It’s not often you get ‘one of your own’ coming through the ranks and going on to represent the club.
Jamie Proctor is a Preston North End fan and came through the youth academy before breaking into the first team for his debut aged just 18 under Darren Ferguson in 2010.
The following season, after a loan spell with Stockport County, he scored his first ever goal for the club under Phil Brown.
The goal came in the last game of the season against Watford as Preston’s relegation to the Championship had already been confirmed. The following season saw him and the club start the League One campaign in promising style. After a prolific goal scoring pre-season for Proctor, he was part of a three pronged attack with Neil Mellor and Iain Hume. North End went on a run of seven wins in a row early on in that season but injuries to Proctor’s strike partners severely hampered the team.
Proctor moved on in the summer of 2012 with Preston now led by Graham Westley. He joined Swansea City in the Premier League as part of their development squad, but never managed to make an appearance for the Welsh side, heading loan to Shrewsbury Town before moving permanently to Crawley Town that same season.
After 13 goals in 18 months in League One, he was signed by Fleetwood, where he enjoyed his best season to date in terms of goals, netting eight in the 2014-15 season.
Spells at Bradford City, Bolton Wanderers and Carlisle United followed before he joined Rotherham United in 2017. He has spent the last four years with The Millers, but due to some very serious injuries he only managed 29 games and five goals in that time. He was part of two League One promotions with the side in that time though.
Loan moves to Scunthorpe United, AFC Fylde, Newport County and most recently Wigan Athletic have helped him in his recovery from injured, and after parting company with Rotherham, Proctor has now found his 15th club of his career.
Port Vale have handed him a one-year contract as the 29-year-old looks to kick on and get some games and goals under his belt. The Valiants finished 13th in League Two last season.
Whilst it may seem Proctor has struggled with injuries throughout his career, he has managed 337 appearances and 52 goals. The Ingol-born striker has caught the eye of many managers throughout and has never been short of offers for a move.