# 1948–49 Port Vale F.C. season

The 1948–49 season was Port Vale's 37th season of football in the English Football League and their fourth full season in the Third Division South. A promotion campaign soon tailed off into an unremarkable mid-table finish, as bad form persuaded the club to sell off Bill Pointon for a then-club record fee.

## Overview
### Third Division South

The pre-season saw the club attempt to sign Huddersfield Town's star forward Peter Doherty when this failed Gordon Hodgson instead signed Liverpool left-wing duo Stan Palk and Mick Hulligan for £10,000. Striker Walter Aveyard was also signed from Birmingham City, despite his belief that a leg injury had finished him. Fans were convinced promotion to the Second Division was possible. So, there was a surge in season ticket sales.
The season started with seven points from the opening four games, leaving the club top of the table. The season-high 18,497 fans that turned up for a 3–0 win over Aldershot were impressed by the skill of the three new signings. The club's good form continued to the end of September, despite the sale of Walter Keeley to Accrington Stanley for £1,500 – who had found himself relegated to the sidelines by Hulligan's good performances. After this Hulligan broke his ankle, whilst other injuries also hit the squad. Six weeks of six defeats in seven games followed, leaving Vale sixth from bottom. During this spell, Joe Dale was offloaded to Witton Albion as Hodgson attempted to fill the gaps in the first-team with young reserves. Winning three games on the trot, the Vale ended this bad spell and kept three clean sheets.
Over the Christmas period, talk was dominated by 'The Wembley of the North', which had been projected as an 80,000-capacity stadium, now it was planned as a 40,000-capacity ground with room for future expansion. Finding just fifty members for the '100 club', the financing was helped by a £8,000 grant from The Football Association. In January the club initiated a fire-sale of players: Bill Pointon went to Queens Park Rangers for a then-club record five-figure fee, whilst Harry Hubbick was sold to Rochdale for around £1,000. Meanwhile, the club transfer listed Palk, Aveyard, and Eric Eastwood (who all lived outside North Staffordshire); whilst Hulligan returned from injury. A two-month run without a win followed, in which Hodgson again experimented with the first XI. This run finally ended with a 1–0 win over Notts County on 9 April. Nine days later at Ashton Gate, keeper Harry Prince was given a chance in place of regular George Heppell, who embarrassed himself by attempting to punch a 40 yards (37 m) punt from Stone, only to miss the ball entirely and thereby concede the equaliser. Later in the month, Hodgson signed George King from Hull City for a four-figure fee. King scored twice in his debut against Torquay United.
They finished a disappointing thirteenth, boasting just 39 points. They had scored twelve fewer goals than the previous campaign. However, their defensive record was identical. Harry Prince's move to Stafford Rangers was the only significant departure of the summer.

### Finances

On the financial side, a large transfer credit helped the club record a gross profit of £7,120. Gate receipts had declined to £25,831, whilst wages had risen to £16,095. The Burslem Supporters Club put forward a donation of £600, and the club issued 22,000 new five shilling shares to help with the New Ground Fund.

### Cup competitions

In the FA Cup, Vale were knocked out in the First Round by Notts County at Meadow Lane in front of 36,514 spectators.

## League table

| Pos | Team v t e | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GAv | Pts |
| 11 | Notts County | 42 | 19 | 5 | 18 | 102 | 68 | 1.500 | 43 |
| 12 | Exeter City | 42 | 15 | 10 | 17 | 63 | 76 | 0.829 | 40 |
| 13 | Port Vale | 42 | 14 | 11 | 17 | 51 | 54 | 0.944 | 39 |
| 14 | Walsall | 42 | 15 | 8 | 19 | 56 | 64 | 0.875 | 38 |
| 15 | Newport County | 42 | 14 | 9 | 19 | 68 | 92 | 0.739 | 37 |

## Results

Port Vale's score comes first

### Football League Third Division South
#### 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 | H | H | A | A | H | H | A | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | H | H | A | A | H | H | A | H | A | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | A | H | H | A | A | H | A | H |
| Result | D | W | W | W | L | W | L | W | D | D | L | L | D | L | L | L | L | W | W | W | L | W | W | L | D | W | D | L | D | L | L | L | L | D | D | W | W | L | D | W | L | D |
| Position | 9 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 15 | 17 | 17 | 16 | 15 | 11 | 13 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 13 |

#### Matches

| Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Scorers |
| 21 August 1948 | Millwall | A | 1–1 | 32,122 | Aveyard |
| 23 August 1948 | Reading | H | 3–0 | 17,394 | Aveyard (2), Hulligan |
| 28 August 1948 | Aldershot | H | 3–0 | 18,497 | Hulligan (2), Dale |
| 1 September 1948 | Reading | A | 2–1 | 13,955 | Palk, Martin |
| 4 September 1948 | Brighton & Hove Albion | A | 0–1 | 20,383 | |
| 6 September 1948 | Swindon Town | H | 2–0 | 17,581 | Palk, Pointon |
| 11 September 1948 | Southend United | H | 0–2 | 16,592 | |
| 15 September 1948 | Swindon Town | A | 2–0 | 16,894 | Allen, Aveyard |
| 18 September 1948 | Northampton Town | A | 2–2 | 9,964 | Allen, Aveyard |
| 25 September 1948 | Norwich City | H | 0–0 | 15,361 | |
| 2 October 1948 | Exeter City | A | 1–2 | 10,672 | Martin |
| 9 October 1948 | Swansea Town | H | 0–2 | 17,888 | |
| 16 October 1948 | Newport County | A | 2–2 | 10,037 | Aveyard (2) |
| 23 October 1948 | Ipswich Town | H | 1–2 | 11,424 | Aveyard |
| 30 October 1948 | Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic | A | 0–2 | 18,436 | |
| 6 November 1948 | Walsall | H | 0–2 | 11,559 | |
| 13 November 1948 | Notts County | A | 1–2 | 29,332 | Aveyard |
| 20 November 1948 | Bristol Rovers | H | 2–0 | 10,342 | Cheadle, Palk |
| 18 December 1948 | Millwall | H | 1–0 | 7,738 | Pointon |
| 25 December 1948 | Leyton Orient | H | 3–0 | 9,480 | Allen, Pointon, Hubbick |
| 27 December 1948 | Leyton Orient | A | 0–2 | 8,953 | |
| 1 January 1949 | Aldershot | A | 1–0 | 4,510 | Pointon |
| 8 January 1949 | Watford | H | 3–1 | 8,681 | Aveyard (2), Allen |
| 15 January 1949 | Brighton & Hove Albion | H | 3–4 | 9,562 | Martin, Pointon, Aveyard |
| 22 January 1949 | Southend United | A | 0–0 | 9,713 | |
| 5 February 1949 | Northampton Town | H | 1–0 | 9,369 | Allen |
| 12 February 1949 | Crystal Palace | A | 1–1 | 12,409 | Cheadle |
| 19 February 1949 | Norwich City | A | 0–2 | 26,323 | |
| 26 February 1949 | Exeter City | H | 1–1 | 8,437 | o.g. |
| 5 March 1949 | Swansea Town | A | 1–3 | 13,769 | Allen |
| 12 March 1949 | Newport County | H | 1–2 | 9,487 | Hulligan |
| 19 March 1949 | Ipswich Town | A | 1–4 | 10,722 | Allen |
| 26 March 1949 | Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic | H | 0–2 | 8,560 | |
| 30 March 1949 | Torquay United | A | 0–0 | 6,483 | |
| 2 April 1949 | Walsall | A | 1–1 | 9,767 | Martin |
| 9 April 1949 | Notts County | H | 1–0 | 12,198 | Martin |
| 15 April 1949 | Bristol City | H | 4–2 | 13,571 | Allen (2), Martin, Hulligan |
| 16 April 1949 | Bristol Rovers | A | 1–4 | 15,477 | Aveyard |
| 18 April 1949 | Bristol City | A | 1–1 | 11,094 | Palk |
| 23 April 1949 | Torquay United | H | 3–1 | 11,914 | King (2), McGarry |
| 30 April 1949 | Watford | A | 1–2 | 6,316 | Allen |
| 7 May 1949 | Crystal Palace | H | 0–0 | 7,821 | |

### FA Cup

| Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Goalscorers |
| R1 | 27 November 1948 | Notts County | A | 1–2 | 36,514 | Martin |

## Player statistics
### Appearances and goals

| Pos. | Name | Football League | Football League | FA Cup | FA Cup | Total | Total |
| Pos. | Name | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| GK | George Heppell | 37 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 38 | 0 |
| GK | Ray Hancock | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| GK | Harry Prince | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| DF | Basil Hayward | 41 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 42 | 0 |
| DF | Tommy Cheadle | 22 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 23 | 2 |
| DF | Garth Butler | 33 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 34 | 0 |
| DF | Harry Hubbick | 20 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 21 | 1 |
| DF | Reg Potts | 19 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 19 | 0 |
| DF | Jim Elsby | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| MF | Wilf Smith | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| MF | Jimmy Todd | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 0 |
| MF | Alan Martin | 42 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 43 | 7 |
| MF | Bill McGarry | 40 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 41 | 1 |
| MF | Eric Eastwood | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| MF | Walter Keeley | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| MF | Joe Dale | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 1 |
| MF | Mick Hulligan | 28 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 28 | 5 |
| MF | Alan Bennett | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| MF | Bernard Jones | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 0 |
| FW | Bill Pointon | 15 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 5 |
| FW | Ronnie Allen | 40 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 41 | 10 |
| FW | Lewis White | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| FW | Pat Raftery | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| FW | John Sherratt | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| FW | George King | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| FW | George O'Neill | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| FW | Stan Palk | 42 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 43 | 4 |
| FW | Walter Aveyard | 34 | 13 | 1 | 0 | 35 | 13 |

### Top scorers

| Place | Position | Nation | Name | Third Division South | FA Cup | Total |
| 1 | FW | England | Walter Aveyard | 13 | 0 | 13 |
| 2 | FW | England | Ronnie Allen | 10 | 0 | 10 |
| 3 | MF | England | Alan Martin | 6 | 1 | 7 |
| 4 | FW | England | Bill Pointon | 5 | 0 | 5 |
| – | MF | England | Mick Hulligan | 5 | 0 | 5 |
| 6 | FW | England | Stan Palk | 4 | 0 | 4 |
| 7 | FW | England | George King | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| – | DF | England | Tommy Cheadle | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| 9 | FW | England | Harry Hubbick | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| – | MF | England | Bill McGarry | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| – | MF | England | Joe Dale | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| – | – | – | Own goals | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| | | | TOTALS | 51 | 1 | 52 |

## Transfers
### Transfers in

| Date from | Position | Name | From | Fee |
| May 1948 | GK | Ray Hancock | Bury | Free transfer |
| June 1948 | FW | Walter Aveyard | Birmingham City | Free transfer |
| July 1948 | MF | Mick Hulligan | Liverpool | £10,000 |
| July 1948 | FW | Stan Palk | Liverpool | £10,000 |
| October 1948 | MF | Bernard Jones | Longport | Free transfer |
| November 1948 | FW | George O'Neill | Ellesmere Port Town | Free transfer |
| November 1948 | FW | Pat Raftery | Ravensdale | Free transfer |
| April 1949 | FW | George King | Hull City | 'four-figure fee' |

### Transfers out

| Date from | Position | Name | To | Fee |
| September 1948 | MF | Walter Keeley | Accrington Stanley | £1,500 |
| October 1948 | MF | Joe Dale | Witton Albion | 'Cheshire League record fee' |
| January 1949 | DF | Harry Hubbick | Rochdale | £1,000 |
| January 1949 | FW | Bill Pointon | Queens Park Rangers | 'club record five-figure fee' |
| May 1949 | GK | Harry Prince | Stafford Rangers | Released |
| July 1949 | DF | Bob Pursell | Winsford United | Free transfer |
| July 1949 | FW | Lewis White | Winsford United | Free transfer |
| Summer 1949 | FW | George O'Neill | | Released |
| Summer 1949 | FW | John Sherratt | | Released |