Reg Potts
Encyclopedia
Reginald Potts (31 July 1927 – 28 January 1996) was an English
football defender
, nicknamed Dan after Desperate Dan
.
A key member of Port Vale
's history
, Potts played close to 300 league
games for the club between 1945 and 1957. He later turned out for non-league sides Worcester City
and Macclesfield Town
.
before joining Port Vale
in August 1945. National service
interrupted his career however, and could only be regularly picked by Vale from February 1952. He was an ever-present during the 1952–53 season
and also managed to score a thirty-five yard lob in a 4–0 home win over Grimsby Town
on 30 April 1953. The 1954–55
and 1955–56 seasons
also saw Potts play every game, overall he made 167 consecutive appearances between October 1953 and April 1957. He was sold to Worcester City
in July 1957, later moving on to Macclesfield Town
, before finishing his career coaching schoolboys. He had played 301 games (277 in the football league and scored 3 league goals for the Vale, helping them to win the Third Division North Championship
and reach the FA Cup
semi-final in 1954. Former teammate Graham Barnett
later recalled how Potts and fellow defender Stan Turner
did not get along and refused to speak to each other despite their pair playing alongside each other for eight years.
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
football defender
Defender (association football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
, nicknamed Dan after Desperate Dan
Desperate Dan
Desperate Dan is a wild west character in the British comic The Dandy. He first appeared in its first issue, dated 4 December 1937. He is apparently the world's strongest man, able to lift a cow with one hand. Even his beard is so tough he has to shave with a blowtorch.-History:The strip was...
.
A key member of Port Vale
Port Vale F.C.
Port Vale Football Club is an English football club currently playing in Football League Two. They are based in Burslem, Staffordshire — one of six towns that make up the city of Stoke-on-Trent. The club's traditional rivals in the city are Stoke City, and games between the two clubs are known as...
's history
History of Port Vale F.C.
The history of Port Vale F.C., an English association football club based in Stoke-on-Trent, began when the club was formed in 1876. In 1884, the club moved to the town of Burslem, changing their name to Burslem Port Vale in the process. The club joined the Football League Second Division upon its...
, Potts played close to 300 league
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
games for the club between 1945 and 1957. He later turned out for non-league sides Worcester City
Worcester City F.C.
Worcester City Football Club is an English football club based in Worcester, Worcestershire. The club are currently members of the Conference North and play at St George's Lane.-History:...
and Macclesfield Town
Macclesfield Town F.C.
Macclesfield Town Football Club is an English football team. The club was formed in 1874 and is based in the town of Macclesfield in Cheshire. The team play its home games at the 6,355 capacity Moss Rose stadium...
.
Playing career
Potts played for Wellington Scouts, Northwood Mission and Stoke CityStoke City F.C.
Stoke City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire that plays in the Premier League. Founded in 1863, it is the oldest club in the Premier League, and considered to be the second oldest professional football club in the world, after Notts...
before joining Port Vale
Port Vale F.C.
Port Vale Football Club is an English football club currently playing in Football League Two. They are based in Burslem, Staffordshire — one of six towns that make up the city of Stoke-on-Trent. The club's traditional rivals in the city are Stoke City, and games between the two clubs are known as...
in August 1945. National service
Conscription in the United Kingdom
Conscription in the United Kingdom has existed for two periods in modern times. The first was from 1916 to 1919, the second was from 1939 to 1960, with the last conscripted soldiers leaving the service in 1963...
interrupted his career however, and could only be regularly picked by Vale from February 1952. He was an ever-present during the 1952–53 season
1952–53 Port Vale F.C. season
The 1952–53 season was Port Vale's forty-first season of football in the Football League, and their first season back in the Third Division North, following their switch from the Third Division South...
and also managed to score a thirty-five yard lob in a 4–0 home win over Grimsby Town
Grimsby Town F.C.
Grimsby Town Football Club is an English football club based in the seaside town of Cleethorpes, in North East Lincolnshire, England, who compete in the Conference National. They were formed in 1878 as Grimsby Pelham and later became Grimsby Town...
on 30 April 1953. The 1954–55
1954–55 Port Vale F.C. season
The 1954–55 season was Port Vale's forty-third season of football in the Football League, and their first season back in the Second Division following their promotion from the Third Division North...
and 1955–56 seasons
1955–56 Port Vale F.C. season
The 1955–56 season was Port Vale's forty-fourth season of football in the Football League, and their second successive season in the Second Division. Gaining ten points on their previous season's total, the club progressed well, achieving their best finish since 1933–34...
also saw Potts play every game, overall he made 167 consecutive appearances between October 1953 and April 1957. He was sold to Worcester City
Worcester City F.C.
Worcester City Football Club is an English football club based in Worcester, Worcestershire. The club are currently members of the Conference North and play at St George's Lane.-History:...
in July 1957, later moving on to Macclesfield Town
Macclesfield Town F.C.
Macclesfield Town Football Club is an English football team. The club was formed in 1874 and is based in the town of Macclesfield in Cheshire. The team play its home games at the 6,355 capacity Moss Rose stadium...
, before finishing his career coaching schoolboys. He had played 301 games (277 in the football league and scored 3 league goals for the Vale, helping them to win the Third Division North Championship
Football League Third Division North
The Third Division North of The Football League was a tier in the English association football league system from 1921 to 1958. It ran parallel to Third Division South with clubs elected to the League or relegated from a higher division allocated to one or the other according to geographical position...
and reach the FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
semi-final in 1954. Former teammate Graham Barnett
Graham Barnett
Graham Barnett is a former English footballer who played as an inside-forward.He began his career with Port Vale in 1956, before he was sold on to Tranmere Rovers four years later. In 1961 he signed with Halifax Town, before he emigrated to Australia the following year so as to play for South...
later recalled how Potts and fellow defender Stan Turner
Stan Turner
Stanley Simpson Turner was an English footballer. He made 246 appearances for Port Vale during one of the club's brightest periods.-Playing style:...
did not get along and refused to speak to each other despite their pair playing alongside each other for eight years.
Honours
- Football League Third Division NorthFootball League Third Division NorthThe Third Division North of The Football League was a tier in the English association football league system from 1921 to 1958. It ran parallel to Third Division South with clubs elected to the League or relegated from a higher division allocated to one or the other according to geographical position...
winner: 1953–54 - Football League Third Division NorthFootball League Third Division NorthThe Third Division North of The Football League was a tier in the English association football league system from 1921 to 1958. It ran parallel to Third Division South with clubs elected to the League or relegated from a higher division allocated to one or the other according to geographical position...
runner-up: 1952–53 - FA CupFA CupThe Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
semi-finalist: 1954