Ken Hancock, the goalkeeper in the Town side which won the Second Division title in 1967/68, has died, aged 87.

Staffordshire-born Hancock joined the Blues in December 1964 for £10,000 from hometown side Port Vale, who he had helped to the Fourth Division title in 1958/59.

Hancock went on to make 180 appearances for Town before incoming boss Bobby Robson sold him to Tottenham for £7,000 in March 1969.

He made only six appearances for Spurs before moving on to Bury in July 1971 with Pat Jennings the established number one at White Hart Lane.

He returned to Vale as a part-time coach in July 1975 and managed local non-league side Leek Town in 1978 and was later their chairman, and was also on the Leek and Moorland League management committee.

Hancock co-founded Port Vale's Ex-Players Association and was for a number of years a regular at Town’s Ex-Players’ Dinners.

In later years, he worked as a background artist featuring in TV shows, among them 2006’s Sorted, in which he coincidentally appeared as a member of the ‘Hancock Gang’.

Hancock’s song, in which Town fans would claim that the 6ft 1in tall keeper was ‘better than Yashin’, is perhaps the most well remembered of that era.

Vale are holding a minute’s applause in the 59th minute of their home game against Gillingham this afternoon.

Photo: Action Images

Stourbridgeblue added 10:53 - May 3 RIP Ken
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blueboy1981 added 11:00 - May 3 R.I.P. Ken. A Great Keeper in his Day. Memories of him always acknowledging the North Stand as he approached the Goal before Kick Off, and tucking his Gloves behind the Left Post. Bit of a ritual with that he had. Those REALLY Were the Days. Such Fond Memories.
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OldClactonBlue added 11:11 - May 3 First Town keeper I remember. RIP Ken.
6

wellhungphil added 11:21 - May 3 "Ken was the goalkeeper in our last title-winning side in 1958/59" He might help Port Vale to win the fourth division title again today. RIP Mr Ken Hancock
2

IndependentlyBlue added 12:39 - May 3 So sad to hear. Like OldClactonBlue he was the first Town keeper I can remember. As it says in the report… “We all agree, Hancock is better than Yashin”. Great days
5

flykickingbybgunn added 12:49 - May 3 Hands like dinner plates. Green jersey of course. Thanks for your time Ken. Sleep well.
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ImAbeliever added 14:07 - May 3 R.!.P. Number 1. It was a privilege to watch you. Sad news.
3

Boncho95 added 15:12 - May 3 67/68 was my first season supporting Town, so like others on here he was the 1st keeper I can remember. RIP Ken, doesn't seem that long ago but you helped us win promotion and as an 11 year old got me hooked on ITFC
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bluebudgie added 15:28 - May 3 Lovely man and great keeper who helped Town to win the 2nd tier title in 1968 with only five losses on the way. He used to come to our village fete and participate in the dog show. Always had time for people and as I said a lovely man.RIP Ken
2

YorkshireBlue1967 added 20:33 - May 3 Ken Hancock - it only seems like yesterday that I was watching him in 1967, in my first ever game, when I was only nine years old!!!
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AlexMathie added 07:58 - May 4 For posterity, anyone know how the Hancock better than Yashin chant went?
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ImAbeliever added 09:28 - May 4 @AlexMathie - I’ll post it on match report thread.
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armchaircritic59 added 19:16 - May 4 A few of us " oldies " in here. Remember Ken pretty well, a very decent keeper. Also remember the Yashin song. RIP Ken.
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Mike44 added 19:33 - May 10 We all agree, Hancock is better than Yashin, Crawford is better than Eusebio, and X are in for a thrashin'. X being that day's opponents. RIP Ken, a real stalwart.
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