# 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 (11th overall) 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, with reporter Chris Harper writing that "the real strength of the performance again emanated from midfield where (Tommy) McLaren, Bailey, Lacey and Horton reigned supreme", 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.
On 3 March, Vale recorded a 1–0 home win over Charlton Athletic as Brownbill scored his first goal for the club, though Connaughton was particularly brave and impressive to earn his clean sheet. Five days later Vale had 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. A 2–1 win over Preston North End at Vale Park on 29 March was opposition player-manager Bobby Charlton's last appearance in the Football League. 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 (14), Terry Bailey (14), and Brian Horton (13). 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 (Scunthorpe United); Frank Sharp (Northwich Victoria); Roy Cross (Nuneaton Borough); Bill Summerscales (Rochdale); and Reg Edwards (Brereton Social).

### 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

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GAv | Pts |
| 4 | Swindon Town | 46 | 21 | 11 | 14 | 64 | 58 | 1.103 | 53 |
| 5 | Crystal Palace | 46 | 18 | 15 | 13 | 66 | 57 | 1.158 | 51 |
| 6 | Port Vale | 46 | 18 | 15 | 13 | 61 | 54 | 1.130 | 51 |
| 7 | Peterborough United | 46 | 19 | 12 | 15 | 47 | 53 | 0.887 | 50 |
| 8 | Walsall | 46 | 18 | 13 | 15 | 67 | 52 | 1.288 | 49 |

## Results

Port Vale's score comes first

### Football League Third Division
#### Results by matchday

| Round | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 35 | 36 | 37 | 38 | 39 | 40 | 41 | 42 | 43 | 44 | 45 | 46 |
| Ground | A | H | A | H | A | A | H | A | H | A | A | H | A | A | H | A | H | H | A | A | H | H | A | H | A | A | H | A | H | A | H | H | H | A | H | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | A | H | H |
| Result | D | D | L | W | L | D | W | D | D | L | D | W | L | D | W | W | D | W | L | W | W | W | L | W | W | L | L | L | D | D | D | W | W | L | W | W | D | W | L | D | D | W | D | L | L | W |
| Position | 9 | 9 | 22 | 14 | 16 | 16 | 12 | 16 | 12 | 16 | 16 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 11 | 11 | 14 | 10 | 9 | 3 | 7 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 7 | 11 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 7 | 9 | 7 | 4 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 6 |

#### Matches

| Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Scorers |
| 17 August 1974 | Wrexham | A | 2–2 | 6,314 | Bailey (2) |
| 24 August 1974 | Swindon Town | H | 2–2 | 3,446 | Williams, Sharp |
| 31 August 1974 | Grimsby Town | A | 0–3 | 5,383 | |
| 7 September 1974 | Gillingham | H | 2–1 | 2,704 | Horton (pen), Sharp |
| 13 September 1974 | Tranmere Rovers | A | 0–1 | 3,033 | |
| 18 September 1974 | Brighton & Hove Albion | A | 1–1 | 12,340 | Bailey |
| 21 September 1974 | Hereford United | H | 3–0 | 3,433 | Williams, Horton, Bailey |
| 28 September 1974 | Halifax Town | A | 1–1 | 1,935 | Bailey |
| 30 September 1974 | Colchester United | H | 2–2 | 3,722 | Williams, Bailey |
| 5 October 1974 | Aldershot | A | 1–2 | 3,406 | Horton |
| 8 October 1974 | Walsall | A | 0–0 | 6,507 | |
| 12 October 1974 | Plymouth Argyle | H | 2–0 | 3,634 | Horton, Woodward |
| 15 October 1974 | Colchester United | A | 0–2 | 5,184 | |
| 19 October 1974 | Blackburn Rovers | A | 2–2 | 9,777 | Bailey, Woodward |
| 26 October 1974 | Crystal Palace | H | 2–1 | 5,148 | Bailey, Horton |
| 2 November 1974 | Bournemouth | A | 2–1 | 5,143 | Williams (2) |
| 4 November 1974 | Walsall | H | 1–1 | 4,859 | Williams |
| 9 November 1974 | Chesterfield | H | 3–2 | 3,941 | Woodward (2), Williams |
| 16 November 1974 | Watford | A | 2–3 | 6,659 | Bailey, o.g. |
| 30 November 1974 | Peterborough United | A | 2–0 | 7,627 | Chadwick, Horton |
| 7 December 1974 | Bury | H | 1–0 | 4,038 | Horton (pen) |
| 14 December 1974 | Huddersfield Town | H | 4–0 | 3,986 | Horton, Chadwick, Bailey, Lacey |
| 21 December 1974 | Preston North End | A | 0–1 | 8,743 | |
| 26 December 1974 | Tranmere Rovers | H | 1–0 | 6,196 | Horton |
| 28 December 1974 | Southend United | A | 3–1 | 6,535 | Williams, Chadwick, Horton (pen) |
| 11 January 1975 | Bury | A | 1–3 | 7,204 | Horton |
| 18 January 1975 | Peterborough United | H | 1–3 | 4,979 | Horton |
| 1 February 1975 | Chesterfield | A | 0–1 | 4,348 | |
| 8 February 1975 | Bournemouth | H | 0–0 | 3,710 | |
| 15 February 1975 | Charlton Athletic | A | 2–2 | 9,449 | Chadwick (2) |
| 22 February 1975 | Watford | H | 0–0 | 4,164 | |
| 1 March 1975 | Grimsby Town | H | 1–0 | 3,335 | Williams |
| 3 March 1975 | Charlton Athletic | H | 1–0 | 4,638 | Brownbill |
| 8 March 1975 | Huddersfield Town | A | 1–3 | 6,705 | Williams |
| 15 March 1975 | Halifax Town | H | 2–1 | 3,334 | Brownbill, Bailey |
| 17 March 1975 | Wrexham | H | 2–0 | 4,661 | McLaren, Lacey |
| 22 March 1975 | Gillingham | A | 0–0 | 7,524 | |
| 29 March 1975 | Preston North End | H | 2–1 | 6,583 | Bailey (2) |
| 31 March 1975 | Hereford United | A | 0–1 | 6,976 | |
| 1 April 1975 | Southend United | H | 0–0 | 4,178 | |
| 5 April 1975 | Crystal Palace | A | 1–1 | 15,195 | Horton (pen) |
| 12 April 1975 | Aldershot | H | 3–1 | 3,382 | Williams (2), Brownbill |
| 19 April 1975 | Plymouth Argyle | A | 1–1 | 22,447 | Brownbill |
| 22 April 1975 | Swindon Town | A | 2–3 | 7,637 | Harris, Williams |
| 26 April 1975 | Blackburn Rovers | H | 1–4 | 9,135 | Williams |
| 28 April 1975 | Brighton & Hove Albion | H | 1–0 | 2,754 | Woodward |

### FA Cup

| Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Goalscorers |
| R1 | 23 November 1974 | Lincoln City | H | 2–2 | 4,840 | Bailey, Mountford |
| R1 Replay | 27 November 1974 | Lincoln City | A | 0–2 | 6,824 | |

### League Cup

| Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Goalscorers |
| R1 | 20 August 1974 | Northampton Town | A | 0–1 | 5,688 | |

## Player statistics
### Appearances and goals

| Pos. | Name | Football League | Football League | FA Cup | FA Cup | League Cup | League Cup | Total | Total |
| Pos. | Name | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| GK | Reg Edwards | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| GK | John Connaughton | 44 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 47 | 0 |
| DF | Bill Summerscales | 27 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 29 | 0 |
| DF | Roy Cross | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| DF | John Brodie | 28 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 30 | 0 |
| DF | Neil Griffiths | 12 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 14 | 0 |
| DF | David Harris | 20 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 22 | 1 |
| DF | Garry Dulson | 32 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 34 | 0 |
| MF | Tommy McLaren | 39 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 42 | 1 |
| MF | Brian Horton | 44 | 13 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 47 | 13 |
| MF | Tony Lacey | 39 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 40 | 2 |
| MF | Colin Tartt | 37 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 38 | 0 |
| MF | John Ridley | 18 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 19 | 0 |
| MF | Keith Chadwick | 22 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 23 | 5 |
| MF | Frank Sharp | 24 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 27 | 2 |
| MF | Terry Bailey | 44 | 13 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 47 | 14 |
| MF | Kenny Beech | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| FW | Bob Mountford | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 1 |
| FW | John Woodward | 39 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 41 | 5 |
| FW | Ray Williams | 40 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 41 | 14 |
| FW | Derek Brownbill | 16 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 4 |

### Top scorers

| Place | Position | Nation | Name | Third Division | FA Cup | League Cup | Total |
| 1 | FW | England | Ray Williams | 14 | 0 | 0 | 14 |
| – | MF | England | Terry Bailey | 13 | 1 | 0 | 14 |
| 3 | MF | England | Brian Horton | 13 | 0 | 0 | 13 |
| 4 | MF | England | Keith Chadwick | 5 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| – | FW | England | John Woodward | 5 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| 6 | FW | England | Derek Brownbill | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| 7 | MF | England | Tony Lacey | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| – | MF | Scotland | Frank Sharp | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 9 | MF | Scotland | Tommy McLaren | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| – | DF | England | David Harris | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| – | FW | England | Bob Mountford | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| – | – | – | Own goals | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| | | | TOTALS | 61 | 2 | 0 | 63 |

## Transfers
### Transfers in

| Date from | Position | Name | From | Fee |
| May 1974 | MF | Terry Bailey | Stafford Rangers | £3,000 |
| May 1974 | GK | John Connaughton | Sheffield United | Free transfer |
| May 1974 | MF | Frank Sharp | Grimsby Town | Free transfer |
| November 1974 | DF | Garry Dulson | Nottingham Forest | £5,000 |
| February 1975 | FW | Derek Brownbill | Liverpool | £5,000 |

### Transfers out

| Date from | Position | Name | To | Fee |
| December 1974 | FW | Bob Mountford | Rochdale | £2,000 |
| May 1975 | DF | Andy Carr | Northwich Victoria | Free transfer |
| May 1975 | DF | Roy Cross | Nuneaton Borough | Free transfer |
| May 1975 | GK | Reg Edwards | Brereton Social | Free transfer |
| May 1975 | MF | Frank Sharp | Northwich Victoria | Free transfer |
| May 1975 | DF | Bill Summerscales | Rochdale | Free transfer |
| May 1975 | FW | John Woodward | Scunthorpe United | Free transfer |

### Loans in

| Date from | Position | Nationality | Name | To | Date to | Ref. |
| October 1974 | DF | | Garry Dulson | Nottingham Forest | November 1974 | |

### Loans out

| Date from | Position | Nationality | Name | To | Date to | Ref. |
| October 1974 | FW | | Bob Mountford | Scunthorpe United | November 1974 | |
| December 1974 | FW | | Bob Mountford | Crewe Alexandra | December 1974 | |