Sinnott had four-and-a-half success-laden seasons in west Leeds, transforming Farsley from UniBond League First Division minnows into a semi-professional outfit within one step of the Football League.

Such was his impact, he was head-hunted by Potteries outfit Vale last November and made the move with a reputation of being one of football's brightest young managers.

He was unable to take the midas touch with him – Vale were relegated to League Two in May – but he is now starting afresh and following the mould that proved so successful at Throstle Nest.

Sinnott, who has been back to Farsley as a spectator but not in a professional capacity, said: "I'm really looking forward to the game, it will be nice to go back.

"I always found it a bit weird when I went back to previous clubs as a player, but it will be nice to see everyone again.

"I thoroughly enjoyed my time at Farsley and it made me the manager I am today. I am at Port Vale because of the experience I went through in four-and-a-bit years there.

"I wouldn't say it was a gamble but it was a bit different when they appointed me. They decided to go for an ex-professional player, but it worked out well for both parties."

Ask any of his former players or staff to name the secret of Sinnott's success at Celtic and they will tell you it was built on "professionalism" and "team spirit".

He wasted no time in bringing players with the right attributes to Throstle Nest and it fostered a camaraderie which was difficult for opponents to break down.

It is something Sinnott is repeating at Vale this summer as he starts to build his own team rather than make the best of one he inherited.

Sinnott said: "There is a picture on the wall here from last season and 15 of the 22 players are no longer at the club. There has been a big turnaround in personnel which means a lot of people are getting to know each other.

"But, to me, that's an advantage because you can mould people the way you want them to be.

"A good dressing room is worth 10 to 15 points a season – I learnt that at Farsley. When you are all in tandem, pulling in the same direction, you can turn draws into wins and defeats into draws.

"It is important to get the right chemistry and I want a hunger and a desire for success."

The early glimpses of the results will be on show tonight in what is the first pre-season game for both clubs.

"I'm using the same policy as I used at Farsley in pre-season. I have chosen fixtures against local sides, we're playing teams from higher up and teams from just below us," added Sinnott. "I class Farsley as a Conference side because the squad they have is more or less the same group of players who played in the Conference last season.

"I am aiming to bring all the first team – it is not a reserve game – and it is all about getting players minutes on the pitch at this stage.