Famous Players – The 2000’s

Billy Paynter

Striker Billy Paynter started his career at the Vale in the Academy after being spotted when he was only 10 years old. He subsequently signed professional forms in 2000 and manager Brian Horton gave Billy his first team debut the following year when he was 16 years and 294 days old. He was the youngest Vale player to appear for the first team in over twenty years.

Billy went on to play a further seven games that season, scoring his first senior goal in September 2002 to become the club’s youngest goalscorer for 24 years. He went on to score five goals in 34 appearances during the 2002-03 season followed by 14 goals in 48 games during 2003-04, despite being played mostly on the right wing.  He was rewarded with a new long term contract at the end of what was a successful season as the Vale finished just outside the play off places.

Billy rewarded the club by being top scorer with 13 goals during 2003-04 and although it was rumoured that he was interested in moving to neighbours Crewe Alex he was voted as Player of the Year. The Vale eventually accepted a bid of £150,000 for Billy from Championship club Hull City in November 2005.  This involved Billy initially signing for Hull on loan with the deal being completed in the transfer window the following January.

Billy appeared for several other teams in a playing career comprising over 530 games.  This  included Swindon, Leeds, Doncaster and Hartlepool.  He retired from playing to take up coaching in 2017 and spent a period at the Vale coaching in the Academy between 2020 and 2022.