Legends of Vale Park – stories retold
Tom Holford
One of the most loyal servants the club has ever had, locally-born Tom Holford served in a variety of roles for 36 years altogether - even longer than Roy Sproson, which says it all!
A cousin of fellow Vale legend Wilf Kirkham, “Dirty Tommy” began his playing career with a decade at Stoke City, winning one England cap. He also spent six years at Manchester City before joining the Vale in 1914 as player-manager at the age of 36.
Holford retired as a player in 1920 and became the club’s trainer, but an injury crisis meant that he returned for one game in 1924 at the age of 46 years and 68 days, making him Vale’s oldest-ever player and the sixth-oldest player of all time in the Football League.
He remained as the club trainer until being made manager in 1932, taking charge of the club for three years, which included a club record 9-1 league victory over Chesterfield. He was relieved of his duties in 1935, whereupon he became club scout.
He retired in 1950 and died in April 1964, at the age of 86. Few people have been as devoted to Port Vale as Tom during our 150-year history, and he remains a true club legend.
The Evening Sentinel, Tuesday 7th April 1964, provides further context to his incredible life and career...
"Tommy Holford was outstanding figure in Potteries Soccer. Former England, Stoke City and Port Vale player Mr. Tom Holford, whose death at the age of 87 was reported in the late editions was outstanding in Potteries football for many years. His connection with football as player and official extended over the greater part of the history of organised football in this country.
“The Football League was only 10 years old when he started to play for Stoke in 1898 and he was over 70 when he finally gave up his active connection with football. After that he continued his interest as a regular spectator.
"He was 20 when he signed for Stoke at £1 a week and subsequently became the smallest centre-half to play for England. It was in 1903 that he was capped against Ireland at Wolverhampton. He was only 5ft. 5ft in. tall and weighted only nine stone, but he was a tough and fearless tackler. Always an extremely fit man who took care of his physical condition, he played in League football when he was 45. Even when he was a man of 80 he looked very much younger.
"From Stoke he moved to Manchester City in 1908-09 and with them he won a Division II. championship medal in 1909-10. It was in 1914 that his long association with Port Vale began and it covered a succession of roles as player, manager, trainer, coach and scout, embracing a period of 36 years. Transferred to the Vale as player-manager, ne never occupied that post because the war intervened and he served with the Royal Artillery.
“He played for a time for Nottingham Forest and when normal football resumed returned to the Vale as a player. He became as popular at the Vale's headquarters as he had been at the Victoria Ground. Playing for the club when they were elected to the Second Division after the 1914-18 war, he remained in the side until 1922, when he was appointed trainer and made occasional playing appearances. He served as trainer for 10 years and was manager for three years. Afterwards he became coach and subsequently chief scout."
Holford’s Vale honours as a player
- North Staffordshire Infirmary Cup: 1920 (shared), 1922 (shared)
- Staffordshire Senior Cup: 1920
Holford’s Vale honours as a manager
- North Staffordshire Infirmary Cup: 1915
