Young defender, James Gibbons, has expressed his delight of signing a new contract at Port Vale Football Club until Summer 2020.
The 19-year old right back put pen to paper on Friday night, where he extends his stay at Vale Park for another three years.
Speaking after the 1-1 draw at Newport County, “Gibbo” says he didn’t expect to get given a new contract so early but aimed to get one soon.
“At the start of the season, everyone is fighting for a new contract”, said Gibbons.
“To get a new contract so early on is something I didn’t expect so early. I was trying to grind it out and get one as soon as possible, to get one so early is great.
“I just want to try and push on from now.”
Being a local lad himself, James was delighted to be getting first-team football for his boyhood club and to be representing his “city and pride”.
He said: “To come in as a local lad and do well for your local team it means a lot.
“It’s my city and pride, my mates live here, my mom and dad live here so there’s nothing better than to see the club doing well and on a personal note, myself doing well.
“It couldn’t be any better for me at the minute. I feel like every day I can only get better with the players I’m playing with. Some of the lads have been at the top level such as Danny Pugh, Michael Tonge and even Tom Pope has shown his great quality. Adam Yates is a great mentor to me as well!
“I’m learning off the better players every day.”
Anton Forrester came off the bench on Friday evening to grab the all-important equaliser in South Wales with Gibbons putting in another good performance. He believes that his side showed great character to come from a goal down and come home with a good point.
“It was a hard-earned point at the end of the day”, said Gibbons.
“We went a goal down and to come to Newport County and show the character to come from a goal behind and level the game – we could have got the winner at the end.”