He joined Port Vale as an amateur in June 1945 and signed professional forms in February 1950, making his debut under Gordon Hodgson two months later in the 1949–50 season.[1] He scored his first goal at Vale Park on 31 March 1951 in a 4–3 win over Gillingham and finished 1950–51 with two goals in nine games.[1] He hit eight goals in 21 games in 1951–52, rising to prominence in the latter half of the season under the tutelage of Freddie Steele.[1] He hit 14 goals in 47 games in 1952–53, as the "Valiants" finished second in the Third Division North, one point behind Oldham Athletic.[1]
Griffiths played in every match of the club's 1953–54FA Cup run before missing the semi-final defeat to West Bromwich Albion at Villa Park. He failed a late fitness test due a knee injury he initially picked up in the Second Round victory over Southport.[1][3] He bagged a hat-trick in a 6–0 demolition of Rochdale on 28 November 1953, striking 16 goals in 36 league games in 1953–54, as Vale won the Third Division North title by an eleven-point margin.[1] He hit two goals past Tottenham Hotspur of the First Division in front of a crowd of 50,684 at White Hart Lane in the Fourth Round of the FA Cup in 1954–55, though Vale lost the game 4–2.[1] Griffiths went on to finish the season with seven goals in 33 games.[1]
He suffered a decline in form after a cartilage operation at the start of the 1955–56 season, though he scored a hat-trick past Plymouth Argyle in a 3–1 home win on 25 February.[1] He also scored past Potteries derby rivals Stoke City in a 1–1 draw at the Victoria Ground on 31 March 1956, and finished the season with seven goals in 21 appearances.[1] He scored just once in 17 games in 1956–57, as Vale were relegated in last place of the Second Division, despite an upturn in form brought around by the arrival of new managerNorman Low.[1] He played just three times in 1957–58. He was sold to Mansfield Town for a four-figure fee in January 1958.[1]
Former teammate Roy Sproson said that: "he was quick and had the ability to put the ball in the net" and was "highly regarded by his fellow players" despite being an "underrated player by the [Port] Vale public".[4]
Personal life
Griffiths died in August 2008 at the age of 78. He was survived by his wife Nancy and daughter Valerie, grandchildren Andrea, Nicola, and Tracey, and five great-grandchildren.[2] He died days apart from former teammate Selwyn Whalley.
