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Post by htafcokay on Feb 3, 2024 22:00:58 GMT 1
I had the pleasure of interviewing former Town player John Rudge last month about his Town career. While he readily admits that his career at Leeds Road was unspectacular, "John Rudge's who's he?", he has nothing but good words about Huddersfield as he met his wife of 56 years while he was here. At the moment, John has is doing the rounds with his autobiography, To Cap It All, which was released in October 2023. Port Vale fans love him, as he spent 15 years in charge there, and have been trying to raise £100,000 for a statue outside Vale Park. It's currently at £89,000. Rudge is donating all proceeds from the book to the fund as well. I said I'd plug the book and statue fund for him, although he did say that no-one will remember him! Although I'm sure a few will remember us playing his Port Vale sides, including a memorable win down here in 1998 which kept them up. All information about John's book and Statue Fund can be found here: tocapitall.co.uk/   |
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Post by royrace on Feb 3, 2024 22:05:28 GMT 1
Wow I remember him as the legendary port vale manager, had no idea he played for town!
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Tinpot
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Post by Tinpot on Feb 4, 2024 0:25:13 GMT 1
Wow I remember him as the legendary port vale manager, had no idea he played for town! Ditto. He was a bloody thorn in our side as well during his tenure there. |
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Post by space hardware on Feb 4, 2024 0:32:55 GMT 1
I had the pleasure of interviewing former Town player John Rudge last month about his Town career. While he readily admits that his career at Leeds Road was unspectacular, "John Rudge's who's he?", he has nothing but good words about Huddersfield as he met his wife of 56 years while he was here. At the moment, John has is doing the rounds with his autobiography, To Cap It All, which was released in October 2023. Port Vale fans love him, as he spent 15 years in charge there, and have been trying to raise £100,000 for a statue outside Vale Park. It's currently at £89,000. Rudge is donating all proceeds from the book to the fund as well. I said I'd plug the book and statue fund for him, although he did say that no-one will remember him! Although I'm sure a few will remember us playing his Port Vale sides, including a memorable win down here in 1998 which kept them up. All information about John's book and Statue Fund can be found here: tocapitall.co.uk/I remember watching the Port Vale win over Spurs in the FA Cup like it was yesterday. I had no idea he was an ex Town player |
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wildhogg
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Post by wildhogg on Feb 4, 2024 1:33:59 GMT 1
Wow I remember him as the legendary port vale manager, had no idea he played for town! Ditto. He was a bloody thorn in our side as well during his tenure there. Absolutely. Him and Martin Foyle were like Dick Dastardly and Mutley. |
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Post by araucaria on Feb 4, 2024 5:12:51 GMT 1
Feared he was another who’d left us: relieved he’s very much still with us.
I sat next to him in my only game in the Directors’ box, courtesy of a Golden ticket that offered meeting the players, a two-course meal, cup of tea at half-time and the posh seats. Dale Tempest just happened to sit at our table for the meal and at half-time. We beat Crystal Palace 1-0 under Mark Lillis, our first win for 13 games in that 2012-13 silly season. Shook hands with Kieran on the way out.
I called him Mr Rudge. He said ‘that was my dad, call me John’. I told him I’d seen him play down here and then pointing over my shoulder at B&Q said ‘well, over there, actually’. I didn’t say that it was mostly reserve matches where I saw him play. Lovely man, but as pointed out above, a real sonofabitch at Port Vale.
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Post by Bubbles on Feb 4, 2024 7:35:54 GMT 1
Feared he was another who’d left us: relieved he’s very much still with us. Yes htfcokay, when you post these please could you put “an interview with..” as your header in future as I thought Brian Horton and Lou Macari had both died a few weeks back as well! Thanks in advance! |
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Post by blue1003 on Feb 4, 2024 10:18:26 GMT 1
Thank you for this article. I remember seeing John play for Town and was very surprised to see he made only 5 appearances for us.
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Post by Bassingham Terrier on Feb 4, 2024 11:02:38 GMT 1
Another excellent read, Lee. Cheers!  |
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paulsg
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Post by paulsg on Feb 4, 2024 11:10:09 GMT 1
Funny, I thought he'd played far more games for Town.
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Post by VLP Fan Club on Feb 4, 2024 11:14:33 GMT 1
I had the pleasure of interviewing former Town player John Rudge last month about his Town career. While he readily admits that his career at Leeds Road was unspectacular, "John Rudge's who's he?", he has nothing but good words about Huddersfield as he met his wife of 56 years while he was here. At the moment, John has is doing the rounds with his autobiography, To Cap It All, which was released in October 2023. Port Vale fans love him, as he spent 15 years in charge there, and have been trying to raise £100,000 for a statue outside Vale Park. It's currently at £89,000. Rudge is donating all proceeds from the book to the fund as well. I said I'd plug the book and statue fund for him, although he did say that no-one will remember him! Although I'm sure a few will remember us playing his Port Vale sides, including a memorable win down here in 1998 which kept them up. All information about John's book and Statue Fund can be found here: tocapitall.co.uk/Great work Lee. |
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Macduff
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Post by Macduff on Feb 4, 2024 11:18:54 GMT 1
Great stuff Lee. I saw him play for Town at least once. I did just check to see who was the manager of Port Vale when we beat them in the cup in 1975 ( I remember it as they were in the division above us) but it wasn't John Rudge.
Just seeing his name reminded me of all the good players I saw at Town in that era, many mentioned in the interview, so thanks for that.
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Post by detox on Feb 4, 2024 11:28:49 GMT 1
I also thought he'd played more than 5 games...I certainly remember him (bony knees....) and knew he'd done well at Port Vale. That Town team of the mid 60's was developing nicely with some great players coming through..I was 15/16 at the time and totally hooked by then.
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Post by Walton-on-the-Hill Terrier on Feb 4, 2024 11:35:37 GMT 1
I saw him play in that Coventry game, Town won 3-1, Mick Meagan scoring a very rare goal. I know he went on to have a good career at Carlisle and I must have seen him play for them at Town once or twice.
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cyberman
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Post by cyberman on Feb 4, 2024 12:54:26 GMT 1
Have a word on Nobbie Williams ear - 10k is chump change for that pop star gargantuan !
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Post by Terrier Ramone on Feb 4, 2024 13:42:31 GMT 1
I, too, remember him as a great manager at Port Vale but had no idea he'd played for us. That's a lovely article.
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Post by htafcokay on Feb 5, 2024 12:57:10 GMT 1
Have a word on Nobbie Williams ear - 10k is chump change for that pop star gargantuan ! They're actually good friends, believe it or not 😂 |
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Post by htafcokay on Feb 5, 2024 12:57:43 GMT 1
Feared he was another who’d left us: relieved he’s very much still with us. Yes htfcokay, when you post these please could you put “an interview with..” as your header in future as I thought Brian Horton and Lou Macari had both died a few weeks back as well! Thanks in advance! Noted 😂 |
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Post by King Neil on Feb 5, 2024 12:59:21 GMT 1
I never realised he had played for Town
Port Vale were a bit of a bogey team for us under rudge..they always seemed to beat us
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