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
	← 1894–95 1896–97 →

The 1895–96 season was Burslem Port Vale's fourth consecutive season of football in the English Football League.^[1] Another poor season struggling at the wrong end of the table, this time they failed to gain re-election; two seasons in the Midlands League followed, and despite a finish of 7th and then 5th they were re-elected back into the Football League for the expanded 1898–99 season.^[1]

A season to forget, a 5–4 victory over eventual champions Liverpool was one of the few memorable days. This came during a run of games where 65 goals were scored in 11 games. Overall, a leaky defence kept just 5 clean sheets in 30 league and 4 cup games. On their travels, the team lost all their games, other than a 2–0 win over Rotherham Town on the opening day.^[1] From 21 September 1895 to 18 April 1896, they recorded 14 straight losses away from home and went 27 games without a draw away from home between 26 January 1895 and 3 December 1898 – both club records.

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 v t e	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	30	7	4	19	43	78	0.551	18	Resigned from league
15	Rotherham Town	30	7	3	20	34	97	0.351	17
16	Crewe Alexandra	30	5	3	22	30	95	0.316	13

Source: ^{[citation needed]}
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal average; 3) Goals scored

Results

Football League Second Division

Burslem Port Vale's score comes first

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

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

Matches

Date	Opponent	Venue	Result	Attendance	Scorers
7 September 1895	Rotherham Town	A	2–0	2,000	Beckett, Handley
14 September 1895	Notts County	H	0–4	2,000
21 September 1895	Burton Wanderers	A	1–2	2,500	Dean
28 September 1895	Liverpool	A	1–5	5,000	J. Mason
5 October 1895	Darwen	H	3–3	1,000	Eardley (2), Evans
19 October 1895	Darwen	A	2–8	4,000	Eardley (2)
21 October 1895	Liverpool	H	5–4	1,000	Evans, J. Mason, Beckett, Downie, Black
26 October 1895	Crewe Alexandra	H	2–1	1,500	J. Mason, Barlow
16 November 1895	Grimsby Town	H	1–4	800	Beckett
7 December 1895	Notts County	A	2–7	500	Evans, Beckett
25 December 1895	Woolwich Arsenal	A	1–2	8,000	Fallows
4 January 1896	Grimsby Town	A	1–6	2,000	Downie
11 January 1896	Burton Swifts	H	1–0	1,500	Beckett
18 January 1896	Burton Wanderers	H	2–2	5,000	Edwards, Sandham
25 January 1896	Rotherham Town	H	4–0	500	Beckett, Sandham, McDonald, J. Mason
10 February 1896	Manchester City	H	0–1	3,000
15 February 1896	Woolwich Arsenal	H	0–2	1,000
17 February 1896	Manchester City	A	0–1	3,000
22 February 1896	Lincoln City	H	0–1	1,000
7 March 1896	Leicester Fosse	H	1–1	1,500	Beckett
14 March 1896	Burton Swifts	A	1–2	2,000	Beckett
21 March 1896	Leicester Fosse	A	0–5	5,000
23 March 1896	Newton Heath	H	3–0	3,000	Randles (2), J. Mason
25 March 1896	Crewe Alexandra	A	2–3		C. Mason, Evans
3 April 1896	Newcastle United	A	2–4	8,500	Simpson, Randles
6 April 1896	Newton Heath	A	1–2	5,000	McDonald
7 April 1896	Loughborough	H	1–1		Simpson
11 April 1896	Loughborough	A	0–3	1,500
18 April 1896	Lincoln City	A	2–4		Belfield (2)
20 April 1896	Newcastle United	H	2–0	2,000	J. Mason, Randles

FA Cup


Round	Date	Opponent	Venue	Result	Attendance	Goalscorers
1Q	12 October 1895	Hereford Thistle	H	walkover
2Q	2 November 1895	Burton Swifts	H	1–1	1,500	unknown
2Q Replay	6 November 1895	Burton Swifts	A	0–1	1,000

Birmingham Senior Cup


Round	Date	Opponent	Venue	Result	Attendance	Goalscorers
1	20 January 1896	Stourbridge	A	2–3	2,000	Downie, o.g.

Staffordshire Senior Cup


Round	Date	Opponent	Venue	Result	Attendance	Goalscorers
1	8 February 1896	Stoke	A	0–4	4,000

Player statistics

Appearances and goals

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
DF	G.S. Eccles	17	0	2	0	1	0	20	0
DF	John Edwards	3	1	0	0	1	0	4	1
DF	Teddy Morse	12	0	0	0	1	0	13	0
DF	Jim Beech	2	0	0	0	0	0	2	0
DF	George Youds	29	0	2	0	2	0	33	0
MF	Meshach Dean	3	1	0	0	0	0	3	1
MF	Joseph Boughey	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	0
MF	James Holdcroft	24	0	2	0	0	0	26	0
MF	Ted McDonald	27	2	1	0	2	0	30	2
MF	Jos Randles	7	4	1	0	0	0	8	4
MF	Fred Belfield	5	2	0	0	0	0	5	2
MF	Ralph Barlow	29	1	2	0	2	0	33	1
MF	James Downie	12	2	2	0	2	1	16	3
MF	John Fallows	8	1	0	0	1	0	9	1
MF	Hamlet Handley	5	1	0	0	0	0	5	1
MF	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	MF	England	Jos Randles	4	0	4
–	FW	England	Billy Eardley	4	0	4
–	FW	England	Dick Evans	4	0	4
6	MF		James Downie	2	1	3
7	MF	England	Fred Belfield	2	0	2
–	MF		Ted McDonald	2	0	2
–	FW		Danny Simpson	2	0	2
–	FW		Joseph Sandham	2	0	2
11	MF		Ralph Barlow	1	0	1
–	FW		David Black	1	0	1
–	MF	England	Meshach Dean	1	0	1
–	DF	England	John Edwards	1	0	1
–	MF		John Fallows	1	0	1
–	MF	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	MF	James Downie	Blackburn Rovers	Free transfer	^[3]
September 1895	FW	David Black	Blackburn Rovers	Free transfer	^[3]
January 1896	MF	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	MF	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	DF	George Samuel Eccles	Wolverhampton Wanderers	'considerable'	^[3]
Summer 1896	MF	Joseph Boughey	Audley	Released	^[3]
Summer 1896	MF	Meshach Dean		Released	^[3]
Summer 1896	FW	Jimmy Ditchfield		Released	^[3]
Summer 1896	MF	James Downie		Released	^[3]
Summer 1896	MF	John Edwards	Grays United	Free transfer	^[3]
Summer 1896	MF	Hamlet Handley		Released	^[3]
Summer 1896	MF	James Kirkham		Released	^[3]
Summer 1896	FW	Charlie Mason		Released	^[3]
Summer 1896	DF	William Rhodes		Released	^[3]
August 1896	FW	Billy Eardley	Stoke	Free transfer	^[3]
August 1896	MF	Ted McDonald	Stoke	Free transfer	^[3]

References

Specific

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j 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 ⁱ ^j 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]

v t e 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 1895–96 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