played at a new ground constructed at Moorland Road. The first game at the ground was a 6–0 thrashing of Everton. Not long after the club changed its name to Burslem Port Vale. In the summer of 1885, the club moved into the Athletic Ground and started to pay their players regular wages. In 1888, the club failed to gain inclusion for the founding of the English Football League, rivals Stoke were one of the twelve founders. Vale instead joined The Second Combination, a league which lasted just the one season. Their poor showing in that league meant they were not invited to join the new and short-lived Football Alliance. Progress was made however, as the club hired their first professional trainer – Joey Law, from West Bromwich Albion. In 1890 the club became founder members of the Midland League, where they played two seasons of football. A third-place finish in 1891–92 was enough to win them election to the new Football League Second Division in 1892. The club suffered greatly from the death of star striker Frank McGinnes. On 10 December 1892, they played in a snowstorm, and lost 10–0 at home to Sheffield United. This remains a Football League record. Vale finished eleventh out of twelve, but won re-election to the league. The team fared poorly in the league for the following three seasons and failed to win re-election at the end of 1895–96. This resulted in another two seasons in the Midland League. They fared poorly, but as the Football League expanded for the 1898–99 season, Port Vale were re-elected – this came mostly thanks to their FA Cup victory over eventual First Division champions Sheffield United. The club's financial troubles were not solved by their league status, they suffered indifference in the league the cup competitions for several seasons. Adrian Capes was top scorer for four consecutive seasons and was a rare bright light. The club survived by selling their top players (including Copes), going on cup runs and cutting costs wherever possible. The club resigned from the league on 14 June 1907. An appeal for supporters to prop the club up with donations failed, the directors did not believe the club to viable "in any shape or form". Stoke and Oldham Athletic took on most of the now unemployed players. 1907–1919: Years in the wilderness Burslem Port Vale were awaiting liquidation and were no longer