New statistics recently released by the Football League have shown Vale's academy as one of the most improved for player productivity over the past 10 years, and out of all 92 league clubs, ranks the club in the top third.

The measurement of productivity provided by the statistics includes all player production by Port Vale Academy, including players devloped at Vale that are now playing for other clubs.

In the 2007/2008 season, the Port Vale Academy was ranked 66th out of 92 English league clubs for player productivity when it was a Centre of Excellence. Since then, there has been a massive transistion at the club's academy, which saw it turn from a Centre of Excellence to Academy status under the ownership of Norman Smurthwaite. New statistics show the club's academy is now ranked amongst some of the best clubs in England in 33rd. 

Academy manager Sevvy Aslam, who has been with the club for over ten years now, is extremelly proud of the academy and is pleased to see so many young talents developing.

"Recruitment, coaching, sports science are fundamentally equal and just as important but not without having the right structures in place to ensure we can recruit, develop and nurture the best young talent for Port Vale Football Club, so spearheading our improvement as a department was my challenge as the Academy Manager 6 years ago.

"Developing an increased number of players through our own academy system, who are capable of playing for the first team, is the ultimate aim for myself and the staff."

Sevvy has certainly been through a wave of emotions as Academy manager, and says he has seen many highs and lows during his time at the club.

From shaking buckets to organising car washes to keep the youth department financially able and functioning, Sevvy's desire to see the young players go on and do so well, and his committment to the Academy is undeniable. The academy manager is keen to point out though, that the improvement in player productivity is down to the dedication from members of staff at the academy.

"We are starting to see the fruits of many years of hard work from the academy staff, with a number of our home grown players, making first team debuts in recent months.

"The academy is in a better place and it feels like the right time for me thank everyone at the academy, the club and supporters for their fantastic support and patience over the years,

"I want the department to continue to strive to better itself and we have mechanism in place to challenge and enhance what we are doing, and looking at the current data and stats from the Premier League /English Football League we are heading in the right direction.

"The academy graduates who grace Vale Park are now 1st Team Players, our focus now is totally back our upcoming players".

The academy have produced a number of first team regulars over the years. Vice captain Nathan Smith, full back James Gibbons and goalkeeper Ryan Boot are some of many recent Port Vale first team regulars that have worked their way up through the academy, and gone onto to sign professional contracts with the club. 

The academy are proud to have produced a number of talented players, and through their hard work and dediation to those coming through the ranks, they have seen them go on and sign for clubs in the Premier League such as Everton and Manchester City.