[1] The season opened with two Bailey goals, though Vale would have to wait until their fourth match for a victory, at which point their coffers were boosted by £10,000 following Sammy Morgan's success at Aston Villa.

[1] Instead he brought in young left-back Garry Dulson on loan from Nottingham Forest, and later bought him permanently for £5,000, using another £5,400 Villa were forced to pay Vale after Morgan hit another target.

[1] Their 4–0 win over Huddersfield Town lifted them into third place, with reporter Chris Harper writing that "the real strength of the performance again emanated from midfield where (Tommy) McLaren, Bailey, Lacey and Horton reigned supreme", though attendances were still below 4,000.

[1] A 2–1 win over Preston North End at Vale Park on 29 March was opposition player-manager Bobby Charlton's last appearance in the Football League.

[3] A solid spell put Vale back into the promotion race by March, though their form dropped off again, and their hopes were crushed completely on 26 April with a 3–1 defeat at home to Gordon Lee's champions-elect Blackburn Rovers.

[1] Amongst those departing were: John Woodward (Scunthorpe United); Frank Sharp (Northwich Victoria); Roy Cross (Nuneaton Borough); Bill Summerscales (Rochdale); and Reg Edwards (Brereton Social).