New Port Vale assistant manager John Schofield says he is delighted to link up again with Andy Crosby.
The 58-year-old has been named as manager Crosby’s number two having first been drafted into the club in April when Crosby was made interim manager following the departure of Darrell Clarke.
The vastly-experienced coach has now been confirmed in the role on a permanent basis.
Prior to his arrival at Vale Park to help Vale in their last four matches alongside Crosby, Schofield had been the Northern Ireland Under-21 manager.
He had taken over in 2021 when he replaced Crosby who had left the international set-up to join The Valiants.
Schofield had been coaching Northern Ireland on a part-time basis alongside his commitments with Peterborough United’s Under-23s.
He stepped down from the role in February this year after Northern Ireland finished third in their group for the 2023 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification, having won two and drawn one of his 10 games in charge.
He and Crosby worked together twice previously in their careers before their brief third spell together in April at Vale Park and have been reunited once again ahead of the 2023/24 League One campaign.
As a player, midfielder Schofield amassed more than 540 professional appearances, turning out for Lincoln City, Doncaster Rovers, Mansfield Town, and Hull City.
Returning to Lincoln during the 2000/01 campaign, he enjoyed his first taste of coaching when he became a player/coach before retiring as a player that same season before ending up managing the Imps.
He has also had coaching spells at Walsall, Cambridge United, Notts County and Doncaster Rovers and been assistant manager at Cheltenham Town, Gillingham, Scunthorpe and York City.
He worked under manager Martin Allen on three separate occasions and also held the role of head of youth development at Lincoln City.
As a coach, Schofield, a UEFA Pro Licence holder, has no fewer than five play-off appearances to his name and three promotions.
Speaking about joining Vale, Schofield said: “I’m really looking forward to joining the set-up at Vale as Andy’s assistant manager, there’s a real buzz about the place.
“I’ve known Andy quite a while and first worked with him when I went to Scunthorpe as a coach where we struck up a relationship and then I had the chance to go and work with him again when he was Northern Ireland Under-21s manager.
“We’re pretty similar when it comes to ideas, especially on the environment around the place and the way we want to develop players.
“We also try to have a way of playing that everybody understands and enjoys.
“Having been in towards the end of last season, I’ve already been able to work with the rest of the staff and experience the environment that is being built.
“As soon as you walk in everybody makes you feel welcome and it’s such a family environment and I can’t wait to get started.”
Crosby says he’s pleased to have managed to secure Schofield’s services on a permanent basis.
He said: “I am absolutely delighted that John has agreed to join us here at Vale Park. Having worked with him previously, he is somebody I trust immeasurably and I know he will offer great support, not just to myself but also to the support team already in place.
“He is an excellent coach who offers much more than footballing knowledge.
“He is a great person with a fantastic personality and mixed with his great work ethic, I know he will make a great impact on and off the pitch.”