The turn of a calendar year always brings with it a healthy dose of excitement and optimism, with a clean slate presented on which to map out hopes and dreams of individual and collective nature. Targets can be both short and long in term and veer wildly between the cautiously realistic and wildly ambitious.
Many resolutions will be ripped up within hours of being made, as supposedly best-laid plans are pushed to the back of a memory bank, but others are set in stone and failure is not an option for those determined to better themselves.
Work goals will figure prominently in the thoughts of plenty, with professional progress there for the taking. That is certainly the case for one Isle of Wight native who is looking to take a positive step up the career ladder in 2022.
Aaron Martin is that man, with the Newport-born footballer among those hoping that the next few months will deliver plenty to shout about. He has been in this position before and knows from experience how tricky it can be to deliver on best intentions.
Port Vale, though, have him daring to dream again, with a Staffordshire-based outfit sat among the frontrunners in a 46-game League Two marathon that looks set to go down to the wire. The Valiants are priced at 7/4 in the betting markets to get promoted via either the automatics or the playoffs, with Darrell Clarke’s side displaying the kind of consistency that allows such paths to be trodden.
Aaron Martin scored his first goal in a Vale shirt yesterday, not a bad way to get off the mark!
— Port Vale FC (@OfficialPVFC) October 24, 2021
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Martin’s experience is being put to good use within that quest, with a return to football made in the summer of 2021 on the back of a season-long spell spent north of the border at Hamilton Academical. Familiar faces were waiting for him at Vale Park, along with no lack of ambition.
Going up?
While everyone connected with Port Vale is determined to turn potential into something more tangible, Martin has more reason than most for wanting to take in emotionally charged celebrations in May.
He has been in this position before, with resolutions from 2020 being dusted off and recycled in the present. Two years ago, Exeter City found themselves within touching distance of League One, only to fall at the last hurdle.
Martin was part of a side that suffered an agonising 4-0 play-off final defeat to Northampton Town, with lines fluffed at Wembley in spectacular style. The plan is to right those wrongs, especially if another visit to the home of English football has to be taken in.
The @SkyBet EFL Play-Offs are here!
Who will #StepUp? #EFL | #EFLPlayOffs pic.twitter.com/59SXcUNSMD
— EFL (@EFL) May 17, 2021
In an ideal world, Vale will surge towards the finishing post and land themselves a top-three finish. If such a standing can be secured, then automatic promotion is theirs and the party will begin.
Another ticket for the play-off lottery may be required, though, and that will lead to plenty of nerves being shredded as battle-weary bodies are asked to go to the well one more time – well, three more times if the job is to be finished in style.
Martin, who once formed part of a Premier League squad at Southampton, will be keeping everything crossed that 2022 is his year. Vows have been made to give absolutely everything in pursuit of ultimate glory, and this is no time to backtrack on such promises.
