Jordan Hugill scored five goals in 24 games for the club before being signed by Preston North End in June 2014, though a 20% sell on clause would net the club a £1.8 million windfall when Preston sold him on to West Ham United in January 2018. Strikers Tony Sealy and Alex Jones both scored ten goals in successful loan spells the Vale, helping the players to prove their talent to their parent clubs. David Healy only scored three goals during his loan spell, but would go on to become Northern Ireland's record scorer. Marcus Bent was one of manager John Rudge's last signings and was quickly sold on for a £75,000 profit in October 1999, though would be a £2 million Premier League player at Blackburn Rovers within two years. Dean Smith played 15 games for the Vale at the end of his playing career, and would go on to manager Aston Villa and lead Villa into the Premier League in 2019.
