Port Vale defender Nathan Smith was back at school this week, and it wasn't to sit down and take the maths exam happening in his old school hall.

Nathan was back at his former school Madeley High to help celebrate National School's Football week, where he previously won the Sentinel School's Shield with his school team back in 2012. 

Smith was joined at Madeley yesterday by Port Vale's football advisor John Rudge and chief executive Colin Garlick, and was watched on by his former PE teacher Paul Goodwin, who described Nathan as the "perfect role model".

Assistant head teacher at Madeley High, Tom Ostrowski was Nathan's manager when they defeated Thomas Alleyne’s at Vale Park, and he was over the moon to welcome the Vale defender back to the school.

"It's brilliant to have Nathan back, he was superb. When he was here he was a really good role model for the pupils.

"They've got a role model and someone to aspire to and he always worked hard. I could see from 11 years old just how good he was, my job was just to nurture him along the way and help where I could.

"It's brilliant to see him at Port Vale." Tom added.

Port Vale Foundation Football Development Officer, Kyle Adams helped organise the event at Madeley High School this week, and hoped it would inspire excellence through football.

"It's great to have Nathan come back to where it essentially all started for him at Madeley as a role model for the children.

"The big thing is for them to see that the attributes that can be learned through football and what Nathan possesses, can be transferred into their school life and beyond. 

"We want to inspire them to be confident in what they do and aspire to be whatever they want to be."