Saturday
December 27th 2003 was a day that will live long in the memory
of all those connected with Vale, as the team took the field
to line up against Scottish League side Morton in the Scottish
Cup in front of a crowd of over 3,000. As proud as anyone
that day was then co-manager Jack Diamond, as it marked the
high point of his involvement with Vale - a journey that has
taken him from playing, through managing and now a coaching
position.
An Edinburgh-born Gorebridge lad, Jack came through from the
under-21 level to play for home town side Arniston Rangers,
and after a spell at Heriot, arrived at Vale in 1995. A committed
player who never knowingly took the pitch without giving his
all, he endeared himself to the Victoria Park faithful and
delighted local newspaper writers who were not slow in generating
headline puns on his surname. He was voted Player of the Year
in 1996 and scored the only goal of the game against Civil
Service Strollers that qualified Vale for the 1997-98 Scottish
Cup. Unfortunately, the Scottish Cup adventure on that occasion
ended in a Second Round defeat against Annan Athletic, and
at the end of the season Jack returned to Arniston.
A year later though, he was back at Victoria Park. By now
one of the veteran players at the club, and enjoying coaching
at Hunterfield Boys Club, his thoughts started to turn to
a move into management. He became assistant to Willie Hume,
and when, during season 2002-03 with the team going through
a difficult spell and Hume departed, it was Jack who was the
natural choice to step up to the manager's position. Under
his guidance, the team rediscovered their fighting spirit
and avoided relegation. Looking after team affairs on his
own was a major task though, and by the start of Season 2003-04
Jack was happy to be sharing the position of manager jointly
when Stuart Robertson returned to the club. Unfortunately
though, a completely rebuilt side could not escape the drop
that season.
At the start of season 2005-06, increased work commitments
as an IT Analyst at Sky Television slightly limited the time
Jack could devote to the club. Despite the demands on his
time, Jack has lost none of his passion for the game and his
desire to help take Vale forward remains unstinted.
Jack has two children, Steven and Lauren, and in July 2004
married Gill. He enjoys travelling, with his ambition in life
to see as much of the world as possible. |
