLLLWWWLWWLDWDLDLLLLDDWWLDWLD
Position9121313225681012151717161511139910101111111112121213131313121212121213
Source: Statto[2]
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

Matches

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Date Opponent Venue Result Attendance Scorers
21 August 1948 Millwall A 1–1 32,122 Aveyard
23 August 1948 Reading H 3–0 17,394 Aveyard (2), Hulligan
28 August 1948 Aldershot H 3–0 18,497 Hulligan (2), Dale
1 September 1948 Reading A 2–1 13,955 Palk, Martin
4 September 1948 Brighton & Hove Albion A 0–1 20,383
6 September 1948 Swindon Town H 2–0 17,581 Palk, Pointon
11 September 1948 Southend United H 0–2 16,592
15 September 1948 Swindon Town A 2–0 16,894 Allen, Aveyard
18 September 1948 Northampton Town A 2–2 9,964 Allen, Aveyard
25 September 1948 Norwich City H 0–0 15,361
2 October 1948 Exeter City A 1–2 10,672 Martin
9 October 1948 Swansea Town H 0–2 17,888
16 October 1948 Newport County A 2–2 10,037 Aveyard (2)
23 October 1948 Ipswich Town H 1–2 11,424 Aveyard
30 October 1948 Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic A 0–2 18,436
6 November 1948 Walsall H 0–2 11,559
13 November 1948 Notts County A 1–2 29,332 Aveyard
20 November 1948 Bristol Rovers H 2–0 10,342 Cheadle, Palk
18 December 1948 Millwall H 1–0 7,738 Pointon
25 December 1948 Leyton Orient H 3–0 9,480 Allen, Pointon, Hubbick
27 December 1948 Leyton Orient A 0–2 8,953
1 January 1949 Aldershot A 1–0 4,510 Pointon
8 January 1949 Watford H 3–1 8,681 Aveyard (2), Allen
15 January 1949 Brighton & Hove Albion H 3–4 9,562 Martin, Pointon, Aveyard
22 January 1949 Southend United A 0–0 9,713
5 February 1949 Northampton Town H 1–0 9,369 Allen
12 February 1949 Crystal Palace A 1–1 12,409 Cheadle
19 February 1949 Norwich City A 0–2 26,323
26 February 1949 Exeter City H 1–1 8,437 o.g.
5 March 1949 Swansea Town A 1–3 13,769 Allen
12 March 1949 Newport County H 1–2 9,487 Hulligan
19 March 1949 Ipswich Town A 1–4 10,722 Allen
26 March 1949 Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic H 0–2 8,560
30 March 1949 Torquay United A 0–0 6,483
2 April 1949 Walsall A 1–1 9,767 Martin
9 April 1949 Notts County H 1–0 12,198 Martin
15 April 1949 Bristol City H 4–2 13,571 Allen (2), Martin, Hulligan
16 April 1949 Bristol Rovers A 1–4 15,477 Aveyard
18 April 1949 Bristol City A 1–1 11,094 Palk
23 April 1949 Torquay United H 3–1 11,914 King (2), McGarry
30 April 1949 Watford A 1–2 6,316 Allen
7 May 1949 Crystal Palace H 0–0 7,821

FA Cup

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Round Date Opponent Venue Result Attendance Goalscorers
R1 27 November 1948 Notts County A 1–2 36,514 Martin

Player statistics

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Appearances and goals

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Pos. Name Football League FA Cup Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
GK England George Heppell 37 0 1 0 38 0
GK England Ray Hancock 3 0 0 0 3 0
GK England Harry Prince 2 0 0 0 2 0
DF England Basil Hayward 41 0 1 0 42 0
DF England Tommy Cheadle 22 2 1 0 23 2
DF England Garth Butler 33 0 1 0 34 0
DF England Harry Hubbick 20 1 1 0 21 1
DF England Reg Potts 19 0 0 0 19 0
DF England Jim Elsby 1 0 0 0 1 0
MF England Wilf Smith 1 0 0 0 1 0
MF Northern Ireland Jimmy Todd 11 0 0 0 11 0
MF England Alan Martin 42 6 1 1 43 7
MF England Bill McGarry 40 1 1 0 41 1
MF England Eric Eastwood 4 0 0 0 4 0
MF England Walter Keeley 2 0 0 0 2 0
MF England Joe Dale 6 1 0 0 6 1
MF England Mick Hulligan 28 5 0 0 28 5
MF England Alan Bennett 1 0 0 0 1 0
MF England Bernard Jones 6 0 1 0 7 0
FW England Bill Pointon 15 5 0 0 15 5
FW England Ronnie Allen 40 10 1 0 41 10
FW England Lewis White 1 0 0 0 1 0
FW England Pat Raftery 2 0 0 0 2 0
FW England John Sherratt 2 0 0 0 2 0
FW England George King 2 2 0 0 2 2
FW England George O'Neill 5 0 0 0 5 0
FW England Stan Palk 42 4 1 0 43 4
FW England Walter Aveyard 34 13 1 0 35 13

Top scorers

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Place Position Nation Name Third Division South FA Cup Total
1 FW  England Walter Aveyard 13 0 13
2 FW  England Ronnie Allen 10 0 10
3 MF  England Alan Martin 6 1 7
4 FW  England Bill Pointon 5 0 5
MF  England Mick Hulligan 5 0 5
6 FW  England Stan Palk 4 0 4
7 FW  England George King 2 0 2
DF  England Tommy Cheadle 2 0 2
9 FW  England Harry Hubbick 1 0 1
MF  England Bill McGarry 1 0 1
MF  England Joe Dale 1 0 1
Own goals 1 0 1
TOTALS 51 1 52

Transfers

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Transfers in

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Date from Position Nationality Name From Fee Ref.
May 1948 GK England Ray Hancock Bury Free transfer [3]
June 1948 FW England Walter Aveyard Birmingham City Free transfer [3]
July 1948 MF England Mick Hulligan Liverpool £10,000 [3]
July 1948 FW England Stan Palk Liverpool £10,000 [3]
October 1948 MF England Bernard Jones Longport Free transfer [3]
November 1948 FW England George O'Neill Ellesmere Port Town Free transfer [3]
November 1948 FW England Pat Raftery Ravensdale Free transfer [3]
April 1949 FW England George King Hull City 'four-figure fee' [3]

Transfers out

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Date from Position Nationality Name To Fee Ref.
September 1948 MF England Walter Keeley Accrington Stanley £1,500 [3]
October 1948 MF England Joe Dale Witton Albion 'Cheshire League record fee' [3]
January 1949 DF England Harry Hubbick Rochdale £1,000 [3]
January 1949 FW England Bill Pointon Queens Park Rangers 'club record five-figure fee' [3]
May 1949 GK England Harry Prince Stafford Rangers Released [3]
July 1949 DF Scotland Bob Pursell Winsford United Free transfer [3]
July 1949 FW England Lewis White Winsford United Free transfer [3]
Summer 1949 FW England George O'Neill Released [3]
Summer 1949 FW England John Sherratt Released [3]

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 w x y z 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 1948–1949 : 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 l m n o p q Kent, Jeff (1996). Port Vale Personalities. Witan Books. ISBN 0-9529152-0-0.
General