Watching Valiants is just the ticket for fans as they prepare for new adventure

PORT Vale are set to smash last year’s season-ticket sales after extending the deadline for the cheapest deals until today.

Vale had sold 5,100 by Thursday night, matching the total they reached last year.

They had anticipated a dip in sales because of the sharply rising cost of living, and had sold around 3,600 ten days ago. But the late surge has seen them to around last year’s figures, with the deadline now extended from Thursday to 5pm today.

The club’s chief executive Colin Garlick said: “Our supporters keep surprising us but this has surprised even me. It is a fantastic effort and we still have a little bit of time to bring some in.

“I have always said that your season-ticket holders, with the commitment they give you at this time of year, and as they have been doing for months, are vital for any club. Those numbers are absolutely terrific.

“The cash that comes with this is such a significant part of the general income for the football club. It is so important and I can’t thank our supporters enough for again showing absolute loyalty. Their commitment to the club helps make it all worthwhile.

“We are all genuinely very grateful. We know times are hard with the news we are seeing on TV so for us to be bringing those figures in is absolutely fantastic.”

Corporate and hospitality figures are not included in the 5,100 figure but they will also be up. The club has opened up their new top-floor hospitality lounge which increases their corporate capacity by more than 100, taking the total to more than 500.

Garlick added: “The response to the new lounge has been very good. Those (hospitality) numbers have to go on that figure so, by the time we finish calculating in the early part of next week, we are going to be nearer to 6,000 than we are to 5,000.”

Vale are preparing for the new season in League One after clinching promotion through the play-offs in May. Victory over Mansfield in the final at Wembley ended the club’s five years in League Two.

· FORMER Vale players Scott Burgess and Adam Crookes have been reunited with John Askey at York City.

Both were part of the squad that won promotion from the National League with Grimsby this past season, defender Crookes making 24 appearances and midfielder Burgess playing 14 games after joining the Mariners from Vale in January.

Their latest move strengthens the Vale connection at York under Askey who managed to the club to promotion from the National League North last season.

· VALE have confirmed arrangements for all their Papa John’s Trophy group games. They welcome Stockport to Vale Park on Tuesday, August 30 (7.30pm), then to go Shrewsbury Town on Tuesday, September 20 (7pm). That’s followed by the game at home to Wolves under-21s on Tuesday, October 18 (7.30pm).