Friendly preview – Kidsgrove Athletic v Port Vale
Kidsgrove Athletic v Port Vale preview – it’s Port Vale’s first friendly of the summer as they gear up for life in League One. Here’s our preview.
Match details
Details:
Kidsgrove Athletic v Port Vale
Friendly game
Autonet Insurance stadium
Thursday 7th July, 7.30pm
Prices: £10 adult, £5 concessions, £2 U16s Free U12s
Last time we met?
Forwards James Wilson and Eden Bailey were both on target as the Vale won their traditional friendly opener last season.
Valiants team news
With it being the first friendly game, it will of course be of considerable interest to see who is lining up in the Vale squad. Summer signings Lewis Cass and Funso Ojo are both expected to play but will there be any other new faces in the Valiants squad?
Captain Tom Conlon will miss out as he is still recovering from injury while Alex Hurst, David Amoo, James Gibbons and Lucas Covolan have all moved on to pastures new.
Opposition team news
Kidsgrove succumbed to a 6-0 defeat in their previous friendly game – against Crewe Alex. There will be at least one familiar face in their ranks in former Port Vale youth teamer Lewis Bergin.
Man in charge: Scott Dundas
The former Witton Albion, Norton and Newcastle Town manager is regarded as a club legend and was appointed in March 2020.
From the archives
Photos from previous meetings in 2018 and 2021…
Potted history
The club was formed out of Kidsgrove United in 1952 and initially joined the Burslem and Tunstall League. They have won the Staffordshire Senior Cup five times as well as being two winners of the North West Counties Football League Premier Division.
In 2011–12 Kidsgrove reached the fourth-qualifying round of the FA Cup where they lost 2–0 to Bradford Park Avenue.
Kidsgrove play home matches at Hollinwood Road, in the Clough Hall area of Kidsgrove and they play in the Northern Premier League Division One West.