Celebrating Carol

On International Women’s Day this year I would like to celebrate someone from my local area who inspires me – meet Carol Shanahan Chair and Co-Owner of Port Vale Football Club.

Carol and her husband Kevin bought Port Vale in 2019 and reflecting on the past three years there has been such a lot of positive activity which has brought the club back to the fans.

So what is it about Carol that I find so inspirational?

• Has sight of the bigger picture – During lockdown the English Football League had a meeting to decide whether to halt the league as it was originally was or to try and play the matches – tricky given the COVID 19 situation at the time. At the time Vale were sitting just outside the play off positions and taking this decision meant that they missed out on possible promotion. As Carol put it she was shaking when she came away from the meeting but voted in a way that she felt was best for League 2 overall. 
• Considered decision making – When John Askey was sacked as manager there was,  as there is always is in football a clamour to name the next manager. However, rather than making a quick and potentially wrong decision there was a clear intention to put a structure in place and recruit the best person for the job. Resulting in a Director of Football and a manager who had demonstrated his promotion winning credentials.
• Focus on the Community – Football has always had close links to the community an it is fair to say that this link had been weakened before Carol came to the club. In 2021 Port Vale was named the Your Move Community Club of the Year for mobilising the community and delivering 300, 000 meals. Carol herself was also recently awarded an OBE for services to the community and in the last week food has been provided to a local Polish restaurant who were sending supplies to Ukraine. Putting the club at the heart of the community and engaging with supporters of all ages including the Golden Valiants club has re energised the supporter base as demonstrated by frequent stories in our local paper of queues for tickets and record shirt sales.
• Making the most of every opportunity – Football is ultimately a business and there is clear evidence that maximising the opportunities that are available is a key part of the strategy whether it be Robbie Williams supporting the kit launch and performing at Vale park or the FA Cup tie away at Man City where Vale took the 2nd highest away following that season. I know that Tom Pope will long be remembered for that goal…
• Accessibility – One of my favourite things about my Twitter feed is the pictures that are shared by @OfficialPVFC of Carol with the media team, signing Christmas cards and the occasional canal walk. It is clear that she is the beating heart of the club and happy to meet and greet supporters – best of all everybody is always smiling in these pictures so it is clear that everybody is having a good time!
• Empathy – In the last few weeks the current manager Darrell Clarke has been on bereavement leave. The club has issued a brief statement and asked for privacy for the family and I would like to extend my condolences to Darrell and his family and as the shirts the Vale players have worn have said “Thinking of you Gaffer” Quietly and without fuss arrangements have been put in place to give Darrell the space he needs at this difficult time whilst continuing the work he has started. 

I am guessing that Carol would want to thank everyone behind the scenes at Vale for all their hard work that made all of this happen – so THANK YOU! However, in my day job I know that leadership comes from the top so thank you Carol for bringing the club back to the community and if I may let me speak for fans everywhere to say we are “Glad All Over” you decided to buy the club! (If you support the Vale you will know what I mean…)

P.S. Those of you who know me will be aware that my footballing heart belongs elsewhere (sorry Carol!) but they will always be my second team – inevitable when I am married to a season ticket holding Port Vale fan!