New Season, New Faces: Port Vale FC's 2025–26 Journey Begins
- Editorial Staff
- 2 hours ago
- 3 min read
Port Vale FC are back in League One with confidence as it sets its sights on a new chapter in the club’s long and storied history. Their promotion at the end of the 2024–25 campaign was hard-fought and well deserved, giving manager Darren Moore and his squad plenty to build on for the 2025–26 season. And they’re not resting on their laurels.
The summer has been a busy one at Vale Park, with several new faces joining the ranks. Right-back Jordan Gabriel arrives from Blackpool, offering both experience and dynamism in defence. Ronan Curtis, snapped up from AFC Wimbledon, brings proven attacking quality, while the return of Connor Hall from Colchester United adds steel and leadership to the backline.Â
These signings are complemented by promising youngsters eager to make their mark. The departures have been just as telling, most notably, long-serving defender Nathan Smith heads to Tranmere Rovers, opening up opportunities for fresh competition in the back four. Overall, it’s a squad rebuild that speaks of ambition rather than mere survival.
Bookmakers have Port Vale at around 25/1 for promotion this season, not the shortest of odds, but certainly not to be sniffed at. There’s been serious interest in the changes, transfers, and player info./ For instance, various UK betting sites not on Gamstop have been paying attention, and fans will most likely see better, more competitive odds to back their team’s success. These sites often cater to fans with a wider range of prop bets, from top-half finishes to first-goalscorer wagers, giving them a chance to show their loyalty, especially if you believe in Darren Moore’s plan.
Moore is known for instilling discipline and belief in his players, and the new recruits are well-suited to his style of high-intensity football. The emphasis is on forging a team that blends experience with youthful hunger, one that can handle the physicality of League One while still playing with purpose. It’s a vision that seems to resonate throughout the dressing room and has set the tone for pre-season.
Supporters have been quick to pick up on the excitement. The talk around the 150th anniversary kit launch, a classic white-and-black look that tips its hat to the club’s storied past, has been electric, with thousands of shirts sold in the first few days. Fans are talking with real optimism about the year ahead, with social media chatter and season ticket sales seeing a significant increase.
On the pitch, pre-season friendlies offer a first glimpse of how these new pieces might fit together. Fixtures against Newcastle Town, Kidsgrove Athletic, Bath City, Birmingham City and Altrincham FC will give Moore’s new-look squad the chance to gel and find its rhythm. The real test will come when League One kicks off in earnest; the opening home fixture against Derby County already promises to be a key early marker for how this team stacks up.
When you pull it all together, there’s a real sense that this is a club balancing heritage and ambition. The new signings fit the manager’s blueprint, the fixtures provide early tests to measure up against, and the fans are fully behind the project. Port Vale aren’t just looking to survive in League One, they’re aiming to build something that endures. For the many following the journey, in the stands and across the city, it’s shaping up to be a season to remember.
With everything to play for and a squad that seems ready to embrace the challenge, Port Vale’s journey in 2025–26 promises to be one worth watching.
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