SUPPORT ACT LEAVES GARLICK PLEASED AS VALIANTS TARGET NEW FA CUP MEMORIES
PORT Vale chief executive Colin Garlick is delighted with home support as the club has welcomed fans back to Vale Park this season.
The Vale are averaging 5,788 for home league games, of which 5,343 is home support.
Vale sold 5,162 season tickets, including more than 1,000 for their Junior Valiant promotion, but only count the people actually at the game in their attendance figures.
They expect some season-ticket holders not to be able to attend every match but are pleased attendances are being kept up by other fans, particularly in the first season back after more than a year of playing behind closed doors because of Covid.
Garlick said: “I have been really pleased because, having had a couple of years where have done extremely well, around the 4,000 mark with season ticket holders, now, with the Junior Valiants’ promotion and the general feelgood factor around the place, people’s optimism took us to season ticket sales of over 5,000.
“My concern with my business head on was that the ‘walk ups’ we would normally get had converted to season tickets so therefore we would not get the normal matchday sales. But that’s not been the case. We have still got the matchday sales and a bit more besides. So, that is really pleasing.
“I know some clubs do count tickets not used but we only count the people that show up.
“We do have people who can’t make different weeks, through work, holiday or sickness.
“So those season tickets aren’t going to be the attendance every week. There is almost a rota system going on there every week with different people who just can’t make it. Those are why the numbers are what they are, but we are generally getting around 5,500 mark of home supporters and then the rest of the crowd is made up of visitors. Those numbers are excellent and we have seen them grow.”
Darrell Clarke’s side return to Vale Park for tomorrow’s FA Cup first round tie at home to Accrington Stanley when they will be looking to improve on an already impressive run of eight wins from the last ten games in all competitions.
Prices are £15 adults, £10 concessions and £5 for under-17s. Those prices rise £2 in the Lorne Street and also increase £2 if bought on matchday.
Garlick added: “I am looking forward to a good turn out, we have tried to pitch the price of the tickets and have gone with what have been our traditional cup tickets that we
were charging two and three years ago when we were playing the likes of Sunderland. I think that is pitching it right. I hope people
appreciate what we are trying to do there.”
Clarke’s team is hard to predict because the manager has made changes throughout the club’s recent run so doesn’t have an easily identifiable ‘best XI’.
His selection policy is certainly working as Vale have climbed to second in League Two and, as defenders Lewis Cass and James Gibbons said at last week’s supporters’ club meeting, competition for places is fierce.
Garlick added: “I think those two reflected the mood of the squad. I thought they represented us fantastically and it was great to hear what they were saying about the squad.
“One of the questions was about the best and worst trainer. Lewis made the point that nobody really did train badly, everybody wants to so well because they know how important it is to try to get the shirt and keep it. Also, they want to be ready because they all know opportunities will come along and they want to take them.”
Vale face tough opposition in John Coleman’s Accrington who are 12th in League One but Clarke has made clear he wants to do well in the cup and doesn’t see it as a distraction from competing at the top end of the table in the league.
Vale have experienced the extremes of the competition in the last two years – going out at home to King’s Lynn in the first round
last season, but reaching the third round two years ago before finally bowing out 4-1 in front of 50,000 at Manchester City.
Garlick added: “When the cup
comes around, I think people sit up and really take notice because they are these one off games. We have had some good history in recent years. We can forget last year
but still have the memories of the Etihad and Man City and that run.
“It was fantastic for the club, supporters, and us as staff. You go on a journey, you win a couple of games against good opposition in the first and second round and then there is the exciting anticipation of that third round draw. That year we got exactly what we were looking for. It was a fantastic day out and we’ll remember it for a long time.
“There are the financial benefits as well that allowed us to do things that were probably unbudgeted for. We’ve always tried to spread that around with regard to where it goes in the playing side of the business of facilities for supporters. I think we have done a good mix of that.
“We start off again on Saturday and we go out very optimistic. Arguably there is no pressure on us to a degree. Yes, we are at home but are playing a team from a higher division. It will be good for us to see where we are against an opposition we know will be very determined under John Coleman.
“But I am sure the lads will be up for it. I think our supporters will come out and hopefully be that 12th man as they normally are.”
THERE will be a minute’s silence before tomorrow’s game as part of commemorations ahead of Remembrance Sunday.
A more formal remembrance service involving club representatives and the Port Vale chaplain will take place during the minutes before kick-off on the day of the televised league game against Bradford on Saturday, November 13 (noon start).