Five of the best: veteran signings by Port Vale manager John Rudge
Legendary manager John Rudge is rightly regarded as the club’s finest manager – and here are five examples of veteran players he successfully signed.
For this feature, we have only selected players over the age of 30 when they joined Port Vale. For that reason, the following players were excluded: Bob Hazell (signed when aged 29), Paul Maguire (29), Jan Jansson (29), Mark Grew (28) and Nicky Cross (28).
Ron Futcher
Signed at the age of 32
Spell: 1988-90 | Games: 69 | Goals: 23 | Honours: Promotion 1989
Journeyman Futcher had been around so long he appeared older than his 32 years when he joined the Valiants. His lack of pace on the pitch also gave the illusion of an elderly player in his dotage. But it was just that – an illusion. Ironically, Futcher was near enough the last-gasp by John Rudge when he was signed. Rudge had already tried numerous other signings (see the full list here) but the signing of Futcher still turned out to be a masterstroke.
His partnership with the more athletic Darren Beckford seemed to bring the best out of each other as the club powered to promotion in 1989. Typically for Rudge, when journeyman Futcher decided to move elsewhere, he doubled his money by getting £60,000 from Burnley for the then 34 year-old.
Ally Brown
Signed at the age of 33
Spell: 1984-86 | Games: 83 | Goals: 27 | Honours: Promotion 1986
A typically canny signing by John Rudge, Brown was added to the squad in 1984 despite being 33 years of age. Never a particularly athletic figure, the nervy Brown’s pre-match routine reportedly included a crafty cigarette in the toilets just before kick-off.
However, on the pitch the veteran showed his experience of lengthy spells with Leicester City and West Brom. In 1985 he finished as the club’s top-scorer in partnership with Robbie Earle. However, his greatest contribution came the next season. Just like Futcher, Brown proved to be a mentor for raw non-league recruit Andy Jones as the club secured promotion at the end of the 1985-86 season.
Tim Parkin
Signed at the age of 32
Spell: 1989-92 | Games: 52 | Goals: 1 | Honours: None
A relatively unsung player but one which we feel played a vital role for John Rudge’s evolving team. Parkin was added in 1989 when Rudge’s side were entering the unknown territory of the Second Division. His signing was canny for a number of reasons – Parkin’s six foot four frame added height to the relatively short central defensive partnership of Aspin and Glover and he also had vast experience something that Aspin and Glover didn’t at the time. While Parkin was not a regular start he was a valuable squad member and often on the bench as a precaution. He quietly and effectively did a job for three years before moving on at the age of 35 to Darlington.
Jim Arnold
Signed at the age of 35
Spell: 1985-87 | Games: 67 | Goals: 0 | Honours: Promotion 1986
The veteran former Everton and Blackburn Rovers goalkeeper played 52 games as the club won promotion under John Rudge in the 1985-86 season. His efforts also earned him the player of the year award in his debut season for the Valiants.
Arnold decided to retire on a high but an injury to replacement Mark Grew saw him return for a brief swansong, making fifteen appearances the next season.
Bernie Slaven
Signed at the age of 33
Spell: 1993-94 | Games: 46 | Goals: 13 | Honours: Autoglass Trophy 1993, Promotion 1994
Bernie Slaven’s spell with the Valiants may have been brief but what a spell it was! The former Middlesbrough man scored thirteen times but seemed to thrive on the big stage – he hit a goal at Wembley stadium to secure the Autoglass Trophy while his goal against Southampton in the FA Cup saw the top-flight side knocked out by the Valiants. Arguably his best perofrmance came in tandem with Martin Foyle in August 1993 when the pair both hit hat-tricks in a 6-0 demolition of Barnet.