Manager of month for boss Darren as statue is unveiled for Port Vale legend Rudge!

In the latest part of CLIVE YOULTON’s review of Port Vale’s promotion season, he looks back at the John Rudge statue unveiling and a manager of the month award for Darren Moore...

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FOR those on the John Rudge Statue committee these were exciting times.

The first phase of work had been completed with the ground broken.

Rudge managed the Burslem-based club for 843 games from 1983 to 1999, putting Port Vale firmly on the map as he took the club to the highest league position in their history.

His sides famously beat the likes of Tottenham Hotspur and FA Cup holders Everton and made them competitive against - and at times above ~ neighbouring rivals Stoke City.

He was revered in Stoke-on-Trent.

The unveiling was set for October 21, Rudge’s 80th birthday.

On the pitch, manager Darren Moore had revealed he had told his squad he was happy with what he’d seen thus far - but not satisfied.

The Accrington game provided a big learning experience for Moore who told the club’s website: “The biggest thing for me was the character of the group.

“I think we saw as a football club the type of players we brought into the building.

‘The group togetherness, the changes that we made in order to earn us a point and win a point back. I thought that was excellent and never ever does one game run to how you want it.

“There's hurdles within the game and it’s how you react. I thought on Saturday we did that”