1895–96 Burslem Port Vale F.C. season

The 1895–96 season was Burslem Port Vale's fourth consecutive season of football in the English Football League.[1] Another poor season struggling at the wrong end of the table, this time they failed to gain re-election; two seasons in the Midlands League followed, and despite a finish of 7th and then 5th they were re-elected back into the Football League for the expanded 1898–99 season.[1]

Burslem Port Vale
1895–96 season
StadiumAthletic Ground
Football League Second Division14th (18 Points)
FA CupSecond Qualifying Round
(knocked out by Burton Swifts)
Birmingham Senior CupFirst Round
(knocked out by Stourbridge)
Staffordshire Senior CupFirst Round
(knocked out by Stoke)
Top goalscorerLeague: Ernest Beckett (8)
All: Ernest Beckett (8)
Highest home attendance5,000 vs Burton Wanderers, 18 January 1896
Lowest home attendance500 vs Rotherham Town, 25 January 1896
Average home league attendance1,771
Biggest win4–0 vs. Rotherham Town, 25 January 1896
Biggest defeat2–8 vs. Darwen, 19 October 1895

A season to forget, a 5–4 victory over eventual champions Liverpool was one of the few memorable days. This came during a run of games which saw 65 goals in 11 games. Overall a leaky defence kept just 5 clean sheets in 30 league and 4 cup games. On their travels the team lost all their games save for a 2–0 win over Rotherham Town on the opening day.[1] From 21 September 1895 to 18 April 1896 they recorded 14 straight losses away from home, and went 27 games without a draw away from home between 26 January 1895 and 3 December 1898 – both club records.

Ever-present goalkeeper Tom Baddeley saved Vale from embarrassing scorelines on numerous occasions.
Ever-present George Price made his debut in 1896, and remained with the club for another eleven years.
Danny Simpson made his debut in 1896, and would become top scorer for 1896–97 and 1897–98.

Overview

Second Division

Vale finished in 14th place, with 18 points, 28 points short of champions Liverpool. They finished four points behind Lincoln City, who were safe from re-election. Having twice successfully applied for re-election in the past three seasons, this time round they lost their league status. Nearby Crewe Alexandra fared even worse than Vale, and didn't return to the Football League until 1921, whilst Rotherham Town were never to return. However Vale spent just two seasons in the Midland League before winning back their league status.[1]

The club suffered heavy defeats at Anfield, at Darwen, at Leicester Fosse, and in both clashes with Notts County and Grimsby Town. However they did manage victories over future giants of the game Liverpool, Newton Heath (later Manchester United), and Newcastle United.

Top scorers of previous years were lost, Billy Beats sold to Wolverhampton Wanderers in pre-season, whilst Meshach Dean lost his touch. Goals at a premium, Ernest Beckett (8), and Jim Mason (6) were the only players to score with anything approaching regularity. Highly impressive goalkeeper Tom Baddeley was an ever-present for the second successive season, with left-back George Youds and centre-half Ralph Barlow missing just one match each. At the end of the season Baddeley and Eccles left for Wolves, Eardley and McDonald left for Stoke; all wishing to remain Football League players.[1]

Cup competitions

Again Vale failed poorly in the FA Cup, easing past Scottish club Hereford Thistle in the first round of qualification with a walkover. The Second Round held league rivals Burton Swifts, who managed to draw at Vale's home and then win the replay with the odd goal. Facing rivals Stoke in the Staffordshire Senior Cup, they lost 4–0 at home.[1]

League table

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GAv Pts Qualification
12 Loughborough 30 9 5 16 40 66 0.606 23 New club in the league
13 Lincoln City 30 9 4 17 53 75 0.707 22
14 Burslem Port Vale 30 7 4 19 43 78 0.551 18 Failed re-election or resigned
15 Rotherham Town 30 7 3 20 34 97 0.351 17
16 Crewe Alexandra 30 5 3 22 30 95 0.316 13
Source:

Results

Football League Second Division

Burslem Port Vale's score comes first

Results by matchday

Round123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627282930
GroundAHAAHAHHHAAAHHHHHAHHAAHAAAHAAH
ResultWLLLDLWWLLLLWDWLLLLDLLLWLLDLLW
Position11111141213121113131314131312131313141414151414151515151514
Source: Statto[2]
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

Matches

DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers
7 September 1895Rotherham TownA2–02,000Beckett, Handley
14 September 1895Notts CountyH0–42,000
21 September 1895Burton WanderersA1–22,500Dean
28 September 1895LiverpoolA1–55,000J. Mason
5 October 1895DarwenH3–31,000Eardley (2), Evans
19 October 1895DarwenA2–84,000Eardley (2)
21 October 1895LiverpoolH5–41,000Evans, J. Mason, Beckett, Downie, Black
26 October 1895Crewe AlexandraH2–11,500J. Mason, Barlow
16 November 1895Grimsby TownH1–4800Beckett
7 December 1895Notts CountyA2–7500Evans, Beckett
25 December 1895Woolwich ArsenalA1–28,000Fallows
4 January 1896Grimsby TownA1–62,000Downie
11 January 1896Burton SwiftsH1–01,500Beckett
18 January 1896Burton WanderersH2–25,000Edwards, Sandham
25 January 1896Rotherham TownH4–0500Beckett, Sandham, McDonald, J. Mason
10 February 1896Manchester CityH0–13,000
15 February 1896Woolwich ArsenalH0–21,000
17 February 1896Manchester CityA0–13,000
22 February 1896Lincoln CityH0–11,000
7 March 1896Leicester FosseH1–11,500Beckett
14 March 1896Burton SwiftsA1–22,000Beckett
21 March 1896Leicester FosseA0–55,000
23 March 1896Newton HeathH3–03,000Randles (2), J. Mason
25 March 1896Crewe AlexandraA2–3C. Mason, Evans
3 April 1896Newcastle UnitedA2–48,500Simpson, Randles
6 April 1896Newton HeathA1–25,000McDonald
7 April 1896LoughboroughH1–1Simpson
11 April 1896LoughboroughA0–31,500
18 April 1896Lincoln CityA2–4Belfield (2)
20 April 1896Newcastle UnitedH2–02,000J. Mason, Randles

FA Cup

RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorers
1Q12 October 1895Hereford ThistleHwalkover
2Q2 November 1895Burton SwiftsH1–11,500unknown
2Q Replay6 November 1895Burton SwiftsA0–11,000

Birmingham Senior Cup

RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorers
120 January 1896StourbridgeA2–32,000Downie, own goal

Staffordshire Senior Cup

RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorers
18 February 1896StokeA0–44,000

Player statistics

Appearances

Pos. Name League FA Cup Other Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
GK Tom Baddeley 3002020340
DF G.S. Eccles 1702010200
DF John Edwards 31001041
DF Teddy Morse 1200010130
DFJim Beech 20000020
DF George Youds 2902020330
MF Meshach Dean 31000031
MF Joseph Boughey 10000010
MF James Holdcroft 2402000260
MFTed McDonald 2721020302
MF Jos Randles 74100084
MF Fred Belfield 52000052
MFRalph Barlow 2912020331
MFJames Downie 1222021163
MFJohn Fallows 81001091
MF Hamlet Handley 51000051
MFJames Kirkham 10000010
FWCharlie Mason 81100091
FWJim Mason 2662020306
FW Billy Eardley 941000104
FW Dick Evans 2040020224
FWErnest Beckett 2382020278
FWDavid Black 71200091
FW Jimmy Ditchfield 10000010
FW George Price 50000050
FWJoseph Sandham 42002062
FWDanny Simpson 1220000122

Top scorers

Place Position Nation Name Second Division FA Cup Other Total
1FWErnest Beckett8008
2FWJim Mason6006
3MF EnglandJos Randles4004
FW EnglandBilly Eardley4004
FW EnglandDick Evans4004
6MFJames Downie2013
7MF EnglandFred Belfield2002
MFTed McDonald2002
FWDanny Simpson2002
FWJoseph Sandham2002
11MFRalph Barlow1001
FWDavid Black1001
MF EnglandMeshach Dean1001
DF EnglandJohn Edwards1001
MFJohn Fallows1001
MF EnglandHamlet Handley1001
FWCharlie Mason1001
Own goals0011
TOTALS 43 0 1 44

Transfers

Transfers in

Date from Position Nationality Name From Fee Ref.
July 1895FWErnest BeckettNewcastle SwiftsFree transfer[3]
September 1895FWBilly EardleyNewcastle SwiftsFree transfer[3]
September 1895MFJames DownieBlackburn RoversFree transfer[3]
September 1895FWDavid BlackBlackburn RoversFree transfer[3]
January 1896MFJohn EdwardsStockport CountyFree transfer[3]
January 1896FWJoseph SandhamCrewe AlexandraFree transfer[3]
February 1896FWDanny SimpsonTunstall TownFree transfer[3]

Transfers out

Date from Position Nationality Name To Fee Ref.
October 1895MFAlf WoodStokeFree transfer[3]
January 1896FWDavid BlackReleased[3]
February 1896FWJoseph SandhamDresden UnitedFree transfer[3]
May 1896DFGeorge Samuel EcclesWolverhampton Wanderers'considerable'[3]
Summer 1896MFJoseph BougheyAudleyReleased[3]
Summer 1896MFMeshach DeanReleased[3]
Summer 1896FWJimmy DitchfieldReleased[3]
Summer 1896MFJames DownieReleased[3]
Summer 1896MFJohn EdwardsGrays UnitedFree transfer[3]
Summer 1896MFHamlet HandleyReleased[3]
Summer 1896MFJames KirkhamReleased[3]
Summer 1896FWCharlie MasonReleased[3]
Summer 1896DFWilliam RhodesReleased[3]
August 1896FWBilly EardleyStokeFree transfer[3]
August 1896MFTed McDonaldStokeFree transfer[3]

References

Specific
  1. Kent, Jeff (1990). "Trying to make the Grade (1888-1898)". The Valiants' Years: The Story Of Port Vale. Witan Books. pp. 26–50. ISBN 0-9508981-4-7.
  2. Port Vale 1895–1896 : Results & Fixtures Archived 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.
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