1934–35 Port Vale F.C. season

Port Vale

1934–35 season
Chairman	Frank Huntbach
Manager	Tom Holford
Stadium	Old Recreation Ground
Football League Second Division	18th (34 Points)
FA Cup	Third Round (knocked out by West Bromwich Albion)
Top goalscorer	League: Tom Nolan (16) All: Tom Nolan (16)
Highest home attendance	18,989 vs. West Bromwich Albion, 12 January 1935
Lowest home attendance	3,860 vs. Fulham, 27 April 1935
Average home league attendance	8,463
Biggest win	4–0 vs. Barnsley, 5 January 1935
Biggest defeat	0–8 vs. Brentford, 20 April 1935
Home colours
← 1933–34 1935–36 →

The 1934–35 season was Port Vale's 29th season of football in the English Football League and their fifth-successive season (28th overall) in the Second Division.^[1] While a promising start fuelled hopes of a return to the top half, Vale ultimately finished in 18th place, accumulating 34 points from a record of 11 wins, 12 draws, and 19 defeats, scoring 55 goals and conceding 74.

Under manager Tom Holford, the early season surge came to nothing as form collapsed from October onward, leaving Vale embroiled in a relegation battle before surviving comfortably on goal average. In January 1935, Vale recorded their largest win, a 4–0 victory over Barnsley , but endured their harshest reverse in April with an 8–0 home defeat to Brentford. Tom Nolan emerged as the standout player, finishing the campaign as both league and season top scorer with 16 goals in 40 appearances, in what would be his third successive season leading Vale's scoring charts.

In the FA Cup, Port Vale made a relatively brief appearance, exiting in the Third Round, consistent with recent seasons. Off the pitch, the club faced considerable upheaval: supporters and directors held a six-week consultation on a proposed name change, with ideas like "Stoke Central", "Stoke United", and "Hanley Port Vale" considered, although nothing ultimately changed. Financial constraints persisted — Vale's average attendance dipped to 8,463, with a season-low crowd of 3,860 versus Fulham on 27 April.

The pre-season saw the arrival of eight new signings, the most significant of these were: 'safe as houses' goalkeeper John Potts (Leeds United), 'outstanding' outside-right John Friar (Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic), inside-left David Galloway (Preston North End), and centre-half Joe Craven (Swansea Town).^[1]

The season started with just one defeat in the opening eight games, leaving the club in fourth place by the end of September – mostly down to the goalscoring partnership of Friar and Nolan.^[1] Home victories over Sheffield United, Southampton, Manchester United, and Burnley nevertheless saw attendances of only 7,311 to 11,975.^[1] Following this they went on a run of twelve games without a win, with an over-reliance on Friar and Nolan in attack, whilst the defence lacked understanding.^[1] The team was changed around but to no avail, as they slipped down the league towards a relegation battle.^[1] On 24 November, Vale lost 2–1 at home to second-from-bottom Hull City. In the middle of December Friar was sold on to Preston North End, having scored ten goals in 18 games, with the 'more steady' Ted Critchley heading in the other direction.^[1] Vale fell to third-from-bottom following a 1–1 draw with Bradford (Park Avenue) on 22 December. Their poor form was halted with a Christmas day victory over Bradford City, the club's first win since September.^[1] The team were then inconsistent until the end of the season.

The 2 February matchday programme (for a 2–1 victory over Swansea) recorded a discussion on whether or not the club should change its name.^[1] Concluding that many people didn't know where Port Vale was, Stoke Central and Stoke United were put forward as possible new names.^[1] A discussion with the fans resulted in Stoke United being decided as the best alternative, despite calls from some for the name Hanley to be included.^[1] On 2 March (a 1–1 draw with Norwich City), each supporter was given a ballot slip upon entering the Old Recreation Ground, with the result of the poll being that 3,737 were in favour of a change of name, and 3,633 opposed a change.^[1] A shareholders' meeting on 18 March at the Grand Hotel (Hanley) saw the directors suggest the name of Stoke North End to the 100 members present.^[1] Finding little support, a resolution was instead passed for the new name of Hanley Port Vale.^[1] The Football League forced them to wait until the end of the season to implement a name change, having already printed countless papers with the original name.^[1] However, the new name proved unpopular with the public, who criticised the club for being too parochial and lacking civic pride.^[1] The name change never occurred.^[1]

Back on the pitch, the team were bobbing along, picking up enough points to avoid relegation concerns – whereas Oldham Athletic and Notts County were rapidly drifting away from safety.^[1] On 9 March at St James' Park the Vale picked up a shock result by beating promotion hopefuls Newcastle United 2–1 – their first away win in 24 attempts, ending a run going back to January 1934.^[1] Nolan's stand-in James Baker bagged both of the goals.^[1] On 19 April, a 5–3 beating of Notts County proved enough to guarantee safety, yet Vale still earned just two points from their final four games.^[1] On 20 April, they lost a massive 8–0 to champions Brentford – the biggest defeat in the division that season.^[1]

They finished 18th with 34 points, eight points clear of relegation and 22 points short of promotion.^[1] Away from home, they recorded just one win, whilst in front of goal, their 55 goals scored was their lowest total since 1925 (after which the offside rule had been changed to make scoring easier).^[1] Tom Nolan's 16 goals and the departed John Friar's ten goals were the only significant contributions.^[1]

On the financial side, a mere £11,120 was made on the gates, though a £3,775 credit on transfers ensured a profit of £2,415.^[1] Only 14 players were retained, with those leaving including: James Baker (Barrow), Bob Morton (Throckley Welfare), Jack Blackwell (Boston United), Joe Craven (Newport County), David Galloway (Carlisle United), Ted Critchley (South Liverpool), and 128 game veteran Jack Round (also Carlisle).^[1]

In the FA Cup, Vale were defeated 2–1 by eventual runners-up West Bromwich Albion of the First Division at The Hawthorns.^[1] The 18,989 crowd saw £1,000 raised in gate receipts, and a comeback from the "Throstles" just six minutes from time.^[1]

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GAv	Pts
16	Barnsley	42	13	12	17	60	83	0.723	38
17	Swansea Town	42	14	8	20	56	67	0.836	36
18	Port Vale	42	11	12	19	55	74	0.743	34
19	Southampton	42	11	12	19	46	75	0.613	34
20	Bradford City	42	12	8	22	50	68	0.735	32

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

Pos.	Name	Football League		FA Cup		Total
		Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
GK	John Potts	42	0	1	0	43	0
FB	George Shenton	15	0	0	0	15	0
FB	Jack Vickers	26	0	1	0	27	0
FB	Ernest Breeze	25	0	1	0	26	0
FB	Percy Thorpe	1	0	0	0	1	0
HB	Trevor Rhodes	35	6	1	0	36	6
HB	Jim Kelso	15	0	0	0	15	0
HB	Eric Hayward	4	0	0	0	4	0
HB	Roger Jones	29	0	1	0	30	0
HB	Jack Round	26	0	1	0	27	0
HB	Cliff Birks	11	4	0	0	11	4
HB	Ken Gunn	31	1	0	0	31	1
HB	Joe Craven	11	0	0	0	11	0
HB	Sam Briddon	0	0	0	0	0	0
FW	Bob Morton	35	4	1	1	36	5
FW	Albert Purcell	2	0	0	0	2	0
FW	Albert Titley	4	0	0	0	4	0
FW	John Friar	18	10	0	0	18	10
FW	Arthur Caldwell	1	0	0	0	1	0
FW	Tom Nolan	39	16	1	0	40	16
FW	Fred Mitcheson	31	4	1	0	32	4
FW	Jack Blackwell	12	2	0	0	12	2
FW	David Galloway	12	0	0	0	12	0
FW	Ted Critchley	18	1	1	0	19	1
FW	Luke Dean	10	3	0	0	10	3
FW	James Baker	9	4	0	0	9	4

Place	Position	Nation	Name	Second Division	FA Cup	Total
1	FW	England	Tom Nolan	16	0	16
2	FW	Scotland	John Friar	10	0	10
3	HB	England	Trevor Rhodes	6	0	6
4	FW	England	Bob Morton	4	1	5
5	HB	England	Cliff Birks	4	0	4
–	FW	England	Fred Mitcheson	4	0	4
–	FW	England	James Baker	4	0	4
8	FW	England	Luke Dean	3	0	3
9	FW	England	Jack Blackwell	2	0	2
10	HB	Scotland	Ken Gunn	1	0	1
–	FW	England	Ted Critchley	1	0	1
–	–	–	Own goals	0	0	0
			TOTALS	55	1	56

Date from	Position	Nationality	Name	From	Fee	Ref.
May 1934	GK		John Potts	Leeds United	Free transfer	[3]
May 1934	FW		Albert Titley	West Bromwich Albion	Free transfer	[3]
June 1934	FW		James Baker	Charlton Athletic	Free transfer	[3]
June 1934	HB		Joe Craven	Swansea Town	Free transfer	[3]
June 1934	FW		David Galloway	Preston North End	Free transfer	[3]
June 1934	HB		Jim Kelso	Bradford Park Avenue	Free transfer	[3]
July 1934	FW		John Friar	Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic	Free transfer	[3]
July 1934	HB		Eric Hayward	Hanley and Wardle's	Free transfer	[3]
August 1934	FW		Luke Dean	Downing's Tileries	Free transfer	[3]
November 1934	FB		Percy Thorpe	Accrington Stanley	Free transfer	[3]
December 1934	FW		Ted Critchley	Preston North End	Exchange	[3]
May 1935	FW		Arthur Caldwell	Winsford United	Free transfer	[3]

Date from	Position	Nationality	Name	To	Fee	Ref.
December 1934	FW		John Friar	Preston North End	Exchange	[3]
May 1935	FW		Jack Blackwell	Boston United	Released	[3]
May 1935	HB		Jim Kelso	Newport County	Free transfer	[3]
May 1935	FW		Albert Titley	Macclesfield Town	Free transfer	[3]
July 1935	FW		Tom Nolan	Bradford Park Avenue	Free transfer	[3]
Summer 1935	HB		Joe Craven	Newport County	Free transfer	[3]
Summer 1935	FW		Ted Critchley	South Liverpool	Released	[3]
Summer 1935	FW		David Galloway	Carlisle United	Free transfer	[3]
Summer 1935	FW		Bob Morton	Throckley Welfare	Free transfer	[3]
Summer 1935	FW		Albert Purcell		Released	[3]
Summer 1935	FB		Percy Thorpe		Released	[3]

Specific

General

• Kent, Jeff (1993). The Port Vale Record 1879-1993. Witan Books. ISBN 978-0-9508981-9-3.