Dear Valiants,
As we prepare for the start of another season at Vale Park, I wanted to take the opportunity to update you on what's been a productive summer across the football club.
This period has been one of the busiest we've had in recent years, with significant work taking place both on and off the pitch. As a result, there's plenty to tell you about, so I hope this letter paints a picture of where we stand going into the 2026/27 campaign:
CHANGES MADE
Following the end of last season, we took the time to step back and properly review a number of areas, and made changes to improve how we operate, particularly within the football department. We were massively disappointed at how last season unfolded and we’ve used the summer to reflect and make changes that we believe will give us stronger foundations going forward.
We've seen and heard from supporter groups, staff members and other stakeholders and have introduced clearer structures and greater accountability when it comes to player scouting and recruitment. We were delighted to welcome back club legend Martin Foyle earlier in the summer as part of that process, and he's already proving to be a brilliant addition to the club in the role of Chief Scout.
While you won't necessarily see all of the changes day to day, they're an important part of building a stronger and more sustainable football club and will give us a better platform to support success on the pitch, which is our number one aim.
We've also made changes to the operational side of the club when it comes to governance, finance and leadership. Ryan Grant's new role as Director of Growth brings together our media, marketing and commercial efforts with a clear focus on growing the club's reach and developing new international opportunities. As such, we'll be launching a new entry-level membership package next week for international fans.
I think it's also important to recognise that football continues to change. Financial sustainability has never been more important, particularly for EFL clubs, and there's more emphasis than ever on responsible ownership and long-term planning with the introduction of the Independent Football Regulator. We want to build a club that can compete year after year, not one that chases short-term success at the expense of its long-term future. Andrew Moseley has joined us this week as Head of Finance and his appointment reflects that commitment, ensuring we continue to strengthen our financial governance as the game evolves.
Last month, we brought together senior staff from both the club, Foundation and Academy, including Jon, Gary and our senior leadership team, to ensure everyone's aligned on what we want to achieve and, just as importantly, who we want to be as a football club. To have everyone pulling in the same direction is vital and I can confidently say that's the case as we go into this season. I think we've seen that already during pre-season, and I've been really pleased to see the link between Academy and first-team, with the likes of Charlie Bussell and Miracle Orisakwe involved throughout.
Everything we’re doing, whether that’s investing in football, improving our facilities, strengthening our finances or growing our commercial partnerships, is about building a club that can compete consistently and sustainably.
LONG-TERM INVESTMENT AND KEY RELATIONSHIPS
Work has also continued on some major infrastructure projects that will benefit the club and community for a long time to come.
I'm really pleased to say that our new state-of-the-art playing surface at Vale Park is now close to completion, and I want to thank SEL, SIS and our incredible grounds team for their work in delivering the new main stadium pitch and training pitches. It represents a major investment from the club and the Shanahans; and as well as providing Jon and the team with one of the best pitches in the entire EFL, it creates exciting new opportunities for the stadium that go beyond football. We're already exploring how the ground can host more major non-football events in the future, generating additional revenue that can then be reinvested into the club.
Construction is now also well under way on the £2.3 million Vale Park Community Campus which will sit just behind the stadium, creating a permanent home for much of our Foundation's amazing work while expanding the opportunities we can offer local people from 2027 onwards.
Of course, I can't mention off-pitch developments without talking about Robbie Williams. It's a partnership which we're all extremely proud of, and one which is already beginning to open new doors for the club. Robbie is just one of a number of new and returning partners who have chosen to invest in Port Vale this season, and we're hugely grateful for the confidence they've shown in what we're building. Their support plays a crucial role in helping us continue to invest both on and off the pitch.
The launch of the new home kit has exceeded expectations, delivering record opening-day sales, and shirts have already been purchased in more than 30 countries, reflecting our growing reach and the fantastic work taking place across our marketing, commercial and retail teams.
This summer, we also hosted the first-ever Port Vale Hall of Fame, recognising some of the people who have shaped our proud history. I was there on the night and it was a fantastic evening, one that showed how far we've come in terms of building our relationship with former players, and the response to the event reminded us just how important it is to celebrate our history while continuing to build our future. I'm also delighted to have another club legend, Phil Sproson, back at Vale Park in an ambassadorial role. Alongside initiatives like the Hall of Fame, he'll play an important role in helping us celebrate our history while strengthening the connection between the club and our supporters.
Hall of Fame recognition will become an important part of the club's calendar, with a new member inducted at the end of every season going forward.
LOOKING AHEAD
None of this happens by accident. It's the result of a huge amount of work from staff across every department, all pulling in the same direction with a shared ambition to move the club forward. We'll see that again next week, when staff from all departments have agreed to give up their time to help clean the seats inside Vale Park ahead of our first home game on 22nd August.
The work we've done and continue to do also wouldn't be possible without the continued emotional, operational and financial support of Carol, Kevin and the Shanahan family, who I know are as determined as ever to help the club succeed.
Of course, we also know that ultimately football clubs are judged by what happens on the pitch, and everyone at the club shares that understanding. Our responsibility is to create the best possible environment for our players and coaching staff to succeed, while ensuring we continue to grow stronger in every area away from matchdays too.
I also want to let you know that this letter marks the start of a new way of communicating with you.
As I hope you know, I've always been keen to talk to you both regularly and honestly, and last season I shared regular updates covering a wide range of topics. One piece of feedback we reflected on was that not every area of the club needed to come through me. We have an excellent senior leadership team with real expertise in their respective areas, so over the course of the season you'll also hear directly from the people responsible for delivering them.
We'll also continue to engage with the Supporter Advisory Board and Supporters Club, whose feedback plays an important role in helping us shape decisions and understand what's important to supporters, and we'll host the first of this season's Supporter Forums in September. Listening will remain just as important as informing, and we hope this approach gives you a clearer picture of the progress we're making together.
My role remains to provide a broader overview of where the club is heading, how all of those areas fit together and the progress we're making against our long-term objectives, and I'll provide quarterly updates like this one as the season progresses.
THANK YOU
Before I finish, I want to thank every supporter for the role you've played in helping move us forward. You’ve once again demonstrated the incredible backing you continue to give the club, with almost 6,500 of you buying a season ticket ahead of the new campaign.
Whether you've bought a season ticket, purchased the new kits, volunteered your time, supported the Foundation or simply continued to back the club through the highs and the lows, your support makes a genuine difference. This football club belongs to its community, and everything we do is with the aim of making you proud.
We know there will be challenges along the way, but we're entering this campaign with clear direction and a shared determination to keep building a stronger club on and off the pitch. We're not claiming to have all the answers, but I genuinely believe we're entering this season as a better connected and more focused club than we were 12 months ago.
So, enjoy the season, let's get right behind Jon and the players from the very first whistle and create an atmosphere that gives the team every chance of success.
Up the Vale and see you tonight at Molineux,
Matt
Matt Hancock
CEO
Port Vale Football Club
