1926–27 Port Vale F.C. season

The 1926–27 season was Port Vale's eighth consecutive season of football (21st overall) in the English Football League.^[1] Under the management of Joe Schofield and the chairmanship of Frank Huntbach, the club secured 45 points from 16 wins, 13 draws, and 13 losses. This performance placed them nine points shy of promotion to the top tier, and for the first time in the club's history, they played in a higher division than their local rivals, Stoke City.

A standout feature of the season was the prolific performance of forward Wilf Kirkham, who set a club record by scoring 38 league goals and 41 goals in all competitions. His remarkable tally included six braces, four hat-tricks, and a four-goal game. Kirkham's contributions were instrumental in Vale's attacking success. Defensively, right-back Jack Maddock played all 42 league matches, and goalkeeper Tom Fern made 41 appearances, showcasing the team's consistency in key positions.

In cup competitions, Vale advanced to the Fourth Round of the FA Cup, defeating Clapton Orient in a replay before facing First Division Arsenal. After a draw at home, they were narrowly defeated 1–0 at Highbury. In the North Staffordshire Infirmary Cup, Vale were runners-up, losing 5–0 to Stoke City in the final. Despite the heavy defeat, the match raised £365 for the local hospital.

Off the pitch, the club faced financial challenges and sought to relocate back to the Athletic Ground. However, negotiations with the council were unsuccessful, as they offered only £20,000 for the land at the Old Recreation Ground and refused to waive the first option on a repurchase, effectively ending the club's relocation plans. The season concluded with Port Vale maintaining their position in the Second Division, continuing their steady presence in English football's second tier.

The pre-season additions included Stoke left-half Vic Rouse and Stockport County half-back George Whitcombe.^[1]

The season started with just one defeat in the opening ten games, the defeat coming in a "thrilling" 4–2 loss at relegation candidates Darlington two days after the 2–1 opening day victory at Bradford City. Vale came from behind to draw 4–4 at Preston North End. The run concluded with a disappointing 1–1 home draw with bottom club Wolverhampton Wanderers. Going into October, the club suffered from injuries, meaning that four of the five games that month ended in defeat, with just two goals scored.^[1] Goalkeeper Tom Fern was one of the injured, and so 44-year-old Howard Matthews was re-signed, having left the club 19 years earlier.^[1] To boost the strike-force Stewart Littlewood and Jack Simms were signed from Luton Town and Leek Alexandra respectively.^[1] The week after a 6–2 defeat at Fulham, the "Valiants" returned to thrash Grimsby Town 6–1, Kirkham bagging a hat-trick.^[1]

On 18 December, Vale lost 2–0 at home to Nottingham Forest after Jack Maddock put two penalties wide of the goal.^[1] Littlewood made his debut on Christmas Day, scoring two goals in a 2–1 win at Clapton Orient. The return fixture, two days later, saw a 3–0 win, though Billy Briscoe had to go to the North Staffordshire Royal Infirmary with concussion. Vale suffered a 5–2 defeat at Middlesbrough on New Year's Day after Tom Page picked up an injury early in the match. On 5 February, Howard Matthews had to be carried off the pitch after suffering a serious injury at South Shields, though a Kirkham hat-trick secured the Vale a 3–3 draw. Later that month, Alfred Strange felt unsettled, and so was transferred to The Wednesday in exchange for Harry Anstiss and an unknown sum of money.^[1] Strange would later win twenty caps for England in his 30s. In contrast, Anstiss settled in well at the Vale, scoring eleven goals in 15 league games during his debut season.^[1] Kirkham claimed another hat-trick in a 6–2 win over Notts County to take his club tally to one hundred goals.^[1]

A 4–1 defeat at Manchester City on 12 March was the first of three successive defeats as the team experimented with short passing tactics. Jack Lowe missed the game with an ankle sprain, ending his run of 123 consecutive appearances.^[1] As the season drew to a close, secretary Joe Schofield was made manager, meaning he was better able to work with the younger players.^[1] On 2 April, more direct tactics helped to secure a 7–1 home win over Fulham as Kirkham scored four goals with he visitors "outpaced and overwhelmed". A 3–1 home win over league leaders Middlesbrough on 15 April ended the visitors' 22-game unbeaten run as Kirkham claimed his fifth hat-trick of the campaign. The Old Recreation Ground suffered a crowd crush, though nobody was killed despite several barriers and railings being damaged by the mass of bodies. The campaign ended with an eighth-place finish, with Kirkham scoring 38 of the 88 league goals.^[1]

On the financial side, the club wished to move back to the Athletic Ground due to the lack of space to develop The Old Recreation Ground.^[1] However, the council would only offer £20,000 for the land at the Old Rec, and refused to waive the first option on a repurchase, thereby killing the club's ambitions.^[1]

In the FA Cup, Vale made it through to the fourth round after taking Clapton Orient to a replay, having conceded an equaliser in the original fixture after stopping play when a whistle was blown in the crowd. This came just two weeks after they had played the club twice during the Christmas period.^[1] They then faced First Division club Arsenal and played out a 2–2 draw at the Old Recreation Ground after Jimmy Brain scored a last-minute equaliser for the visitors.^[2] The "Gunners" won the replay by a goal to nil at Highbury, before going on to lose in the final.^[1] Vale had led 2–1 in he original tie, before conceding a late equaliser, which was celebrated by manager Herbert Chapman throwing his bowler hat onto the pitch in glee. Vale's hard work in the tournament earned them over £4,000 in gate receipts.^[1] On 5 May 1927, Vale played Potteries derby rivals Stoke City in the North Staffordshire Royal Infirmary Cup, and lost an embarrassing 5–0 to the Third Division North champions.^[1] However, £365 was raised for the local hospital.^[3]

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.