upon leaving manchester he was joined port vale back in the potteries as player-manager. he led the side to north staffordshire infirmary cup victory in 1915, but two years later was conscripted into the army to serve as a gunner in the royal garrison artillery. after playing his part in world war i, as well as guesting for nottingham forest and newcastle united, he returned to vale in the summer of 1919. regaining his place, he helped the club to win the staffordshire senior cup and share the north staffordshire infirmary cup in 1920. due to his age he hardly played after october 1920, but played his part in the club's 1922 north staffordshire infirmary cup achievement.