Port Vale one hit wonders: number eleven Alan Oakes
In this series we look back at players who only made a solitary appearance for the Valiants. This week we look at veteran Alan Oakes…
Alan Oakes in numbers…
The veteran plays with the club in crisis…
In a fairer world, Alan Oakes’ glittering playing career would have ended with 775 appearances.
In 1983, he was 41 years old and working as a coach under manager John McGrath. Oakes had not played League football for a year.
However, following promotion in 1983, the new season had been a complete disaster for McGrath’s side. Vale had started the season by losing eight of their opening eleven matches. Star striker Bob Newton had left to be replaced by the unimpressive Martin Henderson. Summer signings Tommy Gore and Gary Pollard were unimpressive and four key figures from last season – keeper Barry Siddall, midfielders Geoff Hunter and Terry Armstrong plus defender Russell Bromage were all in contract dispute.
Manager John McGrath was so desperate for players that on the 31st August, Oakes was called up to play in order to make up the numbers. It was an away game against Plymouth Argyle which the Vale lost 1-0 to make it six losses in the row. For a former player who had won the League championship and the European Cup Winners Cup, it was a sad way to draw an end to his playing career.
Oakes’ coaching spell at the club was equally traumatic. Sacked in order to save money in December 1983, he returned in August 1984 only to be demoted to youth team coach. He resigned in protest in 1987.
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