1966–67 Port Vale F.C. season

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Port Vale
1966–67 season
ChairmanFred Pinfold
ManagerJackie Mudie
StadiumVale Park
Football League Fourth Division13th (43 Points)
FA CupSecond Round
(knocked out by Barnsley)
League CupFirst Round
(knocked out by Walsall)
Player of the YearRoy Sproson
Top goalscorerLeague: Mick Cullerton (12)
All: Mick Cullerton (12)
Highest home attendance12,784 vs. Barnsley, 16 January 1967
Lowest home attendance2,554 vs. York City, 24 April 1967
Average home league attendance5,114
Biggest win5–0 vs. Rochdale, 28 March 1967
Biggest defeat1–4 vs. Southend United, 14 October 1966

The 1966–67 season was Port Vale's 55th season of football in the English Football League, and their second-successive season (third overall) in the Fourth Division.[1] Led by player‑manager Jackie Mudie and chaired by Fred Pinfold, the club delivered a mid‑table finish — ending 13th with 43 points—and failed once again to challenge for promotion.

After a summer marred by a serious car crash involving general manager Stanley Matthews during a proposed transfer signing, the squad was reshaped with young additions such as Ian Lawson, Mick Mahon, Jimmy Goodfellow and Billy McCartney — while the team notably adopted a new all‑white kit at Matthews's suggestion. Early-season momentum lifted Vale into the promotion conversation, but the sale of a key forward precipitated a dip in form that saw inconsistency plague their campaign. Despite a resurgent late run, including a 5–0 thrashing of Rochdale and the debut of precocious 15‑year‑old Stuart Chapman, the club remained mid-table.

Off the field, defender Roy Sproson was honoured as the club’s first-ever Player of the Year, while Mick Cullerton emerged as top goalscorer, netting 12 times in both league and all competitions. Attendance figures showed a high of 12,784 against Barnsley on 16 January 1967, a low of 2,554 versus York City on 24 April 1967, and an average league gate of 5,114. Cup runs offered only modest respite: Vale were knocked out in the Second Round of the FA Cup, losing to Barnsley, and exited the League Cup in the First Round, falling to Walsall. At season's end, Jackie Mudie resigned as player‑manager, bringing the curtain down on his stewardship.

Overall, the 1966–67 season was a continuation of stasis in the Fourth Division — characterised by modest league performance, limited cup success, squad stability under Mudie, and the first formal recognition of Roy Sproson's excellence.

Overview

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Fourth Division

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The pre-season saw general manager Stanley Matthews injured in a car accident with a National Coal Board lorry on 29 July. Jackie Mudie was also in the car but remained relatively unharmed.[1] As Matthews recovered, in came four new forwards, the most significant of which was Crystal Palace's 27-year-old Ian Lawson.[1] Lawson cost £1,000 with an additional £1,000 signing on fee.[1] Other new faces included winger Mick Mahon (Loughborough United); inside-forward Jimmy Goodfellow (Bishop Auckland); and Billy McCartney (Rangers).[1] There was a kit change to an all-white strip, upon the suggestion of Stanley Matthews.[1]

The season opened with a 2–1 home win over Southport using an optimistic 4–2–4 formation.[1] Following Roy Sproson's winning goal there was a pitch invasion – by then a disturbingly common occurrence.[1] Six games without a loss followed, leaving the club in fourth position.[1] Goals were still rare, however, and so Lawson was dropped from the first XI, despite the departure of in-form forward John Rowland to Mansfield Town for £6,500.[1] Financial difficulties made the atmosphere around Burslem quite gloomy, not helped by the news that former Valiant John Nicholson had been killed in a car crash.[1] Vale's form suffered, though the defence remained quite strong after Clint Boulton was shifted to right-half.[1] Young Scot Mick Cullerton was a ray of sunshine for the club in front of goal.[1] A 4–1 defeat at Southend United on 14 October, with the hosts four goals ahead after 36 minutes, was part of a sequence of seven games without a victory. Only 3,502 came to Vale Park on 5 November to witness a 1–0 victory over Luton Town.[1]

Good form in the Christmas period continued into an unbeaten January in the league, as the club climbed to within five points of the promotion places with a 3–1 win at Chester on 28 January.[1] In came Wales international centre-forward Mel Charles from Porthmadog for a £1,250 fee.[1] A 1–0 defeat at Gresty Road to Crewe Alexandra in front of an unruly crowd marked the first of a crucial seven-game sequence against the promotion hopefuls.[1] The match was marred by fan disorder and several fans ended up hospitalised.[1] A win over Barrow and a draw at Stockport County was succeeded by five straight defeats, killing Vale's promotion hopes dead.[1] They reversed the decline by doing the double over Rochdale within two days, including a 5–0 victory witnessed by 3,004 fans at Vale Park in "one of the most thrilling exhibitions of attacking football the ground had ever seen".[1] In April, popular player John Ritchie was sold to Preston North End for £17,500.[1] Mel Charles was sidelined with a knee injury and Vale limped to the season's end without a win in their final five games.[1] On 3 May, Stuart Chapman made his debut at the age of 15 in a 2–2 draw with Lincoln City.[1] Five days later, manager Jackie Mudie tendered his resignation as player-manager, citing 'personal reasons'.[1]

They finished in 13th place with 43 points, marking a slight improvement on the previous campaign.[1] Mick Cullerton's twelve goals in all competitions were enough to make him the top-scorer.[1] In the club's first ever Player of the Year ceremony, veteran defender Roy Sproson was bestowed with the honour.[1] Meanwhile, the club's youth team performed brilliantly, reaching the quarter-finals of the FA Youth Cup, where they were eliminated 3–0 by Scunthorpe United.[1]

Finances

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On the financial side, there was a loss of £7,925 despite a transfer credit of £20,425 and a donation of £19,381 from the Sportsmen's Association and the Development Pool.[1] Gate receipts were just £30,298, whilst the club's overdraft stood at £82,373.[1] Nine players were released at the end of the season, most notably: Mel Charles (Oswestry Town); Ian Lawson and Brian Taylor (Barnsley); and untested reserve Ray Kennedy – who would take a break from football before returning to the game to play for Liverpool and England.[1] Roddy Georgeson was also released at his own request to work in a bank,[1] though he soon turned out for Dundee before beginning a long career in Scottish football.

Cup competitions

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In the FA Cup, a 4–3–3 formation was used to defeat Bradford City 2–1 at Valley Parade with a 40 yards (37 m) 'goal of a lifetime' from John Ritchie.[1] Vale drew Barnsley in the second round, and earned a replay with a "sparkling" 1–1 draw at Oakwell. The replay attracted 12,784 supporters, but "Tykes" ran out 3–1 winners.[1]

In the League Cup, Third Division side Walsall knocked out the Vale at the first stage with a 3–1 win.[1]

Results

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Football League Fourth Division

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Main article: 1966–67 Football League

League table

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Pos Team
 Pld W D L GF GA GAv Pts
11 Bradford City 46 19 10 17 74 62 1.194 48
12 Halifax Town 46 15 14 17 59 68 0.868 44
13 Port Vale 46 14 15 17 55 58 0.948 43
14 Exeter City 46 14 15 17 50 60 0.833 43
15 Chesterfield 46 17 8 21 60 63 0.952 42
Source: rsssf.com

Results by matchday

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Round12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031323334353637383940414243444546
GroundHAHHAAHAAHAHHAHAHHAAAHHHAAHAAHHAHAHAHAAHHAHHAA
ResultDDDWDWDLDDLLLWWLWLLDWDDWWLWDLLLLLWWDWLDLWDDDLL
Position4474654991091315141313141417161515151312121111121314171715141313131213121212121213
Points123568991011111111131515171717182021222426262829292929292931333537373838404142434343
Source: Statto[2]
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

Matches

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20 August 1966 1 Port Vale 2–1 Southport Burslem
Rowland
Sproson 		Stadium: Vale Park
Attendance: 8,143
27 August 1966 2 Notts County 0–0 Port Vale Nottingham
Stadium: Meadow Lane
Attendance: 5,648
3 September 1966 3 Port Vale 1–1 Chester Burslem
Georgeson Stadium: Vale Park
Attendance: 6,853
5 September 1966 4 Port Vale 3–2 Bradford City Burslem
Mahon
Rowland
Hill 		Stadium: Vale Park
Attendance: 6,258
10 September 1966 5 Bradford (Park Avenue) 1–1 Port Vale Bradford
Rowland Stadium: Park Avenue
Attendance: 5,246
17 September 1966 6 Exeter City 0–1 Port Vale Exeter
Miles Stadium: St James Park
Attendance: 4,789
24 September 1966 7 Port Vale 1–1 Crewe Alexandra Burslem
Hill Stadium: Vale Park
Attendance: 11,325
28 September 1966 8 Bradford City 2–0 Port Vale Bradford
Stadium: Valley Parade
Attendance: 3,928
1 October 1966 9 Barrow 2–2 Port Vale Barrow-in-Furness
Goodfellow
Hill 		Stadium: Holker Street
Attendance: 3,354
8 October 1966 10 Port Vale 1–1 Tranmere Rovers Burslem
Sproson Stadium: Vale Park
Attendance: 6,684
14 October 1966 11 Southend United 4–1 Port Vale Southend-on-Sea
Ritchie Stadium: Roots Hall
Attendance: 12,609
17 October 1966 12 Port Vale 2–3 Chesterfield Burslem
Georgeson
Mahon 		Stadium: Vale Park
Attendance: 5,649
22 October 1966 13 Port Vale 0–2 Wrexham Burslem
Stadium: Vale Park
Attendance: 7,753
29 October 1966 14 Aldershot 0–1 Port Vale Aldershot
McCartney Stadium: Recreation Ground
Attendance: 5,047
5 November 1966 15 Port Vale 1–0 Luton Town Burslem
Mahon Stadium: Vale Park
Attendance: 3,502
12 November 1966 16 Barnsley 1–0 Port Vale Barnsley
Stadium: Oakwell
Attendance: 4,823
19 November 1966 17 Port Vale 2–0 Newport County Burslem
Miles
Hill 		Stadium: Vale Park
Attendance: 3,883
3 December 1966 18 Port Vale 0–1 Halifax Town Burslem
Stadium: Vale Park
Attendance: 4,002
10 December 1966 19 Hartlepools United 2–1 Port Vale Hartlepool
Hill Stadium: Victoria Park
Attendance: 5,342
17 December 1966 20 Southport 0–0 Port Vale Southport
Stadium: Haig Avenue
Attendance: 3,975
27 December 1966 21 Lincoln City 0–1 Port Vale Lincoln
Cullerton Stadium: Sincil Bank
Attendance: 5,268
31 December 1966 22 Port Vale 0–0 Notts County Burslem
Stadium: Vale Park
Attendance: 5,359
14 January 1967 23 Port Vale 0–0 Bradford (Park Avenue) Burslem
Stadium: Vale Park
Attendance: 4,798
21 January 1967 24 Port Vale 2–0 Exeter City Burslem
Cullerton pen'
Mahon 		Stadium: Vale Park
Attendance: 3,450
28 January 1967 25 Chester 1–3 Port Vale Chester
Mahon
Cullerton 		Stadium: Sealand Road
Attendance: 5,586
3 February 1967 26 Crewe Alexandra 1–0 Port Vale Crewe
Stadium: Gresty Road
Attendance: 10,414
11 February 1967 27 Port Vale 2–1 Barrow Burslem
Boulton
Mahon 		Stadium: Vale Park
Attendance: 6,267
17 February 1967 28 Stockport County 1–1 Port Vale Stockport
Miles Stadium: Edgeley Park
Attendance: 9,756
24 February 1967 29 Tranmere Rovers 2–1 Port Vale Prenton
Cullerton Stadium: Prenton Park
Attendance: 8,047
4 March 1967 30 Port Vale 1–3 Southend United Burslem
Goodfellow Stadium: Vale Park
Attendance: 4,695
11 March 1967 31 Port Vale 0–2 Stockport County Burslem
Stadium: Vale Park
Attendance: 6,363
18 March 1967 32 Wrexham 2–1 Port Vale Wrexham
Georgeson Stadium: Racecourse Ground
Attendance: 7,176
25 March 1967 33 Port Vale 1–3 Brentford Burslem
Ritchie Stadium: Vale Park
Attendance: 3,434
27 March 1967 34 Rochdale 1–2 Port Vale Rochdale
o.g.
Goodfellow 		Stadium: Spotland Stadium
Attendance: 2,254
28 March 1967 35 Port Vale 5–0 Rochdale Burslem
Georgeson
Poole
Cullerton
Goodfellow
Wilson 		Stadium: Vale Park
Attendance: 3,004
1 April 1967 36 Luton Town 1–1 Port Vale Luton
Wilson Stadium: Kenilworth Road
Attendance: 5,410
8 April 1967 37 Port Vale 3–1 Barnsley Burslem
Cullerton
Hill 		Stadium: Vale Park
Attendance: 3,209
10 April 1967 38 York City 3–1 Port Vale York
Goodfellow Stadium: Bootham Crescent
Attendance: 3,834
17 April 1967 39 Newport County 1–1 Port Vale Newport, Wales
Cullerton Stadium: Somerton Park
Attendance: 1,914
22 April 1967 40 Port Vale 0–2 Aldershot Burslem
Stadium: Vale Park
Attendance: 3,265
24 April 1967 41 Port Vale 4–1 York City Burslem
Cullerton
Georgeson
Goodfellow 		Stadium: Vale Park
Attendance: 2,554
29 April 1967 42 Halifax Town 2–2 Port Vale Halifax, West Yorkshire
Taylor
Goodfellow 		Stadium: The Shay
Attendance: 3,562
3 May 1967 43 Port Vale 2–2 Lincoln City Burslem
Cullerton Stadium: Vale Park
Attendance: 3,085
6 May 1967 44 Port Vale 0–0 Hartlepools United Burslem
Stadium: Vale Park
Attendance: 3,178
8 May 1967 45 Chesterfield 2–1 Port Vale Chesterfield, Derbyshire
Boulton Stadium: Saltergate
Attendance: 2,605
13 May 1967 46 Brentford 2–0 Port Vale Brentford, West London
Stadium: Griffin Park
Attendance: 3,592

FA Cup

[edit]
Main article: 1966–67 FA Cup
26 November 1966 R1 Bradford City 1–2 Port Vale Bradford
Ritchie
Lawson 		Stadium: Valley Parade
Attendance: 5,712
7 January 1967 R2 Barnsley 1–1 Port Vale Barnsley
Hill Stadium: Oakwell
Attendance: 13,343
16 January 1967 Replay Port Vale 1–3 Barnsley Burslem
Boulton Stadium: Vale Park
Attendance: 12,784

League Cup

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Main article: 1966–67 Football League Cup
23 August 1966 R1 Port Vale 1–3 Walsall Burslem
Rowland Stadium: Vale Park
Attendance: 9,181

Player statistics

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Appearances and goals

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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 England Stuart Sharratt 45 0 3 0 1 0 49 0
GK Scotland Billy McNulty 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
DF England Roy Sproson 31 2 2 0 1 0 34 2
DF England Terry Alcock 41 0 3 0 1 0 45 0
DF England Clint Boulton 35 2 3 1 1 0 39 3
DF Scotland Ron Wilson 33 2 3 0 0 0 36 2
DF England John Ritchie 28 2 3 1 1 0 32 3
DF Scotland Gordon Logan 7 0 0 0 0 0 7 0
MF England Terry Miles 42 3 3 0 0 0 45 3
MF England Mick Mahon 26 7 1 0 1 0 28 7
MF Northern Ireland Jimmy Hill 36 6 3 1 0 0 39 7
MF Scotland Alex Donald 23 0 1 0 0 0 24 0
MF England Stuart Chapman 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
MF England Malcolm Gibbon 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
MF England Jimmy Goodfellow 26 7 1 0 1 0 28 7
MF Wales Mel Charles 7 0 0 0 0 0 7 0
FW England Harry Poole 32 1 1 0 1 0 34 1
FW England John Rowland 7 3 0 0 1 1 8 4
FW Scotland Jackie Mudie 5 0 2 0 0 0 7 0
FW England Brian Taylor 10 1 1 0 0 0 11 1
FW England John James 7 0 0 0 1 0 8 0
FW Egypt Roddy Georgeson 22 5 0 0 0 0 22 5
FW Scotland Mick Cullerton 28 12 3 0 0 0 30 12
FW Scotland Billy McCartney 15 1 1 0 0 0 16 1
FW England Mel Lintern 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
FW England Ian Lawson 8 0 1 1 1 0 10 1

Top scorers

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Place Position Nation Name Fourth Division FA Cup League Cup Total
1 FW  Scotland Mick Cullerton 12 0 0 12
2 MF  England Mick Mahon 7 0 0 7
– MF  England Jimmy Goodfellow 7 0 0 7
– MF  Northern Ireland Jimmy Hill 6 1 0 7
5 FW  Egypt Roddy Georgeson 5 0 0 5
6 FW  England John Rowland 3 0 1 4
7 MF  England Terry Miles 3 0 0 3
– DF  England John Ritchie 2 1 0 3
– DF  England Clint Boulton 2 1 0 3
10 DF  Scotland Ron Wilson 2 0 0 2
– DF  England Roy Sproson 2 0 0 2
12 FW  Scotland Billy McCartney 1 0 0 1
– FW  England Harry Poole 1 0 0 1
– FW  England Brian Taylor 1 0 0 1
– FW  England Ian Lawson 0 1 0 1
– – – Own goals 1 0 0 1
TOTALS 55 4 1 60

Transfers

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Transfers in

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Date from Position Nationality Name From Fee Ref.
1966 MF England Jimmy Goodfellow Bishop Auckland Free transfer [3]
June 1966 FW Scotland Billy McCartney Rangers Free transfer [3]
August 1966 FW England Ian Lawson Crystal Palace £1,000 [3]
December 1966 MF Wales Mel Charles Wales Porthmadog £1,250 [3]

Transfers out

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Date from Position Nationality Name To Fee Ref.
September 1966 FW England John Rowland Mansfield Town £6,500 [3]
November 1966 MF England Alan Johnson Stafford Rangers Free transfer [3]
April 1967 DF England John Ritchie Preston North End £17,500 [3]
May 1967 MF Wales Mel Charles Wales Oswestry Town Free transfer [3]
May 1967 FW England Ian Lawson Barnsley Free transfer [3]
May 1967 FW Scotland Billy McCartney Wales Oswestry Town Free transfer [3]
May 1967 FW Scotland Jackie Mudie Wales Oswestry Town Retired [3]
May 1967 GK Republic of Ireland Jimmy O'Neill Republic of Ireland Cork Celtic Free transfer [3]
May 1967 MF England Brian Taylor Barnsley Free transfer [3]
July 1967 MF Egypt Roddy Georgeson Scotland Dundee Released [3]
August 1967 DF England Terry Alcock Blackpool £30,000 [3]

Loans out

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Date from Position Nationality Name To Date to Ref.
December 1966 GK Republic of Ireland Jimmy O'Neill Republic of Ireland Cork Celtic May 1967 [3]

References

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Specific
  1. ^ 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 ac ad ae af ag ah ai 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.
  2. ^ Port Vale 1966–1967 : Results & Fixtures. Statto Organisation. Retrieved 28 April 2012.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p Kent, Jeff (1996). Port Vale Personalities. Witan Books. ISBN 0-9529152-0-0.
General