'FANS' BACKING REALLY MEANS SO MUCH ΤΟ ΜΕ

IT’S a sign of the esteem that John Rudge is held in that he is highly regarded at both Port Vale and Stoke City

- John Lyons

The Potteries duo both benefited from Rudge’s knowledge and wisdom over a long period. While he is better known for his time at Vale – Rudge spent three years as assistant manager before taking the top job for an impressive 16 years – it shouldn’t be forgotten that he then enjoyed 14 years as director of football at the Potters.

Now club president at Port Vale, the 78-year-old attends all their games home and away and has legendary status among the fans. So much so in fact that Vale supporters have already raised almost £60,000 towards the £100,000 needed to build a statue of the popular former manager.

And last Sunday the supporters’ club held a launch event for Rudge’s autobiography ‘To Cap It All’, with all profits going to the statue fund.

Rudge had previously penned some chapters for a book years ago but then put the idea on the backburner. The fans’ recent efforts – and some cajoling from his family – persuaded him to think again.

“I wondered how the supporters were going to raise that amount of money, especially with the cost of living crisis,” he told The FLP. “I thought it would only be fitting if I could write the book and donate all the money from it to help the supporters buy the statue. I’m grateful and honoured.

“People had asked me to write my book before, but I said that I’d had my time. My two girls, Lisa and Debbie, said to me ‘Dad, why don’t you finish that book? It would be for us as a family – our kids can look at it and see what you achieved’.”

Indeed, family comes first for Rudge – something he reiterates when you ask him about his best ever signing.