The 1900–01 season was Burslem Port Vale's third consecutive season (seventh overall) of football in the English Football League. Under the stewardship of chairman Robert Audley and secretary Sam Gleaves, the side secured a ninth-place finish (33 points) after 34 league fixtures, producing a balanced record of 11 wins, 11 draws, and 12 losses, scoring 45 goals and conceding 47. In the FA Cup, Vale were eliminated in the First Round Proper following a defeat by New Brighton Tower; they also bowed out early in both the Birmingham Senior Cup and Staffordshire Senior Cup, suffering losses to Potteries derby rivals Stoke in the opening rounds.

New signings included veteran defender Tommy Clare and inside-left James Peake, who helped stabilise the side after the previous season's player exodus; Adrian Capes emerged as the club's leading scorer, with seven league goals. The defence earned praise for being “consistent and sturdy,” and Bert Eardley was described as "one of the best outside‑rights Port Vale have ever had" following a draw with New Brighton Tower. Financially, the club endured another loss, approximately £73, which contributed to mounting debt of around £1,000, despite heavily reduced playing expenditures and a modest increase in local youth participation to control costs.

Overview

Second Division The pre-season saw the return of Stoke legend Tommy Clare, now aged 35, and inside-left James Peake, following a season with Millwall Athletic. Otherwise local lads filled the void left by the stars that were sold off in the previous season. Only one point was gained in the opening three games, which included a 1–0 defeat to newly-elected Stockport County and a 6–1 thrashing at Grimsby Town. The team achieved a 2–0 victory over Lincoln City on 15 September, though only 2,000 turned out to the Athletic Ground to witness it. Heavy defeats on the road followed, however, as 4–0 losses came at Newton Heath and Middlesbrough. Vale achieved a surprise 1–0 win over league leaders Burnley on 13 October, though only 1,000 spectators were in attendance. A point away at Chesterfield followed despite the team playing with a man down for the first half as Danny Simpson had missed his train.

Five games without victory ended with a 2–0 triumph at Burton Swifts after Vale had signed forward Adrian Capes from them. The victory heralded an upturn in results, and Vale rose to eighth place heading into Christmas. The team were winning at Small Heath on 29 December when Billy Heames had to be carried from the field following a foul; Small Heath used the man advantage to equalise and went on to win the game amid protestation from the Vale players that the hosts were wearing boots with sharp studs, as evidenced by circled cuts in James Peake's knees. The team remain in good form, however, losing just one of their next seven games to leave themselves in sixth position by 9 March. The sole defeat came at league leaders Burnley, who were accused of employing "shady tactics". New player Bert Eardley was described as "one of the best outside-rights Port Vale have ever had" following a 1–1 draw at fourth-placed New Brighton Tower. The side fell to a 2–0 defeat to Middlesbrough on 11 March, however, which was the first home loss in the league since 17 November. The league campaign came to a close with three victories in four games, including a 4–0 home win over Burton Swifts in front of a crowd of just 300.

They ended the season in ninth place, having achieved just one point fewer than the previous season despite a greatly reduced playing budget. Capes finished as the top scorer, with Peake, Eardley, and Price contributing seven goals each. Goalkeeper Alfred Maybury made his debut on 8 September and never missed a match after that, though he was still released at the season's end (later joining Chesterfield). Eight other players managed at least 30 appearances (out of a possible 37), with George Price an ever-present. The defence was described as "consistent and sturdy", and Peake, Eardley, and Capes were praised for the turnaround in results. The policy of local youth continued, having been successful throughout the campaign. James Peake and Alfred Maybury departed, and full-back Frank Stokes was sold to Reading; but otherwise the original team was retained.

Finances Financially, the club lost £73, which added to their £1,000 debt. Taking note from the previous campaign, the playing budget was reduced by over £750, though gate receipts dropped a further £235. Poor weather was blamed for the miserable support. The Shilling Fund raised only £47.

Cup competitions In the FA Cup, a 3–1 home defeat was recorded to Second Division rivals New Brighton Tower in the opening round. The club also exited both the Birmingham Senior Cup and the Staffordshire Senior Cup at the first round stage with defeats to Potteries derby rivals Stoke.

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 CupOtherTotal1FWAdrian Capes1010112FWBert Eardley7007–FWJames Peake7007–FWGeorge Price70075FWDanny Simpson3003–FWBilly Heames30037FWTommy Lander2002–HBJim Beech2002–HBLucien Boullemier200210FWTommy Aston1001–FWJoseph Steadman1001TOTALS451046

Transfers

Transfers in Date from Position Nationality Name From Fee Ref. Summer 1900 FW James Peake Millwall Athletic Free transfer May 1900 FW Tommy Aston Ironbridge Free transfer May 1900 HB Patrick Gallagher Smallthorne United Free transfer May 1900 FW John Henshall Hanley Swifts Free transfer May 1900 GK Alfred Maybury Nantwich Free transfer May 1900 FB Ernest Mullineux Burslem Park Free transfer May 1900 FW Alfred Pankhurst Smallthorne Free transfer July 1900 FW Howard Round Tunstall Casuals Free transfer August 1900 HB Albert Cook North Staffs Nomads Free transfer November 1900 FW Adrian Capes Burton Swifts Free transfer March 1901 HB Harry Croxton Burslem Park Free transfer April 1901 FW Leonard Jones Eastwood Free transfer

Transfers out Date from Position Nationality Name To Fee Ref. September 1900 FW Tommy Aston Released Summer 1901 MF S. E. Bayley Released Summer 1901 FB Tommy Clare Retired Summer 1901 HB Patrick Gallagher Released Summer 1901 FW John Henshall Released Summer 1901 GK Alfred Maybury Chesterfield Released Summer 1901 FW Alfred Pankhurst Smallthorne Released Summer 1901 FW James Peake Released Summer 1901 GK Tom Poole Released Summer 1901 FW Howard Round Released Summer 1901 GK William Saunders Released Summer 1901 HB Robert Seaton Released Summer 1901 FB Thomas Spilsbury Retired Summer 1901 FW Joseph Steadman Released Summer 1901 FB Frank Stokes Reading Free transfer

References Specific

General