Duo set for Vale milestones
Midfielder Doug Loft could make his 150th league start for Vale on Tuesday while defender Richard Duffy should notch up his 50th league start.
The duo are both likely to play in Tuesday’s game against Leyton Orient. Loft’s achievement will put him third behind Anthony Griffith (192) and Adam Yates (150) in the current players with most league starts.
The leaderboard (most Football League starts) currently looks like this:
- Griffith: 192 starts
- Yates: 150 starts
- Loft: 149 starts
- Dodds: 142 starts
- Pope: 122 starts
- Taylor: 100
- Neal: 74
Their careers so far…
Doug Loft was manager Micky Adams’ second signing for the club in 2010. He had a slow start due to injuries but impressed enough during his second season to be offered a contract extension. He was duly named as player of the year in 2012 and appointed club captain in July of that year. In the summer of 2013 he agreed a further one year extension.
Richard Duffy also had a slow start to his Vale career after signing on a free transfer in the summer of 2013. Initially he battled Adam Yates for the right-back slot, starting the season as first choice but ending it out of the starting eleven. However, a switch to centre-half at the end of last year was a revelation as Duffy looked composed and controlled in his new role.
The stats:
Doug Loft: 149+18 league | 21+1 cup | 17 goals
Richard Duffy 49+3 league | 6 cup | 0 goals