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1970–71 Port Vale F.C. season

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Port Vale
1970–71 season
ChairmanMark Singer
(until February)
Graham Bourne
(from February)
ManagerGordon Lee
StadiumVale Park
Football League Third Division17th (42 Points)
FA CupFirst Round
(knocked out by Notts County)
League CupFirst Round
(knocked out by Walsall)
Player of the YearTommy McLaren
Top goalscorerLeague: John James (15)
All: John James (15)
Highest home attendance11,224 vs. Aston Villa, 19 October 1970
Lowest home attendance3,450 vs. Reading, 13 March 1971
Average home league attendance5,437
Biggest win4–0 vs. Swansea City, 17 October 1970
Biggest defeat3–7 vs. Shrewsbury Town, 12 September 1970

The 1970–71 season was Port Vale's 59th season of football in the Football League, and their first (seventh overall) season back in the Third Division following their promotion from the Fourth Division.[1] Gordon Lee led his team to safety in the league, though Vale exited both cup competitions at the first stage.

Overview

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Third Division

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The pre-season saw the arrival of centre-half Roy Cross (Walsall); inside-forward Brian Horton (Hednesford Town); and full-back Mick Hopkinson (Mansfield Town).[1]

The season began with two wins, but a run of one win in ten games then followed. In September, four of the five directors resigned, one of them (Len Cliff) stated that "the club is being run by outsiders".[1] A new board was formed by November.[1] Meanwhile, on 13 September the club suffered a loss of 7–3 at Gay Meadow to Shrewsbury Town, despite a Bobby Gough hat-trick – the match also saw a sending off, an attempted pitch invasion, and a £35 fine for Gordon Lee for remarks he made to referee Ricky Nicholson.[1] Tommy McLaren then returned from injury to lead Vale on a four match winning streak that included a 2–0 win over fallen-giants Aston Villa in front of a Burslem crowd of 11,224 fans; Lee described the win as his "finest hour".[1][2] Four straight defeats soon came after this sequence however, as Vale's form was patchy.[1] In December, Ron Wilson left the club as he emigrated to South Africa due to his son's ill health.[1] A 1–0 defeat at Villa Park on 16 January was the first of a nine-match streak without a victory.[1] At the end of the month Lee signed John Brodie from Northern Premier League side Bradford Park Avenue for £250.[1] During this spell forward, Sammy Morgan began to be jeered by fans after losing his scoring touch.[1] He also began studying to be a teacher.[1] Lee said that "I really feel some of our lads have been singled out by the boo boys. If only they realised that encouragement can lift players, things would be so much better".[1] In February, Mark Singer resigned as chairman, and was replaced by Graham Bourne.[1] By then the club were hovering above the relegation zone, but a record of just ten goals conceded in their final twelve games was enough to secure safety, with Brian Horton in good form.[1]

They finished in the seventeenth spot, with 42 points, leaving them three clear of relegation.[1] John James was the top-scorer with fifteen goals.[1] As a reward for their endeavours, the players were taken on a working holiday to Benidorm, Spain.[1]

Finances

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On the financial side, a profit of £3,424 was made, the club's first profitable season since 1962–63.[1] A £19,322 donation from the Sportsmen's Association and the Development Fund helped to reduce the club's total debt to £134,640.[1] Three players were released: Mick Hopkinson (Boston United); John Green (Northwich Victoria); and John King (Wigan Athletic).[1]

Cup competitions

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In the FA Cup, Vale were knocked out in the First Round by Fourth Division Notts County 1–0 in a 'physical' encounter at Meadow Lane.[1]

In the League Cup, Vale were eliminated once again at the first stage, this time Walsall left Burslem with a 1–0 win.

League table

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GAv Pts
15 Plymouth Argyle 46 12 19 15 63 63 1.000 43
16 Rochdale 46 14 15 17 61 68 0.897 43
17 Port Vale 46 15 12 19 52 59 0.881 42
18 Tranmere Rovers 46 10 22 14 45 55 0.818 42
19 Bradford City 46 13 14 19 49 62 0.790 40
Source: [citation needed]
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal average; 3) Goals scored

Results

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Port Vale's score comes first

Football League Third Division

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Results by matchday

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Round12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031323334353637383940414243444546
GroundAHAAHAHHAAHAHHHAHHAAHAHAHAAHAHAHAAHHAAHAHAHAHH
ResultWWLLWLDLLLDDWWWWDLLLLWLWWLDLDDLDLLWWDLWDLLWDWD
Position11410615141619181919171211991014161816181512151315151418192020181315151516181816171517
Source: Statto[3]
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

Matches

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Date Opponent Venue Result Attendance Scorers
15 August 1970 Swansea City A 2–0 10,713 Wilson, Morgan
22 August 1970 Rochdale H 4–1 6,196 McLaren (2), James, Morris
29 August 1970 Plymouth Argyle A 1–2 7,753 Morgan
1 September 1970 Bristol Rovers A 0–3 7,931
5 September 1970 Preston North End H 1–0 6,954 James (pen)
12 September 1970 Shrewsbury Town A 3–7 5,856 Gough (3)
19 September 1970 Gillingham H 1–1 5,178 James
21 September 1970 Chesterfield H 0–2 5,930
26 September 1970 Walsall A 1–3 5,456 James (pen)
28 September 1970 Mansfield Town A 0–2 8,121
3 October 1970 Barnsley H 1–3 4,490 Gough
10 October 1970 Brighton & Hove Albion A 0–0 9,383
17 October 1970 Swansea City H 4–0 4,962 Gough (2), James, Morris
19 October 1970 Aston Villa H 2–0 11,224 James, Gough
24 October 1970 Rotherham United H 1–0 7,215 McLaren
31 October 1970 Bury A 3–2 3,669 Lacey, Horton, Boulton
7 November 1970 Tranmere Rovers H 2–2 5,495 Morris, McLaren
9 November 1970 Fulham H 0–1 8,728
14 November 1970 Reading A 1–2 5,036 Morris
28 November 1970 Halifax Town A 0–2 3,404
5 December 1970 Torquay United H 0–1 4,252
19 December 1970 Rochdale A 3–0 3,619 James, Summerscales, Morris
26 December 1970 Wrexham H 0–3 6,303
2 January 1971 Doncaster Rovers A 2–1 2,997 Cross, Gough
9 January 1971 Mansfield Town H 2–0 4,412 Morris, James
16 January 1971 Aston Villa A 0–1 28,933
23 January 1971 Bradford City A 1–1 4,436 Morris
30 January 1971 Halifax Town H 0–1 4,059
5 February 1971 Torquay United A 1–1 6,817 Morris
12 February 1971 Bradford City H 0–0 4,361
20 February 1971 Fulham A 1–4 10,389 Green
27 February 1971 Bury H 0–0 3,805
6 March 1971 Rotherham United A 1–2 6,866 James
10 March 1971 Chesterfield A 0–3 7,592
13 March 1971 Reading H 3–1 3,450 McLaren (2), Morgan
15 March 1971 Doncaster Rovers H 1–0 4,782 James (pen)
22 March 1971 Tranmere Rovers A 1–1 3,734 James
27 March 1971 Preston North End A 0–1 16,591
3 April 1971 Plymouth Argyle H 2–1 3,518 James, Morgan
10 April 1971 Wrexham A 1–1 8,186 Boulton
12 April 1971 Shrewsbury Town H 0–1 5,655
13 April 1971 Barnsley A 0–1 4,837
17 April 1971 Brighton & Hove Albion H 2–1 3,789 Morgan (2)
24 April 1971 Gillingham A 1–1 2,207 James
26 April 1971 Bristol Rovers H 2–0 4,525 James (2)
1 May 1971 Walsall H 1–1 5,758 Lacey

FA Cup

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Round Date Opponent Venue Result Attendance Goalscorers
R1 21 November 1970 Notts County A 0–1 15,965

League Cup

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Round Date Opponent Venue Result Attendance Goalscorers
R1 18 August 1970 Walsall H 0–1 6,605

Player statistics

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Appearances and goals

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Pos. Name Football League FA Cup League Cup Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
GK England Keith Ball 28 0 1 0 1 0 30 0
GK England Stuart Sharratt 18 0 0 0 0 0 18 0
DF England Roy Sproson 6 0 0 0 1 0 7 0
DF England Clint Boulton 45 2 1 0 1 0 47 2
DF Scotland Ron Wilson 16 1 0 0 1 0 17 1
DF England Bill Summerscales 7 1 0 0 0 0 7 1
DF England Roy Cross 42 1 1 0 0 0 43 1
DF England Mick Hopkinson 13 0 1 0 0 0 14 0
DF England John Brodie 19 0 0 0 0 0 19 0
MF Scotland Tommy McLaren 36 6 1 0 1 0 38 6
MF England John Green 25 1 1 0 1 0 27 1
MF England John King 26 0 0 0 1 0 27 0
MF England Brian Horton 39 1 1 0 0 0 40 1
MF England Tony Lacey 44 2 1 0 1 0 46 2
FW England John James 45 15 1 0 1 0 47 15
FW England Mick Morris 46 8 1 0 1 0 48 8
FW England Bobby Gough 36 8 1 0 0 0 37 8
FW Northern Ireland Sammy Morgan 38 6 1 0 1 0 40 6
FW England Bob Mountford 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0

Top scorers

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Place Position Nation Name Third Division FA Cup League Cup Total
1 FW  England John James 15 0 0 15
2 FW  England Mick Morris 8 0 0 8
FW  England Bobby Gough 8 0 0 8
4 MF  Scotland Tommy McLaren 6 0 0 6
FW  Northern Ireland Sammy Morgan 6 0 0 6
6 MF  England Tony Lacey 2 0 0 2
DF  England Clint Boulton 2 0 0 2
8 DF  Scotland Ron Wilson 1 0 0 1
DF  England Bill Summerscales 1 0 0 1
DF  England Roy Cross 1 0 0 1
MF  England John Green 1 0 0 1
MF  England Brian Horton 1 0 0 1
TOTALS 52 0 0 52

Transfers

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Transfers in

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Date from Position Nationality Name From Fee Ref.
June 1970 DF England Roy Cross Walsall Free transfer [4]
July 1970 DF England Mick Hopkinson Mansfield Town Free transfer [4]
July 1970 MF England Brian Horton Hednesford Town 'a pint of shandy' [4]
January 1971 DF England John Brodie Bradford Park Avenue £250 [4]

Transfers out

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Date from Position Nationality Name To Fee Ref.
December 1970 DF Scotland Ron Wilson South Africa Hellenic Released [4]
May 1971 DF England Mick Hopkinson Boston United Free transfer [4]
May 1971 MF England John King Wigan Athletic Free transfer [4]
Summer 1971 MF England John Green Northwich Victoria Released [4]

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 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. ^ Baggaley, Mike (19 October 2023). "Injury blows as Port Vale weigh up move for midfielder". Valiant's Substack. Retrieved 19 October 2023.
  3. ^ Port Vale 1970–1971 : Results & Fixtures Archived 4 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine. Statto Organisation. Retrieved 28 April 2012.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h Kent, Jeff (1996). Port Vale Personalities. Witan Books. ISBN 0-9529152-0-0.
General