Read an 1893 match report as Port Vale thrash rivals Crewe

Background: what was Vale’s situation at the time?

The Vale team from the previous 1892-93 season

The 1893-94 season was Port Vale’s second season in the Football League. Having finished eleventh (out of sixteen clubs) the previous year, the expectations were not high. However, a frankly staggering start saw the Valiants win all seven of their opening games as it looked like promotion to Division One was on the cards. You can read more about that electric start in this special feature we published. However, sadly the team’s form fell away and they eventually finished mid-table.

There were some remarkable scorelines. During that incredible opening run, Vale hit four or more goals in their opening six games. The run ended in dramatic fashion as they lost 8-1 at Man City before being hammered 6-1 by Notts County. With teams often facing themselves in consecutive fixtures one pair of results saw Vale lose 4-0 to Grimsby on the 2nd December and then thump them 6-1 two days later.

This game against Crewe was right in the middle of that amazing opening run as it was the team’s third game of the season. You can read the vintage match report later on in this article.

The Port Vale team…

Billy Beats

Goalkeeper:

Joe Frail – the Burslem-born goalkeeper was only first-choice for a short run of twenty games. He was dropped after missing the team train for a game at Rotherham and failing to explain why. Soon after he was transferred to Glossop Villa.

Backs:

James Clutton – born in Goldenhill, Clutton made 92 appearances for the Valiants, his only club, with over 50 in the Football League.

George Youds – a former Pottery worker the local joined the Valiants from non-league football and became a regular in defence.

Half-backs:

James Smith – little is known about the player’s origins. He made 26 appearances for the Valiants before he picked up an injury which looked to have ended his playing career.

Bob McCrindle – a Scottish footballer who started his career with the Valiants. He later played for Luton Town where he was called up for the Scotland International team.

Billy Elson – a locally born player who spent eight years at the club although the majority of his spell was while Vale were a non-league side.

Forwards:

Jimmy Scarratt – the Shropshire born player appeared to have a short fuse having once walked off the pitch while playing a game for Vale. He sadly picked up an injury alter in the season which ruled him out for a year.

Meshach Dean – the inside-right was a regular for six seasons. The Burslem-born player scored 28 times in just over a hundred appearances. Tragically, he died in 1916 aged just 46.

Billy Beats – scorer of two of the goals, Wolstanton born Billy began his professional career with the club, scoring 25 times in 77 games. His form earned him an £80 move to top-flight Wolves where he played in the FA Cup final and scored 67 times in 199 games. He also had a spell with Bristol Rovers before returning to Vale for a second time.

Alf Wood – Smallthorne born Alf started his career with the Valiants before moving on to spells with Stoke City, Aston Villa and Derby County.

Lewis Campbell – A Scottish forward who joined the Valiants after a spell with Aston Villa. Campbell finished as the top-scorer that season with fourteen goals.

The match report