Ken Hancock

Kenneth Paul Hancock (born 25 November 1937) is an English former football goalkeeper. He is the younger brother of Ray Hancock.

Ken Hancock
Personal information
Full name Kenneth Paul Hancock[1]
Date of birth (1937-11-25) 25 November 1937[1]
Place of birth Milton, Staffordshire, England[1]
Height 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Playing position(s) Goalkeeper
Youth career
Stoke City
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1958–1964 Port Vale 241 (0)
1964–1969 Ipswich Town 163 (0)
1969–1971 Tottenham Hotspur 3 (0)
1971–1973 Bury 35 (0)
Stafford Rangers
Northwich Victoria
Total 442+ (0+)
Teams managed
1978–1979 Leek Town
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

He made 442 league appearances in a 15-year career in the Football League. He began his professional career at Port Vale in December 1958. He helped the club to win the Fourth Division title in 1958–59, and remained the club's first choice goalkeeper until he was sold on to Ipswich Town for a £10,000 fee in December 1964. He kept goal as the club won the Second Division title in 1967–68. He was sold on to Tottenham Hotspur for £7,000 in March 1969. He moved on to Bury in July 1971, and later played Northern Premier League football for Stafford Rangers and Northwich Victoria. He later briefly managed non-league Leek Town.

Playing career

Hancock played for Stoke City, before joining local rivals Port Vale as an amateur in November 1958; he signed as a professional with the "Valiants" the next month.[1] He made his debut in a 4–2 defeat by Millwall at The Den on 13 December.[1] He played the remaining 24 games of the 1958–59 season, as manager Norman Low took the club to the Fourth Division title.[1] Hancock lost his first team place in November 1959 due to injury, but managed to regain it off reserve goalkeeper John Poole by April 1960.[1] The pair each played 23 Third Division games in the 1959–60 season.[1] Hancock went on to keep goal 47 times in the 1960–61 campaign, fending off competition from both Poole and John Cooke.[1] He was an ever-present during the 51 game 1962–63 season, as Vale finished one place and four points shy of the promotion places under new boss Freddie Steele.[1] Hancock played 50 games in the 1963–64 campaign, with Cooke deputising on two occasions.[1] He made 22 appearances in the 1963–64 season, but faced pressure from new signing Reg Davies.[1]

Hancock was sold to Bill McGarry's Ipswich Town for a £10,000 fee in December 1964.[1][2] He made 20 Second Division appearances in the 1964–65 season. He played 48 games for the "Blues" in 1965–66 and 1966–67. He featured 45 times in 1967–68, as the Portman Road club won the Second Division title. He played 18 First Division games in 1968–69, before new manager Bobby Robson sold him on to league rivals Tottenham Hotspur for £7,000 in March 1969. Hancock played just six league and cup games for Bill Nicholson's "Spurs" in 1969–70 and 1970–71. He worked as Pat Jennings's deputy whilst Barry Daines was still learning the game.[3] He left White Hart Lane and moved on to Bury in July 1971. He played 35 Fourth Division games for the "Shakers" in 1971–72 and 1972–73 under the stewardship of Allan Brown and then Tom McAnearney.[4] He then left Gigg Lane and later played Northern Premier League football for Stafford Rangers and Northwich Victoria.

Coaching career

After retiring as a player he returned to Port Vale in July 1975 as a part-time coach under the management of Roy Sproson.[1] He moved on to Cheshire County League side Leek Town as a manager in 1978,[5] later serving as club chairman. He also sat on the Leek and Moorland League management committee. He co-founded Port Vale's Ex-Players Association with former teammate John Poole.[6]

Style of play

Former teammate Roy Sproson described him as: "strong in dealing with crosses, quick reactions and a fine kicker of the ball". He went on to describe a save in an FA Cup tie with Sunderland as one where "[he] turned in mid-air and managed to push the ball round the post in what still rates as the most fantastic save I have seen to this day."[7]

He also had the ability to drop-kick the ball into the opposition penalty area.[8]

Statistics

Source:[9]

Club Season Division League FA Cup Other Total
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Port Vale 1958–59 Fourth Division 2500000250
1959–60 Third Division 2301000240
1960–61 Third Division 3903030450
1961–62 Third Division 4407010520
1962–63 Third Division 4604010510
1963–64 Third Division 4405010500
1964–65 Third Division 2001010220
Total 2410210702690
Ipswich Town 1964–65 Second Division 2000000200
1965–66 Second Division 4102050480
1966–67 Second Division 4204020480
1967–68 Second Division 4201020450
1968–69 First Division 1800010190
Total 1630701001800
Tottenham Hotspur 1969–70 First Division 10000010
1970–71 First Division 20003050
Total 30003060
Bury 1971–72 Fourth Division 2404010290
1972–73 Fourth Division 1100000110
Total 3504010400
Career total 44203202104950

Honours
Port Vale
Ipswich Town
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References
  1. Kent, Jeff (1996). Port Vale Personalities. Witan Books. p. 125. ISBN 0-9529152-0-0.
  2. "Ken Hancock". tmwmtt.com. Retrieved 15 September 2012.
  3. "ken hancock – fact file". mehstg.com. Retrieved 15 September 2012.
  4. "stats". neilbrown.newcastlefans.com. Retrieved 15 September 2012.
  5. "Leek Town FC Managers". Leek Town F.C. Archived from the original on 28 September 2007. Retrieved 5 February 2010.
  6. "Port Vale: Ex-players chip in to help fans stay dry". The Sentinel. 17 December 2011. Retrieved 17 December 2011.
  7. Harper, Chris (10 February 1975). "Sproson's Eleven". The Sentinel. Archived from the original on 19 November 2008. Retrieved 23 June 2009.
  8. Kent, Jeff (December 1991). Port Vale Tales: A Collection Of Stories, Anecdotes And Memories. Witan Books. p. 145. ISBN 0-9508981-6-3.
  9. Ken Hancock at the English National Football Archive (subscription required)
  10. Kent, Jeff (1990). "Fame and Fortune (1950–1959)". The Valiants' Years: The Story Of Port Vale. Witan Books. pp. 171–196. ISBN 0-9508981-4-7.
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