1899–1900 Burslem Port Vale F.C. season

The 1899–1900 season was Burslem Port Vale's second consecutive season (sixth overall) of football in the English Football League.^[1] Under the stewardship of chairman Robert Audley and manager Sam Gleaves, Vale finished 11th in the league with 34 points, registering a decent defensive record but struggling for goals—the second‑lowest tally in the division. In the FA Cup, Vale reached the Fifth Qualifying Round before being eliminated by Stalybridge Rovers. They were also runners-up in both the Staffordshire Senior Cup and Birmingham Senior Cup, losing finals to West Bromwich Albion and Wolverhampton Wanderers respectively. The team's league top scorer was Howard Harvey, with 10 goals in the Second Division (17 in all competitions). Attendances were low: the highest home gates reached about 3,000 for matches against Newton Heath (7 April 1900) and Grimsby Town (9 September 1899), while the lowest dipped to just 300 spectators for the home win over Lincoln City on 21 April 1900. The average league attendance was approximately 1,518.

During the pre-season, the Athletic Ground had its capacity increased to 25,000. Four new forwards were signed, namely Scots Billy Grassam (Maryhill) and James Reid (Hibernian), and local lads Charles Walters (Gainsborough Trinity) and Billy Leech (Tottenham Hotspur).^[1]

The season started with three defeats in four games, including a 3–2 loss to Grimsby Town in a home tie that the hosts had looked comfortably ahead with 20 minutes to play. The team won all six league fixtures in the months of October and November, with just two goals conceded. However, attendance figures made grim reading, and left-half Ted McDonald had to be sold to Notts County in November to raise cash.^[1] On 23 December, they recorded a 3–0 victory over Small Heath.^[2] A top-of-the-table clash with Newton Heath at Bank Street ended in a 3–0 defeat. A 5–0 humbling at Bolton Wanderers on 2 January signalled the end of the club's promotion hopes. Goalkeeper Herbert Birchenough was sold to Glossop in January, with top scorer Howard Harvey also sold to Manchester City that same month.^[1] On 27 January, Vale were beaten 2–1 at Small Heath; Jack Aston opened the scoring from a free kick after ten minutes, and though Vale soon tied the scores, Small Heath raised their game in the second half, "at times more force than necessary was used", and Alex Leake headed the winner.^[3]

The club were in a downward spiral, and the team went on a ten-game sequence without a win. A 4–0 loss at Gainsborough Trinity on 17 March demonstrated the team's lack of confidence, though it was the poor attendances that were more worrying for the club's survival as a Football League club. Three wins in the final five games of the campaign kept the club securely in mid-table. Their second-to-last match saw a mere 300 supporters turn up to watch a 2–1 win over Lincoln City. The club finished in 11th position and only the bottom club Loughborough scored fewer goals. All players of monetary value were made available for transfer, with Scottish forwards James Reid and Billy Grassam being signed by Southern League side West Ham United. Billy Leech joined Stoke and left-back Tom McFarlane moved on to Middlesbrough.^[1]

Club chairman Robert Audley warned in November that poor attendances would lead to the club's demise. Secretary Sam Gleaves said that £500 was urgently needed, and it was noted that Port Vale were the only club in the division to be operating at a loss. A Shilling Fund was started to meet the shortfall, though only £39 was raised. The players agreed to go two weeks without wages in February to avoid complete financial collapse. On 27 March, Audley reported that the club were in debt to the tune of £940. Huge reductions in the playing budget still required a committee to raise £500 to try and keep the club as a going concern. At the end of the season, there were drastic budget cuts, even so much as to stop paying players' wages over the summer period – the only club in the league to do so.^[1] Cheaper, local talent was recruited to fill the void left by departing stars. The club lost £73 throughout the campaign despite having trimmed ten times that figure from the playing budget.^[4]

In the FA Cup, the club vanquished nearby Nantwich despite having to play with ten men following a head injury to Charles Walters in the first half. They then overcame Crewe Alexandra following a replay. However, a 1–0 home defeat to Lancashire Combination side Stalybridge Rovers eliminated Vale at the fifth qualification round.^[1]

They reached the final of the Staffordshire Senior Cup and the Birmingham Senior Cup, losing to West Bromwich Albion and Wolverhampton Wanderers respectively.^[1] West Brom defeated Vale 5–0 in the final at Villa Park, taking revenge for the "Valeites" dumping West Brom out of the Birmingham Cup by the same scoreline.^[1]

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

Specific

General

• Kent, Jeff (1993). The Port Vale Record 1879-1993. Witan Books. ISBN 0-9508981-9-8.