Mark Grew

Early career

Grew grew up in Bilston, where he attended the goalkeeping academy ran by legendary Wolverhampton Wanderers goalkeeper Bert Williams after accepting that he "was probably too fat and lazy to play outfield". He turned professional at First Division club West Bromwich Albion in the 1976–77 season, having just starred in the 1976 FA Youth Cup final, which ended in a 5–0 aggregate victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers. During the 1978–79 campaigned he was loaned out to Fourth Division newcomers Wigan Athletic, where he played four league games in the absence of John Brown. He returned to The Hawthorns, and played 33 league games for the "Baggies" as he faced competition from Tony Godden before he joined Leicester City, also of the First Division, for a £60,000 fee. He played five top-flight games for Gordon Milne's "Foxes" in the absence of Mark Wallington during the 1983–84 season. He also played five Second Division games on loan at Oldham Athletic, before he moved to First Division club Ipswich Town on a £60,000 transfer in March 1984. He spent two seasons with the "Tractor Boys", but played just six league games. He also played four Second Division games on loan at Fulham in 1985 and returned to West Brom on loan in 1986 to play one game.

Port Vale

In June 1986, he joined Third Division Port Vale; aged 28 years old, he was looking for first-team football. His debut for the club came in a 2–2 draw against Middlesbrough at Victoria Park, who were…

He was a shot-stopping goalkeeper who mostly remained on his line and relied on his defenders to deal with crosses.

"A fine keeper who also brought professionalism and experience from his time at Ipswich and West Bromwich Albion. I'm not sure who gave him the title, but he quickly became John Rudge's voice of reason in the dressing room. Never short of something to say, he changed the whole culture of the club."

Grew was appointed the Port Vale youth team coach in December 1994 and stayed with the club for the next eight years. He was appointed assistant manager under Brian Horton in 1999, until he was sacked in December 2002 by the club's administrators. In March 2003 he was appointed as an assistant manager at Stafford Rangers until he returned to Port Vale in a coaching capacity for the youth team after the club was taken over by Valiant 2001. Following a capitulation to Leyton Orient at Brisbane Road on 20 October 2007, Grew gave a memorable post-match interview, saying that the team was "gutless... spineless... the worst bunch of players I have seen at Vale Park in 17 years". On 8 October 2008, Grew rejected the opportunity to become assistant to recently appointed Port Vale manager Dean Glover. In December 2010, he was made joint caretaker manager at Vale, along with Geoff Horsfield, following the departure of Micky Adams. Vale were hammered 5–0 by Rotherham United in his first game in charge, but rallied to beat Burton Albion 2–1, before Jim Gannon was appointed manager. During Adams' reign Grew had doubled up as a first-team coach. Still, when Gannon arrived at the club, Grew chose to focus solely on his role as youth team coach. Following Gannon's swift departure in March 2011, Grew was elevated to the position of caretaker manager for the third time in twelve years. Assisted by Horsfield, Marc Richards told the press that "it's absolutely brilliant that Grewy and Geoff are…

Grew's daughter, Melissa (born 1992), is a model.