Famous Players – The 1980’s

Phil Sproson

Roy Sproson’s nephew Phil was spotted playing as a schoolboy and invited to join the Vale youth team.  He initially played as a midfielder but as he developed and grew taller he changed position to play centre-half.

Phil then turned down an offer from Stoke City before signing his first contract for the Vale in December 1977, making just 2 Third Division appearances towards the end of that season as Vale were relegated to League 4.

Over the next couple of seasons Phil played an increasing number of games until by 1980/81 he was a regular and mainstay of the team’s defensive set up.  He was named captain by manager John Rudge for the 1985/86 season as Vale gained promotion from the Fourth Division and Phil was named in the PFA Team of the Year.

Phil continued as captain and was a virtual ever present in the Vale team for the next few seasons.  He featured in the giant- killing defeat of Spurs at Vale Park in 1988 and scored the winning goal in Vale’s 2-1 victory.  Then in January 1989, shortly after signing a new contract, Phil suffered a serious knee injury in training and decided to retire the following month. Vale went on to win promotion to the Second Division that season.

Phil subsequently signed for Birmingham later that year, against medical advice, but a recurrence of his knee problem after just 12 games forced him to retire once more.

He later worked as manager of the PFA Player Management Agency before becoming a football agent. He is a regular Vale matchday co-commentator for BBC Radio Stoke.

Phil’s 500 appearances for the Vale put him firmly second, immediately behind his uncle Roy, in the club’s player appearance list.