1974–75 Port Vale F.C. season

The 1974–75 season was Port Vale's 63rd season of football in the Football League, and their fifth-successive season (11th overall) in the Third Division.^[1] It was Roy Sproson's first full season in charge. With cross-town rivals Stoke City competing in Europe and running close for the First Division title, Vale's attendances waned, as they were the third least-supported club in the division. This was despite a promotion challenging season that eventually ended with a sixth-place finish. Vale exited both cup competitions in the opening rounds.

Port Vale

1974–75 season
Chairman	Mark Singer
Manager	Roy Sproson
Stadium	Vale Park
Football League Third Division	6th (51 Points)
FA Cup	First Round (knocked out by Lincoln City)
League Cup	First Round (knocked out by Northampton Town)
Player of the Year	John Connaughton
Top goalscorer	League: Ray Williams (14) All: Terry Bailey, Ray Williams (14 each)
Highest home attendance	9,135 vs. Blackburn Rovers, 26 April 1975
Lowest home attendance	2,704 vs. Gillingham, 7 September 1974
Average home league attendance	4,346
Biggest win	4–0 vs. Huddersfield Town, 14 December 1974
Biggest defeat	0–3 and 1–4
Home colours
← 1973–74 1975–76 →

Overview

Third Division

The pre-season saw Roy Sproson attempt to construct a new attacking style by signing attacking midfielder Terry Bailey from Stafford Rangers for £2,500, winger Frank Sharp from Grimsby Town, and goalkeeper John Connaughton from Sheffield United.^[1] There was also a dispute with John Woodward who asked for a transfer after a disagreement over his contract; Sproson said "he is trying to hold us to ransom and we are not having that".^[1]

The season opened with two Bailey goals, though Vale would have to wait until their fourth match for a victory, at which point their coffers were boosted by £10,000 following Sammy Morgan's success at Aston Villa.^[1] In September, Sproson made a £10,000 bid for Keith Leonard that was rejected.^[1] Instead he brought in young left-back Garry Dulson on loan from Nottingham Forest, and later bought him permanently for £5,000, using another £5,400 Villa were forced to pay Vale after Morgan hit another target.^[1] The "Valiants" proved difficult to beat, and heading into Christmas they won six of their last nine league games.^[1] Their 4–0 win over Huddersfield Town lifted them into third place, with reporter Chris Harper writing that "the real strength of the performance again emanated from midfield where (Tommy) McLaren, Bailey, Lacey and Horton reigned supreme", though attendances were still below 4,000.^[2][1] A 3–1 win over Southend United at Roots Hall then put the club into second spot, at which point Bob Mountford was sold to Rochdale for £2,000.^[1] A four-day holiday in Benidorm in the new year did not seem to help the Vale, as three straight defeats followed to drag them down the table.^[1] To halt the slide Sproson bought striker Derek Brownbill from Liverpool for £5,000.^[1] Two sendings off in a 3–1 defeat at Leeds Road – John Brodie also managed to break his leg in the challenge that earned him a red card – forced Sproson to defend his team after that took the Vale's red card tally to seven for the season.^[1] A 2–1 win over Preston North End at Vale Park on 29 March was opposition player-manager Bobby Charlton's last appearance in the Football League.^[3] A solid spell put Vale back into the promotion race by March, though their form dropped off again, and their hopes were crushed completely on 26 April with a 3–1 defeat at home to Gordon Lee's champions-elect Blackburn Rovers.^[1]

They finished in sixth place with 51 points, leaving them four points shy of promoted Charlton Athletic.^[1] Just two home losses were matched by only three victories on the road.^[1] The three main scorers were Ray Williams (14), Terry Bailey (14), and Brian Horton (13).^[1] At the end of the season the players took a break in Malta, where they drew 1–1 with Floriana.^[1][4] Tommy McLaren spent the summer in Oregon, playing for the Portland Timbers.^[1]

Finances

On the financial side, a loss was made of £16,964 despite donations of £13,803 from the development funds.^[1] The supporters group also paid £1,200 for video equipment, allowing the club to record games and show players their mistakes.^[5] The average home attendance of 4,346 was the third-lowest in the division.^[1] Wages stood at £72,874, gate receipts took in £43,199, and there was a loss in the transfer market of £6,000.^[1] The financial situation meant that seven players were released and thirteen were retained.^[1] Amongst those departing were: John Woodward (Scunthorpe United); Frank Sharp (Northwich Victoria); Roy Cross (Nuneaton Borough); Bill Summerscales (Rochdale); and Reg Edwards (Brereton Social).^[1]

Cup competitions

In the FA Cup, Vale lost their First Round replay 2–0 at Lincoln City's Sincil Bank, following a 2–2 draw in Burslem.^[1] Dulson scored an own goal in the original match and was sent off in the replay for punching Dick Krzywicki.^[1]

In the League Cup, Vale left the competition at the first stage with a 1–0 defeat at Fourth Division Northampton Town's Sixfields Stadium.^[1]

League table

Main article: 1974–75 Football League

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GAv	Pts
4	Swindon Town	46	21	11	14	64	58	1.103	53
5	Crystal Palace	46	18	15	13	66	57	1.158	51
6	Port Vale	46	18	15	13	61	54	1.130	51
7	Peterborough United	46	19	12	15	47	53	0.887	50
8	Walsall	46	18	13	15	67	52	1.288	49

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

Results

Port Vale's score comes first

Football League Third 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	31	32	33	34	35	36	37	38	39	40	41	42	43	44	45	46
Ground	A	H	A	H	A	A	H	A	H	A	A	H	A	A	H	A	H	H	A	A	H	H	A	H	A	A	H	A	H	A	H	H	H	A	H	H	A	H	A	H	A	H	A	A	H	H
Result	D	D	L	W	L	D	W	D	D	L	D	W	L	D	W	W	D	W	L	W	W	W	L	W	W	L	L	L	D	D	D	W	W	L	W	W	D	W	L	D	D	W	D	L	L	W
Position	9	9	22	14	16	16	12	16	12	16	16	13	14	14	13	13	11	11	14	10	9	3	7	2	2	6	7	11	9	10	9	9	7	9	7	4	6	5	5	5	6	4	4	6	8	6

Source: Statto^[6]
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

Matches

Date	Opponent	Venue	Result	Attendance	Scorers
17 August 1974	Wrexham	A	2–2	6,314	Bailey (2)
24 August 1974	Swindon Town	H	2–2	3,446	Williams, Sharp
31 August 1974	Grimsby Town	A	0–3	5,383
7 September 1974	Gillingham	H	2–1	2,704	Horton (pen), Sharp
13 September 1974	Tranmere Rovers	A	0–1	3,033
18 September 1974	Brighton & Hove Albion	A	1–1	12,340	Bailey
21 September 1974	Hereford United	H	3–0	3,433	Williams, Horton, Bailey
28 September 1974	Halifax Town	A	1–1	1,935	Bailey
30 September 1974	Colchester United	H	2–2	3,722	Williams, Bailey
5 October 1974	Aldershot	A	1–2	3,406	Horton
8 October 1974	Walsall	A	0–0	6,507
12 October 1974	Plymouth Argyle	H	2–0	3,634	Horton, Woodward
15 October 1974	Colchester United	A	0–2	5,184
19 October 1974	Blackburn Rovers	A	2–2	9,777	Bailey, Woodward
26 October 1974	Crystal Palace	H	2–1	5,148	Bailey, Horton
2 November 1974	Bournemouth	A	2–1	5,143	Williams (2)
4 November 1974	Walsall	H	1–1	4,859	Williams
9 November 1974	Chesterfield	H	3–2	3,941	Woodward (2), Williams
16 November 1974	Watford	A	2–3	6,659	Bailey, o.g.
30 November 1974	Peterborough United	A	2–0	7,627	Chadwick, Horton
7 December 1974	Bury	H	1–0	4,038	Horton (pen)
14 December 1974	Huddersfield Town	H	4–0	3,986	Horton, Chadwick, Bailey, Lacey
21 December 1974	Preston North End	A	0–1	8,743
26 December 1974	Tranmere Rovers	H	1–0	6,196	Horton
28 December 1974	Southend United	A	3–1	6,535	Williams, Chadwick, Horton (pen)
11 January 1975	Bury	A	1–3	7,204	Horton
18 January 1975	Peterborough United	H	1–3	4,979	Horton
1 February 1975	Chesterfield	A	0–1	4,348
8 February 1975	Bournemouth	H	0–0	3,710
15 February 1975	Charlton Athletic	A	2–2	9,449	Chadwick (2)
22 February 1975	Watford	H	0–0	4,164
1 March 1975	Grimsby Town	H	1–0	3,335	Williams
3 March 1975	Charlton Athletic	H	1–0	4,638	Brownbill
8 March 1975	Huddersfield Town	A	1–3	6,705	Williams
15 March 1975	Halifax Town	H	2–1	3,334	Brownbill, Bailey
17 March 1975	Wrexham	H	2–0	4,661	McLaren, Lacey
22 March 1975	Gillingham	A	0–0	7,524
29 March 1975	Preston North End	H	2–1	6,583	Bailey (2)
31 March 1975	Hereford United	A	0–1	6,976
1 April 1975	Southend United	H	0–0	4,178
5 April 1975	Crystal Palace	A	1–1	15,195	Horton (pen)
12 April 1975	Aldershot	H	3–1	3,382	Williams (2), Brownbill
19 April 1975	Plymouth Argyle	A	1–1	22,447	Brownbill
22 April 1975	Swindon Town	A	2–3	7,637	Harris, Williams
26 April 1975	Blackburn Rovers	H	1–4	9,135	Williams
28 April 1975	Brighton & Hove Albion	H	1–0	2,754	Woodward

FA Cup

Main article: 1974–75 FA Cup

Round	Date	Opponent	Venue	Result	Attendance	Goalscorers
R1	23 November 1974	Lincoln City	H	2–2	4,840	Bailey, Mountford
R1 Replay	27 November 1974	Lincoln City	A	0–2	6,824

League Cup

Main article: 1974–75 Football League Cup

Round	Date	Opponent	Venue	Result	Attendance	Goalscorers
R1	20 August 1974	Northampton Town	A	0–1	5,688

Player statistics

Appearances and goals

Pos.	Name	Football League		FA Cup		League Cup		Total
		Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
GK	Reg Edwards	2	0	0	0	0	0	2	0
GK	John Connaughton	44	0	2	0	1	0	47	0
DF	Bill Summerscales	27	0	1	0	1	0	29	0
DF	Roy Cross	2	0	0	0	0	0	2	0
DF	John Brodie	28	0	1	0	1	0	30	0
DF	Neil Griffiths	12	0	1	0	1	0	14	0
DF	David Harris	20	1	1	0	1	0	22	1
DF	Garry Dulson	32	0	2	0	0	0	34	0
MF	Tommy McLaren	39	1	2	0	1	0	42	1
MF	Brian Horton	44	13	2	0	4	0	47	13
MF	Tony Lacey	39	2	1	0	0	0	40	2
MF	Colin Tartt	37	0	1	0	0	0	38	0
MF	John Ridley	18	0	0	0	1	0	19	0
MF	Keith Chadwick	22	5	1	0	0	0	23	5
MF	Frank Sharp	24	2	2	0	1	0	27	2
MF	Terry Bailey	44	13	2	1	1	0	47	14
MF	Kenny Beech	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	0
FW	Bob Mountford	3	0	2	1	0	0	5	1
FW	John Woodward	39	5	2	0	0	0	41	5
FW	Ray Williams	40	14	0	0	1	0	41	14
FW	Derek Brownbill	16	4	0	0	0	0	16	4

Top scorers

Place	Position	Nation	Name	Third Division	FA Cup	League Cup	Total
1	FW	England	Ray Williams	14	0	0	14
–	MF	England	Terry Bailey	13	1	0	14
3	MF	England	Brian Horton	13	0	0	13
4	MF	England	Keith Chadwick	5	0	0	5
–	FW	England	John Woodward	5	0	0	5
6	FW	England	Derek Brownbill	4	0	0	4
7	MF	England	Tony Lacey	2	0	0	2
–	MF	Scotland	Frank Sharp	2	0	0	2
9	MF	Scotland	Tommy McLaren	1	0	0	1
–	DF	England	David Harris	1	0	0	1
–	FW	England	Bob Mountford	0	1	0	1
–	–	–	Own goals	1	0	0	1
			TOTALS	61	2	0	63

Transfers

Transfers in

Date from	Position	Nationality	Name	From	Fee	Ref.
May 1974	MF		Terry Bailey	Stafford Rangers	£3,000	[7]
May 1974	GK		John Connaughton	Sheffield United	Free transfer	[7]
May 1974	MF		Frank Sharp	Grimsby Town	Free transfer	[7]
November 1974	DF		Garry Dulson	Nottingham Forest	£5,000	[7]
February 1975	FW		Derek Brownbill	Liverpool	£5,000	[7]

Transfers out

Date from	Position	Nationality	Name	To	Fee	Ref.
December 1974	FW		Bob Mountford	Rochdale	£2,000	[7]
May 1975	DF		Andy Carr	Northwich Victoria	Free transfer	[7]
May 1975	DF		Roy Cross	Nuneaton Borough	Free transfer	[7]
May 1975	GK		Reg Edwards	Brereton Social	Free transfer	[7]
May 1975	MF		Frank Sharp	Northwich Victoria	Free transfer	[7]
May 1975	DF		Bill Summerscales	Rochdale	Free transfer	[7]
May 1975	FW		John Woodward	Scunthorpe United	Free transfer	[7]

Loans in

Date from	Position	Nationality	Name	To	Date to	Ref.
October 1974	DF		Garry Dulson	Nottingham Forest	November 1974	[7]

Loans out

Date from	Position	Nationality	Name	To	Date to	Ref.
October 1974	FW		Bob Mountford	Scunthorpe United	November 1974	[7]
December 1974	FW		Bob Mountford	Crewe Alexandra	December 1974	[7]

References

Specific

1. Kent, Jeff (1990). "Surviving on a Shoestring (1969–1979)". The Valiants' Years: The Story Of Port Vale. Witan Books. pp. 227–257. ISBN 0-9508981-4-7.
2. Baggaley, Mike (14 December 2023). "Injury news and selection debate as Port Vale prepare for Wigan". Valiant's Substack. Retrieved 15 December 2023.
3. Baggaley, Mike (23 October 2023). "Port Vale selection questions for season-defining games". Valiant's Substack. Retrieved 23 October 2023.
4. Baldacchino, Carmel (20 July 2017). "Shadows from the past: Port Vale in Malta for Floriana celebrations". Times of Malta. Retrieved 29 February 2024.
5. Kent, Jeff (December 1991). Port Vale Tales: A Collection Of Stories, Anecdotes And Memories. Witan Books. p. 42. ISBN 0-9508981-6-3.
6. Port Vale 1974–1975 : Results & Fixtures Archived 4 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine. Statto Organisation. Retrieved 28 April 2012.
7. 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.