IT’S TIME TO PACK THE PARK

Bumper crowd heading to Burslem for crucial play-off semi-final second leg against Swindon

PORT Vale will pull in their biggest crowd of the season for tomorrow’s play-off semi-final second leg at home to Swindon Town (7.45pm) after selling more than 11,000 tickets in total.

By late Tuesday afternoon, 11,315 tickets had been sold, including 2,200 to Swindon fans who have sold out their allocation.

The previous biggest crowd at Vale Park this season was the 10,840 that saw the league game against Bristol Rovers last month. Total capacity for the Swindon game has been set at around 13,500 and Vale chief executive Colin Garlick says home support will be hugely important.

He said: “We are over 11,000 so we know we are going to have the biggest crowd of the season. The next milestone, for home support, is 10,000 and we are already at a fantastic figure.

“It is all to play for and this really is our 12th man. We will be outnumbering Swindon and we have to make sure we out-sing them because this is so important now.”

Michael

Darrell Clarke’s side trail

2-1 from the first leg at the County Ground but take some momentum into the second leg after James Wilson’s 83rd minute strike got them back into the tie after two goals from former Vale forward Harry Mckirdy had put Swindon in charge.

Garlick added: “I know Darrell and Crosser (assistant, Andy Crosby) will be saying our 12th man can play such a key part.

“The important thing is always stay in the tie. If there is a mistake then it’s important that our fans get behind the players and lift them. It is so key and it can make the difference.

“We will have close to, if not more than 10,000 home supporters and they can make such a massive difference to us. So, give it absolutely everything. By about 10.30pm we will definitely know what is happening – and we hope we will be going to Wembley.”

Vale’s ticket sales included 3,131 in the Hamil end by late Tuesday afternoon. The club is housing the Swindon fans in the Bycars end and has opened the 4,000 capacity Hamil for home supporters to increase the number of Vale fans.

The winners of the Vale v Swindon game will be at Wembley on May 28 to play whoever comes through the Mansfield v Northampton semifinal. Mansfield won 2-1 at home on Saturday and the teams meet this evening at Northampton.

Vale are hoping Jamie Proctor will be able to play some part despite a hip injury that limited him to the last 30 minutes off the bench on Sunday. The striker still made an impact, setting up James Wilson’s goal.

Proctor, midfielder Jake Taylor and left-back or wing back

Mal Benning all came off the bench at the County

Ground to help

Vale finish strongly.

Meanwhile, the EFL have revealed that VAR will be used at the Championship, League One and League Two play-off finals.