Stockport County FC is a professional football club originally formed as Heaton Norris Rovers FC in 1883 playing at various locations in the town before moving into Green Lane in 1889. In May 1890, the club changed its name to its current title. The club were nicknamed ‘The Hatters’ after the town’s Victorian hat making industry.
County joined the Lancashire League in 1894-95 after a spell in The Combination, finishing as league champions in 1899-00 leading to election into the Football League, where County joined the Second Division. In 1902 the club moved to their new ground at Edgeley Park.
After poor performances on the pitch, they were not re-elected at the end of the 1903-04 season with Stockport dropping back down to the Midland League. Re-admission into the League came in 1905 despite only finishing in eleventh place.
David Ashworth was appointed as the clubs first ever manager in 1914. The team finished bottom of the table in 1919-20 but were saved from applying for re-election as the League was extended, with County being placed in Division Three North.
The 1921-22 season saw Stockport win promotion as champions under manager Albert Williams, with goalkeeper Harry Hardy being called up to play for England. County were relegated in 1925-26 prior to ending as runners-up of Division Three North in 1928-29 and 1929-30 without winning promotion.
County weren’t to be denied in 1936-37 as they went up as champions after they reached the fifth round of the FA Cup in 1934-35. However, their spell in the second division lasted just twelve months.
Another fifth round Cup appearance followed in 1949-50 before County ended third in their 1951-52 league campaign. A ninth place finish in 1957-58 saw the club placed in Division Three upon league re-organisation.
However, they were relegated in 1958-59 to Division Four where they would remain for eight seasons before the team won were crowned as champions in 1967-68 under manager Jimmy Meadows as the club turned to Friday night football to try and increase their crowds.
County were relegated in 1969-70 as managers came and went in the post at Edgeley Park with regularity as the side generally finished towards the bottom of the table. Automatic relegation from the League bought about great fears and only heroics under the managership of Colin Murphy saved the club in the second half of the 1986-87 season.
Colourful boss Danny Bergara lifted the gloom taking County to the play offs in 1989-90 where they lost to Chesterfield in the semi-final before promotion was won with a runners-up place in 1990-91.
The run continued in 1991-92. Stoke City were defeated before County lost 2-1 to Peterborough United at Wembley in the final of the play-offs. The side featured the likes of Jim Gannon, Andy Preece, Bill Williams and Kevin Francis.
Twelve months later Stockport went out in the play-off semi final to Port Vale before going a step further in 1993-94 after defeating York City before falling 2-1 to Burnley at Wembley as Chris Beaumont scored had put County ahead before being sent off with a teammate.
Dave Jones took over as manager in August 1995, taking County to promotion to the second tier First Division in 1996-97 as runners-up. The team also reached the League Cup semi-final, defeating Sheffield United, Blackburn Rovers, West Ham United and Southampton before going out to Middlesbrough.
Jones was replaced by Gary Megson in June 1997 as the goals of Brett Angel saw Stockport finish the 1997-98 campaign just outside the play-offs. Andy Kilner took over team affairs from June 1999 before being succeeded by Carlton Palmer in November 2001.
County were relegated in 2001-02 before the club returned to the bottom tier at the end of the 2004-05 season under Chris Turner. Former playing hero Jim Gannon was appointed as manager in January 2006, soon arresting the slide.
The team defeated Wycombe Wanderers before seeing off Rochdale 3-2 in the 2007-08 pay-off final at Wembley through goals from Anthony Pilkington and Liam Dickinson along with an own goal.
The club’s Supporters Trust had taken control of the club after a joint sports club involving Sale Sharks had failed but struggled to make the books balance. Edgeley Park was now owned by Sale Sharks RFC who required a bigger ground to stage their Guinness Premiership games.
On 30th April 2009 County were placed into Administration as they couldn’t pay their creditors with Gannon departing soon after to be replaced by Gary Ablett. A Consortium bid for the club and new owners were found in June 2010, led by former Manchester City and Celtic star, Jim Melrose.
However, ownership didn’t last long. The club were relegated in 2010 and on June 17th 2010, the club was bought by the 2015 Group buying the club, when big changes were expected, which included several managers failing to prevent County being relegated to the Football Conference.
Despite their demotion, finances were still a major problem. A new Liverpool based consortium, headed by Tony Evans, arrived and promised huge funds as he appointed former Liverpool and Germany midfielder Dietmar Hamann as manager.
Unfortunately, his record was poor, and he was replaced by the popular returning Gannon. Evans also departed and a new board was formed who worked closely with the local council who gave them a loan, while Brian Kennedy the owner of tenants Sale Sharks waived six months of rent as the club sought to become more community based.
Gannon attempted to utilise the club youth production line but couldn’t save the team from relegation to Conference North in 2012-13. After a couple of short term appointments Alan Lord was appointed as manager in November 2016.
Neil Young came in as manager in May 2015 before being replaced by Michael Flynn before the return of Gannon for a third spell in January 2016. County were crowned as National League North champions in 2018-19 with Matthew Warburton leading the scoring.
The pandemic disrupted 2019-20 campaign saw the Hatters finish in eighth place after the club had been sold to lifelong fan and locally born businessman Mark Stott, owner of the Vita Group in January 2020.
Stockport reached the third round of the FA Cup in 2020-21, going out to West Ham United on live TV before Gannon was replaced by Simon Rusk with the team sat in fourth place in January 2021.The team went on to reach the playoffs but were beaten by Hartlepool United in the semifinals.
Dave Challinor was appointed as team boss in November 2021, as the goals of Danny Madden helped the side to the National League title, with League Two playoffs to follow in 2022-23 as Kyle Wootton chipped in with the goals. Salford City were defeated before Carlisle United won the final on penalties after a 1-1 draw.
However, the
Hatters regrouped. Isaac Olaofe top scored as the League Two title was lifted
in 2023-24.
Stockport County FC will play in EFL League One in the 2024-25 season.
County came flying out of the clock and were two nil up within half an hour. Things looked grim for Boro, but a rare inspired half time talk to the team from Colin Morris seemed to work. The decent sized away following saw a point salvaged out of the game through goals from Gary Brook and Paul Dobson.
On the way out of Stockport after the game, our passengers noticed a group of young kids loitering with bricks in hand, waiting to try and put through our windows. The side door opening and several large Seadogs jumping out dispersed them in no time, so we could continue a trouble free trip home.
Monday 19th July 2010
I was on annual leave from work, so I decided I would have three days in the Manchester area clocking up some new grounds. I arrived from Euston on a bright Monday morning with my plans having to be re-arranged so owing to a late train which should have taken me to New Mills. However, Edgeley Park suddenly became my first port of call.
After the ten minute walk from the station it was soon evident that the ground had changed massively since my previous visit, and the TV cameras didn't do it true justice. Signs were promising that I'd get a look inside as the scene behind the Main Stand on Hardcastle Road was a hive of activity.
Some gents were painting the signs above the turnstiles in readiness for the new season, so they let me through for a quick look and photos. To my right was the impressive Cheadle End Stand was to my right. This was two large blocks of seating that dwarfed the rest of the ground.
The Main Stand was pretty much unaltered from before. The far Popular Side had now been fitted out with seats, as had the still open Railway End. It all looked very neat and tidy no doubt assisted by the large crowds who attend regularly to watch Sale Sharks.
I went on my way to the main road to catch the bus to my next club, Cheadle Town.
No comments:
Post a Comment