Some girls like ale but I love the Vale

I'm distraught at news that Kyle Perry has been told he has no future at the club. So much so it's taken me two days to write about it.

ttp://www.thisisstaffordshire.co.uk/portvale/Port-Vale-Perry-s-release-strictly-business-says-Vale-boss/article-721960-detail/article.html

The towering centre half joined us from Chasetown who unfortunately knocked us out of the FA Cup. The less said about that the better.

I was at the club the day he signed alongside fellow Chase defender Chris Slater, who left the club in similar circumstances a few months ago. Leaving my other half £45 out of pocket after he forked out to have the lad's name on the back of his home shirt.

I admired his drive for pro football and his down to earth persona, something lacking in football today. He even took a pay cut, giving up his job as a graphic designer - something which he may go back to unless someone sees the potential and snaps him up come May.

He came to life in the 3-3 draw against Leeds last season, crossing a ball in the dying seconds to see Vale secure a point from a game that looked dead and buired come half time.

That elusive goal still awaits him and it's still causing arguments weeks later. Perry and young midfielder Simon Richman are still arguing over who had the decisive touch, as much as I love ya Kyle, I had money on Richman.

The butt of some jokes in the dressing room meant he turned up for one of my interviews late having had to perform an emergency operation on his shoe laces after the club's prankster had cut them.

That anecdote clinched a good mark for my Sports Features module and the ultimate praise came from Kyle's mum.

That's all the approval I need.