1951–52 Port Vale F.C. season

The 1951–52 season was Port Vale's 40th season of football in the English Football League, and their seventh full season in the Third Division South.^[1] Manager Ivor Powell did not last long, and was replaced by Freddie Steele in December. Steele would later prove to be one of the club's greatest and longest serving managers. He started early, taking a club bottom of the league at Christmas to a thirteenth-place finish. He achieved this without making any major signings, rather he managed the players he had in a better way than Powell.

Port Vale

1951–52 season
Chairman	William Holdcroft
Manager	Ivor Powell (until November) Freddie Steele (from 24 December)
Stadium	Vale Park
Football League Third Division South	13th (43 Points)
FA Cup	First Round (knocked out by Colchester United)
Top goalscorer	League: Albert Mullard (13) All: Albert Mullard (13)
Highest home attendance	17,860 vs. Brighton & Hove Albion, 12 January 1952
Lowest home attendance	4,136 vs. Aldershot, 8 December 1951
Average home league attendance	11,225
Biggest win	3–0 and 4–1
Biggest defeat	1–5 vs. Reading, 20 February 1952
Home colours
← 1950–51 1952–53 →

From 9 February until 8 September the following season the club racked up a club record streak of twelve consecutive home wins.

Overview

Third Division South

The pre-season saw 578 seats installed on the Railway Terrace, bringing the seated capacity of Vale Park to 1,010.^[1] No signings of note were made, however, transfer-listed Cliff Pinchbeck failed to turn up for pre-season training, citing illness.^[1]

Thirty seconds into their opening game with Reading and they were behind, the Vale went on to lose 2–0.^[1] A six-game unbeaten streak followed, with just three goals conceded, though only five goals were scored. On his return to Burslem, Pinchbeck scored a brace to salvage a point against Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic.^[1] Vale then sold Alan Martin to rivals Stoke City for £10,000 and Albert Mullard, the money going towards fixing the drainage problem at Vale Park.^[1] The sale was criticized by supporters, though they soon warmed to Mullard, who went on to become the club's top-scorer.^[1] The club failed to sign transfer target Dennis Wilshaw from Wolverhampton Wanderers, and Garth Butler was forced to retire with a knee injury.^[1] Results turned against the team, as they went on a run of thirteen games without a win, though all five of the home games on the 'wide open' Vale Park pitch were draws (all eight away matches were losses).^[1] Manager Ivor Powell attempted to sign players, but was deterred by the high transfer prices, and so instead continually reshuffled the first XI.^[1] Powell's contract was terminated on 22 November, his team bottom of the table.^[1] Trainer Ken Fish took temporary charge of first-team affairs. Roy Sproson and Ray King would later say the sacking came as no surprise, saying Powell 'ruled by fear', 'used to treat the players like kids' and it was a 'complete relief' to find him dismissed.^[1] Pinchbeck was also offloaded, sold to Northampton Town for 'an undisclosed sum'.^[1]

On 8 December, Vale recorded a surprise 4–1 win over Aldershot.^[1] Yet the side then went another eight games without a win.^[1] Freddie Steele was appointed player-manager on Christmas Eve, signing the former England international meant Vale had to pay Mansfield Town a four-figure fee.^[1] The former Stoke City forward was still very much a goalscorer, having described his record of 44 goals in 66 games for the "Stags" as "not bad for an old man!".^[1] In January, half-back Norman Hallam returned to the club.^[1] On 12 January, 17,860 turned up to witness a 1–1 draw in Steele's debut against second-placed Brighton & Hove Albion, the first of a five match unbeaten run that took Vale off the foot of the table.^[1] A fortnight later Vale travelled to Plainmoor, where Steele took the ball from his own half to score the winner past Torquay United.^[1] On 9 February, Vale beat Gillingham 1–0, in what was the first of a club record thirteen game winning run at home.^[1]

A 5–1 hammering at Elm Park from Reading failed to prevent the Vale from going on to another eight game unbeaten run.^[1] Steele accomplished this without any new signings, in fact he sold Walter Aveyard to Accrington Stanley for a four-figure fee in April.^[1] Their run ended with a 3–0 defeat at Fellows Park to bottom-placed Walsall.^[1] Vale finished their final five games with three wins.^[1]

They finished thirteenth with 43 points, with a strong defence but the lowest goals scored tally in the division.^[1] They had lost just the one game at Vale Park, back on the opening day.^[1]

Finances

On the financial side, a profit of £4,403 was announced by the club, due to a profit on transfers of £16,750.^[1] Gross receipts had fallen to £27,133, whilst wages had risen by £3,500 to £23,511.^[1] Steele seemed to be happy with the players he inherited, as he retained 31 professionals, the only departures being George Heppell to Witton Albion, Stan Palk to Worcester City, and Lol Hamlett to Congleton Town.^[1]

Cup competitions

In the FA Cup, Vale fell at the first hurdle to Colchester United at Layer Road, losing 3–1.

League table

Main article: 1951–52 Football League

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GAv	Pts	Promotion
11	Torquay United	46	17	10	19	86	98	0.878	44
12	Aldershot	46	18	8	20	78	89	0.876	44
13	Port Vale	46	14	15	17	50	66	0.758	43	Transferred
14	Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic	46	16	10	20	69	75	0.920	42
15	Bristol City	46	15	12	19	58	69	0.841	42

Source: ^{[citation needed]}

Results

Port Vale's score comes first

Football League Third Division South

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	43	44	45	46
Ground	H	A	H	H	A	H	H	A	H	A	A	A	H	A	H	A	H	A	A	H	A	H	A	H	A	A	H	H	A	H	H	A	A	A	H	A	H	H	H	A	A	H	H	A	A	H
Result	L	D	D	D	W	W	D	L	D	L	L	L	D	L	D	L	D	L	L	W	L	D	L	D	L	L	D	D	W	W	W	L	D	W	W	D	W	W	W	D	L	W	W	L	L	W
Position	21	19	22	21	17	10	9	16	16	17	19	20	22	23	23	24	23	24	24	23	23	23	23	24	24	24	24	23	23	24	23	23	22	20	19	20	18	13	14	13	15	15	13	16	17	12

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

Matches

Date	Opponent	Venue	Result	Attendance	Scorers
18 August 1951	Reading	H	0–2	16,663
21 August 1951	Southend United	A	0–0	9,371
27 August 1951	Southend United	H	0–0	10,550
1 September 1951	Watford	H	1–1	11,790	Leake
5 September 1951	Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic	A	1–0	11,455	Martin
8 September 1951	Bristol City	H	1–0	14,472	Martin
10 September 1951	Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic	H	2–2	12,601	Pinchbeck (2)
15 September 1951	Ipswich Town	A	0–2	9,287
22 September 1951	Torquay United	H	2–2	14,201	Mullard, Sproson
27 September 1951	Northampton Town	A	1–3	8,082	Mullard
29 September 1951	Gillingham	A	2–4	14,354	Mullard (pen), Pinchbeck
6 October 1951	Plymouth Argyle	A	0–3	19,161
13 October 1951	Norwich City	H	0–0	10,576
20 October 1951	Exeter City	A	0–2	7,834
27 October 1951	Colchester United	H	1–1	9,488	Bennett
3 November 1951	Crystal Palace	A	1–3	16,401	Pinchbeck
10 November 1951	Swindon Town	H	2–2	9,142	Barber, Mullard
17 November 1951	Leyton Orient	A	0–2	7,674
1 December 1951	Shrewsbury Town	A	0–2	8,690
8 December 1951	Aldershot	H	4–1	4,136	Mullard (2), Hulligan, Cunliffe
15 December 1951	Brighton & Hove Albion	A	1–2	14,218	Mullard
22 December 1951	Northampton Town	H	0–0	8,973
25 December 1951	Bristol Rovers	A	1–4	16,691	o.g.
26 December 1951	Bristol Rovers	H	1–1	16,734	Barber
29 December 1951	Watford	A	0–2	9,023
5 January 1952	Bristol City	A	0–1	17,598
12 January 1952	Brighton & Hove Albion	H	1–1	17,860	Mullard (pen)
19 January 1952	Ipswich Town	H	0–0	10,592
26 January 1952	Torquay United	A	3–2	5,588	Griffiths, Mullard (pen), Steele
9 February 1952	Gillingham	H	1–0	12,768	Cunliffe
16 February 1952	Plymouth Argyle	H	1–0	10,572	Mullard
20 February 1952	Reading	A	1–5	10,174	Palk
23 February 1952	Newport County	A	1–1	11,543	Griffiths
1 March 1952	Norwich City	A	3–2	17,642	Steele, Hulligan, Mullard (pen)
8 March 1952	Exeter City	H	3–0	12,021	Steele, Griffiths, Hulligan
15 March 1952	Colchester United	A	0–0	7,551
22 March 1952	Crystal Palace	H	2–0	11,686	Bennett, Griffiths
24 March 1952	Newport County	H	4–2	5,908	Steele (2), Griffiths, Mullard
5 April 1952	Leyton Orient	H	3–0	7,257	Steele, Hulligan, Mullard
11 April 1952	Millwall	A	1–1	24,375	Griffiths
12 April 1952	Walsall	A	0–3	7,518
19 April 1952	Shrewsbury Town	H	1–0	14,469	Steele
21 April 1952	Walsall	H	1–0	8,401	Griffiths
26 April 1952	Aldershot	A	1–4	6,676	Bennett
28 April 1952	Swindon Town	A	0–2	4,835
3 May 1952	Millwall	H	2–1	7,316	Leake, Griffiths

FA Cup

Main article: 1951–52 FA Cup

Round	Date	Opponent	Venue	Result	Attendance	Goalscorers
R1	24 November 1951	Colchester United	A	1–3	10,119	Pinchbeck

Player statistics

Appearances

Pos.	Name	Football League		FA Cup		Total
		Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
GK	George Heppell	27	0	1	0	28	0
GK	Ray King	19	0	0	0	19	0
DF	Basil Hayward	27	0	1	0	28	0
DF	Tommy Cheadle	39	0	1	0	40	0
DF	Reg Potts	21	0	0	0	21	0
DF	Lol Hamlett	24	0	1	0	25	0
DF	Stan Turner	40	0	0	0	40	0
DF	Roy Sproson	28	1	0	0	28	1
MF	Jimmy Todd	24	0	1	0	25	0
MF	Alan Martin	5	2	0	0	5	2
MF	Mick Hulligan	37	4	1	0	38	4
MF	Alan Bennett	39	3	1	0	40	3
MF	Albert Leake	8	2	0	0	8	2
MF	John Cunliffe	11	2	0	0	11	2
MF	Albert Mullard	34	13	1	0	35	13
MF	Ivor Powell	6	0	0	0	6	0
MF	Norman Hallam	3	0	0	0	3	0
MF	Colin Askey	7	0	0	0	7	0
FW	Stan Palk	30	1	1	0	31	1
FW	Walter Aveyard	13	0	0	0	13	0
FW	Cliff Pinchbeck	12	4	1	1	13	5
FW	Ken Griffiths	20	8	1	0	21	8
FW	Len Barber	18	2	0	0	18	2
FW	Freddie Steele	14	7	0	0	14	7

Top scorers

Place	Position	Nation	Name	Third Division South	FA Cup	Total
1	MF	England	Albert Mullard	13	0	13
2	FW	England	Ken Griffiths	8	0	8
3	FW	England	Freddie Steele	7	0	7
4	MF	England	Mick Hulligan	4	0	5
–	FW	England	Cliff Pinchbeck	4	1	5
6	MF	England	Alan Bennett	3	0	3
7	MF	England	Albert Leake	2	0	2
–	MF	England	John Cunliffe	2	0	2
–	MF	England	Alan Martin	2	0	2
–	FW	England	Len Barber	2	0	2
11	FW	England	Stan Palk	1	0	1
–	DF	England	Roy Sproson	1	0	1
–	–	–	Own goals	1	0	1
			TOTALS	50	1	51

Transfers

Transfers in

Date from	Position	Nationality	Name	From	Fee	Ref.
July 1951	MF		Ivor Powell	Aston Villa	Free transfer	^[3]
September 1951	MF		Albert Mullard	Stoke City	Exchange	^[3]
December 1951	FW		Freddie Steele	Mansfield Town	'four-figure fee'	^[3]

Transfers out

Date from	Position	Nationality	Name	To	Fee	Ref.
September 1951	MF		Alan Martin	Stoke City	Exchange + £10,000	^[3]
October 1951	DF		Garth Butler	Retired		^[3]
November 1951	FW		Cliff Pinchbeck	Northampton Town	Undisclosed	^[3]
November 1951	MF		Ivor Powell	Barry Town	Released	^[3]
March 1952	FW		Walter Aveyard	Accrington Stanley	'four figure fee'	^[3]
May 1952	DF		Lol Hamlett	Congleton Town	Released	^[3]
May 1952	GK		George Heppell	Witton Albion	Free transfer	^[3]
Summer 1952	FW		Stan Palk		Released	^[3]

References

Specific

1. 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 1951–1952 : Results & Fixtures 4 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine. Statto Organisation. Retrieved 28 April 2012.
3. Kent, Jeff (1996). Port Vale Personalities. Witan Books. ISBN 0-9529152-0-0.

General

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