1954–55 Port Vale F.C. season

The 1954–55 season was Port Vale's 43rd season of football in the English Football League and their first season (thirtieth overall) back in the Second Division following their promotion from the Third Division North.^[1] Under manager Freddie Steele and chairman Fred Burgess, the club adapted to life in the second tier, finishing in 17th place with 35 points from 42 league matches. Despite a strong home record, Vale struggled on the road, winning just three away games throughout the season.

Port Vale

1954–55 season
Chairman	Fred Burgess
Manager	Freddie Steele
Stadium	Vale Park
Football League Second Division	17th (35 Points)
FA Cup	Fourth Round (knocked out by Tottenham Hotspur)
Top goalscorer	League: Cyril Done (13) All: Cyril Done (13)
Highest home attendance	40,066 vs. Stoke City, 25 April 1955
Lowest home attendance	11,963 vs. West Ham United, 10 January 1955
Average home league attendance	20,869
Biggest win	4–0 vs. Fulham, 27 December 1954
Biggest defeat	1–7 vs. Swansea Town, 16 September 1954
Home colours
← 1953–54 1955–56 →

In the FA Cup, Vale advanced to the Fourth Round, where they were eliminated by Tottenham Hotspur. The club's top scorer was Cyril Done, who netted 13 goals during the season. Attendance at Vale Park was impressive, with an average crowd of 20,869, including a club record 40,066 spectators for the derby against Potteries derby rivals Stoke City on 25 April 1955, the first league meeting between the two clubs since 1932–33.

This season laid the groundwork for future success, as the club continued to build upon the foundation established by Steele's "Iron Curtain" defence and the solid squad that had achieved promotion the previous year.

Overview

Second Division

The pre-season saw the players taken on a short outing to Ireland for their exploits the previous season.^[1] No major signings took place, and no players of note departed in the summer. Chairman Fred Burgess boasted of his team's loyalty.^[1]

The season opened with a 1–0 defeat at The Memorial Stadium to Bristol Rovers, though the team put in 'an encouraging display'.^[1] Two days later Vale Park welcomed a crowd of 26,805 for a 1–1 draw with Notts County.^[1] When they travelled to the Victoria Ground on 4 September, Stoke City had a 100% win record, but 46,777 locals witnessed a goalless draw between the Potteries clubs.^[1] Twelve days later, Vale travelled to Vetch Field, where they opened the scoring only to lose 7–1 to Swansea Town, a team they had beaten 1–0 just ten days earlier.^[1] This occurred because Tommy Cheadle and Stan Turner had to leave the game before half-time with injuries.^[1] The heavy defeat seemed to have destroyed the reputation of 'the Steele Curtain', as the team would have to wait another 14 matches before holding a clean sheet.^[1] During this time, manager Freddie Steele switched tactics from a defensive set-up to 'a semi-continental style' in the hunt for goals.^[1] Five straight losses followed, as the players struggled to adapt.^[1] Also lost was their record of 42 home games without a loss when on 18 September 1954, Blackburn Rovers claimed a 3–0 victory.^[1] Basil Hayward dropped from the first XI, they failed to beat strugglers Ipswich Town as the club hovered above the relegation zone.^[1] A 3–2 win over Nottingham Forest at the City Ground sustained them until two home wins came in late-December. They had to do without Ken Griffiths, however, who sustained an ankle injury. On 27 November, Vale crashed to a 7–2 defeat at Birmingham City after Tommy Cheadle was stretchered off after half an hour with a fractured rib. In December, Cyril Done, an experienced striker, was signed from Tranmere Rovers for a four-figure fee.^[1] He helped to inspire a 4–0 victory over Fulham on 27 December.^[1]

On 5 February, strugglers Derby County thrashed the Vale 6–1 at the Baseball Ground despite "a spectacular solo goal" from Done. However, Vale's poor away record failed to deter a strong contingent of Vale fans from following the club around the country dressed in fancy dress.^[1] The following month, aggressive young forward Len Stephenson was signed from Blackpool. He impressed with his performances, though he proved more effective as a winger than in the much-needed centre-forward role.^[1] Three defeats left the Vale in a relegation dogfight, but seven points from the first five games in April proved very useful.^[1] On 8 April, Done put four past his former club Liverpool in a 4–3 win.^[1] Three days later he scored a penalty at Anfield to earn a 1–1 draw. On 25 April, more than 40,000 turned up to Vale Park to witness the "Potters" claim a 1–0 victory.^[1] Vale won their final two games, including a 1–0 win over Rotherham United that denied the "Millers" a place in the top flight.^[1] Barnsley manager Andy Smailes bemaoned the state of the Vale Park pitch, saying "it was just like playing on Blackpool beach!".^[1]

They finished in 17th place, seven points clear of relegation but 19 short of promotion. With 48 goals, only Hull City scored fewer goals. Cyril Done was the only consistent scorer and was the top scorer for both Vale and Tranmere, having scored twice as many league goals as the next-highest scorer at both clubs.^[1]

Finances

On the financial side, a scant profit of £141 was recorded despite a club-record average home attendance of 20,708.^[1] The £6,850 spent to bolster the forward line had swallowed up most of the profits. The Supporters' Club therefore announced it would raise £5,000 – £1,500 of which would go towards the terracing on the Bycars End.^[1] Reserve team players Mick Hulligan and Len Barber were allowed to leave for Northwich Victoria on free transfers.^[1]

Cup competitions

In the FA Cup, the "Valiants" drew 2–2 with West Ham United at Upton Park after going two goals behind.^[1] Vale won the replay 3–1 despite West Ham's protestations over the state of the pitch. Vale were drawn against First Division Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane in the fourth round. A crowd of 50,684 saw an exciting game in which four "Spurs" goals wiped out a Ken Griffiths brace.^[1]

League table

Main article: 1954–55 Football League

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GAv	Pts	Qualification or relegation
1	Birmingham City (C, P)	42	22	10	10	92	47	1.957	54	Inter-Cities Fairs Cup group stage and promotion to the First Division
2	Luton Town (P)	42	23	8	11	88	53	1.660	54	Promotion to the First Division
3	Rotherham United	42	25	4	13	94	64	1.469	54
4	Leeds United	42	23	7	12	70	53	1.321	53
5	Stoke City	42	21	10	11	69	46	1.500	52
6	Blackburn Rovers	42	22	6	14	114	79	1.443	50
7	Notts County	42	21	6	15	74	71	1.042	48
8	West Ham United	42	18	10	14	74	70	1.057	46
9	Bristol Rovers	42	19	7	16	75	70	1.071	45
10	Swansea Town	42	17	9	16	86	83	1.036	43
11	Liverpool	42	16	10	16	92	96	0.958	42
12	Middlesbrough	42	18	6	18	73	82	0.890	42
13	Bury	42	15	11	16	77	72	1.069	41
14	Fulham	42	14	11	17	76	79	0.962	39
15	Nottingham Forest	42	16	7	19	58	62	0.935	39
16	Lincoln City	42	13	10	19	68	79	0.861	36
17	Port Vale	42	12	11	19	48	71	0.676	35
18	Doncaster Rovers	42	14	7	21	58	95	0.611	35
19	Hull City	42	12	10	20	44	69	0.638	34
20	Plymouth Argyle	42	12	7	23	57	82	0.695	31
21	Ipswich Town (R)	42	11	6	25	57	92	0.620	28	Relegation to the Third Division South
22	Derby County (R)	42	7	9	26	53	82	0.646	23	Relegation to the Third Division North

Source: ^{[citation needed]}
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal average; 3) Goals scored
(C) Champions; (P) Promoted; (R) Relegated

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	A	H	H	A	A	H	A	H	A	A	H	H	A	H	A	H	A	H	A	H	A	H	A	H	A	H	A	H	A	H	A	H	A	H	H	A	A	H	A	H	H	A
Result	L	D	W	D	D	W	L	W	L	L	L	L	L	D	W	L	D	D	L	D	L	W	L	W	D	D	L	D	L	W	L	L	L	W	W	L	D	W	L	L	W	W
Position	20	15	10	10	12	6	14	13	16	16	18	18	18	17	17	17	18	17	19	19	19	19	19	18	18	18	18	19	19	19	19	20	20	20	19	19	19	19	19	19	19	17
Points	0	1	3	4	5	7	7	9	9	9	9	9	9	10	12	12	13	14	14	15	15	17	17	19	20	21	21	22	22	24	24	24	24	26	28	28	29	31	31	31	33	35

Source: Statto^[2]
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

Matches

Bristol Rovers v Port Vale

21 August 1954 1	Bristol Rovers	1–0	Port Vale	Bristol
				Stadium: Eastville Stadium Attendance: 32,367

Port Vale v Notts County

23 August 1954 2	Port Vale	1–1	Notts County	Burslem
	Sproson			Stadium: Vale Park Attendance: 26,805

Port Vale v Plymouth Argyle

28 August 1954 3	Port Vale	1–0	Plymouth Argyle	Burslem
	Leake			Stadium: Vale Park Attendance: 25,038

Notts County v Port Vale

2 September 1954 4	Notts County	1–1	Port Vale	Nottingham
			Cunliffe	Stadium: Meadow Lane Attendance: 17,723

Stoke City v Port Vale

4 September 1954 5	Stoke City	0–0	Port Vale	Stoke-upon-Trent
				Stadium: Victoria Ground Attendance: 46,777

Port Vale v Swansea Town

6 September 1954 6	Port Vale	1–0	Swansea Town	Burslem
	Hayward			Stadium: Vale Park Attendance: 18,603

Swansea Town v Port Vale

16 September 1954 7	Swansea Town	7–1	Port Vale	Swansea
			Leake	Stadium: Vetch Field Attendance: 22,265

Port Vale v Derby County

18 September 1954 8	Port Vale	3–0	Derby County	Burslem
	Askey Cunliffe Griffiths			Stadium: Vale Park Attendance: 22,777

West Ham United v Port Vale

25 September 1954 9	West Ham United	2–0	Port Vale	Upton Park, London
				Stadium: Boleyn Ground Attendance: 25,155

Doncaster Rovers v Port Vale

27 September 1954 10	Doncaster Rovers	1–0	Port Vale	Doncaster
				Stadium: Belle Vue Attendance: 12,818

Port Vale v Blackburn Rovers

2 October 1954 11	Port Vale	0–3	Blackburn Rovers	Burslem
				Stadium: Vale Park Attendance: 25,619

Port Vale v Lincoln City

9 October 1954 12	Port Vale	1–3	Lincoln City	Burslem
	Cunliffe			Stadium: Vale Park Attendance: 19,724

Hull City v Port Vale

16 October 1954 13	Hull City	2–1	Port Vale	Kingston upon Hull
			Hayward	Stadium: Boothferry Park Attendance: 23,892

Port Vale v Ipswich Town

23 October 1954 14	Port Vale	3–3	Ipswich Town	Burslem
	Leake Hayward Smith			Stadium: Vale Park Attendance: 14,532

Nottingham Forest v Port Vale

30 October 1954 15	Nottingham Forest	2–3	Port Vale	West Bridgford
			Leake Hayward Cunliffe	Stadium: City Ground Attendance: 15,654

Port Vale v Leeds United

6 November 1954 16	Port Vale	0–1	Leeds United	Burslem
				Stadium: Vale Park Attendance: 16,062

Bury v Port Vale

13 November 1954 17	Bury	2–2	Port Vale	Bury, Greater Manchester
			Smith Hayward	Stadium: Gigg Lane Attendance: 12,917

Port Vale v Middlesbrough

20 November 1954 18	Port Vale	1–1	Middlesbrough	Burslem
	Askey			Stadium: Vale Park Attendance: 16,753

Birmingham City v Port Vale

27 November 1954 19	Birmingham City	7–2	Port Vale	Birmingham
			Hayward Mullard pen'	Stadium: St Andrew's Attendance: 16,352

Port Vale v Luton Town

4 December 1954 20	Port Vale	1–1	Luton Town	Burslem
	o.g.			Stadium: Vale Park Attendance: 14,052

Rotherham United v Port Vale

11 December 1954 21	Rotherham United	3–0	Port Vale	Rotherham
				Stadium: Millmoor Attendance: 12,850

Port Vale v Bristol Rovers

18 December 1954 22	Port Vale	1–0	Bristol Rovers	Burslem
	Griffiths			Stadium: Vale Park Attendance: 16,434

Fulham v Port Vale

25 December 1954 23	Fulham	3–1	Port Vale	Fulham, West London
			Askey	Stadium: Craven Cottage Attendance: 17,519

Port Vale v Fulham

27 December 1954 24	Port Vale	4–0	Fulham	Burslem
	Smith Leake Cunliffe			Stadium: Vale Park Attendance: 29,415

Plymouth Argyle v Port Vale

1 January 1955 25	Plymouth Argyle	0–0	Port Vale	Plymouth
				Stadium: Home Park Attendance: 14,371

Port Vale v Doncaster Rovers

22 January 1955 26	Port Vale	1–1	Doncaster Rovers	Burslem
	Done			Stadium: Vale Park Attendance: 16,323

Derby County v Port Vale

5 February 1955 27	Derby County	6–1	Port Vale	Derby
			Done	Stadium: Baseball Ground Attendance: 19,882

Port Vale v West Ham United

12 February 1955 28	Port Vale	1–1	West Ham United	Burslem
	Done			Stadium: Vale Park Attendance: 12,621

Blackburn Rovers v Port Vale

19 February 1955 29	Blackburn Rovers	2–1	Port Vale	Blackburn
			Done	Stadium: Ewood Park Attendance: 24,965

Port Vale v Hull City

5 March 1955 30	Port Vale	3–0	Hull City	Burslem
	Done Griffiths			Stadium: Vale Park Attendance: 16,658

Ipswich Town v Port Vale

12 March 1955 31	Ipswich Town	1–0	Port Vale	Ipswich
				Stadium: Portman Road Attendance: 12,970

Port Vale v Nottingham Forest

19 March 1955 32	Port Vale	1–2	Nottingham Forest	Burslem
	Stephenson			Stadium: Vale Park Attendance: 17,586

Leeds United v Port Vale

26 March 1955 33	Leeds United	3–0	Port Vale	Beeston, Leeds
				Stadium: Elland Road Attendance: 8,831

Port Vale v Bury

2 April 1955 34	Port Vale	1–0	Bury	Burslem
	Griffiths			Stadium: Vale Park Attendance: 14,228

Port Vale v Liverpool

8 April 1955 35	Port Vale	4–3	Liverpool	Burslem
	Done pen'			Stadium: Vale Park Attendance: 24,029

Middlesbrough v Port Vale

9 April 1955 36	Middlesbrough	2–0	Port Vale	Middlesbrough
				Stadium: Ayresome Park Attendance: 17,795

Liverpool v Port Vale

11 April 1955 37	Liverpool	1–1	Port Vale	Liverpool
			Done pen'	Stadium: Anfield Attendance: 36,285

Port Vale v Birmingham City

16 April 1955 38	Port Vale	2–0	Birmingham City	Burslem
	Askey Done			Stadium: Vale Park Attendance: 24,036

Luton Town v Port Vale

23 April 1955 39	Luton Town	4–2	Port Vale	Luton
			Done Griffiths	Stadium: Kenilworth Road Attendance: 16,704

Port Vale v Stoke City

25 April 1955 40	Port Vale	0–1	Stoke City	Burslem
				Stadium: Vale Park Attendance: 40,066

Port Vale v Rotherham United

30 April 1955 41	Port Vale	1–0	Rotherham United	Burslem
	Smith			Stadium: Vale Park Attendance: 25,271

Lincoln City v Port Vale

4 May 1955 42	Lincoln City	0–1	Port Vale	Lincoln
			Smith	Stadium: Sincil Bank Attendance: 7,044

FA Cup

Main article: 1954–55 FA Cup

West Ham United v Port Vale

8 January 1955 R3	West Ham United	2–2	Port Vale	Upton Park, London
			Smith Cunliffe	Stadium: Boleyn Ground Attendance: 20,364

Port Vale v West Ham United

10 January 1955 Replay	Port Vale	3–1	West Ham United	Burslem
	Leake Cunliffe Smith			Stadium: Vale Park Attendance: 11,963

Tottenham Hotspur v Port Vale

29 January 1955 R4	Tottenham Hotspur	4–2	Port Vale	Tottenham, North London
			Griffiths	Stadium: White Hart Lane Attendance: 50,684

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	Ray King	41	0	3	0	44	0
GK	Ray Hancock	1	0	0	0	1	0
FB	Reg Potts	42	0	3	0	45	0
FB	Stan Turner	42	0	3	0	45	0
FB	Fred Donaldson	1	0	0	0	1	0
HB	Tommy Cheadle	26	0	0	0	26	0
HB	Roy Sproson	42	1	3	0	45	1
HB	Derek Mountford	2	0	0	0	2	0
HB	Albert Leake	27	5	3	1	30	6
FW	Mick Hulligan	1	0	0	0	1	0
FW	Colin Askey	39	4	3	0	42	4
FW	Alan Bennett	4	0	0	0	4	0
FW	John Cunliffe	40	5	3	2	43	7
FW	Albert Mullard	37	1	3	0	40	1
FW	Basil Hayward	30	6	3	0	33	6
FW	Ken Griffiths	30	5	3	2	33	7
FW	Derek Tomkinson	4	0	0	0	4	0
FW	Len Barber	2	0	0	0	2	0
FW	Len Stephenson	10	1	0	0	10	1
FW	Stan Smith	23	6	3	2	26	8
FW	Cyril Done	18	13	0	0	18	13
FW	Mike Moran	0	0	0	0	0	0

Top scorers

Place	Position	Nation	Name	Second Division	FA Cup	Total
1	FW	England	Cyril Done	13	0	13
2	FW	England	Stan Smith)	6	2	8
3	FW	England	Ken Griffiths	5	2	7
–	FW	England	John Cunliffe	5	2	7
5	FW	England	Basil Hayward	6	0	6
–	HB	England	Albert Leake	5	1	6
7	FW	England	Colin Askey	4	0	4
8	HB	England	Roy Sproson	1	0	1
–	FW	England	Albert Mullard	1	0	1
–	FW	England	Len Stephenson	1	0	1
–	–	–	Own goals	1	0	1
			TOTALS	48	7	55

Transfers

Transfers in

Date from	Position	Nationality	Name	From	Fee	Ref.
December 1954	FW		Cyril Done	Tranmere Rovers	'four figure fee'	[3]
10 March 1955	FW		Len Stephenson	Blackpool	£5,000	[3]

Transfers out

Date from	Position	Nationality	Name	To	Fee	Ref.
July 1955	FW		Len Barber	Northwich Victoria	Free transfer	[3]
July 1955	FW		Mick Hulligan	Northwich Victoria	Free transfer	[3]
Summer 1955	HB		Roy Brien		Released	[3]
Summer 1955	FB		Jim Elsby	Wereton Queen's Park	Free transfer	[3]
Summer 1955	FW		Derek Tomkinson	Crewe Alexandra	Free transfer	[3]