Port Vale 1958-59

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The 1958-59 campaign saw the Third Division North and Third Division South reorganised into the Third Division and Fourth Division. Port Vale were relegated the previous season so were placed in the lower league. However the Valiants stormed to their first league title in the newly formed fourth division. A club record of 110 goals in 46 league games were scored with forwards Stan Steele, Jack Wilkinson, Graham Barnett, Harry Poole, and John Cunliffe all reaching double figures helping the Vale
to finish in top spot.

There was a change in chairman as Jake Bloom took charge, who introduced a new style of playing kit. Amber and black stripes were worn for the next several seasons, a change from the traditional black and white uniform. A young Shirley Bassey was a notable spectator during the season who was invited as a guest by the then manager Norman Low. The club were big spenders, upgrading the Bycars End to increase capacity from 6’500 to 50,000 after seeing anincrease in gate receipts.

Burslem’s meat market located in Market Place was demolished in the late 1950’s, the town’s location in selling dead animals, vegetables, fruit, cheese, eggs and oatcakes/pikelets. It was also known as ‘The Shambles’ in many of Arnold Bennet’s novels and short stories such as The Old Wives’ Tale, Clayhanger and Jock-at- a-Venture; The Death of Simon Fuge.

It was built on the old site of the Ivy House, where Josiah Wedgwood first began his pottery manufacturing in 1759. Tony Robinson and his Channel 4 Time Team visited Burslem and the site in 1999 to uncover the base of one of its bottle kilns including the pottery of Enoch Wood and Sons. In more recent times, the space was known as pigeon park that included a seating area with grass verges, planters and a bandstand. The flat concrete area is now called the public realm which holds various community events…