Port Vale F.C. Player of the Year

Football award

Tom Pope, the only player to win the award three times. The 2011 winner, John McCombe. Mark Grew, winner in 1989 and 1992. Martin Foyle, winner in 1995 and 1999. Sam Collins won the award in 2003, after 49 appearances in 2002–03. Anthony Griffith won the award in 2010, having gained popularity for his 'tigerish displays'.

The Port Vale Player of the Year award is voted for annually by Port Vale's supporters in recognition of the best overall performance by an individual player throughout the football season. Towards the end of each season, fans are invited to cast their votes for this award.

The inaugural award was made to Roy Sproson in 1967 and became an annual event from Ron Wilson's victory in 1969. David Harris (1974 and 1977), Ray Walker (1988 and 1991), Mark Grew (1989 and 1992), Neil Aspin (1990 and 1994), Martin Foyle (1995 and 1999), Nathan Smith (2017 and 2023) and Ben Garrity (2022 and 2024) have all won two awards during their time at Vale Park. Aspin and Foyle also went on to manage the club, whilst Grew spent three spells as caretaker manager. Tom Pope is the only player to win the award thrice, winning in 2013, 2014 and 2018. Eamonn O'Keefe and Anthony Griffith represented Ireland and Montserrat respectively at international level, though both players were born in England. After receiving his first award in April 2013, Tom Pope stated, "To be voted for by the fans like this is a massive honour for me. It means such a lot, more than the other [PFA] awards I've been lucky enough to win."[1] Midfielders are more commonly rewarded, claiming 20 wins.

The current holder is midfielder Ben Garrity, following his consistent performances throughout the 2023–24 season.

## Winners

[edit]

Year | Level[A] | Name | Position[B] | Nationality | Reference | Notes

|
|
|
|
|
|

1967 | 4 | Roy Sproson | Defender |  England | [2] | [C]
1969 | 4 | Ron Wilson | Defender |  Scotland | [2] |
1970 | 4 | John Green | Midfielder |  England | [2] |
1971 | 3 | Tommy McLaren | Striker |  Scotland | [2] |
1972 | 3 | Sammy Morgan | Striker |  Northern Ireland | [2] |
1973 | 3 | Ray Williams | Striker |  England | [2] |
1974 | 3 | David Harris | Defender |  England | [2] |
1975 | 3 | John Connaughton | Goalkeeper |  England | [2] |
1976 | 3 | John Ridley | Midfielder |  England | [2] |
1977 | 3 | David Harris | Defender |  England | [2] | [D]
1978 | 3 | Ken Beamish | Striker |  England | [2] |
1979 | 4 | Bernie Wright | Striker |  England | [2] |
1980 | 4 | Kenny Beech | Midfielder |  England | [2] |
1981 | 4 | Russell Bromage | Midfielder |  England | [2] |
1982 | 4 | Ernie Moss | Striker |  England | [2] |
1983 | 4 | Wayne Cegielski | Defender |  Wales | [2] |
1984 | 3 | Eamonn O'Keefe | Striker |  Republic of Ireland | [2] | [E]
1985 | 4 | Alan Webb | Defender |  England | [2] |
1986 | 4 | Jim Arnold | Goalkeeper |  England | [2] |
1987 | 3 | Andy Jones | Striker |  Wales | [2] |
1988 | 3 | Ray Walker | Midfielder |  England | [2] |
1989 | 3 | Mark Grew | Goalkeeper |  England | [2] |
1990 | 2 | Neil Aspin | Defender |  England | [2] |
1991 | 2 | Ray Walker | Midfielder |  England | [2] | [D]
1992 | 2 | Mark Grew | Goalkeeper |  England | [2] | [D]
1993 | 3 | Ian Taylor | Midfielder |  England | [3] |
1994 | 3 | Neil Aspin | Defender |  England | [4] | [D]
1995 | 2 | Martin Foyle | Striker |  England | [5] |
1996 | 2 | Jon McCarthy | Midfielder |  Northern Ireland | [6] |
1997 | 2 | Lee Mills | Striker |  England | [7] |
1998 | 2 | Gareth Ainsworth | Midfielder |  England | [8] |
1999 | 2 | Martin Foyle | Striker |  England | [9] | [D]
2000 | 2 | Tommy Widdrington | Midfielder |  England | [10] |
2001 | 3 | Dave Brammer | Midfielder |  England | [11] |
2002 | 3 | Mark Goodlad | Goalkeeper |  England | [12] |
2003 | 3 | Sam Collins | Defender |  England | [13] |
2004 | 3 | Stephen McPhee | Striker |  Scotland | [14] |
2005 | 3 | Billy Paynter | Striker |  England | [15] |
2006 | 3 | George Pilkington | Defender |  England | [16] |
2007 | 3 | Akpo Sodje | Striker |  England | [15] |
2008 | 3 | Paul Harsley | Midfielder |  England | [17] |
2009 | 4 | Joe Anyon | Goalkeeper |  England | [18] |
2010 | 4 | Anthony Griffith | Midfielder |  Montserrat | [19] |
2011 | 4 | John McCombe | Defender |  England | [20] |
2012 | 4 | Doug Loft | Midfielder |  England | [21] |
2013 | 4 | Tom Pope | Striker |  England | [22] |
2014 | 3 | Tom Pope | Striker |  England | [23] | [D]
2015 | 3 | Michael O'Connor | Midfielder |  Northern Ireland | [24] |
2016 | 3 | Anthony Grant | Midfielder |  England | [25] |
2017 | 3 | Nathan Smith | Defender |  England | [26] |
2018 | 4 | Tom Pope | Striker |  England | [27] | [G]
2019 | 4 | Scott Brown | Goalkeeper |  England | [28] |
2020 | 4 | David Worrall | Midfielder |  England | [29] |
2021 | 4 | Tom Conlon | Midfielder |  England | [30] |
2022 | 4 | Ben Garrity | Midfielder |  England | [31] |
2023 | 3 | Nathan Smith | Defender |  England | [32] | [D]
2024 | 3 | Ben Garrity | Midfielder |  England | [33] | [D]

## Wins by playing position

[edit]

Position | Number of
winners [F]

|

Midfielder | 20
Striker | 17
Defender | 13
Goalkeeper | 7

## Wins by nationality

[edit]

Nationality | Number of
winners[F]

|

England | 47
Northern Ireland | 3
Scotland | 3
Wales | 2
Republic of Ireland | 1
Montserrat | 1

## Footnotes

[edit]

A. ^ For ease of reading, the complexities of the frequent renaming of the various divisions have been simplified to a number, reflecting the official "Level" of competition in the English league system. For more information see English football league system#Structure.

B. ^ For a full description of positions, see Association football positions.

C. ^ Inaugural winner.

D. ^ Second award.

E. ^ First non-British winner.

F. ^ Multiple winners are counted multiple times.

G. ^ Third award.

## References

[edit]

General

* Kent, Jeff (1996), Port Vale Personalities, Witan Books, ISBN 0-9529152-0-0

Specific

1. ^ "Hot-shot Tom Pope rewarded for a stellar season with home-town club". The Sentinel. 30 April 2013. Retrieved 30 April 2013.
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y Kent, Jeff (1990). The Valiants' Years: The Story Of Port Vale. Witan Books. p. 305\. ISBN 0-9508981-4-7.
3. ^ Kent 2010, p. 288 harvnb error: no target: CITEREFKent2010 (help)
4. ^ Kent 2010, p. 11 harvnb error: no target: CITEREFKent2010 (help)
5. ^ Kent 2010, p. 106 harvnb error: no target: CITEREFKent2010 (help)
6. ^ Kent 2010, p. 190 harvnb error: no target: CITEREFKent2010 (help)
7. ^ Hayes, Dean (1998). Port Vale Football Club: An A-Z. Sigma Leisure. p. 102\. ISBN 1850586101.
8. ^ Baggaley, Mike (11 August 2017). "When Ainsworth fired Port Vale to double over Manchester City". Stoke Sentinel. Retrieved 12 August 2017.
9. ^ Fielding, Rob (26 May 2019). "This is the OVF viewers all-time Port Vale XI". onevalefan.co.uk. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
10. ^ "Widdo: I'm Captain because I'm mouthy". onevalefan.co.uk. 27 January 2012. Retrieved 6 June 2020.
11. ^ "David Brammer". crewealex.net/. Archived from the original on 23 July 2012. Retrieved 24 October 2011.
12. ^ "Player of the Year Announced". port-vale.co.uk. 17 November 2004. Retrieved 24 October 2011.[permanent dead link]
13. ^ "It's a clean sweep as Super Sam is Top Man". port-vale.co.uk. 17 November 2004. Archived from the original on 9 June 2012. Retrieved 24 October 2011.
14. ^ "Player of the Year Awards". port-vale.co.uk. 17 November 2004. Archived from the original on 9 June 2012. Retrieved 24 October 2011.
15. ^ a b "Player of the Year Awards". port-vale.co.uk. 10 May 2011. Archived from the original on 9 June 2012. Retrieved 24 October 2011.
16. ^ "Awards". port-vale.co.uk. 5 May 2006. Archived from the original on 9 June 2012. Retrieved 24 October 2011.
17. ^ "Player of the Year". port-vale.co.uk. 30 April 2008. Archived from the original on 9 June 2012. Retrieved 24 October 2011.
18. ^ "Player of the Year- Winners". Port Vale F.C. 27 April 2009. Archived from the original on 30 April 2009. Retrieved 28 April 2009.
19. ^ Owen, Jon (12 May 2010). "Port Vale: Griffith takes home top accolade". The Sentinel. Retrieved 12 May 2010.
20. ^ "Player of the Year Awards 2011". port-vale.co.uk. 9 May 2011. Archived from the original on 20 March 2012. Retrieved 9 May 2011.
21. ^ "Loft grateful for award success". The Sentinel. 2 May 2012. Retrieved 2 May 2012.
22. ^ "Tom Pope wins player-of-the-year award". The Sentinel. 29 April 2013. Retrieved 29 April 2013.
23. ^ Baggaley, Mike (5 May 2014). "Tom Pope named Port Vale player of the year". The Sentinel. Archived from the original on 5 May 2014. Retrieved 5 May 2014.
24. ^ Baggaley, Mike (3 May 2015). "Michael O'Connor dominates Vale's awards night". The Sentinel. Archived from the original on 4 May 2015. Retrieved 5 May 2015.
25. ^ Baggaley, Mike (8 May 2016). "Anthony Grant wins prestigious Supporters' Club award". The Sentinel. Retrieved 8 May 2016.
26. ^ Baggaley, Mike (2 May 2017). "Port Vale's player of year Smith philosophical about future". Stoke Sentinel. Archived from the original on 3 May 2017. Retrieved 2 May 2017.
27. ^ Baggaley, Michael (28 April 2018). "Tom Pope makes history at Port Vale player of the year awards". Stoke Sentinel. Retrieved 30 April 2018.
28. ^ "Player Awards Night 2018/19". Port Vale F.C. 28 April 2019. Retrieved 28 April 2019.
29. ^ Whittingham, Harry (28 August 2020). "End of season awards for 2019/20". Port Vale F.C. Retrieved 2 September 2020.
30. ^ Baggaley, Michael (8 May 2021). "Port Vale player-of-the-year awards winners as trophies are handed out". StokeonTrentLive. Retrieved 9 May 2021.
31. ^ Mounteney, Luke (13 June 2022). "Player of the Year Awards 2021/22 | The Winners". Port Vale F.C. Retrieved 13 June 2022.
32. ^ "22/23 Player of the Year | Nathan Smith". Port Vale F.C. 16 May 2023. Retrieved 17 May 2023.
33. ^ "2023/24 Player of the Year | Ben Garrity | Port Vale FC". Port Vale FC. 16 July 2024. Retrieved 17 July 2024.

* v
* t
* e

Port Vale Football Club

* Honours
* Matches
* European record

Club|

* Head-to-head
* History
* Potteries derby
* Records
* Seasons

Notable seasons|

* 1953–54 (FA Cup semi-finalists)
* 2023–24 (current season)

Grounds|

* Limekin Lane (1876–81)
* Westport (1881–84)
* Moorland Road (1884–86)
* Athletic Ground (1886–1913)
* Old Recreation Ground (1913–50)
* Vale Park (1950–present)

People|

* Managers
* Player of the Year winners
* Players with: 25+ appearances
* 1–24 appearances
* internationals caps

* Category:Port Vale F.C.
* Portal:Association football
* Commons:Port Vale F.C.

* v
* t
* e

Port Vale F.C. Player of the Year

* 1967: Sproson
* 1968: (not awarded)
* 1969: Wilson
* 1970: Green
* 1971: McLaren
* 1972: Morgan
* 1973: Williams
* 1974: Harris
* 1975: Connaughton
* 1976: Ridley
* 1977: Harris
* 1978: Beamish
* 1979: Wright
* 1980: Beech
* 1981: Bromage
* 1982: Moss
* 1983: Cegielski
* 1984: O'Keefe
* 1985: Webb
* 1986: Arnold
* 1987: Jones
* 1988: Walker
* 1989: Grew
* 1990: Aspin
* 1991: Walker
* 1992: Grew
* 1993: Taylor
* 1994: Aspin
* 1995: Foyle
* 1996: McCarthy
* 1997: Mills
* 1998: Ainsworth
* 1999: Foyle
* 2000: Widdrington
* 2001: Brammer
* 2002: Goodlad
* 2003: Collins
* 2004: McPhee
* 2005: Paynter
* 2006: Pilkington
* 2007: Sodje
* 2008: Harsley
* 2009: Anyon
* 2010: Griffith
* 2011: McCombe
* 2012: Loft
* 2013: Pope
* 2014: Pope
* 2015: O'Connor
* 2016: Grant
* 2017: Smith
* 2018: Pope
* 2019: Brown
* 2020: Worrall
* 2021: Conlon
* 2022: Garrity
* 2023: Smith
* 2024: Garrity

* v
* t
* e

Lists of male footballers in England by club

Premier League|

* AFC Bournemouth
* Arsenal
* 100+
* 25–99
* 1–24
* POTY
* Aston Villa
* Brentford
* 100+
* 25–99
* 1–24
* Internationals
* Hall of Fame
* POTY
* Brighton & Hove Albion
* Chelsea
* 100+
* 25–99
* 1–24
* POTY
* Crystal Palace
* 100+
* POTY
* Everton
* 100+
* Internationals
* Hall of Fame
* Fulham
* 100+
* 25–99
* 1–24
* Ipswich Town
* 100+
* Hall of Fame
* POTY
* Leicester City
* Liverpool
* 100+
* 25–99
* 1–24
* POTY
* Manchester City
* 100+
* 25–99
* 1–24
* Manchester United
* 100+
* 25–99
* 1–24
* POTY
* Captains
* Newcastle United
* Nottingham Forest
* 100+
* Internationals
* Southampton
* 100+
* 25–99
* 1–24
* POTY
* Tottenham Hotspur
* West Ham United
* Wolverhampton Wanderers

Championship|

* Blackburn Rovers
* Bristol City
* Burnley
* 100+
* Internationals
* Cardiff City
* 100+
* 25–99
* 1–24
* Captains
* Internationals
* Coventry City
* 100+
* Internationals
* POTY
* Derby County
* 100+
* POTY
* Hull City
* Leeds United
* Luton Town
* 100+
* POTY
* Middlesbrough
* Millwall
* Norwich City
* 100+
* 25–99
* Hall of Fame
* POTY
* Oxford United
* Plymouth Argyle
* 100+
* POTY
* Portsmouth
* Preston North End
* 100+
* POTY
* Queens Park Rangers
* Sheffield United
* 100+
* 25–99
* Internationals
* POTY
* Sheffield Wednesday
* All
* Internationals
* POTY
* Stoke City
* 100+
* 25–99
* 1–24
* POTY
* Sunderland
* Swansea City
* 100+
* Internationals
* Watford
* 50+
* 1–49
* POTY
* West Bromwich Albion

League One|

* Barnsley
* Birmingham City
* 100+
* 25–99
* 1–24
* Blackpool
* Bolton Wanderers
* 100+
* 25–99
* 1–24
* POTY
* Bristol Rovers
* 100+
* 25–99
* Internationals
* POTY
* Burton Albion
* Cambridge United
* Charlton Athletic
* Crawley Town
* Exeter City
* Huddersfield Town
* Leyton Orient
* Lincoln City
* 100+
* 25–99
* Mansfield Town
* Northampton Town
* Peterborough United
* Reading
* 100+
* 25–99
* 1–24
* Internationals
* POTY
* Rotherham United
* Shrewsbury Town
* Stevenage
* Stockport County
* Wigan Athletic
* Wrexham
* 100+
* 25–99
* 1–24
* Wycombe Wanderers

League Two|

* Accrington Stanley
* AFC Wimbledon
* Barrow
* Bradford City
* 50+
* 1–49
* Bromley
* Carlisle United
* Cheltenham Town
* Chesterfield
* Colchester United
* 100+
* 25–99
* 1–24
* POTY
* Crewe Alexandra
* Doncaster Rovers
* 100+
* 1879–1918
* Fleetwood Town
* Gillingham
* 50+
* 25–49
* 1–24
* Grimsby Town
* Harrogate Town
* Milton Keynes Dons
* Morecambe
* Newport County
* Notts County
* Port Vale
* 25+
* 1–24
* POTY
* Salford City
* Swindon Town
* Tranmere Rovers
* 100+
* 1921–1939
* 1945–present
* Walsall

Non-League|

* Bradford (Park Avenue)
* Bury
* 100+
* 25–99
* 1–24
* Chester
* 100+
* 25–99
* 1–24
* Darlington
* 100+
* 25–99
* 1–24
* Dagenham & Redbridge
* Nelson
* Oldham Athletic
* 100+
* 25–99
* 1–24
* Rochdale
* 100+
* 25–99
* 1–24
* Southend United
* Torquay United
* Yeovil Town
* 100+
* Internationals
* York City
* 100+
* 25–99
* 1–24
* POTY

Defunct|

* Halifax Town
* Hereford United
* Macclesfield Town
* Scarborough
* Wanderers
* Wigan Borough

Clubs are grouped by their division in the 2024–25 season.
Includes the Welsh clubs where lists have been created. 'POTY' = 'Player of the Year / Season'.
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