Carlisle United
Which team did John Rudge play for from 1967 to 1969?
John Rudge John Robert Rudge ( born 21 October 1944 ) is an English former football player and football manager who is now working as football adviser and club president at Port Vale . His playing career began at Huddersfield Town in November 1961 , but he made little impact at the club and was transferred to Carlisle United in December 1966 . In January 1969 he joined Torquay United , and twice finished as the clubs top scorer , before he moved on to Bristol Rovers in February 1972 . He helped the club to win promotion of the Third Division in 1973–74 , before departing for Bournemouth in March 1975 . His time on the coast was disrupted by injury , and he retired in 1977 . He scored a total of 78 goals in 267 league and cup appearances in a sixteen-year career in the English Football League . He managed Port Vale for a sixteen-year period between 1983 and 1999 , easily the longest spell in the clubs history . He masterminded some of the clubs most successful campaigns , leading them to promotion in 1985–86 , 1989 and 1993–94 ; he also led them to the Anglo-Italian Cup final in 1996 , and to victory in the Football League Trophy final in 1993 . However , he was sacked in January 1999 , and subsequently was appointed director of football at their rivals – Stoke City , a position he held until May 2013 . After working as a scout at Hull City , he returned to Port Vale in an advisory role in October 2017 . Playing career . Huddersfield Town . Born and raised in Wolverhampton , Rudge became a lifelong fan of Wolverhampton Wanderers . However , he turned professional at Second Division club Huddersfield Town in November 1961 . He made his debut under manager Eddie Boot in the 1962–63 campaign , and was given the residence of the recently departed Denis Law . He did not feature in 1963–64 , appeared just twice in 1964–65 , and did not get a game in 1965–66 . He played two games at the start of the 1966–67 season , before manager Tom Johnston allowed him a move to Second Division rivals Carlisle United in December 1966 . Carlisle United . Rudge made an immediate impact at Brunton Park , scoring seven goals in 14 appearances , including a hat-trick in a 6–1 win over Bolton Wanderers , as Tim Wards Cumbrians finished third in 1966–67 , six points short of promotion . Over the course of the 1967–68 campaign he scored nine goals in 29 league and cup games , as Carlisle posted a tenth-place finish . He made just five goalless appearances in 1968–69 , and in January 1969 manager Bob Stokoe handed him a free transfer to Torquay United of the Third Division . Torquay United . He found the net just twice in 14 appearances before the end of the campaign for Allan Browns Gulls . He then found his form in 1969–70 , finishing as the clubs top scorer with 16 goals in 35 league and cup matches . He continued to regularly find the net in 1970–71 , hitting 21 goals in 43 appearances , as Torquay finished tenth . However , he scored just twice in 12 games in 1971–72 , as the club suffered relegation under Jack Edwards . Rudge escaped this fate as he left Plainmoor in February 1972 , signing a contract with Bill Dodgins Bristol Rovers . Bristol Rovers . After three goals in eight games towards the end of the campaign , Rudge hit 12 goals in 29 appearances in 1972–73 , as the club pushed for promotion under new manager Don Megson . The Pirates achieved their goal in 1973–74 , as they finished runners-up of the Third Division ; however Rudge played only 15 games , scoring five goals . He featured just three times in 1974–75 , and moved on to John Bensons Bournemouth in March 1975 . Bournemouth . Rudge played seven games for the Cherries , and could not prevent them from being relegated into the Fourth Division at the end of the campaign . He missed most of the 1975–76 season with a ruptured Achilles tendon , and made only 11 league appearances in 1976–77 , scoring twice . His career was ended at age 32 , owing to his Achilles tendon injury . He had scored a total of 78 goals in 267 appearances in all competitions . Coaching career . Manager of Port Vale . Following his retirement as a player , Rudge was made a coach at old club Torquay United . In January 1980 he was appointed as a coach at Port Vale , after Rudge was recommended to new manager John McGrath . Rudge was promoted to the position of assistant manager in December 1980 . Following the sacking of McGrath in December 1983 , Rudge was made caretaker manager at Port Vale . Under McGrath , the club had lost thirteen of their opening seventeen league games . The club had the third highest budget in the division , a weekly wage bill of three times that of the home gate receipts and were rooted to the foot of the table , nine points from their nearest competitors . Rudge understated things somewhat when he said : We cannot change things overnight . However , player Tommy Gore noted the players are in a more determined mood . He signed left sided midfielder Kevin Young on loan , and switched Eamonn OKeefe from midfield to the attack . He was appointed as manager on a permanent basis on 9 March . He was unable to prevent relegation that year , though the club did avoid picking up the wooden spoon . Though Mark Bright and Robbie Earle were signed to Vale before Rudges appointment , he helped to nurture their talents , both were the first of many to develop into outstanding players under Rudge . In reality , the task in 1984–85 was to arrest the decline . Rudge achieved this aim , slashing the wage bill to offset the clubs reduced income , the Vale finished 12th . Young striker Andy Jones was purchased for £3,000 from Rhyl . In 1985–86 , promotion was the target . An eighteen-game unbeaten run from January to April helped to win Vale a fourth place promotion place , seven points clear of fifth place Leyton Orient . At the end of the season , Rudge turned down an offer of the management job at Preston North End . Major signings for the start of the 1986–87 season were Mark Grew and Ray Walker ( £12,000 from Aston Villa ) , who would feature heavily for the club in the coming years , as well as Paul Smith . Smith was purchased for £10,000 from Sheffield United and was sold for four times that figure to Lincoln City just over a year later . The club finished mid-table , twelve points above the drop . The winter signing of veteran Bob Hazell helped to shore up the Vales defence . At the end of the season , Bill Bell was made the clubs chairman . Also Darren Beckford was signed from Manchester City for £15,000 . He would become the clubs top scorer for the next four seasons . In 1987–88 , Vale were once again comfortable in mid-table . The cash-flow problem was eased by the sale of Andy Jones to Charlton Athletic for £350,000 . Rudge spent £75,000 for Simon Mills from York City , who would be a firm fixture in the first team for the next five seasons . On 20 January the club achieved a famous 2–0 victory over top-flight Spurs in the FA Cup . Before the cup run there were rumours that the directors were considering sacking Rudge due to a poor run of results in the league . The cup run and the sale of Jones helped to put the club in the black financially for the first time in a long time . The 1988–89 season was highly successful , the club beating Bristol Rovers in the play-off Final . For the first time in thirty two years , Vale were in the Second Division . A new club record was set in January 1989 , as Rudge purchased classy defender Dean Glover from Middlesbrough for £200,000 . The next month he added Liverpool winger John Jeffers to the squad for £35,000 , using the money he received from selling Steve Harper to Preston North End . To boost the side for the oncoming 1989–90 season , defender Neil Aspin was purchased from Leeds United for £150,000 , Aspin would play over 300 games for Vale in the next ten years . £125,000 was splashed out on striker Nicky Cross , who would play around 150 games over the next five years . Vale fans were not used to such purchases , but compared to other teams in the division , the money spent was quite modest . Now on a par with rivals Stoke City , both league games ended as draws , though Stoke were relegated in bottom place . Delighted with his team , he made few changes in preparation for the 1990–91 campaign . Vale once again finished comfortably in mid-table . £80,000 was spent on Dutch midfielder Robin van der Laan , over the next five years he would become a key player . In June 1992 , Rudge again broke the clubs transfer record , picking up striker Martin Foyle for £375,000 from Oxford United . Foyle would be a dominant figure at the club throughout the 1990s . The money for these acquisitions came from the sale of midfield dynamo Robbie Earle to Wimbledon . In 1991–92 , the club finished in last place , five points short of the safety of Oxford United . The club were still a Second Division club due to the creation of the Premier League , though they were now in the third tier . Ian Taylor became another masterstroke signing , after he was purchased from non-league Moor Green for £15,000 in May 1992 . Rudge managed his team to Wembley twice in 1993 , winning the Football League Trophy final 2–1 over Stockport County , but losing the play-off final 3–0 to West Bromwich Albion . His team had proved however that they were too good to remain in the third tier for long . In 1993–94 the club went up in second place , also beating top-flight Southampton in the FA Cup . At the end of the season , Ian Taylor was sold to Sheffield Wednesday , becoming the clubs first million pound sale . The club consolidated their First Division status in 1994–95 , finishing ten points above the drop . The money from Taylors sale was reinvested into £225,000 Steve Guppy from Newcastle United and £15,000 striker Tony Naylor from nearby Crewe Alexandra . Both men would prove to be good buys , Naylor being a three time top scorer . At the end of the season , Van der Laan was sold to Derby County for £475,000 plus Lee Mills . £450,000 of this sum was reinvested in York City midfielder Jon McCarthy . £50,000 was also spent on midfielder Ian Bogie . In 1995–96 , his team finished 12th in the First Division . Rudge had Port Vale playing some of the best football ever witnessed at Vale Park . This was mainly due to his perseverance with playing a standard 4–4–2 – employing wingers who became the focal point of much of the attacking play . The club achieved another giant-slaying by vanquishing Everton in the FA Cup . He also led Vale to the final of the Anglo-Italian Cup , where they lost out to Genoa . In 1996–97 , the club finished in eighth place , their best ever post-war finish . Once again they were the best side in the Potteries . In February , he sold Guppy to Martin ONeills Leicester City for £850,000 . Gareth Ainsworth was purchased for £500,000 from Lincoln City at the start of the 1997–98 season . This was paid for by the sale of McCarthy to Birmingham City for £1.5 million . Vale finished a disappointing 19th , a mere point away from relegation . At the start of the 1998–99 season , Ainsworth was sold to Wimbledon for £2 million . Mills was also sold to Bradford City for £1 million . The club came even closer to relegation , finishing above 22nd place Bury on goal difference . However Rudge had already departed , Chairman Bill Bell gave him the sack on 18 January 1999 . It truly was the end of an era at Vale Park . This caused outrage amongst Port Vale fans who held a flat cap protest ( Rudges headwear of choice ) to display their disgust . One last present from Rudge to the Vale fans was the signing of Marcus Bent for £300,000 from Crystal Palace , just days before Rudges sacking . However new manager Brian Horton let Bent go for £375,000 . In November 2000 , Bent was sold by Sheffield United to Blackburn Rovers for £2 million . Another star of the late Rudge era was Anthony Gardner . Gardner was retained by Vale , and was sold to Spurs for £1 million in January 2000 . Rudge was awarded £300,000 compensation by an employment tribunal . He had been at the helm for 843 Port Vale games . Following the dismissal , Sir Alex Ferguson said : Every Port Vale supporter should get down on their knees and thank The Lord for John Rudge . Director of football at Stoke City . Rudge was appointed as director of football at Stoke City in 1999 , after turning down the same role at Port Vale . Rudge had hoped to retire on his own terms at Vale and become a director of football at the club under a with someone like Robbie Earle as manager . He was offered the management job at Stoke but turned it down . He has never held ambitions of being appointed manager at Stoke , and has been Director of Football under five men : Gary Megson , Guðjón Þórðarson , Steve Cotterill , Johan Boskamp and Tony Pulis . On 2 November 2005 , he had a public fall-out with then manager Johan Boskamp at Highfield Road . Rudge went down the dug-out during the 2–1 win over Coventry City to give some advice to Boskamp . The Dutchman took offence to this and said to the board either he goes or I go , under the belief that Rudge had overstepped the mark . Rudge maintains though , that Boskamp used the incident as a ploy , in an attempt to be paid off by Stoke as the Dutchman couldnt handle the pressure of the English game . Rudge points to the evidence that he talked Boskamp out of quitting during the pre-season . Rudge and his assistant Jan de Koning were twice suspended by Stoke , after disagreements with Boskamp . Following Boskamps departure and the arrival of new chairman Peter Coates , Rudge was reinstated in his role . When the club achieved promotion to the Premier League in 2007–08 , Rudge was at a top-flight club for the first time since entering the game 46 years ago , in 1962 . Rudge left the Britannia Stadium at the end of the 2012–13 season in a major shake-up of the clubs scouting network . He left Stoke in May 2013 , ending a 14-year spell at the club . After leaving Stoke he then spent the next four years scouting for Hull City . Return to Port Vale . On 4 October 2017 , he returned to Port Vale in an advisory role to assist his former defender Neil Aspin , who had just been appointed manager . He was appointed as club president on 10 August 2019 . Managerial style . Though he got his teams to play good football he was meticulous and rather cautious . He thoroughly researched opposition players and informed his players on weaknesses to exploit and strengths to watch out for . He was reluctant to use substitutions unless a player was injured as he believed in the first eleven he had selected could get the job done over the ninety minutes . He tended not to lose his temper after a bad performance , and instead Robbie Earle said that he had the ability to make you feel guilty about playing badly . He had the knack of spotting talented players , signing them cheaply , and then selling them on to bigger clubs for a large profit . As well as being an excellent judge of talent , he also had to be a skilled negotiator . In all he made a net income for Port Vale of almost £10 million in the transfer market . Career statistics . Playing statistics . Source : Honours . as a Player . - Bristol Rovers - Football League Third Division runner-up : 1973–74 as a Manager . - Port Vale - Football League Fourth Division fourth place promotion : 1985–86 - Football League Third Division play-offs : 1989 - Football League Trophy : 1993 - Football League Second Division runner-up : 1993–94 - Anglo-Italian Cup runner-up : 1996 - Awards - Football League Third Division Manager of the Month : November 1988 - EFL Awards Contribution to League football : 2021 References . - General - Kent , Jeff . What If There Had Been No Port in the Vale? : Startling Port Vale Stories ! ( Witan Books , 2011 , ) - Specific