“Loved every minute” – Ollie Arblaster bids a fond farewell to Port Vale fans
Loanee Ollie Arblaster said he “loved every minute” of his highly successful loan spell at Port Vale.
The teenager has been recalled by parent club Sheffield United after a spell which saw him become an automatic first eleven pick in the side and hailed as one of the club’s best loan signings in years.
If I could go round everyone I would but obviously I can’t. I just want them all to know that I thank them massively for their support and how they’ve treated me as a player, I really appreciate it…
19 year-old Arblaster made 26 appearances and scored twice before his loan spell was interrupted by an injury sustained in Vale’s cup game against Middlesbrough. He did make it onto the pitch before Vale’s game against Blackpool where he was able to thank the fans for his support.
Speaking to the club’s media team, Arblaster said: “They (the fans) follow us home and away and the supporters have been amazing with me from the first game I played. It was my chance to say ‘thank you.’ If I could go round everyone I would but obviously I can’t. I just want them all to know that I thank them massively for their support and how they’ve treated me as a player, I really appreciate it.”
The midfielder added that: “The game (I enjoyed was) the Reading at home game (Port Vale won 1-0). It was emotional for me. I think we were just really together and the fans connected with the team and the team obviously buzzed off the fans.”
Asked if he’d come back to support the club at some future games, Arblaster commented: “I’m definitely going to be coming back. Dave (Flitcroft), Carol (Shanahan) they’ve all said you can come back whenever and obviously I’ll try to get as many games as I can.”
“We (his family) couldn’t thank them (Carol Shanahan and Dave Flitcroft) enough. How they’ve been with us. You come to play football but the ‘off the pitch stuff’ it’s so important as well. I feel like they’re such caring people just how they go about and everything they do.”
He finished by adding that he’d recommend the club to any other player: “It’s a no brainer. Get yourself straight down, you’re so well looked after off the pitch that you’re more likely to play better on the pitch.”
Watch the full interview