The 1891–92 season was Burslem Port Vale's second-successive season in the Midland League, where they achieved a third‑place finish (25 points) under the guidance of an amateur committee, meriting election to the Football League the following year. The Athletic Ground in Cobridge hosted their home fixtures, and Vale recorded a strong offensive performance, with Frank McGinnes leading as top scorer, netting 18 league goals and 35 in all competitions. In cup play, Port Vale exited the FA Cup and Birmingham Senior Cup in the First Qualifying Round, reached the semi‑final of the Staffordshire Senior Cup, and were winners of the North Staffordshire Challenge Cup. The campaign saw peak support with around 3,000 spectators attending the home match against Burton Wanderers on 5 September 1891, while average attendance hovered at approximately 1,394.

Overview Midland League In preparation for the new Midland League campaign, Burslem Port Vale signed winger Jimmy Scarratt from Wellington St. George's and prepared a new kit of red jerseys with grey kickers – the uniforms were made by Mrs Danks, the secretary's wife. They failed to bring good fortune in the opening league game, however, a 3–2 defeat at home to Burton Wanderers. After the game the club also signed a new outside-right, G McHarg. Though he had little impact on the first-team, they managed to record a 7–1 victory over Loughborough Town, with Frank McGinnes claiming a hat-trick in a match that kicked off 50 minutes late as some visiting players had missed their train. Vale followed this with a 4–0 win over Doncaster Rovers, despite McGinnis missing the first ever penalty shot awarded at the Athletic Ground and McHarg being criticised for over-dribbling. McGinnis was suspended for refusing to follow management orders, whilst McHarg was sidelined with a rib injury. On 7 November, Vale were narrowly beaten 2–1 by league leaders Wednesbury Old Athletic. On 12 December, John Davies had his contract cancelled after failing to turn up to what turned out to be a 3–1 defeat at Doncaster Rovers amid a blinding snowstorm.

Potteries derby rivals Stoke were keen to take McGinnis to the Football League First Division, but Vale resisted all attempts to sign him, rejecting a bid of £30. Instead of losing a player, Vale signed goalkeeper Joe Frail, a gypsy, though he sprained his knee in a friendly game against a touring Canadian side and had to undergo surgey. The team kit was changed in January to red shirts. Results began to improve, starting with a 6–3 home win over Rotherham Town, and the club won seven and lost two of their final nine fixtures. New signing Billy Beats in particular found form. Alarmingly, though, only 150 spectators turned out to witness the final day victory over Leicester Fosse on 28 April, causing the club to make a loss on the game after marketing costs were deducted. Vale ended the campaign in third place, with McGinnes scoring three times as many goals as any other player at the club. Port Vale were elected to the Football Alliance.

Cup competitions Vale failed to transfer their league form to the FA Cup, bowing out at the first qualification round after losing 4–2 to Burton Wanderers. They entered the Birmingham Senior Cup, but faced tough opposition in Aston Villa in the first round and were beaten 5–2. They fared better in the Staffordshire Senior Cup, avenging Burton Wanderers with a 4–0 victory despite a slow start to the game. In the next round, they overcame Walsall Town Swifts after a replay, but fell to a 4–1 defeat to Burton Swifts in the semi-finals. They managed to end the season by taking home the North Staffordshire Challenge Cup outright, beating Stoke 2–0 despite McGinnis being sent off for "foul charging".

Results WinDrawLoss

Midland League

FA Cup

Birmingham Senior Cup

Staffordshire Senior Cup

North Staffordshire Challenge Cup

Friendlies

Squad statistics

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

Top scorers PlacePositionNationNameMidland LeagueFA CupOtherTotal1FWFrank McGinnes18017352FWMeshach Dean60713–FWTommy Walker409134FWJimmy Scarratt615125FWJimmy Ditchfield11246FWArthur Pimlott1023–FWW. Jones10238HBBilly Elson20029FWBilly Beats1001–FWGeorge Booth1001–HBFred Farrington0011–FWJohn Nash1001–––Scrimmage3036–––Own goals1034TOTALS4625199

Transfers

Transfers in Date from Position Nationality Name From Fee Ref. 1891 HB Fredericks Free transfer 1891 FW Hodgkinson Free transfer 1891 FW Arthur Pimlott Free transfer Summer 1891 HB Billy Delves Free transfer Summer 1891 FW Jimmy Scarratt Wellington St. George's Free transfer Summer 1891 HB George Shutt Hanley Town Free transfer Summer 1891 HB Warburton Free transfer Autumn 1891 FW Billy Beats Port Hill Victoria Free transfer Autumn 1891 GK Joe Frail Free transfer September 1891 FW G McHarg Burslem Port Vale Free transfer December 1891 FW Tommy Walker Free transfer 1892 FW S Bullock Free transfer 1892 FW M Regan Free transfer March 1892 FW Hatton Wellington Town Free transfer

Transfers out Date from Position Nationality Name To Fee Ref. Spring 1892 HB Fredericks Released Spring 1892 FW Hatton Released Spring 1892 HB Warburton Released 1892 FW George Booth Released 1892 GK John Davies Newton Heath Released 1892 FW Hodgkinson Released 1892 GK Keeley Released 1892 FW Keeling Released 1892 FB C. McAlpine Darlington Free transfer 1892 FW G McHarg Released 1892 GK Nixon Released 1892 FW Billy Reynolds Released

References Specific

General