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Dean Glover

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Dean Glover
Personal information
Full name Dean Victor Glover[1]
Date of birth (1963-12-29) 29 December 1963 (age 60)[2]
Place of birth West Bromwich, England[2]
Height 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)[3]
Position(s) Defender, midfielder
Youth career
1980–1981 Aston Villa
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1981–1987 Aston Villa 28 (0)
1987 → Sheffield United (loan) 5 (0)
1987–1989 Middlesbrough 50 (5)
1989–1998 Port Vale 363 (15)
1998–1999 Kidderminster Harriers
Total 446 (20)
Managerial career
2007 Port Vale (caretaker)
2008–2009 Port Vale
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Dean Victor Glover (born 29 December 1963) is an English former football player and manager. A cultured and stylish defender, he had the ball control skills of a midfielder. He played 457 league games in a seventeen-year career in the English Football League.

He started his career at Aston Villa in 1980, before he moved on to Middlesbrough seven years later. He spent two seasons at "Boro", helping the club to promotion out of the Second Division via the play-offs in 1988, before he was sold on to Port Vale in February 1989 for £200,000. He spent nine years at Vale, becoming a club legend for his service. During that time he helped the club to win promotion out of the Third Division via the play-offs in 1989, and then out of the Second Division in 1993–94. He also played in the club's victory in the 1993 Football League Trophy final, as well as the defeat in the final of the Anglo-Italian Cup in 1996. He was also named on the PFA Team of the Year in 1993–94. He moved on to non-League Kidderminster Harriers in 1998, before retiring the following year.

He joined the back-room staff at Port Vale, and was promoted to first team manager in October 2008, vacating the post in May 2009. He returned to a youth team coaching role in July 2012. His son Danny was a striker at the club until he was released at the end of his contract in 2010.

Playing career

Aston Villa

Despite being as Birmingham City fan, Glover began his footballing career with hometown club Aston Villa, progressing through the youth team ranks from the age of fourteen to eventually sign professional terms in December 1981 following an eighteen-month apprenticeship.[4][5] He made his debut under Tony Barton on 11 January 1984, in a 3–0 defeat to Norwich City at Carrow Road in an FA Cup Third Round Replay.[5]

He never really became a first team fixture in Graham Turner's First Division side, and also played little part of Billy McNeill's reign of 1986–87 that saw Villa relegated into the Second Division. He spent a brief period of 1987 on loan at Billy McEwan's Sheffield United, but made only five league appearances for the Second Division side. In his six years at Villa Park he made just 39 top-flight appearances, scoring one goal.

Middlesbrough

Glover's signed with Middlesbrough for a £60,000 fee in June 1987.[6] Manager Bruce Rioch played him as a ball-winning midfielder.[7] "Boro" won promotion into the First Division in 1987–88; they had finished behind second place Aston Villa on goals scored, but managed to beat Chelsea 2–1 on aggregate in the play-off final. Glover played in both the 2–0 victory at Ayresome Park and the 1–0 defeat at Stamford Bridge.[8]

However the club struggled in 1988–89, and Glover was sold on before Middlesbrough were relegated back into the Second Division. He had been at Middlesbrough for just under eighteen months, and made a total of 61 appearances, scoring seven goals; during this time he played as a midfielder as Gary Pallister and Tony Mowbray were well established at centre-back.[5][6]

Port Vale

Glover was signed by John Rudge in February 1989 for a then-club record £200,000 fee;[5] Rudge intended him to be a replacement for injured defenders Phil Sproson and Bob Hazell.[6] He became an instant hit with the Port Vale fans as he marked England international Steve Bull out of the game on his debut, a goalless draw with Wolverhampton Wanderers.[5] He went on to play both legs of the play-off final victory over Bristol Rovers, as a Robbie Earle inspired Vale played their last game of Third Division football thanks to a 2–1 victory.

Glover became a mainstay of Vale's defence throughout one of Vale's most successful periods, forming an excellent partnership with fellow centre half Neil Aspin. He was part of the Vale side that won the Football League Trophy in 1993; Vale beat Stockport County 2–1, and Glover played a major part in the buildup to Bernie Slaven's goal, the second of the match. He also helped the club to reach the play-off final that year by scoring against Stockport at the semi-final stage; Vale went on to lose 3–0 to West Bromwich Albion in the Wembley final. He was a big part of the promotion campaign of the 1993–94 season which saw Vale return to the First Division – he was an ever-present and was selected in the PFA's Second Division team of the year.

He then had a spell battling injury as he ruptured his ankle ligaments in late 1994 and also suffered with back trouble which kept him out of action until April 1995; he faced further injury woes in January 1996, when his old ankle injury returned.[9] He managed to recover from these problems to help Vale to the final of the Anglo-Italian Cup in 1996. He then played a major role in the Vale side that achieved the club's highest finish since 1931, when they finished eighth in the second tier in 1996–97.

Glover left Port Vale at the end of the 1997–98 season as Vale avoided relegation with a final day 4–0 win at Huddersfield. He had spent nine years at the club, becoming a crowd favourite in the process for his committed displays at centre half and right back. His many years with the "Valiants" entitled him to a testimonial game, in which singer Robbie Williams also played.[10] He has the fifth most league appearances of any Vale player.

Kidderminster Harriers

The final year of his career was seen out at Conference National side Kidderminster Harriers. Glover was a regular fixture in defence for a "Kiddy" side that finished fifteenth in 1998–99. He took the decision to retire at the end of the campaign.

Style of play

Glover played as an aggressive tough-tackling midfielder for Middlesbrough, before being converted to a ball-playing centre-back at Port Vale.[11] He was an intelligent player who had a good ability to read the game; he was also a good passer, though lacked pace and athleticism.[12]

Management career

Coach at Port Vale

Glover returned to Port Vale as a coach in Brian Horton's management team; however he left the club in April 2002. A short spell as Director of football at non-League side Stone Dominoes followed, before he came back to Vale Park in February 2004, when he was appointed assistant to new manager Martin Foyle.[13]

Glover took over as caretaker manager when Foyle left the club in September 2007. Glover was in contention for the permanent managers position, but his record of guiding Vale to only two wins from eight games contributed to his failure to get the job. After defeat to Morecambe at Christie Park in the Football League Trophy, Glover likened his side to a "pub team" and admitted that "this team is going nowhere".[14] When Farsley Celtic manager Lee Sinnott was appointed as Port Vale manager, Glover returned to the assistant role. Vale went on to lose their League One status in 2007–08; they were thirteen points short of safety, only finishing ahead of Luton Town due to the latter being deducted ten points for entering administration.

Manager at Port Vale

In September 2008, Sinnott left Port Vale, leaving Glover again with the role as caretaker manager in a shared role alongside Andy Porter. This led to speculation as to which of the two would be made manager. Glover was the expected choice and was duly appointed as manager on 6 October.[15]

A win at Shrewsbury Town instigated a run of four away wins out of five. However Vale soon returned to their poor form, and slid back down the table. At the end of October, former Vale star Dave Brammer joined on loan from Millwall,[16] and would join permanently in the January transfer window.[17] The next month Scott Brown also arrived on loan from Cheltenham Town,[18] and would also join on a permanent transfer two months later.[19] This is also what happened with defender Gareth Owen,[20] who arrived after leaving Stockport County following a bust-up with Jim Gannon.[21] Notts County player Neil MacKenzie also joined on loan,[22] but would not enjoy his short stay in Stoke-on-Trent.[23] Attempts to bring back Chris Birchall on loan failed.[24] Leaving Burslem was Chris Slater, who returned to former club Chasetown.[25] In December, Andy Porter left the club's backroom staff after seventeen years at the club,[26] highlighting the unrest in the camp. Both Porter and Mark Grew had turned down offers to become Glover's assistant.[27]

In January, striker Luke Rodgers was released from his contract after a bust-up with Glover,[28] and immediately signed with Yeovil Town.[29] Shane Tudor retired due to injury on 21 January.[30] Glover signed loanee Lee Collins to a permanent contract, after Wolverhampton Wanderers agreed to release the young defender.[31] Brammer also signed a short-term contract with the club after securing his release from Millwall.[31] Glover also brought in Pakistan international Adnan Ahmed on loan from Tranmere Rovers.[32] Glover stated the club's revised aim was a top-half finish.[33]

By February 2009, with the club in the bottom depths of the bottom tier of the Football League, fans organized protests at Glover's leadership. Many chanted 'Glover Out' during home defeats, and even a large banner was unveiled on 28 February 3–1 defeat to Luton Town, with organized protests involving hundreds of supporters being held before and after the game.[34][35] Glover accepted he was not the popular choice to take over from Sinnott and described himself as a "dead man walking".[36] Many fans, we well as local journalists and pundits questioned Glover's tactical decisions, team selection and managerial abilities in general.[37][38][39] Some fans even started booing his son in an attempt to 'get to' Glover himself.[40] Glover attempted to arrest his team's slide down the table by signing Carlisle United striker Kevin Gall on loan.[41] He failed to score in seven games with the club, and returned to Carlisle after picking up a calf injury.[42] In March, Kyle Perry was allowed to join local non-League side Northwich Victoria,[43] after being told he had no future at Vale.[44] In his place came loanee winger Paul Marshall from Manchester City.[45] On 23 March, Anyon broke his leg at Saltergate in a defeat to Chesterfield.[46]

Slow season ticket sales pressured both Glover's supporters and detractors in the Port Vale boardroom to consider appointing a new manager in the summer of 2009.[47] Fans again protested after the final home game, a 1–1 draw with Wycombe Wanderers, with Glover having to be escorted from the ground.[48] Despite the backing of several players in the local press,[49][50][51] it was ultimately the poor response to the club's season ticket offer and poor results that were to prove Glover's downfall as the club sold less than 100 season tickets in the two weeks following the release of the scheme, with many supporters claiming they would not consider renewing until the club had a new managerial team in place. On 1 May 2009, the club confirmed that Glover would not be the manager for the 2009–10 season.[52] Instead he was offered the position of youth team manager, which was vacated by Andy Porter in December 2008.[53] The next day, Vale defeated Barnet 2–1 on the last day of Glover's reign, his son Danny scoring the club's last goal of the season.[54] During Glover's seven-month reign, the club won 12 out of 39 games and finished 18th in League Two.

Player Gareth Owen later said that he was "someone I have the utmost respect for as a person... Deano was a nice guy, but things just didn't work out for him as manager. He had some good ideas as a coach, but I don't think the players respected him enough as a manager."[55] Chairman Bill Bratt also made the following statement regarding Glover's sacking:

Dean has been offered another role at the club in which he would work alongside Mark Grew with the youth team. We would like to thank Dean for taking the helm but this is a results game and the results have not gone as well as everybody would have liked.[56]

On 21 May, it was confirmed that Glover had left the club after turning down the youth team job and was opting for pastures new after an eighteen-year association with Port Vale as a player, coach and manager.[57][58][59]

Return to coaching

As Glover looked to get back into football management he applied for the managers job at Hednesford Town of the Southern Football League, however he was beaten to the position by Simon Line. In March 2010 he expressed an interest in the vacant management position at Nantwich Town of the Northern Premier League,[60] though the club chose to appoint Darren Tinson and Kevin Street as joint player-managers. He was also linked with the management position at Stafford Rangers.[61] He made a surprise return to Port Vale as a youth team coach in July 2012.[62] Following Micky Adams's resignation and Rob Page's promotion to manager Glover was elevated to first team coach in November 2014.[63] He lasted in the role until May 2015.[64] At that point he became Vale's chief scout.[65] He was credited with bringing Anthony Grant to the club.[66] He stepped down from the role in December 2016 due to a family commitment.[67]

Career statistics

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition[68]
Club Season League FA Cup Other[a] Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Aston Villa 1983–84 First Division 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0
1984–85 First Division 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
1985–86 First Division 18 0 2 0 7 1 27 1
1986–87 First Division 5 0 0 0 1 0 6 0
Total 28 0 3 0 8 1 39 1
Sheffield United (loan) 1986–87 Second Division 5 0 0 0 0 0 5 0
Middlesbrough 1987–88 Second Division 38 4 4 0 9 0 51 4
1988–89 First Division 12 1 1 0 2 2 15 3
Total 50 5 5 0 11 2 66 7
Port Vale 1988–89 Third Division 22 0 0 0 4 0 26 0
1989–90 Second Division 44 4 3 0 8 0 55 4
1990–91 Second Division 41 1 2 0 3 0 46 1
1991–92 Second Division 46 1 1 1 6 0 53 2
1992–93 Second Division 39 3 3 0 10 3 52 6
1993–94 Second Division 46 3 5 0 6 0 57 3
1994–95 First Division 29 0 2 1 4 0 34 1
1995–96 First Division 29 0 2 0 4 1 35 1
1996–97 First Division 42 2 1 0 5 0 48 2
1997–98 First Division 25 1 1 0 1 0 27 1
Total 363 15 20 1 48 4 431 20
Career total 446 20 28 1 67 7 541 28
  1. ^ Includes League Cup, Football League Trophy, English Football League play-offs and Full Members Cup.

Managerial statistics

Managerial record by team and tenure
Team From To Record
P W D L Win %
Port Vale (caretaker) 26 September 2007 5 November 2007 8 2 1 5 025.0
Port Vale (caretaker) 23 September 2008 6 October 2008 2 0 0 2 000.0
Port Vale 6 October 2008 2 May 2009 39 12 8 19 030.8
Total[69] 49 14 9 26 028.6

Honours

Middlesbrough

Port Vale

Individual

References

  1. ^ "Dean Glover". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 9 March 2017.
  2. ^ a b "Aston Villa Player Database". www.astonvillaplayerdatabase.com. Retrieved 28 October 2022.
  3. ^ Rollin, Jack, ed. (1980). Rothmans Football Yearbook 1980–81. London: Queen Anne Press. p. 50. ISBN 0362020175.
  4. ^ "Aston Villa Player Database". astonvillaplayerdatabase.com. Retrieved 18 October 2016.
  5. ^ a b c d e Shaw, Phil (26 January 2006). "FA Cup Countdown: Heroes and Villans". The Independent. Archived from the original on 6 May 2013. Retrieved 20 November 2011.
  6. ^ a b c Baggaley, Mike (2 February 2017). "Ambitious Port Vale smash transfer record - 28 years ago today". Stoke Sentinel. Retrieved 2 February 2017.
  7. ^ Slaven, Bernie; Allan, Dave (2007), Legend? The Autobiography, Linthorpe: Linthorpe, p. 65, ISBN 978-0-9553363-3-1
  8. ^ a b "Chelsea v Middlesbrough, 28 May 1988". 11v11.com. Retrieved 7 July 2020.
  9. ^ Kent, Jeff (1996). Port Vale Personalities. Witan Books. p. 112. ISBN 0-9529152-0-0.
  10. ^ Sherwin, Phil (2010). The Port Vale Miscellany. Brimscombe Port: The History Press. p. 57. ISBN 978-0-7524-5777-2.
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  12. ^ Baggaley, Mike (22 February 2017). "Robbie Earle: My favourite five Port Vale central defenders". Stoke Sentinel. Archived from the original on 23 February 2017. Retrieved 22 February 2017.
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  27. ^ "Grew and Porter reject Vale role". BBC Sport. 8 October 2008. Retrieved 23 January 2011.
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  29. ^ "Rodgers completes Yeovil switch". BBC Sport. 15 January 2009. Retrieved 15 January 2009.
  30. ^ Shaw, Steve. "Breaking News: Port Vale midfielder Tudor retires". The Sentinel. Retrieved 21 January 2009.
  31. ^ a b "Collins and Brammer sign for Vale". BBC Sport. 16 January 2009. Retrieved 7 June 2009.
  32. ^ "Breaking News: Port Vale sign Ahmed on loan". The Sentinel. 21 January 2009. Archived from the original on 25 April 2009. Retrieved 21 January 2009.
  33. ^ "Glover aiming for top-half finish". BBC Sport. 2 January 2009. Retrieved 23 January 2011.
  34. ^ "Play-offs not in reach, Brightwell". The Sentinel. 28 February 2009. Retrieved 1 March 2009.[permanent dead link]
  35. ^ "Vale fans stage post-match protest". The Sentinel. 28 February 2009. Retrieved 1 March 2009.
  36. ^ "I am a dead man walking - Glover". BBC Sport. 22 March 2009. Retrieved 23 March 2009.
  37. ^ Sherwin, Phil (20 April 2009). "Port Vale fan zone: Only a goal will prevent yet another poor stat". The Sentinel. Retrieved 20 April 2009.
  38. ^ "Port Vale: Your views". The Sentinel. 20 April 2009. Retrieved 20 April 2009.
  39. ^ Shaw, Steve (20 April 2009). "Port Vale: Glover on defensive as Vale fail to shape up". The Sentinel. Retrieved 20 April 2009.
  40. ^ "Stop booing my son - Vale manager". BBC Sport. 1 April 2009. Retrieved 23 January 2011.
  41. ^ "Vale sign Carlisle's Gall on loan". BBC Sport. 2 February 2009. Retrieved 24 February 2009.
  42. ^ "Port Vale: Gall blow leaves Glover in loan race". The Sentinel (Staffordshire). 26 March 2009. Retrieved 26 March 2009.
  43. ^ "Northwich complete double signing". BBC Sport. 7 March 2009. Retrieved 9 March 2009.
  44. ^ "Perry told he can leave Port Vale". BBC Sport. 21 February 2009. Retrieved 23 January 2011.
  45. ^ "Vale snap up Man City youngster". BBC Sport. 6 March 2009. Retrieved 6 March 2009.
  46. ^ "Anyon breaks leg in Vale defeat". BBC Sport. 29 March 2009. Retrieved 23 January 2011.
  47. ^ Shaw, Steve (16 April 2009). "Port Vale: Bratt refuses to panic over slow season-ticket sales". The Sentinel. Retrieved 20 April 2009.
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  49. ^ Shaw, Steve (21 April 2009). "Port Vale: Stockley says club must have continuity". The Sentinel. Retrieved 21 April 2009.
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  54. ^ "Match report: Barnet 1, Vale 2". The Sentinel. 2 May 2009. Retrieved 2 May 2009.
  55. ^ Owen, Gareth (10 March 2012). "I've had an eventful time at Vale, but I wouldn't change a minute of it". The Sentinel. Retrieved 10 March 2012.
  56. ^ "Port Vale sack manager Dean Glover". The Guardian. 1 May 2009. Retrieved 2 May 2009.
  57. ^ "Glover Leaves". Port Vale Official Site. 21 May 2009. Archived from the original on 24 May 2009. Retrieved 21 May 2009.
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  61. ^ "Dean Glover would talk to Rangers". Express & Star. 26 May 2011. Retrieved 20 November 2011.
  62. ^ "New Recruit". port-vale.co.uk. 30 July 2012. Retrieved 30 July 2012.[permanent dead link]
  63. ^ "More praise for former boss Dean Glover as he impresses in new role for Valiants". The Sentinel. 15 November 2014. Retrieved 15 November 2014.
  64. ^ Baggaley, Mike (22 May 2015). "Valiants considering key scouting role for Dean Glover". The Sentinel. Retrieved 23 May 2015.
  65. ^ "Rob Page unveils new squad and coaching team". The Sentinel. 2 July 2015. Archived from the original on 2 July 2015. Retrieved 2 July 2015.
  66. ^ "Manager Rob Page praises Dean Glover for recruitment role at Vale". The Sentinel. 24 September 2015. Retrieved 24 September 2015.
  67. ^ Baggaley, Mike (30 December 2016). "Port Vale 1, Chesterfield 0: Brown praises players and staff". Stoke Sentinel. Retrieved 31 December 2016.
  68. ^ Dean Glover at the English National Football Archive (subscription required)
  69. ^ "Dean Glover's managerial career". Soccerbase. Retrieved 3 December 2008.
  70. ^ Kent, Jeff (1989). Port Vale Promotion Chronicle 1988-1989: Back to Where We Once Belonged!. Witan Books. ISBN 0-9508981-3-9.
  71. ^ Kent, Jeff (1993). The Port Vale Record 1879–1993. Witan Books. p. 236. ISBN 0-9508981-9-8.
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