1960–61 Port Vale F.C. season

The 1960–61 season was Port Vale's 49th season of football in the English Football League, and their second season in the Third Division.^[1] Under manager Norman Low and chairman Jake Bloom, the Valiants mounted a promotion push but ultimately finished seventh with 49 points from 46 league matches, producing an impressive 96 goals scored — the third‑highest tally in the division — even though their away form (just two wins on the road) ultimately curtailed their ambitions.

Port Vale

1960–61 season
Chairman	Jake Bloom
Manager	Norman Low
Stadium	Vale Park
Football League Third Division	7th (49 Points)
FA Cup	Third Round (knocked out by Swansea Town)
League Cup	Second Round (knocked out by Tranmere Rovers)
Supporters' Clubs' Trophy	Winners
Top goalscorer	League: Cliff Portwood (24) All: Cliff Portwood (26)
Highest home attendance	15,504 vs. Walsall, 20 August 1960
Lowest home attendance	4,068 vs. Bristol City, 22 April 1961
Average home league attendance	9,702
Biggest win	7–1 vs. Chesterfield, 3 September 1960
Biggest defeat	0–6 vs. Swindon Town, 1 October 1960
Home colours
← 1959–60 1961–62 →

In cup competitions, Vale reached the Third Round of the FA Cup, falling to Swansea Town, and went out in the Second Round of the inaugural League Cup, beaten by Tranmere Rovers. A highlight came in the final staging of the Supporters' Clubs' Trophy, where Vale beat Potteries derby rivals Stoke City 1–0 in a replay to lift the trophy — marking a rare piece of silverware for the club that season. League goals were shared among a powerful attack, with Cliff Portwood finishing as the season's top scorer with 26 goals (24 in the league), while new signing Bert Llewellyn netted 20 after his mid‑season move from Crewe Alexandra — both proving to be vital to Vale's goal production.

At Vale Park, home support held up reasonably given expectations, with an average league attendance of 9,702, peaking at 15,504 in the season opener against Walsall (1–1 draw on 20 August 1960), and hitting a low of just 4,068 against Bristol City in April 1961. Off the pitch, the club reported a modest profit (£4,253), buttressed by a generous £9,501 donation from the Sportsmen's Association and cost‑cutting measures including wage reductions and player departures.

Overall, the 1960–61 campaign was one of near success but ultimately mid‑table consolidation. A potent attack and cup success in the Supporters' Clubs' Trophy provided highlights, but inconsistent away results and underwhelming league consistency meant Vale missed out on promotion despite finishing with one of the division's best scoring records.

Overview

Third Division

The pre-season saw the club's management attempt to build a squad capable of promotion, this meant recruiting former Wales international inside-right Noel Kinsey from Birmingham City as a player-coach, and 21-year-old outside-left Dennis Fidler from the Manchester City Reserves.^[1] It also meant a concerted effort to sign a star forward, a £10,000 offer for Aston Villa's Gerry Hitchens was rejected, and the club's interest in Ronnie Allen also went nowhere.^[1] Instead 'bustling' Ted Calland was signed on a free transfer from Exeter City.^[1] Fred Donaldson was sold to Exeter for £2,000.^[1] Vale Park was also improved, with yet more new drains installed to help ease the winter mud spots.^[1]

The season opened with a Harry Poole goal 50 seconds into an eventual 1–1 draw with Walsall in front of a season-best attendance of 15,504 on 20 August.^[1] Vale's campaign got going nine days later, however, with three consecutive victories.^[1] This included a 7–1 'annihilation' of Chesterfield.^[1] Calland scored a brace against Chesterfield and The Sentinel's John Abberley reported that "it was a performance of all-round merit and grand team work".^[2] Seven games without a win followed, ending with a 6–0 collapse to an impressive Swindon Town side at The County Ground on 1 October.^[1] Vale were much improved after this, recording six wins from eight games. The second game in the sequence saw Vale come from 3–1 down at Bristol City with 16 minutes to go, to win the match 4–3.

The following month, Norman Low signed Bert Llewellyn from Crewe Alexandra for £7,000.^[1] Llewellyn scored past Barnsley in his debut game on 12 November and scored a hat-trick past Hull City the next month.^[1] This win over the "Tigers" came a week after a 5–0 win over high-flying Grimsby Town at Blundell Park, in what Roy Sproson later described as his 'greatest memory' and 'one of their finest hours'.^[1] The performance was so impressive they received 'a standing ovation' from the home crowd, as the "Valiants" finished the game 'rolling the ball about like a game of chess'.^[1] They followed this up with a 4–1 win over Hull City, where Llewellyn claimed a hat-trick. Up to sixth place in the table, a 6–2 hammering from Walsall at Fellows Park on 17 December set them back.^[1] The goals continued, this time in Vale's favour, with a 5–0 win and 3–3 draw with Tranmere Rovers, and a 4–1 victory over Bury.^[1]

In January, Albert Leake was transferred to Macclesfield Town, leaving Sproson as the only survivor of the legendary 1953–54 club.^[1] Vale continued to entertain and win games, as The Sentinel's Jon Abberley described Harry Poole as 'one of the best wing-halves ever produced in the Potteries.^[1] On 21 January, Vale defeated Southend United by four goals to nil. By 11 February, Vale were four points from second place, as Vale battled to a 1–1 draw with Torquay United in 'a sea of mud' at Plainmoor.^[1] A week later, Llewellyn scored a hat-trick past Swindon Town.^[1] However, on 4 March QPR ended their promotion hopes with a 1–0 win at Loftus Road, the second of a streak of five games without a win for Vale.^[1] The next week Notts County easily beat Vale 3–1, in a game for which Stan Steele was rested after 195 consecutive appearances.^[1] Steele immediately handed in a transfer request and got picked up by West Bromwich Albion for a £10,000 fee.^[1] Vale's season then petered out, ending with an attendance of only 4,088 for a 1–1 draw with Bristol City at Vale Park, followed by two away draws.^[1]

They finished in seventh place with 49 points, with their tally of 96 goals bettered only by the two promoted clubs.^[1] The season was a disappointment, and their away record of two wins in twelve games was put to blame for killing their promotion hopes.^[1] Cliff Portwood scored an impressive 26 goals, followed closely by Bert Llewellyn on 20 (who had also scored 10 for Crewe).^[1]

Finances

On the financial side, a disappointing home attendance average of 9,702 was a concern, though a profit of £4,253 was recorded.^[1] This was down to a £9,501 donation from the Sportsmen's Association and a slashing of the wage bill by around £4,000 to £29,915.^[1] The management decided to cut the playing staff and increase the wage budget.^[1] Eleven players were let go, crucially: Harry Oscroft (Brantham Athletic), Ted Calland (Lincoln City), John Poole (Macclesfield Town), and Peter Hall (Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic).^[1]

Cup competitions

In the FA Cup, Vale were superior to non-League side Chelmsford City, winning 3–2 in the first round clash.^[1] Fourth Division club Carlisle United were Vale's second round opponents, who Vale dispatched 2–1 in an "exciting" game. Struggling Second Division side Swansea Town bettered Vale on a mud-filled and hole-ridden Vetch Field.^[1]

In the League Cup, they bettered Queens Park Rangers in a replay following a 2–2 draw at Loftus Road. The next round held Tranmere Rovers, who eliminated Vale with a 2–0 win.

In the Supporters' Clubs' Trophy, the two-leg game with rivals Stoke City came to a 1–1 draw, and so a replay was held at the Victoria Ground on 24 April, which Vale won 1–0 thanks to an own goal.^[1]

Results

Football League Third Division

Main article: 1960–61 Football League

League table

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GAv	Pts
5	Notts County	46	21	9	16	82	77	1.065	51
6	Grimsby Town	46	20	10	16	77	69	1.116	50
7	Port Vale	46	17	15	14	96	79	1.215	49
8	Barnsley	46	21	7	18	83	80	1.038	49
9	Halifax Town	46	16	17	13	71	78	0.910	49

Source: ^{[citation needed]}

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	43	44	45	46
Ground	H	A	A	H	H	H	A	A	H	H	H	A	A	H	A	H	A	H	H	A	H	A	H	A	H	A	H	A	H	A	A	H	H	A	A	H	A	H	H	A	A	H	A	H	A	A
Result	D	D	L	W	W	W	L	D	D	L	L	D	L	W	W	L	D	W	W	W	W	L	W	D	W	D	W	L	W	D	L	W	W	D	L	L	D	L	W	L	D	W	L	D	D	D
Position	11	9	19	9	6	1	5	6	7	7	12	12	15	13	13	14	13	11	9	9	7	8	9	8	8	8	7	8	7	7	7	6	6	6	5	6	6	6	6	6	6	4	7	6	5	7
Points	1	2	2	4	6	8	8	9	10	10	10	11	11	13	15	15	16	18	20	22	24	24	26	27	29	30	32	32	34	35	35	37	39	40	40	40	41	41	43	43	44	46	46	47	48	49

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

Matches

Port Vale v Walsall

20 August 1960 1	Port Vale	1–1	Walsall	Burslem
	Poole	Report		Stadium: Vale Park Attendance: 15,504

Shrewsbury Town v Port Vale

24 August 1960 2	Shrewsbury Town	1–1	Port Vale	Shrewsbury
		Report	Steele	Stadium: Gay Meadow Attendance: 9,022

Bury v Port Vale

27 August 1960 3	Bury	3–1	Port Vale	Bury, Greater Manchester
		Report	Fidler	Stadium: Gigg Lane Attendance: 6,593

Port Vale v Shrewsbury Town

29 August 1960 4	Port Vale	4–1	Shrewsbury Town	Burslem
	Steele Fidler Portwood	Report		Stadium: Vale Park Attendance: 9,212

Port Vale v Chesterfield

3 September 1960 5	Port Vale	7–1	Chesterfield	Burslem
	Calland Jackson Steele Portwood Miles Fidler	Report		Stadium: Vale Park Attendance: 10,104

Port Vale v Watford

5 September 1960 6	Port Vale	3–0	Watford	Burslem
	Portwood o.g.	Report		Stadium: Vale Park Attendance: 15,175

Southend United v Port Vale

10 September 1960 7	Southend United	2–1	Port Vale	Southend-on-Sea
		Report	Portwood	Stadium: Roots Hall Attendance: 8,758

Watford v Port Vale

13 September 1960 8	Watford	0–0	Port Vale	Watford
		Report		Stadium: Vicarage Road Attendance: 16,719

Port Vale v Reading

17 September 1960 9	Port Vale	1–1	Reading	Burslem
	Portwood	Report		Stadium: Vale Park Attendance: 11,521

Port Vale v Halifax Town

19 September 1960 10	Port Vale	2–3	Halifax Town	Burslem
	Steele Fidler	Report		Stadium: Vale Park Attendance: 10,251

Port Vale v Torquay United

24 September 1960 11	Port Vale	0–3	Torquay United	Burslem
		Report		Stadium: Vale Park Attendance: 10,502

Halifax Town v Port Vale

26 September 1960 12	Halifax Town	3–3	Port Vale	Halifax, West Yorkshire
		Report	Portwood Oscroft Steele	Stadium: The Shay Attendance: 5,967

Swindon Town v Port Vale

1 October 1960 13	Swindon Town	6–0	Port Vale	Swindon
		Report		Stadium: County Ground Attendance: 11,960

Port Vale v Brentford

3 October 1960 14	Port Vale	3–2	Brentford	Burslem
	Whalley Portwood	Report		Stadium: Vale Park Attendance: 6,843

Bristol City v Port Vale

8 October 1960 15	Bristol City	3–4	Port Vale	Ashton Gate, Bristol
		Report	Portwood Jackson pen' Whalley	Stadium: Ashton Gate Attendance: 8,803

Port Vale v Queens Park Rangers

15 October 1960 16	Port Vale	0–1	Queens Park Rangers	Burslem
		Report		Stadium: Vale Park Attendance: 8,802

Notts County v Port Vale

22 October 1960 17	Notts County	2–2	Port Vale	Nottingham
		Report	Portwood Miles	Stadium: Meadow Lane Attendance: 10,725

Port Vale v Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic

29 October 1960 18	Port Vale	3–0	Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic	Burslem
	Steele Calland Fidler	Report		Stadium: Vale Park Attendance: 7,752

Port Vale v Barnsley

12 November 1960 19	Port Vale	2–0	Barnsley	Burslem
	Llewellyn Fidler	Report		Stadium: Vale Park Attendance: 10,760

Grimsby Town v Port Vale

3 December 1960 20	Grimsby Town	0–5	Port Vale	Cleethorpes
		Report	Portwood o.g. Jackson Fidler	Stadium: Blundell Park Attendance: 8,843

Port Vale v Hull City

10 December 1960 21	Port Vale	4–1	Hull City	Burslem
	Llewellyn Jackson	Report		Stadium: Vale Park Attendance: 9,006

Walsall v Port Vale

17 December 1960 22	Walsall	6–2	Port Vale	Walsall
		Report	Poole Steele	Stadium: Fellows Park Attendance: 8,381

Port Vale v Tranmere Rovers

26 December 1960 23	Port Vale	5–0	Tranmere Rovers	Burslem
	Portwood Llewellyn Fidler	Report		Stadium: Vale Park Attendance: 14,029

Tranmere Rovers v Port Vale

27 December 1960 24	Tranmere Rovers	3–3	Port Vale	Prenton
		Report	Llewellyn Jackson pen' Portwood	Stadium: Prenton Park Attendance: 7,838

Port Vale v Bury

31 December 1960 25	Port Vale	4–3	Bury	Burslem
	Poole Llewellyn Jackson Portwood	Report		Stadium: Vale Park Attendance: 14,453

Chesterfield v Port Vale

14 January 1961 26	Chesterfield	0–0	Port Vale	Chesterfield, Derbyshire
		Report		Stadium: Saltergate Attendance: 5,816

Port Vale v Southend United

21 January 1961 27	Port Vale	4–0	Southend United	Burslem
	Llewellyn Portwood Jackson pen' Oscroft	Report		Stadium: Vale Park Attendance: 9,517

Reading v Port Vale

4 February 1961 28	Reading	2–1	Port Vale	Reading, Berkshire
		Report	Portwood	Stadium: Elm Park Attendance: 6,394

Port Vale v Colchester United

6 February 1961 29	Port Vale	3–0	Colchester United	Burslem
	Poole Portwood	Report		Stadium: Vale Park Attendance: 6,504

Torquay United v Port Vale

11 February 1961 30	Torquay United	1–1	Port Vale	Torquay
		Report	Oscroft	Stadium: Plainmoor Attendance: 5,606

Newport County v Port Vale

13 February 1961 31	Newport County	2–1	Port Vale	Newport, Wales
		Report	Portwood	Stadium: Somerton Park Attendance: 5,107

Port Vale v Swindon Town

18 February 1961 32	Port Vale	4–1	Swindon Town	Burslem
	Llewellyn Oscroft	Report		Stadium: Vale Park Attendance: 9,673

Port Vale v Grimsby Town

25 February 1961 33	Port Vale	3–2	Grimsby Town	Burslem
	Llewellyn Portwood Steele	Report		Stadium: Vale Park Attendance: 9,367

Bradford City v Port Vale

28 February 1961 34	Bradford City	3–3	Port Vale	Bradford
		Report	Llewellyn Steele	Stadium: Valley Parade Attendance: 6,883

Queens Park Rangers v Port Vale

4 March 1961 35	Queens Park Rangers	1–0	Port Vale	Shepherd's Bush, West London
		Report		Stadium: Loftus Road Attendance: 12,711

Port Vale v Notts County

11 March 1961 36	Port Vale	1–3	Notts County	Burslem
	Miles	Report		Stadium: Vale Park Attendance: 10,931

Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic v Port Vale

18 March 1961 37	Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic	1–1	Port Vale	Bournemouth
		Report	Portwood	Stadium: Dean Court Attendance: 8,735

Port Vale v Bradford City

25 March 1961 38	Port Vale	2–4	Bradford City	Burslem
	Poole Llewellyn	Report		Stadium: Vale Park Attendance: 6,278

Port Vale v Coventry City

31 March 1961 39	Port Vale	3–1	Coventry City	Burslem
	Llewellyn Fidler	Report		Stadium: Vale Park Attendance: 6,528

Barnsley v Port Vale

1 April 1961 40	Barnsley	5–1	Port Vale	Barnsley
		Report	Poole	Stadium: Oakwell Attendance: 5,680

Coventry City v Port Vale

4 April 1961 41	Coventry City	1–1	Port Vale	Coventry
		Report	Jackson pen'	Stadium: Highfield Road Attendance: 8,285

Port Vale v Newport County

8 April 1961 42	Port Vale	3–1	Newport County	Burslem
	Fidler Oscroft Llewellyn	Report		Stadium: Vale Park Attendance: 6,302

Colchester United v Port Vale

15 April 1961 43	Colchester United	2–0	Port Vale	Colchester
		Report		Stadium: Layer Road Attendance: 3,437

Port Vale v Bristol City

22 April 1961 44	Port Vale	1–1	Bristol City	Burslem
	Llewellyn	Report		Stadium: Vale Park Attendance: 4,068

Brentford v Port Vale

25 April 1961 45	Brentford	0–0	Port Vale	Brentford, West London
		Report		Stadium: Griffin Park Attendance: 3,503

Hull City v Port Vale

29 April 1961 46	Hull City	2–2	Port Vale	Kingston upon Hull
		Report	Llewellyn Fidler	Stadium: Boothferry Park Attendance: 4,439

FA Cup

Main article: 1960–61 FA Cup

Chelmsford City v Port Vale

5 November 1960 R1	Chelmsford City	2–3	Port Vale	Chelmsford
		Report	Portwood	Stadium: New Writtle Street Stadium Attendance: 9,000

Port Vale v Carlisle United

26 November 1960 R2	Port Vale	2–1	Carlisle United	Burslem
	Jackson Fidler	Report		Stadium: Vale Park Attendance: 12,113

Swansea Town v Port Vale

7 January 1961 R3	Swansea Town	3–0	Port Vale	Swansea
		Report		Stadium: Vetch Field Attendance: 10,601

League Cup

Main article: 1960–61 Football League Cup

Queens Park Rangers v Port Vale

17 October 1960 R1	Queens Park Rangers	2–2	Port Vale	Shepherd's Bush, West London
		Report	Steele	Stadium: Loftus Road Attendance: 6,564

Port Vale v Queens Park Rangers

19 October 1960 Replay	Port Vale	3–1	Queens Park Rangers	Burslem
	Steele Kinsey Fidler	Report		Stadium: Vale Park Attendance: 6,829

Port Vale v Tranmere Rovers

24 October 1960 R2	Port Vale	0–2	Tranmere Rovers	Burslem
		Report		Stadium: Vale Park Attendance: 8,206

Supporters' Clubs' Trophy

Port Vale v Stoke City

10 October 1960 Final 1st Leg	Port Vale	1–0	Stoke City	Burslem
	Steele			Stadium: Vale Park Attendance: 7,267

Stoke City v Port Vale

7 March 1961 Final 2nd Leg	Stoke City	1–0	Port Vale	Stoke-upon-Trent
				Stadium: Victoria Ground Attendance: 9,605

Stoke City v Port Vale

24 April 1961 Replay	Stoke City	1–0	Port Vale	Stoke-upon-Trent
	o.g.			Stadium: Victoria Ground Attendance: 4,000

Player statistics

Appearances and goals

Key to positions: GK – Goalkeeper; DF – Defender; MF – Midfielder; FW – Forward

Pos.	Name	Football League		FA Cup		League Cup		Supporters' Club's Trophy		Total
		Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
GK	Ken Hancock	39	0	3	0	3	0	2	0	47	0
GK	John Poole	3	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	4	0
GK	John Cooke	4	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	4	0
DF	Roy Sproson	43	0	3	0	3	0	3	0	52	0
DF	David Raine	38	0	3	0	3	0	1	0	46	0
DF	Selwyn Whalley	13	3	0	0	0	0	1	0	14	3
DF	Terry Lowe	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	1	0
MF	Terry Miles	46	3	3	0	3	0	3	0	55	3
MF	Peter Hall	3	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	4	0
MF	Brian Jackson	43	8	3	2	1	0	2	0	49	10
MF	Harry Oscroft	21	5	0	0	0	0	1	0	22	5
MF	Cliff Portwood	41	24	3	2	3	0	2	0	49	26
MF	Peter Ford	41	0	3	0	3	0	3	0	50	0
MF	Colin Davies	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	3	0
MF	Dennis Fidler	34	11	3	1	2	1	2	0	41	13
MF	Roy Gater	2	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	3	0
MF	Colin Corbishley	3	0	0	0	3	0	0	0	6	0
FW	Harry Poole	45	7	3	0	3	0	2	0	54	7
FW	Stan Steele	35	10	3	0	3	3	2	1	43	14
FW	Noel Kinsey	3	0	0	0	3	1	0	0	6	1
FW	John Archer	4	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	4	0
FW	Bert Llewellyn	28	20	2	0	0	0	0	0	32	20
FW	Barry Hancock	2	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	3	0
FW	Ted Calland	12	3	1	0	0	0	0	0	13	3

Top scorers

Place	Position	Nation	Name	Third Division	FA Cup	League Cup	Other	Total
1	MF	England	Cliff Portwood	24	2	0	0	26
2	FW	England	Bert Llewellyn	20	0	0	0	20
3	FW	England	Stan Steele	10	0	3	1	14
4	MF	England	Dennis Fidler	11	1	1	0	13
5	MF	England	Brian Jackson	8	2	0	0	10
6	FW	England	Harry Poole	7	0	0	0	7
7	MF	England	Harry Oscroft	5	0	0	0	5
8	FW	England	Ted Calland	3	0	0	0	3
–	MF	England	Terry Miles	3	0	0	0	3
–	DF	England	Selwyn Whalley	3	0	0	0	3
11	FW	Wales	Noel Kinsey	0	0	1	0	1
–	–	–	Own goals	2	0	0	1	3
			TOTALS	98	4	5	2	109

Transfers

Transfers in

Date from	Position	Nationality	Name	From	Fee	Ref.
1960	FW		Derek Edge	Stoke City	Free transfer	[4]
May 1960	MF		Dennis Fidler	Manchester City	Free transfer	[4]
June 1960	DF		Terry Lowe	Stoke City	Free transfer	[4]
August 1960	FW		Ted Calland	Exeter City	Free transfer	[4]
November 1960	FW		Bert Llewellyn	Everton	£7,000	[4]

Transfers out

Date from	Position	Nationality	Name	To	Fee	Ref.
January 1961	MF		Albert Leake	Macclesfield Town	Free transfer	[4]
March 1961	FW		Stan Steele	West Bromwich Albion	£10,000	[4]
May 1961	FW		John Archer	Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic	Free transfer	[4]
May 1961	FW		Dennis Bailey		Released	[4]
May 1961	DF		Colin Davies	Stourbridge	Free transfer	[4]
May 1961	MF		Peter Hall	Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic	Free transfer	[4]
May 1961	MF		Harry Oscroft	Brantham Athletic	Free transfer	[4]
May 1961	GK		John Poole	Macclesfield Town	Free transfer	[4]
July 1961	FW		Ted Calland	Lincoln City	Free transfer	[4]
July 1961	MF		Cliff Portwood	Grimsby Town	£6,000	[4]