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 in the Third Division. 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.

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. 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".
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. In September, Sproson made a £10,000 bid for Keith Leonard that was rejected. 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. The "Valiants" proved difficult to beat, and heading into Christmas they won six of their last nine league games. Their 4–0 win over Huddersfield Town lifted them into third place, though attendances were still below 4,000. 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. 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. To halt the slide Sproson bought striker Derek Brownbill from Liverpool for £5,000. 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. Nevertheless, 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.
They finished in sixth place with 51 points, leaving them four points shy of promoted Charlton Athletic. Just two home losses were matched by only three victories on the road. The three main scorers were Ray Williams, Terry Bailey, and Brian Horton. At the end of the season the players took a break in Malta, where they drew 1–1 with Floriana. Tommy McLaren spent the summer in Oregon, playing for the Portland Timbers.

Finances

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

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. Dulson scored an own goal in the original match and was sent off in the replay for punching Dick Krzywicki.
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.

League table

Results

Port Vale's score comes first

Football League Third Division

Results by matchday

Matches

DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers
17 August 1974WrexhamA2–26,314Bailey
24 August 1974Swindon TownH2–23,446Williams, Sharp
31 August 1974Grimsby TownA0–35,383
7 September 1974GillinghamH2–12,704Horton, Sharp
13 September 1974Tranmere RoversA0–13,033
18 September 1974Brighton & Hove AlbionA1–112,340Bailey
21 September 1974Hereford UnitedH3–03,433Williams, Horton, Bailey
28 September 1974Halifax TownA1–11,935Bailey
30 September 1974Colchester UnitedH2–23,722Williams, Bailey
5 October 1974AldershotA1–23,406Horton
8 October 1974WalsallA0–06,507
12 October 1974Plymouth ArgyleH2–03,634Horton, Woodward
15 October 1974Colchester UnitedA0–25,184
19 October 1974Blackburn RoversA2–29,777Bailey, Woodward
26 October 1974Crystal PalaceH2–15,148Bailey, Horton
2 November 1974BournemouthA2–15,143Williams
4 November 1974WalsallH1–14,859Williams
9 November 1974ChesterfieldH3–23,941Woodward, Williams
16 November 1974WatfordA2–36,659Bailey, o.g.
30 November 1974Peterborough UnitedA2–07,627Chadwick, Horton
7 December 1974BuryH1–04,038Horton
14 December 1974Huddersfield TownH4–03,986Horton, Chadwick, Bailey, Lacey
21 December 1974Preston North EndA0–18,743
26 December 1974Tranmere RoversH1–06,196Horton
28 December 1974Southend UnitedA3–16,535Williams, Chadwick, Horton
11 January 1975BuryA1–37,204Horton
18 January 1975Peterborough UnitedH1–34,979Horton
1 February 1975ChesterfieldA0–14,348
8 February 1975BournemouthH0–03,710
15 February 1975Charlton AthleticA2–29,449Chadwick
22 February 1975WatfordH0–04,164
1 March 1975Grimsby TownH1–03,335Williams
3 March 1975Charlton AthleticH1–04,638Brownbill
8 March 1975Huddersfield TownA1–36,705Williams
15 March 1975Halifax TownH2–13,334Brownbill, Bailey
17 March 1975WrexhamH2–04,661McLaren, Lacey
22 March 1975GillinghamA0–07,524
29 March 1975Preston North EndH2–16,583Bailey
31 March 1975Hereford UnitedA0–16,976
1 April 1975Southend UnitedH0–04,178
5 April 1975Crystal PalaceA1–115,195Horton
12 April 1975AldershotH3–13,382Williams, Brownbill
19 April 1975Plymouth ArgyleA1–122,447Brownbill
22 April 1975Swindon TownA2–37,637Harris, Williams
26 April 1975Blackburn RoversH1–49,135Williams
28 April 1975Brighton & Hove AlbionH1–02,754Woodward

FA Cup

RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorers
R123 November 1974Lincoln CityH2–24,840Bailey, Mountford
R1 Replay27 November 1974Lincoln CityA0–26,824

League Cup

RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorers
R120 August 1974Northampton TownA0–15,688

Player statistics

Appearances

Top scorers

Transfers

Transfers in

Transfers out

Loans in

Loans out