Port Vale’s Head Groundsman Steve Speed is pleased with the progress of the pitch and says it should be fit for purpose in just a few weeks.

The surface was reseeded over a fortnight ago, while work started on the training ground a few weeks earlier, ready for the start of pre-season next month.

Even after 36 years at Vale Park, Steve admits this is still a nervy time for him and his ground staff.

However, speaking exclusively to Valiant Player, the 53-year-old said he is content with how work on the stadium is going.

“We’re quite pleased with it at the moment, we seeded up just over two weeks ago and it’s taken this year a bit longer for the seed to come up,” he commented.

“It’s been a bit colder but the last few days with a bit of sun and water over the weekend, it’s caught up now.

“At the end of the day we’re just over six weeks away from the first pre-season game on it. 

“The training ground, we seeded up a lot earlier this time because they’re back on that, I think pre-season training starts in four weeks time.

“So we’re looking forward to the players being back out there doing a bit of running.”

Click here to watch the full interview with Head Groundsman Steve Speed on Valiant Player.