Frank McGinnes

Education

He finished as the club"s top scorer in the 1889-1890 campaign with 33 known goals in 43 known appearances, though was reprimanded by The Sentinel for his selfish play and tendency to shoot from as far as 30 yards from goal.

Career

He was described as "the best centre-forward that ever left Scotland". McGinnes was one of the "Scotch Professors" who travelled south from Scotland to start a career as a professional football player in England. He played for Lancashire side Halliwell, and after scoring five goals past Burslem Portuguese Vale on 15 December 1888 in a Combination league game, signed a contract with the Burslem club

He made his debut at the Athletic Ground against former club Halliwell on 15 April 1889, a friendly which Vale lost 2–1.

Local paper The Sentinel wrote that he "shaped very well". Vale were joint founders of the Midland Football League in 1890-1891, and McGinnes scored at least 41 goals in 47 recorded appearances.

He bagged hat-tricks against Newton Heath, Long Eaton Rangers, Leek, Warwick County, and Burton Wanderers. And scored four past Northwich Victoria.

He also helped his side to battle to a draw with Stoke in the final of the North Staffordshire Charity Challenge Cup, which meant the two clubs had to share the trophy.

He was appointed team captain for the 1891-1892 campaign, and scored hat-tricks in games against Loughborough Town and Derby Junction. And scored four past Sheffield Wednesday. Despite this he was criticized in The Sentinel for his "grumbling", being "idle", and for refusing to "run more than six yards for the ball".

In October he was suspended by the club for "refusing to follow the committee"s orders" in an FA Cup defeat to Burton Wanderers.

Stoke offered Vale £30 for the player, offering him wages of £50 a week. However Vale refused the transfer.

He finished the campaign with 35 goals in 46 appearances. Vale were elected to the Football League in the 1892-1893 season, and McGinnes would probably have been a big part in the club"s first Football League campaign, however he died from nephritis (kidney disease) on 25 June 1892, at the age of 22.

He is known to have scored eleven hat-tricks and scored four goals in a game on three occasions, scoring 109 recorded goals in 140 known games in all competitions for the Vale.

Achievements

• A prolific goalscorer, he was Burslem Portuguese Vale"s best player, but died suddenly just before they started their first season in the Football League in 1892-1893. On 7 May, he was sent off at the Victoria Ground for tripping Davy Christie in the final of the Staffordshire Senior Charity Cup, which Vale won 2–0 against Stoke. This was his last appearance in a football match.