Phil Sproson
{{short description|English footballer}}
{{Use British English|date=July 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Phil Sproson
| image =
| caption =
| fullname = Phillip Jess Sproson
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1959|10|13|df=y}}
| birth_place = Stoke-on-Trent, England
| death_date =
| height = {{height|ft=6|in=0}}{{cite book |title=Rothmans Football Yearbook 1990–91 |editor1-last=Rollin |editor1-first=Jack |year=1990 |publisher=Queen Anne Press |isbn=0-356-17911-7 |edition=21st |page=84}}
| position = Central defender
| youthyears1 = 1975–1977| youthclubs1 = Port Vale
| years1 = 1977–1989| clubs1 = Port Vale | caps1 = 426| goals1 = 33
| years2 = 1989–1990| clubs2 = Birmingham City | caps2 = 12| goals2 = 0
| years3 = | clubs3 = Stafford Rangers | caps3 = | goals3 =
| years4 = | clubs4 = Northwich Victoria| caps4 = | goals4 =
| totalcaps = 438| totalgoals = 33
}}
Phillip Jess Sproson (born 13 October 1959) is an English former footballer who played as a central defender. He played in 500 matches (426 in the league) for Port Vale and scored 41 goals (33 in the league); this places him second in the list of appearances for Port Vale. He was the nephew of Port Vale defender Roy Sproson and son of Jess Sproson, who played for Vale between 1940 and 1947.
A strong and technically competent central defender, he helped Port Vale to win promotion out of the Fourth Division in 1982–83 and 1985–86, and was twice named on the PFA Team of the Year. Forced to retire in February 1989 due to a knee injury, he attempted a comeback with Birmingham City and later represented Stafford Rangers and Northwich Victoria. He remained in the game after retirement and became a football agent.
Early and personal life
Phillip Jess Sproson was born in Stoke-on-Trent on 13 October 1959. He was the nephew of Port Vale club record appearance holder Roy Sproson and son of Jess Sproson, who played for Vale between 1940 and 1947. Another uncle, Cliff, played semi-professional football. The extended family all lived in the same cul-de-sac at Trent Vale.{{cite news |last1=Travers |first1=Chris |title='I wasn't aware that Port Vale had turned down bids from other clubs to sign me' |url=https://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/i-wasnt-aware-port-vale-8514831 |access-date=12 June 2023 |work=StokeonTrentLive |date=12 June 2023}} His son, Warren, also played for Port Vale's youth team.{{cite news |title=Sproson: Rudge was a great coach |url=https://www.onevalefan.co.uk/2012/01/sproson-rudge-great-coach/ |accessdate=6 June 2020 |work=onevalefan.co.uk |date=27 January 2012}}
Career
=Port Vale=
Sproson was spotted by Port Vale coach Reg Berks after Berks visited Thistley Hough High School to see the team play.{{cite book|last=Kent|first=Jeff|title=Port Vale Tales: A Collection of Stories, Anecdotes And Memories|publisher=Witan Books|date=December 1991|pages=45|isbn=0-9508981-6-3}} After asking for the youngster's address, he visited him later in the day to get him on a contract, at which point he discovered the youngster was the nephew of Vale's manager, Roy Sproson. Berks asked the uncle why he had not told him he had a young family member who could play football, to which he responded "I didn't know I'd got one!". In the Vale youth team, Sproson was a midfielder, though as he grew into a tall young man he was converted into a centre-half role.{{cite web|url=http://www.sprosonfund.com/Stories/philsproson.html|title=Phil Sproson|work=sprosonfund.com|accessdate=23 June 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081119234247/http://www.sprosonfund.com/Stories/philsproson.html|archive-date=19 November 2008|url-status=dead}} He rejected an apprenticeship at Stoke City. Instead, he became an apprentice electrician until new manager Bobby Smith offered him forms with Port Vale in December 1977.{{cite book|last=Kent|first=Jeff|title=Port Vale Tales: A Collection of Stories, Anecdotes And Memories|publisher=Witan Books|date=December 1991|pages=283|isbn=0-9508981-6-3}}
He featured in two Third Division games towards the end of the 1977–78 season.{{cite book |last=Kent |first=Jeff |title=Port Vale Personalities |publisher=Witan Books |page=278 |year=1996 |isbn=0-9529152-0-0}} With the "Valiants" relegated into the Fourth Division, Sproson found first-team chances easier to come by at Vale Park as he played 25 games in the 1978–79 season under the stewardship of Dennis Butler. He scored his first senior goal on 15 September 1979, in a 5–0 home win over Northampton Town. He established himself in the first-team under new boss John McGrath, and played 40 games in the 1979–80 season. He went on to feature 50 times in the 1980–81 campaign and missed just three games all season, although he was sent off for swearing at teammate Russell Bromage during a 5–1 defeat at Northampton Town.{{Cite web |title=This Day in History: 1980-12-27 |url=https://www.onevalefan.co.uk/this-day-in-history/1980-12-27/ |access-date=2023-06-12 |website=onevalefan.co.uk}} He scored five goals in 51 games in the 1981–82 season, after missing just four league matches. The 1982–83 season proved highly successful for Sproson; he was a regular in the first-team, claiming four goals in 45 games, and was included in the PFA select Fourth Division side as Vale were promoted in third place.{{cite book |first=Tony |last=Lynch |title=The Official P.F.A. Footballers Heroes |year=1995 |publisher=Random House |location=London |isbn=978-0-09-179135-3 }} Vale boasted the best defensive record in the Football League, conceding only 34 goals.{{cite book |last1=Jones |first1=Peter |title=Port Vale matchday programme v Morecambe |publisher=Port Vale FC |pages=42–3}} Stoke City manager Richie Barker had tried to sign Sproson earlier in the season but was put off by Vale's high asking price, so instead signed Paul Dyson.{{cite news|last1=Baggaley|first1=Mike|title=When Stoke City tried to sign a Port Vale legend|url=http://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/when-stoke-city-tried-to-sign-a-port-vale-legend/story-29948538-detail/story.html|accessdate=2 December 2016|work=Stoke Sentinel|date=2 December 2016}}
The club suffered relegation in 1983–84, with Sproson scoring four goals in 44 appearances. Sproson maintained his first-team place in the 1984–85 campaign under the management of John Rudge, as he played 54 of Vale's 56 games. In the 1985–86 season, Sproson was appointed as club captain, and missed just two games as Port Vale were again promoted out of the Fourth Division; he was again selected in the PFA Team of the Year. He scored four goals in 52 appearances in the 1986–87 season as the only real constant presence in the Vale defence. He missed just four of Vale's 56 games in the 1987–88 season, and claimed the winning goal in the FA Cup giant-killing of First Division side Tottenham Hotspur after getting the better of goalkeeper Tony Parks and centre-back Neil Ruddock in a goalmouth scramble that resulted; Sproson later claimed he also made the best tackle of his career in the game when he lunged in front of Clive Allen to block a Mitchell Thomas cross.{{cite news |last1=Baggaley |first1=Michael |title=Phil Sproson recalls Port Vale 2, Spurs 1, and the goal he scored for his dad |url=https://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/sport/football/phil-sproson-recalls-port-vale-1142474 |accessdate=26 December 2018 |work=Stoke Sentinel |date=30 January 2018}} The 1988–89 season saw Vale promoted from the Third Division; Sproson scored five goals in 29 games. He signed a new 12-month contract in December 1988 and stated that his ambition was "to see Port Vale established as the No. 1 club in the Potteries".{{cite news |last1=Baggaley |first1=Mike |title=Port Vale earn battling Exeter win to ease the pressure |url=https://portvalethevaliant.substack.com/p/port-vale-earn-battling-exeter-win |access-date=11 December 2023 |work=Valiant's Substack |date=10 December 2023}} In January 1989, Sproson suffered a severe knee injury during training and retired the following month. His testimonial match was held against rivals Stoke City on 21 March 1988, Vale drew the game 1–1, and Sproson collected £12,000 of the takings.{{cite book|last=Kent|first=Jeff|title=The Potteries Derbies|publisher=Witan Books|page=180|date=November 1998|isbn=0-9529152-3-5}}
{{Blockquote|"When I signed a contract for another year, I did so because I want to play for Port Vale in the Second Division and this season there is a real chance it could happen. Today I would not believe this is the same club I joined 11 years ago. Looking back I can see I joined a club happy to be in the Third or Fourth Divisions. When I first signed they were in the Third but were relegated the same year and there was no drive. Now there is definite drive and purpose in the club and I can see Port Vale going on to overshadow Stoke City."|Speaking in December 1988, Sproson made a bold prediction about Port Vale's future, which would prove accurate, though he would not be at the club to witness it.{{cite news |last1=Baggaley |first1=Michael |title=Port Vale archives: When Vale set sights on being 'number one' club in Potteries |url=https://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/port-vale-archives-vale-set-2346760 |accessdate=26 December 2018 |work=Stoke Sentinel |date=26 December 2018}}}}
=Later career=
Against medical advice, Sproson attempted a return to league football. In August 1989 he joined Dave Mackay's Birmingham City, who were obliged to pay Port Vale a "fee" of £50,000 in lieu of insurance money. He played 12 Third Division and four League Cup games for the "Blues" in the 1989–90 season, but a re-occurrence of his knee injury meant he was unable to perform at the required fitness levels, and he retired again in September 1990.{{cite book |last=Matthews |first=Tony |title=Birmingham City: A Complete Record |year=1995 |publisher=Breedon Books |location=Derby |page =126 |isbn=978-1-85983-010-9}} He did though later play for Conference sides Stafford Rangers and Northwich Victoria.
Style of play
Sproson was a physical central defender who could pass with either foot and was strong in the air.{{cite news|last1=Baggaley|first1=Mike|title=Robbie Earle: My favourite five Port Vale central defenders|url=http://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/robbie-earle-my-favourite-five-port-vale-central-defenders/story-30156339-detail/story.html|accessdate=22 February 2017|work=Stoke Sentinel|date=22 February 2017|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170223133106/http://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/robbie-earle-my-favourite-five-port-vale-central-defenders/story-30156339-detail/story.html|archivedate=23 February 2017}}
Post-retirement
Sproson worked as head of the PFA's Player Management Agency,{{cite web |url=http://www.givemefootball.com/blast-from-the-past/phil-sproson-a-port-vale-legend-now-doing-great-th |title=Phil Sproson: a Port Vale legend now doing great things for the PFA |last=Shail |first=Mark |date=26 June 2006 |publisher=Professional Footballers' Association |accessdate=8 February 2009 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20091005024302/http://www.givemefootball.com/blast-from-the-past/phil-sproson-a-port-vale-legend-now-doing-great-th |archivedate=5 October 2009}} but stood down in March 2009 to work on his own account.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2009/mar/24/phil-sproson-pfa-gordon-taylor-mick-mcquire|title=PFA fears player drain after agent Phil Sproson decides to go it alone|last=James|first=Stuart|date=24 March 2009|work=The Guardian|accessdate=2 June 2009|location=London}} He has worked as an agent to players such as Curtis Davies,{{cite news| url=http://www.skysports.com/story/0,,11095_5616606,00.html | publisher=Sky Sports | title=O'Neill unhappy with Davies | date=8 October 2009 | accessdate=24 October 2016}} Marlon Harewood{{cite news| url=http://www.skysports.com/story/0,,11095_6197894,00.html | publisher=Sky Sports | title=Harewood keen on Pompey | date=9 June 2010 | accessdate=24 October 2016}} and Liam Dickinson.{{cite news|title=Cash-strapped Vale likely to miss out on striker|url=http://www.thisisstaffordshire.co.uk/Port-Vale-Cash-strapped-Vale-likely-miss-striker/story-16705508-detail/story.html|accessdate=14 August 2012|newspaper=The Sentinel|date=14 August 2012}} He has also acted as agent for Adam Crookes and Joe Worrall, as well as numerous players at Nottingham Forest due to his friendship with academy manager Gary Brazil.{{cite web|url=https://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/adam-crookes-nottingham-forest-vale-2426219|title=Who is Adam Crookes? All about Port Vale's signing from Nottingham Forest|date=14 January 2019|accessdate=15 January 2019|author=Michael Baggaley|publisher=Stoke Sentinel}}{{cite news |last1=Fielding |first1=Rob |title=Seven players in four years: Port Vale's close relationship with Nottingham Forest |url=https://www.onevalefan.co.uk/2021/02/seven-players-in-four-years-port-vales-close-relationship-with-nottingham-forest/ |access-date=2 February 2021 |work=onevalefan.co.uk |date=2 February 2021}} He has also worked as an analyst for BBC Radio Stoke.
Career statistics
Source:{{ENFA}}
| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;" | ||||||||
| rowspan="2"|Club
!rowspan="2"|Season !colspan="3"|League !colspan="2"|FA Cup !colspan="2"|Other !colspan="2"|Total | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| rowspan="13"|Port Vale
|2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | |
| 1978–79
|23 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 25 | 0 | |
| 1979–80
|Fourth Division |39 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 40 | 3 | |
| 1980–81
|Fourth Division |44 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 50 | 1 | |
| 1981–82
|Fourth Division |42 | 6 | 5 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 51 | 6 | |
| 1982–83
|Fourth Division |42 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 45 | 4 | |
| 1983–84
|Third Division |38 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 2 | 44 | 4 | |
| 1984–85
|Fourth Division |44 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 54 | 3 | |
| 1985–86
|Fourth Division |44 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 54 | 5 | |
| 1986–87
|Third Division |44 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 52 | 5 | |
| 1987–88
|Third Division |44 | 3 | 7 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 54 | 5 | |
| 1988–89
|Third Division |20 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 6 | 2 | 29 | 5 | |
| colspan="2"|Total
!426 | 33 | 31 | 3 | 43 | 5 | 500 | 41 | |
| Birmingham City
|Third Division |12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 16 | 1 | |
| colspan="3"|Career total
!438 | 33 | 31 | 3 | 47 | 6 | 516 | 42 |
Honours
Individual
Port Vale
- Football League Fourth Division 3rd-place finish (promoted): 1982–83
- Football League Fourth Division 4th-place finish (promoted): 1985–86{{cite book|last=Kent|first=Jeff|title=The Valiants' Years: The Story of Port Vale|publisher=Witan Books|year=1990|pages=258–290|chapter=From Rags to Riches (1979–1990)|isbn=0-9508981-4-7}}
References
{{reflist}}
{{1982–83 Football League Fourth Division PFA Team of the Year}}
{{1985–86 Football League Fourth Division PFA Team of the Year}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sproson, Phil}}
Category:Footballers from Stoke-on-Trent
Category:English men's footballers
Category:Men's association football central defenders
Category:Port Vale F.C. players
Category:Birmingham City F.C. players
Category:Stafford Rangers F.C. players
Category:Northwich Victoria F.C. players
Category:English Football League players
Category:National League (English football) players