2007/2008 Squad
Daniel Crowe - Centre Half/Sweeper
The
second longest serving Vale player behind Jimmy
Murray, Daniel made his debut aged just 14. His first full
season
in the team was the year the Vale were relegated from the first
division which should have set alarm bells ringing for the management!
Having started in a potent (but ridiculously slow) striking partnership
with Jimmy Murray Daniel has played in every position on the park for
the Vale but has finally settled at centre half or sweeper.
Top
goalscorer in 3 of his Vale seasons, Daniel drew a blank for the first
time in season 2005/2006, but did manage to get sent off twice!
Bryan Jack - Full Back
Jackie
joined the Vale after drunkenly signing a contract in Switzerland
whilst on holiday with Dan, Dave and Jimmy McNicol! He's
regretted it ever since but when called upon does a sterling job either
side of the back line. A real turn of pace is badly let down by the
fact he is knackered after 10 yards but Jackie is at his best attacking
the opposition full back and whipping in balls for Rino to sky over the
bar! Recently married, Jackie blames the wife and kid for
being
tired and unfit, but we all know it's really down to him being a full
time taxi driver for Rab.
David MacLennan - Centre Half
The
instigator of the Vale revival by recruiting (not only himself) Rino,
Jackie, Rab GT, Duncan Jamieson and various others, Dave has been a
rock at the back and has taken his turn up front and in goals. Chief
Social Convenor within the team Dave is well known and liked across
the country and always has a player or two up his sleeve when short of
numbers. Despite breaking two opponents legs in a matter of
months Dave is a gentle giant and when not playing football enjoys
trips to his Villa in France, buying cars and sailing his yacht in
Monte Carlo.Jimmy Murray - Centre Half
Jimmy first
played for the Vale in in 1908 and has been a near ever
present since. Despite many years banging them in up front Jimmy has
been reverted to a centre half of fearsome reputation.
Recently moving
from this role to the position of club Chef his pies have also acquired
the same reputation!Vale through and through, Jimmy is the epitomy of everything the Vale should be, hard working, plenty of grit, a Saturday night drunk and a hater of all things Luig and Feldy!
Stuart Pirnie - Bench
Stuart
is the best catcher the Vale have seen in their long illustious
history, unfortunately this is not about his goalkeeping, but his
fishing! Having played in goals and up front Stuart is always available
for selection (when Jimmy is making pies in the pavillion) and
regularly makes the long trek from Glasgow to take his place on the
bench. Numerous fall outs with the management over his lack of
selection, famously once overlooked for a 43 year old Marty Wilson, has
not prevented Stuart being one of the Vales most loyal servants.Ross Shepard - Forward
Sheppy
has played for the Vale for many seasons and (despite taking the odd
sabatical) always comes up trumps. Without doubt the most
gifted
player in the team Shepp can play in the midfield and up front and
always contributes with goals and assists.Despite being a Celtic fan Shep remains popular in the dressing room, generally because we can all laugh at him wearing bermuda shorts in the winter.
Peter
Thain - Forward
Peter
played his first game for the Vale some 10 years ago despite not being
old enough to get in to a PG at the cinema. Peter plays up
front
or as an attacking midfielder with flick and tricks to rival Ronaldo at
Manchester United, and the greasy hair too. Peter enjoys the
outdoor life with canoeing a regular pursuit and he's often left up the
creek without a paddle in the dressing room too when trying to defend
Rangers!
Peter
played his first game for the Vale some 10 years ago despite not being
old enough to get in to a PG at the cinema. Peter plays up
front
or as an attacking midfielder with flick and tricks to rival Ronaldo at
Manchester United, and the greasy hair too. Peter enjoys the
outdoor life with canoeing a regular pursuit and he's often left up the
creek without a paddle in the dressing room too when trying to defend
Rangers!Terrance
Young - Midfield
Terry
oozes class on the pitch and boozes off it. A typical
student,
Terry drinks all week when it's cheap and then pretends that he'll work
it all off in 90 minutes on a Saturday, it doesn't happen!
Silky
with either foot Terry has been a great find for the Vale having been
poached from his hometown in Dunkeld from CSSA. Despite
having to
travel up from Edinburgh every Saturday with either Shep or Tootsy Pops
Terry has yet to develop into too much of a metrosexual.
John
Ruthford had an illustrious career with the Vale (and Breadalbane!!)
before turning his hand to coaching in 2004. During this
playing career Puff was renowned for scoring goals from 20 yards during
the 90 minutes, 30 yards by 8pm and 40 yards by 11.30pm! Despite these
claims there is no evidence of anything other than scrappy tap-ins from
a yard or so. A sure fire hit on the kareoke when blasting out
Delilah, Puffs singing talents are matched my by his management taking
the Vale to the 2nd Division title in his first year and 3rd in 1st
Division the following season.
Jimmy MacNicol - First Team Coach
The
Vale is nothing without Jimmy MacNicol. A stalwart from the days
when the Vale 'were actually a good side' Jimmys constant cries of
'Shocker' from the sideline (aimed at referees, the centre halfs and,
well, everyone really) amuse and put fear in the players in equal
measure. A hardened defender in his day Jimmy has been with the
Vale since his embryonic years. Amateur football personified.
Class!
Kenny Reid - First Team Coach
Kenny
is similar to Jimmy in legendary status for the Vale. A player
for many years Kenny stayed with the Vale after hanging up his boots
and steered the Vale through the dark years of the late 90's and early
2000's. Deservedly, the hard with has paid off with recent
(relative) success. Kenny loves nothing more than beating Feldy
and this enthusiasm (although rarely confined to the derby games!)
usually ends up in random screams from the sidelines, and a word
from the ref! Kenny is also
Groundsman, Cleaner, Kitman and any other number of roles you can think of.
Dougie Gollan- Secretary
Dougie
has the misfortune of being a Dundee fan (and being from Dundee!) and
in a team full of Arabs gets a fair amount of grief; just as well
Murray is there to take half of the stick on his behalf. Once a
last minute replacement for Sam Torrance on A Question Of Sport, Dougie
is very much one of the lads despite having taught most of them at
Pitlochry High School, where he has coached the school team to zero
wins in 23 years!
Tom Thomson - Celebrity Fan
Swiss Tommy
(but don't call him Tommy) is one of the Vales most ardent supporters
and is probably the best/worst comedian we have in the team. Always
with a joke, Tom also has a penchant for rude songs, especially on the
bus back from the golf outing, those great days wouldn't be the same
without him. Likely to sat "Playing for the Vale is much like
making love to a beautiful women, make sure your tackle is clean,
you've got control of your balls and slip it in behind!"
Aya Thorne - Goalkeeping Coach
Aya
has the misfortune of being Robbies Dad and therefore has all his
family nicknames publicised on the training ground. Foxes Piss,
Fanta Pants, Flanders, Period Head, Ronald MacDonalds Lovechild
and Hamish McAlpine to name but a few. Aya played professionally for
Forfar and had trial with a proper team too in Dundee United. Aya still
pulls on the gloves in training (and occasionally for real when we're
short and his knees are up to it!) and he's still got it, gingeritis
that is! Aya also represented Scotland in the Commonwealth Games
for weightlifting and trained by lifting Robbie above his head, and
dropping him on his head afterwards (allegedly). Always encouraging
from the sidelines, Aya is a great guy to have in the side, unlike his
son!
Terry
oozes class on the pitch and boozes off it. A typical
student,
Terry drinks all week when it's cheap and then pretends that he'll work
it all off in 90 minutes on a Saturday, it doesn't happen!
Silky
with either foot Terry has been a great find for the Vale having been
poached from his hometown in Dunkeld from CSSA. Despite
having to
travel up from Edinburgh every Saturday with either Shep or Tootsy Pops
Terry has yet to develop into too much of a metrosexual.Coaches
John Rutherford - Head CoachJohn
Ruthford had an illustrious career with the Vale (and Breadalbane!!)
before turning his hand to coaching in 2004. During this
playing career Puff was renowned for scoring goals from 20 yards during
the 90 minutes, 30 yards by 8pm and 40 yards by 11.30pm! Despite these
claims there is no evidence of anything other than scrappy tap-ins from
a yard or so. A sure fire hit on the kareoke when blasting out
Delilah, Puffs singing talents are matched my by his management taking
the Vale to the 2nd Division title in his first year and 3rd in 1st
Division the following season.
Jimmy MacNicol - First Team Coach
The
Vale is nothing without Jimmy MacNicol. A stalwart from the days
when the Vale 'were actually a good side' Jimmys constant cries of
'Shocker' from the sideline (aimed at referees, the centre halfs and,
well, everyone really) amuse and put fear in the players in equal
measure. A hardened defender in his day Jimmy has been with the
Vale since his embryonic years. Amateur football personified.
Class!Kenny Reid - First Team Coach
Kenny
is similar to Jimmy in legendary status for the Vale. A player
for many years Kenny stayed with the Vale after hanging up his boots
and steered the Vale through the dark years of the late 90's and early
2000's. Deservedly, the hard with has paid off with recent
(relative) success. Kenny loves nothing more than beating Feldy
and this enthusiasm (although rarely confined to the derby games!)
usually ends up in random screams from the sidelines, and a word
from the ref! Kenny is alsoGroundsman, Cleaner, Kitman and any other number of roles you can think of.
Dougie Gollan- Secretary
Dougie
has the misfortune of being a Dundee fan (and being from Dundee!) and
in a team full of Arabs gets a fair amount of grief; just as well
Murray is there to take half of the stick on his behalf. Once a
last minute replacement for Sam Torrance on A Question Of Sport, Dougie
is very much one of the lads despite having taught most of them at
Pitlochry High School, where he has coached the school team to zero
wins in 23 years!Tom Thomson - Celebrity Fan
Swiss Tommy
(but don't call him Tommy) is one of the Vales most ardent supporters
and is probably the best/worst comedian we have in the team. Always
with a joke, Tom also has a penchant for rude songs, especially on the
bus back from the golf outing, those great days wouldn't be the same
without him. Likely to sat "Playing for the Vale is much like
making love to a beautiful women, make sure your tackle is clean,
you've got control of your balls and slip it in behind!"Aya Thorne - Goalkeeping Coach
Aya
has the misfortune of being Robbies Dad and therefore has all his
family nicknames publicised on the training ground. Foxes Piss,
Fanta Pants, Flanders, Period Head, Ronald MacDonalds Lovechild
and Hamish McAlpine to name but a few. Aya played professionally for
Forfar and had trial with a proper team too in Dundee United. Aya still
pulls on the gloves in training (and occasionally for real when we're
short and his knees are up to it!) and he's still got it, gingeritis
that is! Aya also represented Scotland in the Commonwealth Games
for weightlifting and trained by lifting Robbie above his head, and
dropping him on his head afterwards (allegedly). Always encouraging
from the sidelines, Aya is a great guy to have in the side, unlike his
son!