1891–92 Burslem Port Vale F.C. season

Burslem Port Vale
1891–92 season
StadiumAthletic Ground
Midland League3rd (25 points)
FA CupFirst Qualification Round
(knocked out by Burton Wanderers)
Birmingham Senior CupFirst Round
(knocked out by Aston Villa)
Staffordshire Senior CupSemi-finalists
(knocked out by Stoke)
North Staffordshire Challenge CupWinners
Top goalscorerLeague: Frank McGinnes (18)
All: Frank McGinnes (35)
Highest home attendance3,000 vs. Burton Wanderers, 5 September 1891
Lowest home attendance150 vs. Leicester Fosse, 28 April 1892
Average home league attendance1,394
Biggest win7–1 vs. Loughborough Town, 19 September 1891
Biggest defeat0–3 and 1–4

The 1891–92 season was Burslem Port Vale's second-successive season in the Midland League.[1] They managed to finish third in the table and were rewarded with a place in the Football League for the following season, justifying the club's decision to refuse to listen to offers for star forward Frank McGinnes. They also reached the semi-finals of the Staffordshire Senior Cup and won the North Staffordshire Challenge Cup, though they exited the FA Cup and Birmingham Senior Cup in the first round.

Overview

Midland League

In preparation for the new Midland League campaign, Burslem Port Vale signed winger Jimmy Scarratt from Wellington St. George's and prepared a new kit of red jerseys with grey kickers – the uniforms were made by Mrs Danks, the secretary's wife.[1] They failed to bring good fortune in the opening league game, however, a 3–2 defeat at home to Burton Wanderers.[1] After the game the club also signed a new outside-right, G McHarg.[1] Though he had little impact on the first-team, they managed to record a 7–1 victory over Loughborough Town, with Frank McGinnes claiming a hat-trick.[1] They followed this with a 4–0 win over Doncaster Rovers, despite McGinnis missing the first ever penalty shot awarded at the Athletic Ground and McHarg being criticised for over-dribbling.[1] The team settled into their usual pattern of winning at home but losing away, losing on the road five times whilst winning all but one of their remaining home fixtures.[1] The first run to end was their away form, as they won 2–1 at Loughborough Town and their final two away matches.[1] The turnaround in away form, coupled with continuing home victories, took the club from ninth (of eleven teams) in January to third by the end of the season.[1] Alarmingly though, only 150 spectators turned out to witness the final day victory over Leicester Fosse on 28 April, causing the club to make a loss on the game after marketing costs were deducted.[1] Potteries derby rivals Stoke meanwhile were keen to take McGinnis to the Football League First Division, but Vale resisted all attempts to sign him, rejecting a bid of £30.[1]

Cup competitions

Vale failed to transfer their league form to the FA Cup, bowing out at the first qualification round after losing 4–2 to Burton Wanderers.[1] They entered the Birmingham Senior Cup, but faced tough opposition in Aston Villa in the first round and were beaten 5–2.[1] They fared better in the Staffordshire Senior Cup, avenging Burton Wanderers with a 4–0 victory despite a slow start to the game.[1] In the next round, they overcame Walsall Town Swifts after a replay, but fell to a 4–1 defeat to Burton Swifts in the semi-finals.[1] They managed to end the season by taking home the North Staffordshire Challenge Cup outright, beating Stoke 2–0 despite McGinnis being sent off for "foul charging".[1]

Results

Burslem Port Vale's score comes first

Legend

Win Draw Loss

Midland League

Date Opponent Venue Result Attendance Scorers
5 September 1891 Burton Wanderers H 2–3 3,000 McGinnes, Dean
12 September 1891 Wednesbury Old Athletic A 1–1 1,500 McGinnes
19 September 1891 Loughborough Town H 7–1 1,500 McGinnes (3), Scarratt (2), Dean, other
26 September 1891 Doncaster Rovers H 4–0 1,500 McGinnes, Ditchfield, o.g., Scarratt
1 October 1891 Grantham A 0–2 small
10 October 1891 Burton Wanderers A 1–4 splendid Nash
31 October 1891 Long Eaton Rangers H 5–1 Dean(2), McGinnes, Booth, other
7 November 1891 Wednesbury Old Athletic H 1–2 1,500 McGinnes
9 November 1891 Gainsborough Trinity H 1–0 Scarratt
28 November 1891 Long Eaton Rangers A 1–2 scrimmage
12 December 1891 Doncaster Rovers A 1–3 800 Walker
30 January 1892 Rotherham Town H 6–3 1,500 Walker (2), McGinnes (2), rushes, scrimmage
13 February 1892 Grantham H 3–1 500 Pimlott, scrimmage, Walker
27 February 1892 Rotherham Town A 2–4 1,750 W. Jones, McGinnes
12 March 1892 Loughborough Town A 2–1 very large McGinnes, Beats
19 March 1892 Derby Junction H 5–1 1,500 McGinnes (3), Scarratt (2)
26 March 1892 Gainsborough Trinity A 0–3 1,200
2 April 1892 Leicester Fosse H 2–0 Elson (2)
9 April 1892 Derby Junction A 1–0 600 Dean
19 April 1892 Leicester Fosse A 3–1 4,000 McGinnes (2), Dean
28 April 1892 Leicester Fosse H 4–0 150 McGinnes (2), others

FA Cup

Main article: 1891–92 FA Cup
Round Date Opponent Venue Result Attendance Goalscorers
1Q 3 October 1891 Burton Wanderers H 2–4 Scarratt, Ditchfield

Birmingham Senior Cup

Round Date Opponent Venue Result Attendance Goalscorers
1R 6 February 1892 Aston Villa H 2–5 2,000 McGinnes, Walker

Staffordshire Senior Cup

Round Date Opponent Venue Result Attendance Goalscorers
4R 25 January 1892 Burton Wanderers H 4–0 1,500 Walker (2), Pimlott, Dean
5R 8 February 1892 Walsall Town Swifts H 2–2 1,000 Walker, Dean
Replay 25 February 1892 Walsall Town Swifts A 2–1 1,500 Ditchfield, o.g.
SF 4 April 1892 Burton Swifts H 1–4 fair o.g.

North Staffordshire Challenge Cup

Round Date Opponent Venue Result Attendance Goalscorers
F 7 May 1892 Stoke A 2–0 1,000 Walker, other

Friendlies

Date Opponent Venue Result Attendance Goalscorers
1 September 1891 Newton Heath A 1–2 1,750 McGinnes
7 September 1891 Chirk H 2–1 McGinnes (2)
14 September 1891 Derby County H 3–3 Dean, Scarratt, W. Jones
21 September 1891 Sheffield Wednesday H 4–3 McGinnes (4)
28 September 1891 Stoke H 2–3
12 October 1891 Newton Heath H 1–3 1,000
17 October 1891 Northwich Victoria H 4–0 McGinnes (2), o.g., Dean
19 October 1891 Birmingham St George's H 4–2 1,000 W. Jones, scrimmage, others
24 October 1891 Leek A 1–0 Ditchfield
14 November 1891 Lincoln City A 0–2 1,000
5 December 1891 Macclesfield A 3–6 2,500 Scarratt (2), scrimmage
14 December 1891 Canadians H 2–0 Scarratt, Pimlott
19 December 1891 Burton Swifts A 3–1 scrimmage, McGinnes, other
26 December 1891 Stoke A 2–2 2,000 McGinnes, Walker
2 January 1892 Derby Junction H 4–1 1,000 McGinnes (2), Scarratt, Walker
23 January 1892 Walsall Town Swifts A 2–5 1,000 McGinnes, Walker
5 March 1892 Burton Swifts H 0–0 1,500
15 April 1892 Leek H 4–1 poor McGinnes, Walker, others
16 April 1892 Bootle H
18 April 1892 Stoke H 1–0 2,000 Dean
23 April 1892 Bootle A 2–3 Dean, Farrington
30 April 1892 Northwich Victoria A 1–6 2,000 McGinnes

Player statistics

Appearances and goals

Pos. Name League FA Cup Birmingham Cup Staffordshire Cup Challenge Cup Friendlies Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
GK Levi Higginson 11 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 8 0 20 0
GK Nixon 1 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 4 0 0 7 0
GK John Davies 6 0 1 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 4 0 13 0
GK England Joe Frail 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 2 0 4 0
GK Keeley 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 3 0
DF England Albert Skinner 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0
DF England James Clutton 20 0 1 0 1 0 4 0 1 0 18 0 45 0
DF C McAlpine 20 0 1 0 1 0 3 0 1 0 16 0 42 0
DF Scotland Bob McCrindle 19 0 1 0 1 0 4 0 1 0 16 0 42 0
MF England Billy Elson 16 2 0 0 1 0 4 0 0 0 15 0 36 2
MF W. Jones 6 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 10 2 17 3
MF England Meshach Dean 19 6 1 0 1 0 4 2 1 0 16 4 42 13
MF S Bullock 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
MF England Billy Delves 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 2 0
MF England Fred Farrington 7 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 1 0 5 1 15 1
MF Fredericks 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 0
MF Hatton 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 2 0
MF Hodgkinson 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
MF G McHarg 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 0 0 8 0
MF M Regan 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0
MF England Jos Randles 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 6 0 10 0
MF England Jimmy Scarratt 12 6 1 1 1 0 2 0 1 0 14 5 31 12
MF England George Shutt 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 3 0
MF Tommy Walker 9 4 0 0 1 1 2 3 1 1 8 4 21 13
MF Warburton 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 3 0 6 0
FW England Dick Danks 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 5 0
FW England Jimmy Ditchfield 12 1 1 1 1 0 3 1 0 0 8 1 25 4
FW Scotland Frank McGinnes 20 18 1 0 1 1 4 0 1 0 19 16 46 35
FW England John Nash 3 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 2 0 6 1
FW England Billy Reynolds 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0
FW England John Nash 3 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 2 0 0 0
FW J Keeling 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0
FW England Billy Beats 7 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 3 0 11 1
FW George Booth 5 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 0 9 1
FW England Arthur Pimlott 4 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 2 1 7 3

Top scorers

Place Position Nation Name Midland League FA Cup Other Total
1 FW  Scotland Frank McGinnes 18 0 17 35
2 MF  England Meshach Dean 6 0 7 13
– MF Tommy Walker 4 0 9 13
4 MF  England Jimmy Scarratt 6 1 5 12
5 FW  England Jimmy Ditchfield 1 1 2 4
6 FW  England Arthur Pimlott 1 0 2 3
– MF W. Jones 1 0 2 3
8 MF  England Billy Elson 2 0 0 2
9 FW  England Billy Beats 1 0 0 1
– FW George Booth 1 0 0 1
– MF  England Fred Farrington 0 0 1 1
– FW  England John Nash 1 0 0 1
– – – Scrimmage 3 0 3 6
– – – Own goals 1 0 3 4
TOTALS 46 2 51 99

Transfers

Transfers in

Date from Position Nationality Name From Fee Ref.
1891 MF Fredericks Free transfer [2]
1891 MF Hodgkinson Free transfer [2]
1891 FW England Arthur Pimlott Free transfer [2]
Summer 1891 DF England Billy Delves Free transfer [2]
Summer 1891 DF England Jimmy Scarratt Wellington St. George's Free transfer [2]
Summer 1891 DF England George Shutt Hanley Town Free transfer [2]
Summer 1891 MF Warburton Free transfer [2]
Autumn 1891 FW England Billy Beats Port Hill Victoria Free transfer [2]
Autumn 1891 GK England Joe Frail Free transfer [2]
September 1891 MF G McHarg Burslem Port Vale Free transfer [2]
December 1891 MF Tommy Walker Free transfer [2]
1892 MF S Bullock Free transfer [2]
1892 MF M Regan Free transfer [2]
March 1892 MF Hatton Wellington Town Free transfer [2]

Transfers out

Date from Position Nationality Name To Fee Ref.
Spring 1892 MF Fredericks Released [2]
Spring 1892 MF Hatton Released [2]
Spring 1892 MF Warburton Released [2]
1892 FW George Booth Released [2]
1892 GK John Davies Newton Heath Released [2]
1892 MF Hodgkinson Released [2]
1892 GK Keeley Released [2]
1892 FW Keeling Released [2]
1892 DF C McAlpine Darlington Free transfer [2]
1892 MF G McHarg Released [2]
1892 GK Nixon Released [2]
1892 FW England Billy Reynolds Released [2]

References

Specific
  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p 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. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z Kent, Jeff (1996). Port Vale Personalities. Witan Books. ISBN 0-9529152-0-0.
General