Ken Griffiths
Encyclopedia
Kenneth James Griffiths (1 April 1930 – 9 August 2008) is an English
former football forward. He scored 59 goals in 221 games in the Football League
.
With Port Vale
between 1945 and 1958, a bright period of the club's history
, he had a goal to game ratio of more than one in four. He spent 1958–59 with Mansfield Town
, before moving into non-league football.
said that: "he was quick and had the ability to put the ball in the net" and was "highly regarded by his fellow players" despite being an "underrated player by the [Port] Vale public".
for Northwood Mission. During World War II
he joined the Royal Air Force
. He played inside-left for his unit's team.
He joined Port Vale
as an amateur in June 1945 and signed professional forms in February 1950 and made his debut two months later. From 1952 he was a regular feature of the first 11 and played in every match of the clubs 1953–1954 FA Cup
run, although he missed the semi-final itself due to injury. He suffered a decline in form after a cartilage operation at the start of the 1955–56 season
and was sold to Mansfield Town
for a four-figure fee in January 1958, having played 196 matches (179 in the league) and scoring 52 league and four FA Cup goals for Vale.
He later played for Stafford Rangers
, Wellington Town
, Sankeys
, Macclesfield Town
, Northwich Victoria
, Nantwich Town
and Wolstanton United. As well as becoming a player-coach of Michelin, player-assistant manager at Parkway, coach of Birches Head Hotel and then manager of the Staffordshire F.A. team.
.
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
former football forward. He scored 59 goals in 221 games in the Football League
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
.
With Port Vale
Port Vale F.C.
Port Vale Football Club is an English football club currently playing in Football League Two. They are based in Burslem, Staffordshire — one of six towns that make up the city of Stoke-on-Trent. The club's traditional rivals in the city are Stoke City, and games between the two clubs are known as...
between 1945 and 1958, a bright period of the club's history
History of Port Vale F.C.
The history of Port Vale F.C., an English association football club based in Stoke-on-Trent, began when the club was formed in 1876. In 1884, the club moved to the town of Burslem, changing their name to Burslem Port Vale in the process. The club joined the Football League Second Division upon its...
, he had a goal to game ratio of more than one in four. He spent 1958–59 with Mansfield Town
Mansfield Town F.C.
Mansfield Town Football Club is an English football club from the former mining town of Mansfield, Nottinghamshire. The club was formed in 1897 as Mansfield Wesleyans and changed its name to Mansfield Wesley in 1906 before settling on Mansfield Town in 1910...
, before moving into non-league football.
Playing style
Former teammate Roy SprosonRoy Sproson
Roy Sproson was an English footballer and football manager for Port Vale. A one-club man, he holds the all-time appearance record for Vale, making 837 starts for Vale between 1950 and 1972. This includes a run of 128 consecutive appearances between April 1954 and March 1957...
said that: "he was quick and had the ability to put the ball in the net" and was "highly regarded by his fellow players" despite being an "underrated player by the [Port] Vale public".
Playing career
Griffiths started playing football for Abbey Hulton Youth Club and then with Basil HaywardBasil Hayward
Carl Basil Hayward was an English footballer player and manager. He was the younger brother of Doug and Eric Hayward....
for Northwood Mission. During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
he joined the Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
. He played inside-left for his unit's team.
He joined Port Vale
Port Vale F.C.
Port Vale Football Club is an English football club currently playing in Football League Two. They are based in Burslem, Staffordshire — one of six towns that make up the city of Stoke-on-Trent. The club's traditional rivals in the city are Stoke City, and games between the two clubs are known as...
as an amateur in June 1945 and signed professional forms in February 1950 and made his debut two months later. From 1952 he was a regular feature of the first 11 and played in every match of the clubs 1953–1954 FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
run, although he missed the semi-final itself due to injury. He suffered a decline in form after a cartilage operation at the start of the 1955–56 season
1955–56 Port Vale F.C. season
The 1955–56 season was Port Vale's forty-fourth season of football in the Football League, and their second successive season in the Second Division. Gaining ten points on their previous season's total, the club progressed well, achieving their best finish since 1933–34...
and was sold to Mansfield Town
Mansfield Town F.C.
Mansfield Town Football Club is an English football club from the former mining town of Mansfield, Nottinghamshire. The club was formed in 1897 as Mansfield Wesleyans and changed its name to Mansfield Wesley in 1906 before settling on Mansfield Town in 1910...
for a four-figure fee in January 1958, having played 196 matches (179 in the league) and scoring 52 league and four FA Cup goals for Vale.
He later played for Stafford Rangers
Stafford Rangers F.C.
Stafford Rangers Football Club is a semi-professional English football team from Stafford which plays in the Northern Premier League Premier Division.The team wear black and white stripes with black shorts...
, Wellington Town
Telford United F.C.
Telford United F.C. was an English football club based in Telford, Shropshire.The club existed under various names for a total of 132 years from its formation in 1872. The club was founder members of the Alliance Premier League in 1979 and played at this level for 25 years before being wound up in...
, Sankeys
GKN Sankey F.C.
GKN Sankey F.C., previously known as Sankeys of Wellington F.C., was an English association football club based in Wellington, Shropshire, which was incorporated into the new town of Telford in the 1960s...
, Macclesfield Town
Macclesfield Town F.C.
Macclesfield Town Football Club is an English football team. The club was formed in 1874 and is based in the town of Macclesfield in Cheshire. The team play its home games at the 6,355 capacity Moss Rose stadium...
, Northwich Victoria
Northwich Victoria F.C.
Northwich Victoria Football Club are an English football club who play at the Victoria Stadium in Wincham, Northwich, Cheshire in the Northern Premier League Premier Division, the seventh tier of the English football league system.Northwich are an old club, founded in 1874 and named in honour of...
, Nantwich Town
Nantwich Town F.C.
Nantwich Town Football Club is a semi-professional football club based in Nantwich, Cheshire, England. The club was founded in 1884 and is nicknamed The Dabbers. The club is currently a member of the Northern Premier League Premier Division, with home matches played at the Weaver Stadium.Nantwich...
and Wolstanton United. As well as becoming a player-coach of Michelin, player-assistant manager at Parkway, coach of Birches Head Hotel and then manager of the Staffordshire F.A. team.
Death
Griffiths died in August 2008, at the age of 78. He was survived by wife Nancy and daughter Valerie, grandchildren Andrea, Nicola, and Tracey, and five great-grandchildren. He died days apart from former teammate Selwyn WhalleySelwyn Whalley
Selwyn Davies Whalley is a former English footballer. He was a one club man with a fifteen year career at Port Vale.-Playing career:Whalley was born in Tunstall, Stoke-on-Trent, and grew up supporting Port Vale...
.
Honours
with Port Vale- Football League Third Division NorthFootball League Third Division NorthThe Third Division North of The Football League was a tier in the English association football league system from 1921 to 1958. It ran parallel to Third Division South with clubs elected to the League or relegated from a higher division allocated to one or the other according to geographical position...
winner: 1953–541953–54 Port Vale F.C. seasonThe 1953–54 season was Port Vale's forty-second season of football in the Football League, and their second season back in the Third Division North. Quite possibly the greatest season in the club's history, Freddie Steele's side were crowned Third Division North champions with 69 points out of a...