Dean Stokes Explained

Dean Stokes
Fullname:Dean Anthony Stokes
Birth Date:23 May 1970
Birth Place:Birmingham, England
Height:[1]
Position:Defender
Youthclubs1:Rochdale
Clubs1:Castleton Gabriels
Clubs2:Armitage 90
Clubs3:Redditch United
Years4:1992–1993
Clubs4:Halesowen Town
Years5:1993–1998
Clubs5:Port Vale
Caps5:60
Goals5:0
Years6:1998–2000
Clubs6:Rochdale
Caps6:30
Goals6:0
Years7:2000
Clubs7:Leek Town
Caps7:5
Goals7:0
Clubs8:Alsager Town
Manageryears1:2007–2008
Managerclubs1:Alsager Town
Manageryears2:2009–20??
Managerclubs2:Rochdale Town

Dean Anthony Stokes (born 23 March 1970) is an English former footballer and manager. A former professional with Port Vale and Rochdale throughout the 1990s, he spent time with numerous non-League clubs before moving into management with Alsager Town and later Rochdale Town. He helped Port Vale to promotion out of the Second Division in 1993–94 and played in the final of the 1996 Anglo-Italian Cup.

Playing career

Stokes was a quick left-back, who after initially turning down Rochdale played for non-League sides Castleton Gabriels, Armitage 90, Redditch United and Halesowen Town.[2]

He returned to the Football League in January 1993, signing for John Rudge's Port Vale of the Second Division. Halesowen Town eventually received £5,000 in payment due to appearance clauses. His professional debut came on 18 December 1993, at the age of 23, in a 1–1 draw with Burnley at Vale Park. He enjoyed regular football for the rest of the 1993–94 promotion winning season, though he did lose his place in April. After undergoing ankle surgery in August 1994, he hardly played in Vale's 1994–95 First Division campaign. He hardly featured in the 1995–96 season either, though he did come back into first-team plans in March 1996. He played in the 1996 Anglo-Italian Cup final, as Vale lost 5–2 to Genoa.

One of the most successful seasons in Port Vale's history was 1996–97; Stokes played eleven games, ten of which were in the league. In 1997–98, he again appeared infrequently, with just nine games that season; he was allowed to leave upon its conclusion. He returned to the team of his youth – Rochdale, who were, as ever, in the basement division. He was injured again after eleven games of 1998–99. Stokes enjoyed consistent football in 1999–2000 for the first time in a long time. He played 26 games, six of which were cup encounters. However, at the age of 30, he dropped out of the Football League to play for Leek Town.[3] He played five games for Leek in August and September 2000.

Management career

A veteran of the non-Leagues, Stokes became player-manager of Alsager Town in 2007. He quit the post in March 2008,[4] and became part of the coaching set-up at Eccleshall.

In June 2009, he was made head coach at Rochdale Town.[5] The club finished bottom of the North West Counties League in 2009–10.

Post-retirement

As of December 2011, Stokes works as a P.E. teacher at Abraham Moss High School.

Career statistics

Source:[6]

ClubSeasonDivisionLeagueFA CupOtherTotal
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Port Vale1993–94Second Division2103010250
1994–95First Division30000030
1995–96First Division1800080260
1996–97First Division1001000110
1997–98First Division80001090
Total60040100740
Rochdale1998–99Third Division1100030140
1999–2000Third Division1903040260
Total3003070400
Leek Town2000–01Northern Premier League
Premier Division
50000050

Honours

Port Vale

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 261 Dean Stokes. clarkechroniclersfootballers.blogspot.co.uk. 20 January 2011 . 28 April 2012.
  2. Book: Kent, Jeff. Port Vale Personalities. Witan Books. 281. 1996. 0-9529152-0-0.
  3. Web site: ROCHDALE : 1946/47 – 2007/08. Neil Brown stat site. 26 July 2009.
  4. Web site: Stokes resigns his job at Alsager . 7 March 2008. BBC Sport. 26 July 2009.
  5. Web site: OLD AND NEW FACES AT ROCHDALE TOWN . 27 June 2009 . NonLeagueDaily.com . 26 July 2009 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120929162820/http://www.nonleaguedaily.com/news/index.php?&newsmode=FULL&nid=58832 . 29 September 2012 .
  6. Web site: PlayerStats – LeekTownSE . leektown.net . 11 April 2022.
  7. Web site: Anglo-Italian Cup 1995/96. Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. 12 July 2010.