1896–97 Burslem Port Vale F.C. season
1896–97 Burslem Port Vale F.C. season
Burslem Port Vale returned to the Midland League after four seasons in the Football League. The club faced financial trouble early on, but a new committee led by Edward Oliver (chairman) and Sam Gleaves (secretary) stabilized things after December. A public share issue was launched and a £2,000 company was formed to raise funds.
Vale finished seventh in the 15-team Midland League, with 31 points from 28 games (14 wins, 3 draws, 11 losses). Dick Evans was the league’s top scorer for the club with 12 goals, and Evans and Danny Simpson were joint top scorers in all competitions with 14 apiece. The biggest win was 8–0 against Grantham Rovers on 20 February 1897, and the heaviest defeat was 1–7 to Heanor Town on 5 December 1896. Average home league attendance was about 967.
In cup competitions, Vale reached the Fifth Qualifying Round of the FA Cup (knocked out by Burton Swifts), were eliminated in the first round of the Birmingham Senior Cup by Brierley Hill Alliance, and exited in the preliminary round of the Staffordshire Senior Cup to Dresden United. They reached the semi-finals of the Wellingborough Cup but lost to Wellingborough Town, and they won the Staffordshire Senior Charity Cup.
Vale also sought readmission to the Football League in 1897 but were unsuccessful, receiving 11 votes, two short of the winner Luton Town. The season saw a gradual return of crowd support and a respectable league finish after the mid‑season revival.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 14:54 (CET).