Rouse Val Image 1 Stoke City 1922

Description

Hoddesdon, Hertfordshire born wing half Val (also known as “Vic”) Rouse played for Welsh sides Llanelly and Pontypridd after the end of the First World War, before joining Wolverhampton Wanderers in 1921. He played five Second Division games for Wolves in the 1921-22 campaign making his Football League debut at Leicester City in October 1921, before joining First Division club Stoke in August 1922 after only 5 appearances in old gold and black. He played in 38 matches in 1922-23 as Stoke suffered relegation back to the Second Division. Manager Tom Mather kept faith with Rouse at left-half in 1923-24, and made him club captain for the 1924-25 campaign. He scored his first senior goal in a 1-1 draw with Barnsley at the Victoria Ground on 1st November 1924. Despite possessing a strong squad, overall performances on the pitch were below standard and the team went 12 matches without a win (1st January to 21st March 1925) and were almost relegated. Four wins and three draws in their last eight matches ensured survival by the narrowest of margins, a single point. Rouse was then sold to Swansea Town after 2 goals in 95 appearances for The Potters, but he featured just four times for The Swans in 1925-26. He left Vetch Field and joined Port Vale in June 1926. He played 29  matches in 1926-27 and then 39 League games in 1927-28, as Vale posted top ten Second Division finishes. However he lost his first team place at The Old Recreation Ground in February 1929, and was given a free transfer in May 1929 after 102 appearances for The Valiants. He spent the 1929-30 and 1930-31 seasons in the Third Division (North) with Crewe Alexandra scoring once in 87 matches, before joining Connah’s Quay & Shotton in 1931.