He said the partnership was less about “giving back” and more about recognising the place that shaped him.
“The only real bit of normality that I have in my life is where I come from and the people that are there,” he told Port Vale TV.
“They are salt of the earth, they are the clay, they’re real people.
“Everywhere I’ve gone, I’ve gone as a Stokie. Every room that I walk into, I’m from Staffordshire, whether they like it or not.
“This is important for me that I reach out my hand and keep a bit of it there always.”
It comes after being made club president in January 2024, when he referred to himself as “El Presidente”.
Amanda Ball, who runs the Robbie Williams Fanfest fan group, said the announcement had resonated with fans around the world.
“We’ve heard from people as far away as Chile, Argentina, Mexico and all across Europe,” she said.
“He takes a bit of Stoke with him wherever he goes, and I think he must be massively proud to be doing this for his local team.”
