The season opened with five draws, followed by two victories that took the Vale to second.[1] Six games without a win soon brought the "Valiants" tumbling down the table, though, as Cullerton lost his scoring touch.[1] At the end of October arrived Steve Taylor on loan from Bolton Wanderers, who put more 'bite' into the Vale attack.[1] Home fans turned against the players, and coach Reg Berks was 'appalled by some of the abuse hurled at the players'.[1] Taylor scored a brace past Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough on 8 November, only to return immediately back to Bolton.[1] The team's poor disciplinary record continued from the previous campaigns, and The Football Association put the club 'under constant review' after Sproson arrived 45 minutes late to a disciplinary hearing in London after missing his train.[1] Cullerton was back in scoring form as the Vale picked up victories and rose up the table.[1] A season-low crowd of 2,789 on 20 December saw Vale come from 3–0 down to Grimsby Town to win the match 4–3.[1] To motivate the players coach Reg Berks had told them at half-time that he was facing the sack if the team lost the game.[2] The promotion-chasers pulled away from Vale in the New Year however.[1] A rare event occurred on 17 January when the Vale directors permitted rivals Stoke to play a home game to Middlesbrough at Vale Park.[1] This happened because a severe gale severely damaged the Victoria Ground; whilst the gale also caused £2,000 worth of damage to Vale Park, the damage to Stoke's ground was much more severe.[1] A crowd of 21,009 saw Stoke win 1–0, the highest crowd at Vale Park in over a decade. Vale's campaign carried on, though injuries built up Ray Williams managed to break a 21-game goal drought to earn a credible point at Cardiff City's Ninian Park on 25 February.[1] Eight more points in the next four games took the club to within three points of the promotion zone.[1] Yet in March, the club sold Brian Horton to Brighton & Hove Albion for £30,000, a sum the club needed to balance the books.[1] The club's form suffered immediately, resulting in mid-table.[1] On 10 April, Brighton beat Vale 3–0 at the Withdean Stadium, and John Brodiebroke his leg.[1]
They finished in twelfth place with 46 points.[1] Mick Cullerton hit 21 goals in all competitions to become the club's top scorer.[1] To celebrate the club's centenary, a friendly was played with Stoke City, which finished 1–1 in front of 9,825 spectators.[1] Stoke generously allowed the Vale to pocket the entire £6,500 worth of takings from the match.[3]
Finances
On the financial side, the Horton transfer and donations of £19,965 from the Development Fund ensured a profit of £24,819.[1] An increase in ticket prices offset the cost of a reduced average gate.[1] An income of £2,775 was gained from renting out space to market traders; however, Stoke-on-Trent Council soon put a stop to this.[1] Geoff Morris left on a free transfer in the summer, signing with Kidderminster Harriers.[1]
Cup competitions
In the FA Cup, Vale progressed past Southern LeagueGrantham 4–1 in Burslem following a 2–2 draw away. This proved a lucky escape for Vale as Brownbill's equalizing goal at Grantham was allowed to stand despite an obvious handball.[4] Many Vale supporters said that the linesman had raised his flag, only to lower it after being threatened by irate Vale spectators.[5] In the Second Round they faced Fourth DivisionHuddersfield Town at Leeds Road, and were eliminated 2–1.
In the League Cup, the new two-legged format only resulted in a 4–4 aggregate draw, and so a replay was held at Gay Meadow, Shrewsbury, which Hereford won 1–0. Cullerton scored a hat-trick in the first leg, thereby making 'a fairytale come true' by hitting three in his first game back at Vale Park.[1]
