Connections: Vale and Coventry
To fill a quiet news day here is an occasional series from OVF – which players have appeared for both Vale and Coventry?
Richard Duffy
The centre-half was signed by the Valiants in the summer of 2012 and has just reached 50 League starts for the club. He began his career at Swansea and moved to Portsmouth from where he joined Coventry on loan in 2005. He made a total of four loan moves to the Sky Blues before moving on to Millwall.
Vale appearances: 56+3 (0 goals) *
Coventry appearances: 62+2 (0 goals)
* as of March 2014
Chris Birchall
The popular winger was signed from Vale by then-Coventry manager Micky Adams for £300,000 in 2006. After a spell at the Sky Blues he played for Brighton, Carlisle, LA Galaxy and Columbus Crew before rejoining the Valiants.
Vale appearances: 76+50 (12 goals)
Coventry appearances: 19+14 (2 goals)
* as of March 2014
Steve McPhee
The hard-working striker was an inspirational Brian Horton signing after the youngster failed to make a first-team appearance for the Sky Blues. McPhee went on to be the Vale’s top-scorer and player of the year in 2004.
Vale appearances: 142+5 (44 goals)
Coventry appearances: nil
Keith Houchen
Coventry’s FA Cup final hero joined the Valiants in 1991, four years after his famous goal at Wembley. He was signed for £100,000 from Hibs but failed to make much of an impact at Vale Park and left in 1993 to join Hartlepool United.
Vale appearances: 49+7 (11 goals)
Coventry appearances: 53+14 (13 goals)
Ian Brightwell
The defender joined Coventry City in 1998 but managed just one League Cup appearance for the side. He joined Vale in 2002 and featured as a player and player-coach. He left the Valiants in 2004 for Macclesfield Town, the last club he was to play for.
Vale appearances: 40+1 (0 goals)
Coventry appearances: 1 (0 goals)
Lee Hughes
The striker has included both Coventry and Vale in his tour of West Midlands clubs. Coventry triggered a release clause in Hughes’ Baggies contract by bidding £5,000,001 for the striker. He proved decent value, finishing as the club’s top scorer before he returned to West Brom for £2.5m. After a failed loan move, he joined Vale in January 2013 and his ten goals were crucial in ensuring the Valiants’ promotion. He’s now scoring goals for Skrill Premier outfit Forest Green Rovers.
Vale appearances: 20+14 (13 goals)
Coventry appearances: 39+4 (15 goals)
Peter Billing
The centre-half joined Coventry from Crewe for £120,000 in 1989. In 1993, he joined Vale, initially on loan before the move was made permanent. Although he was mainly used as cover, he played a useful part in the side that won the Autoglass Trophy final and promotion to Division Two. He left Vale in 1995 to join Hartlepool
Vale appearances: 27+5 (0 goals)
Coventry appearances: 69+7 (1 goals)
Carl Dickinson
The powerful defender spent a brief loan spell with the Sky Blues in 2013 before joining the Valiants in the summer.
Vale appearances: 38 (0 goals) *
Coventry appearances: 6 (0 goals)
* as of March 2014
Others
This is not a comprehensive list of players to appear for both clubs, but it includes Albert Pynegar, Peter Clarke, Claus Bech Jørgensen, Edward “Ted” Shore, Archie Dyke, Peter Taylor, Andy Williams and Lee Mills (right).
Micky Adams has managed both sides.