[1] The season was most notable for the win over Sunderland in the FA Cup, which followed a goalless draw at Roker Park in which the Vale defence prevented Brian Clough from even having a shot.

[1] Low then repaid West Bromwich Albion the £10,000 for Stan Steele to bring him back to Vale Park.

[1] Free signings included winger Stan Edwards (Everton), goalkeeper Peter Taylor (Middlesbrough), and Joe Maloney (Shrewsbury Town).

[1] The defence began poorly, in an opening day 4–2 defeat to Shrewsbury Town at Gay Meadow.

[1] By the end of February, Vale lay four points clear of relegation, and star player Grainger was injured.

Low also sold three players for £2,000 each: Brian Jackson to Peterborough United, Ralph Hunt to Newport County, and David Raine to Doncaster Rovers.

[1] In the FA Cup, Vale brushed past Bradford Park Avenue with a 1–0 win at Horsfall Stadium.

[1] In the Fourth Round, they travelled to Sunderland's Roker Park, holding the "Mackems" to a goalless draw in front of 49,468 noisy Sunderland fans - not even £50,000 star striker Brian Clough could master the Vale defence as Hancock made an excellent late save to force a replay.

[1] For the return, 28,226 witnessed a 3–1 victory for the Vale over the Second Division side in "a magical piece of soccer history".

[1] The Vale were missing Hunt due to him being cup-tied and Steele through suspension, but "spat and hissed like angry alley cats" for their win, intimidating tricky winger Harry Hooper.

[1] Hancock went down injured with twisted ankle ligaments in the first minute, though played on and was aided by two pain-killing injections at half-time.