2024–25 Port Vale F.C. season: Difference between revisions

|league result = ''5th (45 points)''

|cup1 result = ''First round''

|cup3 result = ''Group stage''

|season topscorer = ''Ben Garrity / [[Ruari Paton]] (2)''

|lowest attendance = ''8,102693 vs. Tranmere[[Salford City F.C.|Salford RoversCity]], 1720 August 2024''

|largest win = ''2–0 vs. [[Salford City F.C.|Salford City]], 10 August 2024(twice)''

|largest loss = ''2–30–4 vs. Barrow, 1324 August 2024''

On 1 July, the club brought in 34-year old goalkeeper [[Ben Amos]] following his release from League One club [[Wigan Athletic F.C.|Wigan Athletic]], and re-signed 31-year old defender [[Connor Hall (footballer, born 1993)|Connor Hall]] back from [[Colchester United F.C.|Colchester United]] for an undisclosed fee.<ref name="double">{{cite news |title=Ben Amos & Connor Hall: Port Vale sign goalkeeper and defender |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/c0krgdj88e5o |access-date=1 July 2024 |work=BBC Sport |date=1 July 2024}}</ref> The signings continued with midfielder [[George Byers (footballer)|George Byers]], who joined on a three-year contract following his release from [[EFL Championship|Championship]] club [[Sheffield Wednesday F.C.|Sheffield Wednesday]].<ref name="byein">{{cite news |title=George Byers: Port Vale sign midfielder in three-year deal |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/cp08djzj53ro |access-date=9 July 2024 |work=BBC Sport |date=9 July 2024}}</ref> The first under contract player to leave the club was striker [[Ryan Loft]], who was sold to [[Cambridge United F.C.|Cambridge United]].<ref name=lofout>{{cite news |title=Ryan Loft bolsters attack {{!}} Cambridge United F.C. |url=https://www.cambridgeunited.com/news/ryan-loft-bolsters-attack |access-date=10 July 2024 |work=Cambridge United FC |date=10 July 2024 |language=en}}</ref> The spending spree then continued with a "six-figure" fee for 23-year old Irish striker [[Ruari Paton]] from [[Scottish Championship]] club [[Queen's Park F.C.|Queen's Park]].<ref name=Patonin>{{Cite web |date=15 July 2024 |title=Ruari Paton: Port Vale sign Queen's Park striker for undisclosed fee |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/articles/c9x8e8l6x6do |access-date=15 July 2024 |website=BBC Sport |language=en-GB}}</ref> Going the other way north to Scotland was [[Alex Iacovitti]], who was signed by [[Scottish Premiership]] club [[St Mirren F.C.|St Mirren]] for an undisclosed fee.<ref name="iacmi">{{cite news |title=Alex Iacovitti signs for Saints on two-year deal |url=https://www.stmirren.com/all-news/5480-alex-iacovitti-signs-for-saints-on-two-year-deal |access-date=16 July 2024 |work=St Mirren FC |date=16 July 2024}}</ref> [[Ben Heneghan]], a 30-year old centre-back known for his "combative, no-nonsense style of play", was signed on a free transfer from [[Fleetwood Town F.C.|Fleetwood Town]] to replace Iacovitti.<ref name=henin>{{cite news |title=Ben Heneghan is a Valiant |url=https://www.port-vale.co.uk/news/ben-heneghan-valiant |access-date=24 July 2024 |publisher=Port Vale FC |date=24 July 2024}}</ref> [[Benicio Baker-Boaitey]], a 20-year old winger from [[Brighton & Hove Albion F.C.|Brighton & Hove Albion]], became the first loanee of the season.<ref name=bbin>{{cite web|url=https://www.port-vale.co.uk/news/benicio-baker-boaitey-valiant|title=Benicio Baker-Boaitey is a Valiant|website=Port Vale FC|date=7 August 2024|access-date=7 August 2024}}</ref> [[Kyle John]], an [[Everton F.C.|Everton]] youth-team graduate, was also signed to a 12-month deal following a long-term injury to [[Mitch Clark (footballer, born 1999)|Mitch Clark]].<ref name=johnin>{{cite news |title=Kyle John is a Valiant |url=https://www.port-vale.co.uk/news/kyle-john-valiant |access-date=9 August 2024 |publisher=Port Vale FC |date=9 August 2024}}</ref> Bookmakers made the Vale fifth favourites for promotion.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Baggaley |first1=Mike |title=Making progress and demanding more |url=https://portvalethevaliant.substack.com/p/making-progress-and-demanding-more |access-date=19 August 2024 |work=Valiant's Substack |date=19 August 2024}}</ref>

[[Ben Garrity]] was appointed as the new [[Captain (association football)|captain]] and he scored both goals in a 2–0 victory at [[Salford City F.C.|Salford City]] on the opening day of the season.<ref>{{cite news |title=Darren Moore confirms Port Vale's Captain and Vice Captains for the 2024/25 Season {{!}} Port Vale FC |url=https://www.port-vale.co.uk/news/darren-moore-confirms-port-vales-captain-and-vice-captains-202425-season |access-date=8 August 2024 |work=Port Vale FC |date=8 August 2024 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Match Report: Salford City 0-2 Port Vale {{!}} Port Vale FC |url=https://www.port-vale.co.uk/news/match-report-salford-city-0-2-port-vale |access-date=12 August 2024 |work=Port Vale FC |date=10 August 2024 |language=en}}</ref> Recruitment continued as [[Diamond Edwards]] was signed from [[Southampton F.C. Under-21s and Academy|Southampton's Academy]] on a 12-month contract.<ref name=dein>{{cite news |title=Diamond Edwards is a Valiant {{!}} Port Vale FC |url=https://www.port-vale.co.uk/news/diamond-edwards-valiant |access-date=14 August 2024 |work=Port Vale FC |date=14 August 2024 |language=en}}</ref> The first home fixture of the season was a 0–0 draw with [[Tranmere Rovers F.C.|Tranmere Rovers]] in front of a crowd of 8,102.<ref>{{cite news |title=Match Report {{!}} Port Vale 0-0 Tranmere Rovers {{!}} Port Vale FC |url=https://www.port-vale.co.uk/news/match-report-port-vale-0-0-tranmere-rovers |access-date=18 August 2024 |work=Port Vale FC |date=17 August 2024 |language=en}}</ref> Vale fell to a 4–0 defeat at [[Barrow A.F.C.|Barrow]], with all four goals coming in the second half.<ref>{{cite news |title=Match Report {{!}} Barrow 4 - 0 Port Vale {{!}} Port Vale FC |url=https://www.port-vale.co.uk/news/match-report-barrow-4-0-port-vale |access-date=25 August 2024 |work=Port Vale FC |date=24 August 2024 |language=en}}</ref> Summariser [[Phil Sproson]] said that he was shocked by the late collapse and that the game had looked balanced until the second goal was scored on 79 minutes.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Baggaley |first1=Mike |title=Learning lessons on and off the pitch |url=https://portvalethevaliant.substack.com/p/learning-lessons-on-and-off-the-pitch |access-date=26 August 2024 |work=Valiant's Substack |date=26 August 2024}}</ref>

In the group stage of the [[EFL Trophy]], Port Vale were drawn into Northern Group B alongside Salford City (League Two), [[Wrexham A.F.C.|Wrexham]] (League One) and [[Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. Development Squad and Academy|Wolverhampton Wanderers U21]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Under-21 teams and Group Stage draw confirmed for 2024/25 Bristol Street Motors Trophy |url=https://www.efl.com/news/2024/june/24/under-21-teams-and-group-stage-draw-confirmed-for-2024-25-bristol-street-motors-trophy/ |access-date=24 June 2024 |publisher=English Football League |date=24 June 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Bristol Street Motors Trophy Group Stage confirmed |url=https://www.efl.com/news/2024/june/27/bristol-street-motors-trophy-group-stage-confirmed/ |access-date=27 June 2024 |publisher=English Football League |date=27 June 2024}}</ref> They returned to Salford for the second time in ten days and repeated their league result by claiming a 2–0 victory, with Edwards scoring five minutes into his debut.<ref>{{cite news |title=Match Report {{!}} Salford City 0-2 Port Vale [Bristol Street Motors Trophy] {{!}} Port Vale FC |url=https://www.port-vale.co.uk/news/match-report-salford-city-0-2-port-vale-bristol-street-motors-trophy |access-date=21 August 2024 |work=Port Vale FC |date=20 August 2024 |language=en}}</ref>

{{Fb_rs|hw=0 |hd=1 |hl=0 |hgf=0 |hga=0 |aw=1 |ad=0 |al=01 |agf=2 |aga=04 }}

{{Fb_rs footer|u=1724 August 2024|s=[https://int.soccerway.com/teams/england/port-vale-fc/710/ Soccerway]|date=April 2024}}

| res2 = W/D/L

| pos3 = 5/5/14

| pos4 = 3p/4p/4p

| score = 4–0

| result = L

| report = https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/live/c4gd072z852t

| referee = Declan Bourne

| attendance = 3,481

| round = [[2024–25 EFL Trophy#Group B|Group stage]]

| time = 19:4500 [[British Summer Time|BST]]

| score = 0–2

| result = W

| report = https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/live/cgl2x7d439jt

| goals2 stadium = [[Moor Lane]]

| stadium location = Moor Lane[[Kersal]]

| locationreferee = SalfordRuebyn Ricardo

| referee attendance = 693

{{Updated|match played 1724 August 2024}}

{{Efs player |no=1 |pos=GK |nat=ENG |name=[[Connor Ripley]] |23|0|0|0|0|0|0|0}}

{{Efs player |no=4 |pos=DF |nat=ENG |name=[[Ben Heneghan]] |23|0|0|0|0|0|01|0}}

{{Efs player |no=5 |pos=DF |nat=ENG |name=[[Connor Hall (footballer, born 1993)|Connor Hall]] |2|0|0|0|0|0|01|0}}

{{Efs player |no=7 |pos=MF |nat=SCO |name=[[George Byers (footballer)|George Byers]] |01|0|0|0|0|0|01|0}}

{{Efs player |no=8 |pos=MF |nat=ENG |name=[[Ben Garrity]] |23|2|0|0|0|0|01|0}}

{{Efs player |no=9 |pos=FW |nat=ENG |name=[[Jayden Stockley]] |12|0|0|0|0|0|01|0}}

{{Efs player |no=10 |pos=MF |nat=RSA |name=[[Ethan Chislett]] |12|0|0|0|0|0|01|0}}

{{Efs player |no=11 |pos=FW |nat=IRL |name=[[Ronan Curtis]] |23|0|0|0|0|0|01|0}}

{{Efs player |no=12 |pos=FW |nat=ENG |name=[[Baylee Dipepa]] |23|0|0|0|1|0|01|0}}

{{Efs player |no=13 |pos=GK |nat=ENG |name=[[Ben Amos]] |0|0|0|0|1|0|01|0}}

{{Efs player |no=16 |pos=MF |nat=ENG |name=[[Jason Lowe (footballer)|Jason Lowe]] |0|0|0|0|1|0|01|0}}

{{Efs player |no=17 |pos=FW |nat=IRL |name=[[Ruari Paton]] |23|0|0|0|1|1|01|01}}

{{Efs player |no=18 |pos=MF |nat=ENG |name=[[Ryan Croasdale]] |23|0|0|0|1|0|0|0}}

{{Efs player |no=20 |pos=MF |nat=ENG |name=[[Tom Sang]] |23|0|0|0|1|1|0|0}}

{{Efs player |no=21 |pos=FW |nat=ENG |name=[[James Plant]] |01|0|0|0|1|0|01|0}}

{{Efs player |no=22 |pos=DF |nat=ENG |name=[[Jesse Debrah]] |23|0|0|0|1|0|01|0}}

{{Efs player |no=24 |pos=DF |nat=ENG |name=[[Kyle John]] |12|0|0|0|1|0|01|0}}

{{Efs player |no=25 |pos=MF |nat=ENG |name=[[Diamond Edwards]] |0|0|0|0|0|0|01|01}}

{{Efs player |no=37 |pos=MF |nat=ENG |name=[[Benicio Baker-Boaitey]] |12|0|0|0|1|0|0|0}}

{{Efs player |no=42 |pos=DF |nat=ENG |name=[[Sam Hart]] |23|0|0|0|0|0|01|0}}

|2–||FW||{{flagu|Ireland}}||17||[[Ruari Paton]]||0||0||1||01||12

|'''02'''

|'''46'''

|'''46'''

|'''57'''