1966–67 Port Vale F.C. season

Port Vale
1966–67 season
Chairman Fred Pinfold
Manager Jackie Mudie
Stadium Vale Park
Football League Fourth Division 13th (43 Points)
FA Cup Second Round
League Cup First Round
Player of the Year Roy Sproson
Top goalscorer League: Mick Cullerton (12)
All: Mick Cullerton (12)
Highest home attendance 12,784 vs. Barnsley (16 January 1967)
Lowest home attendance 2,554 vs. York City (24 April 1967)
Average home league attendance 5,114
Home colours

The 1966–67 season was Port Vale's 55th season of football in the Football League, and their second successive season (third overall) in the Fourth Division.[1] Again hopeful of escape from the basement division, Vale could only manage a mid-table finish. Player-manager Jackie Mudie resigned at the end of the season. Veteran defender Roy Sproson became the club's first ever Player of the Year winner.

Overview

Fourth Division

The pre-season saw general manager Stanley Matthews injured in a car accident with a National Coal Board lorry on 29 July, Jackie Mudie was also in the car but remained relatively unharmed.[1] As Matthews recovered in came four new forwards, the most significant of which was Crystal Palace's Ian Lawson.[1] Lawson cost £1,000 with an additional £1,000 signing on fee.[1] Other new faces included winger Mick Mahon (Loughborough United); inside-forward Jimmy Goodfellow (Bishop Auckland); and Billy McCartney (Rangers).[1] There was a kit change to an all-white strip, upon the suggestion of Stanley Matthews.[1]

The season opened with a 2–1 home win over Southport using an optimistic 4–2–4 formation.[1] Following Roy Sproson's winning goal there was a pitch invasion – by then a disturbingly common occurrence.[1] Six games without a loss followed, leaving the club in fourth position.[1] Goals were still rare however, and so Lawson was dropped from the first eleven, despite the departure of in-form forward John Rowland to Mansfield Town for £6,500.[1] Financial difficulties made the atmosphere around Burslem quite gloomy, not helped by the news that former Valiant John Nicholson had been killed in a car crash.[1] Vale's form suffered, though the defence remained quite strong.[1] Young Scot Mick Cullerton was a ray of sunshine for the club in front of goal.[1]

Good form in the Christmas period continued into an unbeaten January in the league, as the club climbed to within five points of the promotion places.[1] In came forward Mel Charles from Porthmadog for a £1,250 fee.[1] A 1–0 defeat at Gresty Road to Crewe Alexandra in front of an unruly crowd marked the first of a crucial seven game sequence against the promotion hopefuls.[1] A win over Barrow and a draw at Stockport County were succeeded by five straight defeats, killing Vale's promotion hopes dead.[1] They reversed the decline by doing the double over Rochdale within two days, including a 5–0 victory witnessed by 3,004 fans at Vale Park.[1] In April, popular player John Ritchie was sold to Preston North End for £17,500.[1] Mel Charles sidelined with a knee injury, Vale limped to the season's end without a win in their final five games.[1] On 3 May, Stuart Chapman made his debut at the age of fifteen in a 2–2 draw with Lincoln City.[1] Five days later, manager Jackie Mudie tendered his resignation as player-manager, citing 'personal reasons'.[1]

They finished in thirteenth place with 43 points, marking a slight improvement on the previous campaign.[1] Mick Cullerton's twelve goals in all competitions were enough to make him the top-scorer.[1] In the club's first ever Player of the Year ceremony, veteran defender Roy Sproson was bestowed with the honour.[1] Meanwhile, the club's youth team performed brilliantly, reaching the quarter-finals of the FA Youth Cup, where they were eliminated 3–0 by Scunthorpe United.[1]

Finances

On the financial side, there was a loss of £7,925 despite a transfer credit of £20,425 and a donation of £19,381 from the Sportsmen's Association and the Development Pool.[1] Gate receipts were just £30,298, whilst the club's overdraft stood at £82,373.[1] Nine players were released at the end of the season, most notably: Mel Charles (Oswestry Town); Ian Lawson and Brian Taylor (Barnsley); and untested reserve Ray Kennedy – who would take a break from football before returning to the game to play for Liverpool and England.[1] Roddy Georgeson was also released at his own request to work in a bank,[1] though he soon turned out for Dundee before beginning a long career in Scottish football.

Cup competitions

In the FA Cup, a 4–3–3 formation was used to defeat Bradford City 2–1 at Valley Parade with a forty-yard 'goal of a lifetime' from John Ritchie.[1] Vale drew Barnsley in the Second Round, and earned a replay with a 1-1 draw at Oakwell. The replay attracted 12,784 supporters, but "Tykes" ran out 3–1 winners.

In the League Cup, Third Division Walsall knocked out the Vale at the first stage with a 3–1 win.

Final league table

P WDLFAGAPts
1Stockport County462612869421.64364
2Southport4623131069421.64359
3Barrow4624111176541.40759
4Tranmere Rovers4622141066431.53558
5Crewe Alexandra4621121370551.27354
6Southend United462291570491.42953
7Wrexham4616201076621.22652
8Hartlepools United462271766641.03151
9Brentford4618131558561.03649
10Aldershot4618121672571.26348
11Bradford City4619101774621.19448
12Halifax Town4615141759680.86844
13Port Vale4614151755580.94843
14Exeter City4614151750600.83343
15Chesterfield461782160630.95242
16Barnsley4613151860640.93841
17Luton Town461692159730.80841
18Newport County4612161856630.88940
19Chester4615102154780.69240
20Notts County4613112253720.73637
21Rochdale4613112253750.70737
22York City4612112365790.82335
23Bradford Park Avenue4611132252790.65835
24Lincoln City469132458820.70731

P = Matches played; W = Matches won; D = Matches drawn; L = Matches lost; F = Goals for; A = Goals against; GA = Goal average; Pts = Points

Results

Port Vale's score comes first

Legend

Win Draw Loss
Round12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031323334353637383940414243444546
GroundHAHHAAHAAHAHHAHAHHAAAHHHAAHAAHHAHAHAHAAHHAHHAA
Result D D D W D W D L D D L L L W W L W L L D W D D W W L W D L L L L L W W D W L D L W D D D L L
Position 4 4 7 4 6 5 4 9 9 10 9 13 15 14 13 13 14 14 17 16 15 15 15 13 12 12 11 11 12 13 14 17 17 15 14 13 13 13 12 13 12 12 12 12 12 13

Sourced from Statto.[2]

Football League Fourth Division

DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers
20 August 1966 SouthportH2–18,143Rowland, Sproson
27 August 1966 Notts CountyA0–05,648
3 September 1966 ChesterH1–16,853Georgeson
5 September 1966 Bradford CityH3–26,258Mahon, Rowland, Hill
10 September 1966 Bradford Park AvenueA1–15,246Rowland
17 September 1966 Exeter CityA1–04,789Miles
24 September 1966 Crewe AlexandraH1–111,325Hill
28 September 1966 Bradford CityA0–23,928
1 October 1966 BarrowA2–23,354Goodfellow, Hill
8 October 1966 Tranmere RoversH1–16,684Sproson
14 October 1966 Southend UnitedA1–412,609Ritchie
17 October 1966 ChesterfieldH2–35,649Georgeson, Mahon
22 October 1966 WrexhamH0–27,753
29 October 1966 AldershotA1–05,047McCartney
5 November 1966 Luton TownH1–03,502Mahon
12 November 1966 BarnsleyA0–14,823
19 November 1966 Newport CountyH2–03,883Miles, Hill
3 December 1966 Halifax TownH0–14,002
10 December 1966 Hartlepools UnitedA1–25,342Hill
17 December 1966 SouthportA0–03,975
27 December 1966 Lincoln CityA1–05,268Cullerton
31 December 1966 Notts CountyH0–05,359
14 January 1967 Bradford Park AvenueH0–04,798
21 January 1967 Exeter CityH2–03,450Cullerton (pen), Mahon
28 January 1967 ChesterA3–15,586Mahon (2), Cullerton
3 February 1967 Crewe AlexandraA0–110,414
11 February 1967 BarrowH2–16,267Boulton, Mahon
17 February 1967 Stockport CountyA1–19,756Miles
24 February 1967 Tranmere RoversA1–28,047Cullerton
4 March 1967 Southend UnitedH1–34,695Goodfellow
11 March 1967 Stockport CountyH0–26,363
18 March 1967 WrexhamA1–27,176Georgeson
25 March 1967 BrentfordH1–33,434Ritchie
27 March 1967 RochdaleA2–12,254o.g., Goodfellow
28 March 1967 RochdaleH5–03,004Georgeson, Poole, Cullerton, Goodfellow, Wilson
1 April 1967 Luton TownA1–15,410Wilson
8 April 1967 BarnsleyH3–13,209Cullerton (2), Hill
10 April 1967 York CityA1–33,834Goodfellow
17 April 1967 Newport CountyA1–11,914Cullerton
22 April 1967 AldershotH0–23,265
24 April 1967 York CityH4–12,554Cullerton (2), Georgeson, Goodfellow
29 April 1967 Halifax TownA2–23,562Taylor, Goodfellow
3 May 1967 Lincoln CityH2–23,085Cullerton (2)
6 May 1967 Hartlepools UnitedH0–03,178
8 May 1967 ChesterfieldA1–22,605Boulton
13 May 1967 BrentfordA0–23,592

FA Cup

Main article: 1966–67 FA Cup
RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorers
R126 November 1966 Bradford CityA2–15,712Ritchie, Lawson
R27 January 1967 BarnsleyA1–113,343Hill
R2 Replay16 January 1967 BarnsleyH1–312,784Boulton

League Cup

RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorers
R123 August 1966 WalsallH1–39,181Rowland

Player statistics

Appearances

Pos. Name Football League FA Cup League Cup Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
GKEngland Stuart Sharratt 4503010490
GKScotland Billy McNulty 10000010
DFEngland Roy Sproson 3122010342
DFEngland Terry Alcock 4103010450
DFEngland Clint Boulton 3523110393
DFScotland Ron Wilson 3323000362
DFEngland John Ritchie 2823110323
DFScotland Gordon Logan 70000070
MFEngland Terry Miles 4233000453
MFEngland Mick Mahon 2671010287
MFNorthern Ireland Jimmy Hill 3663100397
MFScotland Alex Donald 2301000240
MFEngland Stuart Chapman 10000010
MFEngland Malcolm Gibbon 10000010
MFEngland Jimmy Goodfellow 2671010287
MFWales Mel Charles 70000070
FWEngland Harry Poole 3211010341
FWEngland John Rowland 73001184
FWScotland Jackie Mudie 50200070
FWEngland Brian Taylor 1011000111
FWEngland John James 70001080
FWEgypt Roddy Georgeson 2250000225
FWScotland Mick Cullerton 281230003012
FWScotland Billy McCartney 1511000161
FWEngland Mel Lintern 10000010
FWEngland Ian Lawson 801110101

Scorers

All competitions

Scorer Goals
Scotland Mick Cullerton 12
England Mick Mahon 7
England Jimmy Goodfellow
Northern Ireland Jimmy Hill
Egypt Roddy Georgeson 5
England John Rowland 4
England Terry Miles 3
England John Ritchie
England Clint Boulton
Scotland Ron Wilson 2
England Roy Sproson
Scotland Billy McCartney 1
England Harry Poole
England Brian Taylor
England Ian Lawson

League

Scorer Goals
Scotland Mick Cullerton 12
England Mick Mahon 7
England Jimmy Goodfellow
Northern Ireland Jimmy Hill 6
Egypt Roddy Georgeson 5
England John Rowland 3
England Terry Miles
England John Ritchie 2
England Clint Boulton
Scotland Ron Wilson
England Roy Sproson
Scotland Billy McCartney 1
England Harry Poole

Transfers

Transfers in

Date from Position Nationality Name From Fee Ref.
1966 MF England Jimmy Goodfellow Bishop Auckland Free transfer [3]
June 1966 MF England Stuart Chapman Free transfer [3]
June 1966 FW Scotland Billy McCartney Rangers Free transfer [3]
August 1966 FW England Ian Lawson Crystal Palace £1,000 [3]
December 1966 MF Wales Mel Charles Wales Porthmadog £1,250 [3]
March 1967 DF Scotland Gordon Logan Free transfer [3]
May 1967 MF England Malcolm Gibbon Free transfer [3]
May 1967 FW England Mel Lintern Free transfer [3]

Transfers out

Date from Position Nationality Name To Fee Ref.
September 1966 FW England John Rowland Mansfield Town £6,500 [3]
November 1966 MF England Alan Johnson Stafford Rangers Free transfer [3]
April 1967 DF England John Ritchie Preston North End £17,500 [3]
May 1967 MF Wales Mel Charles Wales Oswestry Town Free transfer [3]
May 1967 FW England Ian Lawson Barnsley Free transfer [3]
May 1967 FW Scotland Billy McCartney Wales Oswestry Town Free transfer [3]
May 1967 FW Scotland Jackie Mudie Wales Oswestry Town Retired [3]
May 1967 GK Republic of Ireland Jimmy O'Neill Republic of Ireland Cork Celtic Free transfer [3]
May 1967 MF England Brian Taylor Barnsley Free transfer [3]
July 1967 MF Egypt Roddy Georgeson Scotland Dundee Released [3]
August 1967 DF England Terry Alcock Blackpool £30,000 [3]

Loans out

Date from Position Nationality Name To Date to Ref.
December 1966 GK Republic of Ireland Jimmy O'Neill Republic of Ireland Cork Celtic May 1967 [3]

References

Specific
  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 Kent, Jeff (1990). "Flattering Only to Deceive (1960–1969)". The Valiants' Years: The Story Of Port Vale. Witan Books. pp. 196–226. ISBN 0-9508981-4-7.
  2. Port Vale 1966–1967 : Results & Fixtures. Statto Organisation. Retrieved 28 April 2012.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 Kent, Jeff (1996). Port Vale Personalities. Witan Books. ISBN 0-9529152-0-0.
General
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