Third Division North

The pre-season saw the club switched from the Third Division South to the Third Division North, very much against the wishes of the directors, who believed a loss of income would follow.^[1] Manager Freddie Steele decided against making any new signings, and instead kept faith with the young team he had inherited the previous season.^[1] Offers were made for some of the young prospects, but none were accepted.^[1]

The season began with a 1–0 defeat at Valley Parade with a goal from Ray King's brother George, managed by Steele's predecessor Ivor Powell.^[1] This did not affect the team's spirits, as they went straight on to a seven match unbeaten run, conceding just three goals.^[1] Steele picked up an injury and so selected the versatile Basil Hayward to replace him.^[1] A shrewd move, Hayward would go on to become the club's top scorer.^[1] It took awhile to pay off however, as Vale went five games scoring just one goal.^[1] Steele attempted to sign a new forward, but to no avail.^[1] A 1–0 home defeat to wooden spoon contenders Accrington Stanley exemplified the club's trouble in front of goal, and also ended their record-breaking run of twelve consecutive home wins.^[1] Steele and trainer Ken Fish put the squad to work on the special fitness regime they devised, as the "Valiants" marched onwards.^[1]

Travelling to Boundary Park on 15 November, they beat Oldham Athletic 1–0, taking themselves up into third place.^[1] They dropped points during the Christmas period, though picked up a useful 4–1 win at Gresty Road on Boxing day.^[1] Three points out of a possible eight in February allowed leaders Oldham to pull away from the chasing Vale.^[1] In March Oldham and Grimsby Town struggled, and so Vale took advantage with six points from ten, conceding just three goals.^[1] With six of the final nine games at home, and all of the chasing pack yet to visit Burslem, the omens seemed good for promotion.^[1] Vale duly remained unbeaten until the season's end, however, drawing five of these games proved not enough.^[1] The 4 April encounter with Oldham proved to be the title decider, Vale had dominated the game but conceded a fatal equalizing goal on 86 minutes.^[1] Two draws against strugglers Chester were also costly.^[1] Nevertheless, they finished strongly, hammering Grimsby Town 4–0, Reg Potts scoring with a lob from 35 yards (32 m) out.^[1]

They finished second, a single point away from top spot.^[1] Steele's emphasis on teamwork had turned the team around, and earned the club its best finish since their relegation from the second tier in 1935–36.^[1] Their defensive record of 35 goals conceded was bettered only by Second Division Huddersfield Town.^[1] Their tally of 58 points was second only to the club's extraordinary 1929–30 campaign.^[1] Their main weakness was an average offence, though Hayward proved to be a revelation with 22 goals.^[1]

On 4 May, Vale played Potteries derby rivals Stoke City, who had just been relegated from the First Division.^[1] This Coronation Cup match ended in a 2–0 win for Stoke, with £1,053 raised for charity.^[1]

Finances

On the financial side, a £1,676 profit was recorded.^[1] This was due to a club record average attendance of 14,504 – which took gate receipts to £39,929 – and a £5,000 slash in the wage bill to £18,246.^[1] For once the club did not sell its best players, and yet it also made a profit.^[1] Steele was rewarded with a three-year contract.^[1] He again kept on almost all of the squad, with two exceptions being Jimmy Todd (Wellington Town) and Norman Hallam (Halifax Town).^[1]

Cup competitions

In the FA Cup, Third Division South Exeter City were beaten 2–1. However, in the Second Round league leaders Oldham Athletic won 3–0 in front of a season best 25,398 crowd at Vale Park – 8,000 of them Oldham supporters.^[1]

Football League Third Division North

FA Cup

Coronation Cup

Appearances

More information Pos., Name ...

Pos.	Name	Football League		FA Cup		Coronation Cup		Total
		Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
GK	Ray King	3	0	0	0	0	0	3	0
GK	Ray Hancock	43	0	2	0	1	0	46	0
DF	Tommy Cheadle	46	0	2	0	1	0	49	0
DF	Reg Potts	46	1	2	0	1	0	49	1
DF	Stan Turner	43	0	2	0	1	0	46	0
DF	Roy Sproson	45	2	2	0	1	0	48	2
DF	Jim Elsby	2	0	0	0	0	0	2	0
MF	Jimmy Todd	11	0	1	0	0	0	12	0
MF	Mick Hulligan	42	4	2	0	1	0	45	4
MF	Alan Bennett	27	3	2	0	0	0	29	3
MF	Albert Leake	24	4	1	0	1	0	26	4
MF	John Cunliffe	19	4	0	0	0	0	19	4
MF	Albert Mullard	40	6	2	1	1	0	43	7
MF	Norman Hallam	8	0	0	0	0	0	8	0
MF	Colin Askey	9	1	0	0	1	0	10	1
FW	Basil Hayward	37	22	2	0	1	0	40	22
FW	Ken Griffiths	44	13	2	1	1	0	47	14
FW	Freddie Steele	11	5	0	0	0	0	11	5
FW	Derek Tomkinson	6	0	0	0	0	0	6	0

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Top scorers

More information Place, Position ...

Place	Position	Nation	Name	Third Division North	FA Cup	Coronation Cup	Total
1	FW	England	Basil Hayward	22	0	0	22
2	FW	England	Ken Griffiths	13	1	0	14
3	MF	England	Albert Mullard	6	1	0	7
4	FW	England	Freddie Steele	5	0	0	5
5	MF	England	Albert Leake	4	0	0	4
–	MF	England	Mick Hulligan	4	0	0	4
–	MF	England	John Cunliffe	4	0	0	4
8	MF	England	Alan Bennett	3	0	0	3
9	DF	England	Roy Sproson	2	0	0	2
10	MF	England	Colin Askey	1	0	0	1
–	DF	England	Reg Potts	1	0	0	1
–	–	–	Own goals	2	0	0	2
			TOTALS	67	2	0	69

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Transfers in

More information Date from, Position ...

Date from	Position	Nationality	Name	From	Fee	Ref.
December 1952	FW		Derek Tomkinson	Burton Albion	Free transfer	[3]

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Transfers out

More information Date from, Position ...

Date from	Position	Nationality	Name	To	Fee	Ref.
May 1953	DF		John Abbotts		Released	[3]
May 1953	MF		Norman Hallam	Halifax Town	Free transfer	[3]
May 1953	MF		Jimmy Todd	Wellington Town	Free transfer	[3]
Summer 1953	FW		Freddie Steele	Retired		[3]

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