Photo Essay: new signings Roy Chapman and Mick Morris in 1967
Pictured are new Port Vale signings Roy Chapman and Mick Morris in the summer of 1967
Background
This photo shows two of Port Vale’s new signings for the 1967-68 season. Following the departure of Terry Alcock to Blackpool for a record £25,000 Vale invested in a new strike duo. Experienced Roy Chapman signed from Lincoln City alongside Mick Morris from Oxford United.
The season certainly turned out to be a memorable one but mainly for the wrong reasons. After another groundbreaking tour of Czechoslavakia in pre-season (find out more about those tours in this feature).
A poor season saw the Valiants battle to mid-table in order and avoid the re-election zone. Chapman top-scored with 25 goals while Morris added a further six.
However, once again it would be off-the-field developments that would worry Vale supporters the most. An FA/Football League Joint-Inquiry investigated the club as club officials were forced to admit several breaches of the rules in regard to payment of players. The result was expulsion from the League.
However before the start of the following season a vote of 39 to nine allowed the club to be immediately readmitted to the competition.