1895–96 Burslem Port Vale F.C. season

Burslem Port Vale
1895–96 season
Stadium	Athletic Ground
Football League Second Division	14th (18 Points)
FA Cup	Second Qualifying Round; (knocked out by Burton Swifts)
Birmingham Senior Cup	First Round; (knocked out by Stourbridge)
Staffordshire Senior Cup	First Round; (knocked out by Stoke)
Top goalscorer	League: Ernest Beckett (8); All: Ernest Beckett (8)
Highest home attendance	5,000 vs Burton Wanderers, 18 January 1896
Lowest home attendance	500 vs Rotherham Town, 25 January 1896
Average home league attendance	1,771
Biggest win	4–0 vs. Rotherham Town, 25 January 1896
Biggest defeat	2–8 vs. Darwen, 19 October 1895
	Home colours
	Home colours

The 1895–96 season was Burslem Port Vale's fourth consecutive season of football in the English Football League.^[1] This season marked a significant downturn for the club, as they finished 14th with 18 points from 30 matches (8 wins, 2 draws, 20 losses), culminating in their failure to gain re-election to the Football League, leading to two seasons in the Midlands League before their return in 1898.

In league play, Vale's defence struggled, keeping only five clean sheets across 30 league and cup matches. A notable highlight was a 5–4 victory over eventual champions Liverpool, part of a run where 65 goals were scored in 11 games. However, the team endured a challenging away record, losing all matches except a 2–0 win over Rotherham Town on the opening day. They set a club record with 14 consecutive away losses and went 27 games without a draw away from home between January 1895 and December 1898.

In cup competitions, Vale were eliminated in the Second Qualifying Round of the FA Cup by Burton Swifts, the First Round of the Birmingham Senior Cup by Stourbridge, and the First Round of the Staffordshire Senior Cup by Stoke. Forward Ernest Beckett was the club's top scorer, netting eight goals in all competitions. Goalkeeper Tom Baddeley was an ever-present figure, saving the team from numerous heavy defeats. Defenders George Price and Danny Simpson made their debuts this season; Price would go on to play for the club for another eleven years, while Simpson would become the club's top scorer in the following two seasons.

Ever-present goalkeeper Tom Baddeley saved Vale from embarrassing scorelines on numerous occasions.

Ever-present George Price made his debut in 1896 and remained with the club for another eleven years.

Danny Simpson made his debut in 1896 and would become top scorer for 1896–97 and 1897–98.

Overview

Second Division

No major signings were made for the 1895–96 campaign due to a lack of funds. Nevertheless, a 2–0 opening day victory at Rotherham Town boded well. It proved to be the last away win of the season. Back at the Athletic Ground on 14 September, and only a superb performance from goalkeeper Tom Baddeley prevented visitors Notts County from scoring more than four goals. Two weeks later, another heavy defeat came at Anfield, Liverpool claiming a 5–1 win. Crowds dwindled to 1,000 to witness a 3–3 draw with Darwen on 5 October, with only £25 in gate receipts taken to outweigh the £16 costs of hosting the match. Darwen won the return fixture 8–2 despite Vale debuting two forwards signed from Blackburn Rovers reserves in James Downie and David Black. Downie was deemed "absolutely useless" at outside-left before the club discovered he was right-footed and therefore had played out of position. Baddeley was praised for keeping Darwen to no more than eight goals. Two days after the drubbing, on 21 October, Vale recorded a 5–4 home win over Liverpool as both Downie and Black opened their accounts for the club. A 2–1 home victory over perennial strugglers Crewe Alexandra followed.^[1]

A four-game losing sequence, which included an aggregate 10–2 defeat to Grimsby Town, saw the Valeites fall down the league table. The club became acutely desperate for players, particularly so after Billy Eardley and Ted McDonald were suspended "for a breach of regulations". Jimmy Ditchfield was drafted in for a game after two seasons without a first-team appearance. David Black was deemed overweight and was sacked. His replacement, Joseph Sandham from Crewe Alexandra, scored on his debut in a 2–2 draw with Burton Wanderers. A 4–0 home win over Rotherham Town completed a three-game unbeaten streak, with the visitors finishing the match with nine players and Vale having another four goals disallowed. However, Vale then gained just one point from their next seven games, scoring only two goals, both from reserve team graduate Ernest Beckett. Supporters vented their frustration at winger Jim Mason in particular for his many wayward shots.^[1]

On 23 March, Vale claimed a 3–0 victory over Newton Heath after the visitors were reduced to ten men. This was followed by a 3–2 defeat at Crewe Alexandra in which Baddeley was again praised for preventing an embarrassing scoreline. This was the first of five defeats in six games. The season concluded with a 2–0 win over Newcastle United. Vale finished in 14th place in the 16-team league. Having twice successfully applied for re-election in the past three seasons, this time around, they lost their Football League status after receiving ten votes, with 15 required to remain in the division.^[1] Tom Baddeley and George Eccles left for Wolverhampton Wanderers, Eardley and McDonald left for Stoke, all wishing to remain Football League players.^[1]

Finances

In March, an Extraordinary general meeting was held as the club's debt reached £145, with ongoing losses throughout the season. It was decided to form a Limited liability company and 120 ten-shilling shares were applied for, though the scheme never came to fruition as interest levels dwindled. The season ended with debts at £154, wages outweighing gate receipts by £481 to £455.^[1]

Cup competitions

Again, Vale failed poorly in the FA Cup, easing past Hereford Thistle in the first round of qualification with a walkover after the visitors refused to show up without being paid their railway expenses and a guaranteed sum. The second round held league rivals Burton Swifts, who managed to draw at Vale's home and then win the replay with the odd goal. Facing rivals Stoke in the Staffordshire Senior Cup, they lost 4–0 at home.^[1] The Stoke game raised £115, though Eccles was badly injured and Dick Evans had also left the field with injury to leave Vale with just nine players.^[1]

League table

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GAv	Pts	Qualification or relegation
12	Loughborough	30	9	5	16	40	66	0.606	23
13	Lincoln City	30	9	4	17	53	75	0.707	22
14	Burslem Port Vale (R)	30	7	4	19	43	78	0.551	18	Resigned from league
15	Rotherham Town	30	7	3	20	34	97	0.351	17	Resigned from league and folded
16	Crewe Alexandra (R)	30	5	3	22	30	95	0.316	13	Resigned from league

Source:
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal average; 3) Goals scored
(R) Relegated

Results

Football League Second Division

Results by matchday

Round	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
Ground	A	H	A	A	H	A	H	H	H	A	A	A	H	H	H	H	H	A	H	H	A	A	H	A	A	A	H	A	A	H
Result	W	L	L	L	D	L	W	W	L	L	L	L	W	D	W	L	L	L	L	D	L	L	L	W	L	L	D	L	L	W
Position	1	11	11	14	12	13	12	11	13	13	13	14	13	13	12	13	13	13	14	14	14	15	14	14	15	15	15	15	15	14
Points	2	2	2	2	3	3	5	7	7	7	7	7	9	10	12	12	12	12	12	13	13	13	13	15	15	15	16	16	16	18

Source: Statto^[2]
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

Matches

7 September 1895 1	Rotherham Town	0–2	Burslem Port Vale	Rotherham
			Beckett Handley	Stadium: Clifton Grove Attendance: 2,000

14 September 1895 2	Burslem Port Vale	0–4	Notts County	Cobridge
				Stadium: Athletic Ground Attendance: 2,000

21 September 1895 3	Burton Wanderers	2–1	Burslem Port Vale	Burton upon Trent
			Dean	Stadium: Derby Turn Attendance: 2,500

28 September 1895 4	Liverpool	5–1	Burslem Port Vale	Liverpool
			J. Mason	Stadium: Anfield Attendance: 5,000

5 October 1895 5	Burslem Port Vale	3–3	Darwen	Cobridge
	Eardley Evans			Stadium: Athletic Ground Attendance: 1,000

19 October 1895 6	Darwen	8–2	Burslem Port Vale	Darwen
			Eardley	Stadium: Barley Bank Attendance: 4,000

21 October 1895 7	Burslem Port Vale	5–4	Liverpool	Cobridge
	Evans J. Mason Beckett Downie Black			Stadium: Athletic Ground Attendance: 1,000

26 October 1895 8	Burslem Port Vale	2–1	Crewe Alexandra	Cobridge
	J. Mason Barlow			Stadium: Athletic Ground Attendance: 1,500

16 November 1895 9	Burslem Port Vale	1–4	Grimsby Town	Cobridge
	Beckett			Stadium: Athletic Ground Attendance: 800

7 December 1895 10	Notts County	7–2	Burslem Port Vale	West Bridgford
			Evans Beckett	Stadium: Trent Bridge Attendance: 500

25 December 1895 11	Woolwich Arsenal	2–1	Burslem Port Vale	Plumstead, London
			Fallows	Stadium: Manor Ground Attendance: 8,000

4 January 1896 12	Grimsby Town	6–1	Burslem Port Vale	Grimsby
			Downie	Stadium: Abbey Park Attendance: 2,000

11 January 1896 13	Burslem Port Vale	1–0	Burton Swifts	Cobridge
	Beckett			Stadium: Athletic Ground Attendance: 1,500

18 January 1896 14	Burslem Port Vale	2–2	Burton Wanderers	Cobridge
	Edwards Sandham			Stadium: Athletic Ground Attendance: 5,000

25 January 1896 15	Burslem Port Vale	4–0	Rotherham Town	Cobridge
	Beckett Sandham McDonald J. Mason			Stadium: Athletic Ground Attendance: 500

10 February 1896 16	Burslem Port Vale	0–1	Manchester City	Cobridge
				Stadium: Athletic Ground Attendance: 3,000

15 February 1896 17	Burslem Port Vale	0–2	Woolwich Arsenal	Cobridge
				Stadium: Athletic Ground Attendance: 1,000

17 February 1896 18	Manchester City	1–0	Burslem Port Vale	Gorton
				Stadium: Hyde Road Attendance: 3,000

22 February 1896 19	Burslem Port Vale	0–1	Lincoln City	Cobridge
				Stadium: Athletic Ground Attendance: 1,000

7 March 1896 20	Burslem Port Vale	1–1	Leicester Fosse	Cobridge
	Beckett			Stadium: Athletic Ground Attendance: 1,500

14 March 1896 21	Burton Swifts	2–1	Burslem Port Vale	Burton upon Trent
			Beckett	Stadium: Peel Croft Attendance: 2,000

21 March 1896 22	Leicester Fosse	5–0	Burslem Port Vale	Leicester
				Stadium: Filbert Street Attendance: 5,000

23 March 1896 23	Burslem Port Vale	3–0	Newton Heath	Cobridge
	Randles J. Mason			Stadium: Athletic Ground Attendance: 3,000

25 March 1896 24	Crewe Alexandra	3–2	Burslem Port Vale	Crewe
			C. Mason Evans	Stadium: Alexandra Recreation Ground

3 April 1896 25	Newcastle United	4–2	Burslem Port Vale	Newcastle upon Tyne
			Simpson Randles	Stadium: St James' Park Attendance: 8,500

6 April 1896 26	Newton Heath	2–1	Burslem Port Vale	Clayton, Manchester
			McDonald	Stadium: Bank Street Attendance: 5,000

7 April 1896 27	Burslem Port Vale	1–1	Loughborough	Cobridge
	Simpson			Stadium: Athletic Ground

11 April 1896 28	Loughborough	3–0	Burslem Port Vale	Loughborough
				Stadium: Athletic Ground Attendance: 1,500

18 April 1896 29	Lincoln City	4–2	Burslem Port Vale	Lincoln
			Belfield	Stadium: Sincil Bank

20 April 1896 30	Burslem Port Vale	2–0	Newcastle United	Cobridge
	J. Mason Randles			Stadium: Athletic Ground Attendance: 2,000

FA Cup

12 October 1895 1Q	Burslem Port Vale	walkover	Hereford Thistle	Cobridge
				Stadium: Athletic Ground

2 November 1895 2Q	Burslem Port Vale	1–1	Burton Swifts	Cobridge
	unknown			Stadium: Athletic Ground Attendance: 1,500

6 November 1895 Replay	Burton Swifts	1–0	Burslem Port Vale	Burton upon Trent
				Stadium: Peel Croft Attendance: 1,000

Birmingham Senior Cup

20 January 1896 1	Stourbridge	3–2	Burslem Port Vale	Stourbridge
			Downie o.g.	Stadium: War Memorial Athletic Ground Attendance: 2,000

Staffordshire Senior Cup

8 February 1896 1	Stoke	4–0	Burslem Port Vale	Stoke-upon-Trent
				Stadium: Victoria Ground Attendance: 4,000

Player statistics

Appearances and goals

Key to positions: GK – Goalkeeper; FB – Full back; HB – Half back; FW – Forward

Pos.	Name	League		FA Cup		Other		Total
Pos.	Name	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
GK	Tom Baddeley	30	0	2	0	2	0	34	0
FB	G.S. Eccles	17	0	2	0	1	0	20	0
FB	Teddy Morse	12	0	0	0	1	0	13	0
FB	George Youds	29	0	2	0	2	0	33	0
HB	John Edwards	3	1	0	0	1	0	4	1
HB	Jim Beech	2	0	0	0	0	0	2	0
HB	Joseph Boughey	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	0
HB	James Holdcroft	24	0	2	0	0	0	26	0
HB	Ted McDonald	27	2	1	0	2	0	30	2
HB	Jos Randles	7	4	1	0	0	0	8	4
HB	Ralph Barlow	29	1	2	0	2	0	33	1
HB	John Fallows	8	1	0	0	1	0	9	1
FW	Meshach Dean	3	1	0	0	0	0	3	1
FW	Fred Belfield	5	2	0	0	0	0	5	2
FW	James Downie	12	2	2	0	2	1	16	3
FW	Hamlet Handley	5	1	0	0	0	0	5	1
FW	James Kirkham	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	0
FW	Charlie Mason	8	1	1	0	0	0	9	1
FW	Jim Mason	26	6	2	0	2	0	30	6
FW	Billy Eardley	9	4	1	0	0	0	10	4
FW	Dick Evans	20	4	0	0	2	0	22	4
FW	Ernest Beckett	23	8	2	0	2	0	27	8
FW	David Black	7	1	2	0	0	0	9	1
FW	Jimmy Ditchfield	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	0
FW	George Price	5	0	0	0	0	0	5	0
FW	Joseph Sandham	4	2	0	0	2	0	6	2
FW	Danny Simpson	12	2	0	0	0	0	12	2

Top scorers

Place	Position	Nation	Name	Second Division	Other	Total
1	FW		Ernest Beckett	8	0	8
2	FW		Jim Mason	6	0	6
3	HB	England	Jos Randles	4	0	4
–	FW	England	Billy Eardley	4	0	4
–	FW	England	Dick Evans	4	0	4
6	FW		James Downie	2	1	3
7	FW	England	Fred Belfield	2	0	2
–	HB		Ted McDonald	2	0	2
–	FW		Danny Simpson	2	0	2
–	FW		Joseph Sandham	2	0	2
11	HB		Ralph Barlow	1	0	1
–	FW		David Black	1	0	1
–	FW	England	Meshach Dean	1	0	1
–	HB	England	John Edwards	1	0	1
–	HB		John Fallows	1	0	1
–	FW	England	Hamlet Handley	1	0	1
–	FW		Charlie Mason	1	0	1
–	–	–	Own goals	0	1	1
			TOTALS	43	1	44

Transfers

Transfers in

Date from	Position	Name	From	Fee	Ref.
July 1895	FW	Ernest Beckett	Newcastle Swifts	Free transfer	^[3]
September 1895	FW	Billy Eardley	Newcastle Swifts	Free transfer	^[3]
September 1895	FW	James Downie	Blackburn Rovers	Free transfer	^[3]
September 1895	FW	David Black	Blackburn Rovers	Free transfer	^[3]
January 1896	HB	John Edwards	Stockport County	Free transfer	^[3]
January 1896	FW	Joseph Sandham	Crewe Alexandra	Free transfer	^[3]
February 1896	FW	Danny Simpson	Tunstall Town	Free transfer	^[3]

Transfers out

Date from	Position	Name	To	Fee	Ref.
October 1895	HB	Alf Wood	Stoke	Free transfer	^[3]
January 1896	FW	David Black		Released	^[3]
February 1896	FW	Joseph Sandham	Dresden United	Free transfer	^[3]
May 1896	FB	George Samuel Eccles	Wolverhampton Wanderers	'considerable'	^[3]
Summer 1896	HB	Joseph Boughey	Audley	Released	^[3]
Summer 1896	FW	Meshach Dean		Released	^[3]
Summer 1896	FW	Jimmy Ditchfield		Released	^[3]
Summer 1896	FW	James Downie		Released	^[3]
Summer 1896	HB	John Edwards	Grays United	Free transfer	^[3]
Summer 1896	FW	Hamlet Handley		Released	^[3]
Summer 1896	FW	James Kirkham		Released	^[3]
Summer 1896	FW	Charlie Mason		Released	^[3]
Summer 1896	FB	William Rhodes		Released	^[3]
August 1896	FW	Billy Eardley	Stoke	Free transfer	^[3]
August 1896	HB	Ted McDonald	Stoke	Free transfer	^[3]

References

Specific

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h Kent, Jeff (1990). "Trying to make the Grade (1888-1898)". The Valiants' Years: The Story Of Port Vale. Witan Books. pp. 26–50. ISBN 0-9508981-4-7.
^ Port Vale 1895–1896 : Results & Fixtures Archived 4 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine. Statto Organisation. Retrieved 28 April 2012.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k ^l ^m ⁿ ^o ^p ^q ^r ^s ^t ^u ^v Kent, Jeff (1996). Port Vale Personalities. Witan Books. ISBN 0-9529152-0-0.

General

Kent, Jeff (1993). The Port Vale Record 1879-1993. Witan Books. ISBN 0-9508981-9-8.

[Kent-1] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h Kent, Jeff (1990). "Trying to make the Grade (1888-1898)". The Valiants' Years: The Story Of Port Vale. Witan Books. pp. 26–50. ISBN 0-9508981-4-7.

[2] Port Vale 1895–1896 : Results & Fixtures Archived 4 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine. Statto Organisation. Retrieved 28 April 2012.

[transfers-3] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k ^l ^m ⁿ ^o ^p ^q ^r ^s ^t ^u ^v Kent, Jeff (1996). Port Vale Personalities. Witan Books. ISBN 0-9529152-0-0.

[1]

[2]

[3]

Port Vale F.C. seasons
1880–81 1881–82 1882–83 1883–84 1884–85 1885–86 1886–87 1887–88 1888–89 1889–90
1890–91 1891–92 1892–93 1893–94 1894–95 1896–97 1897–98 1898–99 1899–00
1900–01 1901–02 1902–03 1903–04 1904–05 1905–06 1906–07 1907–08 1908–09 1909–10
1910–11 1911–12 1912–13 1913–14 1914–15 1915–16 1916–17 1917–18 1918–19 1919–20
1920–21 1921–22 1922–23 1923–24 1924–25 1925–26 1926–27 1927–28 1928–29 1929–30
1930–31 1931–32 1932–33 1933–34 1934–35 1935–36 1936–37 1937–38 1938–39 1939–40
1940–41 1941–42 1942–43 1943–44 1944–45 1945–46 1946–47 1947–48 1948–49 1949–50
1950–51 1951–52 1952–53 1953–54 1954–55 1955–56 1956–57 1957–58 1958–59 1959–60
1960–61 1961–62 1962–63 1963–64 1964–65 1965–66 1966–67 1967–68 1968–69 1969–70
1970–71 1971–72 1972–73 1973–74 1974–75 1975–76 1976–77 1977–78 1978–79 1979–80
1980–81 1981–82 1982–83 1983–84 1984–85 1985–86 1986–87 1987–88 1988–89 1989–90
1990–91 1991–92 1992–93 1993–94 1994–95 1995–96 1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 1999–00
2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 2005–06 2006–07 2007–08 2008–09 2009–10
2010–11 2011–12 2012–13 2013–14 2014–15 2015–16 2016–17 2017–18 2018–19 2019–20
2020–21 2021–22 2022–23 2023–24 2024–25 2025–26 2026–27 2027–28 2028–29 2029–30