Port Vale 1896-97

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Having failed a vote to stay in the Football League, Burslem Port Vale successfully re-applied for membership of the Midland League. The first half of the season saw poor results and low crowds as little as 200 spectators at the Athletic Ground in Cobridge. An emergency meeting at Burslem Town Hall with “all the worthies in the town” took place to discuss problems on and off the pitch during mid-season.

January saw investment from a public company and a turnaround in form. A new signing in left sided attacker James Peake from Crewe Alexandra, good results and large crowds returned finishing 1 point from 3^rd place in the league and silverware in winning the Staffordshire Senior Charity Cup beating Dresden United 3 – 0.

During the 1897 season, a 24 year old Burslem born potter was employed by James Macintyre & Co at the Washington Works on Waterloo Road near Cobridge. The former Burslem School of Art student, designed the fine art pattern on the pottery called Aurelian Ware.

The high-Victorian pottery had transfer-printed and enamelled decoration in iron red, cobalt blue and gold colours. He created many other collections drawing upon inspiration from his childhood passion for nature, flora and studies in ancient and contemporary ceramics. William Moorcroft was employed at the company for 16 years…