Emotional Darrell Clarke dedicates Port Vale play-off final win to late daughter

An emotional Darrell Clarke dedicated Port Vale’s 3-0 play-off final victory over Mansfield at Wembley to his late daughter Ellie.

The former Stags player was given six weeks of compassionate leave in February following the death of his 18-year-old daughter but made a phased return to work to help Vale into the Sky Bet League Two play-offs and they subsequently booked a trip to the national stadium with a penalty success over Swindon.

Backed by a sea of black and white shirts, the Stoke club had one foot in the third tier after 24 minutes when goals by Kian Harratt and James Wilson put them in control and Mal Benning provided the icing on the cake with a third in the 85th minute.

It allowed a tearful Clarke to soak up the final few minutes following a season full of challenges on the pitch – but more crucially off it.

The Vale boss admitted: “I’ve have worked so hard the last few days to control those emotions and then they all come out when we were nearly there.

“I didn’t want to take that for granted but we were in a great position and yeah, it is special.

“It is special for my eldest daughter, who I lost this year, and my family that are going through a tough time. No different from any other family so I certainly don’t want sympathy but it was just, I don’t know. I think she was up there kicking every ball for me today so I dedicate that to my daughter.”

Before Vale had taken control, a show of solidarity occurred in the eighth minute when both sets of supporters applauded Clarke, who spent more than a decade at Mansfield as a player and wore the number eight shirt at Field Mill.

The 44-year-old responded by thanking all four corners of Wembley and acknowledged after it had been his “most emotional day in football”