Port Vale have issued a statement saying that despite restrictions they have “reason to be cautiously optimistic” about the return of fans later this year.
The statement says:
A message from co-owner and Chair Carol Shanahan OBE, following the latest government announcement.
“Following confirmation from the UK Government earlier today that Stoke-on-Trent will be placed in Tier Three restrictions when the nationwide lockdown ends on December 2, the situation remains that supporters will not be permitted back inside Vale Park for the time being.
“Whilst everyone at the club is disappointed, the news is not entirely unexpected given the local Covid-19 infection rates and the strain being placed on local NHS services.
“The local trajectory is positive, however, and there is reason to be cautiously optimistic that when the next review happens on December 16 Stoke-on-Trent may be moved into a lower Covid alert Tier.
“As supporters will know, clubs situated in Tier One and Tier Two areas are able to host matches with a limited number of spectators (up to 4,000 fans or up to 2,000 fans respectively) for the first time since March 2020.
“Your club is ready. A huge amount of work has taken place and is taking place to plan for the return of fans to Vale Park.
“We look forward to welcome supporters back home as soon as we are allowed – something fans will know we have been pushing for for some time. On behalf of everyone at Port Vale I want to thank supporters for their continuing incredible support. We miss you and can’t wait to see you all soon.
Could I just wallow in a bit of nostalgia that another valeite wrote about last week re the semi-final season 1954. He mentioned both the semifinal and the previous match I.e the 6th round at Brisbane Rd. Leyton Orients ground.I was lucky to be at them both,being just 16 at the time .I just want to recall the Leyton O .match.we were winning 1-0 at half-time and Albert had scored one of his trademark goals i e.nobody new he was on the pitch until they were picking the ball up out of their net .their fans said they wernt worried as they would be bombing our goal in the 2and half.well they tried & tried but couldn’t get a clean shot at our goal . So we won 1-0 .We were cheering them off at the end when an old man walked over to me and said “I am an Arsenal supporter and have watched Arsenal all through the 1930’s when Arsenal were invincible,they had the best defence in the land This Port Vales defence is the best I have seen since then.” Not surprising as our two centre halves were the great Tom Cheadle and the brilliant Roy Sproston. Happy days . Always brings a lump to my throat.