# 1929–30 Port Vale F.C. season

The 1929–30 season was Port Vale's 11th consecutive season of football (24th overall) in the English Football League, and their first in the Third Division North. They finished as champions and were thus promoted back to the Second Division. With 67 points, they broke a division record. After winning the North Staffordshire & District League in 1909–10, it was their first league title, as well as their first ever promotion in the Football League. They also racked up a still-standing club record Football League wins in a season, winning 30 of their 42 games. They were the most southerly team in the North Division.
Despite all the joys of the season, there was some considerable solemnity at the season's start, with manager Joe Schofield dying following an illness, his team top of the table.

## Overview
### Third Division North

The pre-season saw the directors spend some of the £2,600 they received in the sale of Wilf Kirkham. In came Tom Baxter (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Frank Watkin (Stoke City), Sam Jennings (Nottingham Forest), Arthur Brown (Reading), and Bill Cope (Bolton Wanderers). Jennings was a proven goalscorer, whilst Brown had kept goal for Wales. The run included a 5–0 win over Barrow and 5–1 victory over New Brighton, with Albert Pynegar scoring a hat-trick in the latter game.
The season started well, continued at a high tempo, and finished in style. Winning ten of their opening eleven games, Vale marked themselves as promotion favourites early on. However, during this sequence, tragedy struck on 29 September with the death of manager Joe Schofield, aged 58, following a short illness. The Sentinel described him as a man adept at developing young players, who remained close to his players to help them realize their full potential. His funeral took place on 3 October, with Stoke City fans also mourning his death, as he had managed both clubs – the only man ever to do so. Tom Morgan moved out of the backroom staff to take charge for the remainder of the season.
In mid-October, the side suffered a mini-slump, drawing three games in a row. To rectify things Bill Rawlings was signed from Manchester United for a four-figure fee, Ben Davies also arrived from Crewe Alexandra in a straight swap for Arthur Brown. Five wins on the bounce followed. Two defeats to Stockport County within two days (Christmas and Boxing Day) left the race for the title open despite the "Valiants" excellent start. Despite having nine players out injured, the Vale marched on, winning nine and drawing two of their following eleven games. This included a 4–0 win over Carlisle United and a 7–1 mauling over Rotherham United – Frank Watkin scoring five in the latter match.
Just as Vale were looking unbeatable, Jack Mandley was sold to Aston Villa for £5,000. Protestations from the supporters were quelled slightly by the arrival of Harry Marshall from Wolves. They slumped in March, winning two, losing two and drawing one. Despite being top of the league, a small minority of fans protested against the directors. The final four games were away, and Stockport were still breathing down the Vale's necks. all four games were won, with sixteen goals scored in the season's final five games. They took the title at Crewe Alexandra's Gresty Road, with 1,000 supporters cheering them on.
They finished as champions with 67 points from 42 matches, then a division record. This put them seventeen points clear of third-placed Darlington, and four points clear of Stockport. The previous season County had finished one point off champions Bradford City. Vale were one of five teams in the Football League to score a century of league goals (the others Sheffield Wednesday, West Bromwich Albion, Stockport County, and Darlington). Sam Jennings and Albert Pynegar scored nearly fifty goals combined. They conceded just 37 goals, less than any other team in the four divisions. At a Burslem Town Hall reception, 2,000 supporters congratulated the team on their achievement, amongst them Stoke's Wilf Kirkham.

### Finances

On the financial side, a profit of £363 was made. Yet attendances were again a concern, a £725 drop in gate receipts saw an intake of just £13,302 on the gates. Wages came to £8,079. The directors again began talk of moving stadia to Cobridge. Leaving the club were Robert Gillespie, Jack Prince, and Bill Rawlings; they left for Wrexham, Rochdale, and New Milton respectively.

### Cup competitions

In the FA Cup, Vale progressed into the Second Round after beating Gainsborough Trinity 5–0 in a replay. During the first encounter Bob Connelly made his 122nd consecutive appearance, but was injured during the rough match. They then came up against league rivals Chesterfield at Saltergate. Chesterfield would win all but three of their home games in the league and were equally stubborn opposition for the "Valiants", who they defeated 2–0.

## League table

| Pos | Team v t e | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GAv | Pts | Promotion |
| 1 | Port Vale | 42 | 30 | 7 | 5 | 103 | 37 | 2.784 | 67 | Division Champions, promoted |
| 2 | Stockport County | 42 | 28 | 7 | 7 | 106 | 44 | 2.409 | 63 | |
| 3 | Darlington | 42 | 22 | 6 | 14 | 108 | 73 | 1.479 | 50 | |
| 4 | Chesterfield | 42 | 22 | 6 | 14 | 76 | 56 | 1.357 | 50 | |
| 5 | Lincoln City | 42 | 17 | 14 | 11 | 83 | 61 | 1.361 | 48 | |

## Results

Port Vale's score comes first

### Football League Third Division North
#### 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 |
| Ground | A | A | H | H | A | A | H | H | A | H | A | A | H | A | H | A | H | H | H | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | H | A | A | A | A |
| Result | W | W | W | W | W | L | W | W | W | W | W | D | D | D | W | W | W | W | W | L | L | W | D | W | W | W | W | W | W | D | W | W | L | L | W | D | D | W | W | W | W | W |
| Position | 6 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |

#### Matches

| Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Scorers |
| 31 August 1929 | Halifax Town | A | 2–1 | 8,101 | Jennings (2) |
| 2 September 1929 | New Brighton | A | 1–0 | 4,883 | Jennings |
| 7 September 1929 | Barrow | H | 5–0 | 9,882 | Griffiths (2), Pynegar, Baxter, Anstiss |
| 9 September 1929 | New Brighton | H | 5–1 | 8,260 | Pynegar (3 [1 pen]), Griffiths, Anstiss |
| 14 September 1929 | Wrexham | A | 2–0 | 8,828 | Watkin, Baxter |
| 16 September 1929 | Lincoln City | A | 2–3 | 5,842 | Watkin (2) |
| 21 September 1929 | Wigan Borough | H | 4–0 | 7,915 | Pynegar (2), Baxter, Jennings |
| 23 September 1929 | Crewe Alexandra | H | 2–0 | 10,674 | Pynegar (2) |
| 28 September 1929 | Carlisle United | A | 4–1 | 8,784 | Griffiths (2), Pynegar, Baxter |
| 5 October 1929 | Nelson | H | 3–1 | 7,746 | Jennings (2), Pynegar |
| 12 October 1929 | Southport | A | 2–1 | 4,746 | Watkin, Baxter |
| 19 October 1929 | Rotherham United | A | 2–2 | 6,583 | Fishwick, Pynegar |
| 26 October 1929 | Rochdale | H | 3–3 | 8,902 | Fishwick, Pynegar (pen), Griffiths |
| 2 November 1929 | South Shields | A | 0–0 | 5,984 | |
| 9 November 1929 | Accrington Stanley | H | 5–2 | 11,294 | Pynegar (2), Anstiss, Rawlings, Baxter |
| 16 November 1929 | Darlington | A | 1–0 | 7,982 | Griffiths |
| 23 November 1929 | Hartlepools United | H | 2–1 | 7,166 | Anstiss, Rawlings |
| 7 December 1929 | Chesterfield | H | 4–1 | 5,682 | Anstiss, Baxter, Griffiths, Jennings |
| 21 December 1929 | Tranmere Rovers | H | 1–0 | 6,852 | Anstiss |
| 25 December 1929 | Stockport County | H | 1–2 | 14,494 | Oakes |
| 26 December 1929 | Stockport County | A | 2–4 | 22,668 | Stockton, Jennings |
| 28 December 1929 | Halifax Town | H | 3–0 | 4,519 | Jennings (2), Stockton |
| 4 January 1930 | Barrow | A | 1–1 | 5,765 | Mandley |
| 18 January 1930 | Wrexham | H | 3–0 | 10,519 | Stockton (2), Jennings |
| 25 January 1930 | Wigan Borough | A | 3–0 | 6,567 | Jennings (2), Fishwick |
| 1 February 1930 | Carlisle United | H | 4–0 | 9,279 | Jennings (2), Anstiss (2) |
| 8 February 1930 | Nelson | A | 3–2 | 5,045 | Anstiss, Jennings, Pynegar |
| 15 February 1930 | Southport | H | 1–0 | 8,338 | Baxter |
| 22 February 1930 | Rotherham United | H | 7–1 | 7,989 | Watkin (5), Jennings, Anstiss |
| 1 March 1930 | Rochdale | A | 0–0 | 7,177 | |
| 8 March 1930 | South Shields | H | 3–0 | 9,748 | Jennings (3) |
| 15 March 1930 | Accrington Stanley | A | 2–0 | 4,431 | Anstiss, Marshall |
| 22 March 1930 | Darlington | H | 0–2 | 10,543 | |
| 29 March 1930 | Hartlepools United | A | 0–2 | 7,473 | |
| 5 April 1930 | Doncaster Rovers | H | 2–1 | 9,905 | Fishwick, Pynegar |
| 12 April 1930 | Chesterfield | A | 1–1 | 7,450 | Griffiths |
| 18 April 1930 | York City | H | 1–1 | 15,346 | Anstiss |
| 19 April 1930 | Lincoln City | H | 5–2 | 7,649 | Jennings (2), Griffiths (2), Pynegar |
| 21 April 1930 | York City | A | 2–0 | 9,439 | Griffiths (2) |
| 26 April 1930 | Tranmere Rovers | A | 5–1 | 3,784 | Pynegar (2), Jennings (2), Griffiths |
| 1 May 1930 | Doncaster Rovers | A | 2–0 | 5,313 | Baxter, Anstiss |
| 3 May 1930 | Crewe Alexandra | A | 2–0 | 7,014 | Pynegar (2) |

### FA Cup

| Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Goalscorers |
| R1 | 30 November 1929 | Gainsborough Trinity | A | 0–0 | 4,000 | |
| R1 Replay | 4 December 1929 | Gainsborough Trinity | H | 5–0 | 6,253 | Jennings (2), Anstiss (2), Pynegar |
| R2 | 14 December 1929 | Chesterfield | A | 0–2 | 11,740 | |

### North Staffordshire Royal Infirmary Cup

| Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Goalscorers |
| Final | 5 May 1930 | Stoke | H | 1–2 | 6,343 | Jennings |

## Player statistics
### Appearances and goals

| Pos. | Name | Football League | Football League | FA Cup | FA Cup | Other | Other | Total | Total |
| Pos. | Name | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| GK | Ben Davies | 29 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 33 | 0 |
| GK | Jack Prince | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 0 |
| GK | Arthur Brown | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| DF | Jimmy Oakes | 33 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 36 | 1 |
| DF | Jack Maddock | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| DF | Billy Wootton | 20 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 21 | 0 |
| DF | George Shenton | 31 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 35 | 0 |
| DF | William Cope | 40 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 43 | 0 |
| MF | Bob Connelly | 25 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 27 | 0 |
| MF | Roger Jones | 38 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 42 | 0 |
| MF | Jack Simms | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| MF | Phil Griffiths | 30 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 31 | 14 |
| MF | Bert Fishwick | 5 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 4 |
| MF | Jack Mandley | 12 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 1 |
| MF | Tom Baxter | 39 | 9 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 43 | 9 |
| MF | George Stockton | 6 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 4 |
| MF | Dennis Izon | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| MF | George Whitcombe | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| MF | Jack Sherlock | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| MF | Sam Spencer | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| FW | Billy Briscoe | 8 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 10 | 0 |
| FW | Harry Anstiss | 33 | 13 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 37 | 15 |
| FW | Robert Gillespie | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| FW | Albert Pynegar | 29 | 21 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 33 | 22 |
| FW | Frank Watkin | 13 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 9 |
| FW | Bill Rawlings | 5 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 2 |
| FW | Henry O'Grady | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| FW | Harry Marshall | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 |
| FW | Sam Jennings | 30 | 24 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 33 | 27 |

### Top scorers

| Place | Position | Nation | Name | Third Division North | FA Cup | Infirmary Cup | Total |
| 1 | FW | England | Sam Jennings | 24 | 2 | 1 | 27 |
| 2 | FW | England | Albert Pynegar | 21 | 1 | 0 | 22 |
| 3 | FW | England | Harry Anstiss | 13 | 2 | 0 | 15 |
| 4 | MF | Wales | Phil Griffiths | 14 | 0 | 0 | 14 |
| 5 | MF | England | Tom Baxter | 9 | 0 | 0 | 9 |
| – | FW | England | Frank Watkin | 9 | 0 | 0 | 9 |
| 7 | MF | England | George Stockton | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| – | MF | England | Bert Fishwick | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| 9 | FW | England | Bill Rawlings | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 10 | DF | England | Jimmy Oakes | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| – | MF | England | Jack Mandley | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| – | FW | England | Harry Marshall | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| | | | TOTALS | 103 | 5 | 1 | 109 |

## Transfers
### Transfers in

| Date from | Position | Name | From | Fee |
| May 1929 | GK | Arthur Brown | Reading | Free transfer |
| May 1929 | FW | Sam Jennings | Nottingham Forest | Free transfer |
| May 1929 | DF | Jack Sherlock | Hanley Y.M.C.A. | Free transfer |
| June 1929 | DF | Frank Watkin | Stoke City | Free transfer |
| July 1929 | DF | Bill Cope | Bolton Wanderers | Free transfer |
| October 1929 | DF | Arnold Bliss | Dartford | Free transfer |
| October 1929 | GK | Ben Davies | Crewe Alexandra | Free transfer |
| November 1929 | MF | Cliff Birks | Stoke City | Free transfer |
| November 1929 | FW | Henry O'Grady | Witton Albion | Free transfer |
| November 1929 | FW | Bill Rawlings | Manchester United | 'four-figure' |
| March 1930 | FW | Harry Marshall | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 'sizeable outlay' |

### Transfers out

| Date from | Position | Name | To | Fee |
| October 1929 | GK | Arthur Brown | Crewe Alexandra | Free transfer |
| March 1930 | MF | Jack Mandley | Aston Villa | £7,000 |
| May 1930 | GK | Jack Prince | Rochdale | Released |
| Summer 1930 | FW | Bill Rawlings | New Milton | Free transfer |