[1] However, the club started poorly and were relegated under Freddie Steele, though Poole was described as 'one of the few rays of sunlight in an otherwise gloomy beginning'.
[1] The performances he gave in his 54 games of the 1960–61 season led The Sentinel's Jon Abberley to describe Poole as 'one of the best wing-halves ever produced in the Potteries'.
[3] He remained a key fixture throughout 1961–62, posting 45 appearances, and scored in a 3–1 win over Sunderland in an FA Cup fourth round replay.
[1] Poole was limited to 29 games in 1963–64, but returned to usual service with a 39-game season in 1964–65, as the club were relegated to the Fourth Division.
[6] At the end of the campaign both he and Miles were given free transfers to local non-League club Sandbach Ramblers, before Poole retired the following year.
"[7] During his career Bolton Wanderers considered him as a replacement for Nat Lofthouse, and Tottenham Hotspur had a bid rejected by the Vale.