1970–71 Port Vale F.C. season

The 1970–71 season was Port Vale's 59th season of football in the Football League, and their first (seventh overall) season back in the Third Division following their promotion from the Fourth Division.^[1] Manager Gordon Lee oversaw the season, with Mark Singer as chairman until February before Graham Bourne took over. Vale ultimately secured safety with a 17th‑place finish, accumulating 42 points, thereby avoiding relegation back to the Fourth Division by a margin of three points.

Port Vale

1970–71 season
Chairman	Mark Singer (until February) Graham Bourne (from February)
Manager	Gordon Lee
Stadium	Vale Park
Football League Third Division	17th (42 Points)
FA Cup	First Round (knocked out by Notts County)
League Cup	First Round (knocked out by Walsall)
Player of the Year	Tommy McLaren
Top goalscorer	League: John James (15) All: John James (15)
Highest home attendance	11,224 vs. Aston Villa, 19 October 1970
Lowest home attendance	3,450 vs. Reading, 13 March 1971
Average home league attendance	5,437
Biggest win	4–0 vs. Swansea City, 17 October 1970
Biggest defeat	3–7 vs. Shrewsbury Town, 12 September 1970
Home colours
← 1969–70 1971–72 →

Cup competitions offered no respite: Vale were eliminated in the First Round of both the FA Cup, losing to Notts County, and the League Cup, losing to Walsall. John James was once again the top scorer with 15 goals in the league and all competitions, while midfielder Tommy McLaren earned the club's Player of the Year award for his influential performances. Attendance figures saw a high of 11,224 against Aston Villa on 19 October 1970, a low of 3,450 versus Reading on 13 March 1971, and an average league turnout of 5,437 fans per match.

Overall, the 1970–71 season represented a solid consolidation year in the Third Division after promotion, characterised by mid-table stability under Gordon Lee, limited success in cup competitions, steady attendances, and dependable contributions from James and McLaren.

Overview

Third Division

The pre-season saw the arrival of 22-year-old centre-half Roy Cross (Walsall); inside-forward Brian Horton (Hednesford Town); and full-back Mick Hopkinson (Mansfield Town) on free transfers.^[1] Manager Gordon Lee said that "versatility and dedication are important" as the wage budget was extremely limited.^[1]

The season began with two wins, including when they "handsomely won a battle of errors" at home to Rochdale. A run of one win in ten games then followed. In September, four of the five directors resigned, one of them (Len Cliff) stated that "the club is being run by outsiders".^[1] A new board was formed by November.^[1] Meanwhile, on 13 September the club suffered a loss of 7–3 at Gay Meadow to Shrewsbury Town, despite a Bobby Gough hat-trick – the match also saw a sending off, an attempted pitch invasion, and a £35 fine for Gordon Lee for remarks he made to referee Ricky Nicholson.^[1] Tommy McLaren then returned from injury to lead Vale on a four match winning streak that included a 2–0 win over fallen-giants Aston Villa in front of a Burslem crowd of 11,224 fans; Lee described the win as his "finest hour".^[1][2] Four straight defeats soon came after this sequence however, as Vale's form was patchy.^[1] They had to do without John King for three months owing to a chipped ankle bone.^[1] In December, Ron Wilson left the club as he emigrated to South Africa due to his son's ill health.^[1]

A 1–0 defeat to third-placed Aston Villa at Villa Park on 16 January was the first of a nine-match streak without a victory.^[1] At the end of the month, Lee signed 23-year-old full-back John Brodie from Northern Premier League side Bradford Park Avenue for £250.^[1] During this spell forward, Sammy Morgan began to be jeered by fans after losing his scoring touch.^[1] He also began studying to be a teacher.^[1] Lee said that "I really feel some of our lads have been singled out by the boo boys. If only they realised that encouragement can lift players, things would be so much better".^[1] In February, Mark Singer resigned as chairman, and was replaced by Graham Bourne.^[1] By then the club were hovering above the relegation zone, but a record of just ten goals conceded in their final twelve games was enough to secure safety, with Brian Horton in good form.^[1] On 20 February, the team were beaten 4–1 at third-placed Fulham. They lost 3–0 at Chesterfield on 10 March after the team bus crashed on the way to Saltergate. Three days later, however, Morgan scored his first goal in 18 appearances during a 3–1 home win over Reading.^[1]

They finished in the 17th spot, with 42 points, leaving them three clear of relegation.^[1] John James was the top-scorer with 15 goals.^[1] As a reward for their endeavours, the players were taken on a working holiday to Benidorm, Spain.^[1]

Finances

On the financial side, a profit of £3,424 was made, the club's first profitable season since 1962–63.^[1] A £19,322 donation from the Sportsmen's Association and the Development Fund helped to reduce the club's total debt to £134,640.^[1] Speaking in March, new chairman Graham Bourne stated that "it will be a long, hard slog to pull the club around. The pressures are still on, especially from the bank". Three players were released: Mick Hopkinson (Boston United); John Green (Northwich Victoria); and John King (Wigan Athletic).^[1]

Cup competitions

In the FA Cup, Vale were knocked out in the first round by Fourth Division leaders Notts County 1–0 in a 'physical' encounter at Meadow Lane.^[1]

In the League Cup, Vale were eliminated once again at the first stage, this time Walsall left Burslem with a 1–0 win.^[1]

League table

Main article: 1970–71 Football League

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GAv	Pts
15	Plymouth Argyle	46	12	19	15	63	63	1.000	43
16	Rochdale	46	14	15	17	61	68	0.897	43
17	Port Vale	46	15	12	19	52	59	0.881	42
18	Tranmere Rovers	46	10	22	14	45	55	0.818	42
19	Bradford City	46	13	14	19	49	62	0.790	40

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

Results

Football League Third 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	43	44	45	46
Ground	A	H	A	A	H	A	H	H	A	A	H	A	H	H	H	A	H	H	A	A	H	A	H	A	H	A	A	H	A	H	A	H	A	A	H	H	A	A	H	A	H	A	H	A	H	H
Result	W	W	L	L	W	L	D	L	L	L	D	D	W	W	W	W	D	L	L	L	L	W	L	W	W	L	D	L	D	D	L	D	L	L	W	W	D	L	W	D	L	L	W	D	W	D
Position	1	1	4	10	6	15	14	16	19	18	19	19	17	12	11	9	9	10	14	16	18	16	18	15	12	15	13	15	15	14	18	19	20	20	18	13	15	15	15	16	18	18	16	17	15	17
Points	2	4	4	4	6	6	7	7	7	7	8	9	11	13	15	17	18	18	18	18	18	20	20	22	24	24	25	25	26	27	27	28	28	28	30	32	33	33	35	36	36	36	38	39	41	42

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

Matches

Swansea City v Port Vale

15 August 1970 1	Swansea City	0–2	Port Vale	Swansea
			Wilson Morgan	Stadium: Vetch Field Attendance: 10,713

Port Vale v Rochdale

22 August 1970 2	Port Vale	4–1	Rochdale	Burslem
	McLaren James Morris			Stadium: Vale Park Attendance: 6,196

Plymouth Argyle v Port Vale

29 August 1970 3	Plymouth Argyle	2–1	Port Vale	Plymouth
			Morgan	Stadium: Home Park Attendance: 7,753

Bristol Rovers v Port Vale

1 September 1970 4	Bristol Rovers	3–0	Port Vale	Bristol
				Stadium: Eastville Stadium Attendance: 7,931

Port Vale v Preston North End

5 September 1970 5	Port Vale	1–0	Preston North End	Burslem
	James pen'			Stadium: Vale Park Attendance: 6,954

Shrewsbury Town v Port Vale

12 September 1970 6	Shrewsbury Town	7–3	Port Vale	Shrewsbury
			Gough	Stadium: Gay Meadow Attendance: 5,856

Port Vale v Gillingham

19 September 1970 7	Port Vale	1–1	Gillingham	Burslem
	James			Stadium: Vale Park Attendance: 5,178

Port Vale v Chesterfield

21 September 1970 8	Port Vale	0–2	Chesterfield	Burslem
				Stadium: Vale Park Attendance: 5,930

Walsall v Port Vale

26 September 1970 9	Walsall	3–1	Port Vale	Walsall
			James pen'	Stadium: Fellows Park Attendance: 5,456

Mansfield Town v Port Vale

28 September 1970 10	Mansfield Town	2–0	Port Vale	Mansfield
				Stadium: Field Mill Attendance: 8,121

Port Vale v Barnsley

3 October 1970 11	Port Vale	1–3	Barnsley	Burslem
	Gough			Stadium: Vale Park Attendance: 4,490

Brighton & Hove Albion v Port Vale

10 October 1970 12	Brighton & Hove Albion	0–0	Port Vale	Hove
				Stadium: Goldstone Ground Attendance: 9,383

Port Vale v Swansea City

17 October 1970 13	Port Vale	4–0	Swansea City	Burslem
	Gough James Morris			Stadium: Vale Park Attendance: 4,962

Port Vale v Aston Villa

19 October 1970 14	Port Vale	2–0	Aston Villa	Burslem
	James Gough			Stadium: Vale Park Attendance: 11,224

Port Vale v Rotherham United

24 October 1970 15	Port Vale	1–0	Rotherham United	Burslem
	McLaren			Stadium: Vale Park Attendance: 7,215

Bury v Port Vale

31 October 1970 16	Bury	2–3	Port Vale	Bury, Greater Manchester
			Lacey Horton Boulton	Stadium: Gigg Lane Attendance: 3,669

Port Vale v Tranmere Rovers

7 November 1970 17	Port Vale	2–2	Tranmere Rovers	Burslem
	Morris McLaren			Stadium: Vale Park Attendance: 5,495

Port Vale v Fulham

9 November 1970 18	Port Vale	0–1	Fulham	Burslem
				Stadium: Vale Park Attendance: 8,728

Reading v Port Vale

14 November 1970 19	Reading	2–1	Port Vale	Reading, Berkshire
			Morris	Stadium: Elm Park Attendance: 5,036

Halifax Town v Port Vale

28 November 1970 20	Halifax Town	2–0	Port Vale	Halifax, West Yorkshire
				Stadium: The Shay Attendance: 3,404

Port Vale v Torquay United

5 December 1970 21	Port Vale	0–1	Torquay United	Burslem
				Stadium: Vale Park Attendance: 4,252

Rochdale v Port Vale

19 December 1970 22	Rochdale	0–3	Port Vale	Rochdale
			James Summerscales Morris	Stadium: Spotland Stadium Attendance: 3,619

Port Vale v Wrexham

26 December 1970 23	Port Vale	0–3	Wrexham	Burslem
				Stadium: Vale Park Attendance: 6,303

Doncaster Rovers v Port Vale

2 January 1971 24	Doncaster Rovers	1–2	Port Vale	Doncaster
			Cross Gough	Stadium: Belle Vue Attendance: 2,997

Port Vale v Mansfield Town

9 January 1971 25	Port Vale	2–0	Mansfield Town	Burslem
	Morris James			Stadium: Vale Park Attendance: 4,412

Aston Villa v Port Vale

16 January 1971 26	Aston Villa	1–0	Port Vale	Birmingham
				Stadium: Villa Park Attendance: 28,933

Bradford City v Port Vale

23 January 1971 27	Bradford City	1–1	Port Vale	Bradford
			Morris	Stadium: Valley Parade Attendance: 4,436

Port Vale v Halifax Town

30 January 1971 28	Port Vale	0–1	Halifax Town	Burslem
				Stadium: Vale Park Attendance: 4,059

Torquay United v Port Vale

5 February 1971 29	Torquay United	1–1	Port Vale	Torquay
			Morris	Stadium: Plainmoor Attendance: 6,817

Port Vale v Bradford City

12 February 1971 30	Port Vale	0–0	Bradford City	Burslem
				Stadium: Vale Park Attendance: 4,361

Fulham v Port Vale

20 February 1971 31	Fulham	4–1	Port Vale	Fulham, West London
			Green	Stadium: Craven Cottage Attendance: 10,389

Port Vale v Bury

27 February 1971 32	Port Vale	0–0	Bury	Burslem
				Stadium: Vale Park Attendance: 3,805

Rotherham United v Port Vale

6 March 1971 33	Rotherham United	2–1	Port Vale	Rotherham
			James	Stadium: Millmoor Attendance: 6,866

Chesterfield v Port Vale

10 March 1971 34	Chesterfield	3–0	Port Vale	Chesterfield, Derbyshire
				Stadium: Saltergate Attendance: 7,592

Port Vale v Reading

13 March 1971 35	Port Vale	3–1	Reading	Burslem
	McLaren Morgan			Stadium: Vale Park Attendance: 3,450

Port Vale v Doncaster Rovers

15 March 1971 36	Port Vale	1–0	Doncaster Rovers	Burslem
	James pen'			Stadium: Vale Park Attendance: 4,782

Tranmere Rovers v Port Vale

22 March 1971 37	Tranmere Rovers	1–1	Port Vale	Prenton
			James	Stadium: Prenton Park Attendance: 3,734

Preston North End v Port Vale

27 March 1971 38	Preston North End	1–0	Port Vale	Preston, Lancashire
				Stadium: Deepdale Attendance: 16,591

Port Vale v Plymouth Argyle

3 April 1971 39	Port Vale	2–1	Plymouth Argyle	Burslem
	James Morgan			Stadium: Vale Park Attendance: 3,518

Wrexham v Port Vale

10 April 1971 40	Wrexham	1–1	Port Vale	Wrexham
			Boulton	Stadium: Racecourse Ground Attendance: 8,186

Port Vale v Shrewsbury Town

12 April 1971 41	Port Vale	0–1	Shrewsbury Town	Burslem
				Stadium: Vale Park Attendance: 5,655

Barnsley v Port Vale

13 April 1971 42	Barnsley	1–0	Port Vale	Barnsley
				Stadium: Oakwell Attendance: 4,837

Port Vale v Brighton & Hove Albion

17 April 1971 43	Port Vale	2–1	Brighton & Hove Albion	Burslem
	Morgan			Stadium: Vale Park Attendance: 3,789

Gillingham v Port Vale

24 April 1971 44	Gillingham	1–1	Port Vale	Gillingham, Kent
			James	Stadium: Priestfield Stadium Attendance: 2,207

Port Vale v Bristol Rovers

26 April 1971 45	Port Vale	2–0	Bristol Rovers	Burslem
	James			Stadium: Vale Park Attendance: 4,525

Port Vale v Walsall

1 May 1971 46	Port Vale	1–1	Walsall	Burslem
	Lacey			Stadium: Vale Park Attendance: 5,758

FA Cup

Main article: 1970–71 FA Cup

Notts County v Port Vale

21 November 1970 R1	Notts County	1–0	Port Vale	Nottingham
				Stadium: Meadow Lane Attendance: 15,965

League Cup

Main article: 1970–71 Football League Cup

Port Vale v Walsall

18 August 1970 R1	Port Vale	0–1	Walsall	Burslem
				Stadium: Vale Park Attendance: 6,605

Player statistics

Appearances and goals

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

Pos.	Name	Football League		FA Cup		League Cup		Total
		Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
GK	Keith Ball	28	0	1	0	1	0	30	0
GK	Stuart Sharratt	18	0	0	0	0	0	18	0
DF	Roy Sproson	6	0	0	0	1	0	7	0
DF	Clint Boulton	45	2	1	0	1	0	47	2
DF	Ron Wilson	16	1	0	0	1	0	17	1
DF	Bill Summerscales	7	1	0	0	0	0	7	1
DF	Roy Cross	42	1	1	0	0	0	43	1
DF	Mick Hopkinson	13	0	1	0	0	0	14	0
DF	John Brodie	19	0	0	0	0	0	19	0
MF	Tommy McLaren	36	6	1	0	1	0	38	6
MF	John Green	25	1	1	0	1	0	27	1
MF	John King	26	0	0	0	1	0	27	0
MF	Brian Horton	39	1	1	0	0	0	40	1
MF	Tony Lacey	44	2	1	0	1	0	46	2
FW	John James	45	15	1	0	1	0	47	15
FW	Mick Morris	46	8	1	0	1	0	48	8
FW	Bobby Gough	36	8	1	0	0	0	37	8
FW	Sammy Morgan	38	6	1	0	1	0	40	6
FW	Bob Mountford	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	0

Top scorers

Place	Position	Nation	Name	Third Division	FA Cup	League Cup	Total
1	FW	England	John James	15	0	0	15
2	FW	England	Mick Morris	8	0	0	8
–	FW	England	Bobby Gough	8	0	0	8
4	MF	Scotland	Tommy McLaren	6	0	0	6
–	FW	Northern Ireland	Sammy Morgan	6	0	0	6
6	MF	England	Tony Lacey	2	0	0	2
–	DF	England	Clint Boulton	2	0	0	2
8	DF	Scotland	Ron Wilson	1	0	0	1
–	DF	England	Bill Summerscales	1	0	0	1
–	DF	England	Roy Cross	1	0	0	1
–	MF	England	John Green	1	0	0	1
–	MF	England	Brian Horton	1	0	0	1
			TOTALS	52	0	0	52

Transfers

Transfers in

Date from	Position	Nationality	Name	From	Fee	Ref.
June 1970	DF		Roy Cross	Walsall	Free transfer	[4]
July 1970	DF		Mick Hopkinson	Mansfield Town	Free transfer	[4]
July 1970	MF		Brian Horton	Hednesford Town	'a pint of shandy'	[4]
January 1971	DF		John Brodie	Bradford Park Avenue	£250	[4]

Transfers out

Date from	Position	Nationality	Name	To	Fee	Ref.
December 1970	DF		Ron Wilson	Hellenic	Released	[4]
May 1971	DF		Mick Hopkinson	Boston United	Free transfer	[4]
May 1971	MF		John King	Wigan Athletic	Free transfer	[4]
Summer 1971	MF		John Green	Northwich Victoria	Released	[4]