Hancock eager to keep the numbers rising at Vale Park

MATT Hancock has challenged Port Vale fans to come to Vale Park in their numbers more often.

- Clive Youlton

The club's chief executive officer spoke of “the magic 10,000” mark as an aim on a more regular basis after seeing 16,000 supporters overall turn up at the stadium for the Carabao Cup defeat to Arsenal.

“One of the best things is we didn't get overawed anywhere,” Hancock told Port Vale TV.

“On the pitch we didn't, we competed and I thought the players did really well. Off the pitch it was the first time we'd had 16,000 in the ground in nearly 30 years so it was always going to bring challenges.

“But overall we handled it exceptionally well. I think the staff wanted it, no one was frightened of it and actually all the feedback I have had is, let's do it again. How do we regularly try and get more than 10,000 home fans? That's the challenge internally and the challenge for me to the supporters.