Football Season Review

Port Vale are coming from a somewhat turbulent season that saw them play some good football at times, only to ultimately fail in their bid to qualify for the play-offs. The low point of their season certainly came in early October, when a 2:1 home defeat to Blackpool was judged by the club's owner to have been the last straw in a series of disappointments, and he decided to put the club up for sale. The Vale did not manage to find new owners between then and the end of the season, but the defeat to the lowly Tangarines certainly served as a kick up the backside to their players, who improved after the defeat and even went on to enjoy their longest unbeaten streak at home in more than thirty years. Rob Page's men therefore became quite a formidable home side, but were exposed on their travels, as their away record was the seventh-worst in the division and was ultimately the reason why they ended up missing out on a play-off place. Anthony Grant, who joined the club last summer, had a superb season in midfield and quickly established himself as a key player for the Vale, while former Yeovil striker AJ Leitch-Smith is another man who deserves special praise, as he showed decent scoring form and ended the season as Port Vale's top scorer. However, all the good work done by the Vale over the course of the season was overshadowed in its aftermath, as Page has decided to leave the club and take over at Northampton. Port Vale are yet to name their new manager, and obviously have a huge decision to make over the upcoming days and weeks.

Player of the Season: Anthony Grant