- Mark Grew
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Mark Grew Personal information Full name Mark Stuart Grew[1] Date of birth 15 February 1958 Place of birth Bilston, England Height 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) Playing position Goalkeeper Senior career* Years Team Apps† (Gls)† 1976–1983 West Bromwich Albion 33 (0) 1978 → Wigan Athletic (loan) 4 (0) 1983–1984 Leicester City 5 (0) 1983 → Oldham Athletic (loan) 5 (0) 1984–1986 Ipswich Town 6 (0) 1985 → Fulham (loan) 4 (0) 1986 → West Bromwich Albion (loan) 1 (0) 1986–1992 Port Vale 184 (0) 1990 → Blackburn Rovers (loan) 13 (0) 1992–1994 Cardiff City 21 (0) 1994–1995 Hednesford Town 1 (0) Total 277 (0) Teams managed 1999 Port Vale (caretaker) 2010–2011 Port Vale (caretaker) 2011 Port Vale (caretaker) * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only.
† Appearances (Goals).Mark Stuart Grew (born 15 February 1958) is an English former football goalkeeper, now assistant manager to Micky Adams at Port Vale. On three occasions he has also served as the club's caretaker-manager, most recently from March to May in 2011.
His career started in 1976 with West Bromwich Albion, where he spent seven seasons as a back-up keeper before moving on to Leicester City. After just a year with the "Foxes" he moved on to Ipswich Town. In 1986 he signed for Port Vale, where he became the first choice goalkeeper. He spent six years at Vale Park, making almost 200 league appearances, twice winning the club's Player of the Year award and playing in the 1989 Third Division play-off victory. He transferred to Cardiff City in 1992, and won the Third Division title with the club in 1992–93, and also picked up two Welsh Cup winners medals. His final club was Hednesford Town, who he signed for in 1994, and left in 1995. Over the years he also enjoyed short loan spells with Wigan Athletic, Oldham Athletic, Fulham, and Blackburn Rovers.
He remained in the game after retirement as a player, spending eight years as a coach at Port Vale before his sacking in 2002. He quickly returned to his coaching position at the club though, and remains a key member of the backroom staff. He has had three separate spells as caretaker-manager at the club.
Contents
Playing style
He was a shot-stopping goalkeeper, who mostly remained on his line and relied on his defenders to deal with crosses.[2]
Playing career
Grew turned professional at First Division West Bromwich Albion in the 1976–77 season. During the 1978–79 campaigned he was loaned out to Fourth Division newcomers Wigan Athletic, where he played four league games. He returned to The Hawthorns, and played 33 league games for the "Baggies", before he joined Leicester City, also of the First Division. He played five top-flight games for the "Foxes" in 1983–84, and also played five Second Division games on loan at Oldham Athletic, before he joined First Division Ipswich Town. He spent two seasons with the "Tractor Boys", but played just six league games. He also played four Second Division games on loan at Fulham in 1985, and returned to West Brom on loan in 1986 to play one game.
In June 1986, he joined Third Division Port Vale; aged 28 years old, he was looking for first team football. His debut for the club came in a 2–2 draw against Middlesbrough at Victoria Park, who were at the time close to folding.[3] He suffered from damaged knee ligaments for much of the 1986–87 season. However Alex Williams retired from back injury in September 1987.[4] As Grew took the #1 jersey he never looked back and played fifty games in 1987–88.
Grew was then voted the club's Player of the Year for his performances over his 49 games in 1988–89.[5] He played both legs of Vale's play-off Final victory over Bristol Rovers, conceding just the one goal. He played 51 games in 1989–90, as Vale retained their Second Division status.
However he losing his place to Trevor Wood in August 1990, and had a successful loan spell with league rivals Blackburn Rovers in October 1990, playing thirteen league games. He won his first team spot back at Vale in February 1991, and played fourteen games for the "Valiants" in 1990–91. He became the club's Player of the Year once more in 1992 for his ever-presence in the 53 game 1991–92 season. However he left on a free transfer for Cardiff City in May 1992.[6]
He was between the posts for Cardiff City when they beat Manchester City 1–0 in the FA Cup Fourth Round on 29 January 1994.[7] He became an "instant hero" with the Cardiff supporters after saving a penalty from Keith Curle.[7] He joined non-League side Hednesford Town in 1994 after leaving Cardiff and made one appearance during the 1994–95 season.[8][9]
Managerial and coaching career
Grew was appointed the Port Vale youth coach in December 1994 and stayed with the club for the next eight years. He was appointed assistant manager under Brian Horton in 1999,[10] until he was sacked in December 2002 by the club's administrators.[11] In March 2003 he was appointed as assistant manager at Stafford Rangers, until he returned to Port Vale in a coaching capacity for the youth-team, after the club was taken over by Valiant 2001.[12] On 8 October 2008, Grew rejected the opportunity to become assistant to recently appointed Port Vale manager Dean Glover.[13]
In December 2010, he was made joint caretaker manager at Vale, along with Geoff Horsfield, following the departure of Micky Adams.[14] Vale were hammered 5–0 by Rotherham United in his first game in charge,[15] but rallied to beat Burton Albion 2–1,[16] before Jim Gannon was appointed manager.[17] During Adams' reign Grew had doubled up as a first team coach, but when Gannon arrived at the club Grew chose to focus solely on his role as youth team coach.[18] Following Gannon's swift departure in March 2011, Grew was elevated to the position of caretaker-manager for the third time in twelve years.[19] Assisted by Horsfield, Marc Richards told the press that "it's absolutely brilliant that Grewy and Geoff are in charge again".[20] After his first match back in charge ended in a 1–1 draw, Grew stated that if offered the job first time he would "seriously consider it".[21] Defeat to bottom club Stockport County all but ended the club's promotion campaign, as well as Grew's hopes of a permanent appointment. He slammed both his players and the directors, claiming that "I was never in the picture to become the next manager".[22]
Upon Adams' return as manager he reshuffled the club's coaching set-up, and in July 2011 Grew was made assistant manager.[23]
Grew, as a coach at Port Vale.
Personal life
Grew's daughter, Melissa (born 1992), is a model.[24]
Honours
as a player
- Individual
- Port Vale F.C. Player of the Year: 1989 & 1992
- with Port Vale
- Football League Third Division play-off winner: 1989
- with Cardiff City
- Football League Third Division winner: 1992–93
- Welsh Cup winner: 1992, 1993
- Welsh Cup runner-up: 1994
as a coach
- Performance of the Month Award winner: 2008 (December)
Managerial statistics
- As of 8 May 2011.[25]
Team From To Matches Won Drawn Lost Win % Port Vale (caretaker) 18 January 1999 22 January 1999 0 0 0 0 — Port Vale (caretaker) 30 December 2010 6 January 2011 2 1 0 1 50.00 Port Vale (caretaker) 21 March 2011 8 May 2011 10 2 4 4 20.00 Total 12 3 4 5 25.00 References
- ^ Hugman, Barry J. (2005). The PFA Premier & Football League Players' Records 1946-2005. Queen Anne Press. p. 251. ISBN 1852916656.
- ^ Kent, Jeff (December 1991). Port Vale Tales: A Collection Of Stories, Anecdotes And Memories. Witan Books. pp. 295. ISBN 0950898163.
- ^ "Memory Match: Middlesbrough 2 Port Vale 2". The Sentinel. http://www.thisisstaffordshire.co.uk/news/Memory-Match-Middlesbrough-2-Port-Vale-2-Victoria-Ground-Division-3-August-23-1986/article-2424481-detail/article.html. Retrieved 17 July 2010.
- ^ Kent, Jeff (1996). Port Vale Personalities. Witan Books. p. 310. ISBN 0952915200. http://www.amazon.ca/Port-Vale-Personalities-Jeff-Kent/dp/0952915200.
- ^ Kent, Jeff (1990). The Valiants' Years: The Story Of Port Vale. Witan Books. p. 305. ISBN 0950898147.
- ^ Kent, Jeff (1996). Port Vale Personalities. Witan Books. p. 118. ISBN 0952915200. http://www.amazon.ca/Port-Vale-Personalities-Jeff-Kent/dp/0952915200.
- ^ a b "Grew's Ninian cup return". BBC Sport. 18 November 2001. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/wales/1663561.stm. Retrieved 2008-12-24.
- ^ "Cardiff City : 1946/47 - 2007/08". Post War English & Scottish Football League A - Z Player's Database. http://www.neilbrown.newcastlefans.com/cardiff/cardiff.htm. Retrieved 2008-12-24.
- ^ "Mark Grew". Playerhistory. http://playerhistory.com/Default.aspx?page=player_details&playerID=31478. Retrieved 2008-12-24.
- ^ "Port Vale: Club stalwart Grew is Micky's new right-hand man". The Sentinel. 7 July 2011. http://www.thisisstaffordshire.co.uk/Port-Vale-Club-stalwart-Grew-Micky-s-new-right/story-12898886-detail/story.html. Retrieved 7 July 2011.
- ^ "Vale axe Grew". BBC Sport. 18 December 2002. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/p/port_vale/2587081.stm. Retrieved 2008-12-24.
- ^ "Grew left haunted by dole blow". The Sentinel. September 2011. http://www.thisisstaffordshire.co.uk/Grew-left-haunted-dole-blow/story-13304226-detail/story.html. Retrieved 10 September 2011.
- ^ "Grew and Porter reject Vale role". BBC Sport. 8 October 2008. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/p/port_vale/7656424.stm. Retrieved 2008-12-24.
- ^ "Micky Leaves Vale". port-vale.co.uk. 30 December 2010. http://www.port-vale.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10381~2254349,00.html. Retrieved 30 December 2010.
- ^ "Rotherham 5 - 0 Port Vale". BBC Sport. 1 January 2011. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_3/9310490.stm. Retrieved 6 January 2011.
- ^ "Port Vale 2 - 1 Burton Albion". BBC Sport. 3 January 2011. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_3/9313720.stm. Retrieved 6 January 2011.
- ^ "Port Vale appoint Jim Gannon as new manager". BBC Sport. 6 January 2011. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/p/port_vale/9343059.stm. Retrieved 6 January 2011.
- ^ Shaw, Steve (28 January 2011). "Port Vale: Grew turns back on first team duties". The Sentinel. http://www.thisisstaffordshire.co.uk/news/Port-Vale-Grew-turns-team-duties/article-3155365-detail/article.html. Retrieved 28 January 2011.
- ^ "Manager Jim Gannon parts company with Port Vale". BBC Sport. 21 March 2011. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/p/port_vale/9431553.stm. Retrieved 21 March 2011.
- ^ Shaw, Steve (22 March 2011). "Port Vale: We'll be right behind management duo, says Richards". The Sentinel. http://www.thisisstaffordshire.co.uk/vale/portvalenews/Port-Vale-ll-right-management-duo-says-Richards/article-3356295-detail/article.html. Retrieved 22 March 2011.
- ^ Shaw, Steve. "Port Vale: Grew ponders making a pitch for manager's job". The Sentinel. http://www.thisisstaffordshire.co.uk/vale/portvalenews/Port-Vale-Grew-ponders-making-pitch-manager-s-job/article-3375789-detail/article.html. Retrieved 26 March 2011.
- ^ Shaw, Steve (25 April 2011). "Port Vale: Angry Grew slams players ... and Vale directors". The Sentinel. http://www.thisisstaffordshire.co.uk/vale/portvalenews/Port-Vale-Angry-Grew-slams-players-Vale-directors/article-3484312-detail/article.html. Retrieved 25 April 2011.
- ^ "New Coaching Set-up". port-vale.co.uk. 6 July 2011. http://www.port-vale.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10381~2387154,00.html. Retrieved 6 July 2011.
- ^ "Port Vale: Catwalk hopeful looking for help". The Sentinel. 20 December 2008. http://www.thisisstaffordshire.co.uk/news/Port-Vale-Catwalk-hopeful-looking-help/article-561238-detail/article.html. Retrieved 2008-12-24.
- ^ "Mark Grew's managerial career". Soccerbase. http://www.soccerbase.com/managers2.sd?managerid=1362. Retrieved 2008-12-24.
External links
Port Vale F.C. Player of the Year 1967: Sproson • 1969: Wilson • 1970: Green • 1971: McLaren • 1972: Morgan • 1973: Williams • 1974: Harris • 1975: Connaughton • 1976: Ridley • 1977: Harris • 1978: Beamish • 1979: Wright • 1980: Beech • 1981: Bromage • 1982: Moss • 1983: Cegielski • 1984: O'Keefe • 1985: Webb • 1986: Arnold • 1987: Jones • 1988: Walker • 1989: Grew • 1990: Aspin • 1991: Walker • 1992: Grew • 1993: Taylor • 1994: Aspin • 1995: Foyle • 1996: McCarthy • 1997: Mills • 1998: Ainsworth • 1999: Foyle • 2000: Widdrington • 2001: Brammer • 2002: Goodlad • 2003: Collins • 2004: McPhee • 2005: Paynter • 2006: Pilkington • 2007: Sodje • 2008: Harsley • 2009: Anyon • 2010: Griffith • 2011: McCombe
Port Vale F.C. – managers Gleaves (1896–1905) · Clare (1905–11) · Walker (1911–12) · Myatt (1912–14) · Holford (1914–18) · Cameron (1918–19) · Schofield (1919–29) · Morgan (1929–32) · Holford (1932–35) · Cresswell (1936–37) · Morgan (1937–39) · Diffin (1944) · Pratt (1944–45) · Frith (1945–46) · Hodgson (1946–51) · Powell (1951) · Steele (1951–57) · Low (1957–62) · Steele (1962–65) · Mudie (1965–67) · Matthews (1967–68) · Lee (1968–74) · Sproson (1974–77) · Smith (1977–78) · Butler (1978–79) · Bloor (1979) · McGrath (1979–83) · Rudge (1984–99) · Horton (1999–2004) · Foyle (2004–07) · Sinnott (2007–08) · Glover (2008–09) · Adams (2009–10) · Gannon (2011) · Adams (2011–)
Categories:- 1958 births
- Living people
- Association football goalkeepers
- Blackburn Rovers F.C. players
- Cardiff City F.C. players
- English footballers
- English football managers
- Fulham F.C. players
- Hednesford Town F.C. players
- Ipswich Town F.C. players
- Leicester City F.C. players
- Oldham Athletic A.F.C. players
- People from Bilston
- Port Vale F.C. players
- The Football League players
- West Bromwich Albion F.C. players
- Wigan Athletic F.C. players
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