1957–58 Port Vale F.C. season

Port Vale

1957–58 season
Chairman	Fred Burgess
Manager	Norman Low
Stadium	Vale Park
Football League Third Division South	15th (42 Points)
FA Cup	Second Round (knocked out by Hull City)
Top goalscorer	League: Stan Steele (21) All: Stan Steele (22)
Highest home attendance	17,286 vs. Coventry City, 26 December 1957
Lowest home attendance	5,149 vs. Brentford, 24 March 1958
Average home league attendance	10,457
Biggest win	5–0 and 6–1
Biggest defeat	0–3 and 1–4
Home colours
← 1956–57 1958–59 →

The 1957–58 season was Port Vale's 46th season of football in the English Football League and their first full season (eighth overall) back in the Third Division South following their relegation from the Second Division.^[1] An unusual season, the regional split was to be abolished at the season's end, meaning the bottom two clubs of the Second Division and the clubs placed 2nd to 12th in the Third Division North and the Third Division South would be the founder members of the Third Division. It also meant that the bottom twelve clubs of the Third Division North and the Third Division South would be the founder members of the Fourth Division. In effect, the team's performance in this season could see them placed in either the second, third or fourth tier the following season.

Under manager Norman Low, the side started brightly, winning four of their first six fixtures and notably doing the league double over Southampton — including a 4–0 victory at Vale Park. The attacking policy soon paid off as Stan Steele, Jack Wilkinson, and Harry Poole all reached double figures in goals by mid-season. Despite this promising form, a poor run after Christmas — highlighted by eight defeats in their final 12 matches — dragged them to a 15th‑place finish, and they were placed in the newly formed Fourth Division for the 1958–59 campaign.

In the FA Cup, Vale progressed past Shrewsbury Town in the first round courtesy of Wilkinson's brace, but exited in the Second Round, losing 4–3 away to Hull City in the replay. Financially, average attendance dipped to 10,457, resulting in reduced gate receipts (~£33,800), though tight budgeting and transfer sales allowed the club to register a modest profit of £145. Highlights off the pitch included the arrival of key signings such as goalkeeper Keith Jones and forward Jack Wilkinson, although a mid‑season acquisition of Noel Kinsey failed to arrest the late slump. Steele ended the campaign as Vale's top scorer with 22 goals — his efforts emblematic of a squad in transition and a season of high hopes ultimately unfulfilled.

The pre-season saw manager Norman Low sign several young new players to replace those released at the end of the previous season, saying his team would 'fight like hell to get back into the Second Division'.^[1] Four of these signings were: impressive forward Jack Wilkinson (Sheffield United); Welsh international goalkeeper Keith Jones (signed from Aston Villa for £3,500); defender Bert Carberry (Gillingham); and Alan Martin – who returned to the club as a part-time professional.^[1]

The season opened with a 1–0 win over Aldershot at the Recreation Ground.^[1] This started a sequence of just four defeats in 17 games, which included doing the double over Southampton (a 3–0 win at The Dell followed by a 4–0 win at Vale Park).^[1] This was achieved with Low's attacking policy,^[1] a stark contrast to 'the Steele Curtain' defence. However, their five clean sheets in their first eight games also illustrated their defensive strength.^[1] In September, right-half Selwyn Whalley turned part-time, dividing his duties between playing football and teaching at Hanley High School.^[1] Winger Alan Bennett was also transferred to Crewe Alexandra.^[1] By November, Vale were third in the league, and Low signed Bert Carberry and Jack Wilkinson.^[1] On 2 November, Vale recorded a 4–0 home win over Crystal Palace. Despite their attacking nature, Vale had by this time conceded fewer goals than any other side in the Football League. Following this top-scorer Stan Steele went off the boil, as the Vale lost their form in the Christmas period, losing 1–0 twice to Coventry City in two days.^[1] Though before this, a 6–1 victory was recorded over Aldershot to put the club into fourth position.^[1]

In January, Ken Griffiths was sold to Mansfield Town for a four-figure fee, having mostly languished in the reserves.^[1] By February, Vale were in seventh position, only four points off the top spot (with three games in hand) despite their loss of form.^[1] Four straight defeats dragged them down towards the bottom half of the table.^[1] They bought former Wales international Noel Kinsey from Birmingham City for £5,000 in an attempt to bolster their form.^[1] He helped the club achieve a 5–0 win over Watford during a blizzard on 8 March, scoring two goals.^[1] Though as injuries developed, the club's form again declined, and the team lost eight of their final twelve games.^[1] They laboured to a 2–1 win over Torquay United on 5 April, which was their only victory in the final ten games. Two points from their final six games doomed them to the fourth tier.^[1] On 12 April, Keith Jones allowed a free-kick to go into the net after he mistakenly thought it was an indirect free kick, and Norwich City went on to win the game by three goals. Vale lost 3–2 at home to Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic the following week after Kinsey missed a penalty. A 4–1 defeat at Brentford confirmed Vale's lower-half finish with a game to spare.^[1]

They finished in 15th position with 42 points from 46 games.^[1] Five points away from the top half of the table, their 'remarkable decline' continued with a second relegation in two years.^[1] Their 58 goals conceded were a respectable total, as was their 67 goals scored.^[1] Stan Steele, Jack Wilkinson, and Harry Poole all proved themselves consistent goal scorers, scoring 22, 19, and 16 goals respectively.

On the financial side, a decline in average attendance by around 3,500 left the club with an average gate of 10,457.^[1] Gate receipts were down to £33,800. However, a small staff helped to make a profit of £145 despite player wages rising to £24,158.^[1] Five players were released in the summer, most notably Bert Carberry (Exeter City) and Bill Cleary (King's Lynn).^[1] Low also sold Colin Askey to Walsall for 'a fairly substantial fee' and Basil Hayward to Portsmouth for 'a fair fee'.^[1]

In the FA Cup, Vale narrowly defeated Shrewsbury Town with two goals from Wilkinson. Third Division North Hull City knocked the Vale out in the second round, however, winning the replay 4–3 at Boothferry Park.^[1]

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GAv	Pts	Promotion or relegation
13	Northampton Town (R)	46	19	6	21	87	79	1.101	44	Relegation to the Fourth Division
14	Crystal Palace (R)	46	15	13	18	70	72	0.972	43
15	Port Vale (R)	46	16	10	20	67	58	1.155	42
16	Watford (R)	46	13	16	17	59	77	0.766	42
17	Shrewsbury Town (R)	46	15	10	21	49	71	0.690	40

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 Poole	3	0	0	0	3	0
GK	Keith Jones	43	0	3	0	46	0
FB	David Raine	31	0	3	0	34	0
FB	Selwyn Whalley	13	1	0	0	13	1
FB	Fred Donaldson	27	0	0	0	27	0
FB	Jimmy Adams	1	0	0	0	1	0
HB	Roy Sproson	37	1	3	1	40	2
HB	Albert Leake	32	0	2	0	34	0
HB	Terry Miles	6	0	0	0	6	0
HB	Bert Carberry	29	0	3	0	32	0
HB	Alan Martin	3	0	0	0	3	0
HB	Bill Cleary	8	0	2	0	10	0
FW	Brian Hopkins	2	0	0	0	2	0
FW	Fred Hough	4	0	0	0	4	0
FW	John Cunliffe	42	4	3	0	45	4
FW	Colin Askey	35	6	2	1	37	7
FW	Basil Hayward	42	1	3	0	45	1
FW	Ken Griffiths	3	0	0	0	3	0
FW	Harry Poole	41	14	3	2	44	16
FW	Stan Steele	46	21	3	1	49	22
FW	Jack Wilkinson	41	17	3	2	44	19
FW	Jimmy McLean	3	0	0	0	3	0
FW	Noel Kinsey	14	2	0	0	14	2

Place	Position	Nation	Name	Third Division South	FA Cup	Total
1	FW	England	Stan Steele	21	1	22
2	FW	England	Jack Wilkinson	17	2	19
3	FW	England	Harry Poole	14	2	16
4	FW	England	Colin Askey	6	1	7
5	FW	England	John Cunliffe	4	0	4
6	HB	England	Roy Sproson	1	1	2
–	FW	Wales	Noel Kinsey	2	0	2
8	FB	England	Selwyn Whalley	1	0	1
–	FW	England	Basil Hayward	1	0	1
–	–	–	Own goals	0	0	0
			TOTALS	67	7	74

Date from	Position	Nationality	Name	From	Fee	Ref.
June 1957	FW		Jack Wilkinson	Sheffield United	Free transfer	[3]
July 1957	HB		Bert Carberry	Gillingham	Free transfer	[3]
July 1957	GK		Keith Jones	Aston Villa	£3,500	[3]
July 1957	HB		Alan Martin	Bangor City	Non-contract	[3]
November 1957	HB		Bill Cleary	Wisbech Town	Free transfer	[3]
February 1958	FW		Noel Kinsey	Birmingham City	£5,000	[3]
March 1958	FW		Jimmy McLean	Alva Rangers	Free transfer	[3]

Date from	Position	Nationality	Name	To	Fee	Ref.
September 1957	FW		Alan Bennett	Crewe Alexandra	Free transfer	[3]
January 1958	FW		Ken Griffiths	Mansfield Town	'four-figure fee'	[3]
January 1958	GK		Leslie Wood	Southport	Free transfer	[3]
March 1958	FW		Brian Hopkins	Burton Albion	Free transfer	[3]
May 1958	FW		Basil Hayward	Portsmouth	'fair'	[3]
May 1958	FW		Fred Hough		Released	[3]
July 1958	FW		Colin Askey	Walsall	'fairly substantial'	[3]
July 1958	HB		Bill Cleary	Boston United	Free transfer	[3]
August 1957	HB		Bert Carberry	Exeter City	Free transfer	[3]

Specific

General

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