1922–23 Port Vale F.C. season

Port Vale
1922–23 season
Chairman Sampson Walker
Manager Joe Schofield
Stadium The Old Recreation Ground
Football League Second Division 17th (37 Points)
FA Cup Fifth Qualification Round
North Staffordshire Infirmary Cup Runners-up
Top goalscorer League: Tom Butler (9)
All: Tom Butler (9)
Highest home attendance 16,022 vs Manchester United (14 October 1922)
Lowest home attendance 5,000 vs Derby County (26 February 1923)
Average home league attendance 10,204+
Home colours

The 1922–23 season was Port Vale's fourth consecutive season of football (17th overall) in the Football League.[1] For the third successive the season the club finished just out of the relegation zones, and for the second successive season were unable to find a regular goalscorer following the sale of Bobby Blood. Financial issues continued to be a concern, especially when a former trainer reported the club for making illegal payments.

Veteran Tom Holford didn't make an appearance.
Billy Briscoe was absent in just four games.

Overview

Second Division

The releasing of numerous experienced players in pre-season necessitated the signing of numerous new attacking players, namely Millwall winger Patrick Donoghue; 'robust' inside-right Jack Gordon from Queen's Park; James Smith from Plymouth Argyle; and Tom Reid from Ayr United.[1]

The season opened with two defeats in August, and though things soon turned around it became clear that goals were at a premium.[1] To solve this problem experienced winger Billy Harrison was signed from Manchester United.[1] The "Valiants" duly did the double over the "Red Devils" with a 2–1 win at Old Trafford, and a 1–0 win at home thanks to a Harrison strike.[1] Following an injury to the player the club suffered something of a blip in November.[1] The following month the club spent £100 to bring Tom Butler from Darlaston.[1] By the end of the calendar year the club were at the top end of the table, however a loss of form in January caused them to slip back down the table.[1] In February, young Arthur Prince was promoted from the reserves, and helped the club go four games unbeaten.[1] The Vale finished out the season on hot and cold spells, and ended up narrowly avoiding relegation.

At the end of season Vale had made slight progress, having finished on 37 points, improving their tally of the previous two seasons by a single point. Their shocking home record was better only than bottom placed Wolverhampton Wanderers, and Vale secured the fewest home wins and had the second lowest goals scored tally at home – remarkably second place West Ham United had managed to score just two fewer than Vale at home. Their six wins away from home helped them avoid the drop.

Top scorer Tom Butler bagged nine goals in his 26 games, but no other player managed more than four goals. Six players were rarely out of the first eleven: goalkeeper Teddy Peers; defenders Peter Pursell and Len Birks; midfielders Ernest Collinge and Jack Hampson; and forward Billy Briscoe. At the end of the season Billy Harrison joined Welsh club Wrexham; Jack Gordon went back to Scotland to sign with Greenock Morton; Teddy Peers retired; and Billy Briscoe refused a pay-cut and instead signed with nearby Congleton Town.[1]

Finances

Finances were poor as attendances were disappointing, with The Sentinel's "Spectator" commenting that "Port Vale is respected everywhere, except in its own district".[1] The ongoing Shilling Fund was useful for raising revenue, whilst £1,100 was written off by creditors in a remarkably charitable fashion.[1] Yet in June 1923, the club were in trouble when former trainer Billy Barr reported Port Vale to the Football League, accusing the club of having made illegal payments to its players throughout the season.[1] The club were found guilty, and were fined £100, with manager Joe Schofield also picking up a £25 fine.[1] Three other officials were fined £150 in total, whilst seventeen players were each fined £1 each.[1] This helped the club to report a loss of £2,400 on the season despite their tight spending.[1] Gate receipts stood at just over £10,000, down almost 50% on 1920–21.[1]

Cup competitions

Vale left the FA Cup at the Fifth Round of Qualifying after a disappointing 2–0 defeat by Third Division North Wrexham at The Old Recreation Ground.[1] The end of season North Staffordshire Infirmary Cup Potteries derby bragging rights went to Stoke, which was scant consolation for a club who had just suffered relegation from the First Division.[1] The match raised £250 for the local hospital.[2]

Final league table

Pos Team Pld W D L F A W D L F A F A GA GD Pts
1Notts County4216142915768171946341.353+ 3253
2West Ham United4298421111137422763381.658+ 2551
3Leicester City4214254219777232565441.477+ 2151
4Manchester United4210652517786261951361.417+ 1548
5Blackpool4212453714678232960431.395+ 1747
6Bury42145241164611143055461.196+ 947
7Leeds United42118226107311172643361.194+ 747
8The Wednesday4214343616399183154471.149+ 746
9Barnsley4212454221579203062511.216+ 1145
10Fulham42107429126510142043321.344+ 1144
11Southampton4210562821498121940401.000± 042
12Hull City4298429225610142343450.956– 242
13South Shields4211732612431493235440.795– 940
14Derby County4295725165610213446500.920– 439
15Bradford City4287627184611142741450.911– 437
16Crystal Palace42107433163414214654620.871– 837
17Port Vale4286723186312163339510.765– 1237
18Coventry City42122735213513114246630.730– 1737
19Clapton Orient4296626173612143340500.800– 1036
20Stockport County42106532244215113443580.741– 1536
21Rotherham County42107430193216144444630.698– 1935
22Wolverhampton Wanderers4294832260516105142770.545– 3527

Pld = Matches played; W = Matches won; D = Matches drawn; L = Matches lost; F = Goals for; A = Goals against;
GA = Goal average; GD = Goal difference; Pts = Points

Results

Port Vale's score comes first

Legend

Win Draw Loss
Round123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627282930313233343536373839404142
GroundHAAHAHAHAHHAHAAHAHAHHAAHHAHAHHHAAAHAAHAHAH
Result L L D W W L D W W W D L W L L D W W L W L L L L L D W W D L L L L W W L L D W D L D
Position 19 21 19 15 14 15 16 11 10 8 8 10 8 10 13 10 10 9 12 10 12 12 14 15 15 15 15 13 13 13 14 15 17 15 14 15 16 16 16 15 17 17

Sourced from Statto.[3]

Football League Second Division

DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers
26 August 1922 FulhamH0–114,136
28 August 1922 Hull CityA0–36,000
2 September 1922 FulhamA1–123,000Smith
4 September 1922 Hull CityH1–010,000Gordon
9 September 1922 Coventry CityA2–117,000Smith, Agnew
16 September 1922 Coventry CityH0–112,733
23 September 1922 Clapton OrientA0–010,000
30 September 1922 Clapton OrientH3–110,200Harrison, Gordon, Connelly
7 October 1922 Manchester UnitedA2–120,000Hampson, Collinge
14 October 1922 Manchester UnitedH1–016,022Harrison
21 October 1922 Notts CountyH0–015,055
28 October 1922 Notts CountyA0–112,000
4 November 1922 BuryH2–08,822Connelly, Gordon
11 November 1922 BuryA0–211,000
18 November 1922 Rotherham CountyA1–310,000Collinge (pen)
25 November 1922 Rotherham CountyH0–07,503
9 December 1922 Stockport CountyA2–010,000Orpe, Hampson
16 December 1922 Crystal PalaceH2–010,000Butler, Orpe
23 December 1922 Crystal PalaceA0–29,000
25 December 1922 South ShieldsH3–09,254Butler (2), Davies
30 December 1922 Leeds UnitedH1–210,000Hampson
1 January 1922 South ShieldsA1–39,000Briscoe
6 January 1923 Leeds UnitedA1–215,000Butler
13 January 1923 Stockport CountyH0–29,500
20 January 1923 West Ham UnitedH1–310,000Connelly
27 January 1923 West Ham UnitedA0–018,000
3 February 1923 BlackpoolH2–09,885Thompson, Collinge
10 February 1923 Derby CountyA2–110,000Butler (2)
17 February 1923 SouthamptonH0–012,275
26 February 1923 Derby CountyH2–35,000Thompson, Butler
3 March 1923 Bradford CityH1–26,000Prince
5 March 1923 SouthamptonA1–35,000Thompson
10 March 1923 Bradford CityA0–29,000
17 March 1923 BlackpoolA2–010,000Briscoe, Butler
30 March 1923 Wolverhampton WanderersH1–015,000Page
31 March 1923 Leicester CityA0–320,000
2 April 1923 Wolverhampton WanderersA0–315,000
7 April 1923 Leicester CityH0–08,660
14 April 1923 BarnsleyA1–08,000Reid
21 April 1923 BarnsleyH1–17,799Briscoe
28 April 1923 The WednesdayA0–212,000
5 May 1923 The WednesdayH2–26,000Hampson (pen), Butler

FA Cup

RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorers
5Q2 December 1922 WrexhamH0–27,200

North Staffordshire Infirmary Cup

RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorers
Final7 May 1923StokeA1–3Thompson

Player statistics

Appearances

Pos. Name Football League FA Cup Other Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
GK Daniel Smith 10000010
GKWales Teddy Peers 4101000430
DFScotland Peter Pursell 4001010420
DFEngland Len Birks 4100000410
DFEngland William Lavery 00100010
DFEngland Billy Twemlow 30001040
DFEngland David Richards 10000010
MFEngland Billy Fitchford 1901000200
MFEngland Ernest Collinge 4231010443
MFScotland Bob Connelly 2930000303
MFWales Jack Hampson 3841000394
MFEngland Tom Orpe 82000082
MFEngland Arthur Prince 1610010171
MF Patrick Donoghue 30000030
MFEngland Tom Holford 00000000
FWEngland Billy Briscoe 3930010403
FWEngland Tom Page 2511000261
FWScotland Billy Agnew 1111000121
FWEngland Jimmy Thompson 83001194
FW Albert Spencer 30000030
FWScotland James Smith 72000072
FWScotland Tom Reid 61001071
FWScotland Jack Gordon 2231010243
FWEngland Charles Hallam 10100020
FWEngland Billy Harrison 2120010222
FWEngland Harry Davies 1210000121
FWEngland Tom Butler 2590010269

Scorers

All competitions

Scorer Goals
England Tom Butler 9
Wales Jack Hampson 4
England Jimmy Thompson
England Ernest Collinge 3
Scotland Bob Connelly
Scotland Jack Gordon
England Billy Briscoe
England Tom Orpe 2
England Billy Harrison
Scotland James Smith
England Arthur Prince 1
England Tom Page
England Harry Davies
Scotland Billy Agnew
Scotland Tom Reid

League

Scorer Goals
England Tom Butler 9
Wales Jack Hampson 4
England Ernest Collinge 3
England Jimmy Thompson
Scotland Bob Connelly
Scotland Jack Gordon
England Billy Briscoe
England Tom Orpe 2
England Billy Harrison
Scotland James Smith
England Arthur Prince 1
England Tom Page
England Harry Davies
Scotland Billy Agnew
Scotland Tom Reid

Transfers

Transfers in

Date from Position Nationality Name From Fee Ref.
May 1922 FW Scotland James Smith Plymouth Argyle Free transfer [4]
June 1922 FW England Harry Davies Chorley Free transfer [4]
August 1922 MF Patrick Donoghue Millwall Athletic Free transfer [4]
August 1922 FW Scotland Jack Gordon Scotland Queen's Park Free transfer [4]
August 1922 FW Scotland Tom Reid Scotland Ayr United Free transfer [4]
August 1922 DF England David Richards Scotland Larkhall Thistle Free transfer [4]
August 1922 GK Daniel Smith Free transfer [4]
September 1922 FW England Charles Hallam Sandford Hill Primitives Free transfer [4]
September 1922 FW England Billy Harrison Manchester United Free transfer [4]
October 1922 MF England Arthur Prince Bucknall Free transfer [4]
October 1922 FW England Albert Spencer Free transfer [4]
November 1922 MF England Tom Orpe Hanley Free transfer [4]
January 1923 FW England Tom Butler Darlaston £100 [4]
January 1923 FW England Jimmy Thompson Ashton National Gas Free transfer [4]

Transfers out

Date from Position Nationality Name To Fee Ref.
October 1922 FW Scotland James Smith Fulham Mutual consent [4]
May 1923 GK Wales Teddy Peers Retired [4]
June 1923 FW England Billy Harrison Wrexham £300 [4]
June 1923 FW England Albert Spencer Wolverhampton Wanderers Free transfer [4]
Summer 1923 FW Scotland Billy Agnew Scotland Arthurlie Released [4]
Summer 1923 GK England Ernest Blackham Released [4]
Summer 1923 FW England Billy Briscoe Congleton Town Free transfer [4]
Summer 1923 FW England Harry Davies Chorley Released [4]
Summer 1923 MF Patrick Donoghue Released [4]
Summer 1923 FW Scotland Jack Gordon Scotland Greenock Morton Released [4]
Summer 1923 DF England William Lavery Released [4]
Summer 1923 MF England Billy Fitchford Glossop Released [4]
Summer 1923 MF England Harry Johnstone Released [4]
Summer 1923 MF England Tom Orpe Cheadle New Haden Released [4]
Summer 1923 DF England David Richards Scotland Dundee United Released [4]
Summer 1923 GK Daniel Smith Released [4]
Summer 1923 FW England Jimmy Thompson Blackpool Released [4]
Summer 1923 DF England Billy Twemlow Macclesfield Released [4]
August 1923 FW England Charles Hallam Sandbach Ramblers Released [4]

References

Specific
  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 Kent, Jeff (1990). "Keeping in Good Company (1919-1929)". The Valiants' Years The Story Of Port Vale. Witan Books. pp. 98–123. ISBN 0-9508981-4-7.
  2. Kent, Jeff (November 1998). The Potteries Derbies. Witan Books. p. 118. ISBN 0-9529152-3-5.
  3. Port Vale 1922–1923 : Results & Fixtures. Statto Organisation. Retrieved 28 April 2012.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 Kent, Jeff (1996). Port Vale Personalities. Witan Books. ISBN 0-9529152-0-0.
General
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