Cast your vote below for Port Vale’s Reels in Motion Player of the Month for January 2023.
- January Reels in Motion Player of the Month Nominations
- Cast your vote for Port Vale’s January Player of the Month award
- Funso Ojo, Gavin Massey, Nathan Smith and Ben Garrity nominated
In a protracted month impacted by weather and fixture postponements, the Vale collected four League One points thanks to a New Year’s Day win at Forest Green Rovers and Saturday’s 0-0 draw at Cheltenham Town.
Darrell Clarke’s side suffered home defeats to promotion-chasing Peterborough United and Derby County, though they did lead against the latter, only to suffer late heartbreak in front of a crowd of over 10,000 at Vale Park.
The Nominees:
Funso Ojo
After over three months out with a hamstring injury, the Vale’s Belgian midfielder returned from the bench in the New Year’s Day win at Forest Green Rovers, replacing Lewis Cass in the 83rd minute before helping Darrell Clarke’s side to come from behind to secure a 3-1 victory.
The 31-year-old made a further late substitute appearance in the home defeat to Peterborough United before starting our 2-1 defeat against Derby County, scoring his first Vale goal to put us in front before two late Rams goals sealed victory for the visitors.
In the final game of the month at Cheltenham Town, Ojo was nominated by many Vale fans as the Player of the Match.
Gavin Massey
Largely selected as a central striker in the absence of Ellis Harrison and James Wilson, Massey has had to lead the line with endeavour as the Vale battled through January.
Generally known as a wing back or winger, Massey has adapted for his manager and the backroom staff, stretching the play and creating opportunity for the club’s attacking midfield players to create.
The 30-year-old also provided the cross from which Ellis Harrison and Mipo Odubeko linked up to score the equaliser at Forest Green Rovers.
Nathan Smith
Reliable as ever, the Vale Academy graduate started all four of his side’s January fixtures, with Connor Hall, Dan Jones, Will Forrester, Lewis Cass and Aaron Donnelly also playing in the back three.
Smudge’s bravery and determination sets the tone for his side and he was inches away from scoring in the defeat to Derby County, heading Ben Garrity’s flick on just wide in the second half.
Ben Garrity
Remains a regular at the heart of the Vale’s midfield, with only Nathan Smith able to rival his 26 league appearances this season for Darrell Clarke’s side.
Full of running and energy, his appearance in the 2-1 defeat to Derby County was his 100th league appearance – a fine achievement having only made his league debut two-and-a-half years ago.