SELWYN WHALLEYFormer Port Vale defender Selwyn Whalley died on 8 August, 2008 at the age of 74.
Mr Whalley, who also worked as a teacher in the Potteries, died at the Douglas Macmillan Hospice in Stoke-on-Trent after an 18-month battle against prostate cancer.
He was born in Tunstall in Stoke-on-Trent and grew up supporting the Valiants before he joined the club as a 19-year-old player in August 1953.
He was mainly deployed at right-half – or right-back – during his playing career and went on to make 196 appearances for Vale. He also scored eight goals, before retiring in May 1966 due to a foot injury.
Two years earlier, the footballer was awarded a testimonial which he shared with Vale legend Roy Sproson.
Vale were in the old Second Division when Mr Whalley made his debut on 13 April, 1957, although he could not stop his side crashing to a 3-2 home defeat against Bristol Rovers. But he spent most of his career playing in the third and fourth tiers of English football and helped Vale to the fifth round of the FA Cup in 1961/62.
He produced one of his most memorable performances when Vale forced the mighty Liverpool into extra-time in their FA Cup fourth-round replay in January 1964, before they eventually bowed out 2-1.
Former Vale forward Harry Poole, who played alongside Mr Whalley, said: "Selwyn was a 'softie' in the nicest sense of the word off the pitch, but he was like a lion on it.
"He was somebody who always gave 100 per cent and was a true defender of the like you don't see too much these days.
"He was a quiet chap, but was always a very popular member of the squad and everybody thought a lot of him."
Mr Whalley spent his early years living in Tunstall and attended Hanley High School, but also resided in Wetley Rocks, Longton and Werrington.
The father-of-three returned to Hanley High to work as a full-time physical education teacher, even though he continued to play professional football with Vale on a part-time basis.
Later in his teaching career, he also worked at Edward Orme and Blurton High.
He was survived by his wife Lesley, son Martyn, daughters Joanne and Philippa and grandson Daniel.
His son Martyn said: "I will remember my dad for his honesty and fighting spirit.
"He committed 100 per cent to everything he did and, although he was always proud to play for Vale, you never heard him boast about it."
Club chairman Bill Bratt said: "I knew Selwyn since he played for Vale and he was always somebody who gave his best of the club and he will be sadly missed."
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