1932–33 Port Vale F.C. season

The 1932–33 season was Port Vale's 27th season of football in the English Football League, and their third-successive season (26th overall) in the Second Division.^[1] Despite hopes of improvement, the club again struggled in mid‑table — finishing 17th with 38 points from 42 matches (14 wins, 10 draws, 18 losses), scoring 66 goals and conceding 79.

Port Vale

1932–33 season
Chairman	Frank Huntbach
Manager	Tom Holford
Stadium	Old Recreation Ground
Football League Second Division	17th (38 Points)
FA Cup	Third Round (knocked out by Blackpool)
Top goalscorer	League: Wilf Kirkham (15) All: Wilf Kirkham (15)
Highest home attendance	19,625 vs. Stoke City, 4 March 1933
Lowest home attendance	3,364 vs. Plymouth Argyle, 29 April 1933
Average home league attendance	8,876
Biggest win	9–1 vs. Chesterfield, 24 September 1932
Biggest defeat	0–7 vs. Bradford City, 1 October 1932
Home colours
← 1931–32 1933–34 →

Under manager Tom Holford, who returned in June 1932, the season was notable for the record-setting 9–1 league win over Chesterfield on 24 September, in which Stewart Littlewood netted six goals within 57 minutes, marking both still club records. That moment of brilliance aside, injuries (notably Littlewood's cartilage damage and Shenton’s knee) and inconsistent form hampered progress, including a run of eight winless games over October–November. Legendary striker Wilf Kirkham concluded his long career in a Vale shirt this season, finishing as the club's league top scorer once again — his sixth such feat — with 15 goals before retiring to a teaching career.

In the FA Cup, Vale were eliminated in the Third Round, falling 2–1 away to First Division side Blackpool at Bloomfield Road. Off the field, the club made a £481 profit, managed tight wage controls, reduced gate receipts (around £11,447), and issued clear-outs of several senior players to refresh the squad heading into 1933–34. The season is best remembered for shouting highs and frustrating lows — a record-breaking win and farewell to Kirkham standing out in an otherwise unremarkable campaign.

Manager Tom Holford.

Chairman Frank Huntbach was pleased the club's finances.^[1]

Club record goalscorer Wilf Kirkham.

Midfielder Jack Round.

Overview

Second Division

The pre-season worries over the Great Depression saw ticket prices reduced, as the Old Recreation Ground's capacity was increased, and a radio-gramophone broadcaster with four loudspeakers was installed.^[1] New signings included Bradford Park Avenue outside-left Bob Morton and Cardiff City left-half Jimmy McGrath.^[1]

The season began well; an opening-day victory over Bury was followed by a useful sequence of results that saw the club climb the table.^[1] Their 9–1 win over Chesterfield on 24 September was the biggest victory of the season in the division, and a still standing club record victory in the Football League.^[1] Stewart Littlewood scored an incredible six goals that day – also a still standing club record, all within 57 minutes.^[2][1] The Vale followed this record win with a 7–0 defeat at Bradford City's Valley Parade, in what had been dubbed a promotion clash.^[1] Shenton twisted his knee in the latter match, and the list of injuries began to mount, Littlewood also requiring an operation to repair cartilage damage.^[1] This prompted the signing of Manchester United's highly experienced ex-England international forward Louis Page, brother of ex-Vale player Tom Page.^[1]

From 15 October to 3 December, Vale were on a run of eight games without a win, six defeats.^[1] One of these defeats was a 5–0 hammering at Notts County's Meadow Lane in which goalkeeper Jock Leckie was stretchered off, and another was a 1–0 defeat at Stoke City's Victoria Ground in front of 29,296 spectators, yet another was a 4–0 loss at Tottenham Hotspur's White Hart Lane in front of a crowd of 33,071.^[1] In December, a shake-up in the first XI brought four successive home victories, though only one point was won from three away games.^[1] They had also been leading Charlton Athletic 4–1 on Boxing Day, until the match was called off due to fog. Stoke defender Len Armitage was brought in to help shore up the defence as the club hovered in mid-table.^[1]

In January, ten-year veteran left-back Jimmy Oakes was sold to Charlton Athletic for £3,000.^[1] On 21 January, they fell to a 5–0 defeat at West Ham United. On 4 March, Stoke romped home to a 3–1 derby win, with a certain Stanley Matthews scoring his first goal for the "Potters".^[1] After this the "Valiants" went five games unbeaten, which started with them picking up a point at Old Trafford.^[1] Only one of these matches was a win, though, as they defeated Notts County by four goals to nil. They won three and lost four of their seven April games.^[1] Safety was secured on 22 April with three games left to play despite a 4–2 loss at Bradford (Park Avenue). The 26 April game against Charlton Athletic at The Valley was remarkable as Oakes became the first ever player to play for opposite teams in the same match – this happened as before his transfer he had played for Vale in a game with the "Addicks" that was called off before full-time due to fog.^[1] The final game of the season was a 6–1 beating at Blundell Park by Grimsby Town, though by this time their survival in the division was already ensured.^[1]

They finished in 17th position with 38 points, four points clear of relegated Chesterfield and 17 points short of promoted Spurs. Meanwhile, the reserve team won the Cheshire League for the fifth successive season.^[1]

Finances

On the financial side, a profit of £481 was made due to strict economic management.^[1] Wages were reduced, and the "A" team was scrapped.^[1] Gate receipts had again fallen, now standing at £11,447.^[1] Another clear-out of players took place: with Billy Easton, Louis Page, Stewart Littlewood, Tom Tippett, Wilf Kirkham, Jock Leckie, and Ben Davies all leaving on free transfers. Easton joined Aldershot, Page signed with Yeovil & Petters United, Littlewood went to Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic, Tippett joined West Ham United, Leckie went to Stockport County. Kirkham retired as a professional to concentrate on his duties as an educator, turning out as an amateur for Kidderminster Harriers in the Birmingham League.^[1]

Cup competitions

In the FA Cup, Vale lost 2–1 at First Division relegation strugglers Blackpool's Bloomfield Road in the third round.^[1]

League table

Main article: 1932–33 Football League

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GAv	Pts
15	Notts County	42	15	10	17	67	78	0.859	40
16	Oldham Athletic	42	15	8	19	67	80	0.838	38
17	Port Vale	42	14	10	18	66	79	0.835	38
18	Lincoln City	42	12	13	17	72	87	0.828	37
19	Burnley	42	11	14	17	67	79	0.848	36

Source: ^{[citation needed]}
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal average; 3) Goals scored

Results

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	A	A	H	H	A	H	A	H	A	A	H	A	H	A	H	A	H	A	H	H	A	H	A	H	A	H	A	H	A	H	H	A	H	A	H	H	A	A	A	H	A
Result	W	D	W	L	W	D	W	L	W	L	L	D	L	L	D	L	L	W	L	W	W	D	W	L	L	D	W	L	L	D	D	W	D	D	L	W	L	W	L	L	W	L
Position	1	5	3	7	4	4	4	4	4	5	8	8	12	13	13	15	17	16	17	16	14	15	13	15	15	15	15	15	16	15	15	14	13	14	15	15	17	15	16	16	16	17
Points	2	3	5	5	7	8	10	10	12	12	12	13	13	13	14	14	14	16	16	18	20	21	23	23	23	24	26	26	26	27	28	30	31	32	32	34	34	36	36	36	38	38

Source: Statto^[3]
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

Matches

Port Vale v Bury

27 August 1932 1	Port Vale	1–0	Bury	Hanley
	Kirkham			Stadium: Old Recreation Ground Attendance: 10,120

Southampton v Port Vale

29 August 1932 2	Southampton	2–2	Port Vale	Southampton
			Littlewood	Stadium: The Dell Attendance: 8,151

Lincoln City v Port Vale

3 September 1932 3	Lincoln City	0–1	Port Vale	Lincoln
			Kirkham	Stadium: Sincil Bank Attendance: 11,276

Port Vale v Southampton

5 September 1932 4	Port Vale	0–2	Southampton	Hanley
				Stadium: Old Recreation Ground Attendance: 8,843

Port Vale v West Ham United

10 September 1932 5	Port Vale	4–0	West Ham United	Hanley
	Morton Kirkham Littlewood Sherlock pen'			Stadium: Old Recreation Ground Attendance: 9,582

Fulham v Port Vale

17 September 1932 6	Fulham	1–1	Port Vale	Fulham, West London
			Morton	Stadium: Craven Cottage Attendance: 21,272

Port Vale v Chesterfield

24 September 1932 7	Port Vale	9–1	Chesterfield	Hanley
	Littlewood Kirkham Morton			Stadium: Old Recreation Ground Attendance: 9,950

Bradford City v Port Vale

1 October 1932 8	Bradford City	7–0	Port Vale	Bradford
				Stadium: Valley Parade Attendance: 12,648

Port Vale v Swansea Town

8 October 1932 9	Port Vale	2–1	Swansea Town	Hanley
	Morton Kirkham			Stadium: Old Recreation Ground Attendance: 7,310

Notts County v Port Vale

15 October 1932 10	Notts County	5–0	Port Vale	Nottingham
				Stadium: Meadow Lane Attendance: 9,217

Stoke City v Port Vale

22 October 1932 11	Stoke City	1–0	Port Vale	Stoke-upon-Trent
				Stadium: Victoria Ground Attendance: 29,296

Port Vale v Manchester United

29 October 1932 12	Port Vale	3–3	Manchester United	Hanley
	Sherlock Page Morton			Stadium: Old Recreation Ground Attendance: 7,138

Tottenham Hotspur v Port Vale

5 November 1932 13	Tottenham Hotspur	4–0	Port Vale	Tottenham, North London
				Stadium: White Hart Lane Attendance: 33,071

Port Vale v Nottingham Forest

12 November 1932 14	Port Vale	0–1	Nottingham Forest	Hanley
				Stadium: Old Recreation Ground Attendance: 8,088

Burnley v Port Vale

19 November 1932 15	Burnley	1–1	Port Vale	Burnley
			Kirkham	Stadium: Turf Moor Attendance: 7,940

Port Vale v Preston North End

26 November 1932 16	Port Vale	0–1	Preston North End	Hanley
				Stadium: Old Recreation Ground Attendance: 6,938

Oldham Athletic v Port Vale

3 December 1932 17	Oldham Athletic	2–1	Port Vale	Oldham
			McGrath	Stadium: Boundary Park Attendance: 4,397

Port Vale v Bradford (Park Avenue)

10 December 1932 18	Port Vale	3–1	Bradford (Park Avenue)	Hanley
	McGrath Kirkham Mills			Stadium: Old Recreation Ground Attendance: 6,114

Plymouth Argyle v Port Vale

17 December 1932 19	Plymouth Argyle	3–1	Port Vale	Plymouth
			Page	Stadium: Home Park Attendance: 15,567

Port Vale v Grimsby Town

24 December 1932 20	Port Vale	4–2	Grimsby Town	Hanley
	Tippett Sherlock pen' Kirkham			Stadium: Old Recreation Ground Attendance: 8,342

Port Vale v Charlton Athletic

27 December 1932 21	Port Vale	2–1	Charlton Athletic	Hanley
	McGrath Mills			Stadium: Old Recreation Ground Attendance: 12,622

Bury v Port Vale

31 December 1932 22	Bury	0–0	Port Vale	Bury, Greater Manchester
				Stadium: Gigg Lane Attendance: 7,906

Port Vale v Lincoln City

7 January 1933 23	Port Vale	3–2	Lincoln City	Hanley
	Kirkham Tippett			Stadium: Old Recreation Ground Attendance: 7,263

West Ham United v Port Vale

21 January 1933 24	West Ham United	5–0	Port Vale	Upton Park, London
				Stadium: Boleyn Ground Attendance: 13,908

Port Vale v Fulham

28 January 1933 25	Port Vale	1–2	Fulham	Hanley
	Kirkham			Stadium: Old Recreation Ground Attendance: 5,383

Chesterfield v Port Vale

4 February 1933 26	Chesterfield	2–2	Port Vale	Chesterfield, Derbyshire
			Morton McGrath	Stadium: Saltergate Attendance: 11,748

Port Vale v Bradford City

11 February 1933 27	Port Vale	2–0	Bradford City	Hanley
	Jones Littlewood			Stadium: Old Recreation Ground Attendance: 9,873

Swansea Town v Port Vale

18 February 1933 28	Swansea Town	2–0	Port Vale	Swansea
				Stadium: Vetch Field Attendance: 8,049

Port Vale v Stoke City

4 March 1933 29	Port Vale	1–3	Stoke City	Hanley
	McGrath			Stadium: Old Recreation Ground Attendance: 19,625

Manchester United v Port Vale

11 March 1933 30	Manchester United	1–1	Port Vale	Old Trafford
			McGrath	Stadium: Old Trafford Attendance: 24,690

Port Vale v Tottenham Hotspur

18 March 1933 31	Port Vale	1–1	Tottenham Hotspur	Hanley
	Nolan			Stadium: Old Recreation Ground Attendance: 14,588

Port Vale v Notts County

20 March 1933 32	Port Vale	4–0	Notts County	Hanley
	Nolan Kirkham Baker			Stadium: Old Recreation Ground Attendance: 5,682

Nottingham Forest v Port Vale

25 March 1933 33	Nottingham Forest	1–1	Port Vale	West Bridgford
			Kirkham	Stadium: City Ground Attendance: 10,618

Port Vale v Burnley

1 April 1933 34	Port Vale	1–1	Burnley	Hanley
	o.g.			Stadium: Old Recreation Ground Attendance: 7,221

Preston North End v Port Vale

8 April 1933 35	Preston North End	3–1	Port Vale	Preston, Lancashire
			Morton	Stadium: Deepdale Attendance: 9,490

Port Vale v Millwall

14 April 1933 36	Port Vale	2–0	Millwall	Hanley
	Morton Nolan			Stadium: Old Recreation Ground Attendance: 11,032

Port Vale v Oldham Athletic

15 April 1933 37	Port Vale	2–4	Oldham Athletic	Hanley
	McGrath			Stadium: Old Recreation Ground Attendance: 7,317

Millwall v Port Vale

17 April 1933 38	Millwall	0–1	Port Vale	New Cross, Lewisham
			Armitage	Stadium: The Den Attendance: 7,507

Bradford (Park Avenue) v Port Vale

22 April 1933 39	Bradford (Park Avenue)	4–2	Port Vale	Bradford
			Morton Armitage	Stadium: Park Avenue Attendance: 5,757

Charlton Athletic v Port Vale

26 April 1933 40	Charlton Athletic	2–1	Port Vale	Charlton, London
			Morton	Stadium: The Valley Attendance: 5,492

Port Vale v Plymouth Argyle

29 April 1933 41	Port Vale	4–1	Plymouth Argyle	Hanley
	Nolan Kirkham			Stadium: Old Recreation Ground Attendance: 3,364

Grimsby Town v Port Vale

6 May 1933 42	Grimsby Town	6–1	Port Vale	Cleethorpes
			Nolan	Stadium: Blundell Park Attendance: 6,349

FA Cup

Main article: 1932–33 FA Cup

Blackpool v Port Vale

14 January 1933 R3	Blackpool	2–1	Port Vale	Blackpool
			Mills	Stadium: Bloomfield Road Attendance: 15,800

Player statistics

Appearances and goals

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

Pos.	Name	Football League		FA Cup		Total
		Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
GK	Ben Davies	11	0	1	0	12	0
GK	Jock Leckie	22	0	0	0	22	0
GK	Allan Todd	9	0	0	0	9	0
FB	Jimmy Oakes	12	0	0	0	12	0
FB	George Shenton	28	0	1	0	29	0
FB	William Cope	3	0	0	0	3	0
FB	William Allsop	5	0	0	0	5	0
FB	George Poyser	28	0	0	0	28	0
HB	Arnold Bliss	21	0	1	0	22	0
HB	Roger Jones	40	1	1	0	41	1
HB	Jack Round	31	0	0	0	31	0
HB	Jimmy McGrath	28	8	1	0	29	8
HB	Fred Mills	36	2	1	1	37	3
HB	Albert Harrison	3	0	0	0	3	0
HB	Cliff Birks	21	0	1	0	22	0
HB	Jack Sherlock	24	3	0	0	24	3
FW	Len Armitage	10	2	1	0	11	2
FW	James Henshall	5	0	0	0	5	0
FW	Bob Morton	33	10	0	0	33	10
FW	Horace Baker	7	1	0	0	7	1
FW	Stewart Littlewood	13	10	0	0	13	10
FW	Tom Tippett	8	3	1	0	9	3
FW	Tom Nolan	17	8	0	0	17	8
FW	Billy Easton	3	0	0	0	3	0
FW	Wilf Kirkham	33	15	1	0	34	15
FW	John Smith	6	0	0	0	6	0
FW	Louis Page	18	2	1	0	19	2
FW	Robert Davies	5	0	0	0	5	0

Top scorers

Place	Position	Nation	Name	Second Division	FA Cup	Total
1	FW	England	Wilf Kirkham	15	0	15
2	FW	England	Bob Morton	10	0	10
–	FW	England	Stewart Littlewood	10	0	10
4	FW	England	Tom Nolan	8	0	8
–	HB	England	Jimmy McGrath	8	0	8
6	HB	England	Fred Mills	2	1	3
–	FW	England	Tom Tippett	3	0	3
–	HB	England	Jack Sherlock	3	0	3
9	FW	England	Len Armitage	2	0	2
–	FW	England	Louis Page	2	0	2
11	HB	England	Roger Jones	1	0	1
–	FW	England	Horace Baker	1	0	1
–	–	–	Own goals	1	0	1
			TOTALS	66	1	67

Transfers

Transfers in

Date from	Position	Nationality	Name	From	Fee	Ref.
May 1932	HB		Jimmy McGrath	Cardiff City	Free transfer	[4]
May 1932	FW		Bob Morton	Bradford Park Avenue	Free transfer	[4]
August 1932	FW		John Smith	Derby County	Free transfer	[4]
October 1932	FW		Louis Page	Manchester United	Free transfer	[4]
October 1932	GK		Allan Todd	Cowdenbeath	Free transfer	[4]
December 1932	FW		Len Armitage	Rhyl Athletic	Free transfer	[4]
March 1933	HB		Billy Tabram	Swansea Town	Free transfer	[4]

Transfers out

Date from	Position	Nationality	Name	To	Fee	Ref.
January 1933	FB		Jimmy Oakes	Charlton Athletic	£3,000	[4]
April 1933	HB		Arnold Bliss	West Ham United	Released	[4]
May 1933	GK		Ben Davies		Released	[4]
May 1933	FW		Billy Easton	Aldershot	Free transfer	[4]
May 1933	HB		Albert Harrison	Leek Alexandra	Free transfer	[4]
May 1933	GK		Jock Leckie	Stockport County	Free transfer	[4]
May 1933	FW		John Smith	Carlisle United	Free transfer	[4]
May 1933	FW		Tom Tippett	West Ham United	Free transfer	[4]
July 1933	FW		Stewart Littlewood	Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic	Free transfer	[4]
July 1933	HB		Jack Sherlock	Colwyn Bay United	Free transfer	[4]
Summer 1933	FW		Wilf Kirkham	Retired		[4]
Summer 1933	FW		Louis Page		Released	[4]