Pope set to make it 150 not out?
Vale striker Tom Pope is poised to make his 150th first-team appearance if he features against Wolves at the weekend.
The striker first joined Vale on loan, in January 2011. Pope’s loan spell was reasonably successful with three goals in thirteen games and the move was made permanent during the summer of 2011.
However, his first full season was something of a low scoring affair with Pope, used mainly as a support striker for Marc Richards, netting just five times in forty five appearances.
However, the next season saw a remarkable upturn in Pope’s fortunes. Played upfront as a spearhead and fed from both wings, the striker netted an impressive thirty three goals and played a major part in the side’s promotion to League One. It was a campaign which also saw him crowned the club’s player of the year.
This season, he has proved many critics wrong with a commendable thirteen goals from forty appearances.
Pope’s story so far…
- Age: 28
- Port Vale appearances: 136+13
- Goals: 54
Goals breakdown
- One goal in a game: Thirty times
- Two goals in a game: Seven times
- Hat-tricks: Two
- Four goals in a game: Once
- He is currently 20th in the club’s all-time scoring list