1944–45 Port Vale F.C. season

The 1944–45 season was Port Vale's second season of football in the wartime league system of World War II.^[1] Under the stewardship of club director Jack Diffin — who managed from October to December before David Pratt took over (though he was never cleared by the RAF to actually manage a game) — the Valiants entered the Football League North First Championship, finishing 46th out of 54 clubs with just 18 matches played, accruing 12 points with 5 wins, 2 draws and 11 defeats.

Their cup campaigns were no better: they came 54th in the War League Cup with 12 points, 48th in the League North Cup with 7 points, and failed to qualify for the Midland Cup. Alf Bellis was the top scorer with ten goals in all competitions (including five in the league, level with Eric Prince), while home attendances ranged from a high of 17,040 (versus Stoke City on 24 February 1945) to just 2,195 (against Walsall on 23 December), averaging 5,969 for the season. Though limited success plagued the season, Port Vale managed a financial profit of £1,262, largely thanks to gate receipts of £11,200 despite severe challenges on and off the pitch.

Port Vale resumed first-team football for the first time since the 1939–40 season, entering the North Championship of the war league, which contained 54 teams but required only 18 games to be played by each club.^[1] The junior team had been active since then, and the club hoped they could perform at a senior level, supplemented by guest players.^[1] A good crowd of 8,768 turned up at the Old Recreation Ground for the season-opener to Birmingham, and a 3–0 victory offered hope of a successful season.^[1] However, they lost the reverse fixture 4–0 and went on to pick up only one more point by the end of September.^[1] Their home performances were generally competent, but they ended the league with only one point on the road. Vale ended the league programme in 46th place, having accrued just 12 points from their 18 games.^[1]

A ten-game series for qualification to the League North Cup began in December. The club appointed David Pratt to manage the players, succeeding director Jack Diffin, though Pratt failed to gain clearance from the Royal Air Force and so never actually took charge of a game.^[1] Vale managed to win 3–2 away at Chester on 6 January but lost six games of the series, including heavy 8–1 and 6–2 defeats to Potteries derby rivals Stoke City.^[1] A seven games series of the North Championship followed, which attracted little interest as crowds dwindled. Though Vale managed to beat Stockport County 5–0, they lost five of their seven games, including two further poor defeats at the hands of Stoke City.^[1] The season concluded with four games of Midland Cup competition, of which Vale lost three. The opening game of the competition did, though, see a 3–2 win over Walsall; the Vale line-up included a 16-year-old Ronnie Allen and renowned Ireland international Peter Doherty.^[1] The club made a profit of £1,262 on the season, thanks to gate receipts of £11,200.^[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.