Here’s a brief round-up on how some former Port Vale players are faring…
Ikpeazu on the mark
Striker Uche Ikpeazu has finally started finding the net for current club St Johnstone. Ikpeazu left Vale Park for Scotland in the summer of 2024 but his first season proved to be a disaster. Ikpeazu managed just four games as serious injury wrecked his campaign. Furthermore, the club were relegated to the Scottish Championship. However, the big striker has been doing better this season. His goal at the weekend was his third of the season so far.
European adventure for Odubeko
Mipo Odubeko, who spent a spell at Vale on loan from West Ham is currently playing for Irish League champions Shelbourne. Odubeko’s side have been impressing in the Europa League – he started in their eye catching away win at Croatia’s champions Rijeka this week having also scored in an earlier round of the competition.
Congratulations to Dennis
Dennis Politic, who had two loan spells at Vale, has made his full international debut for Romania. Politic is in high demand in his native country having been signed by current League champions FCSB (formerly Steaua Bucherest) for 800,000 Euros in the summer.
He has found his level , with no disrespect to St. Johnstone. Another ex-Vale player doing well is Odubeko , who is currently playing with Shelbourne in the League of Ireland. He is experiencing Champions League football and had a good game against Qarabag a few weeks ago , despite missing two golden chances to score. Shelbourne lost 5-0 on aggregate , and dropped into the Europa League where he played for 46 mins in the 2-1 win away to Rijeka, a big win for any Irish team.
That news about Politic is more than a big surprise. Joining arguably the biggest club in Romania (a country scarce in resources not least football) and then selected for international duty is a gigantic career leap. A useful attacking player at Vale, but few if any could have predicted this. Surely the only ex Vale player to have joined previous European Cup winners.
I have to correct David Brown about Politic being the first former Valiant to play for European Cup Winners.
The classy Steve Guppy played for the first ever British winners of that trophy…… Celtic. I think he even played in a European final (UEFA Cup v Mourinho’s Porto) for them in 2003.