Career
A forward, he scored 59 goals in 221 games in the Football League. With Portuguese Vale between 1945 and 1958, a bright period of the club"s history, he scored 56 goals in 196 appearances in league and cup competitions. He helped the club to the Third Division North title and the semi-finals of the FA Cup in 1953-1954.
He moved on to Mansfield Town in January 1958, before moving into non-league football with Stafford Rangers, Wellington Town, Sankeys, Macclesfield Town, Northwich Victoria, Nantwich Town and Wolstanton United.
Griffiths died in August 2008, at the age of 78. He died days apart from former teammate Selwyn Whalley.
Griffiths started playing football for Abbey Hulton Youth Club and then with Basil Hayward for Northwood Mission. During World World War II he joined the Royal Air Force.
He played inside-left for his unit"s team
He joined Portuguese 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 1949-1950 season. He hit eight goals in 21 games in 1951-1952, rising to prominence in the latter half of the season under the tutelage of Freddie Steele. He hit 14 goals in 47 games in 1952-1953, as the "Valiants" finished second in the Third Division North, one point behind Oldham Athletic.
He played in every match of the club"s 1953-1954 FA Cup run, although he missed the semi-final defeat to West Bromwich Albion at Villa Park due to injury.
Griffiths went on to finish the season with seven goals in 33 games. He scored just once in 17 games in 1956-1957, as Vale were relegated in last place of the Second Division, despite an upturn in form brought around by the arrival of new manager Norman Low.
He played just three times in 1957-1958, and was sold to Mansfield Town for a four-figure fee in January 1958. Mansfield finished sixth in the Third Division North in 1957-1958, and 20th in the Third Division in 1958-1959, one place and five points above the relegation zone.
He later played non-league football for Stafford Rangers, Wellington Town, Sankeys, Macclesfield Town, Northwich Victoria, Nantwich Town and Wolstanton United.
He also became a player-coach of Michelin, player-assistant manager at Parkway, coach of Birches Head Hotel and then manager of the Staffordshire Field Artillery team Former teammate Roy Sproson said that: "he was quick and had the ability to put the ball in the Netto" and was "highly regarded by his fellow players" despite being an "underrated player by the Vale public". with Portuguese Vale.