Stockport County v Solihull Moors

Official Matchday Programme

vs Solihull Moors Tuesday 27th October Kick-off 7:45pm

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Stockport County FC Edgeley Park, Hardcastle Road, Stockport, SK3 9DD

Chairman: Mark Stott Chief Executive Officer: Jonathan Vaughan Directors: Mark Stott (Majority Shareholder), Jonathan Vaughan, Ken Knott, Mark Dawson Club President: Steve Bellis Brand and Communications Director: David Ancell Director of Operations: Richard Simkin Life Presidents: Angela White, Robert Smith Bewley, Arthur Collister, Steve Cree, Richard Hill, Mike Flynn, George Hudson, John Rutter, Arthur Collister Director of Football: Simon Wilson Club Ambassadors: John Fitzpatrick, Freddie Goodwin, Alan Ogley Head of Football Administration: Alex Cowdy First-Team Manager: Jim Gannon Assistant Manager: Dave Conlon Goalkeeping Coach: Karl Lenaghan Physio: Luke Smith Strength & Conditioning: Nick Donnelly Kit Manager: Richard Landon First Team Scouting Consultant: Alan Lord Head of Performance Analysis: Sean O’Callaghan Club Doctor: Amjad Choudry Head of Commercial: Olivia Hanvey Conference and Events Manager: Melissa Ellison Retail & Photography: Mike Petch Online Shop: www.stockportcounty.com/shop Marketing Manager: Alice Gregory Content Executive: Carl Gozem Media Executive: Liam Richardson Ticket Office (matchdays only, from 12:30pm): Sarah Dibben Stadium Safety Officer: Steve Walker Facilities Stadium Maintenance & COVID Manager: Rick Hinks Head Groundsman: Mike O’Brien Community Foundation: Dave Wardle Website: www.scfcfoundation.com Junior Supporters Club: Ian Butterworth, Brenda Williams Stockport County Lottery: Tom Quayle Historian & Statistician: Ian Watts & Marcus Heap Website: gogogocounty.org Stadium Announcer: Kenny Boxshall Turnstile Manager: Pete Kidd Half-Time Draw: Tony Malone Mascot Supervisor: Louise Mellor

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Editor: Keith Chapman Editorial Contributors: Andy Monks, David Ancell, Alice Gregory, Jonathan Vaughan, Neil Simms, Gareth Evans, Steve Beswick, Mike Petch, Damien Allen, Peter Attfield, Paul Dean, Olivia Hanvey, Ian Watts, Mark Heys, Luke Smith, Liam Richardson, Ian Butterworth, Brenda Williams, Ian Brown, Greg Hall, Jon Keighren, Oshor Williams, Steven Davies, Dave Wardle, Stephen Kenneth, Steve Bellis, Sam Preston, Alex Cowdy.

Thanks to: Luke Turner at Solihull Moors Design by: Daniel Parker, Duplexity Artwork Stockport County FC is the trading name of Stockport County 2010 Ltd (7254012), which is wholly owned by Stockport Community Leisure Company Ltd (7240006), a private company limited by shares. The registered office is: Edgeley Park, Hardcastle Road, Edgeley, Stockport SK3 9DD

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Club Honours

Football League Division Two Runners Up 1996-97 Football League Division Three (North) Champions 1921-22, 1936-37 Football League Division Three (North) Runners Up 1928-29, 1929-30 Football League Division Four Champions 1966-67 Football League Division Four Runners Up 1990-91 Football League Two Play-Off Winners 2007-08 Football League Division Two Play-Off Finalists 1993-94 Football League Division Three Play-Off Finalists 1991-92 Football League Trophy Finalists 1991-92, 1992-93 Football League Division Three (North) Cup Winners 1934-35 Football League Division Three (North) Cup Finalists 1933-34 Lancashire League Winners 1899-1900 Lancashire Combination Winners 1904-05 Cheshire League Runners-Up (Reserves) 1909-10, 1927-28, 1936-37 Manchester Senior Cup Winners 1897-98, 1898-99, 1914-15, 1922-23 Cheshire Senior Cup Winners 1905-06, 1914-15, 1965-66, 2015-16 Cheshire Medal Winners 1922-23, 1924-25, 1928-29, 1929-30, 1930-31 Cheshire Bowl Winners 1933-34, 1948-49, 1952-53, 1955-56, 1956-57, 1958-59, 1960-61, 1962-63 Cheshire Friendly Trophy Winners 1965-66, 1966-67 Cheshire Premier Cup Winners 1969-70, 1970-71, 2010-11 Vanarama National League North Winners 2018-2019

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We return to Edgeley Park determined to continue our good form in the League and to retain the position we have worked so hard to achieve.

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James Gannon Good evening and a warm welcome back to Edgeley Park, especially to Jimmy Shan, his staff, players, and the officials of Solihull Moors FC, that are able to attend today’s game.

It was disappointing to exit the FA Cup on Saturday and the result and experience will be a bitter experience for some of our players. Losing on penalties is a harsh way to exit any competition but such is the nature of the Cup this year with the outcome of games decided without the customary replays or extra time.

We can’t be too critical of ourselves, or be too disappointed, as we didn’t control enough of the game to really have deserved a clear win.

Chesterfield raised their game from the previous Saturday, and their six changes from Tuesday’s fixture at Wealdstone gave them an impetus and freshness that lifted their performance. Their change of shape also caused us some initial tactical problems. We slowly overcame this and worked ourselves into a deserved lead. However, credit to Chesterfield for sticking to it and getting themselves back into the game, eventually holding their nerve in the shoot-out.

We face another difficult challenge this evening.

The Moors are much changed and much improved from last season, and should be confident of having a promising season ahead.

They have had some decent results so far this

season and are very much in the hunt for the top spot. Under Jimmy they have changed their style of play and the new tactical shape has ensured a number of clean sheets whilst retaining a real attacking edge.

Our own new team is still coming together and we have learned a lot from our opening games.

The Chesterfield game ensured another valuable learning experience on our road to improvement.

Recent disappointments and injuries will always challenge us and we have to work through these and ensure we concentrate on our game and the work, intensity and productivity of what we do on the pitch in every game. This week’s games have come around quickly so there is little chance to overly reflect or repair as we look forward to the next game. I trust that we have added something in every training session, every week, and every game. We return to Edgeley Park determined to continue our good form in the League and to retain the position we have worked so hard to achieve.

Enjoy the game.

JG

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Club News Stream County live!

Although it is disappointing we can’t have our fans at Edgeley Park watching the action pitch side, we are able to offer our supporters the next best thing - Live Streaming!

Since March we’ve all jumped on the virtual bandwagon, whether it’s family quizzes, facetiming friends, or business zoom meetings, and there’s no exception for getting our football fix.

We successfully launched County Live Stream for our first home match against FC Halifax Town where County won 2-1, over 8,000 fans were watching including 2,400 of our dedicated season ticket holders.

For fans, the stream is restoring some sort of normality into their lives whilst being as close to the action as possible. We spoke to some of our fans on how they feel about County Live Stream; Andrew Findlay writes…. “High quality streaming unrivalled outside the big broadcasters with informative and knowledgeable commentary plus pre and post-match interviews with the manager – County have filled the void left by not being able to attend live games as best they can.”

Billy Byrne writes…”From the pre-season games that were streamed live it is clear that County have learned how to stream – the league games shown so far have been different quality than the streaming we’re seen from other clubs. Well done County.”

Steve Cree writes…”The live streaming of games from Edgeley Park is thoroughly professional and in line with all we are seeing from the Club these days. I congratulate the club on providing fans with the best solution possible to enable us to still be able to watch our beloved County during these unprecedented times.”

Samuel Fuller writes…”Really clear picture with quality commentary from Jon. I cannot wait to get back into Edgeley Park but the professional live streaming County are providing is really helping provide my County fix.”

County nominated in North West Football Awards County have been nominated for the Community Initiative of the Season in the 2020 Pitching In North West Football Awards, for its work with the NHS over the summer.

Having donated £75,000 to the NHS in Stockport at the start of the Covid pandemic, the Club also committed to donating all money raised in the Club Shop through the month of April to the charity, as a show of support and solidarity in these difficult times.

They are also supported as one of the Club’s charity partners for the 2020/21 season, with their logo featuring on the sleeves of all three kits this season – and a donation of a further £3 being made for each kit purchased.

Well done, Ash! County defender Ash Palmer has also been shortlisted for the North West National League Player of the Season, after a formidable season at the back for County.

Ash made 40 appearances for County last season, chipping in with six goals as he was named County’s Player of the Year by both the Hatters fans and his teammates.

He is one of three nominated for the award, alongside Chorley’s Matt Urwin and Barrow’s Scott Quigley. Good luck, Ash!

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A message from Mark Stott

I would like to take this opportunity to thank all our supporters for their incredible loyalty and dedication to the Club at what is an uncertain and worrying time for everyone.

From the curtailment of last season to starting the new campaign behind closed doors, our season ticket holders have shown great understanding and commitment, and your support will only further fuel our success on and off the pitch.

I’d also like to say thanks for the overwhelming support from our Club sponsors and Help the Hatters, who continue to dedicate their time to improving and helping to maintain Edgeley Park.

The spirit of our Club and fanbase is truly unique, and these unprecedented times have only further demonstrated this.

We’re extremely excited about this season with the move to full-time, the new training centre and 11 new signings putting us in a great position to push for promotion. We understand it won’t all be plain sailing, as our opening game at Torquay

The spirit of our Club and fanbase is truly unique, and these unprecedented times have only further demonstrated this. demonstrated, but I’m extremely confident we’ve got the talent, the infrastructure and determination to achieve our goals.

Thanks again, and stay safe.

Mark

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I was feeling all sorts of emotions. Being top of the league, winning such a massive game, it was a moment in my career I will never forget.

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Mark Kitching Last Saturday’s victory at Chesterfield was a brilliant evening for everyone connected with Stockport County, the win lifting the Hatters to the heights of the top of the Vanarama National League table.

One memory for County fans will undoubtedly be the wonderful strike in the first half in front of the BT cameras by new boy Mark Kitching, which flew like a rocket into the far corner of the home net.

The goal itself meant so much to the popular 25-year-old, who sadly lost his dad Tom one year ago, and Mark’s strike meant so much more than any other goal – it came on the day of his late father’s birthday.

“It was such a special day for me,” said Mark, who joined from Hartlepool United this summer. “The game was live on BT, I scored a goal, we won which lifted us to

the top of the table, and it was on my Dad’s birthday.

My Dad passed away one year ago and it was such an emotional feeling to score on his birthday.

“Beforehand, I spent time with my family, my Mam, my sister, my brother and my Nanna. We spent time at my Dad’s bench.

We were talking about how I’d love to get a goal. All of my family were watching and to do that and score was such a strange feeling with a range of mixed emotions. It was one of the best moments of my life. My Mam and my Nanna texted me straight away, they were buzzing. BT showed my reaction to the goal and it all just blew up on social media.

“I don’t think I’ve hit a better shot in my life. I scored a similar one for Rochdale in injury time against Doncaster more than three years ago but the one at Chesterfield meant so much more. I was feeling all sorts of emotions. Being top of the league, winning such a massive game, it was a moment in my career I will never forget. Now our ambition is to stay there.”

Mark is a versatile defender and was born in the North East, graduating from Middlesbrough’s highly regarded Academy, gaining experience from loan spells at York City and Rochdale before joining the latter permanently in February 2017.

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Predominantly playing at left-back, with the ability to play further forward in midfield, Mark made 78 appearances for Hartlepool over a two-year spell, impressing significantly under Dave Challinor in the second half of last season before making the move to Edgeley Park.

Mark described the move to Edgeley Park as a ‘nobrainer’, expressing excitement after talking to Manager James Gannon and Director of Football Simon Wilson about the long-term ambition of the Club.

“I wanted to join a club with ambition. There were other clubs interested in me but I was only interested in joining a club with massive ambition. I had other options in League Two but I wanted to be at a team that is fighting for promotion. There are not many clubs outside of League One who have the ambition of County, the training ground at Carrington is fantastic and so much is on a par with the facilities at Middlesbrough. From day one the lads have been so nice and are so easy to get along with. There’s good banter and it’s a great place to be.”

With the games coming thick and fast in the first month of the season, demands on the club are massive.

However, Mark is delighted with the start that County have made, and feels there is still more to come from this talented squad of players, which is ominous for the rest of the National League.

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Favourite TV programme: Only Fools and Horses If you could buy a ticket for one sporting event what would it be: World Cup Final Boyhood team: Middlesbrough Best goal scored: Last weekend against Chesterfield.

Best game of your career: Probably for Rochdale against Spurs in the FA Cup Fifth Round, it was a 2-2 draw.

Facebook or Twitter: Twitter Best ground you’ve played at: Wembley Any superstitions: No, nothing major.

If you could change one rule in football what would it be: To let the fans back in stadiums.

Also VAR, lots of decisions are spoiling football.

“We’ve started well, but I feel there is still more to come,” says Mark. “We’ve got a great squad with good lads on the bench to come in. The Torquay result was disappointing because I thought we played them off the park for large parts of the game. However, to win the next four league games and score 12 goals to get us top of the league is a brilliant effort from the players and the staff.

“I’m pleased to chip in with some goals and help the team. The gaffer has explained to us that we can’t expect Richie Bennett, Alex Reid and Nyal Bell to get all the goals, because they bring so much more to the team such as holding the ball up and bringing others in to play. Benno has been brilliant, getting his head on the end of things, he’s brave and his allround game is excellent. We’ve also got Connor Jennings, Roons, and Tommo out wide who can also chip in.”

In the opening weeks of the season Kitching has really shone in the left-wing back spot and although he can play in a number of positions across the backline and midfield, he feels he can offer so much to the team going forward and defensively in the wing-back position.

“I prefer wing-back,” he says. “When I signed for Rochdale they played three in midfield and the left side was similar to the wing-back position, getting up and down the pitch, and cutting inside. Last season at Hartlepool, Dave Challinor played me there and I really enjoyed it.”

Mark was quick to discuss his own personal

ambitions whilst at the Club, wanting to be part of a winning team aiming for promotion to the Football League, wanting to play a key role over the coming years and beyond.

Describing himself as capable of both going forwards and defending, he feels he has much to offer down the left-hand side, with his versatility allowing him to play at left-back or further forward in midfield.

On the move, Mark says that once he heard of County’s interest, he wanted to get the deal done as quickly as possible.

“I already knew with the signings they were making when the new owners had taken over then they will have a decent team for the new season. When I was at Hartlepool the likes of Lois Maynard, Richie Bennett had joined then in the summer we had Roons, Connor Jennings and others so I thought they will do well with the quality of players they were bringing in.

“I played against Lois at Salford and Jordan Williams was at Rochdale when I was there.

It’s always nice to see a familiar face. I didn’t know any of the other lads but after a couple of training sessions I thought I’d played with them all for years!

“I’ve only played at Edgeley Park once before, last season for Hartlepool. I remember looking at the big stand (Cheadle End) behind the goal and thinking I’d love to play in front of those fans. If we can get the fans back into the stadiums then it will be a huge advantage to us as we are so well supported and it will be brilliant to play in front of them.”

This evening County welcome fellow promotionchasers Solihull Moors, who have also made an impressive start to the season, and Mark believes that County will have to be on the top of their game to earn a result.

“Solihull are a good team. When I played against them for Hartlepool they were a big physical team and very tough to play against. I know they have a new manager there now who will have his own ideas so I am not sure how much he has changed the way they play but we are expecting a hard game and it would be great to pick up another three points.”

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Welcome...

Solihull Moors One of County’s biggest bogey sides of recent seasons are in town tonight, with Jimmy Shan bringing his Solihull Moors men north in what promises to be a captivating contest between two of the early season promotion contenders.

An emphatic 4-1 victory for Moors occurred on their last visit to Edgeley Park in November, with former County midfielder James Ball amongst the goals that Tuesday night. It followed up a similarly one-sided contest in the Midlands back in September, which Moors won 2-0.

Last season continued a trend of Solihull success against The Hatters, dating back to our first games against each other in the National League North in the 2014-15 season. Since then Moors have recorded five wins in eight games against County, losing just once.

Nickname: The Moors Founded: 2007 Stadium: SportNation.bet Stadium Capacity: 5,500 Address: Damson Parkway, Solihull, West Midlands Postcode: B91 2PP Distance from Edgeley Park: 97.7 miles (1 hour 45 minutes) Current league position: 5th

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They’ve savoured that winning feeling three times out of four league games already this season too, defeating Boreham Wood 1-0 last time out to sit fifth in the table ahead of tonight’s game.

A doughty defence has been a crucial part of Moors’ strong start this season, with only Woking on the opening day managing to breach the back-line on their way to a 2-1 win. That setback was soon repaired with three consecutive wins and three consecutive clean sheets however, with Wrexham and King’s Lynn overcome prior to the visit of Boreham Wood.

The Gaffer: Jimmy Shan

In between the King’s Lynn and Boreham Wood games Solihull were scheduled to play Altrincham away, though positive coronavirus tests in the Alty camp caused the postponement of that match.

Consequently tonight is just Moors’ second match away from home this season.

A trio of former County players may line-up in opposition this evening, with James Ball, Jamie Ward and Stephen Gleeson all Moors men now. All three were brought to County by Jim Gannon and made 124 appearances between them, scoring 19 goals for the club.

Ward and Gleeson, now 34 and 32 respectively, bring ample Football League, Scottish Premier League and international level experience with them. Ward was a regular in Northern Ireland squads from 2011 to 2018, gaining 35 caps, whereas Gleeson twice played for the Republic of Ireland in 2007 and then twice more ten years later.

In working his way up the coaching ladder, Shan began his career at Birmingham City and then went on to enjoy a 13-year spell with West Brom.

Star striker Adam Rooney can also call on several years experience, with over 550 games on his CV. He joined on March 13th from Salford City, the day before the last games of the National League season amidst the coronavirus outbreak. With Moors’ game called off that weekend Rooney was left waiting for his début.

Seven months later he finally made his first appearance for the club, bagging DID YOU the winner against KNOW? Boreham Wood ten Birmingham C ity Women days ago!

FC of the FA W omen’s Super League play their Manager Shan home games at Solihull has been in charge Moors’ Damso n Park at the club since gr ou nd .

February, joining from Kidderminster Harriers after a short spell there.

He also oversaw 12 Premier League games, winning seven, during a threeand-a-half-month caretaker spell in charge at West Bromwich Albion, before being promoted from his first team coach role after the sacking of Darren Moore.

Shan was promoted from first-team coach to caretaker manager at the Hawthorns in March last year. Despite winning six of his 10 matches in charge, he left Baggies in the summer and moved to Kidderminster at the start of December.

Shan recently stated his aim is to win the league this season and with great talent and experience in the squad Moors seem certain to be contenders for promotion. Tonight looks set to be the stiffest test of County’s credentials thus far and, having started strongly this season, Moors will be confident they can continue their recent dominance over The Hatters.

Solihull Moors confirmed the appointment of Jimmy Shan as the club’s new manager on February 12th 2020.

Shan, who came close to guiding West Bromwich Albion to the Championship play-off final last season, most recently offered his support to Kidderminster Harriers on a voluntary basis.

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The Players CAMERON ARCHER (b:Dec 2001 s:Sep 2020) Forward brought in on loan until January from Aston Villa, the club he developed at.

JIMMY BALL (b:Dec 1993 s:Oct 2019) Midfield man who left County for Stevenage following the 17-18 season which he ended with seven goals in the last 11 games. After being on the books of Bolton Wanderers, he played for Kendal Town on loan, Northwich Victoria and Stalybridge Celtic, for whom he scored against County. He started last season with Ebbsfleet United.

RYAN BOOT (b:Nov 1994 s:Jul 2018) Started with Stoke City before turning professional at Port Vale. They loaned the goalkeeper to Norton United, Newcastle Town, Worcester City and Macclesfield Town before releasing him at which point he joined Moors.

MELIS BUSHAJ (b:May 2002 s:Jul 2020) Left back who can also play centre midfield, he turned pro at 18 after two years with the club’s Football and Education programme.

DARREN CARTER (b:Dec 1983 s:Jun 2017) Player with plenty of higher-level experience with Birmingham City, Sunderland (loan), West Bromwich Albion and Preston North End. The midfield man had another loan stint this time with Millwall before continuing with Cheltenham Town, Northampton Town and then helped Forest Green Rovers earn their EFL place.

NIALL CLAYTON (b:Feb 1999 s:Sep 2020) Former Oxford United scholar who progressed to a pro contract with them and had a loan spell with Banbury United. The goalkeeper then had a loan with Alvechurch.

NICK CLAYTON-PHILLIPS (b:Sep 1999 s:Sep 2020) Rejoined on a season long loan after spending time with Moors in 19-20. The forward’s first and current club West Bromwich have previously loaned him out to Braintree Town and Kidderminster Harriers.

CAMERON COXE (b:Dec 1998 s:Aug 2020) Right back who has been at Cardiff City since aged seven. His senior competitive appearances for them came in the FA Cup, before being released and joining today’s opponents.

JORDAN CRANSTON (b:Nov 1993 s:Aug 2020) Left-back bought from Morecambe after two years with the Shrimpers. He progressed from

Memory Match 2011: National League North Solihull Moors 7 Corby Town 2 Moors hammered Corby Town 7-2 at Damson Park to record their biggest-ever win.

Corby striker Adam Webster fired the visitors ahead on the half-hour but Moors levelled within three minutes when Ryan Beswick’s right-wing free-kick eluded everybody and bounced into the corner of the net.

O’Loughlin redeemed himself three minutes before half-time with a towering header from Beswick’s corner and that proved the turning point.

The first 20 minutes of the second period became a celebration as Moors raced into a 5-1 lead. Matt Smith fired home three minutes after the break before Simon Johnson drilled in from Beswick’s inch-perfect cross and then Smith notched his third goal in two games with a sweet finish.

Corby, who played their part in an exciting spectacle, replied through Andy Hall, but Moors substitute Emeka Obmiwke grabbed two cracking goals in injury-time to seal a resounding win.

the academy to a pro contract at Wolverhampton Wanderers before moving on to Hednesford Town. Next stop was Nuneaton Town where he previously had been on loan. After a return to Hednesford he stepped up to Notts County then made his way to Cheltenham via Lincoln City on loan and Gateshead.

STEPHEN GLEESON (b:Aug 1988 s:Aug 2020) Some memorable parts of this man’s early career were played out in a County shirt, including the lengthy ovation at Hereford United when his first loan spell ended and the semi-final goal and Wembley play-off win. He joined Wolverhampton from Cherry Orchard, and was also loaned to Hereford, between those County spells mentioned above. After another stint with us he has added Milton Keynes Dons, Birmingham, Ipswich Town and Aberdeen to his CV. Jordan Cranston

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youth ranks at Hednesford into the first team. Loan spells with Ringmer and Rushall Olympic followed before a first stint at the Moors came via Redditch United. He moved onto Grimsby Town but later returned initially on loan.

JORDAN PIGGOTT (b:Feb 1999 s:Jul 2020) Joined from Halesowen Town after travelling the UK since his release from the West Bromwich academy.

After the Baggies the central defender joined Dundee who loaned him to East Fife and his next side was Bangor City. He then had time with Alvechurch and on dual registration with Sutton Coldfield.

Adam Rooney

ALEX GUDGER (b:Jun 1992 s:Jun 2018) After starting with Nuneaton this centre back had a loan spell with Bedworth United before moving on to join Rugby Town. In 2015 he switched to Worcester and then spent two years with Brackley Town.

MITCH HANCOX (b:Nov 1993 s:May 2019) Started with Birmingham before moving on to Macclesfield following a loan deal with Crawley Town.

After helping the Silkmen back into the EFL the leftsided player spent a season with Milton Keynes and Moors have loaned him to Harrogate Town.

CALLUM HOWE (b:Apr 1994 s:Jul 2019) Defender with plenty of experience out on loan having joined Bradford Park Avenue, Frickley Athletic, Gainsborough Trinity, Gateshead and Alfreton Town on such terms from first club Scunthorpe United. After a move to Lincoln City his remaining loan stints came at Southport and Eastleigh, before adding Port Vale and Harrogate to his record.

CALLUM MAYCOCK (b:Dec 1997 s:Aug 2020) Started out at and joined from Coventry City who sent the defensive midfielder out on loan to Macclesfield. He spent most of the 19-20 season at Leamington on a similar arrangement.

REISS MCNALLY (b:Aug 2000 s:Jul 2020) Returning to the club he started with. The right-back has figured for Romulus and Guiseley during his time away.

LEWIS MICCIO (b:Dec 1998 s:Jul 2020) Left-back signed from Kidderminster, his first English club. Before that he had been with Central Coast Mariners and Manley United in his native Australia.

JAMEY OSBORNE (b:Jun 1992 s:Dec 2017) Attacking midfield player who developed through the

ADAM ROONEY (b:Apr 1988 s:Mar 2020) As a youngster he moved to join the youth system at Stoke from Irish side Crumlin United. During his years with the Potters he was loaned to Yeovil Town, Chesterfield and Bury. The forward then spent some years moving between Scotland and England finding his way to the Moors by way of Inverness Caledonian Thistle, Birmingham, Swindon Town on loan, Oldham Athletic, Aberdeen and Salford City.

JOE SBARRA (b:Dec 1998 s:Aug 2020) Midfielder who joined permanently two seasons after a loan stint. He started in the West Bromwich academy, before completing his football education with Burton Albion from where he has joined Moors for both his spells on the books.

JOSHVEER SHERGILL (b:Oct 2001 s:Sep 2020) Left-back who played for West Bromwich and Walsall before moving to Leeds United whilst still a youth, and joined the Moors from there.

KYLE STORER (b:Apr 1987 s:Jan 2018) After being connected with Leicester City this central midfield man started with Bedworth, before making the switch to Tamworth. Stints with Hinckley United, Atherstone Town and Nuneaton followed before he joined Kidderminster. He then progressed to the Moors via Wrexham and Cheltenham.

JAMIE WARD (b:May 1986 s:Oct 2020) Another former Hatter who joined us on loan from Aston Villa. He rejected a permanent move, signing for Torquay United, but then moved back further north adding Chesterfield, Sheffield United, Derby County after a loan spell and Nottingham Forest to his CV whilst gaining many caps for his country. He joined from Scunthorpe, and had loan stints with Burton, Cardiff and Charlton Athletic from Forest.

TY WILLIAMS (b:Oct 1994 s:Jan 2018) Kidderminster product who was loaned by them to Sutton Coldfield Town, Chasetown, Redditch United, Romulus, Stourbridge and Hednesford.

BEN USHER-SHIPWAY (b:Aug 1998 s:Jun 2019) Attacking midfielder who joined from Boldmere St Michaels and is currently on loan at Rushall Olympic.

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Rebellious Jukebox Gareth Evans selects Solihull on the County Rock-Ola, and presses play to discover a link with, and test the credentials of… NICK DRAKE. So, what’s the connection?

Rather more established than our previous two subjects, Ed Sheehan and Joss Stone, who, despite their respective births in Halifax and Dover, soon found themselves as children moving to call other parts of England home. Introverted singer-songwriter Nick, on the other hand, was born far, far away in Rangoon, Burma, before his family settled two years later in the sleepy, picturesque village, near Solihull, of Tanworth-in Arden.

He learned to play piano and compose songs while growing up there, and it was also at the

family home where, in 1974, an overdose of antidepressants led to his untimely death at the age of just 26. In his lifetime he recorded three tender, contemplative albums, which sold poorly.

But, posthumously, he has become the stuff of legend, and each summer Tanworth-in-Arden now hosts a Nick Drake Gathering, so that fans from around the world - most of whom were gained in the wake of his passing - can visit the village and pay tribute to his music. By request, on visiting his grave under an oak tree behind the church, they will never litter the area with guitar plectrums or other gifts - although they may plant crocus bulbs.

A hero, then, doubtless. But Rebellious, too? Let’s ‘Take Five’: 1. There was almost universal public indifference to his music on its release.

Nick’s trilogy of long-players - debut release ‘Five Leaves Left’ (1969), the more upbeat folk-poppy ‘Bryter Layter’ (1971), and the rather stark and bare ‘Pink Moon’ (1972) - failed to shift more than 5,000 copies apiece on the Island label. Possibly, his delicate balladry, and the pensive loneliness it evoked, felt too mournful for the times - but re-releases of his material in the late 1970s and mid-‘80s saw the late singer reassessed to assume cult status, representing a ‘doomed romantic’ genius to inspire and be admired. Nowadays, each of the three albums will grace many an all-time greats list - not to mention several of the 31 songs they comprise (‘Northern Sky’, from ‘Bryter Layter’, is a perennial entry on this columnwriter’s).

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2. His live performances did precisely nothing to boost sales.

The acoustic, guitar-based tunes that Nick sang might have broadly fitted, musically speaking, into the folk category - although folkies did not much care for him on the few occasions he played live.

His songs had no choruses or other singalong parts, and he neither spoke between them nor made eye contact with the audience. There is no known video footage of him playing as an adult, and his crippling shyness, coupled with the depression from which he suffered, resulted in a reluctance to be interviewed. None of the promotional ingredients for commercial success would be found in such an introverted singer.

3. He was a technically immaculate acoustic guitarist.

While much of the critical acclaim that his music

Soloists and groups alike fall over themselves to pay homage to Nick’s works as a seminal influence on their own evolving careers.

has attracted focuses on its detached poetry and evocative lyrics, the oft-overlooked way he played guitar was both unusual and extremely hard to replicate. Having experimented as a youngster with finger-picking techniques, he progressed to create cluster chords through use of alternative tunings - a feat that was as brilliant as it was difficult.

4. His influences are legion.

Soloists and groups alike fall over themselves to pay homage to Nick’s works as a seminal influence on their own evolving careers. Kate Bush, Beck, Paul Weller, Bright Eyes, Super Furry Animals and The Coral have all done so; The Dream Academy’s Life in a Northern Town’ was dedicated to him; and Robert Smith named his band after the lyric ‘A troubled Cure for a troubled mind’ from ‘Time Has Told Me’, the opening track on ‘Five Leaves Left’.

5. He wouldn’t let Chris de Burgh join his school band.

The pair were at Marlborough College in the mid‘60s, when Nick formed The Perfumed Gardens with four schoolmates to play a selection of jazz standards and covers from the burgeoning British rhythm and blues scene. Chris asked to join, but was rejected as his taste was ‘too poppy’! Rock ’n’ Roll…

Rebellious Jukebox Rating: 10 (take those ‘Five Leaves Left’, and double them).

19

Jim McNulty

Phoenix From The County Flames In a new feature this season, we will be talking to County favourites about their memories from their time at Edgeley Park. We caught up with former County captain Jim McNulty, who recalled his time with the Hatters, including the unforgettable game at Wembley against Rochdale in the Play-off Final in 2008.

When asked to pick out a favourite memory from his time at Edgeley Park, County favourite Jim McNulty, one of the heroes of Wembley 2008, was spoilt for choice.

a rocket! The ball flew into the net, the fans were going into raptures, some were on the pitch, our families were over there, too. The timing and belief that goal gave was massive.

“Looking back, I’ll always remember a goal but it was not the Play-Off Final,” said Jim. “It was Stephen Gleeson’s great goal at Wycombe in the Play-Off semi-finals. It was a tough game. Wycombe were one of the most senior sides in the division who were well established in the league. Gleeson hit it, I looked on and the ball seemed to be going up to the sun. Then I looked again and it was coming down at speed. I could see it was going in, it was like

“My second memory still makes me laugh. It was the style of goal by Michael Raynes against Oldham in a League One derby at Edgeley Park on a Friday night. We beat them 3-1. Raynesy was playing in midfield as a holding midfielder. He lobbed the ‘keeper with a side foot volley.

No one could believe it and Raynesy was laughing his head off!

THE GAME: Wycombe 1 County 1 THE DATE: 11 May 2008 THE COMPETITION: League Two Play-Off SemiFinal First Leg THE MOMENT: Stephen Gleeson at Wycombe in the play-offs. He hit it, I looked on and the ball seemed to be going up to the sun.

Then I looked again and it was coming down at speed. I could see it was going in, it was like a rocket!

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“And then my final memory wasn’t one of the two play-offs or the game at Wembley, it was the night Tommy Rowe scored a hat-trick at Rotherham on a cold Tuesday night. We won 4-1 and it was just a complete performance. We had a group of boys who had so much belief. It was a tough away game, on a Tuesday night, and Rotherham were going for automatic promotion.

But on the night we schooled them with brave and youthful, energetic football. I remember after the game Jim repeating a Danny Bergara quote to us, saying: “you’ll never reach perfection but from time to time you can scratch the surface of perfection... and you just did that tonight!”

McNulty moved to County in January 2008 and he went on to

become an integral member of the County side that won promotion from League Two four months later with an exciting Wembley play-off defeat of Rochdale.

“My time at County was the fondest of my career,” said Jim. “I made the most long-lasting friendships, enjoyed success in promotion, and played at Wembley in that period.

It was win after win after win in that

THE GAME: County 3 Oldham 1 THE DATE: 3 October 2008 THE COMPETITION: League Two THE MOMENT: Michael Raynes against Oldham in a League One derby at Edgeley Park on a Friday night. Raynesy was playing in midfield as a holding midfielder.

He lobbed the ‘keeper with a side foot volley. No one could believe it and Raynesy was laughing his head off!

calendar year. I made my debut against Accrington where we won 2-0 then it was just win, win, win. It was an incredible set of results, we only lost three league games.”

There are many players who have played at the famous Wembley Stadium for the first time, only for the magnitude of the day to pass them by. However, McNulty remembers the occasion vividly and made sure he savoured every moment.

“It was an amazing day,” he says.

“I had my family there, the stadium, it was a dream to play there and everything. We played well on the day and I always felt we were going to win. It seemed like we always had two players to their one.

Although the score was 3-2 it was as comfortable a win as you could have hoped for. I wasn’t happy with the P.A. at Wembley – he gave me the first goal but six minutes later he corrected himself and said it was an own goal over the tannoy.

I was gutted! On the day itself I made sure the occasion did not pass me by, the drive into Wembley, walking on the pitch, the game, the celebrations afterwards. I took it all in. I played against Tottenham for Rochdale at Wembley after that but it wasn’t the same.”

Jim McNulty was just one of a talented group of County players who shone in a blue shirt, and

such was the strong bond between the squad, the vast majority have remained close friends.

County one?’ Ha. We spoke about Wembley and it was great to chat about the old times.”

“They were top drawer,” recalled Jim of his former County teammates. “I’m still close friends with a lot of them and we have all stayed in touch. James Tunnicliffe, Liam Dickinson, Raynesy, Liam McSweeney, Gary Dicker, we’re all close mates.

McNulty also built an excellent working relationship with James Gannon and the defender could not speak highly enough of the County manager.

“It was a shame it ended so soon.

11 clubs down the line, I look back on my time at County and I think ‘that was special.’ We won all the time and winning breeds happiness.

We went out together socially after games, the stories, the atmosphere, it was just a great place to be. The fans loved all of the players, every single one of them, and we had a belief that we would win every game. We had the belief we had better players than their players and we had a manager who would work harder than their manager. I just wished that we could have stayed together. Scouts were there at every game, the stands were full. The administrative side was failing, me and Pilks (Anthony Pilkington) left, and you could see what was happening with players being sold. I was disappointed with the way things were going at County off the pitch, so eventually I moved to Brighton.

“I was very proud to captain County.

It was the first club I had captained in the first team. I remember the feeling, nice. I was a young lad so it raised a few eyebrows. It was such a top club. I can’t help it and so does the other former players but we still have so much interest in the club. It’s the first score I look out for. I still live close to the area, in Wilmslow, and I have been down to watch a few games with my dad now and then.

“The fans were great, home and away. They gave us that bit extra during games. When the fans are buzzing, it gives you confidence. I was in Media City last week with my wife and daughters at a restaurant and I had a face mask on. It was a Rochdale one. This man came up to me and said ‘where’s your

“I love Jim,” he said.“I was fascinated by him as a coach. He was fantastic and I totally bought into him. He works like no man I have ever seen. He wanted quality all of the time from the players.

I think he wanted that because we were a great team and he knew what we were capable of.

His intensity was incredible. I talk about him at other clubs and say how good he is. He’s an incredible coach, and his tactical knowledge is unbelievable. Jim was a pioneer who was way ahead of his time.”

McNulty is now playing in League One for Rochdale, and has been with the club since June 2015, a move which re-united him with then-manager Keith Hill.

The defender had played Championship football under Hill at Barnsley, before leaving Oakwell to help Bury to promotion in 2014/15.

McNulty was part of the Dale defence that defeated Burton Albion 1-0, an impressive victory under difficult circumstances. With the season still in its infancy, Jim is looking to play as many games as he can throughout the campaign, but at the age of 35, he has one eye on his plans when he hangs up his boots.

“It was a good win last week at Burton. It was a tough game on a cold Tuesday night. We had a few players out with Covid but the boys stood up to the challenge and deserved it.

“I enjoyed the game at Burton and I’m looking to play as long as I can. I went to University to do Broadcasting and Journalism, but I would also be interested in coaching and managing in the future, too, who knows.”

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County Colts The next generation of County players?

This week’s focus is on our Under-16s, who currently play in the East Manchester League.

This group has gone from strength to strength as the County revolution takes hold. We have lots of players interested in the pathway that we can offer into the post-16 Academy, where promising young players could end up playing in County’s first team. If that doesn’t quite work out they could take the education pathway into full-time degrees at University in the sports industry after the Academy course.

We feel this is important as we need to make sure that players don’t put all their ‘eggs in one basket’ and have high level options if things don’t quite work out.

Nevertheless, there are so many promising youngsters throughout our age groups in the Colts and also in our new pre-16 Academy section, that we can see players developing into real prospects as all of them are encouraged to be technically proficient. We feel that this long-term model will produce players that can don County shirts in the future.

Question: Do coaches get scouted?

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Jake Loftus

We also have some very promising (old and young!) coaches and over the last three years Jake Loftus came over to us. He has progressed to the role of Assistant Head Coach within that period. In his mid-20s, Jake has shown a great passion for developing players under the Club’s philosophy and now has a hand in the running of the Colts and also many of the teams from Under8s, Under-12s, Under-14s, and his main team the Under-16s.

So, we try to look out for coaches as they don’t seem to be scouted! As such, we are always looking for promising ambitious coaches who believe in developing technically-able footballers, as there seems to be so much emphasis on the players, but not the conductors of the orchestra!

With the seamless continuum throughout the age groups up to the first team, we also see coaches coming in from the post-16 Academy to work with our 15/16s players on a Thursday night (Academy night) and if you want to experience this level of coaching, then please contact info@ StockportCountyColts.co.uk and maybe you will have a future in the game!

Steve Beswick

Academy We have been busy in the Academy over the past few weeks playing several fixtures against the likes of Curzon Ashton FC, University Campus of Football Business (UCFB) Under-21s, Manchester United Foundation, Hyde United FC, and Southport FC. This coming weekend we will be playing Chester FC, Altrincham FC, and Bolton Wanderers FC. It’s great to play a variety of fixtures that give our players the opportunity to face different problems.

Since the FA Youth Cup disappointment, we have maintained our focus on the process that enables players to perform to their potential. This has included the introduction of a full-time strength and conditioning coach. Tom Eastwood is now working with the boys to develop the physical attributes they will need to perform. Each player will receive a gym programme and advice on nutrition. Tom has worked previously with first teams at Port Vale FC and Macclesfield Town FC. The most pleasing performance came in the game against UCFB Under-21. We had a very young side playing made up of mainly Under-17 players (first year’s). The opposition players were 19,20 and 21 years old many of which had played previously at professional clubs. It was a good game with both teams playing expansive football. Our boys ended up winning the game 3-2 with a last-minute penalty scored

by Reon Donker.

Finally, two of our young pros have gone on loan.

Left-back Adam Owen is on loan at Ashton United in the Northern Premier League. He has done very well and will continue to play for them for the next month.

Central midfielder Max Greenhalgh has gone on loan to Cheadle Town in the North West Counties Division One South and scored on his debut. It’s great to see both players getting the experience they need before they attempt to break into our First Team.

Adam Owen

Damien Allen Academy Manager

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Official Partners of The National League

County Ladies v Barnsley WFC 11th October Stockport returned to League action, after an enforced break, looking to avenge defeat by Liverpool Feds in their previous fixture.

On a bright Sunday afternoon, the first exchanges of the game were even, both sides having equal possession, but in the 11th minute great work down the left by Abi Carrington and Ellise Newby, allowed Newby to float in a cross for striker, Jess Battle, to tap home.

Barnsley responded quickly, ‘keeper Jess Linford just getting fingertips to a shot from 20 yards to divert it onto the post. After that both sides had good chances but failed to convert. Half-time: Stockport 1-0 Barnsley.

The scorer of both County’s goals, Jess Battle

Barnsley began the second half much brighter and forced ‘keeper Linford into some more crucial saves to keep County in the match. Substitutions by manager Ronnie Green had an impact, but Barnsley still looked the stronger team and favourites to score the next goal.

With the clock ticking down, a counter attack by Stockport in the 78th minute down the right saw Newby provide another assist for Battle to get her second goal. Lisa Topping and Lexie Harrison came on for their County debuts to protect the lead and see out the remaining minutes. Final score Stockport 2-0 Barnsley.

Ellise Newby provided two assists

On the same afternoon the Development Team beat Bradford City Reserves 5-0 and the following weekend the Under-18s won 5-0 against Chester Nomads.

Twelve goals and three clean sheets in our last three Senior matches!

This weekend the First Team are in FA Cup action at home to Leeds United, Development travel to Durham Women FC and the Under-18s are away to West Kirby.

Let’s hope for a similar set of results!

For anyone interested in joining the club to play or train with any of our teams, e-mail development@ stockportcountylfc.com for more information.

Lexie Harrison making her County debut

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With over 30 years experience working within the domestic, commercial and industrial sectors, NK Electrical now offer property maintenance and solutions which involves everything and anything from electrical, plumbing and joinery.

Noel 07768 912698 Sam 07985 424649 Steve 07866 801712

Kids Planet is an independent, family owned group of nurseries, providing the highest standard of nursery care across the North West and Midlands.

Kids Allowed are now part of the Kids Planet Group

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Facilities management • Building cleaning • Building maintenance and repair • Electrical maintenance and repair • Safety flooring installation • Roofing repairs • Gates and barriers • Drainage inspections and maintenance • Grounds maintenance • Tree safety inspections and works • Winter gritting services For more information contact: T: 0800 0191959 W: sands-solutions.co.uk E: enquiries@sands-solutions.co.uk Pama House, Stockport Road East, Bredbury, Stockport SK6 2AA

The Mad Hatter’s Quiz with Paul Dean

WHO AM I?

TRIVIA 1. Back in 1993 which former Chelsea manager became the first ever Premiership manager to be sacked?

2. Which is the only English league team whose name contains no letters which can be ‘coloured in’?

3. What is the oldest football stadium in the UK? 4. Who did George Best make his Hatters debut against?

5. For which club did Paulo Di Canio play when he pushed referee Paul Alcock?

R E Q F Y Y X D R A Q J L Y S L L G Q C

I Q L O S M Z I A X G U E Q S V R E R A

N F J A T D O P N T F N P P C I N L R A

M R W J B Y R O N I O U D I E L L E L L

O R F H S U J G B O E P P Z R J Q P D X

Z U L L U M T B R J O S M X M M A P L N

D E B V L Z E A G Y S A T N L X W M Z B

X R R V W G F A B B N G B A A Z P P S C

F A R A Q U R R O N A L D O R R W Q P Z

W M D D U S I N O Y D R A V G F M I G B

C Y U Q I S B S T S U B J M T D H B D E

P E E L Q X D K O K N P C R E F C X Y N

Q N V N R V K F Y I Z S A O D S J B H Z

J A H G J E U F O R Q H Y W C L S H G E

K M P R A T F J W T V S N F H U C I E M

K A T Y H H L W F Z C K A B N A J T C A

J Q J W I L O E H W S K K P K G O Z I L

C F N M R F K R Y W M R L Y H O E J I O

Q N Q Q K G A Z T H J A B M V S L I X N

X D O J D D A B Q L N N O A P P M D F C

Answers:

VARDY SILVA OZIL BENZEMA HART ROONEY POGBA PELE INIESTA GRIEZMANN BALE NEYMAR RONALDO SUAREZ MESSI

Who Am I? Alf Lythgoe

WORDSEARCH

Trivia 1: Ian Porterfield 2: Hull City 3: Bramall Lane Sheffield United 4: Swansea City 5: Sheffield Wednesday

I signed for the Hatters in the summer of 1932 and once scored a hattrick in three minutes.

27

GAME CHANGER footballfoundation.org.uk

Commercial County announce Waterside partnership

NK Electrical sign up for the new season We are pleased to announce that NK Electrical, whose owner Noel Wharton and family are all huge County fans, have just signed their new 2020-21 sponsorship package.

NK Electrical are a With over 30 years experience working within the domestic, commercial and industrial family run business sectors, NK Electrical now offer property maintenance andthe solutions which established in 1981 and have supported Club ininvolves various everything and anything from electrical, ways for years, from sponsoring the players shorts plumbing and joinery. to sponsoring the Man of the Match award at Edgeley Park.

Noel 07768 912698 Sam 07985 424649

The Waterside Hotel and Leisure Club have teamed up with the club to be our Official Health Club and Gym Partner.

Based in Didsbury, Waterside’s facilities, including the swimming pool, spa, gym and studios, will be predominately used for recovery. However, it will be available for players to use around the clock.

Post-match recovery is such an important part of a player’s fitness programme, as it restores the body to pre-match fitness and reduces the chance of injury in their next game and training session.

Club Physio Luke Smith and Strength and Conditioning Coach Nick Donnelly will lead all recovery sessions at Waterside. These sessions will consist of low intensity training on bikes, weight training and using foam rollers and stretching sessions to target all key muscle groups.

The swimming pool will be used for mobility and cool down exercises, whilst the hydrotherapy pool, sauna and aroma, and salt-infused steam rooms will give the players’ muscles a chance to relax. The studios will be used for massage and one-to-one physio workouts.

Luke says: “The facilities at Waterside Leisure Club are fantastic, the team has and will be using this facility for recovery and rehabilitation sessions. With a vast space to work in and such a wide variety of equipment from watt bikes to studios to recovery sessions in the pool, this is an ideal place for our players to focus on improving their strength and fitness for the rest of the season.

“With most games being on Tuesdays and Saturdays, it’s imperative that we have as many players as possible match fit and ready to play each week. Having the use of Waterside Leisure Club, it makes this a lot easier and therefore helps the team out exponentially.”

Waterside have also become the Club’s preferred hotel partner; this means travelling County and away fans will receive preferential rates when staying at the Waterside Hotel.

It’s not only County who have exciting changes Steveunderway, 07866 801712 as along with a new logo, NK Electrical are also upgrading their operations. They now offer property maintenance and solutions, which involves everything and anything from electrical, plumbing and joinery. These services are available to all current and new clients in a domestic, commercial or even industrial setting.

Contact Noel on 07768 912698, Sam on 07985424649 or Steve on 07866801712 for more details and information on getting a quote.

How to feature in our live stream As well as all the positives for fans, there are also countless benefits for businesses sponsoring County, you’re alongside big-name brands such as Project Solar and Vitality, as well as lots of local firms.

There are a number of ways to feature in our live stream and gain brand exposure to thousands of fans, including becoming a streaming sponsor. This would be a season-long commitment with pre, during and postmatch exposure on all live streamed games, along with commentary mentions.

We also offer Virtual Match Sponsorship, this means businesses can chose which match they would like to feature on, as well as chose Man of the Match.

If you are interested in getting involved in our live stream then please e-mail our Head of Commercial; olivia.hanvey@stockportcounty.com.

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Steve Bellis Wealdstone Raided, Keith Chegwin and the Golden State Killer

Paul Jones and the Golden State Killer... only their mothers can tell them apart!

I know we’ve only played five league games and I know you shouldn’t bother looking at league tables this early in the season but I don’t care... we are top of the league and it’s a great feeling.

Having somehow failed to win at Torquay on the opening day (I still have no idea how we didn’t win there) we set the scene with back-to-back convincing home wins against FC Halifax Town and Dover Athletic.

he was alive of course) who mans the Edgeley Park boardroom door located a pub about five minutes’ walk away. Things were going great!

Cheggers led the way with his trusty mobile phone in hand guiding us to a pub called the ‘Smugglers Cove’ via Google maps.

Then it was back on the road for a first-ever trip to Grosvenor Vale, home of Wealdstone FC.

Unfortunately for us Cheggers had his phone upside down and marched us off in the pouring rain in the opposite direction of the pub.

What should have been a five-minute walk turned into a 25-minute walk and we arrived at the pub looking like we had waded through a cove.

Our meticulous Club Secretary Alex Cowdy managed to find a hotel about 0.1 mile from the ground (even I could walk it) and then the usually reliable Stuart Guest (aka Cheggers due to his remarkable resemblance to Keith Chegwin, when

It was a pleasant place although the barman set the world record for taking your payment when buying drinks. He was even faster that those M6 Toll machines... have you ever noticed how quickly they take your card payments?

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After a couple of pints to acclimatise we headed for the ground, still in the pouring rain, and then had to go back to the pub as our other representative, former Bolton legend and County player Paul Jones, had lost his flat cap.

After ten minutes searching the smugglers cove, the cap was found... in Jonesy’s hood.

Jonesy’s headwear became the talk of the evening as, after a nice two course meal served by the lovely directors at Wealdstone, we headed into the stand to watch the game.

Alex, Cheggers and myself donned our Stockport County face masks and noticed Jonesy fiddling around in his coat. We assumed he had lost his cap again but in fact he was retrieving his full face covering headwear. If we are going to be polite, he looked a right pillock.

Alex then said he had seen someone who looked just like Jonesy in his ridiculous get up before.

He then remembered who it was, Joseph James DeAngelo, otherwise known as the Golden State Killer. (Alex was spot on... please see pics within this article) To be fair to Jonesy he is getting on a bit and could be classed as vulnerable so we shouldn’t be too hard on him.

In fact, Jonesy has a great night as we were sat at dinner with four chaps who were old enough to remember him playing (Jonesy can’t even remember playing himself).

The real highlight of the night, however, came on the pitch as the lads came back from 2-1 down to thrash Wealdstone 5-2, helped by four goals in just eleven minutes.

We arrived back at the hotel in good spirits, the Wealdstone match sponsors had even bought us a drink to celebrate our victory.

It was a thoroughly enjoyable evening boosted by the scoreline and performance, not even the torrential rain could dampen the mood.

Three wins on the bounce set us up nicely for the trip to Chesterfield for our early evening televised fixture.

This was our first opportunity to show a national audience just how far we have come as a team and we didn’t disappoint.

It was an enthralling game and one we thoroughly deserved to win but it should have been much easier.

Having taken the lead through a sweetly struck curling shot from Mark Kitching, we should then have been awarded a penalty and the Spireites should have been down to ten men following a blatant handball on the line.

Everyone in the stadium saw it, everyone watching on TV saw it, even the pigeons that have decided to roost in the Chesterfield stands saw it but somehow, the man that mattered, the referee, didn’t.

It didn’t matter in the end thanks to another storming end to the game capped by the winning goal from Alex Reid but it could have done.

Tonight, we will face our stiffest test to date with the visit of Solihull. They have strengthened and started well. We will certainly need to be at our best to take all three points and retain our position at the top of the league (doesn’t that sound great by the way?).

This was our first opportunity to show a national audience just how far we have come as a team and we didn’t disappoint.

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Opposition View Moors’ Media and Communications Manager Luke Turner gives his thoughts from a visiting perspective.

How do you assess Moors’ start to the season?

Aside from a below-par second half performance on the opening day at Woking, the Moors have been in top form. The team have won three league games on the spin without conceding a goal and have had to show both sides of their game.

Manager Jimmy Shan loves his side to keep control of the ball and is looking to build towards playing a certain way, a certain brand of football. However, there are times in the National League where you need to stand up and be counted – the team have certainly shown that they can protect their own goal as well as take their chances at the other end.

There have been seven different goal scorers in the opening four games, so there are goals across the board and plenty of depth in the squad. Moors have been without some key players in this early stage of the season and it’s testament to the squad that has been assembled, that others can seamlessly slot in.

What are your hopes for the season?

There are no secrets about the ambition of Solihull Moors - everything is gearing towards a first promotion to the English Football League. There has been significant investment over the last couple of seasons, both on the field and off it.

The Chairman Darryl Eales has a five-year plan, and we are into year three of that. We came extremely close to succeeding in the first year of that against all the odds, finishing just three points behind champions Leyton Orient in 2018/19.

Darryl’s investment, support from Vice-Chairman Tim Murphy and fellow investors has allowed supporters and

32

staff at the club to dream. It’s been quite the journey since promotion to the National League in 2015/16 and, this season, promotion to League Two is the ultimate aim.

What have been the highlights of your time following Moors?

Finishing second in the 2018/19 season was incredible. You almost don’t feel it at the time, but looking back you realise what an achievement it was. Credit to Tim Flowers, the staff and players who had an effective way of playing and teams struggled to find answer to deal with it.

Everything almost played out exactly how you’d want it to. There was a settled team and no dramas – just a proper squad of players who had the experience and know-how to grind out results in the National League.

In the same season was a second round Emirates FA Cup tie with League One side Blackpool. We were drawn at home and selected to play in front of the BBC cameras on the Friday night, with a record crowd in attendance. It was a memorable night that ended in a 0-0 draw, and off to Blackpool we went for a replay. Despite going 2-0 down early on, the team fought back and levelled the score thanks to Adi Yussuf’s brace.

The Moors eventually lost 3-2 after extra time, with a dubious penalty going against us. The winners went on to face Arsenal, so it was gutting not to be on the right side of that result, but the tie showed the magic of the cup.

What are your thoughts on County?

It’s clear that Stockport County share the same ambition as Moors in gaining promotion this season. They’re a huge club in this division with rich history.

The squad looks exciting on paper, with some top National League players coming in over the summer. I’m

expecting to see Stockport mount a title challenge this season.

Do you have any particular memories of games against County?

I’ve only really got the memories of last season’s two games, where the Moors did the double over Stockport. Sorry, had to get that in. We won 2-0 at home and 4-1 away, so I’ve got a 100% record against Stockport!

Have you been to Edgeley Park before? Do you have any particular memories?

I was there last November when the Moors put on a sensational second half display, scoring four times to come back from a goal down at the break.

The team were ruthless. Paul McCallum got a brace, with James Ball and Jamey Osborne also on the scoresheet. It was a memorable night.

Who are the Solihull Moors players to watch for this evening?

It’s difficult to pick certain players because I believe we have quality throughout the squad. I’ll pick one so the others can go under the radar…

Joe Sbarra (attacking midfielder) is a special player at this level. He oozes class, both on and off the ball. On it, he protects the ball so well, can drive with it and pick a pass with either foot. Off the ball, Joe is extremely clever in picking up positions in between the lines. Despite his diminutive figure, he makes up for it by getting in front of his marker and using his low centre of gravity. He can score and create goals, so I hope he can do the same this evening.

What is your prediction for the game?

I’m looking forward to the game as it should be a great battle between two quality sides. I can’t go against my own club, so I’ll say 2-1 Moors.

Terrace Talk Solihull Moors are the visitors to Edgeley Park this evening and we extend a warm welcome to James Shan, his staff and players as they bring their side up from the Midlands for this National League encounter.

Solihull have a fair bit of EFL experience in their ranks with the former Birmingham City duo Darren Carter and Stephen Gleeson, much travelled forwards Jamie Ward and Adam Rooney as well as Joe Sbarra, Jimmy Ball and Mitch Hancox amongst others who have played higher up the pyramid.

As things stand there are still so many experienced professionals who are looking for clubs, a lot of them hanging on for one last crack at the EFL or a lucrative switch overseas, but they could do a whole lot worse than come down to the National League.

A lot of them are not willing to lower their demands and a midweek tie in the Indian Super League on similar money to their heyday is much more appealing than a cold Tuesday night in Stockport, but for a large percentage, that dream abroad or last shot at the league never comes and they face being forgotten altogether.

Down the years at Edgeley Park, the likes of Len Allchurch, George Best, Wyn Davies, Mike Summerbee, Gordon Cowans, Tim Flowers, Ronnie Glavin, Asa Hartford, Mark Lillis and Andy Dibble have all appeared for County in the winter

It’s too early to be talking six pointers, but already this game has a top of the table feel about it

Liam Bridcutt is amongst a host of players to pass through Edgeley Park en route to the top flight

of their careers and the likes of Brett Angell, Liam Bridcutt, Kevin Cooper, Damian Delaney, Chris Marsden, Glenn Murray, David Herd, Paul Jones, Jason Lee, Adam Le Fondre, Aaron Wilbraham et al have gone onto the Premier League/top flight after passing through here so there is a lot of plus points for dropping down a few levels, it will add more onto the gate when supporters are allowed back in and it will also give the player a chance to prolong his career at a level that is fast becoming as good a standard as the league directly above it.

Solihull like Stockport just missed out on a play-off berth last term so in many ways their aims are very similar in the sense that they want to make the step up. For County, it would be a return to the EFL for the first time since 2011, whilst our opponents are looking for their first ever experience of playing at that level having come close on a number of occasions.

It’s too early to be talking six pointers, but already this game has a top of the table feel about it, one which County can hopefully come out as the victors.

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The County Years 1991

In a brand new feature, County Historian Ian Watts delves into the archives to bring you some of the Hatters’ more memorable moments from years gone by.

Opening game County’s year began with the New Year’s Day visit of Gillingham.

County: Paul Cooper, Malcolm Brown, Steve Bullock, David Frain, Andy Thorpe, Bill Williams, Mark Payne, Jim Gannon, Paul A Williams, Chris Beaumont, Paul R Williams (Andy Kilner).

The opposition included a County loanee of 12 years earlier Steve Lovell and our former reserve man Alan Walker.

Despite the team lying sixth, and going for their ninth unbeaten game, only 2,859 turned out for the 1-1 draw. Paul A Williams scored after 37 minutes, but only four more had passed when Gills substitute, and current Barnet manager, Peter Beadle notched the equaliser.

When winger Andy Kilner came on for Paul R

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Williams, he earned SCAN 984. Kilner, who would later manage the club, had recently returned from one of several spells in Swedish football. At the time he was still on trial, and had signed a monthly contract, later winning a permanent deal.

Summer business In the long term the main arrival in the closed season would be midfielder Peter Ward (SCAN 987), who came in on part exchange for Mark Payne from Rochdale with the Spotland side receiving £35,000. Also joining was Paul Wheeler (SCAN 988) from Hereford United after a trial. Aside from Mark Payne, Paul Robertson (Bury) and Steve Bullock (Brisbane United), the departures came from the reserve ranks.

Closing Game The final Saturday of the year saw County, now in a higher division after earning promotion with a 5-0 win over Scunthorpe United, and on this day they were paying a return visit to Swansea City, who they beat 5-0 on opening day.

County: Neil Edwards, Darren Knowles, Jim Carstairs, Frain, Tony Barras, Alan Finley (Williams), Gannon, Andy Preece, Kevin Francis, Chris Beaumont, Lee Todd.

Only Frain, Gannon and Bill Williams had figured in the year’s first game. Thing started well for County with Andy Preece scoring on 22 minutes. The Swans quickly levelled through Phil Purnell. Then on 62 minutes Jimmy Gilligan ensured County went home from the Vetch Field without the points. However, they maintained their top six place which they retained all season.

Last debutant Goalscorer Andy Preece had only made his

debut two days earlier in a 3-2 defeat at Preston North End. The striker, who gave the Hatters one of the most dangerous forward lines in the division alongside Kevin Francis, earned SCAN 994 after joining from Wrexham.

Most appearances in calendar year James Gannon 54 (missed one game), Tony Barras 52, David Frain & Andy Kilner both 47.

Most goals in calendar year Kevin Francis 16, Andy Kilner 15, Neil Matthews 14 Worst run 4 games all lost (22nd January to 2nd February) Best run 6 games all won (6th to 23rd April) The run that overlapped from the previous year was extended to 13 unbeaten games.

The man in charge Danny Bergara, who had come in from Rochdale in March 1989, was still in the early years of a six-year spell in charge of the club.

At this time he had made them one of the most attack minded sides of the lower divisions.

And finally...

As part of Andy Thorpe’s testimonial year County hosted Manchester City during preseason. This game was probably the first all-ticket testimonial held at the ground. Gannon and Francis scored for the Hatters with Andy Hill and future boss Gary Megson getting the visitors’ goals.

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CHE

STERFIELD FC

CHESTERFIELD Jordan Cropper 36’

STOCKPORT COUNTY Mark Kitching 20’, Alex Reid 85’

Saturday 17th October | Vanarama National League | Technique Stadium

The Hatters’ second game on the road in four days, and their first in Chesterfield for almost a decade, saw them come away from North-East Derbyshire as National League leaders, following a fourth successive win.

Goals from Mark Kitching and, five minutes from time, substitute Alex Reid secured the three points and an inaugural triumph, by the odd goal in three, at the 10-year-old Technique Stadium.

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1 2

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SNAPPED! hing fires County ahead during Wow! County wing-back Mark Kitc field. He said he had never the recent televised game at Chester in his life – before dedicating caught a ball better on his right foot Tom on his birthday. Tom his stunning strike to his late Dad year ago. one y passed awa

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Luke Smith Physio

Good evening everyone.

This week we have several injuries, including Jordan Williams who has been progressing well with his rehabilitation.

We expect Jordan will have several more weeks of gym-based rehabilitation before we see him back on the field.

Harvey Gilmour is looking fantastic and completing on-field rehabilitation with excellent intensity. He is very close to returning.

Jordan Williams

James Jennings has had a slight setback this week and will see him be withdrawn from the squad for hopefully no longer than a couple of weeks. During this time we will work on increasing his strength, speed, power, and durability.

The tight schedule has seen an increased awareness on recovery and player management. The players are focused on training to their best ability each week as competition for places is extremely high. Injuries for certain players then gives a chance to other members to step in and help the team.

Thanks, Luke

The tight schedule has seen an increased awareness on recovery and player management.

Harvey Gilmour

James Jennings

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Travelling Fan The

Wealdstone v County Vanarama National League Tuesday 13th October 2020, 7.45pm Grosvenor Vale Weather: Freezing cold, with intermittent showers Distance from EP: 193 miles Journey time: 3 hours 20 minutes Outcome: A stirring come-back from the Hatters, as a late goal-fest sent us second.

The day out and getting there Our first Tuesday night away game of the season was a step into the unknown for the County media team, with this the first ever competitive meeting between the two sides, and our first trip to Grosvenor Vale.

As usual, Richard Landon’s kit van was our mode of transport, as we departed for North London from Edgeley Park at approximately 12.30pm.

There was a brief stop along the way to meet up with the players, who had stopped for their pre-match meal at a hotel around an hour from the ground. From then on it was plain sailing down the rest of the M40 and through rural North London, as we arrived at the ground ready to work at around 5pm.

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Grosvenor Vale First built in 1947, the Vale was the home of Ruislip Manor FC for 60 years, until the Club’s collapse in 2008, at which point Wealdstone moved in. Having gradually increased the attendance over the years since, the ground now holds 3,200 at maximum capacity – comfortably one of the smallest stadiums in the National League.

That should not detract, however, from what is an nice set-up by the newly promoted side, with a clubhouse overlooking the pitch which, it must be said, was looking immaculate pre-match dismissing any worries of a late postponement.

It was through the (sadly closed) clubhouse that we entered, after all the rigmarole of temperature checks and form filling, before we took our place in the press bench on the far side of the pitch.

“Richie Bennett deservedly got us back on level terms with his first goal for the Club, which was the start of a sensational County onslaught that simply blew the Stones away.” post-match pizza was not an option for today.

Mercifully, we soon found a service station with a 24-hour McDonalds still in operation (other fastfood chains are available), and so a brief pit-stop was in order to recharge our batteries.

Home time The journey home is always so much better when making it with three points in the bag, and so our trip back up the M6 seemed over in no time at all, arriving back at Carrington at around 2.15am.

The game Despite again carving out plenty of chances throughout the game, for large periods it again looked set to be another frustrating evening on the road for Jim Gannon’s side, as despite a John Rooney penalty, twice we found ourselves behind in the game, trailing 2-1 with just 15 minutes left.

Even now, what was to follow is all a bit of a blur.

Richie Bennett deservedly got us back on level terms with his first goal for the Club, which was the start of a sensational County onslaught that simply blew the Stones away. Minutes later Lois Maynard crashed us in front for the first time in the game, before two late clinical Rooney goals saw him seal an impressive hat-trick, and cap a remarkable 5-2 victory for the Hatters.

Memory of the day A tough one this. Seeing John Rooney grab a first (and surely not a last) County hat-trick is tough to beat, but the sight of a rain-soaked Dan Powell filming the game on his own from on top of a large blue container in the open air is one I won’t forget in a hurry either.

Travelling fan verdict Journey: 7/10 Stadium: 7/10 Overall match day experience: 8/10

Getting away The 10pm curfew now in place around the Nation at present had sadly been and gone by the time we departed for home, meaning the tradition of

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Supporters’ Co-operative We are now able to confirm the date for the 2020 AGM of the Stockport County Supporters’ Co-operative which is on Monday 23rd November 2020 via Zoom. The formal AGM will be followed by an informal meeting, details to be decided.

Details of how to access the meeting will be included with formal Calling Notice, which will be sent out to all members this week.

In this respect nomination forms and an initial meeting notice have now gone out to members, but please be aware that for Co-operative Board Elections the closing date for nominations is Wednesday 18th November 2020.

There are three vacancies on the board this year, as existing board members Andy Burt, Edward Keane and Peter Towey have reached the end of their election terms.

The vacancies are all for three-year terms, and the three retiring board members are eligible to stand again for election, but members have been and are invited to nominate or stand for election to the Board of Directors also.

In addition, our two excellent co-opted members Paul Thompson and Steve Murray must stand down also but are eligible to re-stand if they so desire.

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Damian Beaumont, Ian Brown, Katye Ebbage, John Giles, Emma Mannion and Mike Swann are continuing as elected members making the total Board complement of nine Directors, excluding co-opted members.

The election will be conducted by an external Returning Officer and an Independent Election Management Group, with the results being announced no later than Monday 21st December in accordance with the Election Policy.

Should anyone wish to discuss any aspect of this, or need help finding someone to nominate you, please contact: countycoopsecretary@gmail.com Join us on 23rd November, and do not leave your fireside in doing so!

Ian Brown Stockport County Supporters’ Co-operative

COUNTY JUNIORS

S P O N S O R E D B Y:

Hello again for this evening’s visit of Solihull Moors to Edgeley Park. It’s certainly a busy week for James and the team with three games in a week.

We have made a great start to the season, sitting joint top of the league alongside Torquay, the team that scored in the last minute in our first game of the season. I have enjoyed watching the live streaming of games apart from the Wealdstone screening which I think most of us had a problem with. Having said that,what a great result and hat-trick by John Rooney. If this type of form stays with us we should be in for a great season.

As mentioned last Saturday we will now have a virtual mascot for each home game. If any of our members would like to take part please contact either Brenda on 07720591316 or myself on 07921810464. We would require a photo and some info about yourself, for example, age,school, and your favourite County player.

ZOOM MEETING On Sunday 15th November we will be holding a zoom meeting with James Gannon from 11 am.

If you would like to ask James a question please message us your child’s name and the question.

The child will ask the question themselves but we want to have a list beforehand too. We hope you can join us on the morning, details on how to log on nearer the time.

That’s all for tonight, stay safe.

Mascots Lillierose

Age: 7 Attends: All Saints Primary School Favourite players: Ben Hinchliffe & Adam Thomas Hobbies: Watching County & making TikToks

Bruce

Age: 5 Attends: All Saints Primary School Favourite players: Sam Minihan & Ben Hinchliffe Hobbies: Watching County & making TikToks with his sister

Ian Butterworth 45

STOCKPORT COUNTY Liam Hogan 58’ CHE

STERFIELD FC

CHESTERFIELD Milan Butterfield 85’

1 1

Saturday 24th October | Emirates FA Cup | Edgeley Park | Chesterfield win 7-6 on penalties

The Hatters’ break from National League action saw them take on their most recent opponents, Chesterfield, for the second successive Saturday – but ultimately fell at the first FA Cup hurdle for NL clubs, after bowing out 7-6 on penalties at Edgeley Park.

Skipper Liam Hogan put County ahead in the 58th minute, before the visitors levelled with five remaining – and then held their nerve from 12 yards to go through.

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All Past Opponents WERNETH

Opponents on 15th October 1887 with a 4-1 away friendly win. The result of the return game played in March is yet to be traced.

WEST AUCKLAND TOWN

A crowd of 1,845 attended this FA Cup tie, which was the home side’s first in the competition proper, in the North East in November 1959. Those who made the trip saw the Hatters win 6-2 with goals from Ron Guy (2), Barrie Betts, Bill Ritchie, Gene Wilson and Mike Davock.

WEST BROMWICH ALBION

Fourteen seasons of league games have seen County come out second best on many occasions. One highlight was the 5-1 home victory, in February 1993, which explains the near equal goal tally in Stockport, when Paul A Williams took great delight in coming off the bench to score against a side where he had a less than enjoyable spell between his two County stints. The Fifth Round FA Cup defeat was infamous as despite winning the toss County’s captain decided to play against the near blizzard and the Baggies scored all their goals in the first half.

Comp

H/A

Pl

W

D

L

F

A

EFL

H

14

3

4

7

16

17

A

14

1

2

11

9

32

FAC

H

1

0

0

1

0

5

FR

H

2

0

0

2

3

7

WEST GORTON ATHLETIC

West Gorton travelled south to suffer defeat twice in our early seasons. The result of an away match has not been traced, and a few further

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games were played between this side and our second string.

Comp

H/A

Pl

W

D

L

F

A

FR

H

2

0

2

0

3

3

WEST HAM UNITED

Surprisingly County have the slightly better record in League games between these two sides, but it is a series of Cup ties that grab the headlines.

In 1935 we brought them back to Edgeley to knock them out of the FA Cup. 1958 saw a controversial win for the then Upton Park side, then County glory in the League Cup took over with the 1972 and 1996 home victories, the second of which included the legendary Iain Dowie own goal.

Comp

H/A

Pl

W

D

L

EFL

H

4

3

1

A

4

1

0

H

1

1

A

2

0

H

2

A

1

FAC FLC

F

A

0

5

1

3

1

9

0

0

1

0

1

1

3

4

2

0

0

4

2

0

1

0

1

1

WEST MANCHESTER

Lancashire League and Friendly opponents who we faced at their Hullard Hall and Old Trafford grounds. We completed the double in their last Lancashire League season of 1896-97. Our First Team also faced their reserves several times.

Comp

H/A

Pl

W

D

L

F

A

LL

H

3

2

0

1

5

4

A

3

1

0

2

3

6

H

1

1

0

0

4

1

H

3

3

0

0

15

2

FR

WEST MIDLAND INTER-SERVICES LEAGUE XI

Forces select side that proved little of an attraction in November 1958, with 2,371 paying to see a 7-0 win under the lights. The visitors did include County man Alec Acton, then undergoing his National Service.

WESTERN COMMAND

Another forces side regularly faced by first team and reserves in benefit and friendly matches from 1941 through to 1958. Amongst the men to wear the opposition colours were Ivor Allchurch and Gerry Hitchens.

Comp

H/A

Pl

W

D

L

F

A

FR

H

3

2

0

1

9

5

WEYMOUTH

The weekend’s visitors will be playing their first competitive game against County. However, back in our Army camp training days, we visited them for a friendly on 26th July 1989, when Garry MacDonald scored the only goal after 37 minutes.

Comp

H/A

Pl

W

D

L

F

A

FR

H

2

1

0

A

2

1

0

0

7

0

1

3

7

WHITE STAR WANDERERS

Liverpool side, sometimes referred to as Liverpool White Star, who we beat 6-1 at home on the opening day of the 1899-00 season, kicking off our road to the Lancashire League title and election to the Football League. The opposition, who disbanded in 1903, won the return game 2-0 on their way to a mid-table finish.

WHITE VILLA LADS CLUB

One of the oddest opponents in the club’s modern history. White Villa had ended the previous season as Champions of Division Four of the Stockport District Sunday League. They were selected to face County in the Centenary Match for Stockport Lads Club, a game played in Offerton in July 1991. The half of County’s squad used in this game won 6-1 whilst another side beat Bramhall 4-1.

WHALEY BRIDGE

Opponents from down the Buxton line faced during the 1880s. The home result that has been traced saw a comfortable 7-0 win. Some of these games were played by the Heaton Norris Cricket & Football Club who merged with the Rovers.

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County Heaven Hatter in Macc writes: Greetings, everyone - on another night that will see us take to the field under the lights, albeit, alas, without the accompaniment of the usual Edgeley Park evening roar.

Despite the absence of a roar, we shall have the ‘Moors’ - and the prospect of an excellent uppertable tussle. As Halloween approaches, we will also be wanting to rid ourselves of the hoodoo habitually practised by a club against whom County have triumphed only once in eight attempts.

Indeed, their last two visits to EP have each seen them net four times. Not so much a case of Solihull as ‘Solihell’!

But, of course, and rather unusually, they do make the journey on this occasion occupying a slightly lower league position than the Hatters. Hopefully, come the end of the evening, we will have widened the gap a little further…

The League, and staying on top of it, is in even sharper focus for County now, following Saturday’s exit here on penalties in the FA Cup - which also saw Chesterfield exact a modicum of revenge for the three points we captured at the Technique Stadium a week earlier. Given a choice earlier this month between the prizes on offer in our double-header with the ‘Spireites’, I think that many Hatters would have plumped for the one we ended up winning. Fingers crossed that we can this evening emulate that victory over East Midlands opponents with one against those from the West Midlands!

So much for tonight’s visitors, then. But, seeing as this is the column that always leaves you wanting Moor, there’s still one ‘hull of a good half to follow from Sandy…

Sandbach Hatter writes: Dam son, that really was one of your better sign-off lines (and I accept my pun only works if our readers – yes, both of them – were aware tonight’s visitors play at Damson Park, but I didn’t have much to work with!).

Moving swiftly on, how about a little update from the County Heaven Games Room?

If you have been reading our programme articles thus far into the season (and I sincerely hope you have), then you should know by now that our forum boasts not one, but TWO prediction competitions. In the original Prediction League, now superbly run by my esteemed co-contributor, together with longstanding Heavener, Archie, members are tasked with forecasting the outcomes of seven random fixtures from across the leagues each week (Home win, Away win, or Draw), and as we head into the final week of October, it’s Ceefer who currently has a narrow lead at the top of the table.

Meanwhile, in his own County-based competition, Ceefer himself sets a series of prediction challenges for each of the Hatters’ fixtures throughout the season, and Heaveners then have to guess anything and everything from the first scorer and first substitute, to how many red cards will feature throughout the match. In that league, it’s exiled DudleyHatter who sits top of the pile (and, by ‘exiled’, that’s because he now lives in Spain, even though Dudley might as well be abroad – no offence to this evening’s Midlands-based opponents!).

And, on that bombshell, enjoy the match, wherever you may be, and take care of yourselves.

Animo et Fide. www.countyheaven.com

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Imagine Radio Chris Ridgway

We’re back under the lights! Wherever you watch County under the lights from, that special feeling always creeps in and tonight is no different.

Let’s not skirt around the issue, the defeat to Chesterfield wasn’t nice - losing on penalties never is - but it’s important to take stock of where we are.

This is a good strong Solihull team and if County are going to bounce back from Saturday, it won’t come easy.

I believe we will do it tonight though. Despite, as mentioned above, missing players who are still to make an impact, we have a spine more than capable of competing at this level and higher, as well as impact players, pace on the flanks and a manager that is as robust as they come.

The opening to the season has been nothing short of remarkable.

Top of the league, highest scorers in the division, unbeaten in the league at home - exactly how an ambitious team would envision, with the incentive that the squad is only going to get stronger, as several players return from injury or regain fitness.

In a weird way, the loss to Torquay has removed the pressure that a massive unbeaten run can bring.

Think Liverpool in the Premier League last season. They were by far and out the strongest team there, but much was made on whether they could do it unbeaten, with even a draw against Man United going under the microscope.

Whatever happens now, we won’t have that. A small blip right at the beginning of the season is quickly forgotten and now we’re business mode in the league.

One sentence I think we have to add in is a show of support for Sam Minihan. Over the last few years I’ve got to know Sam as a player, and to talk to about football and other things off the field. He’s got over 150 games in County colours under his belt and I don’t think one single

Sam Minihan

fan would want anything more than at least another 150. The way he has transitioned from part time to full time has been an example to his team mates, and although I see why he has tweeted an apology after Chesterfield, I’m yet to see one fan that thinks he owed one.

Sam is one of us, and along with the rest of the squad, has the full support I’m sure of the Blue and White Army, whether we’re at home or anywhere else!

On to tonight, and even in the early stages of this season we have a game of two in-form teams.

Both are on buoyant runs in the league, both have ambition to win promotion, and both believe they’re well equipped to get there.

We’re also starting to see link-ups in play. Richie Bennett bringing John Rooney into play, Jordan Keane and Lois Maynard look as rock solid as the partnership behind them, this is a team that means business.

One difference I think tonight will be the way Solihull approach the game. Most teams so far have sat deep and made us work to break them down. Moors though are on a roll, confident, and want to be the team that finish above County this season and will want to show they’re not intimidated.

It makes it a game of high interest, high physical performance, and some of the best technical ability in the division. If you’re watching at home tonight, I’d advise getting the popcorn out!

Enjoy the game.

Chris Ridgway

The Smart Accountant for the digital age - specialising in online accounts and tax returns. Call today on 0161 925 6162 for a friendly chat about your accounting needs or visit www.mydigitalaccounts.com

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Oshor Williams There’s a definite feel good factor around the club at the moment bolstered by our positive start to the league campaign. But there was a buzz around the town before a ball was kicked in anger and a sense of genuine optimism for the future of the club. With an ambitious owner, a new training ground and a squad strengthened by the arrival of a number of new signings it’s easy to get carried away. But important though all these things are it takes much more to develop a genuine ‘feel-good factor’ within a club and the community it serves. And what exactly do we mean by that expression? Is it just the transient gratification of winning a few games or being in pole position after five competitive matches?

Clearly not, and whilst it’s reassuring to get off to a good start, Jim and his management team are far too experienced to get carried away with the current position. They know that though encouraging it is a snapshot in time within a long demanding campaign. It’s not just a matter of team spirit either. During my time at County we had fantastic team spirit during periods when we were battling financial difficulties, the threat of relegation and problems accessing training facilities. Obviously our spirit was not fuelled by success but by adversity and a knowledge that in order to get through the difficult times we had to pull together and ensure that everyone was up for the fight. Whilst team spirit is undoubtedly a feature of today’s County set up there are other vital elements essential to all successful organisations sports-related or otherwise, and I believe those indicators are evident within the current County structures.

Firstly you need strong stable leadership and this is something which Jim Gannon has given County as both player and manager for too many years to mention. It is also important to have a vision coupled with a long-term sustainable

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Jim Gannon has given County strong, stable leadership for many years

There is a feel-good factor around the club at the moment

strategy which is clearly something which owner and lifelong supporter Mark Stott has brought to the club. Importantly you have to have a total buy in from everyone involved with the club both internally and externally, that includes directors, management, players, club support staff, commercial partners and importantly you the fans.

County are displaying the vision, leadership, team spirit, and support to make this a truly memorable season in a time of global adversity.

When everyone connected with the club has a shared commitment and belief in the vision and a clear understanding of their role, that’s when you get that ‘feel-good factor’. Importantly, it has a democratic feel about it (Sorry, Mr Trump) in which everyone participates and no person’s contribution is elevated beyond everyone else’s.

I know I’m feeling pretty damn good at the moment, despite the restrictions we’re living under, and despite the impending gloom of the winter weather. Communities (apart from the Westminster community) are coming together to keep hungry children fed over the holidays. NHS staff are rolling their sleeves up ready to take on the predicted second wave of COVID and protect the elderly and vulnerable. And County are displaying the vision, leadership, team spirit, and support to make this a truly memorable season in a time of global adversity.

Enjoy the game (live stream).

Osh

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Deadly Duos Steven Davies

Paul Jones & Lee Todd Hello and welcome to tonight’s game against Solihull Moors where we look to add to our points in this season’s campaign.

For this edition of Deadly Duos I have decided to spice things up with a twist. Rather than me provide you with some goal fests from the past - I am going to bring you a perspective from the other end of the pitch with two players in partnership whose job was to merely keep the goals out.

And boy did they do that! I’m talking about ex-Wales and County goalkeeper Paul Jones and club legend that is ex-left back Lee Todd.

Lee Todd transferred to County in the summer of 1990 from Hartlepool where he had first joined them as a junior, spending seven years with us he notched up well over 200 appearances and played with a few goal keepers before linking up with Paul in the pre-season of 1996/97. Paul, who had been playing since the 80’s, was brought in originally from Wolves as a replacement for Neil Edwards, although he ended up playing in every league game and all but two cup games that season.

During the 1996/97 season County were in the old Division Two (League One) where they finished runnersup gaining promotion, during this season they conceded a mere 14 goals at home from 23 home games as well as only conceding 21 goals in 21 cup games (yes that’s not a typo that’s an astonishing 21 cup games in just one season!) against teams that some of which were in the Premier League.

Over the course of the season they formed an excellent partnership and could read each other’s game impeccably. If I remember correctly Toddy as he was known also had a really good trick of being able to back pass to the keeper using only his knee / thigh, which would confuse the opposing team and players to no end as they thought that it was off his foot when it was picked up. This is a move that I have never seen replicated as much as during that season.

Their partnership played a massive part in us getting promoted in that campaign, so

Lee Todd

much so that they both joined Premier League outfit Southampton at the end of the season. Toddy only played a handful of games for the Saints but helped play a part in games such as a 3-2 away win at Liverpool. Paul played over just shy of 200 games for Southampton as well as an FA Cup final and winning player of the season, he also was capped 50 times for Wales (google image Paul Jones Wales 50…).

The reason of me wanting to write about these two players is that sometimes the defenders can be the unsung heroes of the games and although I have seen some excellent players for us over the years the partnership between Todd and Jones really was something special.

Paul Jones

55

Community Foundation scfcfoundation.com

@scfcfoundation

Stockport County Community Foundation

0161 286 8888 option 3

Foundation resumes our County Premier League Primary Stars programme We were delighted to resume our Premier League Primary Stars Programme in October and have just completed two Under-11s Girls Festivals along with our on-going teacher support sessions at Brookside Primary School in High Lane. The vital funding is received from the Premier League and National League Trust to deliver the national curriculum-linked education programme which uses the appeal of professional football clubs to inspire children to learn, be active and develop important life skills.

The Community Foundation are one of only a handful of clubs outside the Premier League and Football League to be taking part and primary schools across Stockport & Tameside are now being encouraged to sign up for the scheme, which has already engaged more than 10,000 primary schools and 13,000 teachers in England and Wales. Many high-profile Premier League players support the programme and Stockport County players, Foundation staff, along with our mascot Vernon the Bear, will take part in lessons to help engage with children across Stockport and Tameside.

Matthew Bailey, PLPS Co-Ordinator said: “This is a fantastic opportunity for local schools to get involved with a high profile programme that is having a huge impact nationally. Premier League Primary Stars enhances children’s understanding across the curriculum and inspires them to be successful in everything they do. This is a great endorsement of our work and the response from schools already has been very encouraging. We’re really excited to resume this programme once again and looking forward to working with pupils, teachers and schools to help them make the most of the programme.”

Primary Stars has been developed with teachers and education experts to provide schools with free curriculumlinked resources for PE, PHSE, English, Maths and Enterprise that will inspire children to reach their goals, whilst teaching the importance of working together and playing fair.

The team of coaches from the Foundation support sessions and up skill teachers to enhance PE and school sport provision, and registered schools will have opportunities for stadium visits, competitions, festivals, player appearances and match day experiences to add further value to the innovative programme.

To get your school involved in the Premier League Primary Stars programme at Stockport County, register free of charge at plprimarystars.co.uk.

If you would like to know more about PLPS or the work the Community Foundation do in schools, contact us on 0161286-8888 or email matthew.bailey@stockportcounty.com

56

Parfetts show their fabulous support for the Community Foundation Disability Programme for a further 12 months We are delighted to announce that long-time supporter Parfetts Cash & Carry have agreed to continue their sponsorship for the next 12 months towards the Community Foundation Disability Programme!

Parfetts have now supported the Community Foundation Disability Programme for the last six years which has been invaluable in the Foundation developing the programme of activities that they offer with the project.

The Foundation’s disability football programme of activities has grown from strength to strength since it began 11 years ago and our partnership with Parfetts has been essential in the positive developments seen over this time enabling the Foundation to reach out to more vulnerable people in the local community with a wider range of provision. Parfetts sponsorship has helped to grow the project with the weekly Pan Disability football coaching sessions numbers of participants seeing significant growth at Houldsworth Village, Stockport across our Monday Junior disability session participants to 15 players and Wednesday Adults sessions reaching 33 players. In addition, this season’s Adult Ability Counts Monthly League held at the Power League in Stockport now has three divisions (Premiership, Championship and League One) with 15 teams taking part, with Stockport County having three teams. The Junior League has three Under-12s and Under-16s teams playing each month and County have a team in each age group.

Adrian Rigby-Bates, Disability Football Development Officer, said: “We would like to thank Parfetts Cash & Carry for their fabulous support and sponsorship over the

past six years towards our Disability project which has been instrumental in enabling us to grow and develop the range of activities within the programme. Their generosity in sponsoring the programme for the next 12 months is absolutely vital to maintaining and growing such a loved and valuable project.

“We are very proud of the opportunities the programme offers within our local community to over 250 children, young people and adults (Male and Female) with a range of physical and learning disabilities, complex needs and mental health illness. Our project includes weekly football/ multi-sport coaching sessions and monthly tournaments and through this provision to a variety of groups, with a range of needs, we aim to promote healthy lifestyles, extending opportunity, choice and control – benefitting those attendees physically, socially and emotionally”.

Guy Swindell, Parfetts Retail Director, responded: “Parfetts are committed to supporting local charitable organisations, and the Stockport County Community Foundation continues to do excellent work in and around the local community. It stretches beyond just football for the elite and engages both adults and children in the local area. I look forward to hearing about the great work the Foundation continues to do, and we are very proud to be their Disability Programme sponsor for the next twelve months.”

If anyone would like to get further information about the Foundation’s disability provision then please contact Adrian Rigby-Bates, Disability Football Development Officer for the Foundation on 0161 286 8888 (option 3) or alternatively e-mail him at adrian.bates@stockportcounty.com

Primary schools coaching programme has a very different but great first half term back We have just completed our first half term of our Sharp Schools Coaching Programme. The last seven weeks have been very different from the start of any other academic year but we have been delighted to be delivering our schools programme once again. With many new schools added to the programme for the 2020/21 academic year, we are very excited to continue to make such a positive difference to children’s sporting opportunities within their school. We are delighted to have already received a fantastic letter from one of our partner primary schools, Dial Park Primary in Offerton following our partnership with the school and look forward to building on this over the coming months as the need for physical activity becomes even more of a key focus throughout 2021.

STOCKPORT COUNTY COMMUNITY FOUNDATION POSITIVE IMPACT 2020 James Clark - Headteacher, Dial Park Primary School, Offerton ‘They say that love is blind. Football fans love their clubs, of that there is little doubt. But it is also important to open our eyes to the amazing work in the community that happens beyond the 90 minutes which fills us with joy, dread and a host of other emotions on a weekly basis.

Stockport FC Community Foundation have worked with Dial Park Primary School for a number of years. Over this time our partnership has grown and now we are supported by them with after school and holiday clubs, assemblies and sports lessons. It is great to see the pride with which the Community Foundation coaches operate in all they do. It is also amazing to see the pride this builds, not only in the club, but throughout the community. This is especially true with the lifelong fans who work or are governors in our school; people like Karen and Barbara Baird and John Benvie. They can feel the pride of supporting a team who reach out beyond the matches on the pitch and make a real difference to the children of Stockport.

The Stockport FC Community Foundation wouldn’t achieve these outcomes without committed people and Dave Wardle epitomises this. His work to support the vision of Stockport County being a community focussed club which grows supporters and kind, active children and young people is something we can all believe in. His work means that when we sit and (hopefully) enjoy the match, we can feel safe in the knowledge that we are all a part of something much bigger.

The Community Foundation reaches even further than this. It is great to be able to come along today with my good friend Charles Young who has also been a lifelong supporter of Stockport County as guests of the Community Foundation. Charles was made up when he chatted with Jim Gannon 2 years ago and I snapped this picture of the moment he met his hero! It says a lot about Jim and the club when they can reach out to fans within community like this.

So thank you Stockport County and the Community Foundation. Thanks for working with our school.

Thanks for working with our community. And thanks for taking the time to read this! I hope that I have been able to open your eyes to the importance of the Community Foundations work. Today we can all rest assured that we are a part of something just as important as the 90 minutes on the pitch, we are a part of Stockport Community, a place where we can all feel proud be; win, lose or draw…but let’s hope we win’ James Clark

57

Talking Football Sam Preston

Of course, 2020 has been a crazy year, but even by those standards, it is mind-boggling that the current incumbent of Manchester United’s number ten shirt is doing more to feed the hungry children than the current incumbent of Number 10 Downing Street.

In April, Matt Hancock called on Premier League footballers to ‘play their part’ during the coronavirus pandemic, playing to the stereotype of the selfish, ignorant elite footballer.

Marcus Rashford has smashed that false perception to smithereens in recent months, and of late, has found resistance to his proposals from MPs within Hancock’s own party.

He has driven an issue close to his own heart to the centre of the national debate with assuredness and attention to detail which would be exceptional from a seasoned politician, let alone an England international.

Perhaps those with the power to create genuine change on the issue of child poverty thought that giving Rashford an MBE and a pat on the head would be enough to make him go away quietly.

If so, they were wrong. Every element of Rashford’s crusade has been rooted in a desire to enact change; to do more than just pay lip service to a problem which impacted him as a youngster and continues to affect the lives of young people up and down the country.

Rashford has the country behind him and when his attempts to feed children through action from MPs failed, small businesses across the UK have stepped up to fill the void, inspired by his work on this issue.

58

Twitter is not the best place to get reasoned debate on this issue, but it is a platform which has allowed Rashford to get in contact with MPs and put across his point of view.

It also offers a home for the tired, inaccurate arguments against putting food in the mouths of the poorest and most vulnerable children.

The lazy caricatures of parents spending money on televisions and phones, instead of food. The ignorance and inability to fathom that families may find themselves struggling due to factors beyond their control.

Following those viewpoints would only punish children, who have done nothing wrong, leaving them without food.

Rashford has provided more effective opposition to government policy than any MP throughout this pandemic.

His latest week of achievement came while leading the line for United, in the absence of Anthony Martial.

A goal at Newcastle and the winner in Paris to go alongside a campaign creating real change and he shows no sign of letting up.

If the ‘personality’ element of the award retains any meaning, Rashford will be named

Every element of Rashford’s crusade has been rooted in a desire to enact change; to do more than just pay lip service to a problem which impacted him as a youngster and continues to affect the lives of young people Sports Personality of the Year come December.

In later weeks, this column will go back to discussing VAR, the handball law or the megarich’s next grand plan for English football.

But those matters pale into insignificance alongside child poverty, which Rashford has brought to the centre of the national consciousness and shows no sign of letting slip away.

“This isn’t about politics, this is about humanity,” said Dr Marcus Rashford, MBE earlier this week.

In doing so, he showed the compassionate leadership this country sorely needs.

He deserves the support of each and every one of us.

59

Hatters v The Moors

Facts & Figures Head to Head

Goals scored

Played (all competitions): 8

County: 8

County: 1 Solihull Moors: 5 Draws: 2

Solihull Moors: 16

First competitive meeting

Last time out

Saturday 22nd February 2014 Conference North County 2 Solihull Moors 2

26th November 2019, National League County 1-4 Solihull Moors Paul McCallum bagged a second-half double as Solihull Moors came from behind to beat County at Edgeley Park in the National League.

After Adam Thomas missed a glorious chance to put Stockport ahead, captain Paul Turnbull drilled a shot into the top corner from the edge of the box on the stroke of half-time to give the hosts the lead.

But McCallum levelled seven minutes into the second half, heading in Kyle Storer’s free-kick, and Jimmy Ball tucked the ball home at the second attempt to put Solihull ahead in the 58th minute.

Last two meetings Tuesday 26th November 2019 National League County (Turnbull) 1 Solihull Moors 4 (McCallum 2, Ball, Osborne) Tuesday 24th September 2019 National League Solihull Moors (Howe, Reckford) 2 County 0

Previously at EP County: 1 Solihull Moors: 2 Draws: 1

60

McCallum then claimed his fifth goal in six games, nodding in Lee Vaughan’s cross in the 67th minute.

Jamey Osborne made it four nine minutes from time with a fine 25-yard strike into the bottom corner.

Team (4-2-3-1): Hinchliffe; Cowan, Palmer, Arthur, Leesley; Turnbull (Capt.) (Hammill, 74), S Walker; Thomas, Osborne (T Walker, 68), Rodney; Bell (Mulhern, 68).

Unused Subs: Keane, Ormson.

Attendance: 3,142 (69 away)

They played for both clubs Jimmy Ball, Jamie Milligan, Simon Travis, Richard Brodie, Jamie Ward, Stephen Gleeson Jimmy Ball

2020-21

CHE

Statistics National League Team Stockport County Torquay United Hartlepool United Woking Solihull Moors Sutton United Notts County Eastleigh Wealdstone FC Halifax Town Wrexham Barnet Maidenhead United Aldershot Town Bromley Boreham Wood Yeovil Town Weymouth Dagenham & Redbridge King's Lynn Town Chesterfield Dover Athletic Altrincham

W 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 1 2 1 1 1 0 0 1 0 0 1 1 0 1 1 0

D 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 1 1 0 0 1

Home L 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 1 0 1 1 2 1 1 0 1 2 1 1 2 1 0

F 5 5 2 4 7 3 9 5 9 3 2 2 2 1 5 0 2 2 2 2 6 1 0

D 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 2 0 0 0 1 1 0 3 1 0 0 0 0 1

Away L 1 1 0 1 1 0 1 0 1 1 2 1 1 1 0 2 0 1 2 2 2 3 1

0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

0 0 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 1 1 1 1 1 0 0 1 1 0 -

0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 -

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1

A 4 3 1 4 2 1 1 1 3 2 5 5 5 4 0 3 3 1 4 9 5 9 4

W 4 4 3 3 3 3 3 2 2 1 2 2 2 1 1 1 0 1 1 1 1 1 0

Total L F 1 12 1 8 0 8 1 5 1 8 1 6 2 10 0 10 2 11 1 4 3 6 2 6 3 6 2 9 1 5 2 4 1 5 3 2 3 2 3 6 4 9 4 2 1 2

D 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 2 1 3 0 0 0 1 1 1 4 1 1 1 0 0 2

Total

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Goals

0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 1 0 0 2 5 0 0 0 1 0 0 12

Goals

Goals

0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 1 1 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 0 5 0 -

Subs

Subs

0 0 5 0 0 0 5 4 0 5 2 4 4 5 5 5 2 5 1 0 3 0 0 -

F 7 3 6 1 1 3 1 5 2 1 4 4 4 8 0 4 3 0 0 4 3 1 2

A 5 4 2 5 2 2 7 5 13 3 7 10 12 6 3 3 6 4 6 14 9 14 4

GD 7 4 6 0 6 4 3 5 -2 1 -1 -4 -6 3 2 1 -1 -2 -4 -8 0 -12 -2

Play-Offs: Elimination Round (5th v 6th, 4th v 7th)

Cup Starts

Starts

Josh Barnes Nyal Bell Richie Bennett Ryan Croasdale Jordan Downing Max Greenhalgh Ben Hinchliffe Liam Hogan Jack Hopkins Connor Jennings James Jennings Jordan Keane Mark Kitching Lois Maynard Sam Minihan Ash Palmer Alex Reid John Rooney Macauley Southam-Hales Finley Stanyer Jamie Stott Adam Thomas Jordan Williams Own goals Total

W 2 1 2 1 0 2 1 1 0 0 1 1 2 1 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0

Play-Offs: Semi-Finals (2nd v 5th/6th, 3rd v 4th/7th) League

Player Roll-Call

A 1 1 1 1 0 1 6 4 10 1 2 5 7 2 3 0 3 3 2 5 4 5 0

Subs

Promotion

P 5 5 4 5 4 4 5 4 5 5 5 4 5 4 3 4 5 5 5 5 5 5 3

Starts

# 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23

STERFIELD FC

0 0 6 0 0 0 6 5 0 5 2 5 4 6 6 6 3 6 1 0 4 1 0 -

0 2 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 3 1 1 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 0 5 0 -

0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 2 1 0 0 2 5 0 0 0 1 0 0 13

Pts 12 12 10 10 9 9 9 8 7 6 6 6 6 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 3 3 2

Form Last 6 Matches L W W W W W L W W W W W W D - W W L W D L W W W - W W W L - L W W W L W W D D - D L L W W W L D D D W L W L L L W L W - L L L W W L L W D - W L D - - L D W L - D D L D D D L L L W L L W L D D W L L L L W L L L W L L L L D L D - - Relegation

National League Records Biggest Win 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Saturday 10 October 2020 Solihull Moors 5-0 King’s Lynn Town Tuesday 13 October 2020 Dover Athletic 0-5 Aldershot Town Tuesday 13 October 2020 Wealdstone 2-5 Stockport County

Most Goals

Saturday 17 October 2020 Wealdstone 4-3 Wrexham

Top Goalscorer

John Rooney (Stockport County) 5 = 3 Goals + 2 Penalties

Liam Hogan scored in open play and in the penalty shootout defeat against Chesterfield

# 1 3 23

National League Fair Play Team Eastleigh 3 Stockport County 3 Yeovil Town 18

0 0 1

Pts 12 12 82

Cut off dates for number of yellow cards in league matches only, cups are different: 5 = Following 23 fixtures , 10 = Following 37 fixtures, 15/20 = End of the season Automatic league suspension starts next match after an offence, automatic cup suspension starts next match after an offence in the same competition Yellow cards are specific to each competition, red cards apply across all competitions All details up to date as of Sunday 25 October 2020

61

Kit Sponsorship Ben

Sam

Hinchliffe

01

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BEN WALKER

STOCKPORT TADPOLES

LEE THORNEYCROFT

A WAY

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AVA RAE FELLOWES

AVAILABLE

BENJI GRIGGS 02

03

John

Thomas

Richie

Rooney

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ANDY BIRCHENOUGH

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JACOB THORP

A WAY

A WAY

A WAY

THE ITALIAN

CHARLIE AND HARRY JOHNSON

ADRIAN CAVILLE

07

08

Jamie

09

Jordan

Stott

Macauley

Keane HOME

Southam-Hales HOME

HOME

VIRIDOR

ONLY ONE JIMBO

A WAY

A WAY

A WAY

AVAILABLE

HELP THE HATTERS

ZANE PEAT

15

16

Josh

AVAILABLE 17

Jordan

Barnes

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Downing

Gilmour

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AVAILABLE

AVAILABLE

AVAILABLE

A WAY

A WAY

A WAY

AVAILABLE

62

Jennings

HOME

Adam

21

James

Minihan

AVAILABLE -

AVAILABLE -

To sponsor a player, please contact Olivia Hanvey on 0161 266 2700 or olivia.hanvey@stockportcounty.com

Liam

Ash

Hogan HOME

THE MOORE FAMILY

04

HOME

IAN DOOLEY

MAYNARD FAMILY

A WAY

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HJS JOINTING SERVICES LTD

05

Maynard

HOME

KEVIN AND SAM BOON

Connor

A WAY

£

ARNOLD GORSE MORTGAGES ・PROTECTION ・INVESTMENTS ・ pensions

06

Jordan

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Mark

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LEE THORNEYCROFT

HELP THE HATTERS

KATE GLASS

A WAY

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AVAILABLE 10

AVAILABLE 11

Ryan

AVAILABLE 14

Alex

Croasdale

Nyal

Reid

Bell

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GARY KIMBER

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ASHLEIGH THORP

TOMMY ARMSTRONG

18

19

Finley

20

Max

Stanyer

Greenhalgh

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PHILL GREEN

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AVAILABLE -

Lois

Palmer

AVAILABLE -

63

2020-21

Fixtures & Results Date

Opposition

Comp

Score

Att Pos

October 2020 Sat 3

Torquay United

A NL

0-1

- 21 Hinchliffe

Minihan

Jennings J

Maynard

Palmer

Hogan

Kitching

Tue 6

FC Halifax Town

H NL

2-1

- 10 Hinchliffe

Minihan

Southam-Hales ¹ Maynard

Palmer

Stott

Kitching 1 ²

Sat 10

Dover Athletic

H NL

3-0

-

6

Hinchliffe

Minihan

Stott

Maynard

Palmer

Hogan

Kitching ²

Tue 13

Wealdstone

A NL

5-2

-

2

Hinchliffe

Minihan

Jennings J ¹

Maynard 1

Palmer

Hogan

Keane

Sat 17

Chesterfield

A NL

2-1

-

1

Hinchliffe

Minihan ³

Stott ¹

Maynard

Palmer

Hogan

Kitching 1 ²

Sat 24

Chesterfield

H FAC4Q

1-1

-

-

Hinchliffe

Minihan

Stott ³

Maynard

Palmer

Hogan 1

Thomas

Tue 27

Solihull Moors

H NL

Sat 31

Weymouth

H NL

November 2020 Wed 11 Notts County

A NL

Sat 14

Dagenham & Redbridge

A NL

Sat 21

Eastleigh

H NL

Sat 28

Hartlepool United

A NL

December 2020 Sat 5

Bromley

Tue 8

Barnet

A NL

Sat 12

Sutton United

H NL

Altrincham

A NL

Mon 28 Wrexham

H NL

Sat 19 Sat 26

A NL

FAT3

January 2021 Sat 2

Altrincham

H NL

Sat 9

Maidenhead United

A NL

Sat 23

Boreham Wood

H NL

Tue 26

King's Lynn Town

A NL

Sat 30

Woking

A NL

Tue 5

CSC2

February 2021 Sat 6

Yeovil Town

H NL

Sat 13

Aldershot Town

H NL

Sat 20

Eastleigh

A NL

Tue 23

Notts County

H NL

Sat 27

Chesterfield

H NL

March 2021 Sat 6

Weymouth

A NL

Tue 9

Solihull Moors

A NL

Sat 13

Dagenham & Redbridge H NL

Tue 16

Barnet

Sat 20

Sutton United

A NL

Sat 27

Hartlepool United

H NL

H NL

April 2021 Fri 2

Aldershot Town

A NL

Mon 5

Bromley

H NL

Sat 10

Wrexham

A NL

Tue 13

King's Lynn Town

H NL

Sat 17

Maidenhead United

H NL

Sat 24

Boreham Wood

A NL

May 2021 Sat 1

FC Halifax Town

A NL

Mon 3

Wealdstone

H NL

Sat 8

Dover Athletic

A NL

Sat 15

Torquay United

H NL

Sat 22

Woking

H NL

Sat 29

Yeovil Town

A NL

64

Key:

CHE

STERFIELD FC

Bold = Goalscorer ¹ / ² / ³ = 1st / 2nd / 3rd Sub / = Yellow / Red Card = Penalty = Lost 6-7 on Penalties * = Own Goal

Rooney

Bennett ²

Jennings C ³

Reid ¹

Barnes

Stott

Keane ¹

Thomas ³

Bell ²

Rooney

Bennett

Jennings C ³

Keane

Barnes

Jennings J ²

Croasdale

Thomas 1 ¹

Reid ³

Rooney 2

Bennett ³

Jennings C ¹

Keane

Barnes

Jennings J ²

Croasdale

Thomas ³

Reid 1 ¹

Rooney 3 ³

Bennett 1

Jennings C

Reid ²

Barnes

Kitching ¹

Croasdale ³

Thomas ²

Bell

Rooney

Bennett

Jennings C

Keane

Barnes

Jennings J ²

Croasdale

Thomas ³

Reid 1 ¹

Rooney

Bennett ¹

Reid ²

Keane

Barnes

Jennings C ²

Croasdale ³

Southam-Hales

Bell ¹

Stanyer

Hopkins

High Quality Corporate Accessories www.william-turner.co.uk 0161 475 3570 / corporate@william-turner.co.uk

65

National League News CHE

STERFIELD FC

Neil Simms rounds-up the recent happenings elsewhere in the National League...

A full programme of fixtures was scheduled for tonight, though positive coronavirus tests in the Notts County squad towards the end of last week changed that, with the club dropping out of the FA Cup and postponing two league games, starting with tonight’s fixture with FC Halifax Town. Never before has the health of individual players been more closely linked to whether games will go ahead or not.

Staying healthy off the pitch might well be the key to maintaining promotion pushes or sustaining battles for league survival on it this season, with players naturally sharper for regular action and regular training, as well as all the benefits of time amongst their team-mates compared to time in self-isolation. The league has a real problem if players are catching the virus from each other during games though, surely that situation can’t carry on?

Indeed, the recent surge in coronavirus cases around the country has been causing chaos for some clubs in the National League, with postponements already creating a backlog of games.

On to lighter matters and County’s recent opponents Wealdstone seem to be the team to follow if you want guaranteed goals. Their 3-2 win over Chesterfield last Tuesday meant that remarkably 25 goals have already been scored in their five games - an average of five per game - with their scorelines so far being 2-2, 0-1, 2-5, 4-3 and 3-2!

That is particularly true for Altrincham who should return to league action tonight for the first time since October 10th, after a number of positive tests among the Alty players led to their last two games also being called off. They have only played three times so far.

The Moss Lane men have some catching up to do then, and with a positive test at Barnet also leading to a postponement to their game against Hartlepool last time out the league table is looking a bit messy at the moment.

Nine clubs have games in hand, just over three weeks into the season.

It is left to a club’s discretion whether to play or postpone a game in the National League after positive tests, which are not mandatory at this level.

Returning to Notts County, they had four positive Covid tests amongst their playing staff prior to the Maidenhead game on October 17th but elected to go ahead with their game in order to preserve the integrity of the league. A noble gesture perhaps, though maybe one to regret as a makeshift Notts side slumped to a surprise 3-2 defeat. Manager Neal Ardley has since stated his firm belief that his men caught the virus from previous opponents. Who’ve they played recently? Altrincham on October 7th and Barnet on October 10th.

Dave Challinor

66

Wealdstone face King’s Lynn Town tonight, who have the joint leakiest defence in the league so far, having conceded 14 in five games. Dover share that unwanted accolade.

Elsewhere it’s been a slow start for promotion hopefuls Yeovil Town and Boreham Wood. Yeovil are without a win thus far, having drawn four and lost one, whereas their fellow play-off participants from last season Boreham Wood have won one, drawn one and lost two.

Woking occupy a play-off spot at present, having won three of their five games, and could well be set for major investment, with two American businessmen keen to get involved. The Surrey club are one of the only part-time teams in the National League, though the prospective investors are targeting full-time football from next season and a first ever promotion to the Football League within three years. Exciting times may lie ahead there then!

Finally, a decision was recently reached on how to divide up a £10m support package for the National League structure, with County among seven former Football League clubs at this level to be granted £95k per month based on higher average attendances. The other 16 National League clubs, including our opponents tonight, will receive £84k per month. A welcome, if imbalanced, boost for all during these uncertain times!

Rated Excellent On TrustPilot

Stockport County 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 23 24 25

Solihull Moors

Ben Hinchliffe

[1357]

Sam Minihan

[1359]

James Jennings

[1397]

Liam Hogan

[1395]

Ash Palmer

[1372]

Lois Maynard

[1394]

Adam Thomas

[1373]

John Rooney

[1400]

Richie Bennett

[1396]

Connor Jennings

[1339]

Jordan Williams The Blue & White Army Mark Kitching

[1398]

Jamie Stott

[1380]

Jordan Keane

[1370]

Macauley Southam-Hales

[1401]

Ryan Croasdale

[1402]

Alex Reid

[1399]

Nyal Bell

[1367]

Joshua Barnes Finley Stanyer Jack Hopkins Adam Owen

Tonight’s other Vanarama National League fixtures

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25

(7.45pm unless stated) Aldershot Town v Torquay United Boreham Wood v Woking Bromley v Weymouth Dover Athletic v Eastleigh FC Halifax Town v Notts County Hartlepool United v Altrincham King’s Lynn Town v Wealdstone Maidenhead United v Dagenham & Redbridge Wrexham v Barnet Yeovil Town v Sutton United

Ryan Boot Tyrone Williams Jordan Cranston Kyle Storer Callum Howe Alex Gudger Joe Sbarra Stephen Gleeson

[1220]

Adam Rooney

Referee Matthew Dicicco

Jamey Osborne Jamie Ward

Match Officials

[1206]

Cameron Coxe

Assistant Referee 1 Kieran Johnson Assistant Referee 2 Jamie O’Connor

Niall Clayton Lewis Miccio

Fourth Official Aran Hodgkinson

Callum Maycock Reiss McNally Jordan Piggott James Ball

[1354]

Next At Edgeley Park

Joshveer Shergill Nick Clayton-Phillips Ben Usher-Shipway Melis Bushaj Darren Carter Mitch Hancox

Weymouth Saturday 31st October 2020 Kick-off: 3.00pm Vanarama National League

Cameron Archer

The numbers in brackets are each player’s unique Stockport County Appearance Number (SCAN), showing his position in the list of players to make their debut for the club in a senior competitive game. For more information please visit www.scanscheme.org

Match Sponsor