1963–64 Port Vale F.C. season

Port Vale

1963–64 season
Chairman	Tom Talbot
Manager	Freddie Steele
Stadium	Vale Park
Football League Third Division	13th (46 Points)
FA Cup	Fourth Round (knocked out by Liverpool)
League Cup	First Round (knocked out by Southend United)
Top goalscorer	League: Tony Richards (12) All: Tony Richards (13)
Highest home attendance	42,179 vs. Liverpool, 27 January 1964
Lowest home attendance	4,497 vs. Wrexham, 25 April 1964
Average home league attendance	10,056
Biggest win	5–0 vs. Wrexham, 25 April 1964
Biggest defeat	0–3 (twice) and 1–4
Home colours

The 1963–64 season was Port Vale's 52nd season of football in the English Football League, and their fifth season in the Third Division.^[1] Under manager Freddie Steele and chairman Tom Talbot, the club embarked on an ambitious recruitment drive — paying large transfer fees for players like Albert Cheesebrough (£20,000), Billy Bingham (£15,000), Jackie Mudie (£12,000), and Ron Wilson (£12,000) — but it proved to be a disappointing campaign both on the pitch and financially.

Vale finished a middling 13th in the league with 46 points from 46 matches, ten places below their previous season's third-place near-promotion position. The season's highlights came in the FA Cup, where Vale pulled off a major upset by beating top-flight Birmingham City at St Andrew's, then held Liverpool to 0–0 at Anfield before narrowly losing the Fourth Round replay at Vale Park. In the League Cup, Vale were eliminated at the First Round stage. Tony Richards finished as the club's top scorer with 13 goals (12 in the league), despite Vale's struggles to convert their investment into results. Support at Vale Park averaged 10,056, with the lowest attendance recorded as 4,497 against Wrexham on 25 April 1964, when Vale also secured their largest win of the campaign, a 5–0 victory.

Overall, the 1963–64 season proved a season of high spending and unfulfilled expectations. Despite cup heroics and a stable mid-table finish, Vale missed promotion, suffered financially, and underperformed given the hefty transfer outlays under Freddie Steele's leadership.

The pre-season saw manager Freddie Steele spend unprecedented sums of money, though Vale's spending was insignificant to the standard of many of their rivals.^[1] Steele brought in Northern Ireland international Billy Bingham from Everton for £15,000; Albert Cheesebrough from Leicester City for another £15,000; as well as Walsall's Tim Rawlings for £4,000.^[1] Chairman Tom Talbot approved these signings despite the club's financial problems.^[1] The club also took a tour of Northern Ireland, though a friendly with Benfica (arranged to match rivals Stoke City's match with Real Madrid) was cancelled due to fixture congestion.^[1] Manager Freddie Steele reverted the black and amber striped shirts of recent seasons to black and white as he felt it was a more "manly-looking outfit".^[1]

The season opened with a 1–0 defeat to Shrewsbury Town at Gay Meadow.^[1] This was followed with two victories, including a 4–1 win over Bristol City in which Tony Richards bagged a hat-trick.^[1] After another three poor away games came, followed by a 3–0 win over Brentford in which Cheesebrough scored a hat-trick, and a 4–0 win over nearby Crewe Alexandra in front of 17,118 fans.^[1] Richards sustained a bad leg injury in this win over Crewe.^[1] In the beginning of October, Steele bought "robust and direct" winger Ron Smith from Crewe for £6,500.^[1] Vale improved as a consequence, and three successive victories followed, leaving Vale in fifth spot.^[1] On 12 October, Vale recorded a 4–1 victory over Southend United. A 2–1 win at Wrexham a week later brought Vale up to fifth in the table. However, with Richards' return came a downturn in form, as Vale's impressive strikers failed to find the net in a run of one win in nine league games.^[1] This one win was a 1–0 victory over struggling Barnsley at Vale Park. However, a subsequent pitch invasion by youths emphasised a growing hooligan culture that would plague the club and the sport itself for decades.^[1] One youth was arrested for throwing a cup at goalkeeper Alan Hill.^[1] Unrelated to the violence, Cheesebrough left the field injured and subsequently required a cartilage operation.^[1]

In November, Vale paid Stoke City £12,000 for both ex-Scotland striker Jackie Mudie and left-back Ron Wilson.^[1] They made their debuts in a 2–0 defeat to Colchester United on 23 November. The defeats kept coming, and so Steele experimented with a 4–2–4 formation, dropping Richards from the first XI.^[1] Vale then went six league games unbeaten, including a 4–4 draw with Bristol Rovers at the Eastville Stadium where Mudie showed himself as a "master tactician" and scored two "brilliant" goals.^[1] On 11 January, a 1–0 home win over third-placed Oldham Athletic took them to within five points of the promotion places with a match in hand. However, despite Cheesebrough's return to fitness, a 1–0 home loss inflicted by Notts County sent Vale on a run of seven defeats and two draws in nine league games.^[1] By March, the club was in a relegation battle, though results then began to go Vale's way.^[1] Only one defeat in their final eleven games ensured safety, as the season ended with a 5–0 drubbing of already-relegated Wrexham.^[1]

They finished in 13th place with 46 points, a poor finish for the money spent on transfers.^[1] Only 53 goals were scored, as Richards and Cheeseborough were affected with injuries, and Bingham struggled to find his footing in the third tier.^[1] Their 49 goals conceded was an excellent record though.^[1]

On the financial side, good attendance figures failed to prevent a massive loss of £42,650, resulting from a £45,567 deficit in transfer fees.^[1] A donation of £19,867 from the Sportsmen's Association and the social club could not disguise the disaster of poor finances.^[1] The wage bill had also risen by 20% to over £40,000.^[1] Leaving the club were Colin Grainger to Doncaster Rovers and Terry Harkin to Crewe Alexandra for a £3,000 fee.^[1]

In the FA Cup, Vale "turned on that old cup magic" against Fourth Division side Bradford City with a 2–1 win at Valley Parade. They defeated Workington 2–1 in a 'slipshod affair'.^[1] The third round held First Division club Birmingham City at St Andrew's. Three thousand of the 21,652 spectators were Vale fans, who 'sung and chanted their way through' a 2–1 victory as John Nicholson played on despite suffering from concussion.^[1] In the fourth round Vale were drawn against top-flight giants Liverpool at Anfield. The "Reds" had inflicted a 6–1 thrashing of Stoke on Boxing Day, in an ominous sign of the challenge the "Valiants" faced.^[1] Vale achieved a goalless draw in front of 52,327 fans – 8,000 of them Vale supporters – in a fantastic team performance.^[1] The replay at Vale Park ended in a 2–1 loss in front of 42,179 paying fans (as well as an additional 6,000 or so Liverpool supporters who 'mob stormed' the gates to enter the Railway Paddock).^[1] Crowd trouble ate into the £8,000 worth of gate receipts, and more significantly caused the death of a Leek man (Harold Birch), and saw serious injuries inflicted to Liverpool fans Harry Taylor and James McDonough, as well as Vale supporter Billy Poulson (son of the former player of the same name).^[1]

In the League Cup, a first-round exit came with a 2–1 defeat at Southend United's Roots Hall.^[1]

Port Vale v Mansfield Town

26 August 1963 2	Port Vale	1–0	Mansfield Town	Burslem
	Richards			Stadium: Vale Park Attendance: 14,451

Port Vale v Bristol City

31 August 1963 3	Port Vale	4–1	Bristol City	Burslem
	Richards Rowland			Stadium: Vale Park Attendance: 10,363

Mansfield Town v Port Vale

9 September 1963 5	Mansfield Town	1–1	Port Vale	Mansfield
			B.Hancock	Stadium: Field Mill Attendance: 12,064

Port Vale v Brentford

16 September 1963 7	Port Vale	3–0	Brentford	Burslem
	Cheesebrough			Stadium: Vale Park Attendance: 11,539

Port Vale v Crewe Alexandra

21 September 1963 8	Port Vale	4–0	Crewe Alexandra	Burslem
	Cheesebrough Bingham Steele Richards			Stadium: Vale Park Attendance: 17,118

Brentford v Port Vale

1 October 1963 10	Brentford	1–2	Port Vale	Brentford, West London
			Poole Cheesebrough	Stadium: Griffin Park Attendance: 11,914

Port Vale v Walsall

5 October 1963 11	Port Vale	2–2	Walsall	Burslem
	Bingham o.g.			Stadium: Vale Park Attendance: 12,760

Port Vale v Southend United

12 October 1963 13	Port Vale	4–1	Southend United	Burslem
	Rowland Smith Harkin Miles			Stadium: Vale Park Attendance: 10,306

Port Vale v Luton Town

14 October 1963 14	Port Vale	1–0	Luton Town	Burslem
	Rawlings			Stadium: Vale Park Attendance: 11,449

Wrexham v Port Vale

19 October 1963 15	Wrexham	1–2	Port Vale	Wrexham
			Bingham	Stadium: Racecourse Ground Attendance: 6,781

Hull City v Port Vale

2 November 1963 19	Hull City	4–1	Port Vale	Kingston upon Hull
			Richards	Stadium: Boothferry Park Attendance: 8,460

Port Vale v Barnsley

9 November 1963 20	Port Vale	1–0	Barnsley	Burslem
	Steele			Stadium: Vale Park Attendance: 9,083

Watford v Port Vale

30 November 1963 22	Watford	1–1	Port Vale	Watford
			Poole	Stadium: Vicarage Road Attendance: 9,890

Port Vale v Shrewsbury Town

14 December 1963 23	Port Vale	1–1	Shrewsbury Town	Burslem
	Mudie			Stadium: Vale Park Attendance: 6,906

Port Vale v Bristol Rovers

26 December 1963 25	Port Vale	1–0	Bristol Rovers	Burslem
	Mudie			Stadium: Vale Park Attendance: 11,442

Bristol Rovers v Port Vale

28 December 1963 26	Bristol Rovers	4–4	Port Vale	Bristol]]
			Richards Mudie	Stadium: Eastville Stadium Attendance: 12,954

Port Vale v Oldham Athletic

11 January 1964 27	Port Vale	1–0	Oldham Athletic	Burslem
	Richards			Stadium: Vale Park Attendance: 12,322

Port Vale v Crystal Palace

8 February 1964 30	Port Vale	1–2	Crystal Palace	Burslem
	Richards			Stadium: Vale Park Attendance: 8,204

Walsall v Port Vale

15 February 1964 31	Walsall	2–1	Port Vale	Walsall
			Mudie	Stadium: Fellows Park Attendance: 7,056

Southend United v Port Vale

22 February 1964 32	Southend United	1–1	Port Vale	Southend-on-Sea
			Smith	Stadium: Roots Hall Attendance: 7,612

Port Vale v Peterborough United

29 February 1964 33	Port Vale	1–2	Peterborough United	Burslem
	Poole			Stadium: Vale Park Attendance: 6,613

Millwall v Port Vale

16 March 1964 35	Millwall	3–1	Port Vale	New Cross, Lewisham
			Mudie	Stadium: The Den Attendance: 8,312

Peterborough United v Port Vale

23 March 1964 36	Peterborough United	1–1	Port Vale	Peterborough
			Steele	Stadium: London Road Stadium Attendance: 10,408

Port Vale v Millwall

28 March 1964 37	Port Vale	1–0	Millwall	Burslem
	Bingham			Stadium: Vale Park Attendance: 5,385

Port Vale v Coventry City

30 March 1964 38	Port Vale	1–1	Coventry City	Burslem
	Steele			Stadium: Vale Park Attendance: 17,567

Coventry City v Port Vale

31 March 1964 39	Coventry City	1–1	Port Vale	Coventry
			Smith	Stadium: Highfield Road Attendance: 29,641

Colchester United v Port Vale

4 April 1964 40	Colchester United	1–2	Port Vale	Colchester
			Miles Rowland	Stadium: Layer Road Attendance: 3,263

Port Vale v Queens Park Rangers

6 April 1964 41	Port Vale	2–0	Queens Park Rangers	Burslem
	Steele Smith			Stadium: Vale Park Attendance: 7,167

Port Vale v Hull City

13 April 1964 43	Port Vale	1–0	Hull City	Burslem
	Rowland			Stadium: Vale Park Attendance: 6,090

Port Vale v Wrexham

25 April 1964 46	Port Vale	5–0	Wrexham	Burslem
	Richards Bingham pen' Smith Cheesebrough			Stadium: Vale Park Attendance: 4,497

Bradford City v Port Vale

16 November 1963 R1	Bradford City	1–2	Port Vale	Bradford
			Whalley Richards	Stadium: Valley Parade Attendance: 8,189

Port Vale v Workington

7 December 1963 R2	Port Vale	2–1	Workington	Burslem
	Steele Bingham			Stadium: Vale Park Attendance: 10,286

Birmingham City v Port Vale

4 January 1964 R3	Birmingham City	1–2	Port Vale	Birmingham
			Sproson Mudie	Stadium: St Andrew's Attendance: 21,652

Port Vale v Liverpool

27 January 1964 Replay	Port Vale	1–2	Liverpool	Burslem
	Cheesebrough			Stadium: Vale Park Attendance: 42,179

Southend United v Port Vale

25 September 1963 R2	Southend United	2–1	Port Vale	Southend-on-Sea
			Harkin	Stadium: Roots Hall Attendance: 6,126

Key to positions: GK – Goalkeeper; DF – Defender; MF – Midfielder; FW – Forward

Pos.	Name	Football League		FA Cup		League Cup		Total
		Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
GK	Ken Hancock	44	0	5	0	1	0	50	0
GK	John Cooke	2	0	0	0	0	0	2	0
DF	Roy Sproson	46	0	5	1	1	0	52	1
DF	Selwyn Whalley	41	0	5	1	1	0	47	1
DF	Terry Lowe	3	0	0	0	0	0	3	0
DF	Terry Alcock	2	0	0	0	0	0	2	0
DF	Ron Wilson	24	0	4	0	0	0	28	0
DF	John Nicholson	46	0	5	0	1	0	52	0
MF	Terry Miles	24	2	2	0	1	0	27	2
MF	Colin Grainger	3	0	0	0	0	0	3	0
MF	Tim Rawlings	19	1	3	0	0	0	22	1
MF	Ron Smith	34	5	5	0	0	0	39	5
FW	Harry Poole	26	3	2	0	1	0	29	3
FW	Stan Steele	44	5	5	1	1	0	50	6
FW	Barry Hancock	5	1	0	0	0	0	5	1
FW	John Rowland	23	4	4	0	1	0	28	4
FW	Tony Richards	30	12	4	1	0	0	34	13
FW	Terry Harkin	10	1	0	0	1	1	11	2
FW	Jackie Mudie	18	6	3	1	0	0	21	7
FW	Mick Porter	2	0	0	0	0	0	2	0
FW	Billy Bingham	35	6	2	1	1	0	38	7
FW	Albert Cheesebrough	25	6	1	1	1	0	27	7

Place	Position	Nation	Name	Third Division	FA Cup	League Cup	Total
1	FW	England	Tony Richards	12	1	0	13
2	FW	Scotland	Jackie Mudie	6	1	0	7
–	FW	Northern Ireland	Billy Bingham	6	1	0	7
–	FW	England	Albert Cheesebrough	6	1	0	7
5	FW	England	Stan Steele	5	1	0	6
6	MF	England	Ron Smith	5	0	0	5
7	FW	England	John Rowland	4	0	0	4
8	FW	England	Harry Poole	3	0	0	3
9	MF	England	Terry Miles	2	0	0	2
–	FW	Northern Ireland	Terry Harkin	1	0	1	2
11	FW	England	Barry Hancock	1	0	0	1
–	FW	England	Tim Rawlings	1	0	0	1
–	DF	England	Roy Sproson	0	1	0	1
–	DF	England	Selwyn Whalley	0	1	0	1
–	–	–	Own goals	1	0	0	1
			TOTALS	53	7	1	61

Date from	Position	Nationality	Name	From	Fee	Ref.
June 1963	MF		Tim Rawlings	Walsall	£4,000	[3]
August 1963	FW		Albert Cheesebrough	Leicester City	£20,000	[3]
August 1963	FW		Billy Bingham	Everton	£15,000	[3]
October 1963	MF		Ron Smith	Crewe Alexandra	£6,500	[3]
November 1963	FW		Jackie Mudie	Stoke City	£12,000	[3]
November 1963	DF		Ron Wilson	Stoke City	£12,000	[3]

Date from	Position	Nationality	Name	To	Fee	Ref.
May 1964	GK		John Cooke	Macclesfield Town	Free transfer	[3]
July 1964	MF		Terry Harkin	Crewe Alexandra	£3,000	[3]
July 1964	MF		Jim Watton	Doncaster Rovers	Free transfer	[3]
Summer 1964	FW		Barry Hancock	Crewe Alexandra	Released	[3]

Specific

General

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