Port Vale: Fraser focused on Vale challenge
PORT VALE midfielder Tom Fraser insists he has buried the hurt of leaving hometown club Brighton by targeting a swift return to League One.
The 21-year-old joined the Seagulls at the age of 10, before going on to skipper the club's youth team and making his first-team debut at the age of 18.
But after more than a decade of service, including 102 senior appearances, Fraser was released at the end of the season, and subsequently joined Vale on a two-year deal.
Fraser played a leading role in helping Russell Slade's men haul themselves out of League One relegation trouble to achieve a respectable 16th-placed finish.
But he insists he is now fully focused on helping the Valiants return to League One.
"I was at Brighton for three seasons as a professional, played over 100 games, including 36 matches last year and every game in the run-in under the new gaffer," said Fraser.
"But the club was taken over by a new owner and they want bigger and better things, so good luck to them. I'm at a new club and, as far as I'm concerned, it's a fresh start, and hopefully we can get out of this league."
Fraser says the prospect of working with Vale boss Micky Adams again was an important factor behind his decision to move to the Potteries. The pair previously worked together during Adams's second managerial stint at Brighton, a 10-month spell which ended in February.
Fraser will also be hoping Burslem will be a happy hunting ground for him having notched his first senior goal at Vale Park on December 23, 2006.
However, it only proved to be a late consolation as a Leon Constantine brace handed the Valiants three League One points.
The midfielder, who has only added two more goals to his tally since then, believes he will add versatility to Adams's ranks.
He added: "I'm a hard-working midfielder and I'll give it my all in every game.
"I've played the holding role before, behind the front two, on the flanks, and right-back on a few occasions."
