Shrewsbury v Port Vale programme, 1968
We leaf through the pages of a 1968 FA Cup programme and a rare goalkeeping appearance for a player who would find fame elsewhere…
About the game…
This was an FA Cup first round game and with Vale deep into a goalkeeping crisis. First-choice Stuart Sharratt was injured and loanee deputy George Hickson had been recalled by Crewe. So, Vale called up rookie 17 year-old Milija Aleksic to make his debut. The teenager did well in the 1-1 draw (Vale scoring through Gough) and kept his place for the 3-1 replay win (Gough, Mahon, Morris) at Vale Park two days later.
But those were to be the only Vale appearances for Aleksic who was released at the end of the season. It wasn’t the end of his football career though. After a period in non-league he was signed by Plymouth and following an impressive three year spell with Luton, he was snapped up by First Division Tottenham Hotspur for £100,000 in 1979. He featured in Spurs’ famous FA Cup final replay win over Manchester City in 1981. Milija sadly passed away in 2012.