Where are they now: how five former Valiants are getting on…
We catch-up with five players who departed Vale last season including one who has tasted European action and another whose side reached the play-offs…
Miguel Santos
It was a minor surprise when Santos opted to leave the club just when Jak Alnwick’s departure seemed to offer him a route into the first-team. Santos moved to Fortuna Sittard in the Dutch second tier and has done well – he made nineteen appearances last season as he established himself as the club’s number one goalkeeper.
Calvin MacIntosch
One of the players Santos will encounter is centre-half MacIntosch who moved to one of the less well-known sides in the Dutch second division. Almere City, known as the “Sheepheads” have a tiny 3,200 capacity stadium but did well enough to qualify for the divisional play-offs at the end of the season. Calvin played his part netting three times in 13 games but Almere were denied a shot at promotion after losing on aggregate to Helmond Sport.
Martin Paterson
After a largely fruitless spell at Vale Park, Paterson left the club just 24 hours after Bruno Ribeiro’s resignation. He opted for a second move to North America and signed for Tampa Bay Rowdies where he netted four times in fifteen games last season.
Scott Tanser
In one of the oddest transformations of fortunes, Tanser went from being unwanted at Vale Park to playing in Europe. On the 28th June the left-back was signed by St Johnstone just 24 hours ahead of a Europa League clash with Trakai. Tanser was registered in time for the game but had to wait till the second leg to make his European bow. Sadly, St Johnstone crashed out losing 3-1 on aggregate.
Deniz Mehmet
Another player deemed to be surplus to requirements by Vale but good enough for the Scottish leagues, the well-built keeper has been signed by Dundee United on a one-year deal.