1975–76 Port Vale F.C. season

The 1975–76 season was Port Vale's 64th season of football in the Football League, and their sixth successive season (12th overall) in the Third Division.[1] Manager Roy Sproson brought Mick Cullerton back to Vale Park, and Cullerton was to become the top-scorer for the season with 21 goals. However the ongoing success of rivals Stoke City in winning the League Cup, playing in Europe, and competing at the top of the First Division caused Vale's support to suffer. The loyal support of a few thousand fans was not enough to balance the books, and so Brian Horton was controversially sold to Brighton & Hove Albion for £30,000.

Port Vale
1975–76 season
ChairmanMark Singer
ManagerRoy Sproson
StadiumVale Park
Football League Third Division12th (46 Points)
FA CupSecond Round
(knocked out by Huddersfield Town)
League CupFirst Round
(knocked out by Hereford United)
Player of the YearJohn Ridley
Top goalscorerLeague: Mick Cullerton (17)
All: Mick Cullerton (21)
Highest home attendance6,121 vs. Crystal Palace, 4 October 1975
Lowest home attendance2,789 vs. Grimsby Town, 20 December 1975
Average home league attendance4,133
Biggest win3–0 (twice) and 4–1
Biggest defeat0–3 (twice)

Overview

Third Division

The pre-season saw failed attempts by Roy Sproson to sign Wales internationals Mike England and Wyn Davies.[1] Instead he bought back Mick Cullerton from Stafford Rangers for £4,000, who had scored over seventy goals for Rangers in his two seasons away from Burslem.[1] Another former player, Ken Hancock, re-signed as a player-coach, however he soon found himself unable to play as he had received a pay-out upon his retirement in 1973.[1] Just two days before the opening game Sproson quickly signed Terry Lees from Stoke City for £3,000 and Geoff Morris from Bangor City for £200.[1]

The season opened with five draws, followed by two victories which took the Vale up to second.[1] Six games without a win soon brought the "Valiants" tumbling down the table though, as Cullerton lost his scoring touch.[1] At the end of October arrived Steve Taylor on loan from Bolton Wanderers, who put more 'bite' into the Vale attack.[1] Home fans turned against the players, and coach Reg Berks was 'appalled by some of the abuse hurled at the players'.[1] Taylor scored a brace past Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough on 8 November, only to return immediately back to Bolton.[1] The team's poor disciplinary record continued from the previous campaigns, and The Football Association put the club 'under constant review' after Sproson arrived 45 minutes late to a disciplinary hearing in London after missing his train.[1] Cullerton was back in scoring form as the Vale picked up victories and rose up the table.[1] A season-low crowd of 2,789 on 20 December saw Vale come from 3–0 down to Grimsby Town to win the match 4–3.[1] To motivate the players coach Reg Berks had told them at half-time that he was facing the sack if the team lost the game.[2] The promotion-chasers pulled away from Vale in the New Year however.[1] A rare event occurred on 17 January, when the Vale directors permitted rivals Stoke to play a home game to Middlesbrough at Vale Park.[1] This happened because a severe gale severely damaged the Victoria Ground, whilst the gale also caused £2,000 worth of damage to Vale Park, the damage to Stoke's ground was much more severe.[1] A crowd of 21,009 saw Stoke win 1–0, the highest crowd at Vale Park in over a decade. Vale's campaign carried on, though injuries built up Ray Williams managed to break a 21-game goal drought to earn a credible point at Cardiff City's Ninian Park on 25 February.[1] Eight more points in the next four games took the club to within three points of the promotion zone.[1] Yet in March the club sold Brian Horton to Brighton & Hove Albion for £30,000, a sum the club needed to balance the books.[1] The club's form suffered immediately, and mid-table was the result.[1] On 10 April, Brighton beat Vale 3–0 at the Withdean Stadium, and John Brodie broke his leg.[1]

They finished in twelfth place with 46 points.[1] Mick Cullerton hit 21 goals in all competitions to become the club's top scorer.[1] To celebrate the club's centenary, a friendly was played with Stoke City, which finished 1–1 in front of 9,825 spectators.[1] Stoke generously allowed the Vale to pocket the entire £6,500 worth of takings from the match.[3]

Finances

On the financial side, the Horton transfer and donations of £19,965 from the Development Fund ensured a profit of £24,819.[1] An increase in ticket prices offset the cost of a reduced average gate.[1] An income of £2,775 was gained from renting out space to market traders, however Stoke-on-Trent Council soon put a stop to this.[1] Geoff Morris left on a free transfer in the summer, signing with Kidderminster Harriers.[1]

Cup competitions

In the FA Cup, Vale progressed past Southern League Grantham 4–1 in Burslem following a 2–2 draw away. This proved a lucky escape for Vale as Brownbill's equalizing goal at Grantham was allowed to stand despite an obvious handball.[4] Many Vale supporters said that the linesman had raised his flag, only to lower it after being threatened by irate Vale spectators.[5] In the Second Round they faced Fourth Division Huddersfield Town at Leeds Road, and were eliminated 2–1.

In the League Cup, the new two-legged format only resulted in a 4–4 aggregate draw, and so a replay was held at Gay Meadow, Shrewsbury, which Hereford won 1–0. Cullerton scored a hat-trick in the first leg, thereby making 'a fairytale come true' by hitting three in his first game back at Vale Park.[1]

League table
Main article: 1975–76 Football League
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GAv Pts
10 Peterborough United 46 15 18 13 63 63 1.000 48
11 Mansfield Town 46 16 15 15 58 52 1.115 47
12 Port Vale 46 15 16 15 55 54 1.019 46
13 Bury 46 14 16 16 51 46 1.109 44
14 Chesterfield 46 17 9 20 69 69 1.000 43
Source: rsssf.com

Results

Port Vale's score comes first

Results by matchday
Round12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031323334353637383940414243444546
GroundAHAHAHHAHAHAAHHAHHAHAHAHAAHAHHAAHAAHAHAHHAHAHA
ResultDDDDDWWLDLDLLWLWLWLWWWLWLWDLDWLDWWDDLLDDWLDWDL
Position11111313137489111013181313121713161410888117910889101098810121112101111111012
Source: Statto[6]
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

Matches
DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers
16 August 1975Hereford UnitedA0–06,219
23 August 1975Preston North EndH1–14,282Cullerton
30 August 1975Peterborough UnitedA0–06,065
6 September 1975Brighton & Hove AlbionH1–13,289Morris
13 September 1975Southend UnitedA3–34,569Dulson, Cullerton (pen), Tartt
20 September 1975Swindon TownH3–03,720Bailey (2), Cullerton
22 September 1975Cardiff CityH2–15,143Cullerton, Lees
27 September 1975WrexhamA0–13,863
4 October 1975Crystal PalaceH0–06,121
11 October 1975GillinghamA1–25,041Chadwick
18 October 1975ChesterfieldH1–13,892Cullerton
21 October 1975Shrewsbury TownA0–14,673
25 October 1975Colchester UnitedA0–13,053
1 November 1975Rotherham UnitedH1–03,921Ridley
3 November 1975AldershotH0–13,917
8 November 1975Sheffield WednesdayA3–011,035Taylor (2), Chadwick
15 November 1975ChesterH0–13,908
29 November 1975MillwallH2–03,580Horton (2)
6 December 1975WalsallA1–34,526Horton
20 December 1975Grimsby TownH4–32,789Cullerton (2), Harris, Lees
26 December 1975Halifax TownA3–12,959Cullerton (2), Brownbill
27 December 1975BuryH2–15,957Cullerton, Bailey
3 January 1976Mansfield TownA1–35,417Cullerton
10 January 1976Peterborough UnitedH2–04,013Cullerton, Horton
17 January 1976Swindon TownA1–25,730Brownbill
24 January 1976ChesterfieldA1–04,058Cullerton
31 January 1976Shrewsbury TownH0–03,835
7 February 1976AldershotA0–23,446
9 February 1976Southend UnitedH1–13,494Harris
16 February 1976Sheffield WednesdayH1–05,569Brownbill
21 February 1976ChesterA0–15,914
25 February 1976Cardiff CityA1–19,109Williams
28 February 1976Colchester UnitedH3–23,803Cullerton, Brownbill, Bailey
6 March 1976Rotherham UnitedA2–14,338Dulson, Williams
9 March 1976Crystal PalaceA2–223,032Cullerton, Tartt
13 March 1976GillinghamH1–13,517Williams
20 March 1976MillwallA0–17,116
27 March 1976WalsallH1–24,870Bailey
30 March 1976Grimsby TownA1–14,533Cullerton (pen)
3 April 1976Hereford UnitedH1–14,430Griffiths
5 April 1976WrexhamH3–13,604Bailey (2), Tartt
10 April 1976Brighton & Hove AlbionA0–319,194
17 April 1976Halifax TownH1–13,169Beech
19 April 1976BuryA2–14,609Cullerton, McLaren
20 April 1976Mansfield TownH2–24,239Bailey, Tartt
24 April 1976Preston North EndA0–35,783

FA Cup
Main article: 1975–76 FA Cup
RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorers
R120 November 1975GranthamA2–22,853Brownbill (2)
R1 Replay24 November 1975GranthamH4–14,851Brownbill (2), Cullerton, Tartt
R213 December 1975Huddersfield TownA1–26,218Brownbill

League Cup
Main article: 1975–76 Football League Cup
RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorers
R1 1st Leg20 August 1975Hereford UnitedH4–23,787Cullerton (3 [1 pen]), Bailey
R1 2nd Leg20 August 1975Hereford UnitedA0–24,107
R1 Replay1 September 1975Hereford UnitedN0–13,676

Player statistics

Appearances
Pos. Name Football League FA Cup League Cup Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
GK John Connaughton 4503030510
GK David Ryan 10000010
DF John Brodie 1200000120
DF Neil Griffiths 3212010351
DF David Harris 3222030372
DF Garry Dulson 3021030342
DF Trevor Robson 10000010
DF Terry Lees 4123030472
MF Tommy McLaren 3113010351
MF Brian Horton 3143010354
MF Colin Tartt 4243130485
MF John Ridley 4613030521
MF Keith Chadwick 1421030182
MF Terry Bailey 4383031499
MF Kenny Beech 71000071
MF Geoff Morris 1510020171
FW Ray Williams 2933020343
FW Derek Brownbill 3643520419
FW Steve Taylor 42000042
FW Mick Cullerton 411731334721
FW Tony Betts 10000010

Top scorers
Place Position Nation Name Third Division FA Cup League Cup Total
1FW ScotlandMick Cullerton171321
2MF EnglandTerry Bailey8019
–FW EnglandDerek Brownbill4509
4MF EnglandColin Tartt4105
5MF EnglandBrian Horton4004
6FW EnglandRay Williams3003
7MF EnglandKeith Chadwick2002
–FW EnglandSteve Taylor2002
–DF EnglandDavid Harris2002
–DF EnglandGarry Dulson2002
–DF EnglandTerry Lees2002
12MF ScotlandTommy McLaren1001
–DF EnglandNeil Griffiths1001
–MF EnglandJohn Ridley1001
–MF EnglandKenny Beech1001
–MF EnglandGeoff Morris1001
TOTALS 55 7 4 66

Transfers

Transfers in
Date from Position Nationality Name From Fee Ref.
June 1975FWMick CullertonStafford Rangers£5,000[7]
August 1975MFTerry LeesStoke City£3,000[7]
August 1975MFGeoff Morris Bangor City£200[7]
September 1975FWTony Betts Portland TimbersTrial[7]

Transfers out
Date from Position Nationality Name To Fee Ref.
November 1975FWTony BettsBoldmere St. Michael'sTrial ended[7]
March 1976MFBrian HortonBrighton & Hove Albion£30,000[7]
May 1976MFGeoff MorrisKidderminster HarriersFree transfer[7]
August 1976MFTerry Lees Sparta Rotterdam£25,000[7]

Loans in
Date from Position Nationality Name From Date to Ref.
October 1975FWSteve TaylorBolton WanderersNovember 1975[7]
January 1976GKDavid RyanManchester UnitedJanuary 1976[7]

References
Specific
  1. Kent, Jeff (1990). "Surviving on a Shoestring (1969–1979)". The Valiants' Years: The Story Of Port Vale. Witan Books. pp. 227–257. ISBN 0-9508981-4-7.
  2. Kent, Jeff (December 1991). Port Vale Tales: A Collection Of Stories, Anecdotes And Memories. Witan Books. p. 52. ISBN 0-9508981-6-3.
  3. Kent, Jeff (November 1998). The Potteries Derbies. Witan Books. p. 169. ISBN 0-9529152-3-5.
  4. Kent, Jeff (December 1991). Port Vale Tales: A Collection Of Stories, Anecdotes And Memories. Witan Books. p. 254. ISBN 0-9508981-6-3.
  5. Johnson, Dave. Fifty Shades of Black & White: Tales From the Vale. p. 178.
  6. Port Vale 1975–1976 : Results & Fixtures Archived 15 September 2016 at the Wayback Machine. Statto Organisation. Retrieved 28 April 2012.
  7. 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.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.