Cult Hero 58: Lucien Boullemier

Updated with new information this is the story of one of Port Vale’s most extravagantly named players who excelled in both sport and ceramics.

Rob Fielding writes…

Early life

The son of a French ceramic artist, Lucien had one of the most flamboyant and fascinating life stories of any Vale player.

The tale of how Lucien’s family came to Stoke is fascinating in itself. His father was Antonin Boullemier, who had also worked at Sevres. He survived the infamous “Siege of Paris” but after a “Commune” was formed, Antonin discovered he was on a list of enemies of the Commune. In the nick of time, he managed to catch a train to Belgium and eventually moved his family to England. In 1871 he found a job as a painter for Minton.

The young Lucien also initially worked as a ceramic artist before he found he had a skill for football…

Football career

The young Lucien also initially worked as a ceramic artist before he found he had a skill for football. He played for a number of local junior sides before joining Stoke City in 1896 and aged just 19 years of age, he played seven First Division games.

He left Stoke in 1897 and signed for the Valiants playing as a right-half. He had a five year spell at Port Vale during which he was one of the goalscorers in arguably the club’s most important cup win.

The Sheff Utd giantkilling

The Vale side of 1898 still contained many players from 1896 including Boullemier

The Valiants had failed to be re-elected to the League in 1896 after struggling for some years in Division Two. However, even in the non-league Midlands Division, the press reported that the club had fared “badly” and “was likely to pass out of existence.” Finances were so bad, the club had to resort to loans to enable them to travel and fulfil their fixtures.

Drawn against FA Cup finalists and future League Champions Sheff Utd, Vale’s chances looked bleak. However, after an eyebrow-raising 1-1 draw at Sheffield, Vale won the replay 2-1. The winning goal was scored by Boullemier in the second-half. It was such a stratospheric win that Vale were re-elected to the League. Without this win, Vale may have remained a non-League outfit or possibly ceased to exist.

Read more on this astonishing game here

Departure and return

However, after five years at Port Vale, the 25 year-old Boullemier announced his retirement and moved to the United States to work for a china factory in New Jersey. He also continued to play football in the USA.

The move to the States didn’t work out and Lucien returned to England in 1905. The 28 year-old had a brief spell with Northampton Town before re-joining Port Vale. However, the move didn’t work out and after just one game he retired for good. By the end of his career he had made over 150 appearances for the Valiants.

Post-football career

However, Boullemier now concentrated on his other career – ceramics. By 1933, the 58 year-old had his own range – “Boumier Ware” produced by  New Hall Pottery Company. The pieces remain popular collectors ware to this day. It’s difficult enough to make a telling contribution in one discipline but his football and ceramics talent meant that Lucien made a lasting mark both on and off the pitch in the Potteries.

A Boumier Ware vase. Image (c) potteries.org

Lucien’s signature on the deeds to his house