Roy Sproson - Playing Career

Playing Career

Roy Sproson was born above a greengrocer's shop at 3 Slater Street, Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent on 23 September 1930. Legend has it he was named for the local featherweight boxer Roy Berrisford, after his father returned home from witnessing a Berrisford victory to find his wife had given birth in his absence. The family later moved to Trent Vale, where a young Sproson played football for the Trent Vale Lifeboys, winning the Sentinel Shield with a 5–0 win over Port Vale.

Sproson played for Stoke City at an amateur level for twelve months in the late 1940s. He was courted by teams such as Aston Villa, West Ham United and Bolton Wanderers. His father wished him to follow in his footsteps and sign for Stoke City. The Stoke manager Bob McGrory promised him a contract after Sproson finished his National service, but after brother Jess introduced him to Port Vale manager Gordon Hodgson, he signed with the Vale for £3 a week while he served his National service. In July 1949 Sproson's time with the Royal Air Force had finished and he signed with Port Vale as a professional. However he had to wait until 11 November 1950 for his debut, in a 1–1 draw with Gillingham at Priestfield. He started the last five games of the season after sharing the #6 jersey with Jimmy Todd and Bill McGarry.

Hodgson's death in June 1951 did not keep Sproson out of the first eleven and he played most games under new manager Ivor Powell. His first goal came on 22 September in a 2–2 draw at home with Torquay United. However following the appointement of Freddie Steele in December 1951, Sproson was dropped in favour of the experienced Stan Palk. Sproson won his place back in March 1952 and held on to his shirt for many years. Steele worked to develop the famous 'Iron Curtain' defence, as the Vale defence conceded just 35 times in 46 games in 1952–53. Only Second Division Huddersfield Town conceded fewer, though Vale still finished one point behind Oldham Athletic.

The 1953–54 season would live on Vale folk-lore. Sproson was one of the men that made it happen, playing in 53 games. The club stormed to the Third Division North championship with just 21 goals conceded in 46 games (a Football League record). Sproson helped keeper Ray King keep thirty clean sheets in the league (again a record). He also played Vale's FA Cup semi-final defeat to West Bromwich Albion.

"At the time, we did not know what it was like to lose and the thought never occurred to us. We were convinced, in fact, that we could not be beaten." —Sproson speaking in February 1975.

He had little trouble adapting to life in the Second Division the following season. He made 45 appearances in 1954–55 and 44 appearances in 1955–56. However in 1956–57 the club struggled and suffered relegation – the 'Iron Curtain' was a thing of the past as they leaked 101 goals in the league.

In 1957–58 the club found themselves in the last ever season of the Third Division South. Norman Low couldn't bring his team to a top twelve finish, which meant the club spent 1958–59 in the new Fourth Division. Low adopted an attacking policy, but still relied on men like Sproson to hold the fort at the back. They took the Fourth Division title in 1958–59, though Sproson spent the first half of the season on the sidelines with an ankle injury. Terry Miles took his #6 jersey, though both Alan Martin and Roy Pritchard failed to hold on to the #3 jersey, which Sproson claimed in February 1959. It was the first time in six season he played less than forty games, for the next eleven seasons he would make at least thirty games a season.

He played 49 games in 1959–60. Sproson was back. In 1960–61 he hit 51 games. In 1961–62, 1962–63 and 1963–64 he was a regular custodian in the back four, as the club tried and failed to win promotion. In 1964–65 the veteran couldn't prevent the club from slipping back into the fourth tier, as Freddie Steele's second time in charge proved much less successful than the first. Under Jackie Mudie and then Stanley Matthews the club struggled. Sproson was as much in demand as ever, in 1965–66, 1966–67, 1967–68 and again in 1968–69 the club frittered about at the foot of the league. He was made the inaugural winner of the Port Vale F.C. Player of the Year award in 1967.

When new manager Gordon Lee finally pushed the team to promotion in 1969–70, forty-year-old Sproson was four years his manager's senior. Despite this he managed to post 52 appearances in the campaign. Lee had to regularly talk him out of retirement. With promotion secured, Sproson was allowed to drift out of the first team picture. Named Gillette Sportsman of the Year in April 1970, he made seven appearances in 1970–71. His final appearance came on 8 May 1972 in a 2–1 defeat to Rotherham United at Vale Park. It was his only League match of the season, and he continued at the club in a coaching capacity.

Sproson finished with a grand total 837 starts and five substitute appearances, being yellow carded just twice in his professional career. Many supporters believed if he had not remained so intensely loyal to Vale then he would certainly have played in the First Division, and possibly even received international honours.