The 1923–24 season was Port Vale's fifth consecutive season of football (18th overall) in the English Football League. Managed by Joe Schofield and chaired by Sampson Walker, the team played their home matches at the Old Recreation Ground. The club finished 17th in the 22-team division, earning 37 points from 14 wins, 9 draws, and 19 losses, scoring 45 goals while conceding 58. Despite a steady if unspectacular league performance, the club struggled to build consistent form throughout the season.

Wilf Kirkham debuted, and goals came from all across the team. A still-standing club record was set on 5 April 1924, when Tom Holford played against Derby County at the age of 46. The most notable incident in the campaign was the death of Tom Butler on 11 November 1923; he died from complications of a broken arm that he picked up whilst playing for the club.

In cup competitions, Vale were knocked out in the Fifth Qualifying Round of the FA Cup after a 5–1 defeat away at Wrexham. The club also participated in the North Staffordshire Infirmary Cup but again finished runners-up, losing 3–1 to Potteries derby rivals Stoke. These early cup exits denied the club any significant cup success to brighten an otherwise difficult campaign. Off the pitch, Port Vale continued to face financial challenges, struggling with low attendances and rising wage bills. Nevertheless, the club's management remained focused on stability and gradual improvement. The 1923–24 season ended with the club narrowly avoiding relegation, highlighting the need for reinvestment and squad strengthening in the seasons ahead.

Overview

Second Division To strengthen the side, pre-season signings included: Stalybridge Celtic goalkeeper Tommy Lonsdale; Macclesfield Town 'penalty king' right-back Jack Maddock; Leeds United tough-tackling half-back Alf Dark; Bolton Wanderers winger Jack Lowe; Clyde's reliable forward Fred Howard; and Exeter City goal machine Harold Crockford. The kit for the season was picked – red jerseys with white shorts.

The season started positively, with two wins recorded, as well as a 14,000 home crowd. However, a run of one point won in five games saw the club slump down the table. The arrival of Ireland international Louis Bookman for £250 from Luton Town couldn't reverse the side's fortunes. Their stats by the end of October were: played twelve, lost eight, failed to score in six. This miserable run included two defeats inflicted by rivals Stoke – the first time they had done the double over Vale in the league. Crockford agreed to have his contract cancelled, and talks began to try to re-sign Billy Briscoe. A young Wilf Kirkham made his debut against Leeds United, but failed to make much of an impact.

Their rotten form seemed to have been turned around when the "Valiants" earned a 1–1 draw with Clapton Orient on 3 November 1923. Tom Butler scored the goal, yet paid the ultimate price for his efforts. Near the end of the match, he suffered a compound fracture in his left arm, and complications set in whilst he was at Hackney Hospital, causing septic poisoning; he died of lockjaw on 11 November. The club paid his widow the rest of his wages, and Stoke and numerous other clubs donated generously to provide the widow with a £700 benefit fund.

Back to football, and the club signed 41-year-old former England international Arthur Bridgett, even though he had spent several years in retirement. The winger impressed and scored within ninety seconds of his debut. Later in the year, Peter Pursell returned to the field for the first time in the season following an injury, and it was like a new signing. Despite all this, Vale still suffered, and a heavy defeat at Old Trafford saw them stuck at the foot of the table. Turning to 1924, the Vale managed a run of six games unbeaten, and Briscoe was finally given his pay rise, and so was re-signed from Congleton Town. Fred Howard was subsequently given a free transfer.

Despite Blackpool putting twelve past the Vale defence, the latter half of the season saw a massive improvement, losing just 6 of the 22 games. Briscoe and Kirkham provided the goals to lift the club out of the relegation zone. On 5 April, Tom Holford played against Derby County at the age of 46 – still a club record.

At the end of the season, Vale finished in 16th place with 38 points, making it a consecutive season that the club bettered their previous season tally by one point and one place. Performing poorly at home, only bottom place Bristol City lost more home games, and only second-bottom Nelson conceded more at home. Vale were five points clear of relegation but 13 points off a promotion place.

Briscoe, Page, Kirkham, and Bridgett were the major goalscorers. Full-back Len Birks was an ever-present, and Tommy Lonsdale, Jack Hampson, and Jack Lowe were also key first-team players. As well as the debut of Kirkham, Roger Jones also made his debut, starting his 14-year association with the club. At the end of the season, the club let Peter Pursell leave for Wigan Borough, whereas Lonsdale and Hampson both retired due to injuries.

Finances Finances were once again worrying for the club and its supporters. A greatly reduced wage bill of £7,900 still necessitated fundraising activities from fans to keep the club alive. Arthur Prince was also sold to Sheffield Wednesday to raise cash. Season ticket prices ranged from £2 6s. 6d. to £3, 6s. 6d.

Cup competitions In the FA Cup, Vale drew Third Division North Wrexham in the fifth round of Qualifying for the second successive season, and another disappointing defeat followed, this time at the Racecourse Ground, with the Welsh club running out 5–1 winners. The North Staffordshire Infirmary Cup went to Stoke, who beat Vale 1–0 at the Old Recreation Ground.

Results Football League Second Division

League table

Results by matchday

Matches

FA Cup

North Staffordshire Infirmary 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 CupInfirmary CupTotal1FWTom Page91010–FWBilly Briscoe1000103FWWilf Kirkham7007–FWArthur Bridgett70075FWFred Howard2002–FWTom Butler2002–FWTom Reid2002–FWHarold Crockford2002–FWJack Lowe2002–HBJack Hampson2002–HBBob Connelly200212FBJack Maddock1001–HBErnest Collinge1001–HBAlf Dark1001TOTALS501051

Transfers

Transfers in Date from Position Nationality Name From Fee Ref. 1923 FW Arthur Bridgett Sunderland Free transfer 1923 FW Wilf Kirkham Congleton Town Free transfer April 1923 FW Joe Pointon Stoke City Free transfer May 1923 FW Harold Crockford Exeter City Free transfer May 1923 FW Jack Lowe Bolton Wanderers Free transfer June 1923 HB Alf Dark Leeds United Free transfer June 1923 GK Tommy Lonsdale Stalybridge Celtic Free transfer June 1923 FB William Newton Red Street P.S.A. Free transfer July 1923 FW Fred Howard Clyde Free transfer July 1923 HB Roger Jones Ravensdale Free transfer July 1923 HB Jack Mellor New Mills Free transfer July 1923 GK Robert Radford Brereton Social Free transfer August 1923 FB Jack Maddock Macclesfield Town Free transfer August 1923 FB Jimmy Oakes Milton Albion Free transfer September 1923 FW Louis Bookman Luton Town £250 November 1923 FW Albert Spencer Wolverhampton Wanderers Free transfer January 1924 FW Billy Briscoe Congleton Town Free transfer February 1924 FW George Benson Queens Park Rangers Trial

Transfers out Date from Position Nationality Name To Fee Ref. September 1923 FW Harold Crockford Chesterfield Mutual consent November 1923 FW Tom Butler His death November 1923 FW Fred Howard New Brighton Free transfer February 1924 FW George Benson Chorley Trial ended February 1924 FB William Newton Congleton Town Free transfer May 1924 FW Arthur Prince Sheffield Wednesday £750 Summer 1924 FW Louis Bookman Shelbourne Released Summer 1924 FW Arthur Bridgett Sandbach Ramblers Released Summer 1924 HB Alf Dark Halifax Town Released Summer 1924 HB Jack Hampson Released Summer 1924 HB Tom Holford Retired Summer 1924 GK Tommy Lonsdale Released Summer 1924 HB Jack Mellor New Mills Released Summer 1924 FB Peter Pursell Wigan Borough Free transfer Summer 1924 GK Robert Radford Brereton Social Released Summer 1924 FW Albert Spencer Willenhall Released

References Specific

General