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Port Vale F.C. Player of the Year

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The Port Vale Player of the Year award is voted for annually by Port Vale's supporters in recognition of the best overall performance by an individual player throughout the football season. Towards the end of each season, fans are invited to cast their votes for this award.

Tom Pope, the only player to win the award three times.
The 2011 winner, John McCombe.
Mark Grew, winner in 1989 and 1992.
Martin Foyle, winner in 1995 and 1999.
Sam Collins won the award in 2003, after 49 appearances in 2002–03.
Anthony Griffith won the award in 2010, having gained popularity for his 'tigerish displays'.

The inaugural award was made to Roy Sproson in 1967 and became an annual event from Ron Wilson's victory in 1969. David Harris (1974 and 1977), Ray Walker (1988 and 1991), Mark Grew (1989 and 1992), Neil Aspin (1990 and 1994), Martin Foyle (1995 and 1999), Nathan Smith (2017 and 2023) and Ben Garrity (2022 and 2024) have all won two awards during their time at Vale Park. Aspin and Foyle also went on to manage the club, whilst Grew spent three spells as caretaker manager. Tom Pope is the only player to win the award thrice, winning in 2013, 2014 and 2018. Eamonn O'Keefe and Anthony Griffith represented Ireland and Montserrat respectively at international level, though both players were born in England. After receiving his first award in April 2013, Tom Pope stated, "To be voted for by the fans like this is a massive honour for me. It means such a lot, more than the other [PFA] awards I've been lucky enough to win."[1] Midfielders are more commonly rewarded, claiming 20 wins.

The current holder is midfielder Kyle John, following his consistent performances throughout the 2025–26 season.

Winners

More information Year, Level[A] ...
YearLevel[A]NamePosition[B]NationalityReferenceNotes
19674Roy SprosonDefender England[2][C]
19694Ron WilsonDefender Scotland[2]
19704John GreenMidfielder England[2]
19713Tommy McLarenStriker Scotland[2]
19723Sammy MorganStriker Northern Ireland[2]
19733Ray WilliamsStriker England[2]
19743David HarrisDefender England[2]
19753John ConnaughtonGoalkeeper England[2]
19763John RidleyMidfielder England[2]
19773David HarrisDefender England[2][D]
19783Ken BeamishStriker England[2]
19794Bernie WrightStriker England[2]
19804Kenny BeechMidfielder England[2]
19814Russell BromageMidfielder England[2]
19824Ernie MossStriker England[2]
19834Wayne CegielskiDefender Wales[2]
19843Eamonn O'KeefeStriker Republic of Ireland[2][E]
19854Alan WebbDefender England[2]
19864Jim ArnoldGoalkeeper England[2]
19873Andy JonesStriker Wales[2]
19883Ray WalkerMidfielder England[2]
19893Mark GrewGoalkeeper England[2]
19902Neil AspinDefender England[2]
19912Ray WalkerMidfielder England[2][D]
19922Mark GrewGoalkeeper England[2][D]
19933Ian TaylorMidfielder England[3]
19943Neil AspinDefender England[4][D]
19952Martin FoyleStriker England[5]
19962Jon McCarthyMidfielder Northern Ireland[6]
19972Lee MillsStriker England[7]
19982Gareth AinsworthMidfielder England[8]
19992Martin FoyleStriker England[9][D]
20002Tommy WiddringtonMidfielder England[10]
20013Dave BrammerMidfielder England[11]
20023Mark GoodladGoalkeeper England[12]
20033Sam CollinsDefender England[13]
20043Stephen McPheeStriker Scotland[14]
20053Billy PaynterStriker England[15]
20063George PilkingtonDefender England[16]
20073Akpo SodjeStriker England[15]
20083Paul HarsleyMidfielder England[17]
20094Joe AnyonGoalkeeper England[18]
20104Anthony GriffithMidfielder Montserrat[19]
20114John McCombeDefender England[20]
20124Doug LoftMidfielder England[21]
20134Tom PopeStriker England[22]
20143Tom PopeStriker England[23][D]
20153Michael O'ConnorMidfielder Northern Ireland[24]
20163Anthony GrantMidfielder England[25]
20173Nathan SmithDefender England[26]
20184Tom PopeStriker England[27][G]
20194Scott BrownGoalkeeper England[28]
20204David WorrallMidfielder England[29]
20214Tom ConlonMidfielder England[30]
20224Ben GarrityMidfielder England[31]
20233Nathan SmithDefender England[32][D]
20243Ben GarrityMidfielder England[33][D]
20254Ryan CroasdaleMidfielder England[34]
20263Kyle JohnDefender England[35]
Close

Wins by playing position

More information Position, Number of winners [F] ...
PositionNumber of
winners [F]
Midfielder21
Striker17
Defender14
Goalkeeper7
Close

Wins by nationality

More information Nationality, Number of winners[F] ...
NationalityNumber of
winners[F]
 England49
 Northern Ireland3
 Scotland3
 Wales2
 Republic of Ireland1
 Montserrat1
Close

Footnotes

A. ^ For ease of reading, the complexities of the frequent renaming of the various divisions have been simplified to a number, reflecting the official "Level" of competition in the English league system. For more information see English football league system#Structure.

B. ^ For a full description of positions, see Association football positions.

C. ^ Inaugural winner.

D. ^ Second award.

E. ^ First non-British winner.

F. ^ Multiple winners are counted multiple times.

G. ^ Third award.

References

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