1955–56 Port Vale F.C. season
Encyclopedia
The 1955–56 season was Port Vale
's forty-fourth season of football in the Football League
, and their second successive season (thirty-first overall) in the Second Division
. Gaining ten points on their previous season's total, the club progressed well, achieving their best finish since 1933–34
. Finishing one place above rivals
Stoke City
, it was the first time they outperformed Stoke since 1930–31
. Part of the promotion-chasing pack at the season's end, they tailed off with four points from six games as Leeds United
finished strongly to end up second. Vale's season was built on the defensive strength of the legendary 1953–54
season, along with record-signing England international Eddie Baily
.
and Ken Griffiths
undergo operations, keeping them out of action for the start of the campaign.
The season began with just one loss in the opening eleven games, including victories at Upton Park
and Craven Cottage
, and a 1–0 home win over rivals
Stoke City
in front of a crowd of 37,261. Nevertheless injuries began to affect the first eleven, leaving room for reserves like Derek Mountford
, Stan Smith
, and Tom Conway
to make an impression. The 'Steele Curtain' defence was still in operation, picking up five clean sheets in these eleven games. Journalist Bernard Jones compared 'the Vale Plan' to the Brazil
ian method of defence, defending the penalty area at all costs as that was from where 95% of all goals were scored. However manager Freddie Steele
responded by claiming there was no such plan, and that the main objective was simply 'to beat the opposition'. On 22 October, Sheffield Wednesday
went away from Vale Park
with a 1–0 win, this was followed with a 4–1 defeat at Filbert Street
. Steele began to initiate a modern pre-match ritual of having the players warm up in their tracksuits fifteen minutes before kick-off, though on 12 November this did them no favours at Ewood Park
, as Blackburn Rovers
romped to a 7–1 victory. Steele made eight changes following the defeat, which made little difference as Vale extended their run without a win to nine games. This left them in fifteenth place by mid-December, with a host of players out with injuries.
Cyril Done
's return to match fitness was marked with a 2–1 win at the Memorial Stadium
, beginning a sequence of one defeat in ten games. This left them in seventh place by February, in with a shot of promotion. In January, Eddie Baily
was signed from Tottenham Hotspur
for a club-record £7,000. Signing an inside-forward who was part of England
's 1950 FIFA World Cup
squad was a sign of the club's ambitions for top-flight football. Outclassed by Wednesday on 3 March, they lost 4–0 at Hillsborough
, but followed this with wins over Blackburn Rovers and Bristol City
. On 31 March they came to a 'hard-fought' 1–1 draw at Stoke's Victoria Ground
, which left the Valiants in fifth place, level on points with second-placed Liverpool
. In with a great chance of promotion by April, defeats at home to Nottingham Forest
and Leicester City
, and a 4–1 beating at Anfield
ruined their chances. Harry Poole
made his debut on the last day of the season, as Vale recorded a 3–2 win over Middlesbrough
.
They finished in twelfth position with 45 points, one point and one position above rivals Stoke. The Steele Curtain boasted the best defensive record in the division, though only the bottom five scored fewer goals.
. Home attendances were down by around 2,000 a game to 18,985, leaving gate receipts at £60,784. Steele retained thirty professionals, releasing Albert Mullard
and Ray Hancock
(Northwich Victoria
), and Tom Conway
(Leek Town
).
, Vale narrowly defeated Third Division South
Walsall
1–0 at Fellows Park
to win a Fourth Round tie with First Division
Everton
. A crowd of 44,278 saw 'a match that had everything', as the Toffees escaped with a 3–2 victory, Vale having had two goals disallowed.
P = Matches played; W = Matches won; D = Matches drawn; L = Matches lost; F = Goals for; A = Goals against; GA = Goal average; Pts = Points
Port Vale F.C.
Port Vale Football Club is an English football club currently playing in Football League Two. They are based in Burslem, Staffordshire — one of six towns that make up the city of Stoke-on-Trent. The club's traditional rivals in the city are Stoke City, and games between the two clubs are known as...
's forty-fourth season of football in the Football League
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
, and their second successive season (thirty-first overall) in the Second Division
Football League Second Division
From 1892 until 1992, the Football League Second Division was the second highest division overall in English football.This ended with the creation of the FA Premier League, prior to the start of the 1992–93 season, which caused an administrative split between The Football League and the teams...
. Gaining ten points on their previous season's total, the club progressed well, achieving their best finish since 1933–34
1933–34 Port Vale F.C. season
The 1933–34 season was Port Vale's twenty-eighth season of football in the Football League, and their fourth successive season in the Second Division. Finishing eighth in the second tier with 45 points, they would not reach such a peak again until 1996–97...
. Finishing one place above rivals
Potteries derby
The Potteries derby is the football local derby in Stoke-on-Trent between Port Vale and Stoke City. The fans of each club both consider the other to be their main rivals; this has led to a heated atmosphere at these matches, especially with the rise of football hooliganism and the 'Naughty Forty'...
Stoke City
Stoke City F.C.
Stoke City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire that plays in the Premier League. Founded in 1863, it is the oldest club in the Premier League, and considered to be the second oldest professional football club in the world, after Notts...
, it was the first time they outperformed Stoke since 1930–31
1930–31 Port Vale F.C. season
The 1930–31 season was Port Vale's twenty-fifth season of football in the Football League, and their twenty-fourth in the Second Division following their promotion from the Third Division North the previous season. They finished fifth with 47 points, making it the most successful season in the...
. Part of the promotion-chasing pack at the season's end, they tailed off with four points from six games as Leeds United
Leeds United A.F.C.
Leeds United Association Football Club are an English professional association football club based in Beeston, Leeds, West Yorkshire, who play in the Football League Championship, the second tier of the English football league system...
finished strongly to end up second. Vale's season was built on the defensive strength of the legendary 1953–54
1953–54 Port Vale F.C. season
The 1953–54 season was Port Vale's forty-second season of football in the Football League, and their second season back in the Third Division North. Quite possibly the greatest season in the club's history, Freddie Steele's side were crowned Third Division North champions with 69 points out of a...
season, along with record-signing England international Eddie Baily
Eddie Baily
Edward Francis Baily was a former England international footballer. He was a member of the 1950 FIFA World Cup squad. At club level, he played for Tottenham Hotspur from 1946–56, helping the club to both First and Second Division winning seasons. He also played for Port Vale, Nottingham Forest...
.
Second Division
The pre-season saw Stan TurnerStan Turner
Stanley Simpson Turner was an English footballer. He made 246 appearances for Port Vale during one of the club's brightest periods.-Playing style:...
and Ken Griffiths
Ken Griffiths
Kenneth James Griffiths is an English former football forward. He scored 59 goals in 221 games in the Football League....
undergo operations, keeping them out of action for the start of the campaign.
The season began with just one loss in the opening eleven games, including victories at Upton Park
Boleyn Ground
The Boleyn Ground, more commonly referred to as Upton Park due to its location in Upton Park, London is the football stadium of West Ham United.-History:...
and Craven Cottage
Craven Cottage
Craven Cottage is the name of a football stadium in the Hammersmith and Fulham area that has been the home ground of the association football team Fulham F.C. since 1896....
, and a 1–0 home win over rivals
Potteries derby
The Potteries derby is the football local derby in Stoke-on-Trent between Port Vale and Stoke City. The fans of each club both consider the other to be their main rivals; this has led to a heated atmosphere at these matches, especially with the rise of football hooliganism and the 'Naughty Forty'...
Stoke City
Stoke City F.C.
Stoke City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire that plays in the Premier League. Founded in 1863, it is the oldest club in the Premier League, and considered to be the second oldest professional football club in the world, after Notts...
in front of a crowd of 37,261. Nevertheless injuries began to affect the first eleven, leaving room for reserves like Derek Mountford
Derek Mountford
Derek Mountford is an English former footballer.-Playing career:Mountford graduated through the Port Vale juniors to sign with the club as a professional in May 1951. He made his debut on 30 April 1955, in a 1–0 home win over Rotherham United and became a first team regular until he lost his place...
, Stan Smith
Stan Smith (footballer)
Stanley James Smith was an English footballer.-Playing career:Smith played for Stoke City before joining rivals Port Vale in May 1950. It took until 27 September 1954 for him to make his debut, in a 1-0 defeat at Doncaster Rovers, following this he appeared fairly regularly until November 1956,...
, and Tom Conway
Tom Conway (English footballer)
Thomas Conway is an English former footballer.-Playing career:Conway graduated through the Port Vale juniors to sign professional forms in May 1951. After making his debut in a 1–0 defeat at Rotherham United on 27 August 1955 he became a regular in the side, but lost his place in December that year...
to make an impression. The 'Steele Curtain' defence was still in operation, picking up five clean sheets in these eleven games. Journalist Bernard Jones compared 'the Vale Plan' to the Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
ian method of defence, defending the penalty area at all costs as that was from where 95% of all goals were scored. However manager Freddie Steele
Freddie Steele (footballer)
Frederick Charles Steele was a footballer who played as a forward for Stoke City and was a former England international. He also had spells at Mansfield Town and Port Vale as a player-manager, leading Vale to a league title...
responded by claiming there was no such plan, and that the main objective was simply 'to beat the opposition'. On 22 October, Sheffield Wednesday
Sheffield Wednesday F.C.
Sheffield Wednesday Football Club are a football club based in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England, who are currently competing in the Football League One in the 2011-12 season, in England. Sheffield Wednesday are one of the oldest professional clubs in the world and the fourth oldest in the...
went away from Vale Park
Vale Park
Vale Park is a football stadium in Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent, England. It is the home ground of Port Vale F.C., who have played at the ground since 1950....
with a 1–0 win, this was followed with a 4–1 defeat at Filbert Street
Filbert Street
Filbert Street, in Leicester, England, was a football stadium, and the home of Leicester City from 1891 to 2002. Although officially titled "The City Business Stadium" in the early 1990s, it remained known almost exclusively by its address, like many English football stadia.- Early years :The club,...
. Steele began to initiate a modern pre-match ritual of having the players warm up in their tracksuits fifteen minutes before kick-off, though on 12 November this did them no favours at Ewood Park
Ewood Park
Ewood Park is a football stadium in the English town of Blackburn, Lancashire, and is the home of Blackburn Rovers Football Club — one of the founder members of the Football League and Premier League. Rovers have played there since they moved from Leamington Street in the summer of 1890. The...
, as Blackburn Rovers
Blackburn Rovers F.C.
Blackburn Rovers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the town of Blackburn, Lancashire. The team currently competes in the Premier League, the top tier of English football....
romped to a 7–1 victory. Steele made eight changes following the defeat, which made little difference as Vale extended their run without a win to nine games. This left them in fifteenth place by mid-December, with a host of players out with injuries.
Cyril Done
Cyril Done
Cyril Charles Done was an English former footballer, most notable for his 14 years with Liverpool.-Playing career:...
's return to match fitness was marked with a 2–1 win at the Memorial Stadium
Memorial Stadium (Bristol)
The Memorial Stadium, also commonly known by its previous name of The Memorial Ground, is a sports ground in Bristol, England, dedicated to the memory of the rugby union players of the city killed during World War I...
, beginning a sequence of one defeat in ten games. This left them in seventh place by February, in with a shot of promotion. In January, Eddie Baily
Eddie Baily
Edward Francis Baily was a former England international footballer. He was a member of the 1950 FIFA World Cup squad. At club level, he played for Tottenham Hotspur from 1946–56, helping the club to both First and Second Division winning seasons. He also played for Port Vale, Nottingham Forest...
was signed from Tottenham Hotspur
Tottenham Hotspur F.C.
Tottenham Hotspur Football Club , commonly referred to as Spurs, is an English Premier League football club based in Tottenham, north London. The club's home stadium is White Hart Lane....
for a club-record £7,000. Signing an inside-forward who was part of England
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
's 1950 FIFA World Cup
1950 FIFA World Cup
The 1950 FIFA World Cup, held in Brazil from 24 June to 16 July, was the fourth FIFA World Cup. It was the first World Cup since 1938, the planned 1942 and 1946 competitions having been canceled owing to World War II...
squad was a sign of the club's ambitions for top-flight football. Outclassed by Wednesday on 3 March, they lost 4–0 at Hillsborough
Hillsborough Stadium
Hillsborough Stadium is the home of Sheffield Wednesday football club, Sheffield, England. Football has been played at the ground since it was opened on 2 September 1899, when Wednesday moved from their original ground at Olive Grove. Today it is a 39,812 capacity all-seater stadium, making it the...
, but followed this with wins over Blackburn Rovers and Bristol City
Bristol City F.C.
Bristol City Football Club is one of two football league clubs in Bristol, England . They play at Ashton Gate, located in the south-west of the City...
. On 31 March they came to a 'hard-fought' 1–1 draw at Stoke's Victoria Ground
Victoria Ground
Victoria Ground may refer to:*Victoria Ground, the former name of Hartlepool United’s ground Victoria Park.*Victoria Ground, Stoke City’s ground from 1878 to 1997.*Victoria Ground, current home of Bromsgrove Rovers...
, which left the Valiants in fifth place, level on points with second-placed Liverpool
Liverpool F.C.
Liverpool Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Liverpool, Merseyside. Liverpool has won eighteen League titles, second most in English football, seven FA Cups and a record seven League Cups...
. In with a great chance of promotion by April, defeats at home to Nottingham Forest
Nottingham Forest F.C.
Nottingham Forest Football Club is an English Association Football club based in West Bridgford, Nottingham, that plays in the Football League Championship...
and Leicester City
Leicester City F.C.
Leicester City Football Club , also known as The Foxes, is an English professional football club based at the King Power Stadium in Leicester...
, and a 4–1 beating at Anfield
Anfield
Anfield is an association football stadium in the district of Anfield, Liverpool, England, with a seating capacity of 45,522. It has been the home of Liverpool F.C. since their formation in 1892 and was originally the home of Everton F.C. from 1884 to 1892, before they moved to Goodison Park...
ruined their chances. Harry Poole
Harry Poole
Henry "Harry" Poole is an English former football player, noted for his swerving free kicks. A striker, he has the second highest amount of appearances for Port Vale. He made 499 league and cup appearances for the club in a fifteen year association from 1953 to 1968...
made his debut on the last day of the season, as Vale recorded a 3–2 win over Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough F.C.
Middlesbrough Football Club , also known as Boro, are an English football club based in Middlesbrough, who play in the Football League Championship. Formed in 1876, they have played at the Riverside Stadium since August 1995, their third ground since turning professional in 1889...
.
They finished in twelfth position with 45 points, one point and one position above rivals Stoke. The Steele Curtain boasted the best defensive record in the division, though only the bottom five scored fewer goals.
Finances
On the financial side, a loss was made of £4,974, blamed upon a 'crippling burden' of £12,422 in entertainment taxEntertainment tax
-In India:In India, movie tickets, large commercial shows and large private festival celebrations may incur an entertainment tax.Entertainment falls in List 2 of the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution of India and is exclusively reserved as a revenue source for the state governments...
. Home attendances were down by around 2,000 a game to 18,985, leaving gate receipts at £60,784. Steele retained thirty professionals, releasing Albert Mullard
Albert Mullard
Albert Thomas Mullard was an English footballer. After spending most of World War II in a Prisoner-of-war camp he turned to professional football...
and Ray Hancock
Ray Hancock
Charles Raymond Hancock is a former English footballer. He is Ken Hancock's elder brother.-Playing career:Hancock played for Abbey Hulton United and Bury before joining Port Vale in May 1948. By September 1952, at age 27, he was believed to be experienced enough to be the first choice keeper, but...
(Northwich Victoria
Northwich Victoria F.C.
Northwich Victoria Football Club are an English football club who play at the Victoria Stadium in Wincham, Northwich, Cheshire in the Northern Premier League Premier Division, the seventh tier of the English football league system.Northwich are an old club, founded in 1874 and named in honour of...
), and Tom Conway
Tom Conway (English footballer)
Thomas Conway is an English former footballer.-Playing career:Conway graduated through the Port Vale juniors to sign professional forms in May 1951. After making his debut in a 1–0 defeat at Rotherham United on 27 August 1955 he became a regular in the side, but lost his place in December that year...
(Leek Town
Leek Town F.C.
Leek Town Football Club is an English football club based in Leek, Staffordshire, currently playing in the Northern Premier League Division One South...
).
Cup competitions
In the FA CupFA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
, Vale narrowly defeated Third Division South
Football League Third Division South
The Football League Third Division South was a level of English professional football which ran in parallel to Third Division North from 1921 to 1958....
Walsall
Walsall F.C.
Walsall Football Club are an English association football club based in Walsall, West Midlands. They currently play in League One. The club was founded in 1888 as Walsall Town Swifts, an amalgamation of Walsall Town F.C. and Walsall Swifts F.C. The club was one of the founder members of the Second...
1–0 at Fellows Park
Fellows Park
Fellows Park was a football stadium in Walsall, England. It was the home ground of Walsall F.C. from 1896 till 1990, when the team moved to the Bescot Stadium....
to win a Fourth Round tie with First Division
Football League First Division
The First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
Everton
Everton F.C.
Everton Football Club are an English professional association football club from the city of Liverpool. The club competes in the Premier League, the highest level of English football...
. A crowd of 44,278 saw 'a match that had everything', as the Toffees escaped with a 3–2 victory, Vale having had two goals disallowed.
Final league table
| P | W | D | L | F | A | GA | Pts | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sheffield Wednesday Sheffield Wednesday F.C. Sheffield Wednesday Football Club are a football club based in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England, who are currently competing in the Football League One in the 2011-12 season, in England. Sheffield Wednesday are one of the oldest professional clubs in the world and the fourth oldest in the... |
42 | 21 | 13 | 8 | 101 | 62 | 1.629 | 55 |
| 2 | Leeds United Leeds United A.F.C. Leeds United Association Football Club are an English professional association football club based in Beeston, Leeds, West Yorkshire, who play in the Football League Championship, the second tier of the English football league system... |
42 | 23 | 6 | 13 | 80 | 60 | 1.333 | 52 |
| 3 | Liverpool Liverpool F.C. Liverpool Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Liverpool, Merseyside. Liverpool has won eighteen League titles, second most in English football, seven FA Cups and a record seven League Cups... |
42 | 21 | 6 | 15 | 85 | 63 | 1.349 | 48 |
| 4 | Blackburn Rovers Blackburn Rovers F.C. Blackburn Rovers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the town of Blackburn, Lancashire. The team currently competes in the Premier League, the top tier of English football.... |
42 | 21 | 6 | 15 | 84 | 65 | 1.292 | 48 |
| 5 | Leicester City Leicester City F.C. Leicester City Football Club , also known as The Foxes, is an English professional football club based at the King Power Stadium in Leicester... |
42 | 21 | 6 | 15 | 94 | 78 | 1.205 | 48 |
| 6 | Bristol Rovers Bristol Rovers F.C. Bristol Rovers Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Bristol, that competes in Football League Two. The team plays its home matches at the Memorial Stadium, in the Horfield area of the city.... |
42 | 21 | 6 | 15 | 84 | 70 | 1.200 | 48 |
| 7 | Nottingham Forest Nottingham Forest F.C. Nottingham Forest Football Club is an English Association Football club based in West Bridgford, Nottingham, that plays in the Football League Championship... |
42 | 19 | 9 | 14 | 68 | 63 | 1.079 | 47 |
| 8 | Lincoln City Lincoln City F.C. Lincoln City Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Lincoln, Lincolnshire. The club are currently members of the Conference National in 2011–12 following relegation from the Football League.... |
42 | 18 | 10 | 14 | 79 | 65 | 1.215 | 46 |
| 9 | Fulham Fulham F.C. Fulham Football Club is a professional English Premier League club based in southwest London Fulham, in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham. Founded in 1879, they play in the Premier League, their 11th current season... |
42 | 20 | 6 | 16 | 89 | 79 | 1.127 | 46 |
| 10 | Swansea Town Swansea City A.F.C. Swansea City Association Football Club are a Welsh professional football club based in Swansea, Wales. One of the most successful clubs in Welsh football, it has won 10 Welsh Cups and led the English Football League First Division in December 1981, before finishing the season in 6th position... |
42 | 20 | 6 | 16 | 83 | 81 | 1.025 | 46 |
| 11 | Bristol City Bristol City F.C. Bristol City Football Club is one of two football league clubs in Bristol, England . They play at Ashton Gate, located in the south-west of the City... |
42 | 19 | 7 | 16 | 80 | 64 | 1.250 | 45 |
| 12 | Port Vale Port Vale F.C. Port Vale Football Club is an English football club currently playing in Football League Two. They are based in Burslem, Staffordshire — one of six towns that make up the city of Stoke-on-Trent. The club's traditional rivals in the city are Stoke City, and games between the two clubs are known as... |
42 | 16 | 13 | 13 | 60 | 58 | 1.034 | 45 |
| 13 | Stoke City Stoke City F.C. Stoke City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire that plays in the Premier League. Founded in 1863, it is the oldest club in the Premier League, and considered to be the second oldest professional football club in the world, after Notts... |
42 | 20 | 4 | 18 | 71 | 62 | 1.145 | 44 |
| 14 | Middlesbrough Middlesbrough F.C. Middlesbrough Football Club , also known as Boro, are an English football club based in Middlesbrough, who play in the Football League Championship. Formed in 1876, they have played at the Riverside Stadium since August 1995, their third ground since turning professional in 1889... |
42 | 16 | 8 | 18 | 76 | 78 | 0.974 | 40 |
| 15 | Bury Bury F.C. Bury Football Club is an association football team based in Bury, Greater Manchester. The team currently play in League One. The club's nickname is The Shakers which was bestowed upon them by club chairman JT Ingham, an industrialist and ironmonger of the late 1890s.-Formation of the club and the... |
42 | 16 | 8 | 18 | 86 | 90 | 0.956 | 40 |
| 16 | West Ham United West Ham United F.C. West Ham United Football Club is an English professional football club based in Upton Park, Newham, East London. They play in The Football League Championship. The club was founded in 1895 as Thames Ironworks FC and reformed in 1900 as West Ham United. In 1904 the club relocated to their current... |
42 | 14 | 11 | 17 | 74 | 69 | 1.072 | 39 |
| 17 | Doncaster Rovers Doncaster Rovers F.C. Doncaster Rovers Football Club is an English football club, based at the Keepmoat Stadium in Doncaster, South Yorkshire. The team currently competes in the Football League Championship, after being promoted via the League One play-offs in 2008, and have remained there since.The club was founded in... |
42 | 12 | 11 | 19 | 69 | 96 | 0.719 | 35 |
| 18 | Barnsley Barnsley F.C. Barnsley Football Club are a professional English football club based in the town of Barnsley, South Yorkshire. Nicknamed the Tykes, they were founded in 1887 under the name Barnsley St. Peter's... |
42 | 11 | 12 | 19 | 47 | 84 | 0.560 | 34 |
| 19 | Rotherham United Rotherham United F.C. Rotherham United Football Club are an English professional football club based in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, who compete in League Two, the fourth tier of English football. The club's colours have traditionally been red and white, although these have evolved through history... |
42 | 12 | 9 | 21 | 56 | 75 | 0.747 | 33 |
| 20 | Notts County Notts County F.C. Notts County Football Club are an English professional football club based in Nottingham. They are the oldest of all the clubs in the world that are now professional, having been formed in 1862. They currently play in League One of The Football League, the third tier of the English football system... |
42 | 11 | 9 | 22 | 55 | 82 | 0.671 | 31 |
| 21 | Plymouth Argyle Plymouth Argyle F.C. Plymouth Argyle Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Plymouth, Devon, that plays in Football League Two.Since becoming professional in 1903, the club has won five Football League titles, five Southern League titles and one Western League title. The 2009–10 season was the... |
42 | 10 | 8 | 24 | 54 | 87 | 0.621 | 28 |
| 22 | Hull City Hull City A.F.C. Hull City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Kingston upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, founded in 1904. The club participates in the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football... |
42 | 10 | 6 | 26 | 53 | 97 | 0.546 | 26 |
P = Matches played; W = Matches won; D = Matches drawn; L = Matches lost; F = Goals for; A = Goals against; GA = Goal average; Pts = Points
Legend
| Win | Draw | Loss |
Football League Second Division
| Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Scorers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 August 1955 | Bristol Rovers Bristol Rovers F.C. Bristol Rovers Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Bristol, that competes in Football League Two. The team plays its home matches at the Memorial Stadium, in the Horfield area of the city.... |
|H | 1–1 | 21,270 | Cunliffe John Cunliffe (footballer born 1930) John "Dickie" Cunliffe was an English football left-winger. He made 309 appearances in the Football League, scoring 55 goals.... |
| 22 August 1955 | West Ham United West Ham United F.C. West Ham United Football Club is an English professional football club based in Upton Park, Newham, East London. They play in The Football League Championship. The club was founded in 1895 as Thames Ironworks FC and reformed in 1900 as West Ham United. In 1904 the club relocated to their current... |
|H | 2–1 | 19,259 | Stephenson Len Stephenson Robert Leonard "Len" Stephenson is an English former professional footballer.-Playing career:Stephenson began his professional career with Joe Smith's Blackpool in 1951. He made his debut for the club on 20 January in a 2–2 league draw with Sunderland at Bloomfield Road... , Leake Albert Leake Albert George Leake was an English former football half-back.He spent the entire 1950s with Port Vale, as the club enjoyed an exciting period of their history. After a total of 43 goals in 293 games, Leake left the club in 1961 for non-league Macclesfield Town, a club he later managed... |
| 27 August 1955 | Rotherham United Rotherham United F.C. Rotherham United Football Club are an English professional football club based in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, who compete in League Two, the fourth tier of English football. The club's colours have traditionally been red and white, although these have evolved through history... |
|A | 0–1 | 11,994 | |
| 29 August 1955 | West Ham United West Ham United F.C. West Ham United Football Club is an English professional football club based in Upton Park, Newham, East London. They play in The Football League Championship. The club was founded in 1895 as Thames Ironworks FC and reformed in 1900 as West Ham United. In 1904 the club relocated to their current... |
|A | 2–0 | 13,052 | Smith Stan Smith (footballer) Stanley James Smith was an English footballer.-Playing career:Smith played for Stoke City before joining rivals Port Vale in May 1950. It took until 27 September 1954 for him to make his debut, in a 1-0 defeat at Doncaster Rovers, following this he appeared fairly regularly until November 1956,... , Done Cyril Done Cyril Charles Done was an English former footballer, most notable for his 14 years with Liverpool.-Playing career:... |
| 3 September 1955 | Swansea Town Swansea City A.F.C. Swansea City Association Football Club are a Welsh professional football club based in Swansea, Wales. One of the most successful clubs in Welsh football, it has won 10 Welsh Cups and led the English Football League First Division in December 1981, before finishing the season in 6th position... |
|H | 3–0 | 21,769 | Cunliffe John Cunliffe (footballer born 1930) John "Dickie" Cunliffe was an English football left-winger. He made 309 appearances in the Football League, scoring 55 goals.... , Conway Tom Conway (English footballer) Thomas Conway is an English former footballer.-Playing career:Conway graduated through the Port Vale juniors to sign professional forms in May 1951. After making his debut in a 1–0 defeat at Rotherham United on 27 August 1955 he became a regular in the side, but lost his place in December that year... , Done Cyril Done Cyril Charles Done was an English former footballer, most notable for his 14 years with Liverpool.-Playing career:... |
| 10 September 1955 | Notts County Notts County F.C. Notts County Football Club are an English professional football club based in Nottingham. They are the oldest of all the clubs in the world that are now professional, having been formed in 1862. They currently play in League One of The Football League, the third tier of the English football system... |
|A | 0–0 | 14,733 | |
| 17 September 1955 | Leeds United Leeds United A.F.C. Leeds United Association Football Club are an English professional association football club based in Beeston, Leeds, West Yorkshire, who play in the Football League Championship, the second tier of the English football league system... |
H | 2–0 | 21,348 | Sproson Roy Sproson Roy Sproson was an English footballer and football manager for Port Vale. A one-club man, he holds the all-time appearance record for Vale, making 837 starts for Vale between 1950 and 1972. This includes a run of 128 consecutive appearances between April 1954 and March 1957... , Done Cyril Done Cyril Charles Done was an English former footballer, most notable for his 14 years with Liverpool.-Playing career:... |
| 24 September 1955 | Fulham Fulham F.C. Fulham Football Club is a professional English Premier League club based in southwest London Fulham, in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham. Founded in 1879, they play in the Premier League, their 11th current season... |
A | 4–1 | 25,363 | Conway Tom Conway (English footballer) Thomas Conway is an English former footballer.-Playing career:Conway graduated through the Port Vale juniors to sign professional forms in May 1951. After making his debut in a 1–0 defeat at Rotherham United on 27 August 1955 he became a regular in the side, but lost his place in December that year... (2), Smith Stan Smith (footballer) Stanley James Smith was an English footballer.-Playing career:Smith played for Stoke City before joining rivals Port Vale in May 1950. It took until 27 September 1954 for him to make his debut, in a 1-0 defeat at Doncaster Rovers, following this he appeared fairly regularly until November 1956,... , Done Cyril Done Cyril Charles Done was an English former footballer, most notable for his 14 years with Liverpool.-Playing career:... |
| 1 October 1955 | Bury Bury F.C. Bury Football Club is an association football team based in Bury, Greater Manchester. The team currently play in League One. The club's nickname is The Shakers which was bestowed upon them by club chairman JT Ingham, an industrialist and ironmonger of the late 1890s.-Formation of the club and the... |
H | 1–1 | 20,691 | Leake Albert Leake Albert George Leake was an English former football half-back.He spent the entire 1950s with Port Vale, as the club enjoyed an exciting period of their history. After a total of 43 goals in 293 games, Leake left the club in 1961 for non-league Macclesfield Town, a club he later managed... |
| 8 October 1955 | Stoke City Stoke City F.C. Stoke City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire that plays in the Premier League. Founded in 1863, it is the oldest club in the Premier League, and considered to be the second oldest professional football club in the world, after Notts... |
H | 1–0 | 37,261 | Done Cyril Done Cyril Charles Done was an English former footballer, most notable for his 14 years with Liverpool.-Playing career:... |
| 15 October 1955 | Plymouth Argyle Plymouth Argyle F.C. Plymouth Argyle Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Plymouth, Devon, that plays in Football League Two.Since becoming professional in 1903, the club has won five Football League titles, five Southern League titles and one Western League title. The 2009–10 season was the... |
A | 1–1 | 17,124 | Cunliffe John Cunliffe (footballer born 1930) John "Dickie" Cunliffe was an English football left-winger. He made 309 appearances in the Football League, scoring 55 goals.... |
| 22 October 1955 | Sheffield Wednesday Sheffield Wednesday F.C. Sheffield Wednesday Football Club are a football club based in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England, who are currently competing in the Football League One in the 2011-12 season, in England. Sheffield Wednesday are one of the oldest professional clubs in the world and the fourth oldest in the... |
H | 0–1 | 23,139 | |
| 29 October 1955 | Leicester City Leicester City F.C. Leicester City Football Club , also known as The Foxes, is an English professional football club based at the King Power Stadium in Leicester... |
A | 1–4 | 26,496 | Stephenson Len Stephenson Robert Leonard "Len" Stephenson is an English former professional footballer.-Playing career:Stephenson began his professional career with Joe Smith's Blackpool in 1951. He made his debut for the club on 20 January in a 2–2 league draw with Sunderland at Bloomfield Road... |
| 5 November 1955 | Lincoln City Lincoln City F.C. Lincoln City Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Lincoln, Lincolnshire. The club are currently members of the Conference National in 2011–12 following relegation from the Football League.... |
H | 1–1 | 16,561 | Stephenson Len Stephenson Robert Leonard "Len" Stephenson is an English former professional footballer.-Playing career:Stephenson began his professional career with Joe Smith's Blackpool in 1951. He made his debut for the club on 20 January in a 2–2 league draw with Sunderland at Bloomfield Road... |
| 12 November 1955 | Blackburn Rovers Blackburn Rovers F.C. Blackburn Rovers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the town of Blackburn, Lancashire. The team currently competes in the Premier League, the top tier of English football.... |
A | 1–7 | 25,464 | Leake Albert Leake Albert George Leake was an English former football half-back.He spent the entire 1950s with Port Vale, as the club enjoyed an exciting period of their history. After a total of 43 goals in 293 games, Leake left the club in 1961 for non-league Macclesfield Town, a club he later managed... |
| 19 November 1955 | Hull City Hull City A.F.C. Hull City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Kingston upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, founded in 1904. The club participates in the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football... |
H | 0–1 | 17,778 | |
| 26 November 1955 | Nottingham Forest Nottingham Forest F.C. Nottingham Forest Football Club is an English Association Football club based in West Bridgford, Nottingham, that plays in the Football League Championship... |
A | 2–2 | 9,533 | Conway Tom Conway (English footballer) Thomas Conway is an English former footballer.-Playing career:Conway graduated through the Port Vale juniors to sign professional forms in May 1951. After making his debut in a 1–0 defeat at Rotherham United on 27 August 1955 he became a regular in the side, but lost his place in December that year... , Cunliffe John Cunliffe (footballer born 1930) John "Dickie" Cunliffe was an English football left-winger. He made 309 appearances in the Football League, scoring 55 goals.... |
| 3 December 1955 | Liverpool Liverpool F.C. Liverpool Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Liverpool, Merseyside. Liverpool has won eighteen League titles, second most in English football, seven FA Cups and a record seven League Cups... |
H | 1–1 | 16,919 | Stephenson Len Stephenson Robert Leonard "Len" Stephenson is an English former professional footballer.-Playing career:Stephenson began his professional career with Joe Smith's Blackpool in 1951. He made his debut for the club on 20 January in a 2–2 league draw with Sunderland at Bloomfield Road... |
| 10 December 1955 | Doncaster Rovers Doncaster Rovers F.C. Doncaster Rovers Football Club is an English football club, based at the Keepmoat Stadium in Doncaster, South Yorkshire. The team currently competes in the Football League Championship, after being promoted via the League One play-offs in 2008, and have remained there since.The club was founded in... |
A | 0–3 | 7,351 | |
| 17 December 1955 | Bristol Rovers Bristol Rovers F.C. Bristol Rovers Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Bristol, that competes in Football League Two. The team plays its home matches at the Memorial Stadium, in the Horfield area of the city.... |
A | 2–1 | 19,144 | Cunliffe John Cunliffe (footballer born 1930) John "Dickie" Cunliffe was an English football left-winger. He made 309 appearances in the Football League, scoring 55 goals.... , Stephenson Len Stephenson Robert Leonard "Len" Stephenson is an English former professional footballer.-Playing career:Stephenson began his professional career with Joe Smith's Blackpool in 1951. He made his debut for the club on 20 January in a 2–2 league draw with Sunderland at Bloomfield Road... |
| 24 December 1955 | Rotherham United Rotherham United F.C. Rotherham United Football Club are an English professional football club based in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, who compete in League Two, the fourth tier of English football. The club's colours have traditionally been red and white, although these have evolved through history... |
H | 4–1 | 13,023 | Stephenson Len Stephenson Robert Leonard "Len" Stephenson is an English former professional footballer.-Playing career:Stephenson began his professional career with Joe Smith's Blackpool in 1951. He made his debut for the club on 20 January in a 2–2 league draw with Sunderland at Bloomfield Road... (2), Done Cyril Done Cyril Charles Done was an English former footballer, most notable for his 14 years with Liverpool.-Playing career:... (2) |
| 26 December 1955 | Barnsley Barnsley F.C. Barnsley Football Club are a professional English football club based in the town of Barnsley, South Yorkshire. Nicknamed the Tykes, they were founded in 1887 under the name Barnsley St. Peter's... |
H | 1–2 | 19,130 | Done Cyril Done Cyril Charles Done was an English former footballer, most notable for his 14 years with Liverpool.-Playing career:... |
| 27 December 1955 | Barnsley Barnsley F.C. Barnsley Football Club are a professional English football club based in the town of Barnsley, South Yorkshire. Nicknamed the Tykes, they were founded in 1887 under the name Barnsley St. Peter's... |
A | 2–1 | 22,067 | Stephenson Len Stephenson Robert Leonard "Len" Stephenson is an English former professional footballer.-Playing career:Stephenson began his professional career with Joe Smith's Blackpool in 1951. He made his debut for the club on 20 January in a 2–2 league draw with Sunderland at Bloomfield Road... (2) |
| 31 December 1955 | Swansea Town Swansea City A.F.C. Swansea City Association Football Club are a Welsh professional football club based in Swansea, Wales. One of the most successful clubs in Welsh football, it has won 10 Welsh Cups and led the English Football League First Division in December 1981, before finishing the season in 6th position... |
A | 0–0 | 24,661 | |
| 2 January 1956 | Middlesbrough Middlesbrough F.C. Middlesbrough Football Club , also known as Boro, are an English football club based in Middlesbrough, who play in the Football League Championship. Formed in 1876, they have played at the Riverside Stadium since August 1995, their third ground since turning professional in 1889... |
A | 1–1 | 21,664 | Mullard Albert Mullard Albert Thomas Mullard was an English footballer. After spending most of World War II in a Prisoner-of-war camp he turned to professional football... |
| 14 January 1956 | Notts County Notts County F.C. Notts County Football Club are an English professional football club based in Nottingham. They are the oldest of all the clubs in the world that are now professional, having been formed in 1862. They currently play in League One of The Football League, the third tier of the English football system... |
H | 3–1 | 17,370 | Cunliffe John Cunliffe (footballer born 1930) John "Dickie" Cunliffe was an English football left-winger. He made 309 appearances in the Football League, scoring 55 goals.... , Done Cyril Done Cyril Charles Done was an English former footballer, most notable for his 14 years with Liverpool.-Playing career:... (pen), Baily Eddie Baily Edward Francis Baily was a former England international footballer. He was a member of the 1950 FIFA World Cup squad. At club level, he played for Tottenham Hotspur from 1946–56, helping the club to both First and Second Division winning seasons. He also played for Port Vale, Nottingham Forest... |
| 21 January 1956 | Leeds United Leeds United A.F.C. Leeds United Association Football Club are an English professional association football club based in Beeston, Leeds, West Yorkshire, who play in the Football League Championship, the second tier of the English football league system... |
A | 1–1 | 23,680 | Griffiths Ken Griffiths Kenneth James Griffiths is an English former football forward. He scored 59 goals in 221 games in the Football League.... |
| 4 February 1956 | Fulham Fulham F.C. Fulham Football Club is a professional English Premier League club based in southwest London Fulham, in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham. Founded in 1879, they play in the Premier League, their 11th current season... |
H | 2–1 | 13,234 | Baily Eddie Baily Edward Francis Baily was a former England international footballer. He was a member of the 1950 FIFA World Cup squad. At club level, he played for Tottenham Hotspur from 1946–56, helping the club to both First and Second Division winning seasons. He also played for Port Vale, Nottingham Forest... , Griffiths Ken Griffiths Kenneth James Griffiths is an English former football forward. He scored 59 goals in 221 games in the Football League.... |
| 11 February 1956 | Bury Bury F.C. Bury Football Club is an association football team based in Bury, Greater Manchester. The team currently play in League One. The club's nickname is The Shakers which was bestowed upon them by club chairman JT Ingham, an industrialist and ironmonger of the late 1890s.-Formation of the club and the... |
A | 2–2 | 10,881 | Griffiths Ken Griffiths Kenneth James Griffiths is an English former football forward. He scored 59 goals in 221 games in the Football League.... , Stephenson Len Stephenson Robert Leonard "Len" Stephenson is an English former professional footballer.-Playing career:Stephenson began his professional career with Joe Smith's Blackpool in 1951. He made his debut for the club on 20 January in a 2–2 league draw with Sunderland at Bloomfield Road... |
| 18 February 1956 | Hull City Hull City A.F.C. Hull City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Kingston upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, founded in 1904. The club participates in the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football... |
A | 1–1 | 6,884 | Baily Eddie Baily Edward Francis Baily was a former England international footballer. He was a member of the 1950 FIFA World Cup squad. At club level, he played for Tottenham Hotspur from 1946–56, helping the club to both First and Second Division winning seasons. He also played for Port Vale, Nottingham Forest... |
| 25 February 1956 | Plymouth Argyle Plymouth Argyle F.C. Plymouth Argyle Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Plymouth, Devon, that plays in Football League Two.Since becoming professional in 1903, the club has won five Football League titles, five Southern League titles and one Western League title. The 2009–10 season was the... |
H | 3–1 | 14,336 | Griffiths Ken Griffiths Kenneth James Griffiths is an English former football forward. He scored 59 goals in 221 games in the Football League.... (3) |
| 3 March 1956 | Sheffield Wednesday Sheffield Wednesday F.C. Sheffield Wednesday Football Club are a football club based in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England, who are currently competing in the Football League One in the 2011-12 season, in England. Sheffield Wednesday are one of the oldest professional clubs in the world and the fourth oldest in the... |
A | 0–4 | 29,789 | |
| 10 March 1956 | Doncaster Rovers Doncaster Rovers F.C. Doncaster Rovers Football Club is an English football club, based at the Keepmoat Stadium in Doncaster, South Yorkshire. The team currently competes in the Football League Championship, after being promoted via the League One play-offs in 2008, and have remained there since.The club was founded in... |
H | 2–0 | 16,389 | Baily Eddie Baily Edward Francis Baily was a former England international footballer. He was a member of the 1950 FIFA World Cup squad. At club level, he played for Tottenham Hotspur from 1946–56, helping the club to both First and Second Division winning seasons. He also played for Port Vale, Nottingham Forest... , Cunliffe John Cunliffe (footballer born 1930) John "Dickie" Cunliffe was an English football left-winger. He made 309 appearances in the Football League, scoring 55 goals.... |
| 17 March 1956 | Lincoln City Lincoln City F.C. Lincoln City Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Lincoln, Lincolnshire. The club are currently members of the Conference National in 2011–12 following relegation from the Football League.... |
A | 0–1 | 10,635 | |
| 24 March 1956 | Blackburn Rovers Blackburn Rovers F.C. Blackburn Rovers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the town of Blackburn, Lancashire. The team currently competes in the Premier League, the top tier of English football.... |
H | 4–1 | 15,217 | Stephenson Len Stephenson Robert Leonard "Len" Stephenson is an English former professional footballer.-Playing career:Stephenson began his professional career with Joe Smith's Blackpool in 1951. He made his debut for the club on 20 January in a 2–2 league draw with Sunderland at Bloomfield Road... (2), Leake Albert Leake Albert George Leake was an English former football half-back.He spent the entire 1950s with Port Vale, as the club enjoyed an exciting period of their history. After a total of 43 goals in 293 games, Leake left the club in 1961 for non-league Macclesfield Town, a club he later managed... , Smith Stan Smith (footballer) Stanley James Smith was an English footballer.-Playing career:Smith played for Stoke City before joining rivals Port Vale in May 1950. It took until 27 September 1954 for him to make his debut, in a 1-0 defeat at Doncaster Rovers, following this he appeared fairly regularly until November 1956,... |
| 30 March 1956 | Bristol City Bristol City F.C. Bristol City Football Club is one of two football league clubs in Bristol, England . They play at Ashton Gate, located in the south-west of the City... |
H | 2–0 | 24,900 | Smith Stan Smith (footballer) Stanley James Smith was an English footballer.-Playing career:Smith played for Stoke City before joining rivals Port Vale in May 1950. It took until 27 September 1954 for him to make his debut, in a 1-0 defeat at Doncaster Rovers, following this he appeared fairly regularly until November 1956,... (2) |
| 31 March 1956 | Stoke City Stoke City F.C. Stoke City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire that plays in the Premier League. Founded in 1863, it is the oldest club in the Premier League, and considered to be the second oldest professional football club in the world, after Notts... |
A | 1–1 | 37,928 | Griffiths Ken Griffiths Kenneth James Griffiths is an English former football forward. He scored 59 goals in 221 games in the Football League.... |
| 2 April 1956 | Bristol City Bristol City F.C. Bristol City Football Club is one of two football league clubs in Bristol, England . They play at Ashton Gate, located in the south-west of the City... |
A | 0–0 | 24,348 | |
| 7 April 1956 | Nottingham Forest Nottingham Forest F.C. Nottingham Forest Football Club is an English Association Football club based in West Bridgford, Nottingham, that plays in the Football League Championship... |
H | 0–2 | 23,018 | |
| 14 April 1956 | Liverpool Liverpool F.C. Liverpool Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Liverpool, Merseyside. Liverpool has won eighteen League titles, second most in English football, seven FA Cups and a record seven League Cups... |
A | 1–4 | 29,413 | Baily Eddie Baily Edward Francis Baily was a former England international footballer. He was a member of the 1950 FIFA World Cup squad. At club level, he played for Tottenham Hotspur from 1946–56, helping the club to both First and Second Division winning seasons. He also played for Port Vale, Nottingham Forest... |
| 21 April 1956 | Leicester City Leicester City F.C. Leicester City Football Club , also known as The Foxes, is an English professional football club based at the King Power Stadium in Leicester... |
H | 2–3 | 14,302 | Done Cyril Done Cyril Charles Done was an English former footballer, most notable for his 14 years with Liverpool.-Playing career:... (pen), Baily Eddie Baily Edward Francis Baily was a former England international footballer. He was a member of the 1950 FIFA World Cup squad. At club level, he played for Tottenham Hotspur from 1946–56, helping the club to both First and Second Division winning seasons. He also played for Port Vale, Nottingham Forest... |
| 28 April 1956 | Middlesbrough Middlesbrough F.C. Middlesbrough Football Club , also known as Boro, are an English football club based in Middlesbrough, who play in the Football League Championship. Formed in 1876, they have played at the Riverside Stadium since August 1995, their third ground since turning professional in 1889... |
H | 3–2 | 11,781 | Done Cyril Done Cyril Charles Done was an English former footballer, most notable for his 14 years with Liverpool.-Playing career:... (2), Baily Eddie Baily Edward Francis Baily was a former England international footballer. He was a member of the 1950 FIFA World Cup squad. At club level, he played for Tottenham Hotspur from 1946–56, helping the club to both First and Second Division winning seasons. He also played for Port Vale, Nottingham Forest... |
FA Cup
| Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Goalscorers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| R3 | 7 January 1956 | Walsall Walsall F.C. Walsall Football Club are an English association football club based in Walsall, West Midlands. They currently play in League One. The club was founded in 1888 as Walsall Town Swifts, an amalgamation of Walsall Town F.C. and Walsall Swifts F.C. The club was one of the founder members of the Second... |
A | 1–0 | 21,836 | Stephenson Len Stephenson Robert Leonard "Len" Stephenson is an English former professional footballer.-Playing career:Stephenson began his professional career with Joe Smith's Blackpool in 1951. He made his debut for the club on 20 January in a 2–2 league draw with Sunderland at Bloomfield Road... |
| R4 | 28 January 1956 | Everton Everton F.C. Everton Football Club are an English professional association football club from the city of Liverpool. The club competes in the Premier League, the highest level of English football... |
H | 2–3 | 44,278 | Stephenson Len Stephenson Robert Leonard "Len" Stephenson is an English former professional footballer.-Playing career:Stephenson began his professional career with Joe Smith's Blackpool in 1951. He made his debut for the club on 20 January in a 2–2 league draw with Sunderland at Bloomfield Road... , Sproson Roy Sproson Roy Sproson was an English footballer and football manager for Port Vale. A one-club man, he holds the all-time appearance record for Vale, making 837 starts for Vale between 1950 and 1972. This includes a run of 128 consecutive appearances between April 1954 and March 1957... |
Appearances
| Pos. | Name | Football League | FA Cup | Total | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| GK |  Ray KingRay King (footballer) Raymond King is a former English football goalkeeper. He is the younger brother of George King.A legend at Port Vale, he was their first choice keeper from 1949 to 1957. A key part of the squad, he was at the club during one of their brightest periods... |
39 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 41 | 0 |
| GK | Ray Hancock Ray Hancock Charles Raymond Hancock is a former English footballer. He is Ken Hancock's elder brother.-Playing career:Hancock played for Abbey Hulton United and Bury before joining Port Vale in May 1948. By September 1952, at age 27, he was believed to be experienced enough to be the first choice keeper, but... |
2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| GK | John Poole John Poole (footballer born 1932) John Arthur Frederick Poole is an English former footballer.-Playing career:After playing for numerous youth sides, Poole graduated through the Port Vale juniors to sign professional forms in September 1953. His debut came on 28 April 1956 in a 3-2 home win over Middlesbrough... |
1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| DF | Tommy Cheadle Tommy Cheadle Thomas Cheadle was an English footballer. He played for Port Vale in various positions for over a decade... |
19 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 19 | 0 |
| DF | Reg Potts Reg Potts Reginald Potts was an English football defender, nicknamed Dan after Desperate Dan.A key member of Port Vale's history, Potts played close to 300 league games for the club between 1945 and 1957... |
42 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 44 | 0 |
| DF | Roy Sproson Roy Sproson Roy Sproson was an English footballer and football manager for Port Vale. A one-club man, he holds the all-time appearance record for Vale, making 837 starts for Vale between 1950 and 1972. This includes a run of 128 consecutive appearances between April 1954 and March 1957... |
42 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 44 | 2 |
| DF | Stan Turner Stan Turner Stanley Simpson Turner was an English footballer. He made 246 appearances for Port Vale during one of the club's brightest periods.-Playing style:... |
26 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 28 | 0 |
| MF | Alan Bennett Alan Bennett (English footballer) Alan Bennett is a former English footballer.-Playing style:A skilful and speedy winger, he required the protection of his teammates to prevent opposition hatchet men taking him out of the game.-Playing career:... |
7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 |
| MF | Albert Leake Albert Leake Albert George Leake was an English former football half-back.He spent the entire 1950s with Port Vale, as the club enjoyed an exciting period of their history. After a total of 43 goals in 293 games, Leake left the club in 1961 for non-league Macclesfield Town, a club he later managed... |
36 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 38 | 4 |
| MF | John Cunliffe John Cunliffe (footballer born 1930) John "Dickie" Cunliffe was an English football left-winger. He made 309 appearances in the Football League, scoring 55 goals.... |
39 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 41 | 7 |
| MF | Derek Mountford Derek Mountford Derek Mountford is an English former footballer.-Playing career:Mountford graduated through the Port Vale juniors to sign with the club as a professional in May 1951. He made his debut on 30 April 1955, in a 1–0 home win over Rotherham United and became a first team regular until he lost his place... |
15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 0 |
| MF | Albert Mullard Albert Mullard Albert Thomas Mullard was an English footballer. After spending most of World War II in a Prisoner-of-war camp he turned to professional football... |
6 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 1 |
| MF | Colin Askey Colin Askey Colin Askey is a former English footballer who played on the right wing. He made a total of 313 appearances in the Football League, scoring 35 goals.... |
24 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 26 | 0 |
| FW | Basil Hayward Basil Hayward Carl Basil Hayward was an English footballer player and manager. He was the younger brother of Doug and Eric Hayward.... |
41 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 43 | 0 |
| FW | Ken Griffiths Ken Griffiths Kenneth James Griffiths is an English former football forward. He scored 59 goals in 221 games in the Football League.... |
19 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 21 | 7 |
| FW | Len Stephenson Len Stephenson Robert Leonard "Len" Stephenson is an English former professional footballer.-Playing career:Stephenson began his professional career with Joe Smith's Blackpool in 1951. He made his debut for the club on 20 January in a 2–2 league draw with Sunderland at Bloomfield Road... |
31 | 12 | 2 | 2 | 33 | 14 |
| FW | Stan Smith Stan Smith (footballer) Stanley James Smith was an English footballer.-Playing career:Smith played for Stoke City before joining rivals Port Vale in May 1950. It took until 27 September 1954 for him to make his debut, in a 1-0 defeat at Doncaster Rovers, following this he appeared fairly regularly until November 1956,... |
20 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 20 | 5 |
| FW | Cyril Done Cyril Done Cyril Charles Done was an English former footballer, most notable for his 14 years with Liverpool.-Playing career:... |
18 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 18 | 12 |
| FW | Pat Willdigg Pat Willdigg Patrick Gerald Willdigg is an English former footballer.-Playing career:Willdigg played for Stoke City before crossing the Potteries divide to join Port Vale in May 1950. He made his debut in a 1–1 home draw with Liverpool on 3 December 1955 and also played in the 2–0 defeat at Doncaster Rovers... |
2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| FW | Harry Poole Harry Poole Henry "Harry" Poole is an English former football player, noted for his swerving free kicks. A striker, he has the second highest amount of appearances for Port Vale. He made 499 league and cup appearances for the club in a fifteen year association from 1953 to 1968... |
1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| FW | Tom Conway Tom Conway (English footballer) Thomas Conway is an English former footballer.-Playing career:Conway graduated through the Port Vale juniors to sign professional forms in May 1951. After making his debut in a 1–0 defeat at Rotherham United on 27 August 1955 he became a regular in the side, but lost his place in December that year... |
15 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 4 |
| FW | Eddie Baily Eddie Baily Edward Francis Baily was a former England international footballer. He was a member of the 1950 FIFA World Cup squad. At club level, he played for Tottenham Hotspur from 1946–56, helping the club to both First and Second Division winning seasons. He also played for Port Vale, Nottingham Forest... |
17 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 18 | 7 |
All competitions
| Scorer | Goals |
|---|---|
| Cyril Done Cyril Done Cyril Charles Done was an English former footballer, most notable for his 14 years with Liverpool.-Playing career:... |
14 |
| Len Stephenson Len Stephenson Robert Leonard "Len" Stephenson is an English former professional footballer.-Playing career:Stephenson began his professional career with Joe Smith's Blackpool in 1951. He made his debut for the club on 20 January in a 2–2 league draw with Sunderland at Bloomfield Road... |
12 |
| Ken Griffiths Ken Griffiths Kenneth James Griffiths is an English former football forward. He scored 59 goals in 221 games in the Football League.... |
7 |
| Eddie Baily Eddie Baily Edward Francis Baily was a former England international footballer. He was a member of the 1950 FIFA World Cup squad. At club level, he played for Tottenham Hotspur from 1946–56, helping the club to both First and Second Division winning seasons. He also played for Port Vale, Nottingham Forest... |
|
| John Cunliffe John Cunliffe (footballer born 1930) John "Dickie" Cunliffe was an English football left-winger. He made 309 appearances in the Football League, scoring 55 goals.... |
|
| Stan Smith Stan Smith (footballer) Stanley James Smith was an English footballer.-Playing career:Smith played for Stoke City before joining rivals Port Vale in May 1950. It took until 27 September 1954 for him to make his debut, in a 1-0 defeat at Doncaster Rovers, following this he appeared fairly regularly until November 1956,... |
5 |
| Tom Conway Tom Conway (English footballer) Thomas Conway is an English former footballer.-Playing career:Conway graduated through the Port Vale juniors to sign professional forms in May 1951. After making his debut in a 1–0 defeat at Rotherham United on 27 August 1955 he became a regular in the side, but lost his place in December that year... |
4 |
| Albert Leake Albert Leake Albert George Leake was an English former football half-back.He spent the entire 1950s with Port Vale, as the club enjoyed an exciting period of their history. After a total of 43 goals in 293 games, Leake left the club in 1961 for non-league Macclesfield Town, a club he later managed... |
|
| Roy Sproson Roy Sproson Roy Sproson was an English footballer and football manager for Port Vale. A one-club man, he holds the all-time appearance record for Vale, making 837 starts for Vale between 1950 and 1972. This includes a run of 128 consecutive appearances between April 1954 and March 1957... |
|
| Albert Mullard Albert Mullard Albert Thomas Mullard was an English footballer. After spending most of World War II in a Prisoner-of-war camp he turned to professional football... |
1 |
League
| Scorer | Goals |
|---|---|
| Cyril Done Cyril Done Cyril Charles Done was an English former footballer, most notable for his 14 years with Liverpool.-Playing career:... |
12 |
| Len Stephenson Len Stephenson Robert Leonard "Len" Stephenson is an English former professional footballer.-Playing career:Stephenson began his professional career with Joe Smith's Blackpool in 1951. He made his debut for the club on 20 January in a 2–2 league draw with Sunderland at Bloomfield Road... |
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| Ken Griffiths Ken Griffiths Kenneth James Griffiths is an English former football forward. He scored 59 goals in 221 games in the Football League.... |
7 |
| Eddie Baily Eddie Baily Edward Francis Baily was a former England international footballer. He was a member of the 1950 FIFA World Cup squad. At club level, he played for Tottenham Hotspur from 1946–56, helping the club to both First and Second Division winning seasons. He also played for Port Vale, Nottingham Forest... |
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| John Cunliffe John Cunliffe (footballer born 1930) John "Dickie" Cunliffe was an English football left-winger. He made 309 appearances in the Football League, scoring 55 goals.... |
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| Stan Smith Stan Smith (footballer) Stanley James Smith was an English footballer.-Playing career:Smith played for Stoke City before joining rivals Port Vale in May 1950. It took until 27 September 1954 for him to make his debut, in a 1-0 defeat at Doncaster Rovers, following this he appeared fairly regularly until November 1956,... |
5 |
| Tom Conway Tom Conway (English footballer) Thomas Conway is an English former footballer.-Playing career:Conway graduated through the Port Vale juniors to sign professional forms in May 1951. After making his debut in a 1–0 defeat at Rotherham United on 27 August 1955 he became a regular in the side, but lost his place in December that year... |
4 |
| Albert Leake Albert Leake Albert George Leake was an English former football half-back.He spent the entire 1950s with Port Vale, as the club enjoyed an exciting period of their history. After a total of 43 goals in 293 games, Leake left the club in 1961 for non-league Macclesfield Town, a club he later managed... |
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| Roy Sproson Roy Sproson Roy Sproson was an English footballer and football manager for Port Vale. A one-club man, he holds the all-time appearance record for Vale, making 837 starts for Vale between 1950 and 1972. This includes a run of 128 consecutive appearances between April 1954 and March 1957... |
1 |
| Albert Mullard Albert Mullard Albert Thomas Mullard was an English footballer. After spending most of World War II in a Prisoner-of-war camp he turned to professional football... |
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