Are Vale set to sign a new keeper?

Port Vale have been linked to a move for goalkeeper Stuart Tomlinson. The former Crewe shot stopper has turned down an one year deal at Barrow to take a pay cut at a League Two club, rumoured to be the Valiants.

Tomlinson enjoyed a trial period at Vale Park but left for pastures new as he was looking for first team football, but this move could see a u-turn on his decision.

Sean Rigg

Port Vale forward Sean Rigg is the last of eight players to put pen to paper on a deal that will keep him at Vale Park.

He joins Anthony Griffith, Chris Martin, Kris Taylor, Lewis Haldane, Louis Dodds, John McCombe and Marc Richards who have all pledged their future will remain in Burslem for the next season or two.

Good Luck Joe

Port Vale will bid goodbye to goalkeeper Joe Anyon who has left Burslem to sign a deal at Lincoln.
The 23 year-old was released by Vale boss Micky Adams and has tied up a deal with Chris Sutton's side and will be working alongside former Vale shot stopper Paul Musselwhite.
Anyon's came through the youth system at Vale Park but his career suffered a stumbling block when he broke his leg away at Chesterfield two years ago, paving the way for Chris Martin to make the number one spot his own.

The wait is over

Port Vale striker Marc Richards has put pen to paper on a new deal today that will keep him at Vale Park for another two years.
The 23 goal forward stated boss Micky Adams was a major reason for his decision to sighn, while he has also set a target of 30 goals for next season.

Louis Dodds

Port Vale midfielder Louis Dodds has committed himself to the club by putting pen to paper on a new two year deal.
The former Lincoln youngster is the latest player to sign on the dootted line leaving Micky Adams waiting on striker Marc Richards as they only player who has yet to sign.

Season Review Part Two

We round up the last few months of the campaign for the Valiants...................

January
Proved to be a tough month for Vale as they battled with their fixture build up and saw their progress halted with further postponed games.
The squad showed they were no pushovers and their rise up the League Two table was no fluke when they travelled to then league leaders Rochdale and held them to a 0-0 draw at Spotland.
While the end of the month saw Vale Park turned into winter wonderland thanks to the snowy weather. It will also be remembered for Vale's win over Hereford, where defender Lee Collins proved to be the perfect assister when his mazy run from 40 yards allowed Marc Richards to fire home and give Vale the win.



February
Vale fans travelled to Burton for the first time in recent seasons. They turned out in numbers once again, the pressure must have got to the players as Vale came away empty handed.
The Valiants win at Torquay saw Marc Richards and Lewis Haldane all loved up sharing a kiss as both of them found themselves on the score sheet.
However, the most impressive performance came at home to Lincoln, only the hardy saw Vale's resounding 4-0 win, with one of the lowest gates of the season.

March
Just 100 fans watched Vale's win over Darlington on a Tuesday evening, a re-arranged fixture from the new year.
Port Vale goalkeeper Joe Anyon was the subject of fans disgruntled opinions following his performance between the sticks at home to Northampton. Five minutes of madness and two mistakes from the 23 year old saw Vale lose valuable points on home soil and left fans questioning Adams' decisions and demanding a re-call for the dropped Chris Martin.
Vale more than made up for it a week later when they smashed five goals past fellow promotion chasers Chesterfield. The game saw striker Marc Richards bag his first hat trick in Vale colours.
Vale lost the bragging rights at the end of March when they faced Crewe on home territory. A contentious penalty decision saw Vale's rivals go home as 1-0 winners. It left Crewe boss Dario Gradi looming foolish. He spent days going over the DVD footage of the incident and the following game saw Crewe squander a 3-1 win to end up losing 4-3. While the referee issued an apology to Micky Adams over the spot kick.

April
As Vale stepped into the final run in of their campaign they were well placed for a timely push into the play offs, even if they didn't make it, they could have a major say on who finished with glory and who missed out.
They started with a win at Rotherham and a bank holiday fixture at home to Dagenham and Redbridge, all sides in and amongst the play offs. A win over Aldershot a few days later meant they were keeping up with the leading pack.
Fans were out in force for the two short trips to the North West. A 2-1 win over Accrington left them in pole position for a weekend fixture at Bury.



Nearly 3,000 Vale fans made the trip to the Lancashire town, spurred on by renewed optimism. Vale fans took over the home end at Gigg Lane due to the sheer volume. While on the field the kit clash mean that Vale were left to play in their training kit, similar to when you had to do PE in your vest and pants at school.
Vale looked to be on course for the play-offs come full time, but a late equaliser from Bury defender Efe Sodje left Vale still in touching distance.



Vale upset Notts County's promotion party when they turned up at Vale Park and also prompted a pitch invasion from a hanful of the vale faithful. It fired Adams'side into the play offs, taking up 7th spot.



May
The play-off dream only lasted seven days ast Vale travelled to the seaside to take on an already promoted side in the form of Bournemouth, in the last away trip of the season.
A sell out crowd of 1,500 made the the long trip from Burslem. Once again they weren't rewarded for their efforts as a second half hammering saw Vale head home on the receiving end of a 4-0 defeat, their heaviest loss of the season.



So it was all down to the last game of the season. Vale needed a win and would be waiting on other results to decide their fate. An early Shrewsbury goal looked to have put out the fire in Vale bellies, until a Marc Richards popped up with a second half penalty to end the game in stalemate.
Without the three points Vale had just fallen short and with other results not in their favour Vale had missed out but had a season to be proud of.



Vale boss Micky Adams summed it up by saying: "We fell short and it's disappointing. I believed in myself and I believed in my players."
Adams admitted that he had a tough job on his hands when he first entered the dressing room that was low on confidence and that could have been the deciding factor in Vale's season. He added: "Itf I'd had a little bit more confidence in them we may have got further than we have."

Season Review

Port Vale started the 2009/10 season not quite knowing what to expect. The arrival of Micky Adams over the close season had sparked new optimism amongst fans, but a string of defeats to non-league opposition in pre season left a lot of questions.



August

The Valiants kicked off the season with a steady start in the opening few games. Vale fired themselves into the second round of the Carling Cup with a 2-1 win over Sheffield United.
A trip to Macclesfield left a travelling band of 2,200 Vale fans disappointed with a 2-0 defeat.

September
It saw Vale back in cup action with a win over their second Yorkshire side in the form of Sheffield Wednesday. The game saw former England international Francis Jeffers sent off for attempting to head butt Vale skipper Tommy Fraser.
Vale eventually bowed out out the competition away at Scunthorpe, losing 3-1 in extra time.



Vale rounded off the month with a heavy defeat at promotion chasing Notts County. It put Vale on the map and made them the talking point of League Two as Adams was so disappointed with the nature of the defeat he placed evey player on the transfer list.

October
Adams side started the month with another scalp, beating League One opposition in the form of Stockport County in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy.
Local trips to rivals Shrewsbury and Crewe Alexandra meant that Vale fans travelled in great numbers with bragging rights at stake.
Vale took them on both occassions winning 1-0 and 2-1 respectively.



November
Vale fans have been very much the 12th man on various occassions throughout the season and boss Micky Adams paid tribute to their efforts, he said:"I can't believe the reaction we've got for finishing 10th. I dread to think what it would have been liked if we'd done it."
Thanks to free buses put on by shirt sponsors Harlequin. Vale took just under a thousand fans to take on Bradford in the second round of the Johnstone's Paint Trophy on a cold Tuesday night. You would have believed Vale had lost on penalties from the reaction of the crowd.



Vale were handed a potential banana skin when they drew Conference side Stevenage Borough out of the hat for the first round of the FA Cup. A 1-1 draw at Vale Park meant a trip down to Essex for a replay. Once again sponsors Harlequin came up trumps with more free transport meaning a bumper crowd saw Vale run out as winners and those that didn't make it watched it broadcast live on the internet.
Round Two was a home tie to Huddersfield, there was no magic of the FA Cup for the Valiants. While last year's FA Cup come back against the same opponents would go down in black and white history the 3-1 defeat this year certainly wouldn't.

December
Vale were hit with some free weekends in this month thanks to the dismal British weather.
It will certainly be a month to forget for defender John McCombe, who was sent off in the away fixture at Northampton. The game also saw three penalties three penalties handed out.
Vale only played one game over the fextive period with the others falling foul to the weather. The trip to Grimsby was well worth it with Vale winning 2-1. Sean Rigg took the starig role in that game and brought him to the attention of the fans. Boss Micky Adams saw enough to take him on-loan until the end of the season and offered him a one year contract at the end of it.

Who's signing on the dotted line..............................

Port Vale have secured the services of former Bristol Rovers forward Lewis Haldane as he has put pen to paper on a new two year contract. Haldane had enjoyed a loan spell at Vale Park since the beginning of September.

Quartet Sign Up

Player of the year Anthony Griffith and team mates John McCombe, Chris Martin and Kris Taylor have all put pen to paper to keep them at Vale Park for the forseeable future.

Griffith, McCombe and Martin have all signed two year deals while Kris Taylor has signed his one year deal.

Player of the year

Port Vale defender Lee Collins scored his first Vale hat trick when he scooped three awards at last night's player of the year event.
The 21 year-old picked up the Chairman's player of the year, Players' Player of the year as well as a special award for his assist at home at Hereford which saw a mazy 40 yard run finishing with a Marc Richards goal.
The main award of the night belonged to midfield maestro Anthony Griffith who remianed tight lipped surrounding his future at the club. He also picked up the Away travel player of the year.
Sam Morsy was handed the youth team player of the year for his introduction into the first team on a consistent basis this season. While goalkeeper Chris Martin picked up young player of the year off Vale boss Micky Adams, for his performances between the sticks. Adams singled out Martin's acrobatics away at Sheffield United in the Carling Cup as one of his most impressive performances in the number one shirt.
Louis Dodds bagged the shirt of a back award, proving his shirt was the most sort after throughout the season.
It was no surprise that star striker Marc Richards picked up the top goalscorer award after he found the net 23 times this season.
While Rob Taylor won goal of the season for his effort away at Hereford back in August.
The clubman of the year award went to lottery manager Brian Lewis, who tirelessly raises funds for the club, with a large chunk of them going to the youth development fund ensuring Vale can continue to produce the stars of the future.
The Valiants new improved team spirit shone through at the even with banter between players and management, much to the fans amusement.
Boss Micky Adams opened the evening by paying tribute to his players. He said: "The players have been a great credit to the football club."

Marc Richards

Port Vale striker Marc Richards has made it into the Football League's final League Two side of the season.
The 22 goal striker netted from the penalty spot to earn the Valiants a point on the final day of the season at home to Shrewsbury, with the Valiants missing out on a play off spot.
The striker is mulling over a new deal at Vale Park and could be favourite to scoop the club's player of the year award, the ceremony will be held at the club tomorrow evening.

For the full team please Click here

Sean Rigg

Port Vale have offered striker Sean Rigg a two year contract to keep him at Vale Park. The 21 year-old has spent the last half of the season on loan in Burslem and will be given time to mull over a new deal.

Griff

Port Vale midfielder Anthony Griffith has been offered a new two year deal by the club.
The former Halifax star is waiting until the Valiants future has been decided before putting pen to paper on a new deal. But both the club and fans remain hopeful that the maestro will be at Vale Park next season