COLCHESTER United are set to come up against their former captain Connor Hall this evening.

The 31-year-old defender left the U’s to rejoin Vale in the summer for a ‘significant fee’, bringing to an end his 18-month spell at the JobServe Community Stadium.

Mike Baggaley, editor of The Valiant newsletter on Substack, assesses the impact Hall has had since swapping North Essex for Burslem.

IT would be an understatement to say Connor Hall’s return to Vale Park this summer was well received by the fanbase in Burslem.

The defender had been a popular part of Vale’s 2021/22 promotion from League Two after signing in the January of that season and there were no hard feelings when he moved on 12 months later to Colchester, significantly closer to his family in Cambridgeshire.

(Image: PPA UK)

He and his young family made the decision to relocate when he decided to return north and he has been an important part of the side so far as well as being made vice captain.

He’s started seven of Vale’s eight league games, more than any other defender, and has looked comfortable.

Around half Vale’s games have been with a back three, in which case Hall has played as the left-sided centre half, but he has also kept his place in central defence when Vale have switched to a 4-2-3-1.

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Darren Moore has plenty of competition for places in central defence with Ben Heneghan, Jesse Debrah and Nathan Smith all in contention, along with Tom Sang who is usually a right-wing back but played on the right of the back three on Saturday.

But Hall has deservedly kept his place and is developing a strong partnership with left back or wing back Kyle John on that side.

A favourite from the promotion-season songbook has also returned in the stands.

Vale fans like to sing an Oasis classic with ‘Wonderwall’ replaced by ‘Connor Hall’.