1892–93 Burslem Port Vale F.C. season

Second Division

The pre-season started terribly, with star striker Frank McGinnes dying of kidney disease before a ball was kicked.^[1] His replacement was Wallace Bliss, and local headmaster Fred Farrington was appointed captain.^[1] The first match continued in desperately poor fashion; Billy Beats missed the train, and so Vale played with ten men against Small Heath, losing 5–1, with Bliss scoring the club's first Football League goal – his only goal in the league ever.^[2] Small Heath's first goal came as "the right wing took the ball in front of goal, and after a little scrimmaging it was sent between the posts";^[3] the goal was credited to Fred Wheldon. Vale rallied, and the game, "more vigorous than scientific",^[4] was even until Small Heath scored twice just before half-time. In the second half, with the advantage of the wind, Port Vale pulled a goal back, but the final score was 5–1.^[5] Away matches were difficult for the "Valeites" as players had trouble gaining permission from their employers to miss work.^[1] The first point was earned away at Bootle on 12 September, with a 1–1 draw secured despite the team's lunch basket being left at Longport railway station. The first victory came 12 days later, as Crewe Alexandra were dispatched by four goals to one in front of a crowd of 1,500 at the Athletic Ground – 800 of which were visiting Crewe fans. C. McAlpine made a return to the club after starting the campaign with Darlington; he was, though, given a six-week suspension as a punishment for having signed contracts with both Darlington and Port Vale. On 22 October, the first away league win was secured, as a 4–3 victory was claimed at Lincoln City and the players left the pitch at John O'Gaunts performing celebratory somersaults.^[1] Vale had gone two goals up before half-time, though conceded when Frank Smallman scored out of a scrimmage; in the second half, the home side pressed forward and James Gresham levelled, then Vale put on the pressure and scored twice in four minutes before Smallman scored a late goal.^[6]

On 3 December, they faced the return fixture with Lincoln City, and although the opening exchanges were even, Lincoln were soon leading by two goals, before Vale pulled one back before half-time and then pressed forward in the second half. Vale were unable to add another goal, however, thus giving Lincoln their first away league win.^[7] Vale secured only one point from six games until the end of the calendar year, at which point they beat Walsall Town Swifts by three goals to nil; new player Johnny Lander scored a brace. The sequence of losses included a 10–0 defeat in a snowstorm at home to Sheffield United on 10 December, a Football League record for a home defeat.^[8] Regular custodian Joe Frail was ill, leaving reserve team right-half Billy Delves to play in goal on his behalf. Frail played in the return fixture at Bramall Lane seven days later, which ended in a 4–0 defeat.^[1]

Two defeats to Grimsby Town were the only league fixtures in the first five weeks of 1893, with right-back James Clutton needing police protection from Grimsby fans in the away fixture and goalkeeper Levi Higginson failing to show up for the home game, leaving left-half Billy Elson to deputise for him. William McFarlane was signed to bolster the forward line, and he made his debut in a 3–0 defeat at Walsall Town Swifts that saw Vale replace Walsall as the Second Division's bottom club. A 4–0 home win over Northwich Victoria followed, and a further point was gained with a 3–3 draw at Burton Swifts – Burton had only equalised after three players held back Frail to prevent him from saving the shot. After the game, winger Tommy Walker was transferred to Burton Swifts. A 3–0 home defeat by Small Heath concluded the home fixtures, Billy Walton opening the scoring just before half-time with a penalty kick.^[9] This left the team needing to claim a point at Northwich Victoria to avoid finishing last. Vale claimed a second league win of the campaign to secure an 11th-place finish ahead of bottom club Walsall Town Swifts. Port Vale retained their league status despite their poor showing (disbanded Bootle were the only team to lose their status), and the next season, three more teams were added to the league. Management decided to retain the entire first team, sans McApline.^[1]

Cup competitions

Despite reaching the fifth round of the FA Cup in 1885–86, they failed to make it through the qualifying stages this time round. In the Staffordshire Senior Cup, they exited in the first round to Burton Wanderers in front of just 100 spectators. In the Birmingham Senior Cup, they left in the second round after a 4–1 defeat by Aston Villa.

Football League Second Division

Matches

Small Heath v Burslem Port Vale

3 September 1892 1	Small Heath	5–1	Burslem Port Vale	Small Heath
	Wheldon Short Hallam Edwards	Report	Bliss	Stadium: Muntz Street Attendance: 2,500

Ardwick v Burslem Port Vale

12 September 1892 2	Ardwick	2–0	Burslem Port Vale	Gorton
	Weir Angus	Report		Stadium: Hyde Road Attendance: 2,000

Bootle v Burslem Port Vale

17 September 1892 3	Bootle	1–1	Burslem Port Vale	Bootle
		Report	Dean	Stadium: Hawthorne Road Attendance: 3,000

Burslem Port Vale v Crewe Alexandra

24 September 1892 4	Burslem Port Vale	4–1	Crewe Alexandra	Cobridge
	Farrington Walker Dean	Report		Stadium: Athletic Ground Attendance: 1,500

Burslem Port Vale v Darwen

1 October 1892 5	Burslem Port Vale	2–4	Darwen	Cobridge
	Walker Bliss	Report		Stadium: Athletic Ground Attendance: 2,000

Burslem Port Vale v Burton Swifts

8 October 1892 6	Burslem Port Vale	1–0	Burton Swifts	Cobridge
	Farrington	Report		Stadium: Athletic Ground

Burslem Port Vale v Ardwick

10 October 1892 7	Burslem Port Vale	1–2	Ardwick	Cobridge
	Walker	Report	Weir	Stadium: Athletic Ground Attendance: 1,000

Lincoln City v Burslem Port Vale

22 October 1892 8	Lincoln City	3–4	Burslem Port Vale	Lincoln
	Smallman J.Gresham	Report	J.Mountford Bliss unknown unknown	Stadium: John O'Gaunts Attendance: 1,000

Darwen v Burslem Port Vale

5 November 1892 9	Darwen	4–1	Burslem Port Vale	Darwen
		Report	Farrington	Stadium: Barley Bank Attendance: 3,000

Burslem Port Vale v Bootle

12 November 1892 10	Burslem Port Vale	0–0	Bootle	Cobridge
		Report		Stadium: Athletic Ground Attendance: 1,300

Crewe Alexandra v Burslem Port Vale

26 November 1892 11	Crewe Alexandra	5–0	Burslem Port Vale	Crewe
		Report		Stadium: Alexandra Recreation Ground

Burslem Port Vale v Lincoln City

3 December 1892 12	Burslem Port Vale	1–2	Lincoln City	Cobridge
	Beats	Report	J.Gresham Cameron	Stadium: Athletic Ground

Burslem Port Vale v Sheffield United

10 December 1892 13	Burslem Port Vale	0–10	Sheffield United	Cobridge
		Report	Drummond Wallace Hammond Watson Davies	Stadium: Athletic Ground Attendance: 1,000

Sheffield United v Burslem Port Vale

17 December 1892 14	Sheffield United	4–0	Burslem Port Vale	Sheffield
	Needham Hammond Howell Drummond	Report		Stadium: Bramall Lane Attendance: 2,000

Burslem Port Vale v Walsall Town Swifts

31 December 1892 15	Burslem Port Vale	3–0	Walsall Town Swifts	Cobridge
	Lander unknown	Report		Stadium: Athletic Ground Attendance: 1,000

Grimsby Town v Burslem Port Vale

14 January 1893 16	Grimsby Town	2–0	Burslem Port Vale	Grimsby
		Report		Stadium: Abbey Park Attendance: 500

Burslem Port Vale v Grimsby Town

11 February 1893 17	Burslem Port Vale	0–1	Grimsby Town	Cobridge
		Report		Stadium: Athletic Ground Attendance: 500

Walsall Town Swifts v Burslem Port Vale

18 February 1893 18	Walsall Town Swifts	3–0	Burslem Port Vale	Walsall
		Report		Stadium: The Chuckery Attendance: 1,000

Burslem Port Vale v Northwich Victoria

4 March 1893 19	Burslem Port Vale	4–0	Northwich Victoria	Cobridge
	Wood Beats Dean	Report		Stadium: Athletic Ground Attendance: 800

Burton Swifts v Burslem Port Vale

18 March 1893 20	Burton Swifts	3–3	Burslem Port Vale	Burton upon Trent
		Report	Dean Scarratt	Stadium: Peel Croft

Burslem Port Vale v Small Heath

25 March 1893 21	Burslem Port Vale	0–3	Small Heath	Cobridge
		Report	Walton Hallam	Stadium: Athletic Ground Attendance: 3,000

Northwich Victoria v Burslem Port Vale

8 April 1893 22	Northwich Victoria	2–4	Burslem Port Vale	Northwich
		Report	Beats G.Mountford	Stadium: Drill Field Attendance: 1,000

FA Cup

Birmingham Senior Cup

Burslem Port Vale v Aston Villa

2 February 1893 R2	Burslem Port Vale	1–4	Aston Villa	Cobridge
	Elson			Stadium: Athletic Ground Attendance: 2,000

Staffordshire Senior Cup

Burslem Port Vale v Burton Wanderers

7 January 1893 R1	Burslem Port Vale	2–4	Burton Wanderers	Cobridge
	Scarratt Dean			Stadium: Athletic Ground Attendance: 100

Appearances and goals

Key to positions: GK – Goalkeeper; FB – Full back; HB – Half back; FW – Forward

More information No., Pos ...

No.	Pos	Nat	Player	Total		Second Division		FA Cup		Other
				Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
	GK	ENG	Joe Frail	22	0	19	0	1	0	2	0
	GK	ENG	Levi Higginson	1	0	1	0	0	0	0	0
	FB	ENG	James Clutton	24	0	21	0	1	0	2	0
	FB		W. E. Powell	3	0	3	0	0	0	0	0
	FB	ENG	Albert Skinner	1	0	1	0	0	0	0	0
	FB	ENG	George Youds	2	0	2	0	0	0	0	0
	HB		W. Downwood	4	0	3	0	1	0	0	0
	HB	ENG	Billy Delves	2	0	2	0	0	0	0	0
	HB	ENG	Billy Elson	19	1	16	0	1	0	2	1
	HB		Fred Farrington	20	4	18	4	1	0	1	0
	HB	SCO	Bob McCrindle	23	0	20	0	1	0	2	0
	HB	ENG	Jos Randles	2	0	2	0	0	0	0	0
	HB	ENG	Jimmy Scarratt	23	2	20	1	1	0	2	1
	HB		James Smith	5	0	4	0	1	0	0	0
	HB	ENG	Alf Wood	9	2	7	2	0	0	2	0
	FW	ENG	Billy Beats	23	4	21	4	1	0	1	0
	FW	ENG	Wallace Bliss	14	3	13	3	1	0	0	0
	FW	ENG	Meshach Dean	19	6	16	5	1	0	2	1
	FW		Jimmy Ditchfield	12	0	11	0	0	0	1	0
	FW		Charles Garner	1	0	1	0	0	0	0	0
	FW		W. Jones	1	0	1	0	0	0	0	0
	FW		Johnny Lander	3	2	3	2	0	0	0	0
	FW		William McFarlane	4	0	4	0	0	0	0	0
	FW		George Mountford	3	2	3	2	0	0	0	0
	FW		James Mountford	1	1	1	1	0	0	0	0
	FW	ENG	John Nash	2	0	2	0	0	0	0	0
	FW	ENG	Arthur Pimlott	1	0	1	0	0	0	0	0
Players who featured but departed the club during the season:
	FB		C. McAlpine	11	0	10	0	0	0	1	0
	FW		Tommy Walker	18	3	15	3	1	0	2	0

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Top scorers

More information Place, Position ...

Place	Position	Nation	Name	Midland League	FA Cup	Other	Total
1	FW	England	Meshach Dean	5	0	1	6
2	FW	England	Billy Beats	4	0	0	4
–	HB		Fred Farrington	4	0	0	4
4	FW		Tommy Walker	3	0	0	3
–	FW	England	Wallace Bliss	3	0	0	3
6	FW		George Mountford	2	0	0	2
–	HB	England	Alf Wood	2	0	0	2
–	FW		Johnny Lander	2	0	0	2
–	HB	England	Jimmy Scarratt	1	0	1	2
10	HB	England	Billy Elson	0	0	1	1
–	FW		James Mountford	1	0	0	1
–	–	–	Unknown	3	0	0	3
			TOTALS	30	0	6	36

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