Famous Players – The 1960’s

Jackie Mudie

Scottish International forward Jackie Mudie spent the majority of his playing career at Blackpool between 1947 and 1961 where he featured alongside Sir Stanley Matthews. Then after 2 years at Stoke City also playing with Sir Stanley, 33 year old Jackie was signed by Vale manager Freddie Steele in 1963.

Initially a regular in the Vale team, the ageing Mudie found it difficult to play on hard surfaces due to the risk of muscle jarring, and he lost his first-team place in August 1964. After Freddie Steele’s departure, Mudie became player-manager in February 1965, combining for a third time with boyhood Vale supporter Matthews, who became the Valiants’ general-manager a few months later.

However the recruitment and playing strategies that Mudie and Sir Stanley adopted proved to be unsuccessful and Jackie resigned in 1967.

He continued to live locally and spent several years coaching in non-league football.

Jackie died in 1992 aged 61.  His son Graham was a director at Port Vale between 2006 and 2011.