Stockport County v Bromley

Harry Barrett reflects on the Northern Section County kicked off their 1921/22 season, the first of 25 Northern section campaigns, with a 2-0 win at Barrow. Ernie Gault scored in the first half with Joe Kearslake securing the points. An estimated 10,000 watched the Holker Street fixture, a figure possibly boosted by the Cumbrians allowing the unemployed in for free.

Attendances were healthy on that last day of August with 12,000 witnessing Nelson’s home defeat by Wigan Borough and over 10,000 at the Racecourse where Wrexham lost to Hartlepools. The Durham club name then was always listed in the plural and even had the prefix ‘West’ in some publications. Despite having a partially completed grandstand Halifax, a rugby league stronghold, regularly attracted five figure gates.

But the depressed post-war economy soon had several clubs strapped for cash. The Football League were approached to sanction the unemployed being admitted at reduced rates but the minimum 9d charge (3 pence) was rigorously enforced. Barrow’s directors were asked for an explanation of their admission policy after some disturbances, resulting in “hooligans entering the field of play”. Barrow toed the League line.

But being members of the Football League was seen as important. Many a town mayor was accorded special privileges, brass bands frequently added to the occasion and local businessmen wanted to be involved, though not always financially.

Cotton magnate William Rhodes at Stalybridge was an exception. He had bankrolled Celtic with £25,000 (£3million today) as they joined the Northern Section and was not disappointed. On the opening day, Celtic hammered Chesterfield 6-0 and by the end of September were in fourth spot, behind Durham, Nelson and County, that trio bracketed on nine points.

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