‘IF YOU GROW THE RIGHT TEAM, TRUST IN THE PROCESS YOU DEVELOP, THEN GREAT THINGS WILL HAPPEN TO YOU’
PORT Vale owned Wembley on Saturday as they swept aside Mansfield Town 3-0 to book their place in League One for the 2022/23 campaign.
Valiants reporter MICHAEL BAGGALEY looks at the talking points from the big day - and from the season...
THE MAN FOR THE BIG OCCASION
James Wilson has not only finished the season as Port Vale’s top goalscorer with 15 – he’s also delivered when it mattered. The 26-year-old’s header to put the Vale 2-0 up at Wembley meant he has scored in each of the last four games.
His efforts right at the business end of the season include his winner on the final day of the regular campaign at Exeter to ensure Vale made the play-offs, his goal seven minutes from time at Swindon to get his side back into the tie at only 2-1 down – then his goal eight minutes into the second leg to level the scores on aggregate.
As he reflected after the final: “I had some confidence going into the play-offs on the back of a goal but before that I hadn’t scored for a while. I’ve been building and building on that. It’s my highest goals tally and my highest appearance tally. I want to build on the goals and the appearances this season going forward into League One.”
As for his header at Wembley, he said: “I just saw it ricochet off the bar, then I thought to myself, ‘this is my moment’, so I threw my head at it, closed my eyes a bit and saw it ripple the net, and that was that!”
FITTING REWARD FOR THE OWNERS
Congratulations to Carol Shanahan who now has a promotion to add to the terrific strides the club has made off the pitch since she and husband Kevin became owners three years ago.
There have been plenty of important moments along the way but the appointment of director of football David Flitcroft last February, followed by recruiting Darrell Clarke from Walsall the following week, was clearly hugely significant. Carol said on Facebook on Sunday: “Could not be prouder nor love working with anyone more than I do these two.
“We set off in Feb 2021 to prove if you grow the right team around you to develop your process and trust in it, then great things will happen. “Woke up today. Pinched myself and it really did happen in the most perfect way yesterday. So many to thank along the way - Port Vale FC players, staff, partners, supporters and people who aren’t Vale fans, but support what we are doing - thank you, thank you, thank you. More to come, watch this space.”
FANS UNITED
Credit to the Mansfield Town supporters who were terrific at Wembley and, along with the superb support from Vale, helped make the atmosphere one to remember. Mansfield’s followers came up with the idea of applause as a sign of respect and best wishes to their former player Darrell Clarke following the loss of his daughter in February.
Vale fans joined that applause in the eighth minute – Clarke’s shirt number at Mansfield - to create a moving moment during the game.
BACK BEFORE YOU KNOW IT
Vale’s promotion only really began to sink in halfway home from Wembley when this reporter remarked to colleague Pete Smith – ‘I suppose the new fixtures will be out soon’.
In fact, Port Vale will find out their games on Thursday, June 23 when the EFL schedule is released.
The new season begins on the weekend of July 30 and will end on May 6. Whoever the Vale pull out will be their first League One opponents since a goalless draw at Fleetwood relegated the Vale back on April 30, 2017.
Vale are the final team to take their place in League One for the new season. The rest of the division is as follows: Accrington Stanley, Barnsley, Bolton Wanderers, Bristol Rovers, Burton Albion, Cambridge United, Charlton Athletic, Cheltenham Town, Derby County, Exeter City, Fleetwood Town, Forest Green Rovers, Ipswich Town, Lincoln City, MK Dons, Morecambe, Oxford
United, Peterborough United, Plymouth Argyle, Portsmouth, Sheffield Wednesday, Shrewsbury Town, Wycombe Wanderers.
FRIENDS REUNITED?
The new season means the opportunity to renew acquaintances, not least with Accrington and their manager John Coleman who has clearly done a tremendous job. But they had an off day at Vale Park in November when they were beaten 5-1 in the FA Cup.
Coleman, left, wasn’t happy with Vale fans after the game, saying: “Their fans were very derogatory about us towards the end. We will see if we play them next year if they are saying the same thing. They would be lucky to play us next year so let’s see.”
A NEW MAN
Patrick Shanahan looked a different man at the end of the play-off final than when he’d started. In fact, reporters in the mixed zone did a double take to recognise the son of Vale owner Carol as he emerged from behind the scenes. Patrick’s shoulder length hair had all gone, replaced by a buzz cut. He’d told the players he’d get it done if they won and was as good as his word.