The highs and lows of Andy Crosby’s spell at Vale Park

Andy Crosby spent twenty two months with the Valiants as coach and manager. We look back at his time at the club.

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Arrival – the coach who helped Clarke revive Vale’s fortunes

Andy Crosby was announced as a Port Vale coach in March 2021. His arrival coincided with the Valiants winning eight of their last eleven games as the club finished in mid-table in League Two.

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Rise – feted and made assistant manager

Following the end of the 2020-21 season, the club emphasised Crosby’s worth with manager Clarke and director of football David Flitcroft praising him. The club then announced in July that Crosby has been appointed as assistant manager

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The rock – interim manager during a crisis

The 2021-22 season began strongly for the Valiants. However, it threatened to fall apart in February 2022 when Clarke suffered a huge personal tragedy and took a leave of absence It was Crosby who stepped up to the plate as interim manager. Earning praise from fans and players alike, Crosby keep the team focused and drove the club on to the play-offs. Clarke felt able to return at this stage but pointedly he let Crosby lead the side out at the play-off final at Wemble as the club sealed a hugely emotional promotion out of League Two

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The rock part two – his second spell as interim manager

Clarke was dismissed as manager as the club suffered a poor run of form in League One and it was no surprise as Crosby was once again named as interim manager of the club following Clarke’s sacking He only managed to win one of his games in charge but it was enough to convince the club that he was the right material to replace Darrell Clarke.

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Permanent – Crosby becomes manager

It was no great surprise that in May 2023 Crosby was confirmed as the club’s next permanent manager It was the 50 year-old first role as manager and it started in the worst possible way as Vale were humiliated 7-0 on the opening day by Barnsley. However, he recovered to produce a run of six wins from seven games. Crosby also took the club to the quarter-final stages of the League Cup for the first time in its history. However, after a run of four defeats in five games, he was dismissed after a 3-0 loss to bottom club Fleetwood Town in February 2024.

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Managerial record

• Wins: 23
• Draws: 15
• Losses: 23