Former Valiants: released Port Vale youngster signs for National League side Altrincham
Striker Eden Bailey, who was released by the Valiants at the end of last season, has agreed a long-term deal with National League side Altrincham.
Bailey, the grandson of former Vale player Terry Bailey, was seen as a hot prospect for the future after he made his first-team debut in August 2021 and was named the youth team player of the year in 2021. However, he made just one more senior appearance for the Valiants as he picked up a long-term injury which saw him released in the summer of 2022.
The 18 year-old striker has now agreed an eighteen month contract with Altrincham with the option of a further twelve months.
As part of his development, he has been loaned to Hanley Town for the remainder of the season.
Altrincham manager Phil Parkinson commented on the transfer saying: “Eden is a Stoke-based player, a modern-day centre-forward. He’s all action and can do most things well – hold the ball up, run the channels and, most importantly, score goals.
“I first saw him as a 16/17-year-old for a very experienced Port Vale reserve team, playing at Burnley last season, and he immediately took my eye in that game.
“I think we could have a real diamond on our hands here, a lad who has fallen out of the professional game but has lots to offer. There are areas of improvement, as there are with all our players, but the full-time model and loan deal at Hanley Town should hopefully help us refine him and get him to the National League level.”