1965–66 Port Vale F.C. season
Encyclopedia
The 1965–66 season was Port Vale
's fifty-fourth season of football in the Football League
, and their first season (second overall) back in the Fourth Division
following their relegation from the Third Division
. For the first time in their Football League history
they played three divisions below rivals
Stoke City
. Despite hope of a swift return to the third tier, the season instead proved a complete disaster, the club finishing nineteenth (87th of the 92 League clubs). The appointment of Stanley Matthews
as general manager meant an adoption of a youth policy, which eventually saw four teenagers make their debut in one match, as well as the arrival of several Scottish youngsters.
was appointed general manager to help his friend Jackie Mudie as manager. Matthews announced his policy of 'attracting and nurturing young footballers' and stressed the need for 'patience'. Matthews did not receive and did not request a contract. Though a massive lift for the club at the time, this development transpired to be a negative one for all involved, as Roy Sproson
later explained that 'the club had their priorities wrong and the first team suffered badly, whilst Stan trusted people, who took advantage of him'. Most of the summer signings were youngsters, which also suited the club's directors, who had overseen massive losses over the past two seasons. In came Brian Taylor (£3,000 from Shrewsbury Town
); winger Roger Smith
(Walsall
); Scottish inside-forwards John Cummings
and Tommy Morrison
(Aberdeen
); as well as sixteen year old Scottish trialist winger Alex Donald
. Matthews also initiated a series of trials for 700 boys.
The season opened with a 1–0 win over Colchester United
in front of 11,212 at Vale Park
. Two narrow away defeats followed, in what would be a season long pattern of success at home and defeat away. Terry Miles
replaced Terry Lowe
in a 2–0 win over Stockport County
on 4 September to become Vale's first ever playing substitute. John Nicholson
's club record run of 208 consecutive appearances, which began on 2 September 1961, ended on 8 September. Nicholson was unhappy with this and was consequently sold to Doncaster Rovers
for £5,000 – much to the distress of supporters. Attendances fell away to only 4,605 on 18 September, when Vale 'disgraced themselves' by only beating Lincoln City
3–0, who provided 'abysmal opposition'. Keeper Jimmy O'Neill was 'in vintage form', but twelve forwards were tried up front in the first ten games. On 2 October Jackie Mudie
's 'extra craft' helped the Vale to thrash high-flying Chester
5–2, and two days later Vale beat Crewe Alexandra
. However the club then played a friendly with SC Tasmania 1900 Berlin in Berlin
(losing 2–0), and proceeded to lose their next six league games. The club then signed Jimmy Hill from Everton
for £5,000, however Hill seemed to be a replica of Mudie, rather than an addition to the fire-power.
As Vale slipped down the table, they were denied permission by the Ministry of Labour
to sign USA international
Willy Roy
as he did not meet the two-year residential requirement. More trouble came when Bo'ness United
reported the club to the Scottish Junior Football Association
for an alleged breach of the rules in the transfer of Roddy Georgeson
. On the pitch results continued to go against the Vale, as they found themselves in a re-election struggle by January. Vale then went on a club-record six consecutive away games without scoring a goal in a run lasting from 8 January to 9 March. In came left-back John Ritchie
from Whitley Bay
, though free agent Graham Barnett
did not return to the club, despite protestations from supporters – the management stated that Barnett's wage demands were too great. For the clash with bottom-placed Bradford City
on 12 January, Vale assembled the youngest ever Football League forward line: Alex Donald
(17), Roddy Georgeson (17), Mick Cullerton
(17), Paul Bannister
(18), and Paul Ogden
(19). Of the five forwards only Bannister had played competitively before. Bradford won 2–0. A 2–1 win over Rochdale
was then followed by four straight defeats. Cummings and Morrison were judged not to have made the grade and so were released form their contracts, signing with Ayr United
and Sligo Rovers
respectively.
Stanley Matthews encouraged supporters not to raise their expectations, claiming that "we are rebuilding and miracles don't happen overnight". Starting with a 2–1 win over Darlington
, Vale picked up seven points out of a possible eight. Their defence was bolstered by the signing of keeper Stuart Sharrat
from Oswestry Town
for £2,000. However by April they were back into the re-election zone. On 12 April, Malcolm James MacKenzie
began the youngest ever first team player for the club when at 15 years 347 days old he was selected for the game against Newport County
. To act a nursery club, Broxburn Athletic
of Edinburgh
was adopted to save having to bring youngsters to Burslem
for trials. They finished the season in indifferent form, and received a final day thrashing 5–0 from Luton Town
at Kenilworth Road
.
They finished in nineteenth spot with 39 points, leaving them two points away from having to apply for re-election. They were ahead of Chesterfield
on goal average, and two points ahead of Rochdale
, Lincoln City, and Bradford City
, and four points ahead of Wrexham. Their 48 goals scored was atrocious, and easily the weakest in the division, though the defence only conceded 59. The one saviour was John Rowland
, whose 23 goals in all competitions was almost quadruple that of his nearest rival.
Six players were released, most significantly Tony Richards
departed, who had never really recovered from a knee injury, he joined Nuneaton Borough. Also leaving were Mel Machin
to Gillingham
, Roger Smith
to Walsall
, whilst Selwyn Whalley
retired with a foot injury. This left 23 professionals at the club.
, Hill 'masterminded the Vale attack' in a 'thrilling' 2–2 draw at Third Division
Oxford United
's Manor Ground. Vale won the replay 3–2 to meet Dartford
of the Southern League
in the Second Round. Vale won 1–0 despite the best efforts of what The Sentinel described as 'man-eating sharks' that left the "Valiants" nursing several injuries. In the Third Round they were defeated 2–1 by Second Division
Cardiff City
at Ninian Park
despite a surprisingly resilient defensive display.
In the League Cup
, Vale drew 2–2 at home to Reading
before exiting the competition with a 1–0 defeat at Elm Park
.
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 fifty-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 first season (second overall) back in the Fourth Division
Football League Fourth Division
The Fourth Division of The Football League was the fourth-highest division in the English football league system from the 1958–59 season until the creation of the Premier League prior to the 1992–93 season...
following their relegation from the Third Division
Football League Third Division
The Football League Third Division was the 3 tier of English Football from 1920 until 1992 when after the formation of the Football Association Premier League saw the league renamed The Football League Division Two...
. For the first time in their Football League history
History of Port Vale F.C.
The history of Port Vale F.C., an English association football club based in Stoke-on-Trent, began when the club was formed in 1876. In 1884, the club moved to the town of Burslem, changing their name to Burslem Port Vale in the process. The club joined the Football League Second Division upon its...
they played three divisions below 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...
. Despite hope of a swift return to the third tier, the season instead proved a complete disaster, the club finishing nineteenth (87th of the 92 League clubs). The appointment of Stanley Matthews
Stanley Matthews
Sir Stanley Matthews, CBE was an English footballer. Often regarded as one of the greatest players of the English game, he is the only player to have been knighted while still playing, as well as being the first winner of both the European Footballer of the Year and the Football Writers'...
as general manager meant an adoption of a youth policy, which eventually saw four teenagers make their debut in one match, as well as the arrival of several Scottish youngsters.
Fourth Division
On 19 July 1965, Stanley MatthewsStanley Matthews
Sir Stanley Matthews, CBE was an English footballer. Often regarded as one of the greatest players of the English game, he is the only player to have been knighted while still playing, as well as being the first winner of both the European Footballer of the Year and the Football Writers'...
was appointed general manager to help his friend Jackie Mudie as manager. Matthews announced his policy of 'attracting and nurturing young footballers' and stressed the need for 'patience'. Matthews did not receive and did not request a contract. Though a massive lift for the club at the time, this development transpired to be a negative one for all involved, as 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...
later explained that 'the club had their priorities wrong and the first team suffered badly, whilst Stan trusted people, who took advantage of him'. Most of the summer signings were youngsters, which also suited the club's directors, who had overseen massive losses over the past two seasons. In came Brian Taylor (£3,000 from Shrewsbury Town
Shrewsbury Town F.C.
Shrewsbury Town Football Club is an English Association football club based in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, who play in League Two, the fourth tier of English football. The club was formed in 1886 and has played in all the bottom three divisions in various guises since being elected into the Football...
); winger Roger Smith
Roger Smith (footballer)
Roger William Smith is an English former footballer.-Playing career:Smith played for Walsall before joining Port Vale in July 1965. He was a first team regular throughout the 1965–66 season until he suffered an ankle injury in March 1966...
(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...
); Scottish inside-forwards John Cummings
John Cummings (footballer)
John Cummings is a former Scottish footballer.-Playing career:Cummings played for Aberdeen before joining Port Vale in July 1965. He made three appearances in the league, one in the League Cup and two in the FA Cup and scored one goal in the FA Cup...
and Tommy Morrison
Tommy Morrison (footballer born 1943)
Thomas Morrison is a former Scottish footballer.-Playing career:Morrison joined Port Vale from Aberdeen in July 1965. He played 6 games and scored one goal before being transferred to Sligo Rovers in January 1966....
(Aberdeen
Aberdeen F.C.
Aberdeen Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Aberdeen...
); as well as sixteen year old Scottish trialist winger Alex Donald
Alex Donald
Alexander Donald is a Scottish former footballer.-Playing career:Donald had a successful trial with Port Vale over the summer of 1965, having joined in July he signed as a professional by October. He made his debut on 12 January 1966 in a 2–0 defeat at Bradford City, but was never a first team...
. Matthews also initiated a series of trials for 700 boys.
The season opened with a 1–0 win over Colchester United
Colchester United F.C.
Colchester United Football Club is an English football club based in Colchester. The club was formed in 1937, and briefly shared their old Layer Road home with now defunct side Colchester Town who had previously used the ground from 1910....
in front of 11,212 at 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....
. Two narrow away defeats followed, in what would be a season long pattern of success at home and defeat away. Terry Miles
Terry Miles
Terrence Miles is a former English football midfielder. He played for Port Vale between 1955 and 1968, helping them to the Fourth Division title in 1958–1959. He later turned out for Eastwood, before returning to Vale Park as a coach....
replaced Terry Lowe
Terry Lowe
Terence John Lowe is a former English footballer.-Playing career:In his youth, Lowe played for Stoke City before joining Port Vale in June 1960. His debut came in the Potteries derby 1–0 win over Stoke in the Supporters' Clubs' Trophy final on 24 April 1961...
in a 2–0 win over Stockport County
Stockport County F.C.
Stockport County Football Club is an English football club based in Stockport, Greater Manchester. The club formed in 1883 as Heaton Norris Rovers, shortly afterwards merging with Heaton Norris F.C., and adopted the current name on 24 May 1890 on the creation of the County Borough of Stockport...
on 4 September to become Vale's first ever playing substitute. John Nicholson
John Nicholson (English footballer)
John Purcell Nicholson was an English footballer.-Playing career:Nicholson joined Port Vale for a £2,000 fee from Liverpool in August 1961. He made his debut in 1–1 draw at Northampton Town on 2 September 1961, and 208 consecutive appearances later, on 8 September 1965, he had broken a club record...
's club record run of 208 consecutive appearances, which began on 2 September 1961, ended on 8 September. Nicholson was unhappy with this and was consequently sold to 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...
for £5,000 – much to the distress of supporters. Attendances fell away to only 4,605 on 18 September, when Vale 'disgraced themselves' by only beating 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....
3–0, who provided 'abysmal opposition'. Keeper Jimmy O'Neill was 'in vintage form', but twelve forwards were tried up front in the first ten games. On 2 October Jackie Mudie
Jackie Mudie
John "Jackie" Knight Mudie was a Scottish international footballer who played as a forward. He won seventeen caps for his country, helping the Scots to qualify for the 1958 FIFA World Cup....
's 'extra craft' helped the Vale to thrash high-flying Chester
Chester City F.C.
Chester City Football Club was an English football team from Chester. The club was founded as Chester F.C., and joined the Football League in 1931, spending most of their time in the lower divisions. They changed their name to Chester City in 1983. Chester won their first league title in 2004, the...
5–2, and two days later Vale beat Crewe Alexandra
Crewe Alexandra F.C.
Crewe Alexandra Football Club is an English professional football club based in Crewe, Cheshire. Nicknamed The Railwaymen due to the town's links with the rail industry, they currently play in Football League Two, the fourth tier of English football, and are based at the Alexandra Stadium.The club...
. However the club then played a friendly with SC Tasmania 1900 Berlin in Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
(losing 2–0), and proceeded to lose their next six league games. The club then signed Jimmy Hill from 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...
for £5,000, however Hill seemed to be a replica of Mudie, rather than an addition to the fire-power.
As Vale slipped down the table, they were denied permission by the Ministry of Labour
Ministry of Labour
The Ministry of Labour was a British civil service department established by the New Ministries and Secretaries Act 1916. It was renamed the Employment Department in 1988, and finally abolished in 1995...
to sign USA international
United States men's national soccer team
The United States men's national soccer team represents the United States in international association football competitions. It is controlled by the United States Soccer Federation and competes in CONCACAF...
Willy Roy
Willy Roy
Willy Roy is a retired U.S. soccer forward and coach. He played for several teams in the National Professional Soccer League and the North American Soccer League in the 1960s and 1970s, as well as the United States national team from 1965 to 1973...
as he did not meet the two-year residential requirement. More trouble came when Bo'ness United
Bo'ness United F.C.
Bo'ness United F.C. are a Scottish junior football club, based in the town of Bo'ness. They are currently members of the Scottish Junior Football Association's East Region Super League....
reported the club to the Scottish Junior Football Association
Scottish Junior Football Association
The Scottish Junior Football Association is an affiliated national association of the Scottish Football Association and is the governing body for the Junior grade of football in Scotland. The term "Junior" refers to the level of football played...
for an alleged breach of the rules in the transfer of Roddy Georgeson
Roddy Georgeson
Roderick Bruce Georgeson is a former Egyptian footballer, described by football historian Jeff Kent as 'flamboyant'.-Playing career:...
. On the pitch results continued to go against the Vale, as they found themselves in a re-election struggle by January. Vale then went on a club-record six consecutive away games without scoring a goal in a run lasting from 8 January to 9 March. In came left-back John Ritchie
John Ritchie (footballer born 1944)
John Ritchie is an English former footballer.-Playing career:Ritchie played for Whitley Bay before joining Port Vale in December 1965. He became a regular in the side and is remembered by those who saw it for his forty-yard "goal of a lifetime" in a 2–1 win at Bradford City in a first round FA Cup...
from Whitley Bay
Whitley Bay F.C.
Whitley Bay Football Club are an English football club based in the North-East of England. The present Whitley Bay Football Club was formed in 1950 and was known as Whitley Bay Athletic...
, though free agent Graham Barnett
Graham Barnett
Graham Barnett is a former English footballer who played as an inside-forward.He began his career with Port Vale in 1956, before he was sold on to Tranmere Rovers four years later. In 1961 he signed with Halifax Town, before he emigrated to Australia the following year so as to play for South...
did not return to the club, despite protestations from supporters – the management stated that Barnett's wage demands were too great. For the clash with bottom-placed Bradford City
Bradford City A.F.C.
Bradford City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Bradford, West Yorkshire, playing in League Two....
on 12 January, Vale assembled the youngest ever Football League forward line: Alex Donald
Alex Donald
Alexander Donald is a Scottish former footballer.-Playing career:Donald had a successful trial with Port Vale over the summer of 1965, having joined in July he signed as a professional by October. He made his debut on 12 January 1966 in a 2–0 defeat at Bradford City, but was never a first team...
(17), Roddy Georgeson (17), Mick Cullerton
Mick Cullerton
Michael Joseph Cullerton is a former Scottish footballer. He is noted for his two spells with Port Vale, as well as for being Stafford Rangers' star forward as they were one of the elite non-league clubs in the 1970s....
(17), Paul Bannister
Paul Bannister
Paul Francis Bannister is an English former footballer.-Playing career:Bannister graduated through the Port Vale youth side to sign as a professional in April 1965. He played the last two games of the 1964–65 season and scored the club's last goal of the season. He played the opening two games of...
(18), and Paul Ogden
Paul Ogden
Paul Ogden is an English football manager and former player. He was manager of Leek Town in six separate spells, spanning nearly forty years...
(19). Of the five forwards only Bannister had played competitively before. Bradford won 2–0. A 2–1 win over Rochdale
Rochdale A.F.C.
Rochdale Association Football Club is an English professional football club based in Rochdale, Greater Manchester. They play their home matches at Spotland Stadium. Formed in 1907, they were accepted into the Football League in 1921...
was then followed by four straight defeats. Cummings and Morrison were judged not to have made the grade and so were released form their contracts, signing with Ayr United
Ayr United F.C.
Ayr United Football Club are a Scottish association football team based in Ayr, South Ayrshire, that plays in the First Division of the Scottish Football League. Formed in 1910 after the merger of former clubs Ayr Parkhouse F.C. and Ayr F.C...
and Sligo Rovers
Sligo Rovers F.C.
Sligo Rovers Football Club is a professional Irish football club playing in the Premier Division of the League of Ireland. The club was founded in 1928 and have been in the League of Ireland since 1934. The club is a co-operative venture, owned by the people of Sligo. Sligo Rovers have played at...
respectively.
Stanley Matthews encouraged supporters not to raise their expectations, claiming that "we are rebuilding and miracles don't happen overnight". Starting with a 2–1 win over Darlington
Darlington F.C.
Darlington Football Club is a professional association football club based in Darlington, County Durham, currently playing in the Conference National. The club was founded in 1883, and originally played its games at Feethams, before moving to the Darlington Arena in 2003...
, Vale picked up seven points out of a possible eight. Their defence was bolstered by the signing of keeper Stuart Sharrat
Stuart Sharrat
Stuart Edgar Sharrat is a former English footballer. He was a goalkeeper who made 152 appearances for Port Vale – 143 in the Football League, 5 in the FA Cup and 4 in the League Cup.-Playing career:...
from Oswestry Town
Oswestry Town F.C.
Oswestry Town F.C. was a football club, formerly playing in the League of Wales.The club was founded as Oswestry United in 1860, which meant they were one of the world's oldest football clubs. Matches were latterly played at Park Hall stadium, Oswestry, after a spell at Victoria Road...
for £2,000. However by April they were back into the re-election zone. On 12 April, Malcolm James MacKenzie
Malcolm James MacKenzie
Malcolm James Mackenzie is a former Scottish footballer.-Playing career:He joined Port Vale as an amateur in November 1965, he made his debut against Newport County on 12 April 1966 at the age of 15 years 347 days. Becoming the youngest ever first team player for the club. He signed professional...
began the youngest ever first team player for the club when at 15 years 347 days old he was selected for the game against Newport County
Newport County A.F.C.
Newport County Association Football Club are a professional football club based in the city of Newport, south Wales, who currently play in the Conference National, the highest level of the National League System and fifth highest of the overall English football league system...
. To act a nursery club, Broxburn Athletic
Broxburn Athletic F.C.
Broxburn Athletic F.C. are a Scottish junior football club based in the town of Broxburn, West Lothian. They play their home games at Albyn Park. The team was managed by the late Jamie Dolan....
of Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
was adopted to save having to bring youngsters to Burslem
Burslem
The town of Burslem, known as the Mother Town, is one of the six towns that amalgamated to form the current city of Stoke-on-Trent, in the ceremonial county of Staffordshire, in the Midlands of England.-Topography:...
for trials. They finished the season in indifferent form, and received a final day thrashing 5–0 from Luton Town
Luton Town F.C.
Luton Town Football Club is an English professional football club based since 1905 at Kenilworth Road, Luton, Bedfordshire. The club currently competes in the fifth tier of English football, the Conference National, for the third consecutive season during the 2011–12 season.Formed in 1885, it was...
at Kenilworth Road
Kenilworth Road
Kenilworth Road Stadium is a football stadium in Luton, Bedfordshire, England. It has been home to Luton Town Football Club since 1905, when financial complications forced the club to leave its previous location at Dunstable Road...
.
They finished in nineteenth spot with 39 points, leaving them two points away from having to apply for re-election. They were ahead of Chesterfield
Chesterfield F.C.
Chesterfield Football Club is an English football club based in Chesterfield, Derbyshire. The club currently plays in Football League One, the third tier of English football. Despite being the fourth oldest Football League club in England, they have spent most of their existence in the lower...
on goal average, and two points ahead of Rochdale
Rochdale A.F.C.
Rochdale Association Football Club is an English professional football club based in Rochdale, Greater Manchester. They play their home matches at Spotland Stadium. Formed in 1907, they were accepted into the Football League in 1921...
, Lincoln City, and Bradford City
Bradford City A.F.C.
Bradford City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Bradford, West Yorkshire, playing in League Two....
, and four points ahead of Wrexham. Their 48 goals scored was atrocious, and easily the weakest in the division, though the defence only conceded 59. The one saviour was John Rowland
John Rowland (footballer)
John Douglas Rowland is a former English footballer who was known for his powerful 'hammer shot'.-Playing career:Rowland played for Ironside Amateurs and Nottingham Forest before joining Port Vale for £6,000 in August 1962...
, whose 23 goals in all competitions was almost quadruple that of his nearest rival.
Finances
On the financial side, another big loss of £29,696 was announced despite another large donation from the Sportsmen's Association, the Development Fund and the social club. Wages had risen by 25% to £54,552, there was a £5,000 credit in player transfers, though an improved home crowd average saw gate receipts rise by 25% to £30,994. The management were determined to stick with the club's youth policy.Six players were released, most significantly Tony Richards
Tony Richards (footballer)
Anthony Willis "Tony" Richards was an English footballer who played as a forward. He played for Walsall for nine years between 1954 and 1963, and also turned out for Birmingham City and Port Vale, as well as non-league sides Nuneaton Borough and Dudley Town.-Early life:Richards was in the Army...
departed, who had never really recovered from a knee injury, he joined Nuneaton Borough. Also leaving were Mel Machin
Mel Machin
Melvyn "Mel" Machin is an English former footballer and manager.A midfielder, he started his career at Port Vale in 1962, before he moved on to Gillingham four years later. He made his name at the club from 1966 to 1971, before he transferred to Bournemouth for a three year spell...
to Gillingham
Gillingham F.C.
Gillingham Football Club is an English professional football club based in the town of Gillingham, Kent. The only Kent-based club in the Football League, they play their home matches at the Priestfield Stadium...
, Roger Smith
Roger Smith (footballer)
Roger William Smith is an English former footballer.-Playing career:Smith played for Walsall before joining Port Vale in July 1965. He was a first team regular throughout the 1965–66 season until he suffered an ankle injury in March 1966...
to 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...
, whilst Selwyn Whalley
Selwyn Whalley
Selwyn Davies Whalley is a former English footballer. He was a one club man with a fifteen year career at Port Vale.-Playing career:Whalley was born in Tunstall, Stoke-on-Trent, and grew up supporting Port Vale...
retired with a foot injury. This left 23 professionals at the club.
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...
, Hill 'masterminded the Vale attack' in a 'thrilling' 2–2 draw at Third Division
Football League Third Division
The Football League Third Division was the 3 tier of English Football from 1920 until 1992 when after the formation of the Football Association Premier League saw the league renamed The Football League Division Two...
Oxford United
Oxford United F.C.
Oxford United Football Club is an English association football club based in Oxford, Oxfordshire. The club play in League Two, following promotion from the Conference National in May 2010. The club had been a non-League side since their relegation from the Football League in the 2005–06 season. The...
's Manor Ground. Vale won the replay 3–2 to meet Dartford
Dartford F.C.
Dartford F.C. are an English football club based in Dartford, Kent. After finishing as champions of the Isthmian League Division One North in the 2007–08 season, they compete in the Isthmian League Premier Division. They finished in 8th position in their first season...
of the Southern League
Southern Football League
The Southern League is an English football competition featuring semi-professional and amateur clubs from the South West, South Central and Midlands of England and South Wales...
in the Second Round. Vale won 1–0 despite the best efforts of what The Sentinel described as 'man-eating sharks' that left the "Valiants" nursing several injuries. In the Third Round they were defeated 2–1 by 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...
Cardiff City
Cardiff City F.C.
Cardiff City Football Club are a Welsh professional football club based in Cardiff, Wales. The club competes in the English football pyramid and is currently playing in the Football League Championship. Cardiff City is the best supported football club in Wales, averaging approximately 22,500 for...
at Ninian Park
Ninian Park
Ninian Park was a football stadium in Leckwith, Cardiff, Wales. Until 2009, it was the home ground of Cardiff City F.C., who compete in the English Football League Championship...
despite a surprisingly resilient defensive display.
In the League Cup
Football League Cup
The Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup or, from current sponsorship, the Carling Cup, is an English association football competition. Like the FA Cup, it is played on a knockout basis...
, Vale drew 2–2 at home to Reading
Reading F.C.
Reading Football Club is an English association football club based in the town of Reading, Berkshire who currently play in the Championship...
before exiting the competition with a 1–0 defeat at Elm Park
Elm Park
Elm Park is a place in the London Borough of Havering, in east London, England. It is a suburban development situated east north-east of Charing Cross. Unlike the nearby suburbs of Upminster and Hornchurch, Elm Park was not developed until after the arrival of the electrified District Line in 1935...
.
Final league table
| P | W | D | L | F | A | GA | Pts | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 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... |
46 | 24 | 11 | 11 | 85 | 54 | 1.574 | 59 |
| 2 | Darlington Darlington F.C. Darlington Football Club is a professional association football club based in Darlington, County Durham, currently playing in the Conference National. The club was founded in 1883, and originally played its games at Feethams, before moving to the Darlington Arena in 2003... |
46 | 25 | 9 | 12 | 72 | 53 | 1.358 | 59 |
| 3 | Torquay United Torquay United F.C. Torquay United Football Club, nicknamed the Gulls, are an English association football club based in the tourist resort town of Torquay, Devon. They played in the Conference National in 2008–09, but were promoted to Football League Two after a 2–0 win over Cambridge United on 17 May 2009 at Wembley... |
46 | 24 | 10 | 12 | 72 | 49 | 1.469 | 58 |
| 4 | Colchester United Colchester United F.C. Colchester United Football Club is an English football club based in Colchester. The club was formed in 1937, and briefly shared their old Layer Road home with now defunct side Colchester Town who had previously used the ground from 1910.... |
46 | 23 | 10 | 13 | 70 | 47 | 1.489 | 56 |
| 5 | Tranmere Rovers Tranmere Rovers F.C. Tranmere Rovers Football Club are an English team based in Birkenhead, Wirral. The club currently compete in League One, the third tier of the English football league system... |
46 | 24 | 8 | 14 | 93 | 66 | 1.409 | 56 |
| 6 | Luton Town Luton Town F.C. Luton Town Football Club is an English professional football club based since 1905 at Kenilworth Road, Luton, Bedfordshire. The club currently competes in the fifth tier of English football, the Conference National, for the third consecutive season during the 2011–12 season.Formed in 1885, it was... |
46 | 24 | 8 | 14 | 90 | 70 | 1.286 | 56 |
| 7 | Chester Chester City F.C. Chester City Football Club was an English football team from Chester. The club was founded as Chester F.C., and joined the Football League in 1931, spending most of their time in the lower divisions. They changed their name to Chester City in 1983. Chester won their first league title in 2004, the... |
46 | 20 | 12 | 14 | 79 | 70 | 1.129 | 52 |
| 8 | 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... |
46 | 19 | 12 | 15 | 61 | 53 | 1.151 | 50 |
| 9 | Newport County Newport County A.F.C. Newport County Association Football Club are a professional football club based in the city of Newport, south Wales, who currently play in the Conference National, the highest level of the National League System and fifth highest of the overall English football league system... |
46 | 18 | 12 | 16 | 75 | 75 | 1.000 | 48 |
| 10 | Southport Southport F.C. Southport Football Club are an English football club, based in Southport, Merseyside. They are currently in the Conference National, and play their home matches at Haig Avenue, which has a capacity of 6,008... |
46 | 18 | 12 | 16 | 68 | 69 | 0.986 | 48 |
| 11 | Bradford Park Avenue Bradford Park Avenue A.F.C. Bradford Association Football Club, previously also known as Bradford and since its reformation in the 1970s now referred to as Bradford Park Avenue, is a football club based in Bradford, West Yorkshire, England... |
46 | 21 | 5 | 20 | 102 | 92 | 1.109 | 47 |
| 12 | Barrow Barrow A.F.C. Barrow A.F.C. are an English football club founded in 1901 based in the town of Barrow-in-Furness in Cumbria. Following promotion at the end of the 2007–08 season, they currently play in the Conference National. The club spent over fifty years in the Football League between 1921 and 1972, and have... |
46 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 72 | 76 | 0.947 | 47 |
| 13 | Stockport County Stockport County F.C. Stockport County Football Club is an English football club based in Stockport, Greater Manchester. The club formed in 1883 as Heaton Norris Rovers, shortly afterwards merging with Heaton Norris F.C., and adopted the current name on 24 May 1890 on the creation of the County Borough of Stockport... |
46 | 18 | 6 | 22 | 71 | 70 | 1.014 | 42 |
| 14 | Crewe Alexandra Crewe Alexandra F.C. Crewe Alexandra Football Club is an English professional football club based in Crewe, Cheshire. Nicknamed The Railwaymen due to the town's links with the rail industry, they currently play in Football League Two, the fourth tier of English football, and are based at the Alexandra Stadium.The club... |
46 | 16 | 9 | 21 | 61 | 63 | 0.968 | 41 |
| 15 | Halifax Town Halifax Town A.F.C. Halifax Town Association Football Club were an English football team who most recently played in the Conference National, although prior to that they participated in the Football League for over eighty years... |
46 | 15 | 11 | 20 | 67 | 75 | 0.893 | 41 |
| 16 | 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... |
46 | 15 | 10 | 21 | 74 | 78 | 0.949 | 40 |
| 17 | Aldershot Aldershot F.C. Aldershot Football Club was an English Football League club, which was wound up in the High Court in March 1992. They became the first Football League club since Accrington Stanley to resign from the League during the course of a season. The club was nicknamed the Shots for both the last syllable... |
46 | 15 | 10 | 21 | 75 | 84 | 0.893 | 40 |
| 18 | Hartlepools United Hartlepool United F.C. Hartlepool United Football Club is an English professional football club based in Hartlepool that currently play in League One. The team won promotion to League One in the 2006–07 season... |
46 | 16 | 8 | 22 | 63 | 75 | 0.840 | 40 |
| 19 | 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... |
46 | 15 | 9 | 22 | 48 | 59 | 0.814 | 39 |
| 20 | Chesterfield Chesterfield F.C. Chesterfield Football Club is an English football club based in Chesterfield, Derbyshire. The club currently plays in Football League One, the third tier of English football. Despite being the fourth oldest Football League club in England, they have spent most of their existence in the lower... |
46 | 13 | 13 | 20 | 62 | 78 | 0.795 | 39 |
| 21 | Rochdale Rochdale A.F.C. Rochdale Association Football Club is an English professional football club based in Rochdale, Greater Manchester. They play their home matches at Spotland Stadium. Formed in 1907, they were accepted into the Football League in 1921... |
46 | 16 | 5 | 25 | 71 | 87 | 0.816 | 37 |
| 22 | 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.... |
46 | 13 | 11 | 22 | 57 | 82 | 0.695 | 37 |
| 23 | Bradford City Bradford City A.F.C. Bradford City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Bradford, West Yorkshire, playing in League Two.... |
46 | 12 | 13 | 21 | 63 | 94 | 0.670 | 37 |
| 24 | Wrexham | 46 | 13 | 9 | 24 | 72 | 104 | 0.692 | 35 |
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 Fourth Division
| Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Scorers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21 August 1965 | Colchester United Colchester United F.C. Colchester United Football Club is an English football club based in Colchester. The club was formed in 1937, and briefly shared their old Layer Road home with now defunct side Colchester Town who had previously used the ground from 1910.... |
|H | 1–0 | 11,212 | Bannister Paul Bannister Paul Francis Bannister is an English former footballer.-Playing career:Bannister graduated through the Port Vale youth side to sign as a professional in April 1965. He played the last two games of the 1964–65 season and scored the club's last goal of the season. He played the opening two games of... |
| 24 August 1965 | 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 | 0–1 | 3,016 | |
| 27 August 1965 | Tranmere Rovers Tranmere Rovers F.C. Tranmere Rovers Football Club are an English team based in Birkenhead, Wirral. The club currently compete in League One, the third tier of the English football league system... |
|A | 0–1 | 10,419 | |
| 4 September 1965 | Stockport County Stockport County F.C. Stockport County Football Club is an English football club based in Stockport, Greater Manchester. The club formed in 1883 as Heaton Norris Rovers, shortly afterwards merging with Heaton Norris F.C., and adopted the current name on 24 May 1890 on the creation of the County Borough of Stockport... |
|H | 2–0 | 6,780 | Rowland John Rowland (footballer) John Douglas Rowland is a former English footballer who was known for his powerful 'hammer shot'.-Playing career:Rowland played for Ironside Amateurs and Nottingham Forest before joining Port Vale for £6,000 in August 1962... , Smith Roger Smith (footballer) Roger William Smith is an English former footballer.-Playing career:Smith played for Walsall before joining Port Vale in July 1965. He was a first team regular throughout the 1965–66 season until he suffered an ankle injury in March 1966... |
| 11 September 1965 | Darlington Darlington F.C. Darlington Football Club is a professional association football club based in Darlington, County Durham, currently playing in the Conference National. The club was founded in 1883, and originally played its games at Feethams, before moving to the Darlington Arena in 2003... |
|A | 1–2 | 3,379 | Rowland John Rowland (footballer) John Douglas Rowland is a former English footballer who was known for his powerful 'hammer shot'.-Playing career:Rowland played for Ironside Amateurs and Nottingham Forest before joining Port Vale for £6,000 in August 1962... |
| 13 September 1965 | 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 | 1–1 | 6,573 | Rowland John Rowland (footballer) John Douglas Rowland is a former English footballer who was known for his powerful 'hammer shot'.-Playing career:Rowland played for Ironside Amateurs and Nottingham Forest before joining Port Vale for £6,000 in August 1962... |
| 18 September 1965 | 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 | 3–0 | 4,605 | Rowland John Rowland (footballer) John Douglas Rowland is a former English footballer who was known for his powerful 'hammer shot'.-Playing career:Rowland played for Ironside Amateurs and Nottingham Forest before joining Port Vale for £6,000 in August 1962... (2 [1 pen]), Mitchell David Mitchell (footballer born 1945) David John Mitchell is an English former footballer.-Playing career:Mitchell graduated through the Port Vale youth team to sign professional forms in March 1964. After scattered appearances throughout his first two seasons he was given a free transfer in May 1966 and moved on to Ipswich... |
| 25 September 1965 | 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 | 1–3 | 6,066 | Rowland John Rowland (footballer) John Douglas Rowland is a former English footballer who was known for his powerful 'hammer shot'.-Playing career:Rowland played for Ironside Amateurs and Nottingham Forest before joining Port Vale for £6,000 in August 1962... (pen) |
| 2 October 1965 | Chester Chester City F.C. Chester City Football Club was an English football team from Chester. The club was founded as Chester F.C., and joined the Football League in 1931, spending most of their time in the lower divisions. They changed their name to Chester City in 1983. Chester won their first league title in 2004, the... |
|H | 5–2 | 8,108 | Smith Roger Smith (footballer) Roger William Smith is an English former footballer.-Playing career:Smith played for Walsall before joining Port Vale in July 1965. He was a first team regular throughout the 1965–66 season until he suffered an ankle injury in March 1966... (2), Rowland John Rowland (footballer) John Douglas Rowland is a former English footballer who was known for his powerful 'hammer shot'.-Playing career:Rowland played for Ironside Amateurs and Nottingham Forest before joining Port Vale for £6,000 in August 1962... , Richards Tony Richards (footballer) Anthony Willis "Tony" Richards was an English footballer who played as a forward. He played for Walsall for nine years between 1954 and 1963, and also turned out for Birmingham City and Port Vale, as well as non-league sides Nuneaton Borough and Dudley Town.-Early life:Richards was in the Army... , Mudie Jackie Mudie John "Jackie" Knight Mudie was a Scottish international footballer who played as a forward. He won seventeen caps for his country, helping the Scots to qualify for the 1958 FIFA World Cup.... |
| 4 October 1965 | Crewe Alexandra Crewe Alexandra F.C. Crewe Alexandra Football Club is an English professional football club based in Crewe, Cheshire. Nicknamed The Railwaymen due to the town's links with the rail industry, they currently play in Football League Two, the fourth tier of English football, and are based at the Alexandra Stadium.The club... |
|H | 2–0 | 11,395 | Rowland John Rowland (footballer) John Douglas Rowland is a former English footballer who was known for his powerful 'hammer shot'.-Playing career:Rowland played for Ironside Amateurs and Nottingham Forest before joining Port Vale for £6,000 in August 1962... , Richards Tony Richards (footballer) Anthony Willis "Tony" Richards was an English footballer who played as a forward. He played for Walsall for nine years between 1954 and 1963, and also turned out for Birmingham City and Port Vale, as well as non-league sides Nuneaton Borough and Dudley Town.-Early life:Richards was in the Army... |
| 9 October 1965 | Torquay United Torquay United F.C. Torquay United Football Club, nicknamed the Gulls, are an English association football club based in the tourist resort town of Torquay, Devon. They played in the Conference National in 2008–09, but were promoted to Football League Two after a 2–0 win over Cambridge United on 17 May 2009 at Wembley... |
|A | 0–1 | 5,112 | |
| 16 October 1965 | Chesterfield Chesterfield F.C. Chesterfield Football Club is an English football club based in Chesterfield, Derbyshire. The club currently plays in Football League One, the third tier of English football. Despite being the fourth oldest Football League club in England, they have spent most of their existence in the lower... |
|H | 1–1 | 7,644 | Rowland John Rowland (footballer) John Douglas Rowland is a former English footballer who was known for his powerful 'hammer shot'.-Playing career:Rowland played for Ironside Amateurs and Nottingham Forest before joining Port Vale for £6,000 in August 1962... |
| 22 October 1965 | Rochdale Rochdale A.F.C. Rochdale Association Football Club is an English professional football club based in Rochdale, Greater Manchester. They play their home matches at Spotland Stadium. Formed in 1907, they were accepted into the Football League in 1921... |
|A | 0–1 | 4,195 | |
| 30 October 1965 | Luton Town Luton Town F.C. Luton Town Football Club is an English professional football club based since 1905 at Kenilworth Road, Luton, Bedfordshire. The club currently competes in the fifth tier of English football, the Conference National, for the third consecutive season during the 2011–12 season.Formed in 1885, it was... |
|H | 1–2 | 6,058 | Smith Roger Smith (footballer) Roger William Smith is an English former footballer.-Playing career:Smith played for Walsall before joining Port Vale in July 1965. He was a first team regular throughout the 1965–66 season until he suffered an ankle injury in March 1966... |
| 6 November 1965 | Barrow Barrow A.F.C. Barrow A.F.C. are an English football club founded in 1901 based in the town of Barrow-in-Furness in Cumbria. Following promotion at the end of the 2007–08 season, they currently play in the Conference National. The club spent over fifty years in the Football League between 1921 and 1972, and have... |
|A | 2–2 | 5,076 | Morrison Tommy Morrison (footballer born 1943) Thomas Morrison is a former Scottish footballer.-Playing career:Morrison joined Port Vale from Aberdeen in July 1965. He played 6 games and scored one goal before being transferred to Sligo Rovers in January 1966.... , Johnson Alan Johnson (English footballer) Alan Johnson is an English former footballer.-Playing career:Johnson graduated through the Port Vale youth side to sign professional forms in September 1964. His debut went excellently, as he scored in a 2–2 draw at Barrow on 6 November 1965... |
| 19 November 1965 | 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 | 0–1 | 6,065 | |
| 27 November 1965 | Southport Southport F.C. Southport Football Club are an English football club, based in Southport, Merseyside. They are currently in the Conference National, and play their home matches at Haig Avenue, which has a capacity of 6,008... |
|H | 4–1 | 3,959 | Hill, Richards Tony Richards (footballer) Anthony Willis "Tony" Richards was an English footballer who played as a forward. He played for Walsall for nine years between 1954 and 1963, and also turned out for Birmingham City and Port Vale, as well as non-league sides Nuneaton Borough and Dudley Town.-Early life:Richards was in the Army... , o.g. Own goal An own net occurs in goal-scoring games when a player scores a goal that is registered against his or her own team. It is usually accidental, and may be a result of an attempt at defensive play that failed or was spoiled by opponents.... , Smith Roger Smith (footballer) Roger William Smith is an English former footballer.-Playing career:Smith played for Walsall before joining Port Vale in July 1965. He was a first team regular throughout the 1965–66 season until he suffered an ankle injury in March 1966... |
| 11 December 1965 | Bradford Park Avenue Bradford Park Avenue A.F.C. Bradford Association Football Club, previously also known as Bradford and since its reformation in the 1970s now referred to as Bradford Park Avenue, is a football club based in Bradford, West Yorkshire, England... |
|H | 3–3 | 4,419 | Richards Tony Richards (footballer) Anthony Willis "Tony" Richards was an English footballer who played as a forward. He played for Walsall for nine years between 1954 and 1963, and also turned out for Birmingham City and Port Vale, as well as non-league sides Nuneaton Borough and Dudley Town.-Early life:Richards was in the Army... (2), Smith Roger Smith (footballer) Roger William Smith is an English former footballer.-Playing career:Smith played for Walsall before joining Port Vale in July 1965. He was a first team regular throughout the 1965–66 season until he suffered an ankle injury in March 1966... |
| 18 December 1965 | Chesterfield Chesterfield F.C. Chesterfield Football Club is an English football club based in Chesterfield, Derbyshire. The club currently plays in Football League One, the third tier of English football. Despite being the fourth oldest Football League club in England, they have spent most of their existence in the lower... |
|A | 1–3 | 2,903 | Taylor |
| 1 January 1966 | Torquay United Torquay United F.C. Torquay United Football Club, nicknamed the Gulls, are an English association football club based in the tourist resort town of Torquay, Devon. They played in the Conference National in 2008–09, but were promoted to Football League Two after a 2–0 win over Cambridge United on 17 May 2009 at Wembley... |
|H | 0–0 | 7,048 | |
| 8 January 1966 | Hartlepools United Hartlepool United F.C. Hartlepool United Football Club is an English professional football club based in Hartlepool that currently play in League One. The team won promotion to League One in the 2006–07 season... |
|A | 0–2 | 4,284 | |
| 12 January 1966 | Bradford City Bradford City A.F.C. Bradford City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Bradford, West Yorkshire, playing in League Two.... |
|A | 0–2 | 3,051 | |
| 15 January 1966 | Rochdale Rochdale A.F.C. Rochdale Association Football Club is an English professional football club based in Rochdale, Greater Manchester. They play their home matches at Spotland Stadium. Formed in 1907, they were accepted into the Football League in 1921... |
|H | 2–1 | 4,262 | Georgeson Roddy Georgeson Roderick Bruce Georgeson is a former Egyptian footballer, described by football historian Jeff Kent as 'flamboyant'.-Playing career:... , Rowland John Rowland (footballer) John Douglas Rowland is a former English footballer who was known for his powerful 'hammer shot'.-Playing career:Rowland played for Ironside Amateurs and Nottingham Forest before joining Port Vale for £6,000 in August 1962... |
| 29 January 1966 | Colchester United Colchester United F.C. Colchester United Football Club is an English football club based in Colchester. The club was formed in 1937, and briefly shared their old Layer Road home with now defunct side Colchester Town who had previously used the ground from 1910.... |
A | 0–3 | 4,481 | |
| 5 February 1966 | Tranmere Rovers Tranmere Rovers F.C. Tranmere Rovers Football Club are an English team based in Birkenhead, Wirral. The club currently compete in League One, the third tier of the English football league system... |
|H | 2–3 | 5,331 | Rowland John Rowland (footballer) John Douglas Rowland is a former English footballer who was known for his powerful 'hammer shot'.-Playing career:Rowland played for Ironside Amateurs and Nottingham Forest before joining Port Vale for £6,000 in August 1962... , 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... |
| 12 February 1966 | Aldershot Aldershot F.C. Aldershot Football Club was an English Football League club, which was wound up in the High Court in March 1992. They became the first Football League club since Accrington Stanley to resign from the League during the course of a season. The club was nicknamed the Shots for both the last syllable... |
|A | 0–3 | 2,444 | |
| 18 February 1966 | Stockport County Stockport County F.C. Stockport County Football Club is an English football club based in Stockport, Greater Manchester. The club formed in 1883 as Heaton Norris Rovers, shortly afterwards merging with Heaton Norris F.C., and adopted the current name on 24 May 1890 on the creation of the County Borough of Stockport... |
|A | 0–3 | 7,400 | |
| 26 February 1966 | Darlington Darlington F.C. Darlington Football Club is a professional association football club based in Darlington, County Durham, currently playing in the Conference National. The club was founded in 1883, and originally played its games at Feethams, before moving to the Darlington Arena in 2003... |
|H | 3–1 | 4,594 | Machin Mel Machin Melvyn "Mel" Machin is an English former footballer and manager.A midfielder, he started his career at Port Vale in 1962, before he moved on to Gillingham four years later. He made his name at the club from 1966 to 1971, before he transferred to Bournemouth for a three year spell... , Ritchie John Ritchie (footballer born 1944) John Ritchie is an English former footballer.-Playing career:Ritchie played for Whitley Bay before joining Port Vale in December 1965. He became a regular in the side and is remembered by those who saw it for his forty-yard "goal of a lifetime" in a 2–1 win at Bradford City in a first round FA Cup... , Rowland John Rowland (footballer) John Douglas Rowland is a former English footballer who was known for his powerful 'hammer shot'.-Playing career:Rowland played for Ironside Amateurs and Nottingham Forest before joining Port Vale for £6,000 in August 1962... |
| 5 March 1966 | Aldershot Aldershot F.C. Aldershot Football Club was an English Football League club, which was wound up in the High Court in March 1992. They became the first Football League club since Accrington Stanley to resign from the League during the course of a season. The club was nicknamed the Shots for both the last syllable... |
|H | 2–1 | 5,443 | Rowland John Rowland (footballer) John Douglas Rowland is a former English footballer who was known for his powerful 'hammer shot'.-Playing career:Rowland played for Ironside Amateurs and Nottingham Forest before joining Port Vale for £6,000 in August 1962... , Machin Mel Machin Melvyn "Mel" Machin is an English former footballer and manager.A midfielder, he started his career at Port Vale in 1962, before he moved on to Gillingham four years later. He made his name at the club from 1966 to 1971, before he transferred to Bournemouth for a three year spell... |
| 9 March 1966 | Crewe Alexandra Crewe Alexandra F.C. Crewe Alexandra Football Club is an English professional football club based in Crewe, Cheshire. Nicknamed The Railwaymen due to the town's links with the rail industry, they currently play in Football League Two, the fourth tier of English football, and are based at the Alexandra Stadium.The club... |
|A | 0–0 | 6,160 | |
| 12 March 1966 | 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 | 1–0 | 2,238 | Rowland John Rowland (footballer) John Douglas Rowland is a former English footballer who was known for his powerful 'hammer shot'.-Playing career:Rowland played for Ironside Amateurs and Nottingham Forest before joining Port Vale for £6,000 in August 1962... |
| 19 March 1966 | 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 | 0–1 | 5,619 | |
| 21 March 1966 | Hartlepools United Hartlepool United F.C. Hartlepool United Football Club is an English professional football club based in Hartlepool that currently play in League One. The team won promotion to League One in the 2006–07 season... |
|H | 0–0 | 4,908 | |
| 26 March 1966 | Chester Chester City F.C. Chester City Football Club was an English football team from Chester. The club was founded as Chester F.C., and joined the Football League in 1931, spending most of their time in the lower divisions. They changed their name to Chester City in 1983. Chester won their first league title in 2004, the... |
|A | 0–2 | 6,520 | |
| 4 April 1966 | Bradford City Bradford City A.F.C. Bradford City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Bradford, West Yorkshire, playing in League Two.... |
|H | 0–0 | 3,972 | |
| 11 April 1966 | Newport County Newport County A.F.C. Newport County Association Football Club are a professional football club based in the city of Newport, south Wales, who currently play in the Conference National, the highest level of the National League System and fifth highest of the overall English football league system... |
|A | 1–0 | 2,528 | Rowland John Rowland (footballer) John Douglas Rowland is a former English footballer who was known for his powerful 'hammer shot'.-Playing career:Rowland played for Ironside Amateurs and Nottingham Forest before joining Port Vale for £6,000 in August 1962... |
| 12 April 1966 | Newport County Newport County A.F.C. Newport County Association Football Club are a professional football club based in the city of Newport, south Wales, who currently play in the Conference National, the highest level of the National League System and fifth highest of the overall English football league system... |
|H | 3–0 | 4,496 | Rowland John Rowland (footballer) John Douglas Rowland is a former English footballer who was known for his powerful 'hammer shot'.-Playing career:Rowland played for Ironside Amateurs and Nottingham Forest before joining Port Vale for £6,000 in August 1962... (2), 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... |
| 16 April 1966 | 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 | 0–1 | 6,669 | |
| 23 April 1966 | Southport Southport F.C. Southport Football Club are an English football club, based in Southport, Merseyside. They are currently in the Conference National, and play their home matches at Haig Avenue, which has a capacity of 6,008... |
|A | 1–2 | 3,433 | o.g. Own goal An own net occurs in goal-scoring games when a player scores a goal that is registered against his or her own team. It is usually accidental, and may be a result of an attempt at defensive play that failed or was spoiled by opponents.... |
| 27 April 1966 | Halifax Town Halifax Town A.F.C. Halifax Town Association Football Club were an English football team who most recently played in the Conference National, although prior to that they participated in the Football League for over eighty years... |
|H | 2–0 | 4,824 | 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... , Rowland John Rowland (footballer) John Douglas Rowland is a former English footballer who was known for his powerful 'hammer shot'.-Playing career:Rowland played for Ironside Amateurs and Nottingham Forest before joining Port Vale for £6,000 in August 1962... |
| 30 April 1966 | Wrexham | |H | 1–0 | 5,110 | Rowland John Rowland (footballer) John Douglas Rowland is a former English footballer who was known for his powerful 'hammer shot'.-Playing career:Rowland played for Ironside Amateurs and Nottingham Forest before joining Port Vale for £6,000 in August 1962... |
| 2 May 1966 | Barrow Barrow A.F.C. Barrow A.F.C. are an English football club founded in 1901 based in the town of Barrow-in-Furness in Cumbria. Following promotion at the end of the 2007–08 season, they currently play in the Conference National. The club spent over fifty years in the Football League between 1921 and 1972, and have... |
|H | 0–0 | 5,306 | |
| 4 May 1966 | Wrexham | |A | 0–1 | 2,679 | |
| 7 May 1966 | Bradford Park Avenue Bradford Park Avenue A.F.C. Bradford Association Football Club, previously also known as Bradford and since its reformation in the 1970s now referred to as Bradford Park Avenue, is a football club based in Bradford, West Yorkshire, England... |
|A | 2–1 | 4,978 | Rowland John Rowland (footballer) John Douglas Rowland is a former English footballer who was known for his powerful 'hammer shot'.-Playing career:Rowland played for Ironside Amateurs and Nottingham Forest before joining Port Vale for £6,000 in August 1962... (2) |
| 10 May 1966 | Halifax Town Halifax Town A.F.C. Halifax Town Association Football Club were an English football team who most recently played in the Conference National, although prior to that they participated in the Football League for over eighty years... |
|A | 0–2 | 2,494 | |
| 14 May 1966 | Luton Town Luton Town F.C. Luton Town Football Club is an English professional football club based since 1905 at Kenilworth Road, Luton, Bedfordshire. The club currently competes in the fifth tier of English football, the Conference National, for the third consecutive season during the 2011–12 season.Formed in 1885, it was... |
|A | 0–5 | 12,054 |
FA Cup
| Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Goalscorers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| R1 | 13 November 1965 | Oxford United Oxford United F.C. Oxford United Football Club is an English association football club based in Oxford, Oxfordshire. The club play in League Two, following promotion from the Conference National in May 2010. The club had been a non-League side since their relegation from the Football League in the 2005–06 season. The... |
A | 2–2 | 10,355 | 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... , Cummings John Cummings (footballer) John Cummings is a former Scottish footballer.-Playing career:Cummings played for Aberdeen before joining Port Vale in July 1965. He made three appearances in the league, one in the League Cup and two in the FA Cup and scored one goal in the FA Cup... |
| R1 Replay | 15 November 1965 | Oxford United Oxford United F.C. Oxford United Football Club is an English association football club based in Oxford, Oxfordshire. The club play in League Two, following promotion from the Conference National in May 2010. The club had been a non-League side since their relegation from the Football League in the 2005–06 season. The... |
H | 3–2 | 7,510 | Taylor, Mudie Jackie Mudie John "Jackie" Knight Mudie was a Scottish international footballer who played as a forward. He won seventeen caps for his country, helping the Scots to qualify for the 1958 FIFA World Cup.... , Hill |
| R2 | 4 December 1965 | Dartford Dartford F.C. Dartford F.C. are an English football club based in Dartford, Kent. After finishing as champions of the Isthmian League Division One North in the 2007–08 season, they compete in the Isthmian League Premier Division. They finished in 8th position in their first season... |
H | 1–0 | 6,090 | Hill |
| R3 | 26 January 1966 | Cardiff City Cardiff City F.C. Cardiff City Football Club are a Welsh professional football club based in Cardiff, Wales. The club competes in the English football pyramid and is currently playing in the Football League Championship. Cardiff City is the best supported football club in Wales, averaging approximately 22,500 for... |
A | 1–2 | 17,126 | Rowland John Rowland (footballer) John Douglas Rowland is a former English footballer who was known for his powerful 'hammer shot'.-Playing career:Rowland played for Ironside Amateurs and Nottingham Forest before joining Port Vale for £6,000 in August 1962... |
League Cup
| Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Goalscorers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| R1 | 1 September 1965 | Reading Reading F.C. Reading Football Club is an English association football club based in the town of Reading, Berkshire who currently play in the Championship... |
H | 2–2 | 5,321 | Rowland John Rowland (footballer) John Douglas Rowland is a former English footballer who was known for his powerful 'hammer shot'.-Playing career:Rowland played for Ironside Amateurs and Nottingham Forest before joining Port Vale for £6,000 in August 1962... (pen), Taylor |
| R1 Replay | 8 September 1965 | Reading Reading F.C. Reading Football Club is an English association football club based in the town of Reading, Berkshire who currently play in the Championship... |
A | 0–1 | 5,664 |
Appearances
| Pos. | Name | Football League | FA Cup | League Cup | Total | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| GK |  Jimmy O'Neill |
29 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 35 | 0 |
| GK |  Stuart SharratStuart Sharrat Stuart Edgar Sharrat is a former English footballer. He was a goalkeeper who made 152 appearances for Port Vale – 143 in the Football League, 5 in the FA Cup and 4 in the League Cup.-Playing career:... |
15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 0 |
| GK | David Ikin David Ikin David Ikin is an English former footballer.-Playing career:Ikin joined Port Vale in July 1965 and made his debut in a 3–0 defeat at Aldershot on 12 February 1966, six days later achieving the same outcome at Stockport County... |
2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 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... |
30 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 34 | 2 |
| DF | Selwyn Whalley Selwyn Whalley Selwyn Davies Whalley is a former English footballer. He was a one club man with a fifteen year career at Port Vale.-Playing career:Whalley was born in Tunstall, Stoke-on-Trent, and grew up supporting Port Vale... |
7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 |
| DF | Terry Lowe Terry Lowe Terence John Lowe is a former English footballer.-Playing career:In his youth, Lowe played for Stoke City before joining Port Vale in June 1960. His debut came in the Potteries derby 1–0 win over Stoke in the Supporters' Clubs' Trophy final on 24 April 1961... |
9 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 13 | 0 |
| DF | Terry Alcock Terry Alcock Terrence "Terry" Alcock is an English former professional football defender.He played for Port Vale from 1963 to 1967, before spending nine years with Blackpool. He played over 100 appearances for Port Vale in the Football League and almost 200 appearances for Blackpool... |
41 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 46 | 0 |
| DF | Clint Boulton Clint Boulton Clinton William Boulton is an English former professional football defender.-Playing career:Boulton was born in Stoke-on-Trent and began his career as an apprentice with local league club Port Vale in July 1963, making his debut in the 1964–65 season, and turning professional in August 1965... |
18 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 20 | 0 |
| DF |  Ron WilsonRon Wilson (footballer) Ronald "Ron" Wilson is a Scottish former footballer who played as a left-back. He played 300 games in an eleven year career in the Football League, scoring five goals.... |
36 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 42 | 0 |
| DF | John Ritchie John Ritchie (footballer born 1944) John Ritchie is an English former footballer.-Playing career:Ritchie played for Whitley Bay before joining Port Vale in December 1965. He became a regular in the side and is remembered by those who saw it for his forty-yard "goal of a lifetime" in a 2–1 win at Bradford City in a first round FA Cup... |
22 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 22 | 1 |
| MF | Terry Miles Terry Miles Terrence Miles is a former English football midfielder. He played for Port Vale between 1955 and 1968, helping them to the Fourth Division title in 1958–1959. He later turned out for Eastwood, before returning to Vale Park as a coach.... |
28 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 30 | 2 |
| MF | John Nicholson John Nicholson (English footballer) John Purcell Nicholson was an English footballer.-Playing career:Nicholson joined Port Vale for a £2,000 fee from Liverpool in August 1961. He made his debut in 1–1 draw at Northampton Town on 2 September 1961, and 208 consecutive appearances later, on 8 September 1965, he had broken a club record... |
4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 0 |
| MF | Roger Smith Roger Smith (footballer) Roger William Smith is an English former footballer.-Playing career:Smith played for Walsall before joining Port Vale in July 1965. He was a first team regular throughout the 1965–66 season until he suffered an ankle injury in March 1966... |
30 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 33 | 6 |
| MF | Mel Machin Mel Machin Melvyn "Mel" Machin is an English former footballer and manager.A midfielder, he started his career at Port Vale in 1962, before he moved on to Gillingham four years later. He made his name at the club from 1966 to 1971, before he transferred to Bournemouth for a three year spell... |
18 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 19 | 2 |
| MF | Alan Johnson Alan Johnson (English footballer) Alan Johnson is an English former footballer.-Playing career:Johnson graduated through the Port Vale youth side to sign professional forms in September 1964. His debut went excellently, as he scored in a 2–2 draw at Barrow on 6 November 1965... |
2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 |
| MF | Malcolm James MacKenzie Malcolm James MacKenzie Malcolm James Mackenzie is a former Scottish footballer.-Playing career:He joined Port Vale as an amateur in November 1965, he made his debut against Newport County on 12 April 1966 at the age of 15 years 347 days. Becoming the youngest ever first team player for the club. He signed professional... |
2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| MF | Paul Ogden Paul Ogden Paul Ogden is an English football manager and former player. He was manager of Leek Town in six separate spells, spanning nearly forty years... |
2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| MF |  Jimmy Hill |
20 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 24 | 3 |
| MF | Alex Donald Alex Donald Alexander Donald is a Scottish former footballer.-Playing career:Donald had a successful trial with Port Vale over the summer of 1965, having joined in July he signed as a professional by October. He made his debut on 12 January 1966 in a 2–0 defeat at Bradford City, but was never a first team... |
11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 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... |
46 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 51 | 2 |
| FW | John Rowland John Rowland (footballer) John Douglas Rowland is a former English footballer who was known for his powerful 'hammer shot'.-Playing career:Rowland played for Ironside Amateurs and Nottingham Forest before joining Port Vale for £6,000 in August 1962... |
42 | 21 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 46 | 23 |
| FW | Tony Richards Tony Richards (footballer) Anthony Willis "Tony" Richards was an English footballer who played as a forward. He played for Walsall for nine years between 1954 and 1963, and also turned out for Birmingham City and Port Vale, as well as non-league sides Nuneaton Borough and Dudley Town.-Early life:Richards was in the Army... |
18 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 20 | 5 |
| FW | Jackie Mudie Jackie Mudie John "Jackie" Knight Mudie was a Scottish international footballer who played as a forward. He won seventeen caps for his country, helping the Scots to qualify for the 1958 FIFA World Cup.... |
13 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 17 | 2 |
| FW | David Mitchell David Mitchell (footballer born 1945) David John Mitchell is an English former footballer.-Playing career:Mitchell graduated through the Port Vale youth team to sign professional forms in March 1964. After scattered appearances throughout his first two seasons he was given a free transfer in May 1966 and moved on to Ipswich... |
4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 1 |
| FW | Paul Bannister Paul Bannister Paul Francis Bannister is an English former footballer.-Playing career:Bannister graduated through the Port Vale youth side to sign as a professional in April 1965. He played the last two games of the 1964–65 season and scored the club's last goal of the season. He played the opening two games of... |
7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 1 |
| FW | Brian Taylor |
36 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 42 | 3 |
| FW | John James |
10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 0 |
| FW | Tommy Morrison Tommy Morrison (footballer born 1943) Thomas Morrison is a former Scottish footballer.-Playing career:Morrison joined Port Vale from Aberdeen in July 1965. He played 6 games and scored one goal before being transferred to Sligo Rovers in January 1966.... |
5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 1 |
| FW |  Roddy GeorgesonRoddy Georgeson Roderick Bruce Georgeson is a former Egyptian footballer, described by football historian Jeff Kent as 'flamboyant'.-Playing career:... |
5 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 1 |
| FW | Mick Cullerton Mick Cullerton Michael Joseph Cullerton is a former Scottish footballer. He is noted for his two spells with Port Vale, as well as for being Stafford Rangers' star forward as they were one of the elite non-league clubs in the 1970s.... |
5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| FW | John Cummings John Cummings (footballer) John Cummings is a former Scottish footballer.-Playing career:Cummings played for Aberdeen before joining Port Vale in July 1965. He made three appearances in the league, one in the League Cup and two in the FA Cup and scored one goal in the FA Cup... |
3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 1 |
All competitions
| Scorer | Goals |
|---|---|
| John Rowland John Rowland (footballer) John Douglas Rowland is a former English footballer who was known for his powerful 'hammer shot'.-Playing career:Rowland played for Ironside Amateurs and Nottingham Forest before joining Port Vale for £6,000 in August 1962... |
23 |
| Roger Smith Roger Smith (footballer) Roger William Smith is an English former footballer.-Playing career:Smith played for Walsall before joining Port Vale in July 1965. He was a first team regular throughout the 1965–66 season until he suffered an ankle injury in March 1966... |
6 |
| Tony Richards Tony Richards (footballer) Anthony Willis "Tony" Richards was an English footballer who played as a forward. He played for Walsall for nine years between 1954 and 1963, and also turned out for Birmingham City and Port Vale, as well as non-league sides Nuneaton Borough and Dudley Town.-Early life:Richards was in the Army... |
5 |
| Jimmy Hill |
3 |
| Brian Taylor |
|
| 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... |
2 |
| Mel Machin Mel Machin Melvyn "Mel" Machin is an English former footballer and manager.A midfielder, he started his career at Port Vale in 1962, before he moved on to Gillingham four years later. He made his name at the club from 1966 to 1971, before he transferred to Bournemouth for a three year spell... |
|
| Jackie Mudie Jackie Mudie John "Jackie" Knight Mudie was a Scottish international footballer who played as a forward. He won seventeen caps for his country, helping the Scots to qualify for the 1958 FIFA World Cup.... |
|
| 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... |
|
| Tommy Morrison Tommy Morrison (footballer born 1943) Thomas Morrison is a former Scottish footballer.-Playing career:Morrison joined Port Vale from Aberdeen in July 1965. He played 6 games and scored one goal before being transferred to Sligo Rovers in January 1966.... |
1 |
| John Ritchie John Ritchie (footballer born 1944) John Ritchie is an English former footballer.-Playing career:Ritchie played for Whitley Bay before joining Port Vale in December 1965. He became a regular in the side and is remembered by those who saw it for his forty-yard "goal of a lifetime" in a 2–1 win at Bradford City in a first round FA Cup... |
|
| Roddy Georgeson Roddy Georgeson Roderick Bruce Georgeson is a former Egyptian footballer, described by football historian Jeff Kent as 'flamboyant'.-Playing career:... |
|
| Alan Johnson Alan Johnson (English footballer) Alan Johnson is an English former footballer.-Playing career:Johnson graduated through the Port Vale youth side to sign professional forms in September 1964. His debut went excellently, as he scored in a 2–2 draw at Barrow on 6 November 1965... |
|
| David Mitchell David Mitchell (footballer born 1945) David John Mitchell is an English former footballer.-Playing career:Mitchell graduated through the Port Vale youth team to sign professional forms in March 1964. After scattered appearances throughout his first two seasons he was given a free transfer in May 1966 and moved on to Ipswich... |
|
| Paul Bannister Paul Bannister Paul Francis Bannister is an English former footballer.-Playing career:Bannister graduated through the Port Vale youth side to sign as a professional in April 1965. He played the last two games of the 1964–65 season and scored the club's last goal of the season. He played the opening two games of... |
|
| John Cummings John Cummings (footballer) John Cummings is a former Scottish footballer.-Playing career:Cummings played for Aberdeen before joining Port Vale in July 1965. He made three appearances in the league, one in the League Cup and two in the FA Cup and scored one goal in the FA Cup... |
|
League
| Scorer | Goals |
|---|---|
| John Rowland John Rowland (footballer) John Douglas Rowland is a former English footballer who was known for his powerful 'hammer shot'.-Playing career:Rowland played for Ironside Amateurs and Nottingham Forest before joining Port Vale for £6,000 in August 1962... |
21 |
| Roger Smith Roger Smith (footballer) Roger William Smith is an English former footballer.-Playing career:Smith played for Walsall before joining Port Vale in July 1965. He was a first team regular throughout the 1965–66 season until he suffered an ankle injury in March 1966... |
6 |
| Tony Richards Tony Richards (footballer) Anthony Willis "Tony" Richards was an English footballer who played as a forward. He played for Walsall for nine years between 1954 and 1963, and also turned out for Birmingham City and Port Vale, as well as non-league sides Nuneaton Borough and Dudley Town.-Early life:Richards was in the Army... |
5 |
| 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... |
2 |
| Mel Machin Mel Machin Melvyn "Mel" Machin is an English former footballer and manager.A midfielder, he started his career at Port Vale in 1962, before he moved on to Gillingham four years later. He made his name at the club from 1966 to 1971, before he transferred to Bournemouth for a three year spell... |
|
| Jimmy Hill |
1 |
| Jackie Mudie Jackie Mudie John "Jackie" Knight Mudie was a Scottish international footballer who played as a forward. He won seventeen caps for his country, helping the Scots to qualify for the 1958 FIFA World Cup.... |
|
| 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... |
|
| Tommy Morrison Tommy Morrison (footballer born 1943) Thomas Morrison is a former Scottish footballer.-Playing career:Morrison joined Port Vale from Aberdeen in July 1965. He played 6 games and scored one goal before being transferred to Sligo Rovers in January 1966.... |
|
| Roddy Georgeson Roddy Georgeson Roderick Bruce Georgeson is a former Egyptian footballer, described by football historian Jeff Kent as 'flamboyant'.-Playing career:... |
|
| John Ritchie John Ritchie (footballer born 1944) John Ritchie is an English former footballer.-Playing career:Ritchie played for Whitley Bay before joining Port Vale in December 1965. He became a regular in the side and is remembered by those who saw it for his forty-yard "goal of a lifetime" in a 2–1 win at Bradford City in a first round FA Cup... |
|
| Alan Johnson Alan Johnson (English footballer) Alan Johnson is an English former footballer.-Playing career:Johnson graduated through the Port Vale youth side to sign professional forms in September 1964. His debut went excellently, as he scored in a 2–2 draw at Barrow on 6 November 1965... |
|
| David Mitchell David Mitchell (footballer born 1945) David John Mitchell is an English former footballer.-Playing career:Mitchell graduated through the Port Vale youth team to sign professional forms in March 1964. After scattered appearances throughout his first two seasons he was given a free transfer in May 1966 and moved on to Ipswich... |
|
| Paul Bannister Paul Bannister Paul Francis Bannister is an English former footballer.-Playing career:Bannister graduated through the Port Vale youth side to sign as a professional in April 1965. He played the last two games of the 1964–65 season and scored the club's last goal of the season. He played the opening two games of... |
|
| Brian Taylor |
|