Barry John Hancock (30 December 1938 – 10 September 2013) was an English footballer who played as an inside-forward. He played 24 league games in the English Football League for Port Vale and Crewe Alexandra from 1961 to 1965.

Barry Hancock
Personal information
Full name Barry John Hancock[1]
Date of birth (1938-12-30)30 December 1938[1]
Place of birth Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent, England[1]
Date of death 10 September 2013(2013-09-10) (aged 74)[2]
Position(s) Inside-forward
Youth career
Birches Head R.C.
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1954–1964 Port Vale 21 (1)
1964–1965 Crewe Alexandra 3 (0)
Stafford Rangers
All Blacks
Total 24+ (1+)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Career

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Hancock supported Port Vale since childhood and also spent matchdays working as a matchday programme seller at Vale Park.[1] He managed to join the club as an amateur after a time with Birches Head R.C.[1] He signed as a professional in July 1957 and finally made his debut on 24 April 1961 against Potteries derby rivals Stoke City in the (replayed) final of the Supporters' Clubs' Trophy in 1961.[1] He played two Third Division games in 1960–61, though Norman Low played him just six times in 1961–62.[1] He impressed in league FA Cup games against Bradford Park Avenue, but had to reject an approach to join the club by player-manager Jimmy Scoular as Vale retained his registration.[3] He featured nine times at Vale Park in 1962–63, before scoring his first and only senior goal on 9 September 1963, in a 1–1 draw with Mansfield Town at Field Mill, in one of only five appearances for the "Valiants" in 1963–64; Hancock was released by manager Freddie Steele at the end of the season.[1] He moved on to Crewe Alexandra, playing three Fourth Division games in 1964–65, and later played for non-League Stafford Rangers.[1] He later played for All Blacks before going back to Birches Head R.C. as a referee. After retiring, he once more became a programme distributor at Vale Park.

Career statistics

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Source:[4]

Club Season Division League FA Cup Other[A] Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Port Vale 1960–61 Third Division 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 0
1961–62 Third Division 5 0 1 0 0 0 6 0
1962–63 Third Division 9 0 0 0 0 0 9 0
1963–64 Third Division 5 1 0 0 0 0 5 1
Total 21 1 0 1 0 0 22 1
Crewe Alexandra 1964–65 Fourth Division 3 0 0 0 1 0 4 0
Career total 24 0 1 0 1 0 26 1
A. ^ The "Other" column constitutes appearances and goals in the League Cup, Football League Trophy, English Football League play-offs and Full Members' Cup.

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i Kent, Jeff (1996). Port Vale Personalities. Witan Books. p. 125. ISBN 0-9529152-0-0. ASIN 0952915200.
  2. ^ "Tributes paid to former Port Vale player Barry Hancock". The Sentinel. 12 September 2013. Archived from the original on 17 September 2013. Retrieved 12 September 2013.
  3. ^ Port Vale matchday programme. 13 April 1993. pp. 12–13.
  4. ^ Barry Hancock at the English National Football Archive (subscription required)