Port Vale 1964-65

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During pre-season Port Vale attempted to sign legendary Spurs striker Bobby Smith, this audacious attempt failed partly due to the financially precarious situation the club found itself in after the previous season. Instead manager Freddie Steele signed Ron Andrew from Stoke City for £3,000, as well as goalkeeper Reg Davies from Leyton Orient.

The team went on a club record streak of 13 home games without a clean sheet from September to March. With the Valiants bottom of the league in mid-February, Port Vale replaced manager Steele with current player Jackie Mudie as caretaker manager but were relegated. A clear-out of players could not be avoided, as twelve were handed free transfers. Vale’s 41 goals scored in 46 league games was the worst record in the Football League, as Albert Cheesebrough managed to become the club’s top-scorer with only 7 goals.

Also in 1965 George Hesp was appointed as Managing Director of Portmeirion. His professional background had been in construction materials not ceramic giftware but over the next several years, Hesp helped steer the company from tiny Portmeirion to become an internationally recognised name in ceramic tableware.

During this period Susan Williams-Ellis continued developing new designs, launching a number of patterns such as Samarkand. An Eastern inspired embossed pattern with raised areas carefully hand painted in brightly coloured glazes; blue and green, purple and green, blue and purple, orange and yellow and pink and rust on a white body shape. Her paisley based Monte Sol pattern and designs were also launched in 1965 after Susan was inspired by a family holiday in Ibiza.