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Tom Pope
Pope warming up forPort Valein 2013
Personal information
Full name Thomas John Pope[1]
Date of birth (1985-08-27)27 August 1985(age 39)[2]
Place of birth Stoke-on-Trent,England[3]
Height 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)[2]
Position(s) Centre forward
Team information
Current team
 Kidsgrove Athletic
Youth career
Crewe Alexandra
Hanley Town
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2004–2005 Biddulph Victoria
2005–2009 Crewe Alexandra 56 (17)
2005 →Lancaster City(loan)
2006 →Stafford Rangers(loan)
2006 →Barrow(loan)
2009–2011 Rotherham United 53 (4)
2011 →Port Vale(loan) 13 (3)
2011–2015 Port Vale 163 (56)
2015–2017 Bury 73 (10)
2017–2021 Port Vale 130 (37)
2021–2023 Congleton Town 75 (35)
2023–2024 Witton Albion 23 (6)
2024 Hanley Town 11 (1)
2024– Kidsgrove Athletic 3 (2)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 15:58, 27 October 2024 (UTC)

Thomas John Pope(born 27 August 1985) is an English semi-professionalfootballerwho plays as acentre forwardforNorthern Premier LeagueDivision One West clubKidsgrove Athletic.

ACrewe AlexandraAcademygraduate, he turned professional with the club in 2005 after impressing atnon-LeaguesideBiddulph Victoriain 2004–05. He wasloanedout toConference NorthsidesLancaster CityandStafford Rangersin 2005–06, before he spent 2006–07 on loan atBarrow,also of the Conference North. He established himself in the Crewe first-team picture in 2007–08 before becoming the club's top scorer in 2008–09 with tenLeague Onegoals. He becameRotherham United's joint-record signing when he made a£150,000 move to the Yorkshire club in June 2009. He scored five goals in the 2009–10 campaign before he was loaned out toPort Valein January 2011.

The loan was made permanent in time for the start of the 2011–12 season. He scored 33 goals and was votedLeague Two Player of the Yearas he helped the club to securepromotionout ofLeague Twoin 2012–13. He was votedPort Vale's Player of the Yearin 2013 and 2014. He signed withBuryin June 2015 and remained with the club for two seasons before rejoining Port Vale. He claimed the club's Player of the Year award for arecordthird time in 2018, and the following year, he became the second-highest goalscorer in the club's history. He scored 115 goals in 343 league and cup appearances before leaving the club in May 2021. He was released at the end of the 2020–21 season and went on to play forCongleton Town.HecaptainedCongleton to aCheshire Senior CupandNWCLChallenge Cup double in 2023. He moved on toWitton Albionin July 2023 and won the Mid Cheshire District FA Senior with the club in his first season. He rejoined Hanley Town in May 2024 and moved on to Kidsgrove Athletic five months later.

Career

[edit]

Crewe Alexandra

[edit]

Pope was a part ofCrewe Alexandra Youth Academy,but was not offered a professionalcontractwith the club.[4]He instead was forced to make his name in theMidland Football AlliancewithBiddulph Victoriaafter coming through theHanley Townunder-18 side to find first-team football.[5]He also playedSunday league footballfor Sneyd. He scored four goals for the club as they beat the Butcher's Arms 6–4 in the 2004 final of the Potteries and District Sunday League Cup final.[6]During this time the teenager found work as a window-fitter.[7]He scored fifteen goals in his first season with Biddulph, and added a further twelve to his tally before returning to Crewe as a professional in October 2005 —managerDario Gradinow convinced of Pope's potential.[8]Pope chose to head to Crewe after two unsuccessful trials with boyhood clubPort Vale.[9]

Pope spent much of the2005–06season in theConference North,playing onloanforLancaster Cityand thenStafford Rangers.[10]He returned to the Conference North in2006–07withBarrow,again on loan, after Lancaster manager Phil Wilson moved on toHolker Street.[11][12]On 10 March 2007, Pope made his debut for Crewe in a 1–0 defeat toGillinghamat thePriestfield Stadium,replacingGary Robertson 86 minutes.[13]He made three further appearances from the bench during the rest of the season, all three games ending in defeat.[14]

He scored his first goal for the club againstBristol Roverson 18 August 2007, in a 1–1 draw at theMemorial Stadium.[15]He established himself in the Alex first-team in2007–08,and his seven goals put him as the club's second-highest scorer afterNicky Maynard.[16]

He signed a two-year contract extension in November 2008, keeping him at the "Alex" until summer 2011.[7]He believed the players could win round disgruntled Crewe fans,[17]and blamed the players forSteve Holland's sacking.[18]He bettered his goal tally in2008–09and became the club's top scorer with ten goals. However, this was not enough to prevent Crewe from sufferingrelegationout ofLeague One.His ten league goals reflected good value for his seventeen league starts and an additional nine appearances from the bench.[19]This achievement came despite criticism from assistant manager Neil Baker that Pope lacked consistency on thepitchand professionalism off the pitch.[20]In all he scored 17 goals in 64 games for the Crewe, and he remained thankful to the club, the fans and former manager Dario Gradi for rescuing his career, despite his falling out with then-managerGuðjón Þórðarson.[21]

"No one at Crewe ever told me if I was doing a decent job. They told me the things I did wrong, but they never gave me any chance to build my confidence or give me any encouragement. It started to get me down towards the end, it was frustrating but that's football. I wanted a new challenge and I've got one at Rotherham."

— Pope was sometimes frustrated during his time atGresty Road.[22]

Rotherham United

[edit]

In June 2009, Pope joinedLeague TwoclubRotherham Unitedfor a joint-club-record fee of£150,000,[23]signing a three-year contract with the club.[4]Impressing in the pre-season games, his first two goals for Rotherham came in aLeague CupSecond Round tie withWest Bromwich AlbionatThe Hawthornson 26 August.[24]However, managerMark Robinsdeparted in September,[25]and in his absence Pope went on to score only three league goals in 35 appearances in2009–10,and did not feature in the "Millers" ' defeat in theplay-off finaldue to ametatarsalinjury.[26]

Port Vale

[edit]
Pope warming up forPort Valein 2013

Pope did not hit scoring form at the start of the2010–11season, and numerous other League Two clubs expressed an interest in acquiring the player permanently, asRonnie Moorewas willing to sell Pope to the highest bidder.[27]Jim Gannonfound top-scorerMarc Richardsout injured,[28]and so Pope finally achieved his dream of playing for the club he supported all his life,[29]when he joined Port Vale on a month-long loan starting on 28 January 2011.[30]

He missed apenaltyin his second appearance for the club,[31]but in the next game he made his first full start and won a penalty – whichJustin Richardsconverted.[32]He scored both of the club's goals in his fourth game, a 2–1 win overBradford CityatVale Park,which was broadcast live onSky Sports.[33]This final man-of-the-match winning performance was enough to convince Gannon to 'fight tooth and nail' to keep Pope at the club beyond the initial month long spell.[34]Indeed, his loan spell was extended into a second month.[35]His third goal for the club came on 22 March and was enough to rescue a point at home toHereford Unitedforcaretaker managerMark Grew.[36]Following this his loan deal was extended into a third month.[37]However, the loan spell was terminated three weeks early following a change of circumstances – parent club Rotherham had dropped out of theplay-offsand manager Ronnie Moore had departed.[38]Pope remained hopeful of a permanent switch in the summer,[39]and a move away from theDon Valley Stadiumseemed inevitable after new managerAndy Scottomitted him from United's pre-season tour of Portugal.[40]He got his wish in August, as he switched to Port Vale on afree transfer.[41]He signed a one-year deal with the "Valiants" despite more lucrative two-year offers fromMorecambeandMansfield Town,as well as interest fromMacclesfield Town.[40]

He went straight into managerMicky Adams' first team for the start of the2011–12season. He scored twice in his opening ten games, including aheadedwinning goal againstBradford City,which took the Vale into the automaticpromotionplaces in mid-September; however, after the match he was still forced to respond to criticism levelled at him from a minority of fans.[42]Adams added that "Tom shouldn't listen to the supporters – with the greatest of respect to them".[43]Pope added to his tally with the equalizing goal in a 1–1 draw with Vale's local rivals, and his former club, Crewe Alexandra on 24 September.[21]Though he only hit four goals in his first 25 games of the season, he picked up ahat-trickofassistsin the 4–0 win overAldershot Townon 17 December.[44]He ended a run of fifteen games without a goal by coming off the bench to net a late winner at home toPlymouth Argyleon 28 January;[45]the strike was his first goal of the season not to come from his head.[46]However, the following month he picked up agroininjury and was forced to undergo 'hernia-related' surgery.[47]He agreed to sign a new one-year deal with the club in June 2012,[48]though assistant managerMark Grewwarned him to improve his scoring tally.[49]Pope repeatedly stated to the local press that he was determined to improve his goals tally.[50]

"I've made no secret of my desire to stay and I'm really pleased we have come to an agreement on a new deal. I know people have been talking about my goal tally this season but I think that's down to the style we play and how all of the players work for each other. The gaffer has put a lot of faith in me and I'm really pleased I have been able to repay that faith by committing to the club for a further term."

— Speaking after signing a new two-and-a-half-year contract, Pope remained humble despite his impressive goal tally.[51]

Pope had a quietly consistent start to the2012–13season before hitting four goals in a 6–2 home win over former club Rotherham on 8 September.[52]He was quoted as saying that this was the best game of his career, as he proved a point to his detractors at former club Rotherham.[53]A brace in a 2–0 win overExeter CityatSt James Parkon 6 October took him to 11 goals in 13 games; this meant that, with the season only a quarter of the way in, the 27-year-old had reached his best goal tally.[54]It also made him the fastest Vale player to reach double figures sinceTom Nolanhit ten goals within thefirst XIgames of the1933–34season.[54]Pope was quick to credit wing duoJennison Myrie-WilliamsandAshley Vincentfor supplying him with the chances he needed to find the net so frequently.[55]His seven goals in seven games saw him named asLeague Two Player of the Monthfor September 2012.[56]Fans at Vale Park began to chant "Feed the Pope and he will score" throughout matches,[57]and he picked up the nickname of the "Sneyd GreenSniper / Assassin ", in reference to his hometown.[58]A hat-trick in a 4–0 win overBristol Roverson 20 November meant that he became the quickest player to reach 20 goals (from the start of the season) in the club's Football League history.[59]In February, he signed a new contract to keep him at the club until summer 2015.[60]The next month he was named as League Two'sPlayer of the Yearafter leading the division's scoring charts by five goals despite hitting an 11-game goal drought.[61][62]After winning the award he claimed his third hat-trick of the season on 29 March, as Vale beat promotion rivalsCheltenham Town3–2.[63]Vale secured promotion with a third-place finish at the end of the season, and Pope finished on 33 goals in 51 games.[64]He was voted onto thePFA Team of the Year,alongside teammateJennison Myrie-Williams.[65]He was further voted asPort Vale's Player of the Year.[66]

Pope was dropped from the starting line-up on 22 October 2013, ending a run of 66 consecutive league starts for the club, but marked his appearance from the bench in the following game to take Vale to within two points of the League One play-offs by the end of the month.[67]He continued to hold down a first-team starting place, and on 6 December he scored his fiftieth goal for Port Vale during a 4–1 FA Cup win overSalisbury City.[68]He ended the2013–14campaign as the club's top-scorer with 16 goals in 51 appearances.[69]The club secured a ninth-place finish in League One, and Pope became the first player in the club's history to win the club's Player of the Year award in successive years.[70]

He opened the2014–15campaign by scoring in each of the season's first four games.[71]AfterRob Pagetook over as caretaker manager in September, Pope said that he was happy to act as a "battering ram" to help create chances for new signingJordan Slew.[72]The following month Pope was named as atransfertarget byBarnsleymanagerDanny Wilson,and an unnamedChampionshipclub also had a formal approach to Port Vale turned down.[73]Vale chairmanNorman Smurthwaitetold him that a new contract offer in the summer would mean a 50% reduction in his wages, despite other clubs indicating they would pay him almost double his current wage.[74]In late October he picked up a knee injury and was ruled out of action for three months after undergoing surgery.[75]He managed to finish as the club's top-scorer for the third-successive season despite admitting that he was not fully fit at any point following his recovery from injury.[76]

Bury

[edit]

Pope entered formal talks withDoncaster Roversin May 2015,[77]before signing a three-year contract with newly promoted League One clubBury.[78]He scored six goals in 33 games in the2015–16season beforebreaking his wristin February.[79]He continue to play with his wrist in plaster, and also played as a makeshift midfielder after coming on as asubstituteagainstSheffield United.[80]He ended the2015–16campaign with seven goals in 43 appearances, and was made available on a free transfer by managerDavid Flitcroftin July 2016.[81]

On 8 October 2016, he collided withPeterborough UnitedgoalkeeperLuke McGeeand was hospitalised with twobroken ribsand apunctured lung.[82]He criticised his teammates the following month after Bury went on a 12-game winless run.[83]He returned to action after six weeks out, and defended caretaker managerChris Brass,saying the team's "downright stupid defending" was down to the players, not the coaches.[84]The team improved after new managerLee Clarkinstalled a new 5–2–3formation,and Pope scored seven goals in 40 games as Bury rose clear of the relegation zone at the end of the2016–17season.[85]

Return to Port Vale

[edit]

Pope signed a two-year contract with Port Vale in May 2017 after agreeing on a settlement with Bury on his contract.[86]ManagerMichael Brownsaid that the signing was a statement of intent for the club.[87]Brown was sacked after a poor start to the2017–18season, with Pope only scoring one goal in his first 13 appearances.[88]However, he managed to find his form under new managerNeil Aspin,scoring five goals in Aspin's first three games as manager to help Vale to pick up back-to-back wins; this included a brace in a 3–1 win over Cheltenham Town that saw Pope named in the EFL Team of the Week.[89][90]He went on to be nominated for the League Two Player of the Month award for October, having claimed five goals and one assist in five games.[91]After winning the award, he stated that it "is a reflection on my team mates, how hard they have worked and the chances they have created for me".[92]He was appointed clubcaptainin December.[93]The club turned down a bid of £25,000 fromCoventry Cityduring the Januarytransfer window.[94]Speaking at the end of February, Aspin said Pope had been playing through a hernia injury since Christmas and would require an operation to return to anything approaching full fitness.[95][96]He quickly returned from injury and his total of 19 goals was essential in helping the club to avoid relegation; he finished the campaign as the club's top-scorer and was named Port Vale Player of the Year for arecordthird time.[97]

On 1 September 2018, Pope scored in a 2–1 home defeat toNewport Countyto take his tally at the Vale Park ground one clear ofStan Steeleto a record 56; after the game Pope said that "I would rather not have scored and have got the three points [and] I would give up any individual award and any record for another promotion. It's a team game, not an individual sport".[98]In December he signed a new two-year contract to keep him tied to the club until summer 2021.[99]On 12 January, he picked up ahamstringinjury during a 3–0 home loss toColchester United.He was ruled out of action for 'a few weeks'.[100]On 30 March, he scored the winning goal in a 2–1 victory overNorthampton Town,and in doing so became only the third player (afterWilf KirkhamandMartin Foyle) to score 100 goals for the club.[101]He finished as the club's top-scorer for the fifth time for the2018–19season, and was named as that year's PFA Community Champion at the club's end of the year awards.[102]

New managerJohn Askeyconfirmed that Pope would continue as club captain in July 2019.[103]He was mainly used as a substitute at the start of the2019–20season but started in his 500th game as a professional footballer in a 2–2 home draw withMansfield Townon 21 September.[104]On having to sit on the bench regularly, he went on to say "it has been the lowest point of my career really".[105]He scored a brace in a 3–1 home win over Morecambe on 5 October to earn himself a place on the EFL Team of the Week.[106]However, later that month he lost the club captaincy toLeon Leggeafter being increasingly started from the substitute's bench.[107]On 30 November, Pope scored an eight-minute hat-trick to secure a 3–1 victory over Cheltenham Town in the FA Cup second round.[108]In the following round he scored his 109th Port Vale goal, making him the outright second-highest goalscorer in the club's history (behind Wilf Kirkham), in a 4–1 defeat toPremier LeaguechampionsManchester Cityon 4 January.[109]This was later named as Port Vale's goal of the season.[110]He had previously criticised Manchester City andEnglandcentre-backJohn Stoneson Twitter, saying he'd "get 40 a season" playing against Stones every week, and after the game tweeted that "I was completely wrong and bang out of order to say I'd score 40 a season..... it's more like 50."[111]The following month he was named in Port Vale's best XI of the 2010s by local newspaperThe Sentinel.[112]On 5 January, he tweeted aWorld War IIIprediction that "We invadeIranthenCubathenNorth Koreathen theRothchildsare crowned champions of every bank on the planet "; the FA concluded that these remarks amounted toAntisemitic canardand handed him a £3,500 fine and a six-game ban to start at the beginning of the2020–21season.[113]The club announced that they would appeal the ban, adding that "the Commission did not find that Mr. Pope had been intentionally discriminatory and noted that the FA had not alleged any such intent on his part".[114]

On 12 January 2021, Pope broke his arm after landing awkwardly following a clash of heads in an EFL Trophy tie withSunderlandand played on for the remaining 19 minutes until the full-time whistle as caretaker managerDanny Pughhad already used his allocation of substitutions.[115]He was limited to 23 appearances in the 2020–21 campaign and was released by new managerDarrell Clarkein May 2021, leaving his final tally for the club to stand at 115 goals in 343 first-team appearances.[116]

Later career

[edit]

On 21 July 2021, Pope joinedNorth West CountiesPremier Division sideCongleton Town,linking up with former Port Vale teammate and now Congleton managerRichard Duffy.[117]He got off to an excellent start to his "Bears" career, being named as Premier Division Player of the Month for August after scoring six goals, providing two assists and winning fiveman of the matchawards in six games.[118]He scored 20 goals in 49 appearances throughout the2021–22season, collecting ten man of the match awards.[119][120]He scored 28 goals in 56 games in the2022–23campaign, including five from six games in the club's run to the semi-finals of theFA Vase;he won six man of the match awards and wassent offon two occasions.[120]Congleton won theCheshire Senior Cupby beatingAltrinchamon penalties and lifted the NWCFL Challenge Cup by defeatingBacup Borough.[121][122]

Pope signed withWitton Albionof theNorthern Premier LeagueDivision One West on 7 July 2023.[123]He scored nine goals in 27 games in the2023–24season, featuring in the Mid Cheshire District FA Senior Cup final victory overNorthwich Victoria.[124]He also had a knee operation funded by theProfessional Footballers' Association.[125]

On 20 May 2024, Pope returned to Hanley Town, the club where he began his senior playing career, to work as a player and head of Youth Development.[126]On being asked why he continued to play at a late age despite various injury pains and having to also work as a self-employed labourer, he said "the older pros always told me to play for as long as I could because, once it is gone, you will miss it. So, while I am enjoying it and still able to I will."[125]

On 18 October 2024, Pope joined Hanley's Northern Premier League Division One West rivalsKidsgrove Athletic.[127]

Style of play

[edit]

A 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)centre forward,he has a natural advantage in the air.[2]A target man, he is able to hold the ball up and bring other players into the game.[128]As he said in an interview in September 2011, "I do the nitty-gritty and the dirty stuff."[42]In terms of motivation, he also said that "some players need an arm around the shoulder but a kick up the backside seems to work better for me".[129]His goal tally is not supplemented bypenaltykicks, as he converted his first penalty in normal time at the age of 32.[130]He does not possess great pace however.[131]

Personal life

[edit]

Pope, and two accomplices,[132]were charged withaffrayfor an incident inHanleyon 8 February 2009,[133]and Pope received 200 hours community service and a six-month suspended jail sentence. Pope's defence team claimed that he was provoked when the victims verbally abused and assaulted his girlfriend.[134]In November 2019, January 2020 and July 2020 he was suspended for ten matches and fined a total of £7,600 byThe Football Associationfor "bringing the game into disrepute" in regards to unspecified posts he made on social media, with one Tweet being judged to have beenantisemitic.[135][136][113]

A native ofStoke-on-Trent,Pope grew up as aPort Valesupporter.[137]He is an accomplished amateurgolfer,having reached the quarter-finals of Stoke-on-Trent's Sentinel Shield competition.[138]He wearscontact lenses.[139]He married Melissa, and had a son, Bobby Joseph Pope, in May 2016.[140]He also has a daughter, Millie.[141]

Pope and teammateAdam Yatesbegan the2011–12season as joint-managers of local amateur Sunday League side Sneyd,[142]fitting their management duties around their professional careers atVale Park.The pair took the club to the Potteries and District Premier Division title and the final of the Sentinel Sunday Cup in 2012–13.[143][144]He began writing a column inThe Sentinelin 2014.[145]He was inducted into the Stoke-on-Trent Sporting Hall of Fame in November 2021.[146]

Career statistics

[edit]
As of match played 11 October 2024
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Crewe Alexandra 2005–06[14] Championship 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2006–07[147] League One 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 0
2007–08[148] League One 26 7 0 0 1 0 1[a] 0 28 7
2008–09[19] League One 26 10 2 0 3 0 1[a] 0 32 10
Crewe Alexandra total 56 17 2 0 4 0 2 0 64 17
Rotherham United 2009–10[149] League Two 35 3 2 0 2 2 0 0 39 5
2010–11[150] League Two 18 1 0 0 0 0 2[a] 0 20 1
Rotherham United total 53 4 2 0 2 2 2 0 59 6
Port Vale 2010–11[150] League Two 13 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 13 3
2011–12[151] League Two 41 5 2 0 1 0 1[a] 0 45 5
2012–13[64] League Two 46 31 2 1 1 0 2[a] 1 51 33
2013–14[69] League One 43 12 5 2 1 0 2[a] 2 51 16
2014–15[152] League One 34 8 0 0 2 2 1[a] 2 36 12
Bury 2015–16[153] League One 36 6 3 1 2 0 2 0 43 7
2016–17[154] League One 37 4 0 0 1 1 2[a] 2 40 7
Bury total 73 10 3 1 3 1 4 2 83 14
Port Vale 2017–18[155] League Two 41 17 3 2 1 0 1[a] 0 46 19
2018–19[156] League Two 38 11 1 1 0 0 2[a] 2 41 14
2019–20[157] League Two 32 6 3 4 1 0 1[a] 0 37 10
2020–21[158] League Two 19 3 1 0 0 0 3[a] 0 23 3
Port Vale total 306 96 17 10 7 2 13 7 343 115
Congleton Town 2021–22[119][120] NWCLPremier Division 39 18 1 0 0 0 9[b] 2 49 20
2022–23[119][120] NWCL Premier Division 36 17 7 2 0 0 13[c] 9 56 28
Congleton Town total 75 35 7 2 0 0 22 9 105 48
Witton Albion 2023–24[124] Northern Premier League
Division One West		 23 6 0 0 0 0 4[d] 3 27 9
Hanley Town 2024–25[159] Northern Premier League
Division One West		 11 1 3 0 0 0 3[e] 3 17 4
Kidsgrove Athletic 2024–25 Northern Premier League
Division One West		 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Career total[f] 597 169 34 13 16 5 50 24 698 219
  1. ^abcdefghijklAppearance/s in theEFL Trophy
  2. ^3 appearances and 1 goal in theFA Vase,5 appearances and 1 goal in the League Challenge Cup, 1 appearance in theCheshire Senior Cup
  3. ^6 appearances and 5 goals in the FA Vase, 3 appearances and 1 goal in the League Challenge Cup, 4 appearances and 3 goals in the Cheshire Senior Cup
  4. ^1 appearance and 1 goal in the FA Trophy, 3 appearances and 2 goals in the Mid Cheshire District FA Senior
  5. ^Appearance/s in the FA Trophy
  6. ^Statistics forBiddulph Victoria,Stafford RangersandBarrownot known.

Honours

[edit]

Port Vale

Congleton Town

Witton Albion

  • Mid Cheshire District FA Senior Cup: 2024[124]

Individual

References

[edit]
  1. ^"Notification of shirt numbers: Port Vale"(PDF).English Football League. p. 55.Retrieved25 October2019.
  2. ^abc"Name: Tom Pope".port-vale.co.uk.Archived fromthe originalon 27 September 2020.Retrieved6 August2011.
  3. ^Tom Popeat Soccerbase
  4. ^ab"Pope Agrees Rotherham Switch".crewealex.net.4 June 2009.Retrieved27 January2011.
  5. ^Munday, Anthony (19 September 2013)."Old boy Pope to shine light on Hanley Town's latest achievement".The Sentinel.Archived fromthe originalon 21 September 2013.Retrieved19 September2013.
  6. ^Baggaley, Mike (24 February 2017)."Tom Pope: My Sunday football games with FA Cup hero Matt Rhead".Stoke Sentinel.Archived fromthe originalon 26 February 2017.Retrieved25 February2017.
  7. ^ab"Striker Pope signs new Crewe deal".BBC Sport.14 November 2008.Retrieved27 January2011.
  8. ^"Crewe sign teenage striker Pope".BBC Sport.4 October 2005.Retrieved27 January2011.
  9. ^"Split loyalties for Crewe striker".BBC Sport.11 March 2008.Retrieved27 January2011.
  10. ^"Pope seals Stafford Rangers loan".BBC Sport.29 March 2006.Retrieved27 January2011.
  11. ^"Pope extends loan stint at Barrow".BBC Sport.11 September 2006.Retrieved27 January2011.
  12. ^Baggaley, Michael (23 June 2020)."Port Vale's Tom Pope – Support makes Barrow a great addition to Football League".Stoke Sentinel.Retrieved23 June2020.
  13. ^"Gillingham 1–0 Crewe".BBC Sport.9 March 2007.Retrieved27 January2011.
  14. ^ab"Games played by Tom Pope in 2005/2006".Soccerbase.Centurycomm.Retrieved1 January2017.
  15. ^"Bristol Rovers 1–1 Crewe".BBC Sport.18 August 2007.Retrieved27 January2011.
  16. ^"Crewe Alexandra – Appearances League One 2007/2008".worldfootball.net.Retrieved20 October2020.
  17. ^"We will silence boo boys – Pope".BBC Sport.30 October 2008.Retrieved27 January2011.
  18. ^"Players must take blame says Pope".BBC Sport.19 November 2008.Retrieved27 January2011.
  19. ^ab"Games played by Tom Pope in 2008/2009".Soccerbase.Centurycomm.Retrieved1 January2017.
  20. ^"Striker Pope challenged by Baker".BBC Sport.29 January 2009.Retrieved27 January2011.
  21. ^ab"Port Vale scorer Tom Pope 'owed respect to Crewe fans'".BBC Sport.25 September 2011.Retrieved25 September2011.
  22. ^"Pope frustrated by time at Crewe".BBC Sport.5 June 2009.Retrieved27 January2011.
  23. ^"Crewe striker Pope joins Millers".BBC News.4 June 2009.Retrieved25 May2010.
  24. ^"West Brom 4 – 3 Rotherham".BBC Sport.26 August 2009.Retrieved27 January2011.
  25. ^"Port Vale: Pope feels right at home at Vale Park".The Sentinel.19 November 2011. Archived fromthe originalon 21 November 2011.Retrieved19 November2011.
  26. ^"RUFC – Pope only has praise for Liddell".Vital Rotherham.17 September 2010.Retrieved5 October2020.
  27. ^"Rotherham manager Ronnie Moore considers Tom Pope exit".BBC Sport.20 January 2011.Retrieved27 January2011.
  28. ^"Port Vale want Rotherham striker Tom Pope on loan".BBC Sport.27 January 2011.Retrieved27 January2011.
  29. ^"Port Vale sign Rotherham striker Tom Pope on loan".BBC Sport.28 January 2011.Retrieved28 January2011.
  30. ^Shaw, Steve (28 January 2011)."Port Vale: Tom Pope joins Valiants in loan deal".The Sentinel.Archived fromthe originalon 27 September 2012.Retrieved28 January2011.
  31. ^"Port Vale should aim for Championship, says Tom Pope".BBC Sport.10 February 2011.Retrieved13 February2011.
  32. ^"Port Vale manager Jim Gannon praises loanee Tom Pope".BBC Sport.13 February 2011.Retrieved13 February2011.
  33. ^"Port Vale 2 – 1 Bradford".BBC Sport.18 February 2011.Retrieved18 February2011.
  34. ^Shaw, Steve (19 February 2011)."Port Vale: Gannon will fight to keep Pope".The Sentinel.Archived fromthe originalon 27 September 2012.Retrieved19 February2011.
  35. ^"Port Vale on-loan striker Tom Pope extends stay".BBC Sport.1 March 2011.Retrieved1 March2011.
  36. ^"Port Vale 1 – 1 Hereford".BBC Sport.22 March 2011.Retrieved24 March2011.
  37. ^"Rotherham United's Tom Pope extends Port Vale loan deal".BBC Sport.24 March 2011.Retrieved24 March2011.
  38. ^"Mark Grew admits Tom Pope loss is a blow for Port Vale".BBC Sport.7 April 2011.Retrieved7 April2011.
  39. ^Shaw, Steve (7 April 2011)."Port Vale: Major blow for Vale as Millers recall striker Pope".The Sentinel.Archived fromthe originalon 29 September 2012.Retrieved7 April2011.
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  80. ^Baggaley, Mike (19 February 2016)."Why beating Sheffield United can hurt!".The Sentinel.Retrieved19 February2016.[dead link]
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  83. ^"Tom Pope: Bury striker criticises attitude of players after 12-game winless run".BBC Sport.21 November 2016.Retrieved14 May2017.
  84. ^McKenzie, Mikael (24 November 2016)."Pope blast at Bury's 'stupid defending'".Bury Times.Retrieved14 May2017.
  85. ^McKenzie, Mikael (24 April 2017)."Lee Clark ready for summer battle to keep hotshot Bury striker James Vaughan".Bury Times.Retrieved14 May2017.
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  104. ^Baggaley, Michael (22 September 2019).""I want to put a shift in for the team" – Port Vale's Tom Pope reaches 500 games ".Stoke Sentinel.Retrieved22 September2019.
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  106. ^Baggaley, Michael (8 October 2019)."Stoke City boss manages Port Vale captain in EFL Team of the Week".Stoke Sentinel.Retrieved8 October2019.
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  110. ^Whittingham, Harry (28 August 2020)."End of season awards for 2019/20".Port Vale F.C.Retrieved2 September2020.
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  115. ^Baggaley, Michael (13 January 2021)."'We'd used the subs' - Port Vale's Tom Pope plays on with broken arm ".StokeonTrentLive.Retrieved14 January2021.
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  117. ^"Congleton Town announce signing of Port Vale legend".Stoke Sentinel. 21 July 2021.
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  121. ^abLangley, Gary."Congleton win the Cheshire Senior Cup".www.nwcfl.com.Retrieved12 July2023.
  122. ^abLangley, Gary."Congleton Town - Macron Cup Winners 2022-23".www.nwcfl.com.Retrieved12 July2023.
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  126. ^"TOM POPE ARRIVES".www.hanleytown.co.uk.20 May 2024.Retrieved20 May2024.
  127. ^"✍️ Welcome to Kidsgrove Athletic... Tom Pope We are pleased to announce the signing of Port Vale legend Tom Pope from Hanley Town FC. The deal was only made possible thanks to Hanley Town's chairman, Ron Mcilreavy. We would like to both thank Ron and Hanley Town for their cooperation with the signing. As part of the agreement and out of courtesy to Hanley Town, Tom won't play in the forthcoming fixture. Welcome to Kidsgrove Athletic Tom".Facebook.Kidsgrove Athletic FC.Retrieved19 October2024.
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  131. ^Baggaley, Michael (12 March 2019)."The truth about 'Popeball' – Port Vale fans have their say on Tom Pope debate".Stoke Sentinel.Retrieved12 March2019.
  132. ^"Striker faces affray charge".The Sentinel.28 May 2009. Archived fromthe originalon 27 September 2012.Retrieved27 January2011.
  133. ^"Crewe Alex striker Tom Pope accused of affray".The Sentinel.21 March 2009. Archived fromthe originalon 24 March 2009.Retrieved21 March2009.
  134. ^"Brawling striker is caught on camera (CCTV)".The Sentinel.1 August 2009. Archived fromthe originalon 9 August 2009.Retrieved27 January2011.
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  150. ^ab"Games played by Tom Pope in 2010/2011".Soccerbase.Centurycomm.Retrieved1 January2017.
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  154. ^"Games played by Tom Pope in 2016/2017".Soccerbase.Centurycomm.Retrieved1 January2017.
  155. ^"Games played by Tom Pope in 2017/2018".Soccerbase.Centurycomm.Retrieved1 January2017.
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  157. ^"Games played by Tom Pope in 2019/2020".Soccerbase.Centurycomm.Retrieved26 June2018.
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[edit]
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