The 1931–32 season was Port Vale's 26th season of football in the English Football League and their second-successive season (25th overall) in the Second Division. After their impressive fifth‑place finish in 1930–31, hopes were high, but Vale instead endured a difficult season, finishing 20th in the Second Division with just 33 points, scraping above relegation only on goal average over Barnsley.

Manager Tom Morgan oversaw a largely underwhelming league campaign, though one bright moment arrived in February when Vale beat Potteries derby rivals Stoke 3–0 at the Old Recreation Ground, denting Stoke's promotion hopes. However, Stoke won the North Staffordshire Royal Infirmary Cup, routing Vale 7–0, and the result soon preceded Morgan's departure as manager. Emerging as a key player in a troubling season was Tom Nolan, who made his debut and finished as top scorer with 11 goals in all competitions, including 8 in the league — a promising output for a first season senior squad member.

In the FA Cup, Port Vale advanced to the Fourth Round before elimination, more or less a repeat of the previous season's cup run. Off the pitch, Vale's average home attendance dipped to just 9,564, with league attendances peaking at 21,089 against Stoke in February. The club's decline from a top‑five finish to a relegation fight marked a sobering downturn after the optimism of 1930–31.

Overview

Second Division The pre-season saw the departure of Phil Griffiths to Second Division champions Everton for £6,000; whilst Jack Simms and Harry Anstiss departed for Swansea Town. In came Dicky York, Arthur Dorrell, Billy Easton, Tom Tippett, and George Poyser. Dorrell and York arrived from First Division runners-up Aston Villa, and the ageing wingers had England caps to their names. Easton had a proven goalscoring record at Swansea, and Tippett and Pyser arrived from Rochdale and Mansfield Town respectively. Big things were expected, and season ticket sales were up by 300% on the previous season.

The season began with a 3–1 win at Plymouth Argyle's Home Park, with Sam Jennings scoring a brace. The first home match took place in front of a new £10,351 stand, yet Leeds United took home the points. In September, Jennings was sold to Stockport County, and Stewart Littlewood took his place in the first XI. Two close run victories followed that saw eleven goals scored, however, performances tailed off until 26 September when Stoke City romped to a 4–0 victory at the Victoria Ground. "Inferior in all departments", the "Valiants" changed their line-up following the defeat, 'resting' Littlewood – this resulted in a four-match unbeaten streak. The next month saw the arrival of centre-forward Tom Nolan from Manchester Central. Harry Marshall was attracting praise for his performances in the half-back role. However, Tippett was criticised for his lack of goals. Due to the Great Depression, the bank refused to allow an extension to the club's £5,000 overdraft. So, the club controversially notified other clubs that it would consider offers for its players to raise the funds to buy new players.

On 21 November, they lost 9–3 to Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane despite having led 2–1 at 35 minutes before Tom Tippett was forced off with an ankle injury. This twelve-goal match is still a club record. On 12 December, they suffered the division's biggest home defeat of the season, going down 7–1 to eventual free-scoring champions Wolverhampton Wanderers. Going into their Boxing Day win over Notts County they had lost seven of their previous nine games, conceding 33 goals. A holiday break in Llandudno seemed to raise the team's spirits, as two further 2–0 victories followed.

In January, Wilf Kirkham was re-signed from Stoke to the delight of fans. On 6 February, he took part in a morale-boosting 3–0 home win over Stoke in front of 21,089 fans – an attendance that raised £1,350 of funds. The referee T.Crew also enjoyed the game, congratulating both sides on a sporting display that "was the most pleasurable game he had ever officiated". Vale followed this by picking just four points in their next 13 games to almost certainly doom the club to relegation – crucially though were the two points they earned from a 3–0 win over Barnsley. With two games to go they were three points (and inferior goal average) behind the Tykes. After a 2–1 win over Chesterfield matched by a 4–1 home defeat by Barnsley, they were just behind by a single point. Vale's final game of the season was against already promoted second place Leeds United, unbeaten at Elland Road since September, and a 'convincing' 2–0 victory followed thanks to goals from Littlewood and Tippett. Barnsley only managed a 2–2 draw, and so Vale leapfrogged Barnsley to reach the safety of 20th place.

They finished 20th due to their superior goal average. However, with 58 goals scored, their attack was the third worst in the division, whilst their 89 goals conceded made them the second leakiest defence in the division. Lacking a consistent goalscorer, top-scorers Nolan and Tippett failed to reach twenty goals between them. Losing half their games, their statistic of nine home defeats was particularly worrying.

Lucky to still be a second-tier club, a clear-out followed. Impressive Harry Marshall was sold to Tottenham Hotspur, whilst 323 league-game eleven-year club veteran Bob Connelly was handed a free transfer to Congleton Town. Joseph Chell and Clarence Spencer were also released, signing for Stoke City and Norwich City respectively. Arthur Dorrell and Dicky York's best days were well behind them, as Dorrell retired and York signed with Brierley Hill Alliance. Manager Tom Morgan meanwhile reverted to his old position as assistant secretary, replaced at the helm by former manager Tom Holford.

Finances On the financial side, gate receipts were at £12,170 – their lowest total since re-joining the Football League in 1919. However, 'rigid economy' ensured a profit of £873.

Cup competitions In the FA Cup, they travelled to Brighton & Hove Albion's Goldstone Ground of the Third Division South. They progressed with a 2–1 victory thanks to two strikes from Nolan. Coming up against First Division Leicester City in the fourth round, they were defeated 2–1 in front of 20,637 deafening supporters. On 9 May, they lost the last North Staffordshire Infirmary Cup friendly with Stoke, losing 7–0 in a match they "scarcely tried" to win.

Results Football League Second Division

League table

Results by matchday

Matches

FA Cup

North Staffordshire Royal 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 Nolan830112FWTom Tippett80083FWBilly Easton60064FWArthur Dorrell5005–FWDicky York5005–FWStewart Littlewood50057FWWilf Kirkham4004–FWJames Henshall4004–FWHarry Marshall400410HBJack Round300311FWSam Jennings2002–HBRoger Jones200213FWHarry Rowbotham1001–––Own goals2002TOTALS593062

Transfers

Transfers in Date from Position Nationality Name From Fee Ref. May 1931 FW Billy Easton Swansea Town Free transfer May 1931 FB George Poyser Mansfield Town Free transfer June 1931 FB William Allsop Bolton Wanderers Free transfer June 1931 FW Arthur Dorrell Aston Villa Free transfer June 1931 FW Tom Tippett Rochdale Free transfer June 1931 FW Dicky York Aston Villa Free transfer October 1931 FW Robert G. Davies Stoke St.Peter's Free transfer October 1931 FW Tom Nolan Manchester Central Free transfer January 1932 FW Wilf Kirkham Stoke City Free transfer March 1932 FW Horace Baker Longton Hall Free transfer March 1932 GK Jock Leckie Bray Unknowns Free transfer April 1932 HB Fred Mills Middleport Free transfer

Transfers out Date from Position Nationality Name To Fee Ref. September 1931 FW Sam Jennings Stockport County Free transfer March 1932 FW Harry Marshall Tottenham Hotspur Undisclosed May 1932 FW Joseph Chell Stoke City Free transfer May 1932 HB Bob Connelly Congleton Town Free transfer May 1932 FW Arthur Dorrell Retired Summer 1932 FW Harry Rowbotham Hyde United Released August 1932 GK Arthur Slater Watford Free transfer August 1932 FB Billy Wootton Southend United Free transfer August 1932 FW Dicky York Brierley Hill Alliance Free transfer

References Specific

General