| 1919–20 season | ||
|---|---|---|
| Chairman | Frank Huntbach | |
| Secretary-manager | Tom Holford Joe Schofield (from March) | |
| Stadium | Old Recreation Ground | |
| Football League Second Division | 13th (40 Points) | |
| FA Cup | First Round (knocked out byManchester United) | |
| Staffordshire Senior Cup | Champions | |
| North Staffordshire Infirmary Cup | Champions (shared withStoke) | |
| Top goalscorer | League:Bobby Blood (24) All: Bobby Blood (26) | |
| Highest home attendance | 22,697 vs Stoke, 6 March 1920 | |
| Lowest home attendance | 3,000 vsStockport County, 8 April 1920 | |
| Average home league attendance | 11,247+ | |
| Biggest win | 4–0 (three games) | |
| Biggest defeat | 0–4 vs.Fulham, 1 May 1920 | |
The1919–20 season wasPort Vale's first season of football back in theEnglish Football League (their 14th overall following their brief 1892–96 and 1898–1907 spells in the league).[1] Following Leeds City's expulsion in October 1919, the club was elected to fill their position in the Second Division. This season also saw the introduction of the club's nickname, "the Valiants," coined by chairman Frank Huntbach. Managed byTom Holford until March, he was succeeded byJoe Schofield, who would go on to serve as secretary-manager throughout the decade. The team played their home matches at theOld Recreation Ground and finished 13th in the 22-team league, accumulating 40 points from 42 matches.
A standout feature of the season was the prolific performance of forwardBobby Blood, who netted 24 league goals and 26 in all competitions, making him the club's top scorer. His contributions were instrumental in Vale's mid-table finish, providing a solid foundation in their first full season back in the league. The club also achieved success in cup competitions, lifting theStaffordshire Senior Cup and sharing the North Staffordshire Infirmary Cup withPotteries derby rivalsStoke.
The season's highlights included three 4–0 victories, showcasing the team's attacking prowess. However, they also suffered a heavy 4–0 defeat toFulham in their final match of the season, highlighting areas for improvement. Despite these fluctuations, the team's performance was commendable for a club re-establishing itself in the Football League.
In terms of attendance, the club attracted an average home crowd of approximately 11,247, with the highest recorded attendance being 22,697 for the local derby against Stoke on 6 March 1920. This strong support underscored the community's enthusiasm for the club's return to league football. Overall, the 1919–20 season was a positive step in Port Vale's re-entry into the Football League, setting the stage for future growth and success.
Following Port Vale's resignation from theEnglish Football League in 1907 andStoke's resignation the years after,Staffordshire had been without representation in the league for eleven years. Following the end of theGreat War, the Football League was organised back into its national form.[1] In March 1919, Stoke,West Ham United,South Shields,Rotherham County, andCoventry City all gained re-election to the league – Port Vale were short by just one vote.[1]
In the Central League, Vale had won five of their eight games against thereserve sides ofFootball League First Division clubsAston Villa,Manchester United,Manchester City,Everton,Blackburn Rovers, and the reserve side of Second DivisionHuddersfield Town.[1] They lost the match against Manchester United after arail strike meant they travelled toOld Trafford in taxi cabs.[1]
On 13 October 1919,Leeds City were expelled from the Football League over illegal payments to their players.[1] Port Vale were elected to fill their spot (ahead of a bid fromTranmere Rovers).[1] The club who had competed their 1906–07 season in the North Staffordshire Church League had taken the Port Vale name and played their way to the second tier of the national league within twelve years.[1]
Port Vale's reserve side fulfilled the remaining fixtures in the Central League. Leeds City had already played their games againstBlackpool, Coventry City,Hull City, andWolverhampton Wanderers, leaving Vale with a solid starting point of ten points from eight matches.[1]
The club had built a strong side for the 1919–20 Central League campaign, signing skilful forwardWilliam Aitken and formerScotland internationalPeter Pursell fromRangers.[1]
Back in the Second Division, the club faced a battle to register their players in time for the nine-hour trip toSouth Shields, where they lost 2–0.[1] Two defeats to eventual championsTottenham Hotspur followed, before the club scored their first goal, and picked up their first win against South Shields on 10 November thanks to anAaron Lockett strike.[1] The club signedBobby Blood from Leek United for £50 to bolster their strike force. The player had one leg shorter than the other and was riddled with bullets from his valiant efforts in theFirst World War. Yet, he would still prove the doctors wrong who said he would never play football again.[1] The win against South Shields initiated a run of three wins in five games. It was around this time that chairman Frank Huntbach instilled the club with the official nickname of "The Valiants". However, this was followed by a streak of seven games without victory.[1]
Vale had settled in the league by January, despite going four goals down atFulham on New Year's Day, they pulled back three goals to make the final score respectable.Billy Fitchford was seen as a vital influence as the team recorded just one defeat in eight games from mid-January. The first away win came atNottingham Forest on 18 February. Ten days later, Blood scored all four goals in a 4–2 victory overRotherham County after having previously claimed ahat-trick in a 4–1 win over Nottingham Forest. They facedPotteries derby rivalsStoke for the first time in the Football League on 6 March, losing 3–0 in front of the biggest attendance in the history of theOld Recreation Ground. Seven days later, Vale went to Stoke to claim a point in front of 27,000 fans.[1]
Joe Schofield was hired as secretary-manager in March. They opened April with a 4–0 win atStockport County, though they lost three of their final four games. At the end of the season, Vale finished with 40 points, 30 of which came from their efforts and 10 from Leeds City.[1] Easily, the club's top scorer was Bobby Blood with 26 goals, 24 of which were in the league (Second Division).[1] Blood was playing in the Football League for the first time at the age of 25.Billy Briscoe scored eight goals in seven Central League games but failed to transfer this success to the Football League.[1] "The Placer", writing inThe Staffordshire Sentinel, reported that the club had three outstanding players: goalscorer Blood, "consistently fine half-back"Tom Holford, and the skillfulPeter Pursell. All first-team players were retained, except forBilly Aitken, who was sold toNewcastle United.[1]
Financially, the club were on much better terms than twelve years ago, with even practice matches well attended and supporters groups busy raising cash to improve theOld Recreation Ground.[1] Seats were priced between one and twoshillings.[1] The club had also made almost £700 on their 1918–19 Central League season.[1] In 1919–20, they recorded a profit of almost £650.[1]
The club qualified for theFA Cup by easily dispatching Central Alliance sideLoughborough Corinthians 4–0.[1] In the first round the Vale put up a brave fight againstManchester United, going out 1–0 in front of almost 15,000 supporters – thanks in part due to a great performance from opposition keeperJack Mew, who remained unfazed by constant attempts from the home fans to put him off his game.[1]
The club lifted theStaffordshire Senior Cup for the first time intheir history, dispatchingStoke Reserves 1–0 in the first round, before an epic semi-final withWest Bromwich Albion Reserves that was settled after threereplays with a Bobby Bloodpenalty.[1]Billy Fitchford scored the only goal in the final againstBirmingham Reserves at theVictoria Ground.[1]
The annual North Staffordshire Infirmary Cup game finished goalless, so the trophy was shared with Stoke.[1] The match raised £309 for the local hospital.[2]
| 30 August 19191 | Aston Villa Reserves | 0–2 | Port Vale | |
Aitken Briscoe |
| 1 September 19192 | Port Vale | 3–0 | Huddersfield Town Reserves | Hanley |
| Aitken Wootton | Stadium:Old Recreation Ground Attendance: 4,000 |
| 6 September 19193 | Port Vale | 2–2 | Aston Villa Reserves | Hanley |
| Briscoe | Stadium:Old Recreation Ground Attendance: magnificent |
| 13 September 19194 | Everton Reserves | 1–3 | Port Vale | |
| Briscoe Aitken | Attendance: 2,000 |
| 20 September 19195 | Port Vale | 4–0 | Everton Reserves | Hanley |
| Briscoe Fitchford Broadhouse | Stadium:Old Recreation Ground Attendance: very good |
| 22 September 19196 | Port Vale | 1–0 | Manchester City Reserves | Hanley |
| Briscoe | Stadium:Old Recreation Ground Attendance: 5,000 |
| 27 September 19197 | Manchester United Reserves | 3–2 | Port Vale | |
| Holford | Attendance: 3,000 |
| 11 October 19198 | Blackburn Rovers Reserves | 2–1 | Port Vale | |
| Lockett |
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GAv | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | Hull City | 42 | 18 | 6 | 18 | 78 | 72 | 1.083 | 42 |
| 12 | Barnsley | 42 | 15 | 10 | 17 | 61 | 55 | 1.109 | 40 |
| 13 | Port Vale (Leeds City)[a] | 42 | 16 | 8 | 18 | 59 | 62 | 0.952 | 40 |
| 14 | Leicester City | 42 | 15 | 10 | 17 | 41 | 61 | 0.672 | 40 |
| 15 | Clapton Orient | 42 | 16 | 6 | 20 | 51 | 59 | 0.864 | 38 |
| 18 October 19199 | South Shields | 2–0 | Port Vale | South Shields |
| Report | Stadium:Horsley Hill Attendance: 14,000 |
| 27 October 191910 | Port Vale | 0–1 | Tottenham Hotspur | Hanley |
| Report | Cantrell | Stadium:Old Recreation Ground Attendance: 16,000 |
| 1 November 191911 | Tottenham Hotspur | 2–0 | Port Vale | Tottenham, London |
| Bliss Smith | Report | Stadium:White Hart Lane Attendance: 35,000 |
| 10 November 191912 | Port Vale | 1–0 | South Shields | Hanley |
| Lockett | Report | Stadium:Old Recreation Ground Attendance: 8,000 |
| 15 November 191913 | Clapton Orient | 2–1 | Port Vale | Clapton, London |
| Report | Briscoe | Stadium:Clapton Stadium Attendance: 8,000 |
| 22 November 191914 | Lincoln City | 0–0 | Port Vale | Lincoln |
| Report | Stadium:Sincil Bank Attendance: 4,000 |
| 24 November 191915 | Port Vale | 4–2 | Clapton Orient | Hanley |
| Blood Brough (og.) | Report | Stadium:Old Recreation Ground Attendance: 7,000 |
| 29 November 191916 | Port Vale | 1–0 | Bury | Hanley |
| Brough | Report | Stadium:Old Recreation Ground Attendance: 8,000 |
| 6 December 191917 | Bury | 2–1 | Port Vale | Bury, Greater Manchester |
| Report | Brough | Stadium:Gigg Lane Attendance: 6,000 |
| 13 December 191918 | Port Vale | 2–2 | Bury | Hanley |
| Blood | Report | Stadium:Old Recreation Ground Attendance: 6,000 |
| 25 December 191919 | Port Vale | 0–2 | Barnsley | Hanley |
| Report | Stadium:Old Recreation Ground Attendance: 12,000 |
| 26 December 191920 | Barnsley | 1–0 | Port Vale | Barnsley |
| Report | Stadium:Oakwell Attendance: 16,000 |
| 1 January 192021 | Port Vale | 3–4 | Fulham | Hanley |
| Hill Blood Perry | Report | Stadium:Old Recreation Ground Attendance: 8,000 |
| 3 January 192022 | Huddersfield Town | 4–1 | Port Vale | Huddersfield |
| Taylor Swann | Report | Blood | Stadium:Leeds Road Attendance: 8,500 |
| 24 January 192023 | Bristol City | 1–1 | Port Vale | Ashton Gate, Bristol |
| Report | Lockett | Stadium:Ashton Gate Attendance: 12,000 |
| 26 January 192024 | Port Vale | 3–1 | Bristol City | Hanley |
| Blood Lockett | Report | Stadium:Old Recreation Ground Attendance: 7,000 |
| 31 January 192025 | Port Vale | 4–1 | Nottingham Forest | Hanley |
| 15:00GMT | Blood Fitchford | Report | Jones 62' | Stadium:Old Recreation Ground Attendance: 10,000 Referee: JH Alderson |
| 7 February 192026 | West Ham United | 3–1 | Port Vale | Upton Park, London |
| Puddefoot | Report | Blood | Stadium:Boleyn Ground Attendance: 25,000 |
| 14 February 192027 | Port Vale | 1–0 | West Ham United | Hanley |
| Aitken | Report | Stadium:Old Recreation Ground Attendance: 15,000 |
| 18 February 192028 | Nottingham Forest | 0–1 | Port Vale | West Bridgford |
| 15:00GMT | Report | Blood | Stadium:City Ground Attendance: 5,000 Referee: E Pullan |
| 21 February 192029 | Rotherham County | 2–2 | Port Vale | Rotherham |
| Report | Briscoe Blood | Stadium:Millmoor Attendance: 10,000 |
| 28 February 192030 | Port Vale | 4–2 | Rotherham County | Hanley |
| Blood | Report | Stadium:Old Recreation Ground Attendance: 12,000 |
| 6 March 192031 | Port Vale | 0–3 | Stoke | Hanley |
| Report | Whittingham Brown Watkin | Stadium:Old Recreation Ground Attendance: 22,697 |
| 13 March 192032 | Stoke | 0–0 | Port Vale | Stoke-upon-Trent |
| Report | Stadium:Victoria Ground Attendance: 27,000 |
| 20 March 192033 | Port Vale | 2–1 | Grimsby Town | Hanley |
| Blood Brough | Report | Stadium:Old Recreation Ground Attendance: 13,500 |
| 27 March 192034 | Grimsby Town | 2–0 | Port Vale | Cleethorpes |
| Report | Stadium:Blundell Park Attendance: 7,000 |
| 29 March 192035 | Port Vale | 0–0 | Huddersfield Town | Hanley |
| Report | Stadium:Old Recreation Ground Attendance: 10,000 |
| 2 April 192036 | Stockport County | 0–4 | Port Vale | Stockport |
| Report | Aitken Blood | Stadium:Edgeley Park Attendance: 8,000 |
| 3 April 192037 | Port Vale | 1–3 | Birmingham | Hanley |
| Fitchford | Report | Hampton Lane Elkes | Stadium:Old Recreation Ground Attendance: 15,000 |
| 8 April 192038 | Port Vale | 2–0 | Stockport County | Hanley |
| Blood | Report | Stadium:Old Recreation Ground Attendance: 3,000 |
| 10 April 192039 | Birmingham | 3–0 | Port Vale | Birmingham |
| Lane Elkes | Report | Stadium:St Andrew's Attendance: 30,000 |
| 17 April 192040 | Port Vale | 1–2 | Leicester City | Hanley |
| Blood | Report | Douglas Parker | Stadium:Old Recreation Ground Attendance: 14,000 |
| 24 April 192041 | Leicester City | 0–1 | Port Vale | Leicester |
| Report | Aitken | Stadium:Filbert Street Attendance: 20,000 |
| 1 May 192042 | Fulham | 4–0 | Port Vale | Fulham,West London |
| Report | Stadium:Craven Cottage Attendance: 14,000 |
| 20 December 19196Q | Port Vale | 4–0 | Loughborough Corinthians | Hanley |
| Brough Blood Lyons (pen.) | Stadium:Old Recreation Ground Attendance: 5,000 |
| 10 January 19201R | Port Vale | 0–1 | Manchester United | Hanley |
| Report | Toms | Stadium:Old Recreation Ground Attendance: 14,549 |
| 20 October 19191R | Port Vale | 1–0 | Stoke Reserves | Hanley |
| Hill | Stadium:Old Recreation Ground Attendance: 8,000+ |
| 1 December 1919Semi-final | Port Vale | 1–1 | West Bromwich Albion Reserves | Hanley |
| Lockett | Stadium:Old Recreation Ground Attendance: 4,000+ |
| 15 December 1919Replay | West Bromwich Albion Reserves | 0–0 | Port Vale | |
| Fitchford | Attendance: 2,000 |
| 23 February 1920Replay | Port Vale | 1–1 | West Bromwich Albion Reserves | Hanley |
| Aitken | Stadium:Old Recreation Ground Attendance: 7,000+ |
| 12 April 1920Replay | West Bromwich Albion Reserves | 0–1 | Port Vale | |
| Blood | Attendance: 2,000 |
| 15 May 1920Final | Port Vale | 1–0 | Birmingham Reserves | Neutral |
| Attendance: 4,000+ |
| 3 May 1920Final | Stoke | 0–0 | Port Vale | Stoke-upon-Trent |
| Stadium:Victoria Ground Attendance: 4,500 |
| No. | Pos | Nat | Player | Total | Second Division | FA Cup | Other | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||||
| GK |  ENG | Jonathan Hammond | 11 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 0 | |
| GK | ENG | Alfred Bourne | 40 | 0 | 32 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 0 | |
| FB | ENG | Edgar Bentley | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| FB |  SCO | Peter Pursell | 49 | 0 | 33 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 14 | 0 | |
| FB | ENG | Tom Lyons | 47 | 1 | 32 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 13 | 0 | |
| FB | ENG | Percy Ellis | 15 | 0 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | |
| FB | ENG | Ben Marsden | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| HB | ENG | Tommy Sinclair | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| HB | ENG | Arthur McGarry | 45 | 0 | 30 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 13 | 0 | |
| HB | ENG | Andie Newton | 22 | 0 | 14 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 0 | |
| HB | ENG | Ernest Perry | 34 | 1 | 26 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 0 | |
| HB | ENG | Tom Holford | 37 | 2 | 26 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 2 | |
| HB | ENG | Joe Brough | 25 | 6 | 22 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | |
| FW | ENG | Robert Waine | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| FW | ENG | James Wootton | 30 | 1 | 19 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 9 | 1 | |
| FW | ENG | Archie Dyke | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | |
| FW | ENG | Billy Fitchford | 30 | 4 | 19 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 9 | 2 | |
| FW | ENG | James Hill | 21 | 2 | 15 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 1 | |
| FW | ENG | Albert Broadhouse | 14 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 1 | |
| FW | ENG | George Shelton | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| FW | ENG | Harry Wainwright | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| FW | ENG | Alfred Manning | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| FW | ENG | Albert Pearson | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | |
| FW | ENG | Aaron Lockett | 14 | 5 | 9 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 2 | |
| FW | ENG | Billy Briscoe | 25 | 10 | 12 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 8 | |
| FW | SCO | William Aitken | 44 | 9 | 30 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 13 | 5 | |
| FW | ENG | Bobby Blood | 32 | 25 | 28 | 24 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 | |
| FW | ENG | Dick Burgess | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Place | Position | Nation | Name | Second Division | FA Cup | Other | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | FW | England | Bobby Blood | 24 | 1 | 1 | 26 |
| 2 | FW | England | Billy Briscoe | 2 | 0 | 8 | 10 |
| 3 | FW | Scotland | William Aitken | 4 | 0 | 5 | 9 |
| 4 | HB | England | Joe Brough | 4 | 2 | 0 | 6 |
| 5 | FW | England | Aaron Lockett | 3 | 0 | 2 | 5 |
| 6 | FW | England | Billy Fitchford | 2 | 0 | 2 | 4 |
| 7 | FW | England | James Hill | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| – | FW | England | Tom Holford | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| 9 | FW | Albert Broadhouse | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | |
| – | HB | England | Ernest Perry | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| – | FW | England | James Wootton | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| – | FW | England | Tom Lyons | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| – | – | – | Leeds City | 17 | 0 | 0 | 17 |
| – | – | – | Own goals | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| TOTALS | 59 | 4 | 23 | 86 | |||
Transfers in[edit]
| Transfers out[edit]
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