1955–56 Port Vale F.C. season

Port Vale
1955–56 season
Chairman	Fred Burgess
Manager	Freddie Steele
Stadium	Vale Park
Football League Second Division	12th (45 Points)
FA Cup	Fourth Round; (knocked out by Everton)
Top goalscorer	League: Cyril Done, Len Stephenson (12 each); All: Len Stephenson (14)
Highest home attendance	44,278 vs. Everton, 28 January 1956
Lowest home attendance	11,781 vs. Middlesbrough, 28 April 1956
Average home league attendance	18,985
Biggest win	3–0 and 4–1
Biggest defeat	1–7 vs. Blackburn Rovers, 12 November 1955
	Home colours
	Home colours
	← 1954–55 1956–57 →

The 1955–56 season was Port Vale's 44th season of football in the English Football League, and their second-successive season (thirty-first overall) in the Second Division.^[1] Gaining ten points on their previous season's total, the club progressed well, achieving their best finish since 1933–34. Finishing one place above rivals Stoke City, it was the first time they outperformed Stoke since 1930–31. Part of the promotion-chasing pack at the season's end, they tailed off with four points from six games as Leeds United finished strongly to end up second. Vale's season was built on the defensive strength of the legendary 1953–54 season, along with record-signing England international Eddie Baily.

Overview

Second Division

The pre-season saw Stan Turner and Ken Griffiths undergo operations, keeping them out of action for the start of the campaign.^[1]

The season began with just one loss in the opening eleven games, including victories at Upton Park and Craven Cottage, and a 1–0 home win over rivals Stoke City in front of a crowd of 37,261.^[1] Nevertheless, injuries began to affect the first XI, leaving room for reserves like Derek Mountford, Stan Smith, and Tom Conway to make an impression.^[1] The 'Steele Curtain' defence was still in operation, picking up five clean sheets in these eleven games.^[1] Journalist Bernard Jones compared 'the Vale Plan' to the Brazilian method of defence, defending the penalty area at all costs as that was from where 95% of all goals were scored.^[1] However, manager Freddie Steele responded by claiming there was no such plan, and that the main objective was simply 'to beat the opposition'.^[1] On 22 October, Sheffield Wednesday went away from Vale Park with a 1–0 win, this was followed with a 4–1 defeat at Filbert Street.^[1] Steele began to initiate a modern pre-match ritual of having the players warm up in their tracksuits fifteen minutes before kick-off, though on 12 November this did them no favours at Ewood Park, as Blackburn Rovers romped to a 7–1 victory.^[1] Steele made eight changes following the defeat, which made little difference as Vale extended their run without a win to nine games.^[1] This left them in fifteenth place by mid-December, with a host of players out with injuries.^[1]

Cyril Done's return to match fitness was marked with a 2–1 win at the Memorial Stadium, beginning a sequence of one defeat in ten games.^[1] This left them in seventh place by February, with a shot of promotion.^[1] In January, Eddie Baily was signed from Tottenham Hotspur for a club-record £7,000.^[1] Signing an inside-forward who was part of England's 1950 FIFA World Cup squad was a sign of the club's ambitions for top-flight football.^[1] Outclassed by Wednesday on 3 March, they lost 4–0 at Hillsborough, but followed this with wins over Blackburn Rovers and Bristol City.^[1] On 31 March they came to a 'hard-fought' 1–1 draw at Stoke's Victoria Ground, which left the "Valiants" in fifth place, level on points with second-placed Liverpool.^[1] In with a great chance of promotion by April, defeats at home to Nottingham Forest and Leicester City, and a 4–1 beating at Anfield ruined their chances.^[1] Harry Poole made his debut on the last day of the season, as Vale recorded a 3–2 win over Middlesbrough.^[1]

They finished in twelfth position with 45 points, one point and one position above rivals Stoke.^[1] The Steele Curtain boasted the best defensive record in the division, though only the bottom five scored fewer goals.^[1]

Finances

On the financial side, a loss was made of £4,974, blamed upon a 'crippling burden' of £12,422 in entertainment tax.^[1] Home attendances were down by around 2,000 a game to 18,985, leaving gate receipts at £60,784.^[1] Steele retained thirty professionals, releasing Albert Mullard and Ray Hancock (Northwich Victoria), and Tom Conway (Leek Town).^[1]

Cup competitions

In the FA Cup, Vale narrowly defeated Third Division South Walsall 1–0 at Fellows Park to win a Fourth Round tie with First Division Everton.^[1] A crowd of 44,278 saw 'a match that had everything', as the "Toffees" escaped with a 3–2 victory, Vale having had two goals disallowed.^[1]

League table

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GAv	Pts	Qualification or relegation
1	Sheffield Wednesday (C, P)	42	21	13	8	101	62	1.629	55	Promotion to the First Division
2	Leeds United (P)	42	23	6	13	80	60	1.333	52	Promotion to the First Division
3	Liverpool	42	21	6	15	85	63	1.349	48
4	Blackburn Rovers	42	21	6	15	84	65	1.292	48
5	Leicester City	42	21	6	15	94	78	1.205	48
6	Bristol Rovers	42	21	6	15	84	70	1.200	48
7	Nottingham Forest	42	19	9	14	68	63	1.079	47
8	Lincoln City	42	18	10	14	79	65	1.215	46
9	Fulham	42	20	6	16	89	79	1.127	46
10	Swansea Town	42	20	6	16	83	81	1.025	46
11	Bristol City	42	19	7	16	80	64	1.250	45
12	Port Vale	42	16	13	13	60	58	1.034	45
13	Stoke City	42	20	4	18	71	62	1.145	44
14	Middlesbrough	42	16	8	18	76	78	0.974	40
15	Bury	42	16	8	18	86	90	0.956	40
16	West Ham United	42	14	11	17	74	69	1.072	39
17	Doncaster Rovers	42	12	11	19	69	96	0.719	35
18	Barnsley	42	11	12	19	47	84	0.560	34
19	Rotherham United	42	12	9	21	56	75	0.747	33
20	Notts County	42	11	9	22	55	82	0.671	31
21	Plymouth Argyle (R)	42	10	8	24	54	87	0.621	28	Relegation to the Third Division South
22	Hull City (R)	42	10	6	26	53	97	0.546	26	Relegation to the Third Division North

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 Second Division

Results by matchday

Round	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	34	35	36	37	38	39	40	41	42
Ground	H	H	A	A	H	A	H	A	H	H	A	H	A	H	A	H	A	H	A	A	H	H	A	A	A	H	A	H	A	A	H	A	H	A	H	H	A	A	H	A	H	H
Result	D	W	L	W	W	D	W	W	D	W	D	L	L	D	L	L	D	D	L	W	W	L	W	D	D	W	D	W	D	L	W	L	W	L	W	W	D	D	L	L	L	W
Position	10	4	11	4	3	7	7	4	5	3	2	6	8	8	10	13	12	12	14	12	11	12	11	11	10	8	9	8	7	7	6	8	6	7	6	4	5	4	7	9	10	12

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

Matches

Date	Opponent	Venue	Result	Attendance	Scorers
20 August 1955	Bristol Rovers	H	1–1	21,270	Cunliffe
22 August 1955	West Ham United	H	2–1	19,259	Stephenson, Leake
27 August 1955	Rotherham United	A	0–1	11,994
29 August 1955	West Ham United	A	2–0	13,052	Smith, Done
3 September 1955	Swansea Town	H	3–0	21,769	Cunliffe, Conway, Done
10 September 1955	Notts County	A	0–0	14,733
17 September 1955	Leeds United	H	2–0	21,348	Sproson, Done
24 September 1955	Fulham	A	4–1	25,363	Conway (2), Smith, Done
1 October 1955	Bury	H	1–1	20,691	Leake
8 October 1955	Stoke City	H	1–0	37,261	Done
15 October 1955	Plymouth Argyle	A	1–1	17,124	Cunliffe
22 October 1955	Sheffield Wednesday	H	0–1	23,139
29 October 1955	Leicester City	A	1–4	26,496	Stephenson
5 November 1955	Lincoln City	H	1–1	16,561	Stephenson
12 November 1955	Blackburn Rovers	A	1–7	25,464	Leake
19 November 1955	Hull City	H	0–1	17,778
26 November 1955	Nottingham Forest	A	2–2	9,533	Conway, Cunliffe
3 December 1955	Liverpool	H	1–1	16,919	Stephenson
10 December 1955	Doncaster Rovers	A	0–3	7,351
17 December 1955	Bristol Rovers	A	2–1	19,144	Cunliffe, Stephenson
24 December 1955	Rotherham United	H	4–1	13,023	Stephenson (2), Done (2)
26 December 1955	Barnsley	H	1–2	19,130	Done
27 December 1955	Barnsley	A	2–1	22,067	Stephenson (2)
31 December 1955	Swansea Town	A	0–0	24,661
2 January 1956	Middlesbrough	A	1–1	21,664	Mullard
14 January 1956	Notts County	H	3–1	17,370	Cunliffe, Done (pen), Baily
21 January 1956	Leeds United	A	1–1	23,680	Griffiths
4 February 1956	Fulham	H	2–1	13,234	Baily, Griffiths
11 February 1956	Bury	A	2–2	10,881	Griffiths, Stephenson
18 February 1956	Hull City	A	1–1	6,884	Baily
25 February 1956	Plymouth Argyle	H	3–1	14,336	Griffiths (3)
3 March 1956	Sheffield Wednesday	A	0–4	29,789
10 March 1956	Doncaster Rovers	H	2–0	16,389	Baily, Cunliffe
17 March 1956	Lincoln City	A	0–1	10,635
24 March 1956	Blackburn Rovers	H	4–1	15,217	Stephenson (2), Leake, Smith
30 March 1956	Bristol City	H	2–0	24,900	Smith (2)
31 March 1956	Stoke City	A	1–1	37,928	Griffiths
2 April 1956	Bristol City	A	0–0	24,348
7 April 1956	Nottingham Forest	H	0–2	23,018
14 April 1956	Liverpool	A	1–4	29,413	Baily
21 April 1956	Leicester City	H	2–3	14,302	Done (pen), Baily
28 April 1956	Middlesbrough	H	3–2	11,781	Done (2), Baily

FA Cup


Round	Date	Opponent	Venue	Result	Attendance	Goalscorers
R3	7 January 1956	Walsall	A	1–0	21,836	Stephenson
R4	28 January 1956	Everton	H	2–3	44,278	Stephenson, Sproson

Player statistics

Appearances and goals

Pos.	Name	Football League		FA Cup		Total
Pos.	Name	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
GK	Ray King	39	0	2	0	41	0
GK	Ray Hancock	2	0	0	0	2	0
GK	John Poole	1	0	0	0	1	0
DF	Tommy Cheadle	19	0	0	0	19	0
DF	Reg Potts	42	0	2	0	44	0
DF	Roy Sproson	42	1	2	1	44	2
DF	Stan Turner	26	0	2	0	28	0
MF	Alan Bennett	7	0	0	0	7	0
MF	Albert Leake	36	4	2	0	38	4
MF	John Cunliffe	39	7	2	0	41	7
MF	Derek Mountford	15	0	0	0	15	0
MF	Albert Mullard	6	1	1	0	7	1
MF	Colin Askey	24	0	2	0	26	0
FW	Basil Hayward	41	0	2	0	43	0
FW	Ken Griffiths	19	7	2	0	21	7
FW	Len Stephenson	31	12	2	2	33	14
FW	Stan Smith	20	5	0	0	20	5
FW	Cyril Done	18	12	0	0	18	12
FW	Pat Willdigg	2	0	0	0	2	0
FW	Harry Poole	1	0	0	0	1	0
FW	Tom Conway	15	4	0	0	15	4
FW	Eddie Baily	17	7	1	0	18	7

Top scorers

Place	Position	Nation	Name	Second Division	FA Cup	Total
1	FW	England	Cyril Done	12	0	14
2	FW	England	Len Stephenson	12	2	12
3	FW	England	Ken Griffiths	7	0	7
–	FW	England	Eddie Baily	7	0	7
–	MF	England	John Cunliffe	7	0	7
6	FW	England	Stan Smith	5	0	5
7	FW	England	Tom Conway	4	0	4
–	MF	England	Albert Leake	4	0	4
9	DF	England	Roy Sproson	1	1	2
10	MF	England	Albert Mullard	1	0	1
			TOTALS	60	3	63

Transfers

Transfers in

Date from	Position	Nationality	Name	From	Fee	Ref.
January 1956	FW		Eddie Baily	Tottenham Hotspur	£7,000	^[3]

Transfers out

Date from	Position	Name	To	Fee	Ref.
Summer 1956	FW	Tom Conway	Leek Town	Free transfer	^[3]
Summer 1956	GK	Ray Hancock	Northwich Victoria	Free transfer	^[3]
Summer 1956	MF	Albert Mullard	Northwich Victoria	Released	^[3]
Summer 1956	FW	Pat Willdigg	Northwich Victoria	Free transfer	^[3]

References

^ ^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). "Fame and Fortune (1950–1959)". The Valiants' Years: The Story Of Port Vale. Witan Books. pp. 171–196. ISBN 0-9508981-4-7.
^ Port Vale 1955–1956 : Results & Fixtures Archived 4 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine. Statto Organisation. Retrieved 28 April 2012.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e Kent, Jeff (1996). Port Vale Personalities. Witan Books. ISBN 0-9529152-0-0.

Sources

Kent, Jeff (1993). The Port Vale Record 1879-1993. Witan Books. ISBN 0-9508981-9-8.

[Kent-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). "Fame and Fortune (1950–1959)". The Valiants' Years: The Story Of Port Vale. Witan Books. pp. 171–196. ISBN 0-9508981-4-7.

[2] Port Vale 1955–1956 : Results & Fixtures Archived 4 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine. Statto Organisation. Retrieved 28 April 2012.

[transfers-3] Kent, Jeff (1996). Port Vale Personalities. Witan Books. ISBN 0-9529152-0-0.

[1]

[2]

[3]

v t e Port Vale F.C. seasons
1880–81 1881–82 1882–83 1883–84 1884–85 1885–86 1886–87 1887–88 1888–89 1889–90
1890–91 1891–92 1892–93 1893–94 1894–95 1895–96 1896–97 1897–98 1898–99 1899–00
1900–01 1901–02 1902–03 1903–04 1904–05 1905–06 1906–07 1907–08 1908–09 1909–10
1910–11 1911–12 1912–13 1913–14 1914–15 1915–16 1916–17 1917–18 1918–19 1919–20
1920–21 1921–22 1922–23 1923–24 1924–25 1925–26 1926–27 1927–28 1928–29 1929–30
1930–31 1931–32 1932–33 1933–34 1934–35 1935–36 1936–37 1937–38 1938–39 1939–40
1940–41 1941–42 1942–43 1943–44 1944–45 1945–46 1946–47 1947–48 1948–49 1949–50
1950–51 1951–52 1952–53 1953–54 1954–55 1955–56 1956–57 1957–58 1958–59 1959–60
1960–61 1961–62 1962–63 1963–64 1964–65 1965–66 1966–67 1967–68 1968–69 1969–70
1970–71 1971–72 1972–73 1973–74 1974–75 1975–76 1976–77 1977–78 1978–79 1979–80
1980–81 1981–82 1982–83 1983–84 1984–85 1985–86 1986–87 1987–88 1988–89 1989–90
1990–91 1991–92 1992–93 1993–94 1994–95 1995–96 1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 1999–00
2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 2005–06 2006–07 2007–08 2008–09 2009–10
2010–11 2011–12 2012–13 2013–14 2014–15 2015–16 2016–17 2017–18 2018–19 2019–20
2020–21 2021–22 2022–23 2023–24 2024–25 2025–26 2026–27 2027–28 2028–29 2029–30