askey

Over 4000 Vale fans have signed up to the new era with a season ticket for the new campaign and manager John Askey says that can play a massive part in teams success.

Don't worry, the gaffers not quite expecting the Vale faithful to lace up their boots for a 3pm kick off for the Vale on a Saturday, but he insists if the fans are excited by the football that's played by the team, it can make all the difference. 

This Saturday the Valiants host Northampton Town in the season opener at Vale Park after kicking off the campaign with a fantastic point away to Colchester United. 

With the anticipation building up for the first home game of the season, manager John Askey want his players to give the fans something to shout about and wants to see improvement in their own home form.

"It's vital, the home form hasn't been great recently. We need to make sure that we perform in front of our home supporters and get the crowd going.

"If we can get them behind us then it can make a big difference as we found out towards the back end of last season when the supporters really got right behind us. 

"It has an affect on the opposition and it has an affect on the players, so hopefully we can get them going and then they support us."

One player who will have fond memories of Northampton Town from last season is Port Vale captain, Tom Pope. Down to 10 men and drawing 1-1 with 15 minutes to go, Popey converted a late penalty at the PTS Academy Stadium to make it his 100th goal in a Vale shirt whilst securing the club a much needed away win. 

The striker also opened up his account for the season from the spot kick on Saturday against Colchester United. Manny Oyeleke was fouled inside the U's box after just four minutes and Popey hammered the penalty home.

With the striker off the mark for the season now, the gaffer has been impressed by the captains attitude since returning for pre-season over the summer.

"I think Tom looks fit, he's been there for every session in pre-season and hasn't missed one. He's only going to benefit from it and hopefully the team will as well.

"When you see him you can see he's lost a little bit of weight and he looks like he's enjoying it as well. The fitter you are the more you do enjoy it.

"If we can get a fit Tom Pope he's going to cause the opposition problems."