Aspin: players have to understand what the club means to fans
New Port Vale manager Neil Aspin says that his players have to “work and graft” every game and “understand what it means to people.”
The new Vale boss is familiar with the area after a ten year spell and told the media: “When I was speaking to the players on the first day, I said I wasn’t going to bore them with a long speech, but I did say this is a working class area and I know when I was a player we went to some of the Pottery factories. I always remember that. My own father worked in a factory all his life.
I still know people in the area, really good people, and I do feel a responsibility because I want to do well for them…
“We are representing the people who do those jobs, who go to work and work hard. They want to see some passion on the pitch. You could have a bad game and not do this and that but certainly they will not forgive people who don’t put in a shift.
“I have to get that mentality that they are going to work and graft for every game. That is the minimum.
“I still know people in the area, really good people, and I do feel a responsibility because I want to do well for them.
“Of course you want to do well for yourself and your family, but I know what love people have for the club.
“It is a unique area with the different towns. The players have to really understand what it means to people and the privilege to be playing football.”