Explaining decisions as Morecambe await
An in-depth look at Port Vale on and off the pitch in our special free 200th edition of The Valiant
Hello and welcome to our Thursday evening edition of The Valiant for November 14.
At this point I usually say read on if you are a subscriber but, because tonight’s edition is number 200, we’ve made it free to everyone just to mark the occasion.
Thanks so much to everyone who has subscribed and supported us since we launched just under 14 months ago. I had no idea what to expect but your encouragement has been fantastic and I’ve loved being able to cover the club in depth on and off the pitch.
Because the newsletter is supported by subscriptions, I can spend all my week covering the club on this platform which is advert free.
If you’re not a subscriber but you are interested then please take a look and see what you think.
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Anyway, enough about that. Tonight’s edition features talking points from Darren Moore’s press conference and much more about the Vale on and off the pitch as they prepare for Saturday’s game at Morecambe.
Talking points from Darren Moore’s press conference
Nathan Smith
Smith made only his second appearance of the season in Tuesday’s Trophy game against Wrexham and Darren Moore gave a thorough answer to Phil Bowers’ question about the centre half.
Moore said: “Nathan is a valuable member of the team and squad and will play a huge part this season. We are really pleased we have a centre back of his quality and experience.
“For those probably wondering why Nathan hasn’t been in and around the team….he has always been around the team since pre season. But Nathan had a personal situation and he had to be there for his family. He was and everything is fine and we are really pleased for that.
“Nathan has found himself coming back in with a group of players that has the qualities we want from them and he has had to patiently wait for his opportunity to step back in.
“What I can say is Nathan has been training incredibly well. We felt the other night was the right game to put him in – and it was an excellent performance of stature, maturity, focus, detail…all the things you want from your central defender.”
Injury news
Encouraging news. Mitch Clark has been given the all clear to resume contact training following the neck injury he suffered in pre-season. I believe Kyle John is close to returning to action, having resumed training. Meanwhile, George Byers is not all that far behind as he is close to returning to training.
Ruari Paton
Several readers have said they would like to see the striker in the team but how to fit him in is a different matter. Paton did his cause no harm with an impressive performance from the left of a front three against Wrexham.
The 24 year old has only started six of Vale’s 15 league games since signing from Queen’s Park in the summer so what does the manager think of his situation?
He told me: “Ruari has done really well and we are pleased with how far he has come along. We feel he’s in a position now where he is contributing to the first team and showing wonderful signs of ability.
“We feel there are many combinations he can play with – with Jayden, Lorent, Ronan, Chizzy, Rico, Diamond….we have all these attacking options we can play him with. But we see Ruari playing a big part for the team.
“We feel he’s in a far better place with what he is doing in training now than when he arrived. But we knew that in terms of where he had come from and getting used to the group.
“He’s a wonderful man, a talented individual. I know why I brought him to the club. He will score goals for Vale.”
Wrong side of big calls
It’s fair to say Vale have been a bit unfortunate with big decisions over the last couple of games after Ronan Curtis was denied a penalty at Gillingham and then Antwoine Hackford and Ruari Paton had appeals turned down against Wrexham. We can make a case for or against all three of those appeals but Vale are unlucky not to have got any of them.
The manager said: “I see the difficulty officials have so I am all about supporting refs and what they have to see in that split second.
“But certainly in the last two or three games we have had claims for pens that haven’t come our way. They have come at significant times in the game, let’s face it they are game changers.
“You hope the referees see them in real-time, game speed. I know that is difficult but that’s the industry we are in.
“So, I was disappointed but it’s on to the next one and, hopefully if we do get a shout for the next one, we will be on the other side of the line and it gets awarded.”
Moved for TV
Vale have learned this week their game at Swindon on Saturday February 8 has been moved to a 12.30pm kick off and the game at home to Notts County has been switched from the following Saturday to Thursday February 13.
That’s on top of the Crewe game being moved to a Monday night, November 25, and the Walsall home game being shifted to 12.30pm on Saturday December 7.
All this is out of Darren Moore and Vale’s control so he could have just given an ‘it is what it is’ type answer but it was instructive that he instead started by talking about supporters.
Talking first of all about the Crewe game, he said: “The thing for me is hopefully it doesn’t impact our support base. It’s on a school night and also you have fans who work away who might have been able to get up here for the weekend.
“So, there’s definitely a different feel for a Saturday afternoon than a Monday evening. I’m also looking at the club and the revenue we would have on a Saturday as opposed to a Monday.
“But if the deals we have signed with the TV companies say we have to play on a Monday night then we have to get on with it. Football now can be played seven days a week from 12 noon to 8pm and, as you’ve seen now, that includes a Thursday night.
“They want to bring more excitement to supporters at home in the armchair and bring football 24/7. I’m part of that industry so we have to get on with it and adapt to the demands.”
Rekeem Harper
The midfielder was playing in his first competitive game since April when he started against Wrexham on Tuesday and came through the first hour. No doubt we’ll see more of the 24 year old over the next few weeks but in the meantime it was interesting to hear Darren Moore’s views on a player he worked with in the youth system and first team at West Brom.
This came in the Staffordshire University part of the press conference with students Mark Matthews and Matthew Carville and I thought was a good insight into what Vale can expect.
The manager said: “He is a wonderful player and we understand each other really well. If we can get Rekeem back to the levels we know he can do then he is a terrific player. He will only get stronger as the weeks go by.
“He brings us something I felt we might be lacking in the team a little bit. There is a position in the team that Rekeem has the attributes to fill and hopefully over the next few weeks we will see that when the opportunity comes and we get him in that first team action.
“I saw parts of defensive and attacking work that he brought to the team the other night. Some of his forward passes were really good. They may have gone unnoticed but some of them were inch-perfect and at the angle he has played them. There are players that I don’t think hit those kind of passes.
“Also managing the ball in tight situations. He gives us that and gives us size and physicality in there and moved really well. I think we have got him at the right age and the right time.”
Away support
Vale are set to take another big following on the road. They had sold 1,368 tickets for Morecambe by this evening.
Sam Hart
He’s been giving his team mates plenty of moral support but Sam Hart is grateful for the chance to help out on the pitch again after making his return from injury against Wrexham.
The left-sided defender had been out since he was injured against Doncaster at the end of August but should still have a role to play, especially as he can play in the back three, at wing back or at left back if Vale switch to a back four.
He said: “The boys have been class, as have the staff, they have always kept their eyes on me.
“You always want to be involved but you have to let your body heal. I wouldn’t say it’s been easy but it’s been ‘easier’ because the boys have been winning. The run of games they have been on has been amazing to watch.
“Me and Kyle John have been in that stand and have been the number one fans! We are team mates but also this is a big family that the manager has built.”
A look at Morecambe on the pitch
Thanks to journalist Derek Quinn for this report on what Vale can expect from the Shrimps…
What's the story of Morecambe's season so far?
“Morecambe currently sit bottom of League Two but it would be true to say their performances overall have not been as bad as people may think. Things have not been helped by the fact they lost their first five league games 1-0 in an amazing run of results.
“They struggled to create chances in the opening weeks but have since started to find the net on a more regular basis only to start conceding goals regularly with only one league clean sheet to their name so far.
“They have given some of the league's top teams good games and were only denied victory against Notts County by a shocking decision not to award a late goal that was clearly over the line.
“They are yet to win at home either with both league wins coming away from the Mazuma Stadium.”
Who are the dangermen Vale will need to watch out for?
“Ben Tollitt is the top scorer and at his best is a real threat and Gwion Edwards has recently returned after injury. Both are wide men who can cause all sorts of problems for defences on their day.”
Any significant absences through injury or suspension?
“The Shrimps have had an extensive injury list but are nearly at full strength now with George Ray, who was injured on the opening day of the season, welcomed back into the fold in the midweek game against Carlisle United. Striker Lee Angol looks to be the only main player unavailable at the moment.”
Can you give us your best guess at the line up and formation?
Moore, Hendrie, Stott, Williams, Tutonda, Edwards. Jones, White, Adam Lewis, Tollitt, Dackers.
Morecambe protests
Just a reminder, Morecambe supporters will be protesting against their club owner Jason Whittingham at the game.
In the last two years, the club has been relegated, has failed to pay wages on time, has been deducted points and has operated under an EFL embargo.
Fans are planning a slow march to the ground and, during the match, will be releasing black balloons, and turning their backs on the action for two minutes from minute number 26, the number of months the club has been up for sale.
Man of the match and your views on Nathan Smith
Nathan Smith was your man of the match for Tuesday’s game against Wrexham – and it wasn’t even close.
Smith got 70% of your votes in our poll, well ahead of Ruari Paton who was second, on 20% and Ben Amos who came in third on 9%.
The game was only Smith’s second appearance of the season but several readers said they would like to see more of him.
Glenn Fowler says: “However Moore can leave Smithy out of any Vale team is bewildering, to me the best defender on the books. If you cut him he bleeds black and white.”
Rob C adds: “Smith was great and should be back in the team no matter how well we're doing, best defender at the club.”
Mel Harwood notes a line in the match ratings which says Smith and Mo Faal were called over by the referee following an off-the ball incident after just four minutes. He says: “I'm just glad we have him in our squad. I'd absolutely hate to have him as an opponent. Great game and well earned Man of the Match. Surely Darren you can find some room in our system for him?”
Last word to Ian Clarke who said: “Very pleased for him last night. No nonsense defender who gives everything and loves the club.”
Penalty watch
Thanks to everyone who had their say on the two penalty shouts Vale didn’t get against Wrexham – the first half shove on Antwoine Hackford and the second half challenge on Ruari Paton.
Photographer Tom Green sent in a great picture and reckoned the Paton one was a foul, saying: “Pictures are never fully conclusive but it was definitely a pen!”
Stephen Hewitt adds: “Rauri’s looked a penalty to me. I’m sure the ref gave a goal kick so the defender obviously didn’t touch the ball. He went through Rauri. Like you say, the push on Hackford may have just been outside the box but was definitely a foul! We’re not getting the rub of the green with penalty decisions at the moment but I’m sure it’ll change.”
Ian Brammer had sympathy with the referee, saying: “So hard to call Mike - thought Ruari’s looked like a pen but you don’t know what the ref sees or doesn’t conversely. He has to be 100% certain and if he isn’t he won’t give it. As long as it’s consistent eh? That’s another story though methinks!”
Karl Cliff felt the Hackford incident wasn’t a spot kick, saying: “Definitely a two-handed shove on Hackford, but for me it was just outside the box. Vale free kick (and we know Ruari can hit em!) but no, nothing given.”
Tony Boulton adds: “There were two clear penalties. The first, if given as a free kick outside the box maybe, although it was close.”
Last word to Eddie J who felt Paton was hard done to. “It looked nailed on and immediately prompted messages from people around the world saying it was 100 per cent a pen.”
Gillingham stewarding
I haven’t heard back from Gillingham about the stewarding at Saturday’s game – but I have heard from Vale historian Phil Sherwin who has fired off a complaint to the Gills about the search on the way into the ground.
It begins, “To say it was over zealous is the biggest understatement of all time.”
Phil concludes: “I've never experienced anything that obtrusive in almost 60 years of watching football, which includes 40 odd years of watching England abroad where searching is often done at gunpoint but less obtrusive!”
Tipped for the top
Vale are the current favourites to win the League Two title despite their ten-game unbeaten league run coming to an end at Gillingham last week. The bookies make Vale the favourites followed by Walsall, Doncaster, Notts County, Wimbledon, MK Dons and Chesterfield.
There’s a long way to go but a Vale side hasn’t side hasn’t finished top of the league since the class of 1958/59 won the old Fourth Division with heroes such as Harry Poole, Terry Miles, Stan Steele, Roy Sproson, Ken Hancock, Graham Barnett and Albert Leake.
Morecambe are the favourites for the drop but let’s not dwell on that before Vale go there on Saturday.
Port Vale FC Women
Vale return to action on Sunday when they are away to Lichfield City in the County Cup at the Trade Tyre Stadium (2pm).
The hosts play in the West Midlands Division One North, so one division below Vale who will be looking to hit back quickly from back-to-back defeats to Kidderminster Harriers in the FA Cup and league in their last two games.
Gareth Ainsworth
All the best to Gareth Ainsworth who has been appointed the new head coach of Shrewsbury Town.
The Vale hero returns to management after leaving QPR last year but faces a tough task as the Shrews are bottom of League One with just eight points from their 15 games.
Former Vale boss Andy Crosby was reportedly on the shortlist of candidates for the job.
Trophy crowds
Vale’s gate of 1,837 against Wrexham was the fifth highest of the 20 Bristol Street Motors Trophy games played across the country on Tuesday night. The top four were Colchester v Arsenal under-21s (4,265), Lincoln v Man City under-21s (3,055), Huddersfield v Man Utd under-21s (3,021) and Charlton v Bromley (2,916).
‘I knew straight away’ - Our fan in focus is Mike O’Shea
Tell us about yourself...
"I’m Mike O’Shea; I’m 63 and have been supporting the Vale since I was 14 years old.
"When I was a young lad I supported Man City in the days of Colin Bell and Francis Lee. One day, my best mate (Donkey – still best mates and Vale fans) asked me to come to watch the Vale and if I didn’t enjoy it he’d give me my money back.
"That day we played Sheffield Wednesday and I stood by the tea bar in the Bycars when Terry Bailey hit a shot from outside the box that struck the corner of the bar and post. We hadn’t even scored and people just went wild – I knew straight away I was a Vale fan and that I’d never look anywhere else."
What’s your favourite game and why?
"There are so many! I quickly grew into a home and away supporter, met people and became close friends with Phil Ashley and Tommy Wilkes and always ended up on Phil’s away buses.
"Yes, all of the Wembley trips were great and beating Stoke at home was priceless, but the one that really stood out was when Phil organised an away day for my stag night (day) to Oxford on the last day of the season and about 50 of us stopped in a pub on the way. If I recall we didn’t get to the ground till after kick off for a boring 0-0 draw and all of us got badly sunburnt on the day.
"Funnily, I started to buy old Vale shirts a few years ago and I managed to buy the shirt worn by Robbie Earle on that very day. Great memories!"
What’s the best thing about the Vale?
"That’s easy. The people. The supporters. While I now live in Somerset, I do love coming home to watch the Vale and see some great friends I’ve known for so many years – it nearly always ends up with me buying oatcakes and fruit pikelets together with spending a small fortune in the club shop. I try to get to 10 home games and 10 away each season, if I can.
"But the ‘people thing’ also extends right into the club too; I remember shortly before my dad died, my brother and I took him to a game, and we arranged to meet Rudgie who was just brilliant with him.
"But the person who really stood out that day was Andy Porter. He treated my dad like he was a member of our own family, and he couldn’t have been nicer. What a wonderful bloke.. #OneValeFamily."
And the one thing you’d change?
"Results from last season. The number of games we lost (or drew) last season from a single goal in the last 10-15 mins was diabolical. Imagine if we’d have had Stockley, Tolaj, Paton, Cover last season? Imagine if we fought last season the way we fought against Wimbledon - I just don’t believe we’d have gone down.
"Having said that I’m just loving the football we’re playing right now, and it’s just brilliant to see Vale top of the league and on course to get promoted back up to League One."
What’s your favourite Vale XI from the players you have seen?
"That’s so hard to answer! I tried to narrow this down to XI but just can’t get below 17..
"As a former member of the goalkeepers' union, I love Rippers but I’d have to go with Musselwhite between the sticks.
"I fell in love watching battlers like Simon Mills, Dean Glover, Neil Aspin and Alan Webb. In midfield we had football magicians like Ian Taylor, the brilliant Andy Porter, Robin van der Laan, and the gods that were Ray Walker and Robbie Earle.
"Up front we had marauders like Steve Guppy, Andy Jones, Jon McCarthy, Mark Chamberlain, Martin Foyle and Tony Naylor – but how could you leave out Tom Pope!"
Where are they now..
Turning a corner is the theme of this evening’s nostalgia slot as we take the relatively short trip back nine years and join the Vale at Barnsley on November 15, 2015.
Rob Page’s team had been on an underwhelming run of one win in their last seven games, including a 1-1 draw at home to Maidenhead side backed by celebrity fan Timmy Mallett – remember him? - to force an FA Cup replay – remember them?
But before Vale could tackle that return game, they had the small matter of a League One match at Oakwell.
Vale had to withstand pressure before taking the lead on 40 minutes through a brilliant header from Ajay Leitch-Smith. Sam Foley added a second two minutes into the second half, but Vale were forced on to the back foot in the closing stages after Sam Winnall pulled a goal back for the hosts 12 minutes from time.
The win lifted Vale two places to 13th and left Barnsley second-from-bottom. That was much to the frustration of their manager Lee Johnson who could only watch as Jak Alnwick produced a great performance, pulling off saves from Adam Hammill, Marley Watkins and Michael Smith as Barnsley suffered their eighth league defeat in a row.
The win was the first of four on the spin for Page’s side who saw off Maidenhead then beat Chesterfield and Blackpool before form dipped again over a spell that included a painful FA Cup defeat at Exeter.
Vale would go on to finish 12th in League One but Page departed for Northampton at the end of the campaign and the team started to be broken up as Vale took a new route under Bruno Ribeiro.
Here’s the starting XI from that win at Barnsley nine years ago and what they are up to now…
Jak Alnwick: Sold by Vale in the January 2017 transfer window after Glasgow Rangers activated a release clause which was reported at £250,000. Now 31, he’s first-choice keeper for Cardiff City in the Championship.
Carl Dickinson: The captain left Vale at the end of the 2015/16 season and had spells at Notts County and Yeovil. He went on to manage Hanley Town and is currently on the backroom staff at Hartlepool United where veteran boss Lennie Lawrence, aged 76, has taken charge until the end of the campaign.
Ryan McGivern: Another who left at the end of the 2015/16 campaign. The left-sided centre half went on to play for Shrewsbury and Swindon and, now 34, he plays for his hometown club Newry City in the Northern Ireland championship.
Richard Duffy: Also left Vale in the summer of 2019 and went on to play more than 100 games for Notts County. Now 39, he’s having great success as player manager at Congleton Town. He guided them to the Midlands Premier League title last season and currently has them in the play-off places of the Northern Premier League West.
Adam Yates: His career was cut short by a freak collision in training but not before he had made 238 appearances for the Vale. Now 41, he’s the chief executive officer of the Hubb Foundation charity which supports disadvantaged children and families in Stoke-on-Trent. He’s still a regular at the Vale as an astute match summariser for BBC Radio Stoke.
Sam Foley: Stayed at Vale until they were relegated in 2016/17. The midfielder went on to have spells at Northampton, St Mirren, Motherwell and Tranmere. Now 38, he has made 16 appearances for Barrow this season.
Anthony Grant: Sold to Peterborough in the January 2017 transfer window. The central midfielder went on to also play for Shrewsbury, Swindon, Scunthorpe and Crawley. Now 37, he plays for Welling United in the National League South.
Michael O’Connor: The Northern Ireland international midfielder was another who left at the end of that 2015/16 season. He played for Notts County, Lincoln and Salford before moving back to Northern Ireland where he is currently assistant manager at Coleraine FC.
Byron Moore: The winger left the Vale for Bristol Rovers in the summer of 2016 and also had spells at Bury, Plymouth and Torquay. Now 36, he’s playing for AFC Telford as they compete for promotion from the Southern League Premier Central.
Louis Dodds: Left for Shrewsbury in the summer of 2016, he would return two years later for a short spell under Neil Aspin. The versatile forward clocked up 349 Vale appearances in total and deservedly remains a fans’ favourite. After retiring as a player at the end of last season with Hanley Town, he is currently combining his day job as a teacher with his role on the coaching staff at Congleton Town.
Ajay Leitch-Smith: The striker finished with a respectable 12 goals in that 2015/16 season before leaving for Shrewsbury and going on to have spells at Dundee, Morecambe, Nantwich Town and Stafford Rangers. Now 34, he plays for Hanley Town.
And Finally….
Thanks everyone for reading and subscribing and for all your support over the last 200 editions. If you are new to The Valiant, just a reminder we usually publish on a Sunday morning and Monday and Thursday evenings, plus a Wednesday morning when there has been a Tuesday night game.
Thanks to Mike O’Shea for a great entry for tonight’s fan-in-focus feature. If you are interested in taking part in that then please do let me know at Michael.baggaley@reachplc.com
Our next edition is on Sunday morning when we will be reflecting on the Morecambe game. See you then.
Up the Vale!
Mike
The owners and manager have assembled a deep squad that can sustain a promotion challenge amongst some other good clubs. It's not going to be easy and going to places like Morecambe and winning is needed.
Some players will get less games than they want in this squad system. They need to be flexible to accept chances to play in multiple positions. But I think Darren Moore improving them with his coaches. Therefore it's worth buying in to this.
How many of our players have left for Shrewsbury? 😂 get your stat man on that 👍