Port Vale have announced a new scheme whereby youngsters can swap their Stoke City shirts and tickets for Valiant ones.
Stoke City’s ‘City 7’ initiative offers seven-year-olds in the city a free Potters shirt and ticket for a game at the Bet365 Stadium. The scheme was an undoubted success for the Championship outfit last season with over two hundred schools taking advantage of the offer.
Now Vale is giving young fans a chance to exchange their shirts and tickets with the Valiants.
The two clubs are bitter city rivals and there is little doubt the Vale scheme is a cheeky jibe at the Championship neighbours who have been having a dreadful time under Nathan Jones, their latest defeat to a Danny Cowley inspired Huddersfield Town last night leaving them rock bottom of the table with two points after failing to register a league win so far this season.
Meanwhile, Vale seems like a club on the up after the recent take over by lifelong fans Carol and Kevin Shanahan. They have had a decent start to their League Two campaign, sitting in the relative safety of mid-table after several years of struggle.
Indeed, Carol Shanahan backed up the club announcement on her Twitter account by extending the offer to all children who want to make the swap, reminding fans there are two teams in the city.
Following the overwhelming response to our offer to swap #City7 shirts & tickets to a #PVFC fan’s child. I am delighted we have extended to all children who would like to do the same this year. We hadn’t planned for this so have placed an additional order to Errea! #2teams1city https://t.co/HBfEQom4T3
— Carol Shanahan (@pvfc_carol) October 2, 2019
The announcement went down well on social media, with plenty of fans delighted at the news. Many supporters complimented the club on an excellent idea while also taking the chance to have a dig at their city neighbours.
Here is a selection of responses to the announcement on Twitter.
Awesome. This is just one of the many reasons why I’m over the moon with our new owners.
— Dan Boulton (@dan_boulton) October 2, 2019
Fantastic idea! There’s more than one team in this city. Up the Vale!!
— Matt Lewis (@sproson1978) October 2, 2019
Brilliant idea😁
— Tom (@Tomday123456) October 2, 2019
More than welcome to have the 10,000 glory hunters back that wanted to watch premiership football and a European tour .
— Wingnut2078 (@Wingnut20781) October 2, 2019
Wondering if the striped shirt is still at the bottom of the drawer, never worn!
— Will Roberts (@WillRoberts11) October 2, 2019
Ever had a stoke shirt that wasn’t your fault? 😂
— Tom Amos (@Tom_Amos) October 2, 2019
@pvfc_carol take a bow.
— Michael (@dalgs971) October 2, 2019
https://twitter.com/IanF1876/status/1179317077162770432?s=20
https://twitter.com/Neil_pvfc/status/1179314856186564608?s=20
