# 1966–67 Port Vale F.C. season

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. Again hopeful of escape from the basement division, Vale could only manage a mid-table finish. Player-manager Jackie Mudie resigned at the end of the season. Veteran defender Roy Sproson became the club's first ever Player of the Year winner.

## Overview
### Fourth Division

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. As Matthews recovered, in came four new forwards, the most significant of which was Crystal Palace's Ian Lawson. Lawson cost £1,000 with an additional £1,000 signing on fee. Other new faces included winger Mick Mahon (Loughborough United); inside-forward Jimmy Goodfellow (Bishop Auckland); and Billy McCartney (Rangers). There was a kit change to an all-white strip, upon the suggestion of Stanley Matthews.
The season opened with a 2–1 home win over Southport using an optimistic 4–2–4 formation. Following Roy Sproson's winning goal there was a pitch invasion – by then a disturbingly common occurrence. Six games without a loss followed, leaving the club in fourth position. 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. 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. Vale's form suffered, though the defence remained quite strong. Young Scot Mick Cullerton was a ray of sunshine for the club in front of goal.
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. In came forward Mel Charles from Porthmadog for a £1,250 fee. 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. A win over Barrow and a draw at Stockport County was succeeded by five straight defeats, killing Vale's promotion hopes dead. 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 April, popular player John Ritchie was sold to Preston North End for £17,500. Mel Charles sidelined with a knee injury, Vale limped to the season's end without a win in their final five games. On 3 May, Stuart Chapman made his debut at the age of fifteen in a 2–2 draw with Lincoln City. Five days later, manager Jackie Mudie tendered his resignation as player-manager, citing 'personal reasons'.
They finished in thirteenth place with 43 points, marking a slight improvement on the previous campaign. Mick Cullerton's twelve goals in all competitions were enough to make him the top-scorer. In the club's first ever Player of the Year ceremony, veteran defender Roy Sproson was bestowed with the honour. 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.

### Finances

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. Gate receipts were just £30,298, whilst the club's overdraft stood at £82,373. 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. Roddy Georgeson was also released at his own request to work in a bank, though he soon turned out for Dundee before beginning a long career in Scottish football.

### Cup competitions

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. Vale drew Barnsley in the Second Round, and earned a replay with a 1–1 draw at Oakwell. The replay attracted 12,784 supporters, but "Tykes" ran out 3–1 winners.
In the League Cup, Third Division Walsall knocked out the Vale at the first stage with a 3–1 win.

## League table

| Pos | Teamvte | 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 |

## Results

Port Vale's score comes first

### Football League Fourth 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 | H | A | H | H | A | A | H | A | A | H | A | H | H | A | H | A | H | H | A | A | A | H | H | H | A | A | H | A | A | H | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | A | H | H | A | H | H | A | A |
| Result | D | D | D | W | D | W | D | L | D | D | L | L | L | W | W | L | W | L | L | D | W | D | D | W | W | L | W | D | L | L | L | L | L | W | W | D | W | L | D | L | W | D | D | D | L | L |
| Position | 4 | 4 | 7 | 4 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 13 | 15 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 17 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 17 | 17 | 15 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 13 |

#### Matches

| Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Scorers |
| 20 August 1966 | Southport | H | 2–1 | 8,143 | Rowland, Sproson |
| 27 August 1966 | Notts County | A | 0–0 | 5,648 | |
| 3 September 1966 | Chester | H | 1–1 | 6,853 | Georgeson |
| 5 September 1966 | Bradford City | H | 3–2 | 6,258 | Mahon, Rowland, Hill |
| 10 September 1966 | Bradford Park Avenue | A | 1–1 | 5,246 | Rowland |
| 17 September 1966 | Exeter City | A | 1–0 | 4,789 | Miles |
| 24 September 1966 | Crewe Alexandra | H | 1–1 | 11,325 | Hill |
| 28 September 1966 | Bradford City | A | 0–2 | 3,928 | |
| 1 October 1966 | Barrow | A | 2–2 | 3,354 | Goodfellow, Hill |
| 8 October 1966 | Tranmere Rovers | H | 1–1 | 6,684 | Sproson |
| 14 October 1966 | Southend United | A | 1–4 | 12,609 | Ritchie |
| 17 October 1966 | Chesterfield | H | 2–3 | 5,649 | Georgeson, Mahon |
| 22 October 1966 | Wrexham | H | 0–2 | 7,753 | |
| 29 October 1966 | Aldershot | A | 1–0 | 5,047 | McCartney |
| 5 November 1966 | Luton Town | H | 1–0 | 3,502 | Mahon |
| 12 November 1966 | Barnsley | A | 0–1 | 4,823 | |
| 19 November 1966 | Newport County | H | 2–0 | 3,883 | Miles, Hill |
| 3 December 1966 | Halifax Town | H | 0–1 | 4,002 | |
| 10 December 1966 | Hartlepools United | A | 1–2 | 5,342 | Hill |
| 17 December 1966 | Southport | A | 0–0 | 3,975 | |
| 27 December 1966 | Lincoln City | A | 1–0 | 5,268 | Cullerton |
| 31 December 1966 | Notts County | H | 0–0 | 5,359 | |
| 14 January 1967 | Bradford Park Avenue | H | 0–0 | 4,798 | |
| 21 January 1967 | Exeter City | H | 2–0 | 3,450 | Cullerton (pen), Mahon |
| 28 January 1967 | Chester | A | 3–1 | 5,586 | Mahon (2), Cullerton |
| 3 February 1967 | Crewe Alexandra | A | 0–1 | 10,414 | |
| 11 February 1967 | Barrow | H | 2–1 | 6,267 | Boulton, Mahon |
| 17 February 1967 | Stockport County | A | 1–1 | 9,756 | Miles |
| 24 February 1967 | Tranmere Rovers | A | 1–2 | 8,047 | Cullerton |
| 4 March 1967 | Southend United | H | 1–3 | 4,695 | Goodfellow |
| 11 March 1967 | Stockport County | H | 0–2 | 6,363 | |
| 18 March 1967 | Wrexham | A | 1–2 | 7,176 | Georgeson |
| 25 March 1967 | Brentford | H | 1–3 | 3,434 | Ritchie |
| 27 March 1967 | Rochdale | A | 2–1 | 2,254 | o.g., Goodfellow |
| 28 March 1967 | Rochdale | H | 5–0 | 3,004 | Georgeson, Poole, Cullerton, Goodfellow, Wilson |
| 1 April 1967 | Luton Town | A | 1–1 | 5,410 | Wilson |
| 8 April 1967 | Barnsley | H | 3–1 | 3,209 | Cullerton (2), Hill |
| 10 April 1967 | York City | A | 1–3 | 3,834 | Goodfellow |
| 17 April 1967 | Newport County | A | 1–1 | 1,914 | Cullerton |
| 22 April 1967 | Aldershot | H | 0–2 | 3,265 | |
| 24 April 1967 | York City | H | 4–1 | 2,554 | Cullerton (2), Georgeson, Goodfellow |
| 29 April 1967 | Halifax Town | A | 2–2 | 3,562 | Taylor, Goodfellow |
| 3 May 1967 | Lincoln City | H | 2–2 | 3,085 | Cullerton (2) |
| 6 May 1967 | Hartlepools United | H | 0–0 | 3,178 | |
| 8 May 1967 | Chesterfield | A | 1–2 | 2,605 | Boulton |
| 13 May 1967 | Brentford | A | 0–2 | 3,592 | |

### FA Cup

| Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Goalscorers |
| R1 | 26 November 1966 | Bradford City | A | 2–1 | 5,712 | Ritchie, Lawson |
| R2 | 7 January 1967 | Barnsley | A | 1–1 | 13,343 | Hill |
| R2 Replay | 16 January 1967 | Barnsley | H | 1–3 | 12,784 | Boulton |

### League Cup

| Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Goalscorers |
| R1 | 23 August 1966 | Walsall | H | 1–3 | 9,181 | Rowland |

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

### Top scorers

| 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
### Transfers in

| Date from | Position | Name | From | Fee |
| 1966 | MF | Jimmy Goodfellow | Bishop Auckland | Free transfer |
| June 1966 | FW | Billy McCartney | Rangers | Free transfer |
| August 1966 | FW | Ian Lawson | Crystal Palace | £1,000 |
| December 1966 | MF | Mel Charles | Porthmadog | £1,250 |

### Transfers out

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

### Loans out

| Date from | Position | Nationality | Name | To | Date to | Ref. |
| December 1966 | GK | | Jimmy O'Neill | Cork Celtic | May 1967 | |