1922–23 Port Vale F.C. season


The 1922–23 season was Port Vale's fourth consecutive season of football in the English Football League. For the third successive the season the club finished just out of the relegation zones, and for the second successive season were unable to find a regular goalscorer following the sale of Bobby Blood. Financial issues continued to be a concern, especially when a former trainer reported the club for making illegal payments.
didn't make an appearance.
was absent in just four games.

Overview

Second Division

The releasing of numerous experienced players in pre-season necessitated the signing of numerous new attacking players, namely Millwall winger Patrick Donoghue; 'robust' inside-right Jack Gordon from Queen's Park; James Smith from Plymouth Argyle; and Tom Reid from Ayr United.
The season opened with two defeats in August, and though things soon turned around it became clear that goals were at a premium. To solve this problem experienced winger Billy Harrison was signed from Manchester United. The "Valiants" duly did the double over the "Red Devils" with a 2–1 win at Old Trafford, and a 1–0 win at home thanks to a Harrison strike. Following an injury to the player the club suffered something of a blip in November. The following month the club spent £100 to bring Tom Butler from Darlaston. By the end of the calendar year the club were at the top end of the table, however a loss of form in January caused them to slip back down the table. In February, young Arthur Prince was promoted from the reserves, and helped the club go four games unbeaten. The Vale finished out the season on hot and cold spells, and ended up narrowly avoiding relegation.
At the end of season Vale had made slight progress, having finished on 37 points, improving their tally of the previous two seasons by a single point. Their shocking home record was better only than bottom placed Wolverhampton Wanderers, and Vale secured the fewest home wins and had the second lowest goals scored tally at home – remarkably second place West Ham United had managed to score just two fewer than Vale at home. Their six wins away from home helped them avoid the drop.
Top scorer Tom Butler bagged nine goals in his 26 games, but no other player managed more than four goals. Six players were rarely out of the first eleven: goalkeeper Teddy Peers; defenders Peter Pursell and Len Birks; midfielders Ernest Collinge and Jack Hampson; and forward Billy Briscoe. At the end of the season Billy Harrison joined Welsh club Wrexham; Jack Gordon went back to Scotland to sign with Greenock Morton; Teddy Peers retired; and Billy Briscoe refused a pay-cut and instead signed with nearby Congleton Town.

Finances

Finances were poor as attendances were disappointing, with The Sentinel's "Spectator" commenting that "Port Vale is respected everywhere, except in its own district". The ongoing Shilling Fund was useful for raising revenue, whilst £1,100 was written off by creditors in a remarkably charitable fashion. Yet in June 1923, the club were in trouble when former trainer Billy Barr reported Port Vale to the English Football League, accusing the club of having made illegal payments to its players throughout the season. The club were found guilty, and were fined £100, with manager Joe Schofield also picking up a £25 fine. Three other officials were fined £150 in total, whilst seventeen players were each fined £1 each. This helped the club to report a loss of £2,400 on the season despite their tight spending. Gate receipts stood at just over £10,000, down almost 50% on 1920–21.

Cup competitions

Vale left the FA Cup at the Fifth Round of Qualifying after a disappointing 2–0 defeat by Third Division North Wrexham at The Old Recreation Ground. The end of season North Staffordshire Infirmary Cup Potteries derby bragging rights went to Stoke, which was scant consolation for a club who had just suffered relegation from the First Division. The match raised £250 for the local hospital.

League table

Results

Port Vale's score comes first

Football League Second Division

Results by matchday

Matches

DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers
26 August 1922FulhamH0–114,136
28 August 1922Hull CityA0–36,000
2 September 1922FulhamA1–123,000Smith
4 September 1922Hull CityH1–010,000Gordon
9 September 1922Coventry CityA2–117,000Smith, Agnew
16 September 1922Coventry CityH0–112,733
23 September 1922Clapton OrientA0–010,000
30 September 1922Clapton OrientH3–110,200Harrison, Gordon, Connelly
7 October 1922Manchester UnitedA2–120,000Hampson, Collinge
14 October 1922Manchester UnitedH1–016,022Harrison
21 October 1922Notts CountyH0–015,055
28 October 1922Notts CountyA0–112,000
4 November 1922BuryH2–08,822Connelly, Gordon
11 November 1922BuryA0–211,000
18 November 1922Rotherham CountyA1–310,000Collinge
25 November 1922Rotherham CountyH0–07,503
9 December 1922Stockport CountyA2–010,000Orpe, Hampson
16 December 1922Crystal PalaceH2–010,000Butler, Orpe
23 December 1922Crystal PalaceA0–29,000
25 December 1922South ShieldsH3–09,254Butler, Davies
30 December 1922Leeds UnitedH1–210,000Hampson
1 January 1922South ShieldsA1–39,000Briscoe
6 January 1923Leeds UnitedA1–215,000Butler
13 January 1923Stockport CountyH0–29,500
20 January 1923West Ham UnitedH1–310,000Connelly
27 January 1923West Ham UnitedA0–018,000
3 February 1923BlackpoolH2–09,885Thompson, Collinge
10 February 1923Derby CountyA2–110,000Butler
17 February 1923SouthamptonH0–012,275
26 February 1923Derby CountyH2–35,000Thompson, Butler
3 March 1923Bradford CityH1–26,000Prince
5 March 1923SouthamptonA1–35,000Thompson
10 March 1923Bradford CityA0–29,000
17 March 1923BlackpoolA2–010,000Briscoe, Butler
30 March 1923Wolverhampton WanderersH1–015,000Page
31 March 1923Leicester CityA0–320,000
2 April 1923Wolverhampton WanderersA0–315,000
7 April 1923Leicester CityH0–08,660
14 April 1923BarnsleyA1–08,000Reid
21 April 1923BarnsleyH1–17,799Briscoe
28 April 1923The WednesdayA0–212,000
5 May 1923The WednesdayH2–26,000Hampson, Butler

FA Cup

RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorers
5Q2 December 1922WrexhamH0–27,200

North Staffordshire Infirmary Cup

RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorers
Final7 May 1923StokeA1–3Thompson

Player statistics

Appearances

Top scorers

Transfers

Transfers in

Transfers out