The best Vale Players to back with cash
There’s no better way to double down on your loyalty to Port Vale than by choosing the right stars to back with your cash. With so many relegations and promotions in the club’s history, it’s clear why the team is known as the Valiants. Through their tenacity, skill, and growing fan base, they’ve proven time and time again just why it’s worth believing in their potential – and perhaps getting rewarded from a well-placed wager. Like casino games with the best payout rates, here are some of the best Vale players worth betting on.
Ben Garrity
Midfielder Ben Garrity bounced around a few teams in the North West Counties Football League and the Northern Premier League before turning pro with Blackpool in 2020. While his primary career was engineering, it was clear he always had more than just a knack for football – but it wasn’t until his move to Port Vale that his career took off.
Garrity has been credited as an ambitious and high-energy player, with many of his goals scored by header. He’s also recognised as a fantastic emergency striker, considering the many times he’s had to step in to fill roles and kick last-minute goals. Ben scored both goals in the club’s 2-1 win at Bristol Rovers in 2021 after the injury crisis that took out their main strikers and stepped up when captain Tom Conlon was out of commission by scoring three goals. So, if you’re looking for a player who can secure the game with a late goal, you’re wise to consider backing Ben Garrity.
Ethan Chislett
Chislett’s magnificent hat trick during Vale’s home win over Wigan Athletic in December 2023 made it a game to remember. He found the target in 21 minutes, duplicated that goal moments later, and scored his third, resulting in a 3-2 lead before Vale held on through the seven minutes of added time. This dynamic game categorised him as the club’s most effective player by the mid-season, putting all his League One experience to work.
As a player, Ethan Chislett has received high praise from the media and higher-ups in the football realm. Port Vale’s director of football, David Flitcroft, commended his creation of goalscoring opportunities, while regional newspaper The Sentinel described his first-ever goal with the club as a “wonderful flighted shot”.
Gavin Massey
Every team needs a versatile attacker, and Gavin Massey fills that role for Vale. He’s known for being able to play as a winger or a forward and has been with the club since 2022. Hailing from Watford, it was during his stint with Watford Football Club that he drew attention from Premier League clubs. Massey has a wealth of experience in the English Football League, with experience playing in lower-level teams, such as Wealdstone and Yeovil Town. He later moved up the ranks with Colchester United and later played for Leyton Orient and Wigan Athletic in League One. Flitcroft saw potential in Massey and believed he could become a suitable asset for the team, with former Vale player Daryl Taylor working to bring his fitness levels up to speed. While his time at Port Vale hasn’t been overly spectacular, he has had five assists in the 2023/2024 season.
Dan Jones
Dan Jones is well-known for his powerful long throw. He’s a defender who typically plays at centre-back but can also play at left-back and right-back. Jones’s career has been primarily with League Two teams, being a product of Hartlepool United’s youth system.
While his career with Port Vale has been messy – he was fraught with injuries (ankle, glutes and hamstring) and suspended for three games after his straight red card in the 2021/2022 season – he’s been awarded Player of the Match and Player of the Month in the past. That’s because Jones is a consistent player, with his statistics showing an upward trend. As one of the top physical performers in the club, he’s a valuable talent who can deliver a top-notch performance.
Ryan Loft
Ryan Loft started his senior career with the Spurs but never started with the team. Throughout his early career, he was restricted to reserve team football and placed on loan with Braintree Town, Stevenage and Exeter City, where he only had nine appearances with Stevenage and one with Exeter City. During his time with Leicester City from 2018 to 2020, he was loaned to Carlisle United, where he had 26 appearances and 4 goals.
Things began to look up for Loft when he found his footing at Scunthorpe United, finishing the 2021/ 2022 season as a top scorer alongside Abo Eisa. With the Bristol Rovers, he ended the season with his first career promotion. The Valiants then picked him up in 2023, citing his unselfish nature and commitment to the greater good of the team as the main reasons – quite contrary to his past struggles with being part of a cohesive team.
Baylee Dipepa
Having scored twice on his international debut, striker Baylee Dipepa is no doubt proving himself to be a force to be reckoned with. He came on as a second-half sub in the 58th minute, and the decision proved to be a game-changer. Dipepa received Leo Shahar’s cross into the box and delivered a header into the goal in the 66th minute. Just three minutes later, he scored again, contributing a total of two goals for the 5-1 winning score over Northern Ireland.
At just 17 years old, Dipepa has quickly established himself as an emerging young player, setting records left and right. He is the seventh youngest player to play a Football League game and the second-youngest goalscorer in the club’s history. Although Baylee Dipepa is still an up-and-coming player to watch out for, he’s bound to become an exciting prospect, especially as he becomes more established in the fabric of Port Vale.