18 Facts About Mark Grew

Mark Stuart Grew was born on 15 February 1958 and is an English former football player and coach who played as a goalkeeper.

Mark Grew's career started in 1976 with West Bromwich Albion, where he spent seven seasons as a backup keeper before moving on to Leicester City.

Mark Grew spent six years at Vale Park, making almost 200 the Football League appearances, twice winning the club's Player of the Year award and playing in the 1989 Third Division play-off victory.

Mark Grew quickly returned to his coaching position at the club, though, and remains a key member of the backroom staff.

Mark Grew has had three spells as caretaker manager at the club.

Mark Grew spent two seasons with the "Tractor Boys", but played just six league games.

Mark Grew played four Second Division games on loan at Fulham in 1985 and returned to West Brom on loan in 1986 to play one game.

Mark Grew played both legs of Vale's play-off final victory over Bristol Rovers, conceding just the one goal.

Mark Grew became an "instant hero" with the Cardiff supporters after saving a penalty from Keith Curle.

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

Mark Grew was appointed the Port Vale youth team coach in December 1994 and stayed with the club for the next eight years.

Mark Grew was appointed assistant manager under Brian Horton in 1999, until he was sacked in December 2002 by the club's administrators.

On 8 October 2008, Mark Grew rejected the opportunity to become assistant to recently appointed Port Vale manager Dean Glover.

Still, when Gannon arrived at the club, Mark Grew chose to focus solely on his role as youth team coach.

Mark Grew slammed both his players and the directors, claiming that "I was never in the picture to become the next manager".

Mark Grew left the club in May 2015 as part of new manager's Rob Page's reshuffle of his backroom staff.

Mark Grew decided to take time out of football to undergo a back operation.

Mark Grew left the club following his testimonial match to honour his 25 years of service to the club.