Port Vale Football Club can confirm that Leon Legge has joined Harrogate Town in a permanent move.
The 36-year-old made 127 appearances for the club following his arrival from Cambridge United in July 2018, and captained the side on 49 occasions.
The defender established himself as a mainstay in the side under John Askey, who awarded Legge the armband, and became a fan favourite throughout his time at Vale Park.
Legge, who netted eight goals during his four seasons with the Vale, formed a fierce partnership with Nathan Smith, and led by example for all the young players at the club.
Outside of football, Legge has been very open about his struggles with epilepsy and founded a blog called ‘Epilepsy Baller’ in which he recalls different stories and experiences, which could go a long way to helping a fellow epilepsy sufferer understand the condition better.
The blog displayed how Legge is not only a leader on the pitch, but also an inspiration off the pitch, and his openness about his condition is something to be admired.
Legge’s well-roundedness not only as a player but as a human being will see him missed by all at the club.
Darrell Clarke thanked Legge, saying: “Having worked with Leon for the last 11 months, I cannot speak highly enough of him.
“When I first arrived at the club some things were difficult, but I just saw a man-mountain of a man, a pure professional, a winner.
“He’s somebody I’ve respected whenever I’ve come up against him as a manager, and when I’ve had him on my side you know exactly what he’s about, he puts his heart on his sleeve and gives you absolutely everything he can every time he puts on the shirt, so it’s a big thank you for how he’s been since I’ve been at the football club, and I wish him every success in the future.
“He’s very well respected in the dressing room and the whole club, the fans respect him and myself and all my coaching staff have massive respect for him, because you get what it says on the tin with Leon Legge, whole-hearted, winner and a monster of a guy.”
Carol Shanahan OBE also wished thanks to Leon: “Leon has impressed me as a person since I first met him, I find him inspiring.
“To find that you’ve got epilepsy as a professional athlete and to respond in the positive way that he has is why he is a role model for everybody that finds that they have a condition.
“His message of not letting things get in your way, but instead use it to grow as a person is phenomenal, and to then work with other people, particularly children, who find themselves in the same position is amazing.
“I remember a couple of seasons ago there was a young boy at a club with epilepsy and his condition hadn’t been dealt with well by the club, but Leon’s response to the young lad was to bring him here, talk to him and help him understand that there was another prospective of looking at things.
“Leon has always been there for me, always been there for the community, I’ve loved having him play here and I wish him nothing but the greatest success.
“He is always welcome back at Vale Park.”
We would like to thank Leon and wish him good luck for his future.