Every Port Vale player reviewed and rated for 2019/20 season
All Port Vale's players rated for the 2019/20 campaign
Port Vale have just missed out on the play-offs after finishing eighth when the League Two campaign was called to a halt. But how did their players rate over the campaign?
Our Vale reporter Mike Baggaley, who followed the club home and away, takes a look at all the players to have turned out for the Vale over this past season.
Scott Brown
There is a danger of taking the keeper for granted. He was outstanding in the 2018/19 campaign when more than any player he kept the Vale in the Football League. This time other players have also shone and so Vale's progress to eighth in the table under John Askey has felt more of a team effort.
Fans wouldn't swap him for any keeper in the division. Rightly so. 7.5/10
1 of 28Jonny Maddison
The 25 year old made just one appearance, in the Trophy game at home to Newcastle so not enough for a mark. Signed as cover for Scott Brown but opportunities were always going to be limited behind the player of the year.
Released at the end of the season but he will have benefited from working with Brown and goalkeeper coach Ronnie Sinclair.
2 of 28Shaun Brisley
Signed on a free from Notts County by John Askey who had worked with him at Macclesfield. The 30 year old centre half had to be patient for his chance because of the excellent Leon Legge-Nathan Smith partnership. Having been out of the game since the previous season, he struggled to impress in odd games here and there but really showed his worth when he got a proper chance in the side following Smith's injury in January.
Outstanding the the away win at Northampton, Brisley began to show why he has played at a higher level.
Only started ten games in total but it's no surprise at all that he's been offered a new deal. 6.5/10
3 of 28Kieran Kennedy
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Signed as cover in central defence but couldn't get in the side because Leon Legge and Nathan Smith played so well. Only made one league appearance, and three in the Trophy, before he was loaned back to Wrexham for the rest of the season 3/10
4 of 28Leon Legge
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Has to be a contender for player of the year. He played every single minute of Vale's league campaign, led by example at the heart of the defence and also chipped in with four goals.
Took over the captaincy and was a fine ambassador for the club, both with his performances on the pitch and efforts off it where, for example, his blog about his experiences with epilepsy have helped and inspired others. 8/10
5 of 28Nathan Smith
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His central defensive partnership with Leon Legge was a major strength of the team. Loves a battle with centre forwards and, after yet another impressive season, it's no surprise he's been linked with moved to a higher division.
The 24 year old is one of the best players to come through the club's youth system since the turn of the century 8/10
6 of 28Mitch Clark
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Returned to the club on loan at the end of January having been hugely impressive in a season-loan the previous year.
This time he only played four games but was a contender for man of the match in all of them - including at Forest Green when he was sent off late on in Vale's 3-2 victory.
That cost him a three-match ban and he'd only just returned from that when the campaign was cut short. Even so the 21 year old confirmed he is a quality player, either at right of left back.
His relatively low mark is only because his rash challenge at Forest Green meant we didn't see more of him 6/10
7 of 28James Gibbons
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The 22 year old signed a new deal in March, keeping him at the club until the summer of 2022. That's good news for the Vale because the tenacious, attacking right back continues to impress. He's been with the Vale since he was 11 and hopefully will be staying for a few years yet. 7.5/10
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