1957–58 Port Vale F.C. season


The 1957–58 season was Port Vale's 46th season of football in the English Football League, and their first full season back in the Third Division South following their relegation from the Second Division. 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. Finishing in fifteenth, what would have otherwise been a mid-table finish of little consequence saw them relegated to the Fourth Division.

Overview

Third Division South

The pre-season saw manager Norman Low sign a number of 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'. Four of these signings were: impressive forward Jack Wilkinson ; Welsh international goalkeeper Keith Jones ; defender Bert Carberry ; and Alan Martin – who returned to the club as a part-time professional.
The season opened with a 1–0 win over Aldershot at the Recreation Ground. This started a sequence of just four defeats in seventeen games, which included doing the double over Southampton. This was achieved with Low's attacking policy, a stark contract to 'the Steele Curtain' defence. However their five clean sheets in their first eight games also illustrated their defensive strength. In September, right-half Selwyn Whalley turned part-time, dividing his duties between playing football and teaching at Hanley High School. Winger Alan Bennett was also transferred to Crewe Alexandra. By November, Vale were third in the league, and Low signed Bert Carberry and Jack Wilkinson. 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. Though before this a 6–1 victory was recorded over Aldershot.
In January, Ken Griffiths was sold to Mansfield Town for a four-figure fee, having mostly languished in the reserves. By February, Vale were in seventh position, only four points off top spot despite their loss of form. Four straight defeats dragged them down towards the bottom half of the table. They bought former Wales international Noel Kinsey from Birmingham City for £5,000 in an attempt to bolster their form. He helped the club achieve a 5–0 win over Watford on 8 March, scoring two goals. Though as injuries developed the club's form again declined, and the team lost eight of their final twelve games. Two points from their final six games doomed them to the fourth tier.
They finished in fifteenth position with 42 points from 46 games. Five points away from the top half of the table, their 'remarkable decline' continued with a second relegation in two years. Their 58 goals conceded was a respectable total, as was their 67 goals scored. Stan Steele, Jack Wilkinson, and Harry Poole all proved themselves consistent goalscorers, scoring 22, 19, and 16 goals respectively.

Finances

On the financial side, a decline in average attendance by around 3,500 left the club with an average gate of 10,457. 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. Five players were released in the summer, most notably Bert Carberry and Bill Cleary. Low also sold Colin Askey to Walsall for 'a fairly substantial fee' and Basil Hayward to Portsmouth for 'a fair fee'.

Cup competitions

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.

League table

Results

Port Vale's score comes first

Football League Third Division South

Results by matchday

Matches

DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers
24 August 1957AldershotA1–06,802Steele
26 August 1957Shrewsbury TownA0–19,869
31 August 1957Swindon TownH3–116,503Steele, Wilkinson
2 September 1957Shrewsbury TownH0–015,538
7 September 1957MillwallA1–217,429Poole
11 September 1957SouthamptonA3–018,887Steele, Poole, Askey
14 September 1957GillinghamH2–014,717Poole
16 September 1957SouthamptonH4–011,021Steele, Wilkinson
21 September 1957Exeter CityA0–19,397
28 September 1957Queens Park RangersH2–112,816Steele, Hayward
30 September 1957Newport CountyH2–28,669Poole
5 October 1957Southend UnitedA1–111,943Steele
12 October 1957ReadingA0–311,501
19 October 1957Northampton TownH3–012,443Steele, Wilkinson
26 October 1957WatfordA2–09,513Wilkinson, Askey
2 November 1957Crystal PalaceH4–013,602Wilkinson, Poole, Askey
9 November 1957Torquay UnitedA1–17,620Poole
11 November 1957Newport CountyA1–28,480Poole
23 November 1957Colchester UnitedA1–29,106Askey
30 November 1957Norwich CityH2–213,816Steele, Poole
14 December 1957WalsallH2–18,827Wilkinson, Poole
21 December 1957AldershotH6–18,273Wilkinson, Poole, Cunliffe
25 December 1957Coventry CityA0–113,713
26 December 1957Coventry CityH0–117,286
28 December 1957Swindon TownA0–015,000
4 January 1958Brighton & Hove AlbionA0–013,312
11 January 1958MillwallH1–19,002Steele
18 January 1958GillinghamA2–07,407Wilkinson, Steele
1 February 1958Exeter CityH3–29,300Wilkinson, Cunliffe
8 February 1958Queens Park RangersA1–27,594Askey
15 February 1958Southend UnitedH1–37,642Wilkinson
22 February 1958ReadingH1–25,940Steele
1 March 1958Northampton TownA2–38,711Steele
8 March 1958WatfordH5–08,515Kinsey, Wilkinson, Steele, Whalley
15 March 1958Crystal PalaceA0–113,577
22 March 1958Colchester UnitedH2–07,151Steele, Wilkinson
24 March 1958BrentfordH0–15,149
29 March 1958WalsallA0–38,613
4 April 1958Plymouth ArgyleA0–122,458
5 April 1958Torquay UnitedH2–17,504Sproson, Wilkinson
7 April 1958Plymouth ArgyleH0–011,059
12 April 1958Norwich CityA0–317,843
19 April 1958Bournemouth & Boscombe AthleticH2–38,481Steele, Cunliffe
23 April 1958Brighton & Hove AlbionH2–27,256Poole, Askey
26 April 1958BrentfordA1–411,923Steele
30 April 1958Bournemouth & Boscombe AthleticA1–310,683Wilkinson

FA Cup

RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorers
R116 November 1957Shrewsbury TownH2–117,660Wilkinson
R27 December 1957Hull CityH2–214,338Poole, Askey
R2 Replay9 December 1957Hull CityA3–417,403Poole, Steele, Sproson

Player statistics

Appearances

Top scorers

Transfers

Transfers in

Transfers out