The 1927–28 season was Port Vale's ninth consecutive season of football (22nd overall) in the English Football League.[1] They finished in ninth place, following three consecutive eighth-placed finishes in the previous campaigns. Vale were once again looking strong in the division, yet unable to find the consistency necessary to win promotion to the top flight. Top scorer Wilf Kirkham managed 14 goals, a whole 27 short of his previous record-breaking tally. Still one of the most successful seasons in their history, they would better this finish on only three occasions over the next 85 years.
For the third season running Billy Briscoe found himself battling against severe injury, this time he fractured a cheekbone but refused to leave the pitch for treatment.[1]Chairman Frank Huntbach.Right-back Jack Maddock made 35 appearances and scored two penalties.Club record goalscorer Wilf Kirkham.Scottish midfielder Bob Connelly.
The season started terribly, with an opening day draw with Nottingham Forest and four consecutive defeats.[1] The team was changed around, with new signing Rollo dropped from the starting eleven; this helped the Vale to turn things around with convincing wins over Bristol City and Swansea.[1] Their third 4–0 away loss followed, and more injuries followed, along with cash offers from rival clubs for their best players.[1] By mid-October, a settled side was formed, and the "Valiants" defeated derby rivals Stoke 2–0 in front of a record 31,493 at the Victoria Ground.[1] Going from strength to strength they travelled to Bloomfield Road and went from 1–0 down to 6–1 up within an amazing 25-minute spell.[1] Three more victories followed until Christmas saw a downturn in form.[1] Five consecutive post-Christmas defeats to four promotion candidates ended the Vale's promotion campaign.[1] In February, Wilf Kirkham was eventually rested, and replacement Stewart Littlewood bagged five in two games to end the run of poor results.[1] Littlewood had previously scored seventy goals for the reserves in just over a season and brought the necessary firepower to help the club surge up the league.[1]Manager Schofield had something of a headache in choosing either the out-of-form legend Kirkham or consistent Littlewood and only added to the conundrum by signing Blackpool forward Bert Fishwick.[1] Following defeats to doomed South Shields and to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, they finished the season with six consecutive clean sheets, though only won three of these games.[1]
On the financial side, the directors wished to leave The Old Recreation Ground for new and bigger stadia. However, attempts to move to the greyhound track at Sun Street were blocked by Stoke City, who claimed the Vale would be too close to them.[1] Overall the club lost £1,051 on the season, with their income £1,155 lower than the previous campaign.[1]
^ abcdefghijklmnopqrstuKent, Jeff (1990). "Keeping in Good Company (1919-1929)". The Valiants' Years The Story Of Port Vale. Witan Books. pp. 98–123. ISBN0-9508981-4-7.
