Third Division

The pre-season saw Roy Sproson attempt to construct a new attacking style by signing attacking midfielder Terry Bailey from Stafford Rangers for £2,500, winger Frank Sharp from Grimsby Town, and goalkeeper John Connaughton from Sheffield United.^[1] There was also a dispute with John Woodward who asked for a transfer after a disagreement over his contract; Sproson said "he is trying to hold us to ransom and we are not having that".^[1]

The season opened with two Bailey goals, though Vale would have to wait until their fourth match for a victory, at which point their coffers were boosted by £10,000 following Sammy Morgan's success at Aston Villa.^[1] In September, Sproson made a £10,000 bid for Keith Leonard that was rejected.^[1] Instead he brought in young left-back Garry Dulson on loan from Nottingham Forest, and later bought him permanently for £5,000, using another £5,400 Villa were forced to pay Vale after Morgan hit another target.^[1] The "Valiants" proved difficult to beat, and heading into Christmas they won six of their last nine league games.^[1] Their 4–0 win over Huddersfield Town lifted them into third place, with reporter Chris Harper writing that "the real strength of the performance again emanated from midfield where (Tommy) McLaren, Bailey, Lacey and Horton reigned supreme", though attendances were still below 4,000.^[2][1] A 3–1 win over Southend United at Roots Hall then put the club into second spot, at which point Bob Mountford was sold to Rochdale for £2,000.^[1] A four-day holiday in Benidorm in the new year did not seem to help the Vale, as three straight defeats followed to drag them down the table.^[1] To halt the slide Sproson bought striker Derek Brownbill from Liverpool for £5,000.^[1] Two sendings off in a 3–1 defeat at Leeds Road – John Brodie also managed to break his leg in the challenge that earned him a red card – forced Sproson to defend his team after that took the Vale's red card tally to seven for the season.^[1] A 2–1 win over Preston North End at Vale Park on 29 March was opposition player-manager Bobby Charlton's last appearance in the Football League.^[3] A solid spell put Vale back into the promotion race by March, though their form dropped off again, and their hopes were crushed completely on 26 April with a 3–1 defeat at home to Gordon Lee's champions-elect Blackburn Rovers.^[1]

They finished in sixth place with 51 points, leaving them four points shy of promoted Charlton Athletic.^[1] Just two home losses were matched by only three victories on the road.^[1] The three main scorers were Ray Williams (14), Terry Bailey (14), and Brian Horton (13).^[1] At the end of the season the players took a break in Malta, where they drew 1–1 with Floriana.^[1][4] Tommy McLaren spent the summer in Oregon, playing for the Portland Timbers.^[1]

Finances

On the financial side, a loss was made of £16,964 despite donations of £13,803 from the development funds.^[1] The supporters group also paid £1,200 for video equipment, allowing the club to record games and show players their mistakes.^[5] The average home attendance of 4,346 was the third-lowest in the division.^[1] Wages stood at £72,874, gate receipts took in £43,199, and there was a loss in the transfer market of £6,000.^[1] The financial situation meant that seven players were released and thirteen were retained.^[1] Amongst those departing were: John Woodward (Scunthorpe United); Frank Sharp (Northwich Victoria); Roy Cross (Nuneaton Borough); Bill Summerscales (Rochdale); and Reg Edwards (Brereton Social).^[1]

Cup competitions

In the FA Cup, Vale lost their First Round replay 2–0 at Lincoln City's Sincil Bank, following a 2–2 draw in Burslem.^[1] Dulson scored an own goal in the original match and was sent off in the replay for punching Dick Krzywicki.^[1]

In the League Cup, Vale left the competition at the first stage with a 1–0 defeat at Fourth Division Northampton Town's Sixfields Stadium.^[1]

Football League Third Division

FA Cup

League Cup

Appearances

More information Pos., Name ...

Pos.	Name	Football League		FA Cup		League Cup		Total
		Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
GK	Reg Edwards	2	0	0	0	0	0	2	0
GK	John Connaughton	44	0	2	0	1	0	47	0
DF	Bill Summerscales	27	0	1	0	1	0	29	0
DF	Roy Cross	2	0	0	0	0	0	2	0
DF	John Brodie	28	0	1	0	1	0	30	0
DF	Neil Griffiths	12	0	1	0	1	0	14	0
DF	David Harris	20	1	1	0	1	0	22	1
DF	Garry Dulson	32	0	2	0	0	0	34	0
MF	Tommy McLaren	39	1	2	0	1	0	42	1
MF	Brian Horton	44	13	2	0	4	0	47	13
MF	Tony Lacey	39	2	1	0	0	0	40	2
MF	Colin Tartt	37	0	1	0	0	0	38	0
MF	John Ridley	18	0	0	0	1	0	19	0
MF	Keith Chadwick	22	5	1	0	0	0	23	5
MF	Frank Sharp	24	2	2	0	1	0	27	2
MF	Terry Bailey	44	13	2	1	1	0	47	14
MF	Kenny Beech	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	0
FW	Bob Mountford	3	0	2	1	0	0	5	1
FW	John Woodward	39	5	2	0	0	0	41	5
FW	Ray Williams	40	14	0	0	1	0	41	14
FW	Derek Brownbill	16	4	0	0	0	0	16	4

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Top scorers

More information Place, Position ...

Place	Position	Nation	Name	Third Division	FA Cup	League Cup	Total
1	FW	England	Ray Williams	14	0	0	14
–	MF	England	Terry Bailey	13	1	0	14
3	MF	England	Brian Horton	13	0	0	13
4	MF	England	Keith Chadwick	5	0	0	5
–	FW	England	John Woodward	5	0	0	5
6	FW	England	Derek Brownbill	4	0	0	4
7	MF	England	Tony Lacey	2	0	0	2
–	MF	Scotland	Frank Sharp	2	0	0	2
9	MF	Scotland	Tommy McLaren	1	0	0	1
–	DF	England	David Harris	1	0	0	1
–	FW	England	Bob Mountford	0	1	0	1
–	–	–	Own goals	1	0	0	1
			TOTALS	61	2	0	63

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Transfers in

More information Date from, Position ...

Date from	Position	Nationality	Name	From	Fee	Ref.
May 1974	MF		Terry Bailey	Stafford Rangers	£3,000	[7]
May 1974	GK		John Connaughton	Sheffield United	Free transfer	[7]
May 1974	MF		Frank Sharp	Grimsby Town	Free transfer	[7]
November 1974	DF		Garry Dulson	Nottingham Forest	£5,000	[7]
February 1975	FW		Derek Brownbill	Liverpool	£5,000	[7]

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Transfers out

More information Date from, Position ...

Date from	Position	Nationality	Name	To	Fee	Ref.
December 1974	FW		Bob Mountford	Rochdale	£2,000	[7]
May 1975	DF		Andy Carr	Northwich Victoria	Free transfer	[7]
May 1975	DF		Roy Cross	Nuneaton Borough	Free transfer	[7]
May 1975	GK		Reg Edwards	Brereton Social	Free transfer	[7]
May 1975	MF		Frank Sharp	Northwich Victoria	Free transfer	[7]
May 1975	DF		Bill Summerscales	Rochdale	Free transfer	[7]
May 1975	FW		John Woodward	Scunthorpe United	Free transfer	[7]

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Loans in

More information Date from, Position ...

Date from	Position	Nationality	Name	To	Date to	Ref.
October 1974	DF		Garry Dulson	Nottingham Forest	November 1974	[7]

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Loans out

More information Date from, Position ...

Date from	Position	Nationality	Name	To	Date to	Ref.
October 1974	FW		Bob Mountford	Scunthorpe United	November 1974	[7]
December 1974	FW		Bob Mountford	Crewe Alexandra	December 1974	[7]

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