Vale ran out 5-1 winners courtesy of three goals in the last seven minutes, but Biddulph were pleased with the work-out and the financial rewards.

Terry Greer, chairman/manager of the Midland Alliance club, said: "We played OK against superior opposition. I asked the lads to keep things tight for an hour and that would keep us in the game.

"For 75-80 minutes we did very well, but we just ran out of legs at the end and I was disappointed with the final score. It didn't reflect the match.

"But it was a great day for our club with an attendance that exceeded all our expectations. It was about ten times our average home gate and a major boost for our finances.

"We don't get a share of the bar takings at our Tunstall Road ground, as it is run by a sports and social club. So we have to work hard to keep a club going in senior football. It is a constant struggle and it is hard to get people to come along and get involved.

"Hopefully some of the spectators who turned up on Saturday will feel it is worth popping down the road to watch us when Port Vale are away in the future. There is a big Stoke City following in the Biddulph area, but Vale fans are welcome here as well!

"To be honest, I was pleasantly surprised when we were offered the fixture against Port Vale.

"We have tried for a number of years to secure a friendly against one of the local Football League clubs, but they always seemed to want to play the likes of Leek Town or Newcastle Town. I hope we can build on this new relationship with Vale."

Biddulph finished 16th in the Midland Alliance last season. Greer is keen to improve on that performance in the coming campaign.

He said: "We massively underachieved with the players we had. Our record against the top sides in the division was very good. We beat the likes of Quorn and Studley, who finished high up.

"On our day, we are capable of turning other people over. Only two sides beat us home and away, but we let ourselves down in the run of the mill games. It is consistency that wins leagues and we will be working on that this year.

"The success of any non-League club boils down to finances and we went through a difficult time off the park last season. In saying that, we are now starting to show signs of recovery.

"There are new bodies on the committee, we have launched a sponsors' draw which is going well and there appears to be an air of optimism in and around the club.

"We cannot afford to buy success on the park. We know that we cannot compete financially with the other local non-League sides, so we need to be patient and wait for the players that we want to become available.

"We also need to be aware of the quality of the young lads coming through locally and be first on the scene to snap them up.

"Word is spreading that this is not a bad club to play for. Players can enjoy their football here, playing at a decent standard in the Midland Alliance - a league that encourages teams to pass the ball and play the game as it should be played. So we will continue to cut our cloth accordingly at Biddulph and do the best we can."

Grassroots Round-up

Forest Green Rovers are hoping to build a new £3 million stadium in Nailsworth. The plans are currently being considered by Stroud District Council, with Rovers hoping to sell their existing ground at The Lawn for housing.

Former top flight star Warren Barton is discussing a move to Dagenham and Redbridge. Barton has enjoyed a distinguished professional career with Maidstone, Wimbledon, Newcastle, Derby and QPR.

Wingate & Finchley chairman Peter Rebak has stepped down after 22 years service, citing the need for some new blood at the helm of the North London club.