30 Apr 2024

Former player flies plane over Port Vale's ground mocking relegation

7:27 am on 30 April 2024
Ryan Burge posted this photo on Facebook after completing his flyover of Port Vale

Ryan Burge posted this photo on Facebook after completing his flyover of Port Vale Photo: Facebook

A former player at struggling English football club Port Vale has taken his grudge against the club to new heights.

The former club midfielder Ryan Burge flew a plane over the club's Vale Park ground at the weekend mocking their drop into the fourth tier with a banner which read, 'She stood there laughing - N40,' referencing rivals Stoke City's anthem 'Delilah' by Tom Jones.

"Thank you to the Stoke City fans who paid me to do something I would have happily done for free," Burge wrote on Facebook after landing.

"This is an experience I will cherish for the rest of my life."

Burge featured prominently in Vale's promotion to League One in 2012-13 but left after being suspended for missing a pre-match meal and later criticising manager Micky Adams on Twitter.

He also unsuccessfully applied to be Vale manager in 2017 following his retirement as a player.

Burge often mocks Vale fans on social media and refers to his former club as 'Port Fail'.

"Don't let the door hit you on the way out. Lots of Love, Player of the Year in your only automatic promotion season since 1994," he wrote on X, along with a picture of himself in a Vale jersey with 'No promotions without me' written on it.

- Reuters