1962–63 Port Vale F.C. season
1962–63 season | ||
---|---|---|
Chairman | Joe Machin | |
Manager | Norman Low (until 30 October) Freddie Steele (from October) | |
Stadium | Vale Park | |
Football League Third Division | 3rd (54 Points) | |
FA Cup | Fourth Round (knocked out by Sheffield United) | |
League Cup | First Round (knocked out by Bristol Rovers) | |
Top goalscorer | League: Tony Richards (13) All: Tony Richards (13) | |
Highest home attendance | 22,207 vs. Sheffield United, 13 March 1963 | |
Lowest home attendance | 4,673 vs. Hull City, 20 April 1962 | |
Average home league attendance | 8,130 | |
Biggest win | 5–1 vs. Southend United, 24 September 1962 | |
Biggest defeat | 0–3 vs. Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic, 13 May 1962 | |
| ||
The 1962–63 season was Port Vale's 51st season of football in the English Football League, and their fourth season in the Third Division.[1] A season of near-glory and managerial upheaval, it began under Norman Low, who unexpectedly resigned on 30 October, with Freddie Steele returning to the helm and re-establishing his famous "Steele Curtain" defence. Vale powered their way to a third‑place finish with 54 points, just four behind promotion, although rivals Stoke City and Crewe Alexandra's promotions made Vale's strong campaign feel particularly bittersweet.
In the FA Cup, Vale advanced to the Fourth Round, eventually falling 2–1 to First Division side Sheffield United in front of a home crowd of 22,207 on 13 March 1963 — their highest attendance of the season. In the League Cup, Vale were knocked out in the First Round by Bristol Rovers. Tony Richards became the club's league and overall top scorer, netting 13 goals in just 14 appearances, despite only being signed for £9,000 from Walsall in March. Earlier-season goalscoring had proven meagre until his mid-season arrival. Attendance figures reflected cautious optimism at Vale Park: an average of approximately 8,130, with the low point at 4,673 against Hull City (20 April) and the standout high during the cup clash with Sheffield United.
Ultimately, the 1962–63 campaign was defined by resurgence under Steele, a haul of crucial clean sheets, and a thrilling FA Cup run — but promotion narrowly slipped through Vale's grasp.
Overview
[edit]Third Division
[edit]The pre-season saw the arrival of John Rowland, a 'tall and skilful' outside-right from Nottingham Forest for £6,000.[1]
The season opened with six points from four games, with three clean sheets. The increasing violence in the game was in evidence, though, as trainer Eric Jones was hit with a bottle in the 1–0 victory at Wrexham. The players remained unfazed and managed to claim a goalless draw at Millwall's Den on 27 August. Rowland was dropped from the first XI following a 2–0 defeat at Ashton Gate on 1 September.[1] Vale responded two days later with a "rip-roaring display of punchy soccer" in a 4–2 victory over Colchester United. They then became inconsistent, and so Low added young forward Terry Harkin to the squad from Coleraine, and transfer-listed Stan Steele after he began to be targeted by hecklers at Vale Park.[1] Despite coming from a goal down to beat Southend United 5–1, the club continued to fall down the table.[1] They then began a nine-game unbeaten streak on 20 October with a 1–1 draw with Carlisle United at Brunton Park.[1]
On 30 October, manager Norman Low tendered his resignation, to the shock of fans and pundits.[1] Low cited disagreements with the board as the reason for his departure.[1] The club felt they needed a marquee signing and so approached first Tom Finney and then European cup winning coach Béla Guttmann, who had just departed Benfica, both declined the role.[2] Low's successor instead proved to be his predecessor, Freddie Steele, in another development that took many by surprise.[1] Roy Sproson later noted "He [Steele] had changed. He had not got the enthusiasm or drive as before, but the lads still responded to him".[1]
On 9 November, Vale beat Barnsley by a goal to nil, though a section of the Vale Park crowd threatened violence against referee Jack Pickles after he sent off Stan Steele. It took until the sixth game of Freddie Steele's reign for a goal to be conceded (525 minutes) as 'the Steele Curtain' again descended upon Vale Park.[1] The goal was scored by former Valiant turned bogey player Ronnie Allen for Crystal Palace in a 4–1 home win for Vale.[1] This win was followed by a 2–2 draw with Wrexham that left the Vale within two points of second place. They finished the year chasing promotion, despite losing 4–3 to Reading at Elm Park. No league games were played in January or February due to the Big Freeze.[1] To help with finances during this spell of two months without competitive action, Bert Llewellyn was sold to Northampton Town for £7,000 and Arthur Longbottom was sold to Millwall for £2,000.[1]
Back in action in March, Steele found his offence wanting, and so purchased Tony Richards from Walsall for £9,000.[1] Richards immediately impacted himself on the club's scoring charts, bagging a brace at Halifax Town, eventually finishing as top-scorer for his two months of work.[1] A 2–0 victory over Carlisle United was the first game at Vale Park in 12 weeks, as the club had found themselves with up to four games in hand on their rivals. For the four weeks following 20 April, Vale recorded eight wins from their final ten matches, though this would prove to be too little too late regarding promotion.[1] Hopes of promotion were extinguished with a 3–0 home defeat to Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic on 13 May.[1]
They finished in third spot with 54 points, four short of promotion, though enough to earn them £500 in talent money.[1] Their 58 goals conceded total was fewer only than Swindon Town.[1]
Finances
[edit]On the financial side, a profit of £2,275 was made despite an operating loss of £20,557.[1] A donation from the Sportsmen's Association and social club stood at a highly impressive £22,832.[1] Whilst wages remained fairly constant at £33,120, gate receipts had fallen by £8,000.[1] The club's overdraft stood at £41,000, leading to a discussion over whether or not to take out a mortgage on Vale Park.[1] The club management decided to replace the black and amber kit with the traditional white shirts, black shorts and black and white socks – the kit Steele's men triumphed in almost ten years previously.[1] On the playing front, Peter Ford's departure to Macclesfield Town was the only transfer of note.[1]
Cup competitions
[edit]In the FA Cup, Vale took their revenge upon Bristol Rovers, dumping them out of the competition at the first stage with a 2–0 win at Burslem on 21 November. Three weeks later, Aldershot suffered the same fate in Sproson's 500th appearance for the club.[1] In the third round they beat Fourth Division side Gillingham 4–2 at Priestfield. The tie had been postponed 12 times due to consistently freezing conditions. They then lost 2–1 to First Division club Sheffield United in front of 22,207 rain-soaked supporters.[1]
In the League Cup, Bristol Rovers won the first round clash at the Memorial Stadium 2–0.
League table
[edit]
Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GAv | Pts | Promotion or relegation |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Northampton Town (C, P) | 46 | 26 | 10 | 10 | 109 | 60 | 1.817 | 62 | Promotion to the Second Division |
2 | Swindon Town (P) | 46 | 22 | 14 | 10 | 87 | 56 | 1.554 | 58 | |
3 | Port Vale | 46 | 23 | 8 | 15 | 72 | 58 | 1.241 | 54 | |
4 | Coventry City | 46 | 18 | 17 | 11 | 83 | 69 | 1.203 | 53 | |
5 | Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic | 46 | 18 | 16 | 12 | 63 | 46 | 1.370 | 52 |
Results
[edit]Football League Third Division
[edit]Results by matchday
[edit]Matches
[edit]18 August 1962 1 | Wrexham | 0–1 | Port Vale | Wrexham |
Llewellyn ![]() |
Stadium: Racecourse Ground Attendance: 14,042 |
20 August 1962 2 | Port Vale | 1–1 | Millwall | Burslem |
Longbottom ![]() |
Stadium: Vale Park Attendance: 12,469 |
25 August 1962 3 | Port Vale | 2–0 | Reading | Burslem |
Llewellyn ![]() Grainger ![]() |
Stadium: Vale Park Attendance: 9,506 |
1 September 1962 5 | Bristol City | 2–0 | Port Vale | Ashton Gate, Bristol |
Stadium: Ashton Gate Attendance: 9,626 |
3 September 1962 6 | Port Vale | 4–2 | Colchester United | Burslem |
Longbottom ![]() Grainger ![]() Ford ![]() Poole ![]() |
Stadium: Vale Park Attendance: 11,719 |
10 September 1962 8 | Colchester United | 0–1 | Port Vale | Colchester |
Wright ![]() |
Stadium: Layer Road Attendance: 5,919 |
15 September 1962 9 | Bradford (Park Avenue) | 2–1 | Port Vale | Bradford |
Llewellyn ![]() |
Stadium: Park Avenue Attendance: 8,935 |
17 September 1962 10 | Southend United | 2–0 | Port Vale | Southend-on-Sea |
Stadium: Roots Hall Attendance: 10,963 |
22 September 1962 11 | Port Vale | 2–1 | Coventry City | Burslem |
o.g. ![]() Grainger ![]() |
Stadium: Vale Park Attendance: 9,816 |
24 September 1962 12 | Port Vale | 5–1 | Southend United | Burslem |
Edwards ![]() ![]() Harkin ![]() ![]() Ford ![]() |
Stadium: Vale Park Attendance: 9,618 |
29 September 1962 13 | Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic | 2–0 | Port Vale | Bournemouth |
Stadium: Dean Court Attendance: 9,715 |
1 October 1962 14 | Port Vale | 1–1 | Notts County | Burslem |
Edwards ![]() |
Stadium: Vale Park Attendance: 9,245 |
6 October 1962 15 | Bristol Rovers | 1–1 | Port Vale | Bristol |
Poole ![]() |
Stadium: Eastville Stadium Attendance: 12,374 |
11 October 1962 16 | Notts County | 1–0 | Port Vale | Nottingham |
Stadium: Meadow Lane Attendance: 14,320 |
13 October 1962 17 | Port Vale | 1–2 | Brighton & Hove Albion | Burslem |
Poole ![]() |
Stadium: Vale Park Attendance: 7,503 |
20 October 1962 18 | Carlisle United | 1–1 | Port Vale | Carlisle |
Steele ![]() |
Stadium: Brunton Park Attendance: 5,627 |
27 October 1962 19 | Port Vale | 2–1 | Swindon Town | Burslem |
Harkin ![]() ![]() |
Stadium: Vale Park Attendance: 5,825 |
17 November 1962 21 | Northampton Town | 0–0 | Port Vale | Northampton |
Stadium: County Cricket Ground Attendance: 8,718 |
1 December 1962 22 | Hull City | 0–1 | Port Vale | Kingston upon Hull |
Rowland ![]() |
Stadium: Boothferry Park Attendance: 7,259 |
8 December 1962 23 | Port Vale | 4–1 | Crystal Palace | Burslem |
Llewellyn ![]() ![]() ![]() Rowland ![]() |
Stadium: Vale Park Attendance: 6,537 |
15 December 1962 24 | Port Vale | 2–2 | Wrexham | Burslem |
Grainger ![]() Llewellyn ![]() |
Stadium: Vale Park Attendance: 7,172 |
22 December 1962 25 | Reading | 4–3 | Port Vale | Reading, Berkshire |
Ford ![]() ![]() Miles ![]() |
Stadium: Elm Park Attendance: 5,578 |
2 March 1963 26 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 3–1 | Port Vale | Hove |
Edwards ![]() |
Stadium: Goldstone Ground Attendance: 10,050 |
9 March 1963 27 | Port Vale | 2–0 | Carlisle United | Burslem |
Rowland ![]() Harkin ![]() |
Stadium: Vale Park Attendance: 6,308 |
16 March 1963 28 | Swindon Town | 2–3 | Port Vale | Swindon |
o.g. ![]() Steele ![]() Rowland ![]() |
Stadium: County Ground Attendance: 12,090 |
18 March 1963 29 | Peterborough United | 3–1 | Port Vale | Peterborough |
Harkin ![]() |
Stadium: London Road Stadium Attendance: 10,162 |
23 March 1963 30 | Port Vale | 3–2 | Peterborough United | Burslem |
Steele ![]() Harkin ![]() Edwards ![]() |
Stadium: Vale Park Attendance: 10,260 |
3 April 1963 32 | Halifax Town | 0–4 | Port Vale | Halifax, West Yorkshire |
Harkin ![]() ![]() Richards ![]() ![]() |
Stadium: The Shay Attendance: 2,808 |
6 April 1963 33 | Port Vale | 3–1 | Northampton Town | Burslem |
Richards ![]() ![]() Harkin ![]() |
Stadium: Vale Park Attendance: 8,781 |
12 April 1963 34 | Port Vale | 0–0 | Shrewsbury Town | Burslem |
Stadium: Vale Park Attendance: 11,315 |
13 April 1963 35 | Queens Park Rangers | 3–1 | Port Vale | Shepherd's Bush, West London |
Steele ![]() |
Stadium: Loftus Road Attendance: 5,690 |
15 April 1963 36 | Shrewsbury Town | 2–1 | Port Vale | Shrewsbury |
Ford ![]() |
Stadium: Gay Meadow Attendance: 6,819 |
22 April 1963 38 | Port Vale | 2–0 | Halifax Town | Burslem |
Richards ![]() ![]() |
Stadium: Vale Park Attendance: 5,968 |
27 April 1963 39 | Crystal Palace | 2–1 | Port Vale | Selhurst, Croydon |
Richards ![]() |
Stadium: Selhurst Park Attendance: 13,183 |
29 April 1963 40 | Port Vale | 3–2 | Queens Park Rangers | Burslem |
Richards ![]() Rowland ![]() Sproson ![]() |
Stadium: Vale Park Attendance: 5,974 |
4 May 1963 41 | Coventry City | 0–1 | Port Vale | Coventry |
Richards ![]() |
Stadium: Highfield Road Attendance: 18,307 |
6 May 1963 42 | Port Vale | 2–1 | Bradford (Park Avenue) | Burslem |
Miles ![]() Steele ![]() |
Stadium: Vale Park Attendance: 6,680 |
11 May 1963 43 | Port Vale | 3–1 | Bristol City | Burslem |
Richards ![]() ![]() Rowland ![]() |
Stadium: Vale Park Attendance: 5,337 |
13 May 1963 44 | Port Vale | 0–3 | Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic | Burslem |
Stadium: Vale Park Attendance: 7,362 |
18 May 1963 45 | Watford | 1–2 | Port Vale | Watford |
Richards ![]() Wright ![]() |
Stadium: Vicarage Road Attendance: 5,955 |
20 May 1963 46 | Port Vale | 2–0 | Bristol Rovers | Burslem |
Richards ![]() Miles ![]() |
Stadium: Vale Park Attendance: 5,015 |
FA Cup
[edit]3 November 1962 R1 | Bristol Rovers | 0–2 | Port Vale | Bristol |
Llewellyn ![]() ![]() |
Stadium: Eastville Stadium Attendance: 8,180 |
24 November 1962 R2 | Port Vale | 2–0 | Aldershot | Burslem |
Llewellyn ![]() Edwards ![]() |
Stadium: Vale Park Attendance: 12,638 |
27 February 1963 R3 | Gillingham | 2–4 | Port Vale | Gillingham, Kent |
Steele ![]() Edwards ![]() Ford ![]() Grainger ![]() |
Stadium: Priestfield Stadium Attendance: 6,713 |
13 March 1963 R4 | Port Vale | 1–2 | Sheffield United | Burslem |
Grainger ![]() |
Stadium: Vale Park Attendance: 22,207 |
League Cup
[edit]27 September 1962 R1 | Bristol Rovers | 2–0 | Port Vale | Bristol |
Stadium: Eastville Stadium Attendance: 6,126 |
Player statistics
[edit]Appearances and goals
[edit]- Key to positions: GK – Goalkeeper; DF – Defender; MF – Midfielder; FW – Forward
Pos. | Name | Football League | FA Cup | League Cup | Total | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
GK | ![]() |
46 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 51 | 0 |
DF | ![]() |
42 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 47 | 1 |
DF | ![]() |
20 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 21 | 0 |
DF | ![]() |
35 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 40 | 0 |
DF | ![]() |
46 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 51 | 0 |
MF | ![]() |
37 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 41 | 3 |
MF | ![]() |
25 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 29 | 6 |
MF | ![]() |
25 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 29 | 7 |
MF | ![]() |
27 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 31 | 8 |
MF | ![]() |
14 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 15 | 2 |
MF | ![]() |
5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
MF | ![]() |
1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
FW | ![]() |
43 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 47 | 3 |
FW | ![]() |
35 | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 40 | 7 |
FW | ![]() |
18 | 7 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 21 | 10 |
FW | ![]() |
9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 0 |
FW | ![]() |
10 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 11 | 2 |
FW | ![]() |
37 | 7 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 41 | 7 |
FW | ![]() |
14 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 13 |
FW | ![]() |
17 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 17 | 10 |
Top scorers
[edit]Place | Position | Nation | Name | Third Division | FA Cup | League Cup | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | FW | ![]() |
Tony Richards | 13 | 0 | 0 | 13 |
2 | FW | ![]() |
Terry Harkin | 10 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
– | FW | ![]() |
Bert Llewellyn | 7 | 3 | 0 | 10 |
4 | MF | ![]() |
Stan Edwards | 6 | 2 | 0 | 8 |
5 | FW | ![]() |
John Rowland | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
– | FW | ![]() |
Stan Steele | 6 | 1 | 0 | 7 |
– | MF | ![]() |
Colin Grainger | 5 | 2 | 0 | 7 |
8 | FW | ![]() |
Peter Ford | 5 | 1 | 0 | 6 |
9 | MF | ![]() |
Terry Miles | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
– | FW | ![]() |
Harry Poole | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
11 | MF | ![]() |
Bernard Wright | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
– | FW | ![]() |
Arthur Longbottom | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
13 | DF | ![]() |
Roy Sproson | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
– | – | – | Own goals | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
TOTALS | 72 | 9 | 0 | 81 |
Transfers
[edit]Transfers in
[edit]Date from | Position | Nationality | Name | From | Fee | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
August 1962 | FW | ![]() |
John Rowland | Nottingham Forest | £6,000 | [4] |
August 1962 | MF | ![]() |
Bernard Wright | ![]() |
Free transfer | [4] |
September 1962 | MF | ![]() |
Terry Harkin | ![]() |
£2,000 | [4] |
September 1962 | MF | ![]() |
Jim Watton | ![]() |
Free transfer | [4] |
March 1963 | FW | ![]() |
Tony Richards | Walsall | £9,000 | [4] |
Transfers out
[edit]Date from | Position | Nationality | Name | To | Fee | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
January 1963 | FW | ![]() |
Arthur Longbottom | Millwall | £2,000 | [4] |
February 1963 | FW | ![]() |
Bert Llewellyn | Northampton Town | £7,000 | [4] |
May 1963 | MF | ![]() |
Bernard Wright | Released | [4] | |
July 1963 | MF | ![]() |
Stan Edwards | ![]() |
Free transfer | [4] |
Summer 1963 | MF | ![]() |
Peter Ford | Macclesfield Town | Released | [4] |
Loans out
[edit]Date from | Position | Nationality | Name | To | Date until | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
April 1963 | MF | ![]() |
Bernard Wright | Stafford Rangers | May 1963 | [4] |
References
[edit]- Specific
- ^ 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 aa ab Kent, Jeff (1990). "Flattering Only to Deceive (1960–1969)". The Valiants' Years: The Story Of Port Vale. Witan Books. pp. 196–226. ISBN 0-9508981-4-7.
- ^ "Why Port Vale tried to sign the 60's "Mourinho"". onevalefan.co.uk. 5 January 2015. Retrieved 5 June 2020.
- ^ Port Vale 1962–1963 : Results & Fixtures Archived 4 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine. Statto Organisation. Retrieved 28 April 2012.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k 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.