Stockport County v Boreham Wood

Official Matchday Programme

vs Boreham Wood Saturday 23rd January Kick-off 3:00pm

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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 Director of Football: Simon Wilson Club Ambassadors: John Fitzpatrick, Freddie Goodwin, Alan Ogley Head of Football Administration: Alex Cowdy Caretaker 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 and Ticketing: 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 Customer Relationship Management Executive: Theo Bielby Videographer: Dan Powell

county

Editor: Keith Chapman Editorial Contributors: Andy Monks, David Ancell, Alice Gregory, Neil Simms, Gareth Evans, Steve Beswick, Mike Petch, 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, Sam Byrne.

Thanks to: Nicole Cox and Dell Ward at Boreham Wood FC. 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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Jon Keighren

Imagine Radio It has been a hectic 48 hours, following the news that Stockport County has parted company with Jim Gannon.

Although emotions may be raw, it is important at this stage that we pay tribute to Jim, thank him for his loyal service and wish him all the best for the future.

Jim played 480 times for this football club and was manager for 503 games, more than anyone else in County history, and I am going to miss him. We have had some wonderful football chats down the years and I will never forget the ‘Great Escape’ in his first season 15 years ago, followed by the Play-Off win at Wembley two years later and, of course, County’s first title in more than half a century in 2019.

But this is a club that never stands still and I can make one guarantee – the decision of the board has been taken in the best interests of the club. After a year in charge, nobody should be in any doubt that their course is clear, their ambition is limitless, and their culture and values are paramount.

Whilst we are all saddened by Jim’s departure, I remain excited for the future and we should look forward to the next stage of the process. I have been involved with County on a professional basis for more than 20 years and I remain more enthused and

I have been involved with County on a professional basis for more than 20 years and I remain more enthused and excited than I have ever been in my time at the club 04

excited than I have ever been in my time at the club – we have good people in charge and, rest assured, every decision the board takes is for the good of Stockport County.

This afternoon, Dave Conlon faces the biggest day of his football career, as he takes charge of the first team, and he will relish the challenge as two of the National League’s form teams go head-to-head here at Edgeley Park.

The players should have a spring in their step after the 2-0 midweek win at Dagenham and Redbridge, which made it four games unbeaten run in the league. County start the day in fourth, with two games in hand on top-of-the-table Torquay United, but still 11 points adrift of the pace setters.

Boreham Wood did the double over County last season winning 4-0 at Meadow Park, following that up with a 3-1 win at Edgeley Park, and they were arguably the best side we faced last season.

Boreham Wood boss Luke Garrard will be hoping to avoid the Manager of the Month curse having picked up the award for his side’s 100% record in December. Having reached the Play-Offs again last season, the Wood start the game just a point outside the top seven.

After six years in the National League, they’ve built a strong and experienced squad with all the credentials to be genuine promotion contenders - they come into today’s clash on the back of a fivegame unbeaten run in the league and haven’t lost away from home since mid-October.

Despite Tuesday’s 4-0 home defeat at the hands of Torquay in the FA Trophy, they still boast the best defensive record in the National League. The danger man is Kab Tshimanga who scored three goals against County across the two meetings last season.

As a winger myself, I used to study John to try and learn more about the role, but he was unpredictable and virtually impossible to replicate – in my eyes, he was one of the best ever to grace Edgeley Park County will hope to keep the pressure on the top three this afternoon, particularly ahead of those long, tricky away trips to King’s Lynn and Woking next week.

This will be an emotional day for County fans as we not only bid farewell to Jim Gannon, but we also reflect on the awful news of the passing of John Jeffers after a long battle against illness.

As a winger myself, I used to study John to try and learn more about the role, but he was unpredictable and virtually impossible to replicate – in my eyes, he was one of the best ever to grace Edgeley Park.

Having been schooled at Anfield, learning his trade from the likes of John Barnes, he went on to become a Port Vale legend over seven years, winning two promotions at Vale Park, before being allowed to join the Hatters where he became one of the heroes of our greatest ever season in 1996/97.

John’s professional career ended on a high as he played a vital role for Dave Jones’ team, scoring winning goals against Bury and Watford to secure promotion and reaching the semi-finals of the League Cup, where he played in the 1-0 win at Middlesbrough.

RIP ‘JJ’.

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Proud to sponsor Stockport County Football Club

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Club News Fixture updates

Our National League fixture at home to Sutton United on Tuesday 2nd February has been given a new kick-off time of 7pm.

The rearranged game at Edgeley Park was originally scheduled to take place at 7:45pm, but has now been brought forward.

Our National League fixture at home to Eastleigh has again been given a new date and is now set to be played on Tuesday 23rd March, with kick-off at 7:45pm.

The game at Edgeley Park, which has now been rearranged three times due to a combination of FA Cup commitments and Covid cases from both sides, will now take place in between games away at Sutton United and at home to Hartlepool United.

FA Cup Prize Draw raised £6,535 for Beechwood Cancer Care

We’re delighted to announce that our prize draw has raised a total of £6,535 in aid of local charity Beechwood Cancer Care.

Based in Edgeley, Beechwood Cancer Care offer support to those living with cancer and other life limiting illness, as well as their relatives and carers.

They understand just how cancer and illness can affect someone’s life, and how helpful it can be to talk with other patients and carers. They help with every stage of cancer and their Centre visitors include those who have just been diagnosed and need a listening ear, people at different stages of treatment and those ready to move on following treatment.

Prizes included signed framed shirts, balls and matchday programmes, thank you to everyone who contributed to a great cause and congratulations to all the winners.

Keep fighting, Khia As a show of support for 16-year-old local boy Khia Whitehead, who is currently fighting for his life after a tragic road accident on Boxing Day, the team wore the vibrant fluo third kit during their home game against Notts County last Saturday.

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In memory of ‘The Big Man’ Steve Bellis As a football club we have a long-term reputation for having a truly excellent match day programme.

to arrange for him and a couple of his friends, Iain and Will, to attend an FA Cup game against Brighouse Town.

It proved to be a great day for Sean and the lads, he enjoyed a few drinks in The Armoury and The Bobby Peel where he was made welcome by the County family and inside the ground he met Rodger Wylde and Alan Lord.

Seeing his face at the end of his long day may me realise just how much he felt for our club.

We have won far too many awards to attempt to list and I was very proud to be the editor as part of my wider role throughout the 1990’s into the early part of the millennium.

The success of any publication is wholly dependent on the strength of its contributors and I was blessed with a truly excellent team who not only did everything for nothing but also produced a diverse range of factual, humourous and interesting features.

I don’t attempt to list those involved for fear of missing anyone out but I was delighted to see the high standards continue under subsequent editors.

One such editor was Phil Brennan and he too recognised the importance of excellence among his contributors and he was delighted when approached by a man with a huge personality called Sean Graham from North of the border keen to provide an insight into Scottish football.

I’ll leave the more poignant words to Phil and Life President George Hudson as they had the pleasure of meeting Sean.

I only had the pleasure of engaging with Sean via social media but he was clearly a literary talent and passionate football fan.

Rest in peace Sean, your fabulous written words will ensure you will never be forgotten. Over to Phil and George.

Phil...

As a former member of the match day programme team back in the ‘Championship’ days of Bellis and Co, one of my first tasks when I became Media Manager at Stockport County, was to bring back that ‘team environment’ that we had back then.

As with any good programme you need a good variety of contributors and as a matter of courtesy I contacted those that had previously been recently involved plus a few people that I knew would be up for the challenge.

One of the recent contributors was Sean Graham and after we had spoken to each other he was happy to stay on board. Sean wrote a regular article which we called ‘Across the Border’, it was sometimes quirky, sometimes serious but always a great read.

I was surprised to learn that even though he had been writing for the club for a few years, Sean had never actually been to a game at Edgeley Park so when ‘County Life’ won several awards at the end of that first season I invited him down to a game.

It was my great pleasure to be able

In recent times Sean fought a tremendous battle against cancer but sadly after contracting C-Diff he passed away last week.

My heart goes out to his wife Tracey and his daughter Catherine and all his family. The world was a better place with him in it. Sleep well Big Yin xx George...

Glaswegian Sean Graham was a fan of football, in particular the underdog. He donated to Stockport County Supporters’ Trust in 2005 and regularly kept in touch with Phil Brennan and myself, supporting the club from afar through dark times by buying a shirt every year and going on to become a regular and valued contributor to County’s matchday programme for three seasons. It was our pleasure for us to meet and enjoy Sean’s infectious good humour and positivity in person when he visited Edgeley Park. Sean beat cancer twice but was sadly lost to a severe infection on January 16th.

RIP Sean xx 09

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Adam Thomas County earned many plaudits for their performance in the recent FA Cup Third Round tie against West Ham United.

For a National League side to take a top-ten Premier League side all the way was a magnificent effort from everyone involved with the club.

But it was an extra special evening for Hatters midfielder Adam Thomas, who made his 150th appearance against The Hammers, an achievement he says has made him very proud.

“I’m very proud to have made 150 appearances for this special club,” said Adam.“It was a great personal achievement for myself and I hope to get to 200 and beyond.

“A lot has changed in that time but the desire for the club to get back to where it belongs has always been consistent. When I first came we were training twice a week at a local high school, fast forward to now and we are a full-time outfit with our own

training ground. It’s been great to be part of the process and to be part of the next chapter.”

County’s impressive midweek victory at Dagenham & Redbridge lifted the Hatters to within a goal of third-placed Sutton United in the National League.

The hosts provided strong opposition but County midfielder Adam felt the side should receive great credit for their performance in difficult conditions.

“It was great to get the three points at what can be a difficult place to go,” said Adam. “In the first half I thought we struggled to create any clear chances despite controlling possession but we were able to attack with more threat and penetration in the second half and get those all-important goals and a clean sheet to match.

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“It’s been a difficult season with the uncertain nature of fixtures and games being called off. Having said that we are nicely poised in fourth place to kick on and challenge for the top spots despite probably not playing at our best at times. I think we have a lot of quality within the team to get ourselves right up there.”

This season has posed tremendous challenges for clubs throughout a global pandemic with supporters not being allowed into stadiums but one positive from the campaign has been County returning to full-time status.

“It’s been great to be back full-time and in that environment every day, also the facilities out in Carrington are unbelievable. Physically, I can feel the difference with regards to my fitness and conditioning. The club have also invested a lot into the analysis side of things so tactically I feel we are a lot more prepared along with the work done out on the training ground.

“It’s been very strange playing without fans, the atmosphere is completely different and it’s been sad to see. Hopefully with the vaccine now being rolled out and as the country starts to recover, we can have that atmosphere back with a packed EP in the near future.”

With a new way of living during the Coronavirus pandemic, Adam says that the players have been fortunate to be able to go about their work on a daily basis.

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“Apart from not being able to socialise and go out or visit family due to lockdown restrictions, not much has changed to be honest. We have all been very lucky to still be able to go to work daily, to work on our trade and have that social interaction. I know there are a lot of people who may be alone that have struggled both physically and mentally throughout this difficult time and I hope we see things return to some form of normal soon, for their sake.”

This afternoon’s visitors to Edgeley Park are Boreham Wood, who comprehensively defeated the Hatters twice last season, a double that Adam feels the squad is determined to put right.

Best career goal? Has to be Nuneaton away I think, purely down to the nature of the game. A day I’ll never forget!

Any superstitions? None Best ground played in?

The Khalifa Stadium in Qatar Favourite TV programme at the moment? I’m a bit late to it but I have been watching Prison Break lately.

Favourite gadget? Apple Watch Biggest influence on your career?

My parents.

Best friend in football? Keano Facebook or Twitter? Twitter Last item you purchased?

I can’t remember due to lockdown, must have been a coffee on the way home.

Do you have any advice for any young County fans who are looking to get involved in the game? Work hard and be dedicated to improving and becoming a better player. But most importantly, enjoy playing football and believe in your own ability.

“I know they are a very good National League side who did the double on us last season. Come Saturday we will be looking to put this right and keep up the pressure on the sides at the top.

“We have a lot of quality and strength in depth in our squad. If we play like I know we are capable of, I’m confident we can take all three points!”

Hopefully with the vaccine now being rolled out and as the country starts to recover, we can have that atmosphere back with a packed EP in the near future 13

Welcome...

Boreham Wood Just over a year since their last visit, Boreham Wood take to the field today looking to continue their fine record over County.

It’s a short history, numbering just two games against each other, although the Hertfordshire club completely dominated both fixtures last season, winning 4-0 at Meadow Park and 3-1 here in SK3.

Both games were all but over as contests by half-time too, with The Wood taking three-goal leads into the break on either occasion.

Star striker Kabongo Tshimanga bagged three goals across those two games and went on to finish second in the National League top goalscorer charts, with 19 for the season. He’s continued that fine form in this campaign too, netting six times in 14 games so far.

Thankfully for County, Wood’s two other tormentorsin-chief in our previous meetings have since moved on. Striker Tyrone Marsh also grabbed three goals against us last season, although he joined Stevenage last summer, whereas talented wide-man Sorba Thomas, whose eye-catching raids down the left side were a feature of our meeting last January, joined Huddersfield Town just over a week ago.

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Nickname: The Wood Founded: 1948 Stadium: Meadow Park Capacity: 4,500 Address: Meadow Park, Broughinge Road, Borehamwood, WD6 5AL Postcode: WD6 5AL Distance from Edgeley Park: 191.2 miles (3 hours 26 minutes) Current league position: 11th

Plenty of talent remains in manager Luke Garrard’s squad though, as evidenced by four wins and a draw from their last five league games, which includes impressive victories on the road against promotion contenders Hartlepool United and Notts County.

Those recent results have propelled The Wood up the table to a season-high position of 11th at present.

However, as with many teams at the moment, Boreham Wood are catching up on fixtures after

several postponements, so their league position would be better if evaluated on a points per game (PPG) system. They have six wins, four draws and four defeats from 14 games so far - enough for ninth place in a PPG situation.

Wood are just a point away from a play-off place as things currently stand and having reached the play-off semi-finals last season the players and manager will no doubt have such heights in their sites again.

The Gaffer: Luke Garrard Luke couples his role as First Team Manager at Meadow Park with his role as the Academy Manager. He was originally an Academy Coach at the Club in 2008, before being promoted to Academy Director in 2012.

Luke was appointed Ian Allinson’s Assistant in 2013, a position he held for two-and-a-half-years.

Upon Ian’s departure in October 2015, Luke was appointed as First Team Manager, becoming the youngest boss in all of England’s top five divisions.

His first game in charge was a 1-1 draw away at Guiseley. Luke would steer the Wood away from the relegation zone in the club’s inaugural season in the National League. The side clinched survival on the last game of the season away to alreadyrelegated Welling United with a comprehensive 3-0 victory.

Luke’s stock has further risen in the following seasons, having taken the Wood to Wembley for the first time in their history back in 2017/18. The side achieved their highest-ever National League finish, and reached the play-off Final against Tranmere Rovers, narrowly losing 2-1.

Garrard maintained the Wood’s National League status in the 2018/19 season, finishing eight points above the relegation zone in 20th.

Back in 2018 the club came even closer to reaching the Football League for the first time, losing 2-1 to Tranmere Rovers in the PlayOff Final at Wembley, and though the play-offs DID YOU have proven painful KNOW? to date The Wood’s Like County, Bo reham participation in Wood also rea ched the third them represents round of this ye ar’s outstanding competition, los FA Cup ing 2-0 at progress at a club home to Cham pionship that was playing in the side Millwall. seventh tier as recently as nine years ago.

Manager Luke Garrard, one of the youngest in the country at the age of just 35, has been pivotal to The Woods’ progression, having taken charge back in 2015. He’s just agreed to sign a new contract keeping him at the club until 2024 and recently celebrated by swooping for the vastly experienced defender Krystian Pearce who has made over 400 appearances in his career, with 90% of those being in the Football League.

31-year-old Pearce, a commanding centre-half, is perhaps best known for a five-year spell at Mansfield Town and joins Boreham Wood after a short stint at Solihull Moors. He may make his debut here today.

Although Wood’s recent league form has been strong they will be smarting from a 4-0 home defeat to Torquay United in the FA Trophy on Tuesday night.

The game unravelled for Garrard’s men in the last ten minutes, with three goals conceded in that time.

They will also be out to better their last result on the road, when they drew 1-1 at rock-bottom Dover Athletic.

Continuing their domination over County would provide a welcome antidote to such recent frustration of course and would most likely push Wood up to a play-off position come full-time. With the tightest defence in the National League, the Meadow Park men will be confident of picking up more valuable points and continuing their rise up the table.

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The Players NATHAN ASHMORE (b:Feb 1990 s:Jul 2020) Goalkeeper who signed permanently after a loan stint last season from Ebbsfleet United. He had previously joined Gosport Borough, also after a loan stint, from first club Havant & Waterlooville.

TOM CHAMPION (b:May 1986 s:Jun 2017) Midfielder who after being with Watford started his senior career at Barnet, leaving them after promotion to the EFL to join Bishop’s Stortford. He went on to play for Braintree Town, Dartford and Cambridge United before rejoining the Bees. Then went out on loan to Lincoln City.

SHAQ COULTHIRST (b:Nov 1994 s:Sep 2020) Striker who progressed from the Tottenham Hotspur youth set up to the professional ranks.

He spent most of his three senior seasons out on loan with stints at Leyton Orient, Torquay United, Southend United, York City, Wigan Athletic and Peterborough United who he joined permanently.

ZAINE FRANCIS-ANGOL (b:Jun 1993 s:Sep 2020) Left-back who started with Tottenham, before four years at Scottish club Motherwell, which included Champions League football. His career then progressed from Kidderminster Harriers to Accrington Stanley via AFC Fylde.

Tom Champion

JAMAL FYFIELD (b:Mar 1989 s:Jul 2018) Centre-back who made the switch from Gateshead.

His career started with Orient, before he added Maidenhead United, Potters Bar Town on loan and York to his CV. A loan spell back at Maidenhead was followed by a move to Grimsby Town, and he found his way to the Heed via Welling United and Wrexham.

RYAN HUDDART (b:Mar 1997 s:Oct 2020) Goalkeeper who rejoins after a year with Bromley.

As a youngster he moved from Charlton Athletic to Arsenal and later spent time on loan at Eastleigh.

After his release by the Gunners he joined Boreham Wood.

FEMI ILESANMI (b:Apr 1991 s:Jul 2018) Attacking full-back in his second spell with the club after figuring during the 2016-17 campaign. He began with AFC Wimbledon academy, moving on to Queens Park Rangers, Ashford Town, Dagenham & Redbridge and York. His time away from the Wood was spent with Dover Athletic.

Zaine Francis-Angol

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GUS MAFUTA (b:Jun 1995 s:Aug 2020) Switched from Hartlepool United. He started out with Colchester before joining Bristol City. A loan spell with nearby Weston-super-Mare was followed by a similar stint with Nuneaton Town. The midfield man’s first spell in the north east then came with a transfer to Gateshead.

ADAM McDONNELL (b:May 1997 s:Jul 2019) Midfielder who started with the schoolboy sections of Dublin sides Home Farm and Shelbourne, before joining Ipswich Town. He was loaned by them to Aldershot Town, whom he then joined permanently.

PIETRO MINGOIA (b:Oct 1991 s:Jul 2019) Another Watford product, who was loaned by them to Brentford, Hayes & Yeading United, Accrington and Boreham Wood. He then had two permanent spells with Accrington sandwiching a stint with Cambridge. Before the midfield man rejoined Wood he was on loan at Morecambe.

JUNIOR MORAIS (b:Jul 1995 s:Jan 2021) Forward brought in on loan for a third spell at the club. Started with Wycombe Wanderers after schoolboy football for Alpha & Omega FC and with Fulham at U18. Was loaned by them to Hendon and today’s opposition. He joined permanently but was loaned to Whitehawk, then moved to St Albans City. Stepped up to the EFL with Peterborough, Northampton Town and then moved to Scotland with St Mirren.

KIERAN MURTAGH (b:Oct 1988 s:Jun 2017) Charlton product who was loaned to Fisher Athletic before making the move permanent. The midfielder progressed via Yeovil Town, Wycombe, Cambridge, Macclesfield Town and Mansfield with a few loan spells at Woking. Before the switch to Boreham he was on the books of Woking permanently.

KRYSTIAN PEARCE (b:Jan 1990 s:Jan 2021) Central defender whose past experience has mostly been in the Football League. He started with Birmingham City, who loaned him to Port Vale, Scunthorpe United and Peterborough. He moved on to Huddersfield Town, Notts County, Barnet on loan, Torquay and Mansfield. Joined shortly after leaving Solihull Moors.

MATT RHEAD (b:May 1984 s:Feb 2020) Started with Kidsgrove Athletic, returning there on loan from his next club Eastwood Town. The forward moved on to Nantwich Town, Congleton Town after a loan spell, then back to Eastwood Town, and found his way to Mansfield via Corby Town and Norton United. More recently he was with Lincoln and Billericay Town.

MARK RICKETTS (b:Nov 1984 s:Aug 2016) In his fourth season with Boreham following seven years at previous club Woking. The defensive

Mark Ricketts

midfielder began at Charlton, going on to play for Milton Keynes Dons and Ebbsfleet.

KANE SMITH (b:Feb 1996 s:Jul 2017) A player who joined from Hitchin Town from where he had a loan spell with Deal Town. The right wing-back’s earlier football was played for Margate, Ramsgate and Biggleswade Town.

DAVE STEPHENS (b:Jul 1991 s:Oct 2015) After turning professional with Norwich City this central defender had a loan spell with Lincoln. He spent two years with Edinburgh side Hibernian, before returning to England to sign for Milton Keynes with his most recent club being Barnet.

KABONGA TSHIMANGA (b:Sep 1997 s:Jul 2019) Forward who joined after impressing for Oxford City.

Starting with Milton Keynes he gained experience on loan with Aldershot, Chelmsford City, Corby, Nuneaton, Chesham United, Thróttur Reykjavík of Iceland and Yeovil. Before Oxford he was with Boston United.

COREY WHITELY (b:Jul 1991 s:Aug 2020) Currently on loan for the season from Newport County, who previously sent him out to Bromley.

He started with Yalova, moving on to Waltham Forest, Cheshunt and Enfield Town before joining Dagenham. Directly preceding his time at the Welsh side the forward played for Ebbsfleet.

DANNY WOODARDS (b:Oct 1983 s:Jun 2015) After starting with Chelsea this left-back gained Football League experience at Exeter City, Crewe Alexandra, Milton Keynes, Bristol Rovers and Tranmere Rovers.

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Rebellious Jukebox Gareth Evans selects Boreham Wood on the County Rock-Ola, and presses play to discover a link with, and test the credentials of… SIR RAY DAVIES. So, what’s the connection?

Kinks frontman Ray was a short-term Borehamwood (all one word) resident in the late 1960s, briefly living his life as ‘A Well Respected Man’ in the South Hertfordshire commuter town known as the ‘British Hollywood’ on account of its plethora over the years of film and television production studios. Moving away from Swinging London at the time he did might be considered a point-heavy Rebellious act in itself - but what happened next? Let’s ‘Take Five’…

1. Set Me Free Having been born in Fortis Green, near Muswell Hill, and then remained there as the band he had formed in 1964 with his brother, Dave, became one of the most influential British groups of the decade, Ray found himself, four years later, pressed by a couple of the Davies sisters to leave his semidetached house for a bigger place. And so it was, during the summer of ’68, and still only 24, that he

So it was, during the summer of ’68, and still only 24, that he bought Kings House, an old Tudor manorial pile on the border between Borehamwood and Elstree bought Kings House, an old Tudor manorial pile on the border between Borehamwood and Elstree that had once been occupied by wholesome actress Dame Anna Neagle, and was also rumoured to be haunted. Kings House is now long gone, alas, although the smaller, attached Kings Cottage still stands on Red Road - and it was in the latter where The Kinks would rehearse before Ray, in 1969, decided to sell up and move back to the North London semi. Ray himself felt too ill at ease in the commuter town, while his band-mates hated having to schlep up there to practise - but, ironically, he wrote, and they recorded, some of The Kinks’ best songs there that formed the basis of a pair of commercially unsuccessful, but now-acclaimed, concept albums… starting with: 2. The Kinks Are The Village Green Preservation Society The band’s sixth long player, released in November 1968, turned out, mortifyingly, to be its first not to

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chart (although it has since become the biggestselling original Kinks record). Perhaps the time was simply not right for the album, as the late ‘60s turned dark with the assassinations of Martin Luther King and Bobby Kennedy, Russian tanks moved into Prague, and Paris became paralysed by riots. The Beatles were singing about ‘Revolution’ and The Stones of a ‘Street Fighting Man’ during 1968, while The Kinks took further their preference for uniquely English-flavoured songs of social commentary and idiosyncratic character study to be found in the earlier likes of ‘Sunny Afternoon’, ’Dedicated Follower of Fashion’ and ‘Autumn Almanac’. On ‘… Preservation Society’, they performed a sequence of exquisite vignettes about wicked witches, phenomenal cats and steam trains, written by Ray and set in what he called an ‘imaginary village’ inspired by the Fortis Green of his and Dave’s childhood. Diametrically opposite to the trends of the era, then - but, all in all, a fanciful folk-rock masterpiece.

3. Arthur (Or The Decline And Fall Of The British Empire) The second output - or, at least, its beginnings from Ray’s time in Borehamwood hit the record shops 11 months later, during October 1969.

‘Arthur’ followed a storyline originally developed

by Ray for a television programme that, in the event, was never produced. It depicted the plight of Arthur Morgan, a carpet fitter, and his family in the opportunity-poor setting of post-war England that The Kinks had first reflected three years earlier in ‘Dead End Street’. Ray and Dave may be well known for their constant bickering and longstanding feuds in and beyond the band’s lifetime - but, in spite of a fractious fraternal relationship, Dave

Blur and Oasis were uncharacteristically united in citing Ray as a major ‘Godfather of Britpop’ influence - and Kinks material frequently charted in pre-Britpop decades

was invariably generous when it came to praising his older brother’s songwriting. ‘Dead End Street’ was a personal favourite - matched only by an ‘Arthur’ track, ‘Shangri-La’, that belied its musical gentleness with a lyrically cutting stab at the insecurity and emptiness underlying materialistic values adopted by the working class.

4. Kinda Kool Kinks The band notched up some notable firsts ahead of Ray’s fleeting South Hertfordshire residency.

‘You Really Got Me’ (1964) is often hailed as the inaugural - albeit unintentional - heavy metal song, thanks to its innovative use of power chords and distorted guitars, and ‘See My Friends’ (1965) was the first Western pop song to integrate Indian raga sounds. Blur and Oasis were uncharacteristically united in citing Ray as a major ‘Godfather of Britpop’ influence - and Kinks material frequently charted in pre-Britpop decades, courtesy of covers

by The Stranglers, The Pretenders, The Jam and The (Mighty) Fall.

5. Till The End Of The Day The Kinks finally hung up their instruments in 1996 - but Ray has kept going as a soloist, as well as acting, directing and producing shows for theatre and tv, with his contributions earning the award of a CBE in 2004 and a Knighthood four years ago.

He didn’t entirely forget Borehamwood, either performing live at the town’s Civic Hall one year ahead of the band’s split.

Rebellious Jukebox Rating:… Nine! (to 5) 19

Andy Welsh

Phoenix From The County Flames This season we will be talking to past County players about their favourite memories from their time at Edgeley Park. Ahead of this afternoon’s game, we caught up with former County winger Andy Welsh...

Andy Welsh always looks back on his time at Edgeley Park with great fondness.

Although Andy’s first-team debut for the Hatters in a crushing 4-0 home defeat to Millwall back in October 2001 was an afternoon to forget for the club, his eyecatching performance laid the foundations for him to grab his chance with both hands.

“I came on as a sub against Millwall and I was in a no-lose situation, so I played well, I was direct and I got crosses in. I also received the Man of the Match award.

“It was a difficult time for the club back then, but I was playing at a time when the management at County gave youth a chance,” said Andy. “We were relegated from the Championship, Andy Kilner lost his job and Carlton Palmer took over.

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THE GAME: Stockport County 1 Wigan Athletic 1 THE DATE: 18th March 2003 THE COMPETITION: Division Two THE MOMENT: My favourite goal, it was my first ever goal and it was a header in front of the Cheadle End.

“We had some great players. Rickie Lambert, I think, cost £300,000, at a time when the ITV Digital deal crashed. Then the Sale Sharks owner took over and the club went to rack and ruin, the pitch going from all green to white lines all over.

“Personally, I think the departure of Brendan Ellwood was the turning point for the club. He was fantastic, he engaged with the players, had a belief in bringing youth through and he also made money from me signing for Sunderland.”

Andy started his career with County, where he progressed to make 85 first-team appearances, scoring three goals, across four happy years at Edgeley Park.

“I’ve got a strong bond with the club,” he said. “I’ve got lots of good memories.

My favourite goal was a header against Wigan at home in front of the Cheadle End. John Hardiker’s two late goals against Manchester City at Edgeley Park, who were top of the league. I remember I nutmegged Richard Dunne, who won the ball and it was then fed down to Jon Macken who was in a race with Carlton Palmer. Carlton won the ball then passed to me. I played it over the top for Mark Byrne, who played it across for John Hardiker to win us the game in injury time. They were definitely great moments. But they were tough times, the club fell out of the Championship, but we played with a very young team, in the right way. It was a great club to be at.

“We had a great youth team. We had scouts at the training ground watching us. Three or four of the kids from the youth team were involved against Man City. We got to the Fifth Round of the FA Youth Cup which was a great achievement. We beat the likes of Watford and Spurs and we also played at Anfield in front of 3,000 people, and even though we lost it was still a great experience.

They were definitely great moments. But they were tough times, the club fell out of the Championship, but we played with a very young team, in the right way. It was a great club to be at.

“I still keep in touch with people from the club. I was commentating for the radio on the West Ham game recently. I still keep in touch with Jon Keighren and Steve Bellis, who have been at the club throughout. And of course Mark Robinson was my assistant at Ossett Albion in my first managerial job.

It’s a club I am very fond of. I’ve been to watch games at Edgeley Park, I’ve been guest of honour, doing the commentary for the radio, and I’d love to come back to the club in some capacity in the future.

“I do recall though when I was playing for Yeovil and we were winning at County, who were already relegated. I was substituted towards the end but the fans gave me a standing ovation which was a nice touch.”

Andy is forging a managerial career of his own at Bury AFC and he says that he is looking forward to getting started again.

“I’m loving it at Bury AFC. We can’t train or play at the minute which is frustrating but we’ve got to get on with it. It’s a momentous first season for the club. It’s well run and it’s great to be part of it and I’m looking forward to us kicking on when we resume playing again.”

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Stockport County Colts & Junior Academy This week’s focus is on our two Under-12s teams.

The Under-12 blues have made rapid progress under the two coaches Jake Loftus and Alex Gray and have recently worked their way to the top of the Championship Division in the East Manchester League. They stick to the Colts philosophy and have often outplayed their opponents. Again, as always, we emphasise the development of composed, clever footballers to outwit opponents rather than relying on quick-hit physical footballers to win games at all costs.

Through time, all of our age groups are advancing rapidly up the leagues and with County’s plans afoot, we are now gaining pole position to attract the very best footballers with aspirations to play high-level football.

The Under-12 whites have also worked hard to make progress this season under the direction of their coach Alaa Talib. This team had a lot of new faces at the start of this season and took some time to gel, but now they all understand what the coach wants from them as a team and the results have started to roll in thick and fast. Well done to both groups for their progress so far.

If you are serious about your football and want to find out what the Colts are all about, then request 22

We emphasise the development of composed, clever footballers to outwit opponents rather than relying on quick-hit physical footballers to win games at all costs a free training session. Next season, along with the Under-11 Academy team, we are aiming to promote existing signed and new players into Academy teams at every age-group and are always welcoming new players on board who have highlevel ambitions.

Even if you don’t eventually end up playing professional football, the club is operating a fantastic education programme which can move players into a career in the sports industry.

For more information, please contact Steve via info@stockportcountycolts.co.uk

JORDAN WILLIAMS

Official Partners of The National League

County Ladies Under-10s season so far...

Socially distanced team photo of Dee with the Under-10s earlier this season

As all our teams are currently unable to play matches or train, it seems a good time to catch up with some of our junior coaches to find out how their season has gone so far.

This week Dee and Mary, who run our Under-10s team in the Cheshire Girls’ League, Stockport Division, tell us how they’ve been getting on...

“Well, what can we say about this season?! Running Stockport County Ladies Under-10s is our first coaching role. Although challenging, with the current circumstances, it’s been thoroughly enjoyable, but a big learning curve for all of us!

“All the players have been a credit to the both themselves and the

club in everything they’ve done this season.

and, most of all, great character developing amongst the girls.

“They have adapted very quickly to the new team and are constantly striving to give their all week in, week out. We have the maximum squad numbers for our age group but the players and their parents have been very understanding of this. We are building a great squad, which we hope will remain together for many years to come.

“We have had a number of postponements and two full breaks from the game altogether. This is difficult for players of such a young age, some still only nine years old, when all they want to do is play the game they love.

“Since the start of the season, we have only managed to play five games, which, although disappointing, is more than some teams. We have won three and lost two of those matches. Every game has been a completely different challenge for us and we’ve seen plenty of goals, formation changes

“Nevertheless, there is plenty of talent to come from this great group of players and we cannot wait to see them grow and develop into future Stockport County Ladies.

“We definitely have some future stars in the making, so watch this space!”

Deanne Tomkins, Under-10s Manager

For anyone interested in joining the club to play or train with any of our teams contact details are on our website, stockportcountylfc.com or follow the link from the SCFC site.

Follow us on Twitter @SCLadiesFC, Instagram @stockportcountylfc and Facebook at Stockport County Ladies FC.

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The Mad Hatter’s Quiz with Paul Dean

TRIVIA

WHO AM I?

1. Which top women’s team play their home games at Boreham Wood’s Meadow Park ground?

2. Who has won the Champions League most as manager, Pep Guardiola or Jose Mourinho?

3. What year did Alex Ferguson become Manchester United manager?

4. What year did Arsenal leave Highbury?

5. Who was manager of the Hatters between March 1978 and October 1979?

I signed for the Hatters in 1925. I also played for Sheffield Wednesday and Chelsea, gaining four England caps.

6. Who were the first two Manchester City players to appear for England in the World Cup Finals?

7. Lionel Messi has spent his entire professional career at Barcelona, but who were his schoolboy team?

8. After his second spell for the Hatters, which other League club did Andy Mutch play for?

D A I O H Y K A O P R M O N N L J O A H

T A F V Y Q L I M R A S R I S U E O L E

H M E Q O I O I N H E A Q K U H E P W S

H T E H F E T G C G L H U O D I Z E W T

W X U A N L Y N F D S I A W E L N L J E

C R X O L E I J E N I L Y M A O T T T R

Y G E P M R D R Y B L H Y P W S P R Z F

O T Z X T Y S I X N O E I N Z O Q A N I

M W V L H H E U A T Q A C U N R O H U E

V B A H O A X W P M G S N E J H H D V L

G W E T G N M A N O T T S C O U N T Y D

E N O T S D L A E W J L F O N B O M Z R

S T O C K P O R T E X E P J G I A N B H

B A R N E T T M D X R I T R R H O L R P

P P N E U R E V O D I G D R N T W S B V

S L S F H L Y W J N S H R E T E X O X N

K N V W Z Y D X B B F F G U J G H V O M

Z J A Q E N I X F O Y A S C M C O L P U

E V T R Q O S Q T C D Y E L M O R B H A

Answers:

B L A S H B L B H U E D T G G L O L R C

Who Am I? Harry Burgess

ALDERSHOT ALTRINCHAM BARNET BOREHAM WOOD BROMLEY CHESTERFIELD DAGENHAM DOVER EASTLEIGH HALIFAX HARTLEPOOL KING’S LYNN MAIDENHEAD NOTTS COUNTY SOLIHULL STOCKPORT SUTTON TORQUAY WEALDSTONE WEYMOUTH WOKING WREXHAM YEOVIL

Trivia 1: Arsenal Women.

2: Neither, both have won it twice.

3: 1986.

4: 2006.

5: Mike Summerbee.

6: Francis Lee and Colin Bell, Mexico 1970.

7: Newell’s Old Boys.

8: Doncaster Rovers.

WORDSEARCH

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GAME CHANGER footballfoundation.org.uk

RICHIE BENNETT

Steve Bellis Hairy cakes, corporate hostility and punk saliva!

They say a week is a long time in politics. Well, it’s certainly been a long week in football as far as we are concerned.

A week ago today we lost out to Notts County here in SK3 to end our FA Trophy journey.

I have to be honest, I was about as disappointed as I was to hear that I had missed the final of the Great British Bake-Off. I have never been able to watch that Bake-Off thing since that very old woman Mary Berry was in it. I kept imagining finding grey hairs in cakes and found myself retching at every episode.

I have also not been able to eat home-made cakes since.

Back to the Trophy and let’s be honest, it’s an unwanted diversion when your goal is to get promoted.

Too many teams have tales to tell of their Trophy endeavours impacting on their league form and I found it very hard to feel down about the defeat, such is our desire to return to league football.

Tuesday brought me much more pain as it was the first game that I was forced to miss this season... and through no fault of my own.

Dagenham and Redbridge made it very clear that, other than the team and coaching staff, no-one was welcome to attend.

The Daggers ‘keeper Justham (interestingly that’s what I order when I am offered a cheese and ham toastie) was on the receiving end of some banter from the County faithful and looked about as happy as your average Donald Trump supporter. (By the way it turns out that Donny did win another State... the State of denial).

Being County, we then managed to concede in the fourth minute of injury time and the Daggers ‘keeper couldn’t resist taunting our fans behind his goal.

In return, they gave him daggers... see what I did there!

Unfortunately for Justham the players’ tunnel at Dagenham is in the middle of the visitors’ enclosure (great planning by the way) and he therefore had to walk through our departing fans to get to the changing rooms.

Now had the stewards on duty given this some thought (they clearly didn’t) they would have kept the players on the pitch until our fans had departed.

That was clearly far too simple and the result was that Justham had to walk through the fans he had just been taunting... it didn’t end well. Unsurprisingly for Justham it was just him that copped for the vitriol from the County faithful.

My fellow directors and I had missed all this as we were busy swigging their red wine in the boardroom and the Daggers Managing Director who shall remain nameless as it’s not fair on Steve Thompson unleashed a barrage of abuse on us.

To be fair during our last visit to Victoria Road we were treated to more corporate hostility than hospitality.

He claimed that we were not taking the situation seriously enough... so much so that we nearly had to take our feet off the table and put our glasses of wine down.

We managed to take the lead in the 90th minute to the delight of our typically large following behind the Daggers goalkeeper’s goal.

Seriously though, we had no idea what had gone on and he made us feel very uncomfortable as if it was our fault. So I wasn’t completely suicidal when I was

30

informed we weren’t allowed to enjoy his company again.

Therefore, for the first time this season I got to see a live stream.

It was like listening to bloody Chas and Dave as the two commentators rabbited on about all sorts of nonsense, unlike me who likes to stay focused on the matter in hand.

They couldn’t even get our players’ names right, poor old Ben became Hinchcliffe again (its Hinchliffe you imbeciles) and Ryan became Crossdale again.

When they started talking about the lasagne they had eaten and how spicy it was I nearly switched over to the British Bake-Off but I would have had nightmares about grey hairs.

It took them five minutes into the second half to realise that the referee had been changed. It wasn’t the most difficult observation as the ref in the first half had hair and the second-half ref was bald. It was like confusing Sam Minihan with Jared Leto.

I can still smell the punk woman’s saliva

Anyway, the lads produced a truly professional performance and thoroughly deserved the 2-0 victory.

It really spoiled the concert as I could smell the punk woman’s saliva for the rest of the night.

After the match the TV switched to an old 80’s music channel and I was treated to Adam Ant belting out ‘Stand and Deliver’ (tune).

Anyway, back to it being a long week, like everyone else, I was taken aback by the departure of Jim on Thursday afternoon.

This reminded me of a few years ago when I took my three daughters to watch him at the Bridgewater Hall.

He has given the club great service and provided some incredible highlights during his time here as a player and Manager.

My daughters had dressed up a bit in Adam Ant gothic-type gear and I was in my suit having come from a meeting.

It is never easy seeing people leave but it is part of football that managers and players come and go.

We were approached by this ageing punk woman who suggested that I looked out of place and offered to give me a couple of white lines (no, not those white lines, just two stripes across my nose like Mr Ant).

I politely declined but my daughters, clearly seeing my agitation, insisted. So I relented and watched in horror as this 110-year-old punk woman licked her fingers before sticking them in a tub of some white stuff and smeared them across my face. It was like when your mum used to cover a hanky in her saliva and to clean some inoffensive mark off your face.

As supporters we are the only constant and whilst there is always disappointment when there is change it is still the same club that we dearly love.

We will never forget what Jim has achieved but now is the time to look forward and support Dave Conlon this afternoon as we strive for three more crucial points.

Then when a new appointment is made let’s show him what a great club we are through our unswerving support.

Enjoy the game.

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Opposition View Ahead of this afternoon’s game we caught up with Boreham Wood fan Brett Lewis.

What have been the highlights of your season so far?

Getting to the Third Round of the FA Cup for the first time in our history. The First Round penalty shootout victory over Southend United was amazing.

What have been your favourite memories following Boreham Wood?

The journey to the National League Promotion Final in 2017/18, especially the semi-final victory away at Sutton United. It cemented the club’s first-ever trip to Wembley Stadium. Also, our two play-off promotions of 2010 and 2015.

Last season’s trip to EP was the Wood’s best performance of the season

Who are your all-time favourite Boreham Wood players?

Mario Noto and Ricky Shakes.

Which Boreham Wood players are the ‘ones to watch’ on Saturday?

Junior Morias and Gus Mafuta.

The Wood beat Canvey Island in this season’s FA Cup run

The 3-1 win at Edgeley Park was our best performance of the season. I’m sure they’ll want their own back today!

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What are your thoughts about Stockport County?

Impressive club. I watched them play many times when they were in the league. It’s good to see the club on its way back up the football pyramid. I’m sure they’ll be back in the Football League sooner rather than later.

Do you have any memories of games against County?

Great memories including a 4-0 and a 3-1 victory against them last season. The 3-1 win at Edgeley Park was our best performance of the season. I’m sure they’ll want their own back today!

Terrace Talk This afternoon’s encounter with Boreham Wood will be tinged with a certain degree of sadness as it will be the first time in five years that Jim Gannon will not take his place in the Stockport dugout at Edgeley Park.

Thursday’s announcement brings an end to Jim’s third spell in charge here and his fourth spell overall taking into account the decade of service he gave the club as a player.

Jim quite rightly deserves his place in the County Hall of Fame, not just for his contribution in recent times but going back to his efforts since 1990 when Danny Bergara brought him over the Pennines from Sheffield United as a relatively inexperienced defender and later midfielder.

It is important now to get behind Dave Conlon in the interim and try and build on the blocks which have been put in place since 2016, starting today against Luke Garrard’s side who come up from Hertfordshire sitting 11th in the National League table.

They are a team in very good form at the moment, attaining thirteen points from a possible fifteen over the last five games and only Chesterfield and Hartlepool United can boast a better record approaching the end of January.

Bearing in mind last season they managed the double over County both at Edgeley Park and at Meadow Park so their

Alex Reid moved level with John Rooney as County’s top league scorer

position in the table is perhaps not a true reflection of the threat they could pose for this encounter.

That said, County come into the game off the back of a first win of 2021, with a strong second half showing in midweek against Dagenham & Redbridge which saw Richie Bennett and Alex Reid find the target in a 2-0 success.

Alex now goes joint-level with John Rooney as County’s top league scorer, but John is the leading marksman overall on account of having scored more

goals in the FA Cup run. Both of course were on target for the last home league game three weeks ago for the 2-2 draw against Altrincham.

A win today for the Hatters would put the pressure back on Hartlepool in the second automatic promotion spot but also what is dependent is how Sutton United fare when they host Eastleigh. It is tightly contested with a number of teams for the Play-Off spots but one or two, including County, and factoring the games in hand, can open the promotion race right up in the coming weeks.

33

The County Years

1961

County Historian Ian Watts delves into the archives to bring you some of the Hatters’ more memorable moments from years gone by.

Opening game It was FA Cup action that introduced 1962 to the Hatters fans.

only first-team game and he returned to Lancashire nonleague circles.

County: Harold Lea, Bob Murray, Billy Webb, Trevor Birch, Ken Hodder, Trevor Porteous, Gene Wilson, Tommy Anderson, Jimmy Fletcher, Bobby Murdoch, Mike Davock.

Visitors to Edgeley Park for a Third Round tie on Saturday 7th January were Southport, and most of the near 9,500 crowd were not happy early on as Reg Blore scored the opener after four minutes. On the half hour mark Tommy Anderson levelled the scores and 40 minutes later he scored his second. With 15 minutes left Gene Wilson made the game safe, leaving the 2,000 visiting supporters, some dressed as cartoon characters, a little forlorn.

First debutant It was for their trip to Southport the following month that County introduced their first new player of the year. Jimmy Cunliffe (SCAN 637) was a 19-year-old amateur centre forward who had signed from Horwich RMI in November, and had scored three goals for the reserves in the North Regional League. He came in for Jim Fletcher to lead the line on 11th February at Haig Avenue, but County lost out to the only goal of the game. This proved to be his

34

Summer business After a season that faded out to a 13th-placed finish, leaving the club were Cunliffe (to Horwich), Bill Ritchie (Winsford United), Jack Bennion (Barrow), Fletcher and Paul Lowis (both Altrincham), Kevin Keelan (back to Aston Villa), plus Mike Connolly, Brian Heginbotham and Dave Holland.

First to sign was Everton player John Bentley and he was followed into Edgeley Park by Roger Collinson (Bristol City), Charlie McDonnell (Tranmere), Derek Ward (Stoke), Graham Beighton (Sheffield Wed) and Graham Ricketts (Bristol Rovers).

Dave Back (L-R): Trevor Porteous, Murdoch, Roy Stockton, Derek Ward, Partridge, Graham Beighton, Ken Ashton, Hodder, Bentley, Collinson Front (L-R): Wilson, Anderson, Davock, Murray, McDonnell, Webb

Last debutant Right-back Collinson was a couple of months short of his 21st birthday when he earned SCAN 646 by making his debut on 2nd October in a 3-0 defeat at Darlington. County lost again five days later in his second and final first-team game. This was his only season with the Hatters and he moved on to play for Skegness Town.

Closing game We ended the year with a moraleboosting home win.

County: Beighton, Ashton, Webb, Murray, Hodder, Ricketts, Wilson, Ward, Bentley, Davock, Partridge.

Former Hatter Ken Finney was in the visitor’s side.

Gene Wilson

County were on a poor run of results but in this game on Tuesday 26th December they took the lead in the first half and added two more without reply from the Birkenhead side. Ward scored twice and Gene Wilson got the other goal, leaving the Hatters 17th in the table.

Most appearances in calendar year Bob Murray & Billy Webb 50 (everpresent), Ken Hodder 48 Most goals in calendar year Bobby Murdoch 12, Tom Anderson 11, Charlie McDonnell 7

The man in charge Reg Flewin had been Portsmouth captain when they claimed successive English titles. He came to County in October 1960, from a position as Assistant Manager at Reg Flewin that club. He would stay until July 1963, his next job seeing him in charge at Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic shortly afterwards. His time in charge saw the campaign led by Jimmy Hill that removed the maximum wage, adding new pressures to the recruitment of players for a relatively unsuccessful bottom division club.

And finally...

That Southport cup win earned County a trip to Newcastle United and plans were made for a great outing, with all staff and players invited including a coach for those normally involved with the second and third teams. Five hundred tickets were sold to Stockport fans but coach and rail bookings indicate a much larger following with the ability to pay on the gate.

Worst run 9 without win, 17 April-28 August, D2 (first in sequence) L7

Sadly, the match was postponed and many fewer must have made the trip for the midweek re-arranged game to see a 4-0 defeat in front of 46,706 on our last visit there to date.

Best run 5 unbeaten, 16-29 September, W3 D2

Thanks to all the anonymous donors who have supplied images for this article.

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Sam Byrne The January transfer window has allowed ‘County’ to make a new signing... our new columnist Sam Byrne from the Stockport Express!

In keeping with much of the past twelve months, it’s been a hectic start to the New Year for County – but a fully-deserved three points on the road at Dagenham this week has provided the perfect tonic for The Hatters.

Second-half goals from County’s budding strike partnership of Richie Bennett and Alex Reid gave The Hatters a first win of 2021 and kept County well in the mix in the upper echelons of the National League.

Bennett’s strike in the second half at Dagenham may have been seen as a shot in the arm for the popular forward after a couple of big chances went begging in last Saturday’s FA Trophy clash with Notts County; but in reality, the former Northwich man is second to only John Rooney by way of contributions to County goals this campaign.

With a superb ninth assist of the season coming on Tuesday evening in addition to his fourth strike of the campaign, Bennett has contributed to thirteen goals for The Hatters so far 38

Richie Bennett has been in fine form

With a superb ninth assist of the season coming on Tuesday evening in addition to his fourth strike of the campaign, Bennett has contributed to thirteen goals for The Hatters so far – two more than the in-form Alex Reid, and just four less than the talismanic Rooney.

But what story do the stats say of County’s season so far? ‘xG’ is a particular statistic that has come to the fore throughout football over the last year or two, and simply put, this is ‘expected goals’ – a statistic which measures the quality of a side’s goalscoring chances per game, as well as the likelihood of chances being scored.

For example, an unguarded open goal with the shooter standing six yards from goal will have a high xG, while a shot taken from 35 yards will have a low xG score.

With xG, chances are now measured by a number of factors including the distance from goal, the angle of the strike, which part of the body is used to make the shot and so on. A chance with an xG of 0.5 would mean the striker is expected to score that chance 50% of the time, and so on.

County have scored 24 goals in the National League this season and currently sit second by way of the average ‘xG’ table in the National League, with a score of 25 - this means that they’ve scored just one goal less than the Hatters would be expected to have scored at this point given the quality of chances the side have had.

Today will be a tough test against a strong Boreham Wood side we’ve struggled to break down over the past year; a side who recruit strongly and develop good young players under Luke Garrard, as seen with the excellent Sorba Thomas’ recent move to Championship side Huddersfield Town - but County will fancy their chances back on home soil after a return to winning ways on the road this week.

As with any statistic in football, there is the danger that something like ‘xG’ can be over-analysed, but the bottom line is that whilst County sit top of the xG table as well as fourth in the National League table (with games in hand on the top two), the figures suggest that County are really not far away from doing all of the above.

Finally, I’m writing this last note as a very sudden amendment and it doesn’t seem like anywhere near enough, but I’d like to say a big thanks to Jim Gannon for all of his help in a professional capacity in my role over the past five years – as a County fan, Jim is someone I grew up idolising and so to have the chance to work with him has been incredible, and he is someone who will always be ingrained in this club’s history. To see my team win a title is something I’ll always be thankful to Jim, Dave and the team for bringing to us.

They also suggest that County’s strike force are doing just what The Hatters need; creating chances and converting them when they’re expected to.

Many thanks Jim - not just for these last five years of memories and moments, but for the last thirty years of them!

Given that we’re in the equivalent of September in terms of the number of games played this season, there is always room for improvement – but in a turbulent, unpredictable time, it’s so far, so good for The Hatters.

For today, please get right behind Dave Conlon – he is a real genuine person, he’s been at County for over 300 games alongside Jim, Alan Lord and others and wants the absolute best for the football club.

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Physio

Luke Smith Good afternoon everyone.

This week we have a full squad with no injuries. As I have mentioned previously, we have maintained a very low injury list and hope to continue that throughout the season to give the team the best possible chance of winning each game.

Enjoy the game.

The Stockport County Sports Injury Clinic To arrange an appointment please call myself on 07557476154.

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41

The

Travelling Fan A footballing Boxing Day like no other may not have seen Moss Lane rocking - but did, at least, see County arrest a mini-slump away from home. Gareth Evans wended his way up through the Cheshire Golden Triangle to enjoy a share of spoils at ‘Alty’.

The day out and getting there The fixtures computer had been as uncharacteristically kind as possible with its allocation of festive double-header matches that saw County paired with nearest National League neighbours, Altrincham, and granted us the luxury of the shortest of Boxing Day schleps to Moss Lane. And just as well, too, given that all four previous NL fixtures had also been on the road - involving round-trips that clocked up a whopping 1,300 miles.

I opted to make this jaunt directly from my Macclesfield home, rather than from Edgeley Park with the rest of County’s media team - and the countryside meander north saw me pass through, in Prestbury and Wilmslow, two points of the ‘Golden Triangle’ of Cheshire affluence featuring five of the North West’s most expensive streets, a plethora of celebrity and sporting residents and, I am given to understand, some so-called ‘real housewives’.

After a crisp Christmas Day during which a mid-afternoon flurry of snow had all too briefly marked the occasion, temperatures had risen for the football 24 hours later albeit with conditions becoming rather greyer which would later lead to a little second-half rain, ahead of the more ferocious Storm Bella’s anticipated arrival. So it was that, with indecision over which waterproofs to wear, I turned into Moss Lane 90 minutes ahead of the contest.

Moss Lane We have only been visiting Moss Lane in competitive action on a regular kind of basis since 2013 - the same year in which the ground was renamed the J Davidson Stadium as part of a corporate sponsorship deal. If truth be told, though, the original name persists among most fans - and just as that remains unchanged, so, too for the most part,

42

Altrincham v County

Vanarama National League Saturday 26th December 2020, 3:00pm Moss Lane/J Davidson Stadium Weather: Mild, with some light drizzle Distance from EP: 11 miles Journey Time: 30 minutes Points: 1 does the layout of the place. The old, classic-looking Main Stand, immediately behind the ground entrance, straddles the halfway line, and boasts glass windshields on either side, together with a number of supporting pillars - including one that stands dead centre at the front. The Main Stand is bordered by a much smaller Family Stand to its right and a little open terrace, two large steps high, to its left - while the opposite side of the ground features a pitchlong, covered Popular Side with an elevated roof over its central section. The ends are covered to the Main Stand’s left and uncovered (for visiting supporters) to its right.

All in all, a nice, tidy, proper ground with character. And one that for a Cheshire ‘derby’ with the Hatters on a public holiday could in normal times have been expected to attract a crowd of, say, 3,500. Alas, of course, these times are far from normal - and the usually-guaranteed bumper attendance was replaced by a smattering of club officials, FA assessors and reporters in the Main Stand, while the other three sides remained eerily uninhabited.

COVID-19 arrangements Our hosts were well organised on this front, having issued a health questionnaire for completion, together with all necessary, and clear, instructions, in advance, and offered a cheery welcome upon arrival for the temperature check… albeit, in my case, with some banter thrown in once they knew I was there in part to write a feature for the Macclesfield Express - the publication that had once covered their old, and now departed, Silkmen rivals. The Press Box and its surrounding area in the Main Stand provided plenty of space for us media types to work at a distance from each other - but without desks for those unable to occupy the Box itself. Alty also threw in a couple of features associated with normal times of yore - by engaging the services of a match announcer and playing a selection of pre-match, mostly festive, tunes.

The match A fixture that Alty had failed to win in over seven years - and which the Hatters had claimed on the last five occasions, either at Moss Lane or EP, without conceding looked to be going the way of the hosts after their second break from a County corner in quick succession saw them not only take the lead midway through the first half, but also breach County’s net for the first time in over eight hours in all competitions. That, however, turned out to be pretty much their last chance of note, as they sat deep and defended stoutly in the face of constant County pressure thereafter - and the Hatters’ efforts were eventually and deservedly rewarded nine minutes from time, when Connor Jennings stole in at the near post to flick home a corner from the right by substitute Jordan Williams.

Getting away With no crowd in attendance, and no pubs open for business in Tier 3, queues around the stadium were conspicuous by their absence - and a comfortable drive made for a quick and easy journey out of Trafford.

Home-time Well before 6pm, I was home in Macc.

Memory of the day Overriding relief to have seen an end to our recent run of misfortune on the road, following bitterly disappointing performances against Notts County and Hartlepool during the previous 11 days - but, as ever in this strange season, wishing many more fellow Hatters had been at Moss Lane to help create the traditional festive atmosphere.

Travelling fan verdict Journey: 9/10 Stadium: 8/10 COVID Safety Measures: 8/10 Programme (34-page digital edition, including six on County): 7/10 Overall Matchday Experience: 8/10

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Supporters’ Co-operative This Monday saw the Board of the Supporters’ Co-operative meeting via Zoom, a platform that we, as a group, are now relatively comfortable with.

It is not ideal, of course, but in these increasingly hazardous times, it does offer a way through the persistent communications log jam that has been commonplace over the last nine to ten months due to the everchanging regulations dictated by the Covid-19 pandemic, and the response to it by the Government.

It is entirely understandable that the ‘log jam’ situation has prevailed, but virtual platforms such as Zoom / Google Meet etc, in our opinion offer a real… sensible way for organisations and individuals to start tentative steps in the direction of something approaching normality.

With this in mind, we have suggested meeting the Club’s

representatives via Zoom, and are currently pressing for a meeting, using the platform, soon!

We also discussed the Stockport Hatters Half-Marathon and it was noted with regret that permissions from Stockport Council, particularly covering the Green Space portion of the course, have not so far been granted.

This raises significant problems for us, threatening our ability to stage what has been a brilliantly successful event for the Club and the town, but further consideration of this matter was deferred until our next Board meeting on 15th February.

Zoom came back into our discussions next as consideration

was given to involvement in the Garrick Theatre’s proposed ‘Festival of Theatre’ (mentioned in the County v Notts County programme) which would include a major focus on County via a ‘Stockport Voices’ incorporating stories from Supporters’ Co-operative members, and other County fans in a similar production to the one the Garrick did live and then via Zoom during Lockdown One. We felt the idea was worth supporting, and it was agreed to contact and enlist the support of member Phil Robinson, who made a valuable contribution to the Garrick’s previous effort!

Ian Brown Stockport County Supporters’ Co-operative 45

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COUNTY JUNIORS

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

Hello again to yet another home match, with our visitors this time Boreham Wood who have made the long journey north to Edgeley Park. Today sees us back in a league fixture after our FA Cup tie with West Ham, last Saturday’s Trophy tie with Notts County and our trip to Dagenham and Redbridge last Tuesday night.

I hope you have all recovered from our tie with West Ham. Looking back the team did really well on a difficult pitch. It certainly put County on the map with the publicity it generated. It was a pity about the goal so late in the game, if we had taken them into extra time who knows what could have happened.

Mascots

On to last Saturday’s match with our promotion rivals in the FA Trophy. The first half I thought was evenly matched but in the second we created a number of chances and the ball wouldn’t hit the back of the net. Then just as penalties were looming a wicked deflection in the final minutes saw us exit the Trophy. At least we can say we can now concentrate on getting back into the league.

As I said in my last notes we, like some other clubs, are facing a fixture backlog, with us playing three games a week until we are into March. It must put pressure on teams that, like ourselves, have to win games to stay with the leading sides in the league.

You will have noticed through the season we have had virtual mascots, arranged by Brenda. I know this is not the same but until we are allowed back into Edgeley Park we have to make the best of things.

We still have a number of places for some of our home games, so if you would like to put your name forward please contact Brenda on 0161 487 2766 or myself on 0161 456 7606.

Tom and Emily have been Junior supporters since they were born. Tom is 10 and Emily is 7. They have season tickets in UT3 and both cannot wait to get back to Edgeley Park and cheer the players on!

That’s all for this week,

Tom’s favourite player is John Rooney and Emily’s is Ben Hinchliffe.

Ian Butterworth 47

The

Travelling Fan The day out and getting there County’s last fixture before Christmas saw us embark on a rare journey north of Edgeley Park as we departed for County Durham. A slightly earlier kick-off of 7pm brought with it an earlier than normal departure, leaving the Edgeley Park gates at approximately midday. With rumours of a new impending tier four spreading (those were the days), the roads were quiet, making it a relative breeze up the A1, arriving at our destination at around 4:30pm – giving us plenty of time to adjust to the freezing cold temperatures.

Victoria Park Victoria Park, or the Super Six stadium as absolutely no-one call it, has been Hartlepool’s home since 1908. The 7.8k capacity stadium is located just by the sea front and is a ground with plenty of history, having survived being bombed by a German Zeppelin during the First World War, but is also a ground with fairly unpleasant recent history for the Hatters, having not won there since 2008; going down 2-0 there last season.

As the media team, we were located high up in the Cameron Brewery’s Stand to the East, giving us an unfortunately perfect touchline view of what was about to unfold.

The game Having written several travelling fan pieces already this season, this wasn’t one which I’ll be taking any joy in looking back on. A slow start from the Hatters was compounded by that all too familiar ‘curse of the former player’, as ex-County loanee Rhys Oates (Google him) fired Hartlepool into an early lead.

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Hartlepool v County

Vanarama National League Tuesday 22nd December 2020, 7:00pm Victoria Park Weather: Festively frosty and bitterly cold Distance from EP: 133 miles Journey time: Two hours and twenty minutes Outcome: A bad day all round, as nine-man County fall to a heavy defeat.

Things only went downhill from there for Jim Gannon’s side, as Ash Palmer received a straight red card for what was, upon reflection, an incredibly soft challenge on striker Luke Armstrong, the son of County great Alun.

Luke went on to show he’d inherited plenty of his father’s predatory instincts too, as he added two second-half strikes, either side of a Richie Bennett own-goal, to really pile on the misery for a shellshocked County.

To make matters worse, John Rooney, perhaps as frustrated as we all felt that day, was also shown a straight red card for foul and abusive language, as County had two players sent off in a game for the first time since facing Stalybridge Celtic in 2015.

Not one that will live long in the memory.

Getting away Keen for a quick getaway after conducting our post-match interview with the manager, we all boarded back aboard the kit van for what was a very quiet and sombre journey home, where not even the prospect of post-match pizza could lighten the mood.

Home time The one benefit of the 7pm kick-off time meant a slightly earlier return, and after a two-hour journey that admittedly felt a lot longer, we made it back to Carrington at just gone midnight.

Memory of the day Difficult one this given the circumstances. Does getting home and regaining feeling in my fingers count?

Travelling fan verdict Journey – 6/10 Stadium – 8/10 Overall match day experience – 3/10

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County Heaven Sandbach Hatter writes: Afternoon, everyone, and welcome – virtually – to fortress Edgeley, where today County face ‘The Wood’ of Borehamwood. I do like it when County play comparatively new opposition, as it allows Maccy and I to ‘branch’ out from our usual repertoire of puns and avoid any ‘stick’ for going over old ground. Not that we ‘wood’, anyway…

Over at County Heaven HQ, our attention has been steered away from cup competitions for another season, in order to focus on the league – which is, after all, everyone’s priority for 2020/21.

With each new fixture, my esteemed co-contributor (to whom I shall pass you shortly) sets up a ‘match thread’, and our members then post their hopes, dreams and score predictions in advance, before reflecting on events afterwards. Long-standing Heavener, Hermann, then starts a MOTM vote, as well as offering his own in-depth (and hugely appreciated) tactical analysis, which is usually only bettered by Sir Jim himself! If you don’t believe me, pop along to County Heaven after today’s game (the address is below), to read through our post-match discussions and get involved yourself. After all, it’s free to sign up, and members don’t have to put up with all those pesky adverts cluttering up the screen!

With that, I must now ‘leaf’ you with my good friend, Maccy, who I can see has ‘spruced’ himself up for the occasion – no wonder he’s so ‘poplar’ with the ladies!

Hopefully, he also has his own puns lined up ready for you – got any wood, Maccy?!

Hatter in Macc writes: ‘Ash’-ure have, Sandy - but, if I ‘maple’-ease, I’ll save some ‘fir’ next season, in the hope that we’re ‘ply’-ing our trade against Forest Green then!

of Barking & Dagenham where the Hatters found themselves playing, and got back to winning ways, on Tuesday evening. It was our first victory on the road since triumphing at Barnet six weeks earlier - and a continuation of a fine run of form in the capital, whence we have come away with maximum points on all four occasions thus far in 2020/21. We also remained undefeated there during our quartet of trips last term so it’s clear we like ‘London - plane’ and simple. ‘Oak’ay, enough Wood puns already…

In stark contrast to our strong head-to-head record against the ‘Daggers’ of Dagenham & Redbridge, who are yet to beat County over five attempts, we have only ever tasted defeat after facing today’s visitors - to whom we were decidedly second-best last season, both in SK3 and for our earlier, inaugural meeting at Meadow Park. Hopefully, that unwelcome mini-sequence will come to an end here this afternoon.

Like us, The Wood’s interest in major knockout action ended this month following defeats at home in the FA Cup Third Round against much higher-tier London opposition and, more recently, in the FA Trophy at the hands of National League promotion hopefuls (Millwall and Torquay, to our West Ham and Notts County, respectively). ‘Yew’ might therefore expect to sense concentration on the league all round today!

Both Hatters write: Having submitted this column 24 hours before the shock news of Jim Gannon’s departure broke, we felt we could not let it go out to the digital world without adding, on behalf of County Heaven, our immense thanks and respect to Jim for everything he has achieved in driving the club forward. The forum was, and remains, incredibly proud to have sponsored him for the last three seasons.

Animo et Fide.

And so to Bark-ing. Not (just) because it’s an excuse for another pun, but it was in the London Borough

www.countyheaven.com 51

Oshor Williams All over the country players have been anxiously awaiting guidance from a special advisory body assembled to address the most critical issue in football. What to do about the goal celebration?

Yes, the Compulsory Avoidance of General Emotion (CAGE) Committee have been locked in consultation exploring acceptable alternatives to the customary high fives, passionate embraces and orgy of huddled bodies which punctuate the scoring of a goal.

When I say a committee, I mean, of course myself and my pal Big Jeff who took it upon ourselves to try to address the concerns expressed by Julian Knight, the Chair of the Digital Culture, Media and Sport Committee regarding the over-exuberant hugging of what he termed ‘brainless players’ during the COVID crisis.

There are some people who may be tempted to suggest that the government should reflect on its own intellectual capacity given some of the

52

amoeba-brained decisions made in the battle against this pandemic.

However, Jeff and I confined our consultation to measures by which players could show appreciation for a team-mate who breaks the deadlock in a tight match, or scores the last minute winner in a key game.

We came up with what we feel are some innovative solutions to the conundrum. Rather like VAR these measures could be trialled and evaluated by an independent panel before being rolled out across the country.

Unlike VAR we could do without the disdain, derision and dissatisfaction which still permeates any discussion surrounding its impact on the game.

Embracing technological solutions we thought, why not allow players to carry their mobile phones?

our fight against the virus since it hijacked our lives back in March 2020.

In that moment of spontaneous joy as the ball hits the back of the net they could instantly send a thumbs up or smiley emoji to the celebrant.

And despite the fact that players are operating in working bubbles, and getting regularly tested in certain leagues, unnecessary contact should be avoided at all times. But unless we start populating squads with an influx of Vulcan internationals, or should that be ‘interplanetaries’, there will always be the danger of a collective outpouring of emotion during any match.

It’s always gratifying to have a high emoji rating and it could be the new benchmark by which the club player of the year could be judged.

Of course, the drawback is there would be no place to carry a device (at least not with any dignity) so we canned that one rather quickly.

Perhaps they could learn semaphore and communicate in silent, socially-distanced delight when a striker converts one of the umpteen chances presented to him during a game.

I did see an amusing cartoon in one of the dailies depicting players kneeling on the ground writing letters of congratulations to an exuberant colleague holding his arms aloft.

But joking apart there is a serious side to this which does merit some debate.

As transmission rates increase across the country, it is important to continue to heed the Hands, Face and Space message which has been central to

Yes, clubs should provide ongoing advice and guidance on this matter, but calls for severe fines and sanctions are perhaps unnecessary at this moment in time.

Football is not a significant source of transmission amongst the general public unlike other industries whose protocols do merit closer scrutiny, and it is a dangerous distraction to scapegoat it as such.

However, football has a more visible profile than a meat packing plant or a clothing factory, and as such it should wherever possible try to be visibly responsible.

Enjoy the game.

Osh 53

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Deadly Duos Steven Davies

Wayne Hennessey and Ashley Williams For today’s deadly duo I have decided to give a nod to our Welsh brothers and internationally-capped players Wayne Hennessey and Ashley Williams.

Ashley Williams started his football career at non-league side Hednesford Town before turning professional when signing for ourselves in 2003 when signing for County in 2003 and eventually becoming our Captain.

Making his debut against Hartlepool at the tail-end of the 2003/04 season he became Mr Reliable and was almost always in our starting Xl as well as scoring against Huddersfield, MK Dons and Rochdale.

This 6’ 4” centre back went to play over 160 games for the Hatters including helping us on the road to promotion during the 2007/08 season before getting loaned out to Swansea City as well as the “great escape” a few seasons before, being solid in defence.

Wayne Hennessey on the other hand had come in on loan from Wolves initially for a month before getting it extended, with the idea of gaining some first-team experience.

After going back to Molineux and playing in the Premier League Wayne then got a move to Crystal Palace after Wolves were relegated, he still plays for Palace to this day as well as for the Welsh National Side as the first-choice goalkeeper with nearly 100 caps.

Ashley Williams went to Swansea after the loan deal where he helped them win promotion from League One to the Championship, and then later the Premier League. This resulted in a £12 million transfer to Everton where he continued to play in the Premier League as well as the Europa League, which he scored in against Lyon.

Both of these players played in all of the famous Football League record breaking “9 in a row”, whereby, during January to March in the 2006/07 season, County managed not only to win nine games on the bounce but to also keep a clean sheet in them all.

This meant that Wayne went an outstanding 857 minutes (or nine and a half matches) without conceding which was also the start of his competitive club record as he had only just turned pro. This also gained him a League Two Player of the Month award as well as being included in the PFA Team of the Year and voted Player of the Year later when he was back at Wolves.

Wayne Hennessey

In 2012 he was named Wales’s captain and he and Wayne made the short journey over to France in 2016 for the UEFA European Cup. This proved to be successful as Wales made it to the semi-final eventually getting knocked out by Portugal who went on to win the competition. Ashley Williams also scored during the competition and Wayne managed to keep a few clean sheets.

Ashley Williams

Some things never change.

55

Community Foundation scfcfoundation.com

@scfcfoundation

Stockport County Community Foundation

0161 286 8888 option 3

County’s Primary School Intervention Programme We are delighted to be awarded some vital funding to be able to deliver a new six-week intervention programme to local primary schools across Stockport.

The Foundation will be working in partnership with GMP Heaton and Reddish and the Stockport Council Youth Offending Service to offer children across Stockport to have the opportunity to be part of this exciting partnership.

The programme will cover a range of important and challenging topics, covering: • Victim Awareness • E-Safety • Hate Safety • Knife Crime • Anti-Social Behaviour • Choices & Consequences We would like to use the power of football to educate young people who are normally difficult to reach in the local community. There will be two parts of the session whereby part one will be one-hour sessions delivered by Stockport Youth Justice Practitioners to raise awareness of these important issues which affect the local community and the negative impact it can have on their day-to-day lives.

In part two, SCFC Community Foundation coaches will deliver a one-hour coaching session to engage with the children and

56

speaking to the group about the importance of having a fit and active lifestyle.

The sessions will be used as a mechanism of not only educating young people but as an opportunity of giving young people links with organisations and building young people’s aspirations.

Community Foundation Assistant Manager, Matthew Bailey, said: “I am very pleased to be working in partnership with GMP and Stockport Youth Offending Service in delivering a very important programme of events. The objective of programme is to educate Year 6 children of the many issues taking place in our community. I feel it is very important the children are aware of what is going on and understand the impact should they choose to take part in.”

Dennis Brown, Youth Offender Officer, said: “I believe this is a great opportunity to provide the young people with the chance to ask questions in an educational environment safely without fear of being judged and received the correct answers, dispelling myths.”

If your primary school is interested in taking part in the Intervention Programme please contact Matthew Bailey on 0161 288 8888 option 3 or via email matthew. bailey@stockportcounty.com

Power League in Stockport Hold Fundraising Tournament in Memory of Lewis Holland, Stockport County Adult Disability Player The Community Foundation would like to say a big thank you to the Power League, Stockport, for very kindly holding a 6-a-side Memorial Trophy Football Tournament and Fundraiser at their venue on Saturday 22 February 2020 in memory and honour of Lewis Holland.

The event that raised a fabulous £650 towards the Community Foundation’s Disability Football and Mental Health Programme brought 10 teams together to play in the 6-a-side tournament to honour Lewis and it was a very fitting tribute and a fantastic success with local Power League team Chuckles FC winning the competition. The Power League have decided that the Lewis Holland Memorial Trophy will be an annual event to pay respect and to honour to his memory.

Lewis, one of Stockport County’s disability adult players, sadly passed away on Sunday 19th January 2020 after suddenly suffering a brain aneurysm and being rushed into hospital with a bleed on the brain. Lewis was 24 years of age.

The tournament was a really nice way to pay tribute to Lewis and recognise all his good work and support for the Power League when volunteering his time on a regular basis with helping organising their events as well as playing at the venue himself. Lewis was always bright, cheerful, and liked by everyone and held in high esteem for all his efforts when volunteering. We will always hold very special memories of Lewis and the way for many years he played football for Stockport County’s disability team with great skill and a smile upon his face. Everyone will sadly miss Lewis, but this annual tournament will always let us remember him so fondly.

We will always hold very special memories of Lewis and the way for many years he played football for us with great skill and a smile upon his face

The Power League wanted to run a tournament to build awareness and to raise funds for Stockport County’s Community Foundation of which Lewis was such a big part.

He was a regular member of the Stockport County Adult Disability team that play in the East Cheshire Ability Counts League and attended weekly training sessions at Houldsworth Village and played in the Premiership first team at the monthly tournaments in the Power League in Stockport.

Adrian Rigby-Bates, Disability Football Development Officer for the Community Foundation, said: “Stockport County Community Foundation would like to thank the Power League for very kindly organising this tournament in memory of Lewis and for raising much needed funds for our Charity.

We will always hold very special memories of Lewis and the way for many years he played football for us with great skill and a smile upon his face. Everyone will sadly miss Lewis, but this annual tournament will always let us remember him so fondly.”

If you would like further information about the Community Foundation Disability Football Project, please contact Adrian Rigby-Bates on 0161 286 8888 (Option 3).

57

Talking Football Sam Preston

The Premier League has confirmed it will trial a concussion substitutes system which will also be in use in the fifth round of the FA Cup.

Clubs will be permitted to make two extra subs per game for head injuries

Each club will be permitted to make two changes per game for head injuries which do not have an impact on any other substitutions.

It represents long-overdue action in terms of head injuries in football. Some critics may be concerned that the system can be abused by teams simulating serious head injuries in order to make a tactical change.

But the integrity of the doctors at the club should give the lie to that. In any case, it is better to move towards an approach which puts player welfare at its heart and then close potential loopholes if and when they appear than to continue as we are.

58

There have been many examples which show the current approach needed changing, not least the sight of David Luiz struggling on with a bandagedup head against Wolves earlier this season.

Perhaps the most uncomfortable saw Jan Vertonghen visibly unsteady on his feet during the Champions League semi-final against Ajax in 2019.

He tried to carry on before eventually being replaced in the first leg but he was rushed back for the second leg of the tie as Spurs qualified for the final.

But he recently admitted the concussion had an impact for months.

Jan Vertonghen is assessed after a head injury versus Ajax

“I suffered a lot from that - dizziness and headaches,” said Vertonghen. “I should not have continued playing.

“It affected me in total for nine months and that’s why I couldn’t bring what I wanted to on the field.” I still had a year left on my contract, so I had to play, but when I played, I played badly.”

This trial is a step towards ensuring that no player finds themselves in Vertonghen’s position.

It is still not perfect; it does nothing to ease the pressure Vertonghen describes of feeling obliged to try and keep playing because a potential future contract is on the line.

The attitudes of managers and clubs will need to change in line with the new rules, should they progress from a trial into something more longstanding.

That also ties into football’s wider battle against dementia. The issue of potential links between heading a football and dementia in later life is also rightly a hot topic.

As much as some may be loathe to alter the fabric of the game, nobody wants to see footballing heroes afflicted by dementia later in life as a result of their careers Or get players to play with a lighter ball until a certain age, which would allow them to learn how to head the ball safely and with the correct technique.

As much as some may be loath to alter the fabric of the game, nobody wants to see footballing heroes afflicted by dementia later in life as a result of their careers.

But it needs to progress from a talking point into an area where action is taken, in the same way concussion has.

Professional football has a duty of care to its players and it also must ensure potential players of the future are not put off getting involved because of the health risks.

Nobody wants to sanitise football but it seems logical to limit the amount of heading young players do during their development.

It has made a step in the right direction with the concussion subs trial, and now it’s time to tackle longer-term impacts of football on players’ brains.

59

The Hatters v The Wood

Facts & Figures Head to Head

Goals scored

Previously at EP

Played (all competitions): 2

County: 1

Played (all competitions): 1

County: 0

County: 0

Draws: 0 Boreham Wood: 2

First competitive meeting

Draws: 0 Boreham Wood: 7

Last time out

Saturday 21st September 2019 Vanarama National League Boreham Wood 4 County 0

Previous games Saturday 4th January 2020 Vanarama National League County 1 Boreham Wood 3 Saturday 21st September 2019 Vanarama National League Boreham Wood 4 County 0

County 1 Boreham Wood 3 National League Saturday 4th Janaury 2020

They played for both clubs

Adriano Moké

60

The Hatters finished on the wrong end of a ‘double’ for the third time in the current season, after going down at Edgeley Park against first-time visitors Boreham Wood.

Three first-half goals for ‘The Wood’ – including a brace inside 22 minutes for former Macclesfield Town striker Tyrone Marsh – effectively settled the contest, although a spirited attempt at a comeback after the break did produce a County consolation through substitute Devante Rodney.

Boreham Wood: 1

2020-21

CHE

Statistics W 6 5 4 3 2 4 5 4 3 2 2 6 4 3 4 2 3 1 2 2 1 1 2

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

Home L 1 3 2 1 3 2 3 2 2 4 2 1 2 3 2 2 4 3 3 5 8 5 4

F 17 16 16 10 7 16 14 10 13 12 4 13 12 9 16 7 16 2 11 10 12 4 6

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

Away L 2 2 1 3 3 4 2 4 3 0 2 4 5 4 5 2 4 4 4 1 3 4 5

Goals

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 2

Subs

Goals

Subs

Starts

0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 14 0 3 1 0 4 0 0 7 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 15 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 14 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 10 3 1 1 4 3 0 0 13 1 1 2 12 2 2 1 13 0 1 3 12 3 0 2 0 0 0 0 8 0 1 1 12 3 7 2 13 0 7 1 3 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 8 0 0 0 3 10 1 1 4 4 0 1 0 - 24 17

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

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

0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 4 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 14

F 21 10 9 14 13 12 5 10 8 11 13 5 8 13 7 14 10 9 8 10 5 7 2

A 11 7 9 11 13 11 5 13 10 4 7 10 13 12 17 10 11 11 16 11 7 20 14

W 12 9 8 8 6 6 7 7 7 6 6 7 6 6 6 5 6 5 5 4 2 2 2

D 2 3 3 3 6 5 2 2 2 4 4 1 3 3 3 5 1 3 3 5 3 3 1

Total L F 3 38 5 26 3 25 4 24 6 20 6 28 5 19 6 20 5 21 4 23 4 17 5 18 7 20 7 22 7 23 4 21 8 26 7 11 7 19 6 20 11 17 9 11 9 8

Total

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

A 17 19 16 16 21 21 13 17 21 17 11 13 18 22 33 16 20 16 31 24 31 35 29

GD 21 7 9 8 -1 7 6 3 0 6 6 5 2 0 -10 5 6 -5 -12 -4 -14 -24 -21

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

Cup Starts

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

W 6 4 4 5 4 2 2 3 4 4 4 1 2 3 2 3 3 4 3 2 1 1 0

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

Player Roll-Call

A 6 12 7 5 8 10 8 4 11 13 4 3 5 10 16 6 9 5 15 13 24 15 15

Subs

Promotion

P 17 17 14 15 18 17 14 15 14 14 14 13 16 16 16 14 15 15 15 15 16 14 12

Biggest Win

Goals

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

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

2 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 17 2 4 1 1 5 0 0 13 3 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 20 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 19 0 1 1 0 1 0 0 16 4 2 2 5 3 0 0 19 1 1 2 16 3 2 1 16 3 1 4 14 6 0 2 0 0 0 0 14 1 3 1 18 4 11 2 18 1 12 1 5 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 14 0 0 1 8 11 1 1 6 7 0 1 0 - 38 21

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 2

Most Goals

Highest Attendance Lowest Attendance Top Goalscorer

Pts 38 30 27 27 24 23 23 23 23 22 22 22 21 21 21 20 19 18 18 17 9 9 7

W W L L W W W D D W L W L W L L W L W L L D L

Form Last 6 Matches D L W W L L W W W W W W W L D L D W D W W D L D D L W L W D D W L W L L L W L W D L W L W D W L L W W W W W D L L W L W L W L D L L L W L W L D W L L L D D D L D W W W L W L W W L L L D D W W L W W W L D L D L L D L L L L L L D L

Relegation

National League Records Saturday 12th December 2020 Chesterfield 6-0 Barnet Tuesday 13th October 2020 Wealdstone 2-5 Stockport County Saturday 17th October 2020 Wealdstone 4-3 Wrexham Wednesday 2nd December 2020 FC Halifax Town 5-2 Barnet Saturday 26th December 2020 Torquay United 6-1 Yeovil Town Monday 28th December 2020 Weymouth 3-4 Torquay United Saturday 26th December 2020 Torquay United 6-1 Yeovil Town 1,323 Tuesday 15th December 2020 Weymouth 2-3 Wrexham 337 Sam Barratt (Maidenhead United) 9 = 5 Goals + 4 Penalties Substitute Mark Kitching in action in the FA Trophy against Notts County

# 1 2 23

National League Fair Play Team Notts County 16 Stockport County 17 Yeovil Town 44

1 2 2

Pts 74 88 196

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 Thursday 21st January 2021

61

Kit Sponsorship Ben

Sam

Hinchliffe

01

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BEN WALKER

STOCKPORT TADPOLES

LEE THORNEYCROFT

A WAY

A WAY

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AVA RAE FELLOWES

03

John

Richie

Rooney

Bennett

HOME

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ANDY BIRCHENOUGH

MATTHEW STANDING

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

ZANE PEAT

Southam-Hales HOME

HOME

VIRIDOR

ONLY ONE JIMBO

A WAY

A WAY

A WAY

AVA RAE FELLOWES

HELP THE HATTERS

OTIS ALUN WALKER

16

Josh

17

Harvey

Barnes

62

AVAILABLE

BENJI GRIGGS 02

Thomas

21

Jennings

HOME

Adam

15

James

Minihan

Finley

Gilmour

Stanyer

HOME

HOME

HOME

AVAILABLE

AVAILABLE

PHILL GREEN

A WAY

A WAY

A WAY

ADA ELIZABETH WALKER

AVAILABLE 22

AVAILABLE 23

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

IAN DOOLEY A WAY

HJS JOINTING SERVICES LTD

A WAY

£

ARNOLD GORSE MORTGAGES ・PROTECTION ・INVESTMENTS ・ pensions

06

Jordan

Jennings

Mark

Williams

Kitching

HOME

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LEE THORNEYCROFT

HELP THE HATTERS

KATE GLASS

A WAY

A WAY

A WAY

AVAILABLE

BIGSY BATT 10

11

Ryan

GREENHILL 14

Alex

Croasdale

Nyal

Reid

Bell

HOME

HOME

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GARY KIMBER

MIKE WHORRALL

RAY JOHNSON

A WAY

A WAY

A WAY

AVA RAE FELLOWES

ASHLEIGH THORP

TOMMY ARMSTRONG

19

Jordan

20

Max

Downing

Greenhalgh

HOME

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AVAILABLE

AVAILABLE

A WAY

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AVAILABLE -

HOME

MAYNARD FAMILY

A WAY

05

Maynard

HOME

KEVIN AND SAM BOON Connor

18

Lois

Palmer

AVAILABLE -

63

2020-21

Fixtures & Results Date Opposition October 2020 Sat 3 Torquay United Tue 6 FC Halifax Town Sat 10 Dover Athletic Tue 13 Wealdstone Sat 17 Chesterfield Sat 24 Chesterfield Tue 27 Solihull Moors Sat 31 Weymouth November 2020 Wed 4 Chesterfield Sat 7 Rochdale Sun 29 Yeovil Town December 2020 Sat 5 Bromley Tue 8 Barnet Tue 15 Notts County Sat 19 Guiseley Tue 22 Hartlepool United Sat 26 Altrincham Mon 28 Wrexham January 2021 Sat 2 Altrincham Mon 11 West Ham United Sat 16 Notts County Tue 19 Dagenham & Redbridge Sat 23 Boreham Wood Tue 26 King's Lynn Town Sat 30 Woking February 2021 Tue 2 Sutton United Sat 6 Yeovil Town Sat 13 Aldershot Town Tue 16 Maidenhead United Sat 20 Eastleigh Tue 23 Notts County Sat 27 Chesterfield March 2021 Sat 6 Weymouth Tue 9 Solihull Moors Sat 13 Dagenham & Redbridge Tue 16 Barnet Sat 20 Sutton United Tue 23 Eastleigh Sat 27 Hartlepool United April 2021 Fri 2 Aldershot Town Mon 5 Bromley Sat 10 Wrexham Tue 13 King's Lynn Town Sat 17 Maidenhead United Sat 24 Boreham Wood May 2021 Sat 1 FC Halifax Town Mon 3 Wealdstone Sat 8 Dover Athletic Sat 15 Torquay United Sat 22 Woking Sat 29 Yeovil Town TBA

64

Comp Score A H H A A H H H

Att Pos

NL NL NL NL NL FAC4Q NL NL

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

- 21 Hinchliffe - 10 Hinchliffe - 6 Hinchliffe - 2 Hinchliffe - 1 Hinchliffe - - Hinchliffe - 2 Hinchliffe - 2 Hinchliffe

Minihan Minihan Minihan Minihan Minihan ³ Minihan Minihan Minihan

Jennings J Southam-Hales ¹ Stott Jennings J ¹ Stott ¹ Stott ³ Stott Stott ²

Maynard Maynard Maynard Maynard 1 Maynard Maynard Croasdale Maynard

Palmer Palmer Palmer Palmer Palmer Palmer Keane Palmer 1

Hogan Stott Hogan Hogan Hogan Hogan 1 Hogan Hogan

Kitching Kitching 1 ² Kitching ² Keane Kitching 1 ² Thomas Thomas Kitching

H FAC4Q A FAC1 H FAC2

4-0 2-1 3-2

-

Keane Keane Keane

Stott Stott Stott

Croasdale Croasdale ² Croasdale ¹

Palmer Palmer Palmer 1

Hogan Hogan Hogan

Thomas Kitching Kitching ³

A A A H A A H

NL NL NL FAT3 NL NL NL

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

Thomas Minihan Minihan Southam-Hales ¹ Minihan Minihan Southam-Hales ¹

Jennings J Jennings J Williams Keane Williams Williams Stott

Maynard Maynard Maynard Croasdale Croasdale Maynard Maynard

Keane Keane Palmer Palmer Palmer Keane Keane 1

Hogan Hogan Hogan Stott Hogan Hogan Hogan

Kitching ³ Williams ¹ Kitching ¹ Kitching Kitching Kitching Kitching

H H H A H A A

NL FAC3 FAT4 NL NL NL NL

2-2 0-1 1-2 2-0

Southam-Hales ¹ Minihan 5 Southam-Hales ³ Minihan

Stott Williams ³ Jennings J ¹ Stott ²

Maynard Maynard Maynard Maynard

Keane Keane Palmer 1 Keane

Hogan Hogan Stott Hogan

Kitching Kitching Williams Kitching

H H H A A H H

NL NL NL NL NL NL NL

A A H H A H H

NL NL NL NL NL NL NL

A H A H H A

NL NL NL NL NL NL

A H A H H A

NL NL NL NL NL NL CSC2

-

Hinchliffe Hinchliffe Hinchliffe

1,031 11 Hinchliffe 792 5 Hinchliffe - 10 Hinchliffe - - Barnes - 13 Hinchliffe - 9 Hinchliffe - 4 Hinchliffe -

4 4

Hinchliffe Hinchliffe Barnes Hinchliffe

Key:

CHE

STERFIELD FC

Bold = Goalscorer 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 = 1st / 2nd / 3rd / 4th / 5th Sub / = Yellow / Red Card = Penalty, * = Own Goal = Lost 6-7 on Penalties, = After Extra Time # = West Ham United additional unused substitutes: Jennings J, Stott

Rooney Rooney Rooney 2 Rooney 3 ³ Rooney Rooney Rooney Rooney Rooney 2 Rooney 1 ¹ Rooney 1

Bennett ² Bennett Bennett ³ Bennett 1 Bennett Bennett ¹ Bennett ² Bennett ³ ² Bennett 1 ¹ Thomas Thomas ²

Jennings C ³ Jennings C ³ Jennings C ¹ Jennings C Jennings C Keane Jennings C ¹ Croasdale

Reid ¹ Keane Keane Reid ² Keane Reid ² Reid Reid ¹

Jennings C Reid 1 ³ Jennings C Reid 1 ³ Jennings C 1 4 Reid

Barnes Barnes Barnes Barnes Barnes Barnes Barnes Barnes

Stott Jennings J ² Jennings J ² Kitching ¹ Jennings J ² Jennings C ² Hopkins Jennings C ²

Keane ¹ Croasdale Croasdale Croasdale ³ Croasdale Croasdale ³ Owen Keane

Thomas ³ Thomas 1 ¹ Thomas ³ Thomas ² Thomas ³ Southam-Hales Southam-Hales ¹ Thomas ³

Bell ² Reid ³ Reid 1 ¹ Bell Reid 1 ¹ Bell ¹ Bell ² Britton ¹

Barnes Barnes Barnes

Hopkins ³ Jennings J Jennings J

Maynard ¹ Maynard ¹ Maynard 4

Southam-Hales ² Stanyer Southam-Hales Britton ³ Bennett ² Britton

Stanyer

Hopkins

Williams ² Williams ³

Minihan Minihan ¹

Rooney 1 Rooney Rooney Gilmour ² Rooney Croasdale Croasdale

Bennett ² Bennett ² Bennett Britton ³ Bennett ¹ Thomas ¹ Bennett 1 ³

Jennings C Jennings C ³ Keane ² Jennings C Keane Jennings C 1 Jennings C

Reid 1 ¹ Reid 2 Reid Reid 2 Reid Reid Reid ²

Barnes Barnes Barnes Hinchliffe Barnes Barnes Barnes

Minihan ¹ Kitching ¹ Jennings C ² Hinchy Stott Stott Minihan ¹

Croasdale Croasdale Croasdale ³ Hogan Gilmour Gilmour Gilmour

Williams ³ Thomas ³ Thomas ¹ ³ Rooney 1 ² Southam-Hales ¹ Southam-Hales ¹ Williams ²

Britton ² Britton ² Britton Bennett Britton Bennett Britton ³

Williams ³

Minihan ¹

Rooney 1 Rooney 4 Croasdale Rooney

Bennett ³ Croasdale Bennett Bennett 1 ³

Croasdale Jennings C ² Jennings C ² Croasdale

Reid 1 ² Reid ¹ Thomas Reid 1 ¹

Barnes Barnes Hinchliffe Barnes

Minihan ¹ Hinchy 4 Minihan ² Jennings C ³

Gilmour Gilmour Hogan Palmer

Williams ² Southam-Hales ² Rooney Williams ¹

Thomas ³ Thomas ³ Reid ³ Thomas ²

Palmer 5 Kitching ¹

Bennett ¹ # Keane

65

National League News CHE

STERFIELD FC

Well done everyone who has fought the odds and helped get today’s game on, given how much it has rained.

Storm Christoph has wreaked havoc across the nation, flooding parts of our borough and many others, and rendering many National League pitches unplayable. It’s all added to a very strange week, with the continuation of the season at this level and step six being debated since Monday, when news broke that an £11 million survival fund from the Government, offered in light of the covid-19 pandemic, was actually a loan that needed repaying. Confusion reigned, with many clubs expressing surprise at this turn of events.

Talks were continuing in the run up to this game, with clubs being asked to consider between two different loan options, or the suspension of the season.

Since the turn of the new year 28 out of 44 scheduled fixtures have been called off in the National League, with covid and poor weather causing unprecedented levels of postponements.

Getting a game on feels like a major achievement right now and questions around the sustainability of the season and whether it is correct to continue at this time are naturally on everyone’s lips.

66

But press on we must, with the league stating they expect the games this weekend and any midweek fixtures to go ahead as normal, where possible.

With all the uncertainty casting a cloud over the campaign there has understandably been a downturn in the number of clubs making use of the transfer market recently. Perhaps any player movement seems a gamble too risky to take right now for some clubs.

That didn’t stop Chesterfield on Thursday though who, amidst all the talk of curtailing the season, signed three new players, including two new goalkeepers.

Defender Gavin Gunning made up the trio, signing an 18-month contract after leaving Gloucester

Gavin Gunning

City to rejoin his former manager James Rowe at The Spireites.

A week prior, Bromley made what seems a shrewd signing (providing the season continues of course) when capturing the signature of 25-year-old striker Courtney Duffus, who joins the Londoners from Yeovil Town.

Duffus scored 18 goals in 57 appearances for The Glovers and played a key part in their play-off push last season.

On the pitch Wrexham and King’s Lynn picked up welcome wins in the last week in the only other league games to take place in addition to County’s trip to Dagenham.

King’s Lynn’s 1-0 victory on the road at Eastleigh was their first since late November and moved them nine points clear of the relegation zone. Wrexham meanwhile beat basement club Dover Athletic 3-1 in the only league game to take place last Saturday.

With just 37% of fixtures fulfilled so far this month and many clubs keen on suspending the season you have to wonder where the league goes from here, and how many more matches there might be in this strangest of seasons.

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Stockport County

Boreham Wood

1

Ben Hinchliffe

[1357]

1

Nathan Ashmore

2

Sam Minihan

[1359]

2

Danny Woodards

3

James Jennings

[1397]

3

Femi Ilesamni

4

Liam Hogan

[1395]

4

Mark Ricketts

5

Ash Palmer

[1372]

5

Tom Champion

6

Lois Maynard

[1394]

6

David Stephens

7

Adam Thomas

[1373]

7

Piero Mingoia

8

John Rooney

[1400]

8

Gus Mafuta

9

Richie Bennett

[1396]

9

Kabongo Tshimanga

10 Connor Jennings

[1339]

10 Kieran Murtagh

11 Jordan Williams

[1404]

11 Corey Whitely

12 The Blue & White Army

12 Jamal Fyfield

14 Mark Kitching

[1398]

14 Kristian Pearce

15 Jamie Stott

[1380]

15 Matt Rhead

16 Jordan Keane

[1370]

16 Zaine Francis-Angol

17 Macauley Southam-Hales

[1401]

17 Ryan Huddart

18 Ryan Croasdale

[1402]

18 Shaquile Coulthirst

19 Alex Reid

[1399]

19 Kane Smith

20 Nyal Bell

[1367]

20 Adam McDonnell

21 Joshua Barnes

21 Martin Brennan

22 Harvey Gilmour

22 Junior Morias

23 Finley Stanyer 24 Jack Hopkins

Today’s other Vanarama National League fixtures (3.00pm unless stated)

Barnet v Altrincham Chesterfield v Wrexham Dagenham & Redbridge v King’s Lynn Town FC Halifax Town v Bromley Notts County v Torquay United Sutton United v Eastleigh Wealdstone v Aldershot Town Weymouth v Hartlepool United Woking v Maidenhead United

Match Officials Referee David Richardson Assistant Referee 1 Matthew Sowerby Assistant Referee 2 Adam Nichol Fourth Official Michael Coles

Next At Edgeley Park

Sutton United Tuesday 2nd February 2021 Kick-off: 7.00pm Vanarama National League

25 Adam Owen 27 Jack Hinchy

[1405]

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

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