John McGrath

Port Vale He got his break in management when he was appointed Port Vale manager in December 1979. A man of discipline, he had levied two fines within his first fortnight with the club. The "Valiants" had flat-lined, and finished fifth-from-bottom in the Fourth Division in 1979–80, outside of the re-election zone on goals scored. He appointed John Rudge as his assistant on a recommendation. The two complimented each other with their constrating styles. McGrath offloaded many under-performing players, transfer-listing 15 of them, and signed goalkeeper Mark Harrison and defender Lee Harwood from Southampton. He joked that "there's more to football than losing" as he began trying to turn the club's poor form around.

Promotion was eventually achieved with a third-place finish in 1982–83. The team were beaten 7–0 at Burnley on 26 November, though such was McGrath's popularity that away supporters chanted his name at full-time. McGrath had made some poor choices during his final months at the club, signing Ireland international striker Eamonn O'Keefe from Wigan Athletic for £10,000 only to play him in midfield, and allowing player unrest to fester as several rejected new contracts and four stayed at the club on weekly contracts – this was despite Vale paying the third-highest wage bill in the division (£9,000 a week). Up front he had the veteran striker Frank Worthington.

Personal and later life McGrath was the son of a policeman. He was nicknamed 'Big Jake'. McGrath became a very popular after-dinner speaker, but on Christmas Day 1998 he died suddenly at his Manchester home at the age of 60.

Division!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals

1956–57 Second Division

1957–58 Third Division North

1958–59 Third Division

1959–60 Third Division

1960–61 Third Division

148!!2!!8!!0!!2!!0!!158!!2

1960–61 Second Division

1961–62 Second Division

1962–63 Second Division

1963–64 First Division

1964–65 First Division

1965–66 First Division

1966–67 First Division

1967–68 First Division

170!!2!!5!!0!!6!!0!!181!!2

1967–68 First Division

1968–69 First Division

1969–70 First Division

1970–71 First Division

1971–72 First Division

1972–73 First Division

1973–74 First Division

168!!1!!8!!1!!19!!0!!195!!2 Brighton & Hove Albion (loan) 1972–73 Second Division

489!!5!!21!!1!!27!!0!!537!!6

A. The "Other" column constitutes appearances and goals in the League Cup, Football League Trophy, English Football League play-offs and Full Members Cup.

Managerial statistics

Honours

As a player Newcastle United Football League Second Division: 1964–65

As a manager Individual Football League Fourth Division Manager of the Month: February 1983, April 1987

Port Vale Football League Fourth Division third-place promotion: 1982–83

Preston North End Football League Fourth Division second-place promotion: 1986–87