| 1929–30 season | ||
|---|---|---|
| Chairman | Frank Huntbach | |
| Manager | Joe Schofield (until 29 September) Tom Morgan (from October) | |
| Stadium | Old Recreation Ground | |
| Football LeagueThird Division North | 1st (67 Points) | |
| FA Cup | Second Round (knocked out byChesterfield) | |
| North Staffordshire Royal Infirmary Cup | Runners-up (knocked out byStoke) | |
| Top goalscorer | League:Sam Jennings (24) All: Sam Jennings (27) | |
| Highest home attendance | 15,346 vs.York City, 18 April 1930 | |
| Lowest home attendance | 4,519 vs.Halifax Town, 28 December 1929 | |
| Average home league attendance | 9,176 | |
| Biggest win | 7–1 vs.Rotherham United, 22 February 1930 | |
| Biggest defeat | 0–2 (three games) and 2–4 | |
The1929–30 season wasPort Vale's 11th consecutive season of football (24th overall) in theEnglish Football League, and their first in theThird Division North.[1] Under managerJoe Schofield (until his death in September) and subsequentlyTom Morgan, the club rebounded impressively to finish as champions with 67 points, earning promotion back to theSecond Division and setting a new division record for points accrued.
Vale's success was built on a dominant home record and a strong defence: they won 30 of their 42 league matches — aclub record — and conceded just 37 goals, the best in all four Football League divisions that season. Veteran strikerSam Jennings led the attack, finishing as league top scorer with 24 goals and 27 in all competitions. Attendances varied widely, peaking at 15,346 for theYork City match on 18 April 1930, although the average crowd was a respectable 9,176. In theFA Cup, Vale progressed to the Second Round before succumbing toChesterfield. They also finished as runners-up in the North Staffordshire Royal Infirmary Cup, losing toPotteries derby rivalsStoke.
The season was overshadowed early on by the passing of respected manager Joe Schofield, who died with the team top of the table, and saw reserve coach Tom Morgan take charge and maintain the momentum toward the club’s first-ever league title and promotion in league football history.
The pre-season saw the directors spend some of the £2,600 they received in the sale ofWilf Kirkham.[1] In cameTom Baxter (Wolverhampton Wanderers),Frank Watkin (Stoke City),Sam Jennings (Nottingham Forest),Arthur Brown (Reading), andBill Cope (Bolton Wanderers).[1][2] Jennings was a proven goalscorer, whilst Brown had kept goal forWales.[1] Jennings and Pynegar would form a solidstriking partnership despite rumours of a rift between the pair.
The season started well, continued at a high tempo, and finished in style.[1] Winning ten of their opening eleven games, Vale marked themselves aspromotion favourites early on.[1] The run included a 5–0 win overBarrow and 5–1 victory overNew Brighton, withAlbert Pynegar scoring ahat-trick in the latter game.[3] However, during this sequence, tragedy struck on 29 September with the death ofmanagerJoe Schofield, aged 58, following a short illness.[1]The Sentinel described him as a man adept at developing young players, who remained close to his players to help them realise their full potential.[1] Hisfuneral took place on 3 October, withStoke City fans also mourning his death, as he had managed both clubs – the only man ever to do so.[1]Tom Morgan moved out of the backroom staff to take charge for the remainder of the season.[1] The team were four points clear at the top at the time of Schofield's death, his final game being a 4–1 victory atCarlisle United.[1]
Morgan won his first game in charge, the victory overNelson stretching Vale's lead at the top to six points.[1] In mid-October, the side suffered a mini-slump, drawing three games in a row.[1] One of these draws came in a first visit toRotherham United on 19 October, when Vale let slip a 2–1 first half lead afterFrank Watkin was forced off with a knee injury.[4] To rectify thingsBill Rawlings was signed fromManchester United for a four-figure fee,Ben Davies also arrived fromCrewe Alexandra in a straight swap for Arthur Brown.[1] Five wins on the bounce followed.[1] Two defeats toStockport County within two days (Christmas and Boxing Day) left the race for the title open despite the "Valiants" excellent start.[1] Despite having nine players out injured, the Vale marched on, winning nine and drawing two of their following eleven games.[1] This included a 4–0 win overCarlisle United and a 7–1 mauling over Rotherham United – Watkin scoring five in the latter match.[1]
The team defeatedHalifax Town by three goals to nil on 28 December, though they were held to a 1–1 draw at bottom clubBarrow on 4 January. The directors took the players on a week-long excursion toLlandudno to help them recover. The three following matches were won by a total margin of ten goals, with none conceded. Stockport County, the only challengers for the league title, dropped points in February. On 22 February, Vale inflicted a 7–1 win overRotherham United, with Watkin claiming five of the goals after four months without playing. Just as Vale were looking unbeatable,Jack Mandley was sold toAston Villa for £5,000.[1] Protestations from the supporters were quelled slightly by the arrival ofHarry Marshall from Wolves.[1] They slumped in March, winning two, losing two and drawing one.[1] Despite being top of the league, a small minority of fans protested against the directors.[1] The final four games were away, and Stockport were still breathing down the Vale's necks.[1] All four games were won, with 16 goals scored in the season's final five games.[1] They took the title atCrewe Alexandra'sGresty Road, with 1,000 supporters cheering them on.[1]
They finished as champions with 67 points from 42 matches, then a division record.[1] This put them 17 points clear of third-placedDarlington, and four points clear of Stockport.[1] The previous season County had finished one point off championsBradford City. Vale were one of five teams in the Football League to score a century of league goals (the othersSheffield Wednesday,West Bromwich Albion, Stockport County, and Darlington).[1] Sam Jennings and Albert Pynegar scored nearly fifty goals combined. They conceded just 37 goals, fewer than any other team in the four divisions.[1] At aBurslem Town Hall reception, 2,000 supporters congratulated the team on their achievement, amongst them Stoke's Wilf Kirkham.[1]
On the financial side, a profit of £363 was made.[1] Yet attendances were again a concern, a £725 drop in gate receipts saw an intake of just £13,302 on the gates.[1] Wages came to £8,079.[1] The directors again began talk of moving stadia toCobridge.[1] Leaving the club wereRobert Gillespie,Jack Prince, andBill Rawlings; they left forWrexham,Rochdale, andNew Milton respectively.[1]
In theFA Cup, Vale progressed into the second round after beatingGainsborough Trinity 5–0 in areplay.[1] During the first encounterBob Connelly made his 122nd consecutive appearance, but was injured during the rough match.[1] The matchday programme at Vale Park was highly disparaging of Trinity's rough tactics.[1] They then came up against league rivalsChesterfield atSaltergate. Chesterfield would win all but three of their home games in the league and were equally stubborn opposition for the "Valiants", whom they defeated 2–0 afterBob Connelly was forced off with an injury.[1]
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GAv | Pts | Promotion |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Port Vale(C, P) | 42 | 30 | 7 | 5 | 103 | 37 | 2.784 | 67 | Promotion to theSecond Division |
| 2 | Stockport County | 42 | 28 | 7 | 7 | 106 | 44 | 2.409 | 63 | |
| 3 | Darlington | 42 | 22 | 6 | 14 | 108 | 73 | 1.479 | 50 | |
| 4 | Chesterfield | 42 | 22 | 6 | 14 | 76 | 56 | 1.357 | 50 | |
| 5 | Lincoln City | 42 | 17 | 14 | 11 | 83 | 61 | 1.361 | 48 |
| 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 | A | H | H | A | A | H | H | A | H | A | A | H | A | H | A | H | H | H | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | H | A | A | A | A |
| Result | W | W | W | W | W | L | W | W | W | W | W | D | D | D | W | W | W | W | W | L | L | W | D | W | W | W | W | W | W | D | W | W | L | L | W | D | D | W | W | W | W | W |
| Position | 6 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Points | 2 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 12 | 14 | 16 | 18 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 25 | 27 | 29 | 31 | 33 | 33 | 33 | 35 | 36 | 38 | 40 | 42 | 44 | 46 | 48 | 49 | 51 | 53 | 53 | 53 | 55 | 56 | 57 | 59 | 61 | 63 | 65 | 67 |
| 31 August 19291 | Halifax Town | 1–2 | Port Vale | Halifax, West Yorkshire |
| Report | Jennings | Stadium:The Shay Attendance: 8,101 |
| 2 September 19292 | New Brighton | 0–1 | Port Vale | New Brighton, Merseyside |
| Report | Jennings | Stadium:Sandheys Park Attendance: 4,883 |
| 7 September 19293 | Port Vale | 5–0 | Barrow | Hanley |
| Griffiths Pynegar Baxter Anstiss | Report | Stadium:Old Recreation Ground Attendance: 9,882 |
| 9 September 19294 | Port Vale | 5–1 | New Brighton | Hanley |
| Pynegar (pen.) Griffiths Anstiss | Report | Stadium:Old Recreation Ground Attendance: 8,260 |
| 14 September 19295 | Wrexham | 0–2 | Port Vale | Wrexham |
| 15:00BST | Report | Watkin 42' Baxter 71' | Stadium:Racecourse Ground Attendance: 8,828 Referee: G Stephenson |
| 16 September 19296 | Lincoln City | 3–2 | Port Vale | Lincoln |
| Report | Watkin | Stadium:Sincil Bank Attendance: 5,842 |
| 21 September 19297 | Port Vale | 4–0 | Wigan Borough | Hanley |
| Pynegar Baxter Jennings | Report | Stadium:Old Recreation Ground Attendance: 7,915 |
| 23 September 19298 | Port Vale | 2–0 | Crewe Alexandra | Hanley |
| Pynegar | Report | Stadium:Old Recreation Ground Attendance: 10,674 |
| 28 September 19299 | Carlisle United | 1–4 | Port Vale | Carlisle |
| Report | Griffiths Pynegar Baxter | Stadium:Brunton Park Attendance: 8,784 |
| 5 October 192910 | Port Vale | 3–1 | Nelson | Hanley |
| Jennings Pynegar | Report | Kelly | Stadium:Old Recreation Ground Attendance: 7,746 |
| 12 October 192911 | Southport | 1–2 | Port Vale | Southport |
| Report | Watkin Baxter | Stadium:Ash Lane Attendance: 4,746 |
| 19 October 192912 | Rotherham United | 2–2 | Port Vale | Rotherham |
| Report | Fishwick Pynegar | Stadium:Millmoor Attendance: 6,583 |
| 26 October 192913 | Port Vale | 3–3 | Rochdale | Hanley |
| Fishwick Pynegar (pen.)Griffiths | Report | Milsom Brown | Stadium:Old Recreation Ground Attendance: 8,902 |
| 2 November 192914 | South Shields | 0–0 | Port Vale | South Shields |
| Report | Stadium:Horsley Hill Attendance: 5,984 |
| 9 November 192915 | Port Vale | 5–2 | Accrington Stanley | Hanley |
| Pynegar Anstiss Rawlings Baxter | Report | Stadium:Old Recreation Ground Attendance: 11,294 |
| 16 November 192916 | Darlington | 0–1 | Port Vale | Darlington |
| Report | Griffiths | Stadium:Feethams Attendance: 7,982 |
| 23 November 192917 | Port Vale | 2–1 | Hartlepools United | Hanley |
| Anstiss Rawlings | Report | Pape | Stadium:Old Recreation Ground Attendance: 7,166 Referee: FH Harris |
| 7 December 192918 | Port Vale | 4–1 | Chesterfield | Hanley |
| Anstiss Baxter Griffiths Jennings | Report | Stadium:Old Recreation Ground Attendance: 5,682 |
| 21 December 192919 | Port Vale | 1–0 | Tranmere Rovers | Hanley |
| Anstiss | Report | Stadium:Old Recreation Ground Attendance: 6,852 |
| 25 December 192920 | Port Vale | 1–2 | Stockport County | Hanley |
| Oakes | Report | Tompkinson Newton | Stadium:Old Recreation Ground Attendance: 14,494 |
| 26 December 192921 | Stockport County | 4–2 | Port Vale | Stockport |
| Newton Newton Lincoln | Report | Stockton Jennings | Stadium:Edgeley Park Attendance: 22,668 |
| 28 December 192922 | Port Vale | 3–0 | Halifax Town | Hanley |
| Jennings Stockton | Report | Stadium:Old Recreation Ground Attendance: 4,519 |
| 4 January 193023 | Barrow | 1–1 | Port Vale | Barrow-in-Furness |
| Report | Mandley | Stadium:Holker Street Attendance: 5,765 |
| 18 January 193024 | Port Vale | 3–0 | Wrexham | Hanley |
| 14:45GMT | Stockton 83',86' Jennings 90' | Report | Stadium:Old Recreation Ground Attendance: 10,519 Referee: G Stephenson |
| 25 January 193025 | Wigan Borough | 0–3 | Port Vale | Wigan |
| Report | Jennings Fishwick | Stadium:Springfield Park Attendance: 6,567 |
| 1 February 193026 | Port Vale | 4–0 | Carlisle United | Hanley |
| Jennings Anstiss | Report | Stadium:Old Recreation Ground Attendance: 9,279 |
| 8 February 193027 | Nelson | 2–3 | Port Vale | Nelson, Lancashire |
| Carmedy Weedall | Report | Anstiss Jennings Pynegar | Stadium:Seedhill Football Ground Attendance: 5,045 |
| 15 February 193028 | Port Vale | 1–0 | Southport | Hanley |
| Baxter | Report | Stadium:Old Recreation Ground Attendance: 8,338 |
| 22 February 193029 | Port Vale | 7–1 | Rotherham United | Hanley |
| Watkin Jennings Anstiss | Report | Stadium:Old Recreation Ground Attendance: 7,989 |
| 1 March 193030 | Rochdale | 0–0 | Port Vale | Rochdale |
| Report | Stadium:Spotland Stadium Attendance: 7,177 |
| 8 March 193031 | Port Vale | 3–0 | South Shields | Hanley |
| Jennings | Report | Stadium:Old Recreation Ground Attendance: 9,748 |
| 15 March 193032 | Accrington Stanley | 0–2 | Port Vale | Accrington |
| Report | Anstiss Marshall | Stadium:Peel Park Attendance: 4,431 |
| 22 March 193033 | Port Vale | 0–2 | Darlington | Hanley |
| Report | Stadium:Old Recreation Ground Attendance: 10,543 |
| 29 March 193034 | Hartlepools United | 2–0 | Port Vale | Hartlepool |
| Pedwell Thompson | Report | Stadium:Victoria Park Attendance: 7,473 Referee: FH Harris |
| 5 April 193035 | Port Vale | 2–1 | Doncaster Rovers | Hanley |
| Fishwick Pynegar | Report | Stadium:Old Recreation Ground Attendance: 9,905 |
| 12 April 193036 | Chesterfield | 1–1 | Port Vale | Chesterfield, Derbyshire |
| Report | Griffiths | Stadium:Saltergate Attendance: 7,450 |
| 18 April 193037 | Port Vale | 1–1 | York City | Hanley |
| Anstiss | Report | Gardner | Stadium:Old Recreation Ground Attendance: 15,346 |
| 19 April 193038 | Port Vale | 5–2 | Lincoln City | Hanley |
| Jennings Griffiths Pynegar | Report | Stadium:Old Recreation Ground Attendance: 7,649 |
| 21 April 193039 | York City | 0–2 | Port Vale | Fulford, North Yorkshire |
| Report | Griffiths | Stadium:Fulfordgate Attendance: 9,439 |
| 26 April 193040 | Tranmere Rovers | 1–5 | Port Vale | Prenton |
| Report | Pynegar Jennings Griffiths | Stadium:Prenton Park Attendance: 3,784 |
| 1 May 193041 | Doncaster Rovers | 0–2 | Port Vale | Doncaster |
| Report | Baxter Anstiss | Stadium:Belle Vue Attendance: 5,313 |
| 3 May 193042 | Crewe Alexandra | 0–2 | Port Vale | Crewe |
| Report | Pynegar | Stadium:Gresty Road Attendance: 7,014 |
| 30 November 1929R1 | Gainsborough Trinity | 0–0 | Port Vale | Gainsborough, Lincolnshire |
| Report | Stadium:The Northolme Attendance: 4,000 |
| 4 December 1929Replay | Port Vale | 5–0 | Gainsborough Trinity | Hanley |
| Jennings Anstiss Pynegar | Report | Stadium:Old Recreation Ground Attendance: 6,253 |
| 14 December 1929R2 | Chesterfield | 2–0 | Port Vale | Chesterfield, Derbyshire |
| Report | Stadium:Saltergate Attendance: 11,740 |
| 5 May 1930Final | Port Vale | 1–2 | Stoke City | Hanley |
| Jennings | Stadium:Old Recreation Ground Attendance: 6,343 |
| 5 May 1930Final | Port Vale | 1–2 | Stoke City | Hanley |
| Jennings | Stadium:Old Recreation Ground Attendance: 6,343 |
| Pos. | Name | Football League | FA Cup | Other | Total | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| GK |  Ben Davies | 29 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 33 | 0 |
| GK | Jack Prince | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 0 |
| GK |  Arthur Brown | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| FB | Jimmy Oakes | 33 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 36 | 1 |
| FB | Jack Maddock | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| FB | Billy Wootton | 20 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 21 | 0 |
| FB | George Shenton | 31 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 35 | 0 |
| FB | Bill Cope | 40 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 43 | 0 |
| FB | Jack Mandley | 12 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 1 |
| FB | George Stockton | 6 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 4 |
| HB |  Bob Connelly | 25 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 27 | 0 |
| HB | Roger Jones | 38 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 42 | 0 |
| HB | Dennis Izon | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| HB | George Whitcombe | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| HB | Jack Sherlock | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| FW | Jack Simms | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| FW | Phil Griffiths | 30 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 31 | 14 |
| FW | Bert Fishwick | 5 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 4 |
| FW | Tom Baxter | 39 | 9 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 43 | 9 |
| FW | Sam Spencer | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| FW | Billy Briscoe | 8 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 10 | 0 |
| FW | Harry Anstiss | 33 | 13 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 37 | 15 |
| FW | Robert Gillespie | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| FW | Albert Pynegar | 29 | 21 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 33 | 22 |
| FW | Frank Watkin | 13 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 9 |
| FW | Bill Rawlings | 5 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 2 |
| FW | Henry O'Grady | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| FW | Harry Marshall | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 |
| FW | Sam Jennings | 30 | 24 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 33 | 27 |
| Place | Position | Nation | Name | Third Division North | FA Cup | Infirmary Cup | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | FW | England | Sam Jennings | 24 | 2 | 1 | 27 |
| 2 | FW | England | Albert Pynegar | 21 | 1 | 0 | 22 |
| 3 | FW | England | Harry Anstiss | 13 | 2 | 0 | 15 |
| 4 | FW | Wales | Phil Griffiths | 14 | 0 | 0 | 14 |
| 5 | FW | England | Tom Baxter | 9 | 0 | 0 | 9 |
| – | FW | England | Frank Watkin | 9 | 0 | 0 | 9 |
| 7 | FB | England | George Stockton | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| – | FW | England | Bert Fishwick | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| 9 | FW | England | Bill Rawlings | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 10 | FB | England | Jimmy Oakes | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| – | FB | England | Jack Mandley | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| – | FW | England | Harry Marshall | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| TOTALS | 103 | 5 | 1 | 109 | |||
| Date from | Position | Nationality | Name | From | Fee | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 1929 | GK | | Arthur Brown | Reading | Free transfer | [6] |
| May 1929 | FW | | Sam Jennings | Nottingham Forest | Free transfer | [6] |
| May 1929 | HB | | Jack Sherlock | Hanley Y.M.C.A. | Free transfer | [6] |
| June 1929 | FW | | Frank Watkin | Stoke City | Free transfer | [6] |
| July 1929 | FB | | Bill Cope | Bolton Wanderers | Free transfer | [6] |
| October 1929 | HB | | Arnold Bliss | Dartford | Free transfer | [6] |
| October 1929 | GK | | Ben Davies | Crewe Alexandra | Free transfer | [6] |
| November 1929 | HB | | Cliff Birks | Stoke City | Free transfer | [6] |
| November 1929 | FW | | Henry O'Grady | Witton Albion | Free transfer | [6] |
| November 1929 | FW | | Bill Rawlings | Manchester United | 'four-figure' | [6] |
| March 1930 | FW | | Harry Marshall | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 'sizeable outlay' | [6] |
| Date from | Position | Nationality | Name | To | Fee | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| October 1929 | GK | | Arthur Brown | Crewe Alexandra | Free transfer | [6] |
| March 1930 | FB | | Jack Mandley | Aston Villa | £7,000 | [6] |
| May 1930 | GK | | Jack Prince | Rochdale | Released | [6] |
| Summer 1930 | FW | | Bill Rawlings | New Milton | Free transfer | [6] |
