club's first ever director of football the following month and Darrell Clarke was appointed as manager. Port Vale's game against Harrogate Town on 5 April 2021 was the first in the English Football League where a woman referee was appointed to officiate. Though 2020–21 saw the team finish in mid-table, the club impressed off the pitch by being named as Community Club of the Year at the EFL Awards for "a staggering 300,000 food parcels and 6,000 phone calls delivered to those in need during the pandemic". Despite losing Clarke to bereavement leave for nearly three months, Port Vale finished fifth and qualified for the play-offs at the end of the 2021–22 season and defeated Swindon Town on penalties to progress through the semi-finals. Promotion was secured with a 3–0 victory over Mansfield Town in the final and Clarke dedicated the victory to his recently deceased daughter. References Books Kent, Jeff: "Back To Where We Once Belonged!: Port Vale Promotion Chronicle 1988–1989" (Witan Books, 1989, ). Kent, Jeff: "The Valiants' Years: The Story Of Port Vale" (Witan Books, 1990, ). Kent, Jeff: "Port Vale Tales: A Collection Of Stories, Anecdotes And Memories" (Witan Books, 1991, ). Kent, Jeff: "The Port Vale Record 1879–1993" (Witan Books, 1993, ). Kent, Jeff: "Port Vale Personalities: A Biographical Dictionary of Players, Officials and Supporters" (Witan Books, 1996, ). Kent, Jeff: "The Potteries Derbies" (Witan Books, 1998, ). Kent, Jeff: What If There Had Been No Port In The Vale?: Startling Port Vale Stories! (Witan Books, 2011, ). Port Vale History of Stoke-on-Trent History