POOR WEATHER TO BLAME FOR LOW HOME GATE SAY VALE FANS

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PORT Vale supporters say there are a number of reasons why Saturday’s home game with Cheltenham pulled in the club’s lowest league gate for more than a decade. Just 3,109 watched the 2-2 draw, Vale’s lowest league attendance since 2,869 saw the midweek game against Yeovil in January 2008. In fact, the Cheltenham game pulled in Vale’s lowest Saturday league crowd since 2,711 turned out for the visit of York City in September 1987. The attendance does follow a trend of declining crowds at Vale. The average number of home fans at games so far this season is 3,890, the lowest since 2007/08. But supporters say a combination of bad weather, and the fact crowds usually dip on the last Saturday home game before Christmas, contributed to the low gate. Die-hard home and away supporter Eddie Jackson, from Oakhill, said: “Everyone is taking the view that our gate of 3,109 was terrible. In my opinion it was a very good attendance taking all circumstances into account. “What are these circumstances? Only 100 away fans were present. The weather was forecast to be atrocious and indeed it was. The fireside looked very inviting on Saturday. “Never have I felt so cold at a game. Nationally footfall in shopping centres throughout the country was down by ten per cent on expectations so that tells you how bad things were. “Add to this we have experienced three consecutive years of decline on the pitch with relegation followed by lower half positions since and until Vale have a team winning regularly, attendances will not reach the 5,000 mark.” Supporters Club chairman Mark Porter also said there were a number of reasons. He explained: “The Vale haven’t been playing the most entertaining of football, so that has a bearing. “But it’s very close to Christmas and people can’t keep parting with £22. Also, the bad weather would have had a massive impact.”