A supporter's view of all things Port Vale

Footballers react differently when they are left out of the side. Some bang on the manager’s door complaining and maybe even asking for a transfer, and some have a word with their agent to ‘accidentally’ leak a story to the press to undermine the manager or whoever.

On the other hand some just take their punishment and knuckle down to work their way back into the side. Tom Pope is of one of the latter. After being an ever present last season and being the top scorer in the whole country with 33 goals (and no penalties), he would have had plenty of reason to gripe at being left on the bench for an up and coming youngster brought in for his debut.

But he didn’t, he just got on with it, accepting that he may have had a bit of a lean spell. Okay he may have moaned at all and sundry behind the scenes, but there’s no problem with that, he didn’t do it in public and that is very commendable.

He came on as a substitute for the second half against Gillingham and led the line superbly, scoring the winning goal for his sixth goal of the season. That means he is now only three short of 50 for the club he has supported all of his life. Not a bad effort, well done Tom!

Phil Sherwin