Captain Tommy Fraser coming of age at Port Vale

By Phil Cartwright
BBC Radio Stoke

Tommy Fraser was appointed Port Vale captain after signing from Brighton

Moving to a new club far away from home is a challenge for any footballer at the age of just 21.

Then imagine being told you are going to be made captain, making you one of the youngest leaders in the Football League.

It was a challenge that Tommy Fraser accepted in June 2009, as he left his home-town club Brighton and Hove Albion, and pitched up at Port Vale.

He was new manager Micky Adams' first signing, and Adams wasted no time in stamping his authority on the League Two club by handing the armband to a player he had also worked with during his time as manager of the Seagulls.

Fraser's first season at Vale Park has had high and low points, but the midfielder, now 22, believes he is growing with the role.

"The gaffer phoned me about it in the summer and said he was thinking about it," Fraser told BBC Radio Stoke.

"He named me captain and it was a great honour. It does sink in as the season goes on, you don't realise how big of a role it is to be captain of a football club at 21, especially a club like this.

"It's something I want to keep hold of because it can only be a good thing. People say maybe it's a bit too much pressure for someone of my age, but not me, I thrive on stuff like that."

Fraser arrived at Vale having already made 102 appearances for Brighton at League One level, but it was a still seen as a surprise decision for some when he was appointed skipper ahead of the likes of Marc Richards, Sam Stockley and Gareth Owen; players with sufficiently more Football League experience.

Whether I'm suspended, injured, in the team or on the bench, I'll be buzzing around the lads. I just want to win, no matter how we do it

Port Vale captain Tommy Fraser

Vale made a promising start to the campaign, reaching the third round of the Carling Cup after victories over both Sheffield clubs, and producing a string of consistent displays in League Two, although without often troubling the top seven.

An inconsistent run of results at the turn of the year left some supporters frustrated at the prospect of another season languishing in the bottom tier of the Football League, and at times Fraser bore the brunt of those frustrations.

In the 2-0 home defeat against Barnet, Fraser was substituted, and booed off by a section of the Vale Park crowd.

Since then, Vale's form has significantly improved, to a point where they are considered genuine play-off contenders with nine matches left to play, and Fraser believes he has come through a difficult spell in a positive manner.

"People say it was a tough month, maybe so, but as far as I'm concerned I'm just trying my best for the team," he said.

"I got another assist at the weekend [in the 1-1 draw at Cheltenham] which takes me well past double figures for the season.

"The gaffer brought me off again at the weekend to change the shape, which is fair enough. I've been substituted many times before and it's nothing new to me."

Fraser is a laid-back and jovial character away from the football pitch, but he is very competitive on it, as his disciplinary record this season would prove.

He has missed six games of the campaign because of suspension, having collected 10 yellow cards and one red, but he is still keen to be around the squad and have a positive input, even if he is not playing.

"We went to Darlington away on a Tuesday night, I was suspended and I could have easily gone home to Brighton to see my family and my friends," continued Fraser. "But as hard as it is missing them, my main priority is Port Vale.

"Whether I'm suspended, injured, in the team or on the bench, I'll be buzzing around the lads. I just want to win, no matter how we do it."

And given Vale's recent run of form, what price on Fraser leading his side out at Wembley in the League Two play-off final on 30 May?

"There's a long way to go yet, I'm looking forward to leading us out against Crewe on Saturday first. That's what I'll be getting ready for."