Colin Askey

Colin Askey (born 3 October 1932) is an English former footballer who played on the right wing. He made 341 league and cup appearances in a 15-year career in the English Football League, scoring 40 goals. His son, John Askey, played for and managed Macclesfield Town.

He is most famed for his time at Port Vale, where he scored 23 goals in 217 games between 1949 and 1958. This period was one of the most memorable in the club's history, as the "Valiants" stormed to the Third Division North title and FA Cup semi-finals in 1953–54. Following this, he spent four years with Walsall and then two years at Mansfield Town. He won two successive promotions with the "Saddlers" in 1959–60 and 1960–61, and also won promotion out of the Fourth Division with the "Stags" in 1962–63. He then went into non-League football, playing for Wellington Town, Stafford Rangers, Winsford United, Macclesfield Town, and Milton United.

Playing career Port Vale Askey was a ground-staff boy at Port Vale in 1947. Askey came through the Port Vale juniors to sign professional forms in October 1949. He had the option of signing with Stoke City or Bolton Wanderers, but felt he had more chance to win a first-team place at the Old Recreation Ground. Cardiff made the blank cheque offer after Vale initially rejected an offer of £30,000.

Askey scored four goals in 39 Second Division games in 1954–55. He had spent 18 months on the sidelines after a horrific challenge from Port Vale's Roy Pritchard. He was fit enough to track back and defend when the opposition was in possession – a rare trait for attackers of the 1950s. His former goalkeeper at Port Vale, Ray King, said that "He would consistently display a level of skill and an indomitable strength that were quite amazing" and he was impressed with his "phenomenal work rate" and the way that he "beat an opponent with comparative ease and passed and crossed the ball using either foot with supreme accuracy."

Management career After finally retiring from football, he became the manager, later chairman, of Milton United. They had five children: Bob, Mark, Steve, John and Joanne. John played for and managed Macclesfield Town before becoming manager of Port Vale, his father's club. Bob managed Newcastle Town. His grandson, James Askey, played amateur football for Newcastle Town. Askey was inducted in the Stoke-on-Trent Sporting hall of fame in November 2021.

Career statistics

Honours Port Vale Football League Third Division North: 1953–54

Walsall Football League Fourth Division: 1959–60 Football League Third Division second-place promotion: 1960–61

Mansfield Town Football League Fourth Division fourth-place promotion: 1962–63