DARWEN LANCASHIRE AND PORT VALE

April 4th 1953 was the day that Duncan Edwards played his first game for Manchester United at the tender age of 16 years and 185 days. A man mountain, he would have been a huge influence in English football if he hadn't perished in the Munich Air Crash.

The 4th April 1959 was a notable day for Hartlepools United (as they were known before 1968-they lost the "s" then) when they became the first club in League Division 4 to score double figures, when they turned over Barrow 10-1 at the Victoria Ground. The Pool conceded 100+ goals in the league on four consecutive seasons from 1959-60 (109), 1960-1 (103) 1961-2 (101) and 1962-3 (104).

Stockport County, on January 6th 1934, scored the highest number of goals when they beat  Halifax Town 13-0 in a Third Division North, when they were only 2-0 down at half time. Town goalie, Stanley Milton, on his debut, wasn't having too bad a day after 45 minutes.

October 5th 1946 saw the debut of Len Shackleton, soon to be known as the "Clown Prince of Soccer" (RVL take note of this for your "Mavericks" XI). He had signed from Bradford Park Avenue in the week for £13,000. He played for Newcastle Utd against Newport County in a Second Division game and scored 6 in a 13-0 win, including 3 in 2 and a 1/2 minutes.

Following "The English Game" on TV, Darwen Football Club (now known as AFC Darwen and playing in the National League System) from Lancashire, are part "stars" in the historic series.

Founded in 1870, Darwen beat Blackburn Rovers in the Lancashire Cup Final!
In 1880-1 they reached the FA Cup Semi-final.
In 1889-90 they joined the Football Alliance (League) challenging the Football League.
In 1891-2 they were elected to the Football League, Division One from the Football Alliance.
In 1892-3 they were bottom of the division and not re-elected but joined the newly formed Second Division, coming 3rd and were promoted to Division One.
In 1893-4 they were relegated again from Division One, coming 15/16th
In 1894-5 they were 6th/16 in Second Division. In 1895-6 they were  9th.
In 1896-7 season they conceded 10 and then 12 goals in league matches and were 11th.
In 1897-8 they were second from bottom and
In 1898-9 they were rock bottom of  the Second Division losing three games 0-10. They came 18th out of 18, totalled 141 goals against in 34 games- The Worst Ever! They only scored 22 goals, winning twice and drawing 5 out of 34 fixtures.
Darwen left the Football League in 1899 and were never seen seen again in such high company!
 The Salmoners-AFC Darwen as they are now known, located by the red dot.


Burslem Port Vale, as they were known then, are the only club to concede 10 goals in a home Second Division fixture, when they lost to Sheffield United 0-10 on December 3rd 1892. A week later they went away to The Blades and lost 0-4, progress. You know, of course, that there is no place called Port Vale...it is a geographic location on a canal system near Burslem. Founded in the laste 1870s, the club became a founder member of the new FLeague Second Division in 1892. They have never played in the top flight and hold the record for longest served in the English Football League 108 and in the Second Tier, never having reached the top tier (41).

you must do this link! Vale has a commuity hub at their ground at the moment, serving food etc!
https://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/port-vale-players-nhs-video-4009722