‘THIS IS ONE BIG CUP FINAL FOR THE CLUB... AND IT HAS A HUGE PRIZE AT THE END OF IT...’

WHEN James Gibbons walks out with Port Vale at Wembley he will continue a journey that began when he signed with the club as an 11-year-old.

Thirteen years on and the defender has become such an important part of the side that, although he isn’t taking his place for granted, the rest of us can feel it’s a case of when, rather than if, he’s selected in Saturday’s League Two play-off final.

Gibbons will be doing all he can to help Vale over the line as they try to clinch their first promotion since 2013 when he was still in the academy.

He said: “I’ve come all the way through since under-11s, then you have your two-year contract at 16 to take through to the youth team. It was Rob Page that gave me my pro (contract) at 18 and I continued from there.

“I went on loan to Leek Town and then came back and Bruno (Ribeiro) gave me my debut here in the FA Cup and I kicked on from there.”

Gibbons, from Trentham, has become such an important player it’s hard to imagine him trying to bridge the gap from youth to first team.

He says his loan at Leek helped, adding: “It was brilliant for me because I was never the biggest or strongest naturally. That is what I had to work on from the age of 16 up to 20. I had to bulk out.

“It’s all right playing youth football, everybody is a similar size to you, but going to Leek was proper men’s football. I had to learn the ugly side of the game quickly. I would advise any young lad to do that, go out and enjoy your football.

“I loved it at Leek, they looked after me. But the main reason I went there was to experience men’s football and learn from it. I think I took a lot from that.”

So, was there a particular game at Leek where he got kicked up in the air?

“No, I tried to do the kicking! But I got on with the lads at Leek really well and they looked after me. So, if anybody was to kick me up in the air, they would go after them for me!”

Gibbons has gone on to make 137 games and counting for the Vale. Number 138 will be the biggest so far.

He added: “I have got a lot of reasons to want to play well. Family being one, pride in the area being another. I grew up in this area and to see it buzzing again is brilliant for the area, the club and me and Smudge (Nathan Smith) as local lads.

“But we have to put emotions to the side. It is a big game so you have to deal with the emotions in the right way, play your own game and hopefully we can do it.”

Part of dealing with the occasion will be to have walk around Wembley today before the serious business begins the following day. Gibbons added: “We will have a look around Wembley, familiarise ourselves with it and so, when we wake up on Saturday morning we are fully focused on the game and the task in hand. “Hopefully we can do the business and I will be singing along after the game.

“But, look, it is going to be a tough game. Mansfield are a really good side. We have done our work on them and they are a tough side to beat so it is going to be a good game to watch.”

Not that Vale, Mansfield or their respective supporters will be too bothered about the entertainment quality so long as their side ends the game in League One.

Vale are trying to return after five years in the Football League’s basement division, a period in which Gibbons’ emergence has been a positive amid relegation battles and even a threat of administration before the Shanahans bought the club three years ago.

Gibbons added: “I have had a bad seasons here where we finished 20th and then 20th again, we haven’t been great.

“There is no hiding that, the club has underachieved over the years football wise.

“So, to have a year like this is exciting for everyone. But come Saturday it is about putting your emotions to the side and focusing on the game.

“It is one big cup final...one big cup final with a massive prize at the end.”

AIMING HIGH: James Gibbons, pictured speaking to the press at the club’s media day, has experienced highs and lows during his time at Port Vale. But he’s determined to make it a day to remember at Wembley tomorrow. Pictures: Pete Stonier