The 1937–38 season was Port Vale's 32nd season of football in the English Football League, and their second-successive season (third overall) in the Third Division North.[1] With thirty goals, Jack Roberts was the division's top scorer. However, the club managed only a mid-table finish, exiting both cup competitions at the first stage.
The season began with a 3–0 defeat at Oldham Athletic's Boundary Park.[1]Tom Nolan found himself dropped in favour of Jack Roberts, who immediately went on a run of three goals in three games.[1] The team went on to go six games unbeaten, including a 4–0 win over Barrow in which Roberts scored all four.[1] Their 5–1 win over Hartlepools United – in which Arthur Caldwell scored a hat-trick – took them into seventh in the table.[1] This run ended with a 5–0 drubbing at Valley Parade.[1] After this defeat to Bradford City the Vale signed forward Ken Fish from Aston Villa for 'a sizeable fee'.[1] In November, William Price was released from his contract.[1] The next month the side were on the end of a 7–2 beating by Chester at Sealand Road.[1] Soon after this Tom Morgan was re-appointed as manager, having been demoted to assistant-secretary in June 1932.[1] Immediately following this, the club went on a run of one defeat in nine games.[1] During this run, Roberts scored a hat-trick past Accrington Stanley in a 4–1 win.[1]
In February, Tommy Ward was traded to Stoke City in exchange for Harry Davies and a small fee.[1] On 5 March, Vale inflicted a 4–3 win over Bradford City, soon after which Sam Baum was signed from Bolton Wanderers just two minutes before the transfer deadline closed.[1] On 15 April, the club saw its first five-figure crowd of the season, as promotion-chasing Hull City took away both the points despite a brace from Roberts.[1] Revenge came at Anlaby Road three days later, when the "Valiants" held a clean sheet to damage the "Tigers" promotion prospects.[1] On the final home game of the season a seventeen-year-old Alf Bellis scored on his debut as Vale beat Rochdale 4–1.[1]
They finished fifteenth with 38 points, just six points clear of the re-election zone.[1] Away from The Old Recreation Ground, the side struggled, managing just a single win.[1] Jack Roberts was the club's top goalscorer with 28 league strikes in 37 games – also making him the division's top scorer.[1]
Finances
On the financial side, a bare profit of some £300 was recorded due to a transfer credit of £2,900.[1] The annual summer clear-out saw the departure of fourteen of the twenty-six players, including Sam Baum; Spencer Evans (Northwich Victoria); Roderick Welsh; Charlie Rattray (Accrington Stanley); Harry Johnson (Hartlepools United); Trevor Rhodes; and Fred Obrey (who was sold to Tranmere Rovers).[1] At the season's end the club were delighted to hear they had been transferred to the Third Division South, where gate receipts were higher.[1] On 27 June, another meeting at the Grand Hotel (Hanley) saw the issue of a name change debated, where Stoke United and Stoke North End were again considered.[1] A name change was advocated by every letter written in by supporters; however, once again, there was insufficient time to implement a name change before the upcoming season.[1]
