The 1895–96 season was Burslem Port Vale's fourth consecutive season of football in the English Football League. This season marked a significant downturn for the club, as they finished 14th with 18 points from 30 matches (8 wins, 2 draws, 20 losses), culminating in their failure to gain re-election to the Football League, leading to two seasons in the Midlands League before their return in 1898.

In league play, Vale's defence struggled, keeping only five clean sheets across 30 league and cup matches. A notable highlight was a 5–4 victory over eventual champions Liverpool, part of a run where 65 goals were scored in 11 games. However, the team endured a challenging away record, losing all matches except a 2–0 win over Rotherham Town on the opening day. They set a club record with 14 consecutive away losses and went 27 games without a draw away from home between January 1895 and December 1898.

In cup competitions, Vale were eliminated in the Second Qualifying Round of the FA Cup by Burton Swifts, the First Round of the Birmingham Senior Cup by Stourbridge, and the First Round of the Staffordshire Senior Cup by Stoke. Forward Ernest Beckett was the club's top scorer, netting eight goals in all competitions. Goalkeeper Tom Baddeley was an ever-present figure, saving the team from numerous heavy defeats. Defenders George Price and Danny Simpson made their debuts this season; Price would go on to play for the club for another eleven years, while Simpson would become the club's top scorer in the following two seasons.

Overview

Second Division No major signings were made for the 1895–96 campaign due to a lack of funds. Nevertheless, a 2–0 opening day victory at Rotherham Town boded well. It proved to be the last away win of the season. Back at the Athletic Ground on 14 September, and only a superb performance from goalkeeper Tom Baddeley prevented visitors Notts County from scoring more than four goals. Two weeks later, another heavy defeat came at Anfield, Liverpool claiming a 5–1 win. Crowds dwindled to 1,000 to witness a 3–3 draw with Darwen on 5 October, with only £25 in gate receipts taken to outweigh the £16 costs of hosting the match. Darwen won the return fixture 8–2 despite Vale debuting two forwards signed from Blackburn Rovers reserves in James Downie and David Black. Downie was deemed "absolutely useless" at outside-left before the club discovered he was right-footed and therefore had played out of position. Baddeley was praised for keeping Darwen to no more than eight goals. Two days after the drubbing, on 21 October, Vale recorded a 5–4 home win over Liverpool as both Downie and Black opened their accounts for the club. A 2–1 home victory over perennial strugglers Crewe Alexandra followed.

A four-game losing sequence, which included an aggregate 10–2 defeat to Grimsby Town, saw the Valeites fall down the league table. The club became acutely desperate for players, particularly so after Billy Eardley and Ted McDonald were suspended "for a breach of regulations". Jimmy Ditchfield was drafted in for a game after two seasons without a first-team appearance. David Black was deemed overweight and was sacked. His replacement, Joseph Sandham from Crewe Alexandra, scored on his debut in a 2–2 draw with Burton Wanderers. A 4–0 home win over Rotherham Town completed a three-game unbeaten streak, with the visitors finishing the match with nine players and Vale having another four goals disallowed. However, Vale then gained just one point from their next seven games, scoring only two goals, both from reserve team graduate Ernest Beckett. Supporters vented their frustration at winger Jim Mason in particular for his many wayward shots.

On 23 March, Vale claimed a 3–0 victory over Newton Heath after the visitors were reduced to ten men. This was followed by a 3–2 defeat at Crewe Alexandra in which Baddeley was again praised for preventing an embarrassing scoreline. This was the first of five defeats in six games. The season concluded with a 2–0 win over Newcastle United. Vale finished in 14th place in the 16-team league. Having twice successfully applied for re-election in the past three seasons, this time around, they lost their Football League status after receiving ten votes, with 15 required to remain in the division. Tom Baddeley and George Eccles left for Wolverhampton Wanderers, Eardley and McDonald left for Stoke, all wishing to remain Football League players.

Finances In March, an Extraordinary general meeting was held as the club's debt reached £145, with ongoing losses throughout the season. It was decided to form a Limited liability company and 120 ten-shilling shares were applied for, though the scheme never came to fruition as interest levels dwindled. The season ended with debts at £154, wages outweighing gate receipts by £481 to £455.

Cup competitions Again, Vale failed poorly in the FA Cup, easing past Hereford Thistle in the first round of qualification with a walkover after the visitors refused to show up without being paid their railway expenses and a guaranteed sum. The second round held league rivals Burton Swifts, who managed to draw at Vale's home and then win the replay with the odd goal. Facing rivals Stoke in the Staffordshire Senior Cup, they lost 4–0 at home. The Stoke game raised £115, though Eccles was badly injured and Dick Evans had also left the field with injury to leave Vale with just nine players.

Results

Football League Second Division

League table

Results by matchday

Matches

FA Cup

Birmingham Senior Cup

Staffordshire Senior Cup

Squad statistics

Appearances and goals Key to positions: GK – Goalkeeper; FB – Full back; HB – Half back; FW – Forward

|colspan="14"|Players who featured but departed the club during the season:

Top scorers PlacePositionNationNameSecond DivisionFA CupOtherTotal1FWErnest Beckett80082FWJim Mason60063HBJos Randles4004–FWBilly Eardley4004–FWDick Evans40046FWJames Downie20137FWFred Belfield2002–HBTed McDonald2002–FWDanny Simpson2002–FWJoseph Sandham200211HBRalph Barlow1001–FWDavid Black1001–FWMeshach Dean1001–HBJohn Edwards1001–HBJohn Fallows1001–FWHamlet Handley1001–FWCharlie Mason1001–––Own goals0011TOTALS430144

Transfers

Transfers in Date from Position Nationality Name From Fee Ref. July 1895 FW Ernest Beckett Newcastle Swifts Free transfer September 1895 FW Billy Eardley Newcastle Swifts Free transfer September 1895 FW James Downie Blackburn Rovers Free transfer September 1895 FW David Black Blackburn Rovers Free transfer January 1896 HB John Edwards Stockport County Free transfer January 1896 FW Joseph Sandham Crewe Alexandra Free transfer February 1896 FW Danny Simpson Tunstall Town Free transfer

Transfers out Date from Position Nationality Name To Fee Ref. October 1895 HB Alf Wood Stoke Free transfer January 1896 FW David Black Released February 1896 FW Joseph Sandham Dresden United Free transfer May 1896 FB George Samuel Eccles Wolverhampton Wanderers 'considerable' Summer 1896 HB Joseph Boughey Audley Released Summer 1896 FW Meshach Dean Released Summer 1896 FW Jimmy Ditchfield Released Summer 1896 FW James Downie Released Summer 1896 HB John Edwards Grays United Free transfer Summer 1896 FW Hamlet Handley Released Summer 1896 FW James Kirkham Released Summer 1896 FW Charlie Mason Released Summer 1896 FB William Rhodes Released August 1896 FW Billy Eardley Stoke Free transfer August 1896 HB Ted McDonald Stoke Free transfer

References Specific

General