1919–20 Port Vale F.C. season

[1] In March 1919, Stoke, West Ham United, South Shields, Rotherham County, and Coventry City all gained re-election to the league – Port Vale were short by just one vote.[1] The club built a strong side for the 1919–20 Central League campaign, signing skilful forward William Aitken and former Scotland international Peter Pursell from Rangers.[1] Two defeats to eventual champions Tottenham Hotspur followed, before the club scored their first goal, and picked up their first win against South Shields on 10 November thanks to an Aaron Lockett strike.[1] Stoke dispatched the Vale 3–0 in front of the biggest home crowd of the season, the first-ever encounter between the two clubs in the Football League.[1] Financially, the club were on much better terms than twelve years ago, with even practice matches well attended and supporters groups busy raising cash to improve The Old Recreation Ground.[1] In the First Round the Vale put up a brave fight against Manchester United, going out 1–0 in front of almost 15,000 supporters – thanks in part due to a great performance from opposition keeper Jack Mew.[1] This was particularly remarkable considering that in their Central League game just four months earlier the Vale first-team had lost 3–2 to the United Reserve outfit.

Back row (players only) Joe Brough, Alf Bourne, unknown , unknown , Peter Pursell
Front row: unknown , unknown , Billy Briscoe, Tom Holford (player manager), unknown , unknown

Chairman Frank Huntbach, who coined the Valiants' nickname.

Player-manager Tom Holford .

Bobby Blood scored 24 Second Division goals against all the odds.

Joe Brough , 33, returned to the Football League after a seven-year absence.

Young forward Billy Briscoe was prolific in The Central League.

Port ValeTom HolfordJoe SchofieldThe Old Recreation GroundFootball League Second DivisionFA CupManchester UnitedStaffordshire Senior CupBobby BloodStockport CountyFulhamHome colours1918–191920–211919–20 seasonEnglish Football LeaguerivalsThe Central LeagueLeeds CitymanagerPlayer-managerJoe BroughBilly BriscoeStaffordshireGreat WarWest Ham UnitedSouth ShieldsRotherham CountyCoventry CityreserveFootball League First DivisionAston VillaManchester CityEvertonBlackburn RoversHuddersfield TownTranmere RoversBlackpoolHull CityWolverhampton WanderersWilliam AitkenScotland internationalPeter PursellRangersTottenham HotspurAaron LockettFirst World Warhat-trickpromotionTom LyonsAlfred BourneshillingsLoughborough CorinthiansJack Mewtheir historyWest Bromwich AlbionreplayspenaltyBilly FitchfordBirmingham ReservesVictoria GroundBarnsleyLeicester CityClapton OrientCentral LeagueAston Villa ReservesAitkenBriscoeWoottonFitchfordBroadhouseManchester City ReservesManchester United ReservesHolfordBlackburn Rovers ReservesLockett1919–20 Football LeagueLincoln CityBroughBristol CityNottingham ForestGrimsby TownBirmingham1919–20 FA CupStoke ReservesWest Bromwich Albion ReservesJonathan HammondEdgar BentleyPercy EllisBen MarsdenJames WoottonArthur McGarryAndie NewtonErnest PerryArchie DykeJames HillAlbert BroadhouseTommy SinclairGeorge SheltonHarry WainwrightAlfred ManningAlbert PearsonDick BurgessJohn DavisJack MellorNew MillsWalsallStafford RangersNewcastle UnitedShildonSouthend UnitedPort Vale F.C.seasons1888–891890–911891–921892–931893–941894–951895–961896–971897–981898–991899–001900–011901–021902–031903–041904–051905–061906–071916–171917–181921–221922–231923–241924–251925–261926–271927–281928–291929–301930–311931–321932–331933–341934–351935–361936–371937–381938–391939–401944–451945–461946–471947–481948–491949–501950–511951–521952–531953–541954–551955–561956–571957–581958–591959–601960–611961–621962–631963–641964–651965–661966–671967–681968–691969–701970–711971–721972–731973–741974–751975–761976–771977–781978–791979–801980–811981–821982–831983–841984–851985–861986–871987–881988–891989–901990–91