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1961–62 Port Vale F.C. season
The 1961–62 season was Port Vale's 50th season of football in the English Football League, and their third season in the Third Division.[1] The season was most notable for the win over Sunderland in the FA Cup, which followed a goalless draw at Roker Park in which the Vale defence prevented Brian Clough from even having a shot. The club also hosted a friendly against the Czechoslovakia national football team and later took a tour of Poland. In the league, they failed to gain promotion and settled for mid-table obscurity. OverviewThird DivisionThe pre-season saw Norman Low spend some of the £10,000 in transfer funds he was allocated.[1] He spent £2,000 acquiring inside-forward Arthur Longbottom from Queens Park Rangers.[1] Low then repaid West Bromwich Albion the £10,000 for Stan Steele to bring him back to Vale Park.[1] This meant a 'shock' for the fans, as Cliff Portwood was sold to Grimsby Town for £6,000 to balance the books.[1] Another £2,000 was spent on bringing centre-half John Nicholson from Liverpool.[1] Free signings included winger Stan Edwards (Everton), goalkeeper Peter Taylor (Middlesbrough), and Joe Maloney (Shrewsbury Town).[1] Low declared that the logic behind the signings was to improve the defence and that his side was now 'capable of getting promotion'.[1] To whip the new signings into shape trainer Lol Hamlett took them on a seven-mile run.[1] The defence began poorly, in an opening day 4–2 defeat to Shrewsbury Town at Gay Meadow.[1] Maloney was subsequently dropped and sold to Crewe Alexandra for 'a small fee'.[1] The first match at Burslem saw Vale ' casually steamroller' Hull City 4–0.[1] On 2 September, John Nicholson made the first of his club record 208 consecutive appearances, that would end on 8 September 1965. On a four-match sequence without a win, The Sentinel commented that "gloom has descended".[1] The mood lifted with a 1–0 win over Bristol City at Ashton Gate on 9 September, in the first of five wins in six games.[1] On 2 October Czechoslovakia beat Vale 3–1 in front of 22,895 fans at Vale Park, repaying the club for their successful tour of the country at the end of the 1959–60 season.[1] Later that month Dennis Fidler was sold to Grimsby Town for £2,000, and the "Valiants" struggled.[1] Vale then signed Colin Grainger from Leeds United for £6,000, and the former England international scored on his debut.[1] In December, Low further added to his firepower by signing Ralph Hunt from Swindon Town for £3,500.[1] Hunt scored a hat-trick in his second game for the club, a 4–1 win over Shrewsbury Town.[1] He also hit the back of the net in the following two victories. Vale then struggled in the league, losing four games on the bounce.[1] Around this time rivals Stoke City faced an upsurge in support with the return of Stanley Matthews. Low attempted to tempt Tom Finney out of retirement, but was unsuccessful.[1] By the end of February, Vale lay four points clear of relegation, and star player Grainger was injured.[1] Beating Barnsley 2–0, they picked up six points out of a possible ten.[1] They remained unbeaten throughout the opening six games of April to ensure survival.[1] At this time, Noel Kinsey's contract was cancelled, as he wished to go into the pottery business in Norwich.[1] At Vale Park, an £8,000 social club was opened, as the club management stated their intention to turn the ground into 'a real family social centre'.[1] They finished the season in twelfth position with 45 points, closer to the drop than promotion. A weak attack did not support a strong defence.[1] Llewellyn and Longbottom scored twenty goals each in all competitions but received little support.[1] FinancesOn the financial side, declining attendance failed to prevent a profit of £1,261.[1] This profit came thanks to a hefty £16,250 donation from the Sportsmen's Association and Vale's daily pools.[1] Gate receipts stood at £44,388, whilst expenditures rose to £73,059 despite wages being kept at around £31,000.[1] Peter Taylor was allowed to leave for Burton Albion as he failed to dislodge Ken Hancock; Taylor later became acquainted with Brian Clough at Burton. Low also sold three players for £2,000 each: Brian Jackson to Peterborough United, Ralph Hunt to Newport County, and David Raine to Doncaster Rovers.[1] In May, the team took a tour of Poland, playing four friendlies, climbing the Tatra Mountains, and sailing on the Tatras River.[1] When one boat capsized, 'the lads told the attendant in colourful Potteries language what they thought of him'.[1] The final game of the tour was a goalless draw with Legia.[1] Cup competitionsIn the FA Cup, Vale brushed past Bradford Park Avenue with a 1–0 win at Horsfall Stadium. In the second round, they faced Crewe Alex, who beat 3–0 in a replay, following a 1–1 draw at Gresty Road. Vale then beat Northampton Town 3–1, all the goals coming from Bert Llewellyn.[1] In the Fourth Round, they travelled to Sunderland's Roker Park, holding the "Mackems" to a goalless draw in front of 49,468 noisy Sunderland fans - not even £50,000 star striker Brian Clough could master the Vale defence as Hancock made an excellent late save to force a replay.[1] For the return, 28,226 witnessed a 3–1 victory for the Vale over the Second Division side in "a magical piece of soccer history".[1] The Vale were missing Hunt due to him being cup-tied and Steele through suspension, but "spat and hissed like angry alley cats" for their win, intimidating tricky winger Harry Hooper.[1] Hancock went down injured with twisted ankle ligaments in the first minute, though played on and was aided by two pain-killing injections at half-time.[2] Jackson opened the scoring after capitalising on a missed clearance on 37 minutes.[2] Harry Poole celebrated his 27th birthday by scoring from 25 yards (23 m) out shortly after the start of the second half.[2] Longbottom made it three after working an opening on 79 minutes.[2] The club won the Giant Killers' Cup for the season.[3] In the Fifth Round they were beaten by First Division Fulham at Craven Cottage with a disputed late penalty.[1] The referee also gave the "Cottagers" a goal kick when the ball had in fact crossed the line for a goal – to the fury of the Vale supporters.[4] In the League Cup, First Division Blackpool took a 2–1 win at Bloomfield Road to dump Vale out of the competition. League table
Source: [citation needed]
ResultsPort Vale's score comes first Football League Third DivisionResults by matchdayMatches
FA Cup
League Cup
Player statisticsAppearances and goals
Top scorers
TransfersTransfers in
Transfers out
References
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