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Ben Waine (Port Vale | England)

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Posted September 25, 2025 23:23 · last edited September 25, 2025 23:26

I don't think it was a bad idea to have one more crack at the UK. His parents are English, he has family there, and it was clear when he signed with Plymouth it was a child hood dream to play pro football in Blighty. Not an easy dream to give up on.

Port Vale were promoted from L2, and when he signed there had a pretty thin squad for the jump up. But he just didn't take his early season chances over 4-5 games. And brutally his opportunity there is now gone already.

As someone else penned in the last few weeks, the really disappointing thing is that after nearly 3 seasons in the UK he doesn't seem to have progressed much if at all with his football. The same weaknesses/work ons that he had as a young callow player at the Nix, still seem to be there as a 24 yr old.

I'm not sure he would go much better down in L2. Will still be pretty physical like L1, just a bit slower, opposition CBs not as good. 

He does though have some time on his side. He had a few team mates at Mansfield Town last season like Lee Gregory and a Welsh guy, with solid L1 careers who were still playing National League or Welsh League at about age 24. 

Needs to leave Port Vale ASAP, but where to I don't know. He would yes go into a known, patient and caring environment at the Nix

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Unknown editor edited September 25, 2025 23:26
I don't think it was a bad idea to have one more crack at the UK. His parents are English, he has family there, and it was clear when he signed with Plymouth it was a child hood dream to play pro football in Blighty. Not an easy dream to give up on.

Port Vale were promoted from L2, and when he signed there had a pretty thin squad for the jump up. But he just didn't take his early season chances over 4-5 games. And brutally his chance there is now gone already.

As someone else penned in the last few weeks, the really disappointing thing is that after nearly 3 seasosn in the UK he doesn't seem to have progressed much iot at all with his football. The same weaknesses/work ons that he had as a young callow player at the Nix, seem to still be there as a 24 yr old.

I'm not sure he would go much better down in L2. Will still be pretty physical like L1, just a bit slower. 

He does though has some time on his side. He had a few team mates at Mansfield Town last season like Lee Gregory and a Welsh guy, with solid L1 careers who were still playing National League or Welsh League at about age 24. 

Needs to leave Port Vale ASAP, but where to I don't know. He would go into a known, patient and caring environment at the Nix