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1934–35 Port Vale F.C. season
Port Vale 1934–35 football season From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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The 1934–35 season was Port Vale's 29th season of football in the English Football League and their fifth-successive season (28th overall) in the Second Division.[1] While a promising start fuelled hopes of a return to the top half, Vale ultimately finished in 18th place, accumulating 34 points from a record of 11 wins, 12 draws, and 19 defeats, scoring 55 goals and conceding 74.
Under manager Tom Holford, the early season surge came to nothing as form collapsed from October onward, leaving Vale embroiled in a relegation battle before surviving comfortably on goal average. In January 1935, Vale recorded their largest win, a 4–0 victory over Barnsley , but endured their harshest reverse in April with an 8–0 home defeat to Brentford. Tom Nolan emerged as the standout player, finishing the campaign as both league and season top scorer with 16 goals in 40 appearances, in what would be his third successive season leading Vale's scoring charts.
In the FA Cup, Port Vale made a relatively brief appearance, exiting in the Third Round, consistent with recent seasons. Off the pitch, the club faced considerable upheaval: supporters and directors held a six-week consultation on a proposed name change, with ideas like "Stoke Central", "Stoke United", and "Hanley Port Vale" considered, although nothing ultimately changed. Financial constraints persisted — Vale's average attendance dipped to 8,463, with a season-low crowd of 3,860 versus Fulham on 27 April.
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Overview
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Second Division
The pre-season saw the arrival of eight new signings, the most significant of these were: 'safe as houses' goalkeeper John Potts (Leeds United), 'outstanding' outside-right John Friar (Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic), inside-left David Galloway (Preston North End), and centre-half Joe Craven (Swansea Town).[1]
The season started with just one defeat in the opening eight games, leaving the club in fourth place by the end of September – mostly down to the goalscoring partnership of Friar and Nolan.[1] Home victories over Sheffield United, Southampton, Manchester United, and Burnley nevertheless saw attendances of only 7,311 to 11,975.[1] Following this they went on a run of twelve games without a win, with an over-reliance on Friar and Nolan in attack, whilst the defence lacked understanding.[1] The team was changed around but to no avail, as they slipped down the league towards a relegation battle.[1] On 24 November, Vale lost 2–1 at home to second-from-bottom Hull City. In the middle of December Friar was sold on to Preston North End, having scored ten goals in 18 games, with the 'more steady' Ted Critchley heading in the other direction.[1] Vale fell to third-from-bottom following a 1–1 draw with Bradford (Park Avenue) on 22 December. Their poor form was halted with a Christmas day victory over Bradford City, the club's first win since September.[1] The team were then inconsistent until the end of the season.
The 2 February matchday programme (for a 2–1 victory over Swansea) recorded a discussion on whether or not the club should change its name.[1] Concluding that many people didn't know where Port Vale was, Stoke Central and Stoke United were put forward as possible new names.[1] A discussion with the fans resulted in Stoke United being decided as the best alternative, despite calls from some for the name Hanley to be included.[1] On 2 March (a 1–1 draw with Norwich City), each supporter was given a ballot slip upon entering the Old Recreation Ground, with the result of the poll being that 3,737 were in favour of a change of name, and 3,633 opposed a change.[1] A shareholders' meeting on 18 March at the Grand Hotel (Hanley) saw the directors suggest the name of Stoke North End to the 100 members present.[1] Finding little support, a resolution was instead passed for the new name of Hanley Port Vale.[1] The Football League forced them to wait until the end of the season to implement a name change, having already printed countless papers with the original name.[1] However, the new name proved unpopular with the public, who criticised the club for being too parochial and lacking civic pride.[1] The name change never occurred.[1]
Back on the pitch, the team were bobbing along, picking up enough points to avoid relegation concerns – whereas Oldham Athletic and Notts County were rapidly drifting away from safety.[1] On 9 March at St James' Park the Vale picked up a shock result by beating promotion hopefuls Newcastle United 2–1 – their first away win in 24 attempts, ending a run going back to January 1934.[1] Nolan's stand-in James Baker bagged both of the goals.[1] On 19 April, a 5–3 beating of Notts County proved enough to guarantee safety, yet Vale still earned just two points from their final four games.[1] On 20 April, they lost a massive 8–0 to champions Brentford – the biggest defeat in the division that season.[1]
They finished 18th with 34 points, eight points clear of relegation and 22 points short of promotion.[1] Away from home, they recorded just one win, whilst in front of goal, their 55 goals scored was their lowest total since 1925 (after which the offside rule had been changed to make scoring easier).[1] Tom Nolan's 16 goals and the departed John Friar's ten goals were the only significant contributions.[1]
Finances
On the financial side, a mere £11,120 was made on the gates, though a £3,775 credit on transfers ensured a profit of £2,415.[1] Only 14 players were retained, with those leaving including: James Baker (Barrow), Bob Morton (Throckley Welfare), Jack Blackwell (Boston United), Joe Craven (Newport County), David Galloway (Carlisle United), Ted Critchley (South Liverpool), and 128 game veteran Jack Round (also Carlisle).[1]
Cup competitions
In the FA Cup, Vale were defeated 2–1 by eventual runners-up West Bromwich Albion of the First Division at The Hawthorns.[1] The 18,989 crowd saw £1,000 raised in gate receipts, and a comeback from the "Throstles" just six minutes from time.[1]
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League table
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Results
Football League Second Division
Results by matchday
Matches
| 25 August 1934 1 | Port Vale | 2–0 | Sheffield United | Hanley |
Nolan  Friar |
Stadium: Old Recreation Ground Attendance: 11,975 |
| 27 August 1934 2 | Southampton | 0–0 | Port Vale | Southampton |
| Stadium: The Dell Attendance: 6,977 |
| 3 September 1934 4 | Port Vale | 4–1 | Southampton | Hanley |
| Friar Nolan Morton |
Stadium: Old Recreation Ground Attendance: 7,746 |
| 8 September 1934 5 | Port Vale | 2–2 | Plymouth Argyle | Hanley |
| Nolan |
Stadium: Old Recreation Ground Attendance: 10,133 |
| 15 September 1934 6 | Port Vale | 3–2 | Manchester United | Hanley |
| Friar pen' Nolan |
Stadium: Old Recreation Ground Attendance: 9,037 |
| 22 September 1934 7 | Swansea Town | 1–1 | Port Vale | Swansea |
| Nolan |
Stadium: Vetch Field Attendance: 5,698 |
| 29 September 1934 8 | Port Vale | 3–1 | Burnley | Hanley |
| Friar Nolan |
Stadium: Old Recreation Ground Attendance: 7,311 |
| 6 October 1934 9 | Oldham Athletic | 2–0 | Port Vale | Oldham |
| Stadium: Boundary Park Attendance: 6,069 |
| 13 October 1934 10 | Port Vale | 1–3 | Bolton Wanderers | Hanley |
| Nolan |
Stadium: Old Recreation Ground Attendance: 16,839 |
| 20 October 1934 11 | Norwich City | 0–0 | Port Vale | Norwich |
| Stadium: The Nest Attendance: 14,195 |
| 27 October 1934 12 | Port Vale | 1–3 | Newcastle United | Hanley |
| Rhodes |
Stadium: Old Recreation Ground Attendance: 11,036 |
| 3 November 1934 13 | West Ham United | 3–1 | Port Vale | Upton Park, London |
| Rhodes |
Stadium: Boleyn Ground Attendance: 19,391 |
| 10 November 1934 14 | Port Vale | 2–2 | Blackpool | Hanley |
| Gunn Rhodes |
Stadium: Old Recreation Ground Attendance: 7,656 |
| 17 November 1934 15 | Bury | 3–1 | Port Vale | Bury, Greater Manchester |
| Friar |
Stadium: Gigg Lane Attendance: 8,278 |
| 24 November 1934 16 | Port Vale | 1–2 | Hull City | Hanley |
| Friar |
Stadium: Old Recreation Ground Attendance: 6,086 |
| 1 December 1934 17 | Nottingham Forest | 2–0 | Port Vale | West Bridgford |
| Stadium: City Ground Attendance: 13,576 |
| 8 December 1934 18 | Port Vale | 2–2 | Brentford | Hanley |
| Friar Nolan |
Stadium: Old Recreation Ground Attendance: 8,054 |
| 15 December 1934 19 | Fulham | 2–0 | Port Vale | Fulham, West London |
| Stadium: Craven Cottage Attendance: 8,138 |
| 22 December 1934 20 | Port Vale | 1–1 | Bradford (Park Avenue) | Hanley |
| Morton |
Stadium: Old Recreation Ground Attendance: 6,251 |
| 25 December 1934 21 | Port Vale | 1–0 | Bradford City | Hanley |
| Nolan |
Stadium: Old Recreation Ground Attendance: 8,436 |
| 26 December 1934 22 | Bradford City | 3–0 | Port Vale | Bradford |
| Stadium: Valley Parade Attendance: 13,727 |
| 29 December 1934 23 | Sheffield United | 3–0 | Port Vale | Sheffield |
| Stadium: Bramall Lane Attendance: 16,520 |
| 5 January 1935 24 | Port Vale | 4–0 | Barnsley | Hanley |
| Rhodes Morton Mitcheson Blackwell |
Stadium: Old Recreation Ground Attendance: 6,074 |
| 19 January 1935 25 | Plymouth Argyle | 2–1 | Port Vale | Plymouth |
| Rhodes |
Stadium: Home Park Attendance: 14,051 |
| 2 February 1935 26 | Port Vale | 2–1 | Swansea Town | Hanley |
| Nolan |
Stadium: Old Recreation Ground Attendance: 7,081 |
| 6 February 1935 27 | Manchester United | 2–1 | Port Vale | Old Trafford |
| Rhodes |
Stadium: Old Trafford Attendance: 7,372 |
| 16 February 1935 29 | Port Vale | 2–0 | Oldham Athletic | Hanley |
| Dean Critchley |
Stadium: Old Recreation Ground Attendance: 5,473 |
| 23 February 1935 30 | Bolton Wanderers | 2–0 | Port Vale | Bolton |
| Stadium: Burnden Park Attendance: 18,897 |
| 2 March 1935 31 | Port Vale | 1–1 | Norwich City | Hanley |
| Morton |
Stadium: Old Recreation Ground Attendance: 8,284 |
| 9 March 1935 32 | Newcastle United | 1–2 | Port Vale | Newcastle upon Tyne |
| Baker |
Stadium: St James' Park Attendance: 23,934 |
| 16 March 1935 33 | Port Vale | 2–2 | West Ham United | Hanley |
| Baker Mitcheson |
Stadium: Old Recreation Ground Attendance: 12,853 |
| 23 March 1935 34 | Blackpool | 3–1 | Port Vale | Blackpool |
| Baker |
Stadium: Bloomfield Road Attendance: 7,268 |
| 30 March 1935 35 | Port Vale | 0–1 | Bury | Hanley |
| Stadium: Old Recreation Ground Attendance: 7,869 |
| 6 April 1935 36 | Hull City | 1–0 | Port Vale | Kingston upon Hull |
| Stadium: Anlaby Road Attendance: 3,569 |
| 13 April 1935 37 | Port Vale | 2–0 | Nottingham Forest | Hanley |
| Nolan |
Stadium: Old Recreation Ground Attendance: 6,389 |
| 19 April 1935 38 | Port Vale | 5–3 | Notts County | Hanley |
| Birks Mitcheson Nolan |
Stadium: Old Recreation Ground Attendance: 9,010 |
| 20 April 1935 39 | Brentford | 8–0 | Port Vale | Brentford, West London |
| Stadium: Griffin Park Attendance: 18,194 |
| 22 April 1935 40 | Notts County | 3–2 | Port Vale | Nottingham |
| Blackwell Nolan |
Stadium: Meadow Lane Attendance: 6,765 |
| 4 May 1935 42 | Bradford (Park Avenue) | 1–1 | Port Vale | Bradford |
| Birks |
Stadium: Park Avenue Attendance: 3,634 |
FA Cup
| 12 January 1935 R3 | West Bromwich Albion | 2–1 | Port Vale | West Bromwich |
| Morton |
Stadium: The Hawthorns Attendance: 18,989 |
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Player statistics
Appearances and goals
- Key to positions: GK – Goalkeeper; FB – Full back; HB – Half back; FW – Forward
Top scorers
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Transfers
Transfers in
Transfers out
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References
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