Second Division

The pre-season saw the players taken on a short outing to Ireland for their exploits the previous season.^[1] No major signings took place, and no players of note departed in the summer. Chairman Fred Burgess boasted of his team's loyalty.^[1]

The season opened with a 1–0 defeat at The Memorial Stadium to Bristol Rovers, though the team put in 'an encouraging display'.^[1] Two days later Vale Park welcomed a crowd of 26,805 for a 1–1 draw with Notts County.^[1] When they travelled to the Victoria Ground on 4 September, Stoke City had a 100% win record, but 46,777 locals witnessed a goalless draw between the Potteries clubs.^[1] Twelve days later Vale travelled to Vetch Field, where they lost 7–1 to Swansea Town, a team they had beaten 1–0 just ten days earlier.^[1] This occurred because Tommy Cheadle and Stan Turner had to leave the game before half-time with injuries.^[1] The heavy defeat seemed to have destroyed the reputation of 'the Steele Curtain', as the team would have to wait another fourteen matches before holding a clean sheet.^[1] During this time manager Freddie Steele switched tactics from a defensive set-up to 'a semi-continental style' in the hunt for goals.^[1] Five straight losses followed, as the players struggled to adapt.^[1] Also lost was their record of 42 home games without a loss when on 18 September 1954, Blackburn Rovers claimed a 3–0 victory.^[1] Basil Hayward dropped from the first XI, they failed to beat strugglers Ipswich Town as the club hovered above the relegation zone.^[1] A win at the City Ground sustained them until two home wins came in late-December. In December Cyril Done, an experienced striker was signed from Tranmere Rovers for a four-figure fee.^[1]

On 5 February, strugglers Derby County thrashed the Vale 6–1 at the Baseball Ground. However, Vale's poor away record failed to deter a strong contingent of Vale fans from following the club around the country dressed in fancy dress.^[1] The following month, aggressive young forward Len Stephenson was signed from Blackpool. He impressed with his performances.^[1] Three defeats left the Vale in a relegation dogfight, but seven points from the first five games in April proved very useful.^[1] On 8 April, Done put four past his former club Liverpool in a 4–3 win.^[1] Three days later he scored a penalty at Anfield to earn a 1–1 draw. On 25 April, more than 40,000 turned up to Vale Park to witness the "Potters" claim a 1–0 victory.^[1] Vale won their final two games, including a 1–0 win over Rotherham United that denied the "Millers" a place in the top flight.^[1]

They finished in seventeenth place, seven points clear of relegation but nineteen short of promotion. With 48 goals, only Hull City scored fewer goals. Cyril Done was the only consistent scorer and was the top scorer for both Vale and Tranmere, having scored twice as many league goals as the next-highest scorer at both clubs.^[1]

Finances

On the financial side, a scant profit of £141 was recorded despite a club-record average home attendance of 20,708.^[1] The £6,850 spent to bolster the forward line had swallowed up most of the profits. The Supporters' Club therefore announced it would raise £5,000 – £1,500 of which would go towards the terracing on the Bycars End.^[1] Reserve team players Mick Hulligan and Len Barber were allowed to leave for Northwich Victoria on free transfers.^[1]

Cup competitions

In the FA Cup, the "Valiants" drew 2–2 with West Ham United at Upton Park after going two goals behind.^[1] Vale won the replay 3–1 and were drawn against First Division Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane in the Fourth Round. A crowd of 50,684 saw an exciting game in which four "Spurs" goals wiped out a Ken Griffiths brace.^[1]

Football League Second Division

FA Cup

Appearances

More information Pos., Name ...

Pos.	Name	Football League		FA Cup		Total
		Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
GK	Ray King	41	0	3	0	44	0
GK	Ray Hancock	1	0	0	0	1	0
DF	Tommy Cheadle	26	0	0	0	26	0
DF	Reg Potts	42	0	3	0	45	0
DF	Stan Turner	42	0	3	0	45	0
DF	Roy Sproson	42	1	3	0	45	1
DF	Fred Donaldson	1	0	0	0	1	0
MF	Mick Hulligan	1	0	0	0	1	0
MF	Alan Bennett	4	0	0	0	4	0
MF	Albert Leake	27	5	3	1	30	6
MF	John Cunliffe	40	5	3	2	43	7
MF	Derek Mountford	2	0	0	0	2	0
MF	Albert Mullard	37	1	3	0	40	1
MF	Colin Askey	39	4	3	0	42	4
FW	Basil Hayward	30	6	3	0	33	6
FW	Ken Griffiths	30	5	3	2	33	7
FW	Derek Tomkinson	4	0	0	0	4	0
FW	Len Barber	2	0	0	0	2	0
FW	Len Stephenson	10	1	0	0	10	1
FW	Stan Smith	23	6	3	2	26	8
FW	Cyril Done	18	13	0	0	18	13
FW	Mike Moran	0	0	0	0	0	0

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Top scorers

More information Place, Position ...

Place	Position	Nation	Name	Second Division	FA Cup	Total
1	FW	England	Cyril Done	13	0	13
2	FW	England	Stan Smith)	6	2	8
3	FW	England	Ken Griffiths	5	2	7
–	MF	England	John Cunliffe	5	2	7
5	FW	England	Basil Hayward	6	0	6
–	MF	England	Albert Leake	5	1	6
7	MF	England	Colin Askey	4	0	4
8	DF	England	Roy Sproson	1	0	1
–	MF	England	Albert Mullard	1	0	1
–	FW	England	Len Stephenson	1	0	1
–	–	–	Own goals	1	0	1
			TOTALS	48	7	55

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Transfers in

More information Date from, Position ...

Date from	Position	Nationality	Name	From	Fee	Ref.
December 1954	FW		Cyril Done	Tranmere Rovers	'four figure fee'	[3]
10 March 1955	FW		Len Stephenson	Blackpool	£5,000	[3]

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Transfers out

More information Date from, Position ...

Date from	Position	Nationality	Name	To	Fee	Ref.
July 1955	FW		Len Barber	Northwich Victoria	Free transfer	[3]
July 1955	MF		Mick Hulligan	Northwich Victoria	Free transfer	[3]
Summer 1955	DF		Roy Brien		Released	[3]
Summer 1955	DF		Jim Elsby	Wereton Queen's Park	Free transfer	[3]
Summer 1955	FW		Derek Tomkinson	Crewe Alexandra	Free transfer	[3]

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