Stockport County v King's Lynn Town

Official Matchday Programme

With you all the way vs King’s Lynn Town Tuesday 13th April Kick-off 7:00pm

Rated Excellent On TrustPilot

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 First-Team Manager: Simon Rusk Assistant Manager: Dave Conlon Assistant Manager: Mark McGhee Goalkeeping Coach: Shwan Jalal 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: Liam Cash 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, Paul Dean, Olivia Hanvey, Ian Watts, Mark Heys, Luke Smith, Liam Richardson, Ian Butterworth, Brenda Williams, Ian Brown, Greg Hall, Oshor Williams, Steven Davies, Dave Wardle, Stephen Kenneth, Steve Bellis, Alex Cowdy, Jon Keighren, Sam Byrne, Harry Barrett.

Thanks to: Jack Horton-Carysforth, Mark Hearle and Lewis Hawkins.

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

Inside...

05 20

08

25

36

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, 1946-47, 1948-49, 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

03

Proud to sponsor Stockport County Football Club Call now on 0161 483 1099 or 0161 480 5000 Download the app today

Simon Rusk Hello everyone, and welcome back once again to Edgeley Park ahead of tonight’s game against King’s Lynn Town.

A warm welcome also to Ian Culverhouse, his players, staff, and anyone else travelling to the game from King’s Lynn tonight.

have to remain fully focused on trying to deliver exceptional basics, which I feel we have been doing more and more in recent weeks.

We come into this game on the back of an excellent performance in what was a tough game on Saturday away at Wrexham.

There were so many aspects of our game that day that were pleasing, as we rode out some early pressure to gradually take control and dominate the game.

The way we managed the game in the second half in particular, to limit their attacking threat, was really good, and I thought we were well worth the 3-0 scoreline in the end.

It’s a cliché, but we really must continue to take things one game at a time at the minute as we look to end the season strongly heading into the final ten games, starting tonight with what I’m sure will be another stern test against King’s Lynn.

The message for us right now is to continue with that level of performance moving forward – we

They picked up some great results themselves over the Easter period, and pushed a strong Chesterfield side all the way on Saturday, so I’m sure they’ll be giving their absolute maximum on the pitch tonight, so we need to be prepared to do the same.

Finally, it was been great to see all the support for Connor Jennings in recent weeks, particularly on Saturday with both sides wearing supportive t-shirts ahead of kick-off. It’s clear how highly thought of Connor is by Wrexham from his time there as a player, and the overwhelming support we’ve seen is a great testament to Connor as a person.

I’d like to thank you again for all of your support. With restrictions continuing to ease around the country, we’re all eagerly awaiting the day we can soon all welcome you back into Edgeley Park.

Enjoy the game.

Simon 05

Proud to sponsor Stockport County Football Club

togethermoney.com

Club News Minihan and Keane agree to new deals

We are pleased to announce that Sam Minihan and Jordan Keane have both agreed to sign two-year contract extensions at the Club in the summer, keeping them at Edgeley Park until 2023.

Full-back Sam originally joined the Club in 2016 from Worcester City, making over 150 appearances for the Club since then, with his new deal extending his time at the Club into a sixth and seventh season.

Edgeley Park launches its new events space

Capable of playing in midfield or in defence, Jordan signed for County from Boston United in 2018, and made his 100th appearance for the Club earlier this season in our 2-1 FA Cup win at Rochdale.

Both players were a key part in our title-winning season of 2018/19 and have proven fundamental again this year, with Keane making 31 appearances so far this season, and Sam making 37.

Club Shop re-opens

The Club Store re-opened its doors yesterday following the further easing of lockdown restrictions.

The store at Edgeley Park will now be open for select hours throughout the next month, giving you the chance to come down and browse through all the latest County instore memorabilia. Please visit our website for the opening hours.

Edgeley Park is one of the most historic sports stadiums in the country and has been the place of many memorable moments for generations of County fans and the local community. If all goes to plan this summer, Covid-19 restrictions will be lifted, and we can once again create unforgettable memories with you here, at Edgeley Park. As part of a £1million investment, Edgeley Park has undergone some impressive refurbishment, not only this, we have also brought the events planning and catering in-house to ensure all our events are of the highest standard.

Featuring a variety of stylish new function rooms with modern finishes, along with high-tech equipment, a large private car park and located in the heart of Stockport with easy transport links, it’s the perfect venue for any occasion. Take a look at Edgeley Park’s new website: www.edgeleypark.com

County’s virtual PE session – session two

Take part in our virtual County PE session, with our strength and conditioning coach, Dan, who puts Macca and Harvey through their paces in a hilarious football-fitness session.

The fitness session is made up of 10 different exercises, where there’ll be 35 seconds on with 25 seconds’ rest. This will be repeated twice with a minute’s rest in between, the session will last for around 25 minutes. Dan will also take us through a five-minute warm-up and recommends to stretch before and after the session.

Be sure to head over to social media and let us know how you find this session!

07

08

Will Collar If you are going to score your first goal for County, then you would make sure you do it in style like Will Collar!

With County performing impressively against play-off chasing Eastleigh, Collar doubled the Hatters’ advantage their play deserved – thanks to Will’s first goal for the Club. Collar collected the ball from fellow new boy Paddy Madden and let fly with a rocket that nearly took the Cheadle End net off!

“It’s always good to get off the mark for a new Club,” said Will, who moved to Edgeley Park from Hamilton Academical. “I was delighted with the goal against Eastleigh, I don’t think I’ve ever hit any better!”

Will’s goal arrived in the middle of an excellent run of County form where the Hatters head into

tonight’s game defending an eightgame unbeaten run.

County are also a tough nut to crack at Edgeley Park, with just two goals conceded over the past eight home games, keeping County firmly in the hunt for promotion.

And Will believes that the squad can be pleased with their efforts from a highly-satisfying win at fellow promotion-chasers Wrexham on Saturday.

“It was a good result for us,” he said. “We started slowly but we settled down and played very well.

We were really happy and this result gives us a massive boost for the run-in.”

The signing of defensive midfielder Will was Simon Rusk’s first signing as County manager.

Collar had previously spent time working under Simon during his time in the Brighton & Hove Albion academy where he had played since the age of ten, rising through the ranks and making his full debut for the Premier League side in 2018, starting in a Carabao Cup tie with Southampton.

In the summer of 2019, he left Brighton to sign for SPL side Hamilton, making 19 appearances in his first season at New Douglas Park, helping the side retain their place in the division – his first goal for the club coming in a crucial 2-1 victory over relegation rivals Hearts.

09

And he followed that up with six further appearances this season, before making the move South to County.

Although it can be a difficult experience moving clubs, Will says that he could not have asked for a better welcome from everyone at County.

“Will is someone I know well from my time at Brighton, and who will complement the squad well going forward for the rest of the season.

“Will has good recent pedigree from his time in the Scottish Premier League, and will provide composure and versatility in what is now a very competitive midfield. To have good competition throughout the squad is crucial, as we enter an intense period of the season.”

SIMON RUSK 10

“It’s been really easy to settle in, to be honest. It can be weird moving clubs at first, but the lads have made me feel really welcome. They are a great bunch of lads. When I first came, I was blown away by the quality of the stadium, the training ground, and the quality of the players. It’s such a nice environment to be around and work in.

“Of course, I already knew the manager from our time at Brighton. Simon’s been really good and it’s been really easy for me to work under him.

I’ve spoken to the other players about him and they enjoy his way of working. His training sessions are really good and we learn a lot. Mark McGhee has done it at the top level, he goes about his business and he helps individuals out if he thinks it’s needed. Mark and Simon work well together.”

With Covid restrictions being further eased this week, Will is looking forward to supporters being allowed back into games as soon as it is possible.

Favourite TV programme? Peaky Blinders Any superstitions? No Career highlight? My debut for Brighton at home to Southampton in the EFL Cup. Biggest influence on your career? My Dad Best stadium played in? Celtic Park If you could buy a ticket for one sporting event what would it be? The World Cup Final.

Boyhood idol? Cristiano Ronaldo.

Boyhood team? Forest.

Best goal? It would have to be the one the other week against Eastleigh!

“I can’t wait,” he said. “It felt really weird to start with playing behind closed doors, but it would probably feel weird again when fans are allowed back in! It’s something we all want as football without fans is nothing and it would be good to see them back before the end of the season. It would be good timing if we do have to settle for the play-offs because they would give us such a boost, if we play at home.”

But first County will aim to continue their excellent form against our visitors King’s Lynn Town, who make their first-ever visit to Edgeley Park. Will knows how important the coming games are to County’s dream of being promoted back to the Football League.

“We’re on a good run at the moment and we head into the game full of confidence,” said Will. “But King’s Lynn will be difficult opponents and we’ll have to be at our best to pick up the three points.

It’s an important week ahead.”

11

Welcome...

King’s Lynn Town 109 years on from the last time a team from King’s Lynn faced County, The Linnets venture north tonight for a first-ever meeting here at Edgeley Park.

Way back in 1912 County thrashed King’s Lynn FC 7-2 at The Walks Stadium in an FA Cup qualifying match. It’s a ground County are yet to play on since, after this season’s reverse fixture was postponed earlier in the campaign, though that will all change in a fortnight’s time when we face each other again.

King’s Lynn FC, our opponents more than a century ago, were formed two years earlier than County in 1881 and stayed in existence until 2009.

The club were then reformed in 2010, initially as Lynn FC before changing their name to King’s Lynn Town FC. King’s Lynn is a relatively small town in Norfolk, with a population of around 42,000 residents, though there’s a broad catchment area for players with Norwich, Ipswich, Peterborough and Cambridge all nearby.

Indeed, The Linnets’ manager, Ian Culverhouse, is a Norwich City legend, having played for the club for 10 years. He was part of the team that finished third in the Premier League in 1993 and he represented the club in Europe the following season.

12

FACT FILE Nickname: The Linnets Founded: 2010 Stadium: The Walks Stadium Capacity: 8,200 Address: Tennyson Rd, King’s Lynn, Norfolk Postcode: PE30 5PB Distance from Edgeley Park: 143.2 miles (3 hours 11minutes) Current league position: 21st

Culverhouse took over The Linnets in 2017 and last season led the club to back-to-back promotions, to reach the pinnacle of the non-league pyramid for the first time in 140 years of football in King’s Lynn.

Last season’s promotion from the National League North was spearheaded by 28-goal marksman Adam Marriott, himself a former Norwich youth and Cambridge United first-teamer.

The Linnets were second in the table when the league was stopped in March, although when the points per game method was applied their superior record saw them leapfrog York City to claim the title.

Marriott secured King’s Lynn Town’s first-ever point at this level with an equaliser against Yeovil on the opening day, and subsequently grabbed another four goals in 17 games, but as the Government grant row erupted in February he and five other team-mates found themselves placed on furlough by the club.

Marriott’s strike partner Dayle Southwell, who County fans will remember from his hugely successful spell at Boston United, found himself in the same predicament.

Last Friday Marriott moved on to Eastleigh, leaving behind a remarkable history of 65 goals in 99 games for The Linnets.

The Gaffer: Ian Culverhouse

Retaining talent has been extremely challenging for the club in these exceptional times and 23-year-old forward Kairo Mitchell also departed the club at the weekend, joining Chesterfield.

The 56-year-old former Norwich City player and assistant manager put pen to paper on a two-year deal which will keep him at the National League club until the summer of 2023. Culverhouse is in his second spell at The Walks and has taken the club to within one step of the Football League after successive promotions.

Mitchell didn’t play when the two clubs played each other on Saturday, though no doubt he’ll have been watching as his new team triumphed 2-1.

The Linnets’ goalscorer on Saturday was midfielder Sonny Carey, 20, and the former Norwich youth player may well be the next talented prospect to move on, with Swansea City and Bournemouth rumoured to be following his progress.

Did you know?

Although individuals have prospered it’s been a very tough first season at this level for all at King’s Lynn Town and they currently sit third-bottom in the table, with 27 points from 30 games.

Recent recruit Simeon Jackson has 49 international caps, 35 Premier League appearances, 34 Scottish Premier appearances and nine Bundesliga games to his credit!

They played for both Former Hatter Lee Stevenson has played for both King’s Lynn FC and the current King’s Lynn Town.

The old club saw appearances by other County men, including Keith Alexander, Mike Czuczman, Mark Howard, Dave Partridge and Graham Ricketts.

Four of their seven wins have been at home, with victories at Maidenhead, Barnet and Eastleigh achieved on the road. Their last three-point haul away from home came on January 19th, though prior to Saturday’s defeat they had won back-to-back home games against Eastleigh and Altrincham.

The Linnets also have a pretty decent record against the promotion chasers, having drawn against Torquay, Halifax, Notts County and Hartlepool.

With no relegation from the league this season Ian Culverhouse’s men are free to express and enjoy themselves and with their talented players having caught the eye of Championship-level scouts previously County could well be in for a tricky test tonight.

13

The Players THEO RICHARDSON (b:Oct 1998 s:Mar 2021) Goalkeeper who joined from Cleethorpes Town. He started on the books of Manchester United, moving to Grantham when he was released.

AARON JONES (b:Mar 1994 s:Aug 2018) Right-back or right midfielder who came through the system at Ipswich. After being released he joined the exodus to College football in the United States where he played for Georgia State University also figuring for Carolina Dynamo. Further experience was gained at Clemson University and Philadelphia Union, being loaned to a famous old USA side Bethlehem Steel. Having returned to the UK, he joined Harlow Town.

ALEX BROWN (b:Sep 1998 s:Mar 2020) Left-back who previously played as a winger and came through the junior ranks at Sheffield United.

Moved on to nearby non-league sides Stocksbridge Park Steels (on loan), then Hallam and Sheffield FC. He spent the last two seasons as a regular or Buxton.

KYLE CALLAN-McFADDEN (b:Apr 1995 s:Nov 2020) Central defender who joined at the end of the 2020 League of Ireland season from Sligo Rovers. He had originally come through the academy at Norwich City to earn a professional contract, after moving from Swilly Rovers. Before Sligo he had time at Orlando City in the United States.

JORDAN RICHARDS (b:Jul 1997 s:Jul 2018) Defensive midfielder who began with Notts County before loan spells at Boston and Sligo. He left Meadow Lane to join his only other previous club Gainsborough Trinity.

MICHAEL GASH (b:Sep 1986 s:Jul 2017) Forward who as a youth was with Peterborough and then alternated between Cambridge United and Cambridge City. City sold him to Ebbsfleet United and then on to York City, who later loaned the striker to Rushden and Diamonds. It was then back to Cambridge United and temporary spells at Braintree Town and Kidderminster Harriers. The other stops on his CV are Kidderminster permanently, Nuneaton Town on loan and Barnet.

MICHAEL GYASI (b:Mar 2020 s:Dec 2020) As a youngster this forward was with Northampton Town and Chelsea before finding his way to Leicester City. Released and dropping into non-league he played for Nuneaton Borough, Bedford Town and Barton Rovers before a spell in Germany with 1.FC Phönix Lübeck. He joined before Christmas from St Ives Town.

RYAN JARVIS (b:Jul 1986 s:Jun 2017) Norwich’s youngest first team player, who whilst with them was loaned to Colchester United, Leyton Orient, Kilmarnock and Notts County. The midfield man rejoined Orient, then progressed via spells with

CHRIS SMITH (b:Feb 1998 s:Jul 2019) Schoolboy player with Ipswich who progressed to a pro contract. Loaned to Chelmsford City and Aldershot Town. The central defender joined Lynn after his release.

RORY McAULEY (b:Oct 1989 s:Jul 2018) After schoolboy time at Norwich and Cambridge City, he was with Cambridge United. They loaned him to Chelmsford and then Dartford who he later joined permanently. Re-joining Chelmsford, the central defender then spent a season at Lowestoft Town.

MICHAEL CLUNAN (b:Jan 1994 s:May 2015) Midfielder who worked his way through to a scholarship at Norwich. On his release he had a short spell with Boston United before joining Histon for whom he was on the bench when they lost 1-0 at EP in Jan 2014. He reached his current club via Lowestoft Town and Dereham Town.

14

Michael Clunan

ROSS BARROWS (b:Nov 1997 s:Mar 2019) Released by Scunthorpe United as a schoolboy Ross progressed with FC Halifax Town. Loan spells with Frickley Athletic and North Ferriby United followed.

Before joining Lynn he was with Grantham Town.

ALEX KIWOMYA (b:May 1996 s:Jan 2021) Former Rotherham United player who switched to Chelsea. They loaned him to Barnsley, Fleetwood Town and Crewe Alexandra. The winger then signed for Doncaster Rovers and was loaned to Chesterfield, joining permanently after a similar spell with Chorley.

Cameron King

SONNY CAREY (b:Jan 2001 s:Jun 2019) Attacking midfield man who joined from Wroxham FC after an impressive 2018-19 season. He was previously a member of the Norwich City academy set-up.

Northampton on loan, Walsall and then Torquay United on loan. A permanent move to Devon followed, before he headed north to York. A loan stint with Aldershot Town preceded a move to Lowestoft Town.

TYLER DENTON (b:Sep 1995 s:Jan 2021) Left-back or midfielder who started with Leeds United. They sent him to Port Vale and Peterborough United. He then moved to Stevenage and joined today’s opponents after playing for Chesterfield earlier this season.

TAI FLEMING (b:May 2002 s:Jul 2020) Central defender who was with the Norwich academy, before becoming a scholar at Yeovil Town, after signing his first pro contract he was loaned by the latter to Melksham Town.

ALFIE PAYNE (b:Oct 1999 s:Mar 2021) Came through the ranks with Norwich and had a loan spell with Lynn whilst with them. More recently the midfielder was with Braintree and Lowestoft.

CAMERON KING (b:Oct 1995 s:Aug 2020) Signed from Halifax for a second spell at the club.

Started with Norwich and Thetford Town, then figured for Shamrock Rovers in Ireland before linking up with King’s Lynn Town for the first time.

SAM KELLY (b.Oct 1993 s: Jun 2019) Winger with Football League experience at Port Vale and Grimsby, before he signed for Scottish Premiership side Hamilton in June 2018. He returned to English non-league football with Braintree Town, Billericay Town and King’s Lynn Town in 2019. He helped King’s Lynn to win the National League North title in the 2019–20 season.

DAYLE SOUTHWELL (b:Oct 1993 s:Jan 2020) Forward who started with Grimsby and had a loan spell at Harrogate Town. He switched to Boston and then Wycombe Wanderers who sent him out to Lincoln. Six months with Guiseley came before a spell with Halifax and a loan back to Boston.

ARCHIE MAIR (b:Feb 2001 s:Jul 2020) Norwich Under-23s goalkeeper on a season-long loan. He joined previous club Aberdeen from Dyce Boys Club.

SIMEON JACKSON (b:Mar 1987 s:Mar 2021) Well-travelled striker who joined from Chelmsford City. After his youth football he has gained plenty of EFL experience with Rushden, Gillingham, Norwich, Millwall, Coventry, Barnsley, Blackburn Rovers, Walsall and Stevenage. He also spent time with German side Eintracht Braunschweig and in Scotland with St Mirren and Kilmarnock.

JAK HICKMAN (b:Sep 1998 s:Mar 2021) Right back who joined on loan from Bolton Wanderers for the rest of the season. He started with Coventry City, making the switch to Bolton for this season after loan spells with Mickleover Sports, Ashton United, Hereford FC and Bromsgrove Sporting.

ETHAN COLEMAN (b:Jan 2000 s:Mar 2021) Reading product who had a pre-season trial with County. The midfielder then signed for Brackley Town before joining his current club.

ELKAN BAGGOTT (b:Oct 2002 s:Mar 2021) Ipswich Town central defender added to the ranks on loan for the rest of the season from the club where he started in the youth ranks.

15

UNLESS WE TAKE RADICAL ACTION THERE WILL BE MORE PLASTIC THAN FISH IN OUR OCEANS BY 2050.

Source: World Economic Forum

We can help your business save time and money whilst doing the right thing for the environment.

For a free waste audit get in touch with your local Viridor team at Trafford Park on 0161 872 0976 or manchester@viridor.co.uk

PROUD SPONSOR OF STOCKPORT COUNTY FC

RECYCLE MORE, WASTE LESS To find out more visit: viridor.co.uk or @ViridorUK

Stockport County Colts & Junior Academy Success at the Colts!

As we near the end of the season we are now very pleased to say that nine Colts players have been offered players’ places in the post-16 Academy.

This is what we hoped for in terms of a developmental pathway with the opportunities to play high-level football and/or take up a career in the sports industry. Many of our players have worked hard and been with the club since its inception and obviously as the football industry is very competitive, it’s also a great opportunity for any players who want to stay in the game if they don’t make it to the first team, to take up a career in the sports industry with the necessary qualifications.

We have many young coaches working at the Colts and some of these have played in the academy system itself. They are now aiming to take up a career in coaching. As such, there is scope for all

players within the system to take up a career in or outside of the playing environment, so if you are interested in either following up a coaching career or are a player from Under-7-16 please contact us on info@stockportcountycolts.co.uk with any enquiries, as we are now planning for the season ahead with trial dates.

17

Rebellious Jukebox Gareth Evans selects King’s Lynn on the County Rock-Ola, and presses play to discover a link with, and test the credentials of… ROGER TAYLOR, OBE. So, what’s the connection?

Not only a second drummer in this series, but also a second Taylor - following the February piece on the late, Chesterfield-born ‘Philthy Animal’ of Motörhead - and Queen’s sticksman Roger, like his (sur)namesake, also entered the world in the town where the opposition is based.

In Roger’s case, it was towards the end of July 1949, at West Norfolk and Lynn Hospital, when, as it so happened, the then Princess (and now Queen) Elizabeth had visited to open a new maternity ward, and met a group of new mothers - including Winifred, that of our subject tonight.

The Taylors continued living in King’s Lynn for

long enough to see young Roger start school, before upping… erm, sticks and moving down to Truro. Just over 70 years later, the 2020 New Year Honours List included an OBE for one of Queen’s two remaining founder members, who, to this day, continues working alongside guitarist Brian May (CBE). A survivor, then. And Rebellious? Let’s ‘Take Five’…

1. If you have only one Smile in you…

Inspired by Mitch Mitchell (Jimi Hendrix Experience) as an early drumming role model, Roger, whilst a student in London during 1968, answered an advertisement at Imperial College - where Brian May was studying - to join Smile, a trio that also featured May and singer/bassist Tim Staffell, until the latter quit to join folk-rockers Humpy Bong in 1970. And that could well have been that, had one of Smile’s biggest fans, one Fred Bulsara - who once sold second-hand clothes at Kensington Market with Roger - not persuaded May and Taylor to carry on with him on vocals. Smile became Queen, Fred Bulsara became Freddie Mercury, and the group became a quartet the following year with the arrival on bass of John Deacon to complete what, for the next two decades until Mercury’s untimely passing, would be its classic line-up.

2. Breaking Free (1) Roger was the first member of Queen to turn out some solo work (while remaining in the band) starting off in 1977 with a cover loosely based on The Parliaments’ funky doo-wop number ‘I Wanna Testify’, before releasing a string of

18

albums, both on his own, as singer and multiinstrumentalist, and with his band The Cross, for whom he took a break from behind the drums to perform vocals and play rhythm guitar. His three Queen bandmates made appearances on second solo long-player ‘Strange Frontier’ in 1984, and, eight years following that, he re-lived the earlier times of Smile by inviting Brian May and Tim Staffell to join him on stage while The Cross were headlining. His singles career, though modest in its success and sporadic in its frequency, saw him hit the right note last summer with ‘Isolation’, a track created in response to Covid that hit the top of the UK iTunes rock chart. Mention should be made of Roger’s singing, too, as he possesses a falsetto voice range - used to most famous effect in harmonies during the operatic passage of Queen’s best-selling 45, ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’.

3. Breaking Free (2) Queen’s drummer has written or co-written a number of hits for the band - including a trio of number ones (‘Innuendo’, ‘These Are the Days of Our Lives’ and the joint effort with featured artiste from our Bromley programme, David Bowie, ‘Under Pressure’). The composition of top-three single ‘I Want to Break Free’ in 1984 did not involve Roger - John Deacon was its writer - but, for the accompanying video, he did suggest the ‘Coronation Street’ concept whereby the band would appear as female characters living in the same terraced house for those sequences that were married with lyrics about life’s mundanity.

Freddie Mercury’s character, with pvc skirt, heels and his trademark moustache, cut a comical figure while doing the housework; Brian May shuffled about in curlers and dressing gown; and Deacon - never one for the limelight - was an old lady reading the paper. But never mind them. Roger, it has to be said, looked famously delightful as a grown-up schoolgirl!

4. Breaking Records Roger has two remarkable distinctions to his name - with one being a world record he set out to achieve, and the other occurring rather more inadvertently (not to mention a little controversially) in breach of an unwritten Post Office tradition. In 1998, he performed a mixture of Queen and solo material from the ‘Cyberbarn’ in his Surrey back garden that was linked to the web by main servers in Los Angeles. As well as the select gathering of guests invited to be at

the barn that September evening, some 595,000 punters accessed the official Queen site to watch the concert as it happened - creating a new record for the most people viewing an exclusive internet live gig. The following year, Roger became only the second living person outside the Royal Family - after solo sailor Francis Chichester in 1967 - to appear on a UK postage stamp, when he could be seen playing the drums behind Freddie Mercury, who, eight years after his death, was made the subject of a Royal Mail ‘Great Britons’ issue.

5. There’s only two Roger Taylors!

Not only that, but both are drummers - with the other RT having been in Duran Duran from that combo’s inception in 1979 until 1986, and then again from 2001 onwards. The pair got together for Christmas 2002, to appear on the ‘Twelve Drummers Drumming’ card being sold for charity as part of a Yuletide set at Woolworths in its final decade of business.

Rebellious Jukebox Rating:… SEVEN Seas of Rhye.

19

Clitheroe v County Clitheroe Football Festival First Group game At the same time County were kicking off at the Racecourse Ground against Wrexham, a very much younger Hatters side were starting their opening Group B game in the Clitheroe Football Festival. Damien Allen’s squad had five 17-yearolds and a 16-year-old taking part.

20

It is more than fair to say they were up against a more experienced side including former Hatters Sefton Gonzales, Gary Stopforth and Chris Smalley, who had the first chance.

An early goal by Keelan Adams was disallowed for offside as the hosts continued to pressure the youngsters.

Gonzales was the next to threaten but the ball ran away as he rounded the keeper.

The team had to continue to show their defensive organisation and the Hatters players did so as they managed to defend three corners in double-quick time.

Adams continued to be a threat with Josh Schofield making another good save to keep one of his efforts out and soon after a mistake allowed Stopforth to steal the ball and Josh was again forced into action.

Occasional misplaced passes by County and more frequent fouls by Clitheroe continued to spatter the first half. Those free-kicks gave the Hatters their best chances with Adam Owen threatening from them.

County had a late corner after a good run from Milia Alli but it came to nothing. And the half petered out.

Photographs: Jack Horton-Carysforth

Early in the second 45 Adams could have set up Gonzales but went for goal and Schofield saved well.

County quickly threatened at the other end and after good work from Alli and Owen, Jack Walls put the Hatters ahead.

A foul on a home substitute led to a free-kick as the weather seen in Stockport earlier in the day arrived in Clitheroe, but Schofield was again up to the task in the difficult conditions.

The home side expected a penalty when they felt Schofield had brought down Gonzales after he had broken clear, but the referee was not interested.

The game turned a bit scrappy and when County next threatened midway through the second half it was through Alli again but he was not able to add the second goal after some good work.

The County men were able to withstand the pressure from their more experienced opposition. With the hosts not quite finding that final pass or shooting from distance.

When they got closer, such as a move set up for Maieco by the jinking Gonzales, Schofield proved too good.

Smalley dominated the area for a couple of County crosses to relieve the danger as the visitors continued to try for that second and the game became more end-to-end. Typified at one point when County broke quickly after a chance for Gonzales, with Zack Clarke and Owen threatening but again Smalley mopped things up.

Smalley again cleared a County attack freeing Sefton for a run on goal but after controlling the ball he allowed County to clear for a corner, and shortly afterwards the final whistle went giving the Hatters a victory with a bonus point for their clean sheet.

County: Schofield, Walls, Edwards, Earl, Jinkinson, Holding, Johnson (Clarke 68), Hopkins, Alli (Jackson 85), Tanswell, Owen.

As the game entered its late stages the youthful Hatters looked stronger than a tiring Clitheroe side and more free kicks resulted, but came to nothing.

Substitutes: Brockbank, Walsh, Sumner.

The other game in County’s group was played on Sunday and saw East Lancashire League side Rimmington draw against a young Accrington Stanley side, leaving the table as below:

1 2= 2= 4

County Accrington Stanley Rimmington Clitheroe

P 1 1 1 1

W 1 0 0 0

D 0 1 1 0

L 0 0 0 1

F 1 2 2 0

A 0 2 2 1

BP Pts 1 4 0 1 0 1 0 0

BP - Bonus points are awarded for clean sheets and for scoring at least three goals in a match.

The other group is all square with both games ending 2-2 as Barnoldswick Town and Hurst Green impressed against Fleetwood Town and Marine respectively.

The group matches continue over the next two weekends as the eight sides look to make the Final at the start of May. County’s squad will next face Accrington at 3pm this Sunday.

21

Harry Barrett reflects on the Northern Section The 1920s were not exactly ‘roaring’ for much of the north with high unemployment and a depressed economy causing hardship for working families. Northern Section clubs regularly propped up bottom places in the Football league attendance tables, only Aberdare and Merthyr from the Welsh Valleys contesting that dismal fact. Three teams fell by the wayside, though Wolves (23/24), Grimsby (25/26) and Stoke (26/27), emerged as champions and were well established top-flight clubs by the early 1930s.

First to depart were Stalybridge. Largely bankrolled by local businessman William Rhodes, Celtic occupied mid-table positions in the first two campaigns. But by March 1923, it became clear a town of 24,000 could not sustain a league club.

Public meetings evoked sympathy but minimal finance and the club resigned at the end of the season, returning to the Cheshire League. Their

Durham struggled on the pitch and finances dictated the side regularly included amateurs.

Inevitably better players were sold to balance the books, including future England internationals Jack Hill, George Camsell and Sammy Crooks 22

last game as a Football League club, against Second Division County, ended in a two-goal defeat in the final of the Manchester Senior Cup. Goalie Tommy Lonsdale, by then 41, had played in 75 of Celtic’s 76 Northern Section games.

Public meetings to rally local support were a regular occurrence at Durham City and Ashington.

City, with the lowest gates in six of their seven league seasons, failed in their 1928 re-election bid, losing out to Carlisle. Again, a local benefactor, T W Holiday had helped the club operate and even financed a new ground that bore his name.

Despite having former Sunderland star Jackie Mordue as player/manager, Durham struggled on the pitch and finances dictated the side regularly included amateurs. Inevitably better players were sold to balance the books, including future England internationals Jack Hill, George Camsell and Sammy Crooks. In that final 27/28 season, Durham suffered a 1–11 defeat at Tranmere and the ignominy of asking Accrington for £25 to cover travel costs to Peel Park. Yet they trounced Crewe 5-1 in their final league match, watched by just 851 spectators.

When coal owners across Britain reduced wages by 20% and increased the working week, it was hardly surprising miners went on strike. In the northern coalfield it was said you could shout down a pit shaft for a budding defender or centre-forward. That was certainly true in Ashington where in 1926/27 all but two of the 24-man squad were Northumberland born and bred.

Without a major benefactor, Portland Park was one of the best-appointed grounds in the Northern Section, and for a period the club was partly financed with a penny levy from the pitmen’s wages. After finishing tenth in the 21/22 inaugural Northern Section season, guided by player/manager Pat O’Connell, a former Irish international, Ashington steadily dropped down the league charts.

Cash problems caused O’Connell’s contract to be terminated and he later coached Barcelona for three years. By March 1929 the local press predicted the worst and York City replaced the Colliers.

Their last three league games, all at Portland Park, attracted 2,830 supporters.

Ashington had been hammered 8-2 at home by eventual champions Bradford City who recorded 128 goals, a Northern Section record. Albert Whitehurst, signed from Liverpool in the February struck 24 times in 15 league outings, including seven against Tranmere.

Revision of the offside law in 1925 caused a goal glut until defensive formations changed with the so-called ‘third back’ tactic initially employed by Arsenal. Stockport, back in the Northern Section hit 111, Alderley Edge’s Harry Burgess netting 31.

While many clubs were struggling financially there was no shortage of applicants for the Northern Section. Doncaster and New Brighton joined in 1923, bringing the number up to 20, the same as

their southern counterpart. Ambition for success was universal with both divisions at loggerheads with the Football League.

As associate members, clubs did not have membership of the management committee, thus denied a say in the re-election process.

Eventually in 1929 the League gave each section two places, but would not countenance a demand for more promotion places. In 1926 the Football Association recommended all 88 Football League clubs should enter the FA Cup at Round One, much to the delight of the Third Division. The idea though was thrown out, Charles Sutcliffe of the management committee stating Third Division clubs should not “clog the system”,and stand in the way of progress. Similar to sentiments expressed late in the century when the Premiership was founded and nowadays by advocates of a European League.

Ambition though remained for Northern Section clubs. Rochdale on three occasions in the 1920s missed out on promotion by a couple of points, while Nelson supporters experienced the highs and lows of football in a ten-year period.

More of them and the thirties next time...

23

Official Partners of The National League

County Ladies County Ladies back in action!

Last weekend saw a return to match action for some of our teams after three months.

instead they played a friendly against Curzon Ashton, winning convincingly.

The FA Women’s National League, where our First and Development teams play, has declared the 2020/21 season null and void, so there will be no more League fixtures for these teams until the 2021/22 season starts. Junior leagues have had to re-format competitions to allow completion before the end of the season, so it’s a rather mixed up last few weeks of competitive football. We’re all glad to be back and are grateful for all the work put in by the League organisers to allow matches to resume.

Our other junior teams start their season this weekend and can’t wait to be back playing matches.

Our Junior teams in the South Manchester Girls’ League had a good start to the new year.

Our Under-12s won against Ashton-on-Mersey. The Under13s won 5-1 against Altrincham Ravens, a great result as they have moved up a division during the break, and our Under-16 Hatters drew 0-0 with Stockport Cosmos.

Our other Under-16s team play in the Cheshire Girls’ League and had no fixture scheduled,

No games for the Development or Under-18s this weekend but the First Team had arranged a friendly against Huddersfield Town, promotion contenders from the division above in the FAWNL. This was always going to be a tough test for a first match back after a three-month lay-off and unfortunately things didn’t go our way.

A promising first thirty minutes saw County give a good account of themselves, causing the opposition defence problems, but failing to put away several good chances. After that the tide turned and we were 5-0 down at half-time. The second half saw an improvement with goals from Sophie Charlton and Ellise Newby, but Huddersfield added another three. The final 8-2 scoreline didn’t really reflect the game and manager Ronnie Green will take a lot of positives into this weekend’s friendly with Durham Cestria.

Ellise Newby

Sophie Charlton (pic: Mike Petch)

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.

25

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

Noel 07768 912698 Sam 07985 424649 Steve 07866 801712

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

Kids Allowed are now part of the Kids Planet Group

kidsplanetnurseries.co.uk

SAFE & SECURE SOLUTIONS A Full Security and Facilities Management Company

‘One call does all’ Safe and Secure Solutions is a full security and facilities management company offering the following services to both domestic and commercial premises: Security and safety services • Alarm response and key holding • 24 hour CCTV and Intruder Alarm monitoring • Mobile patrols • Manned guarding Security engineering services • CCTV systems • Intruder alarms • Panic alarm systems • Smoke generation systems • Door access controls • Fire alarms and emergency lighting • Roller shutters design and installation • Security Grilles • All types of security fencing supplied and fitted • Security lighting

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

The Mad Hatter’s Quiz with Paul Dean

TRIVIA

WHO AM I?

1. With which team did Ian Culverhouse win a UEFA Cup winner’s medal in 1984?

2. Which King’s Lynn Town footballing legend held the record for playing 1,152 times for a team without receiving a single booking?

3. Who was the last Welshman to be the English top-flight leading goalscorer?

4. From which club did Chelsea sign Gianfranco Zola?

5. With which club did Patrick Bamford start his career?

6. For which two London clubs did Harry Kane have loan spells?

7. How much did the Hatters pay for Ian Moore from Nottingham Forest?

8. Which Swedish club did Alex Reid play for?

H C E Y I Z M I K A H S L E C T T Q U D

C H M S Q J N J U B H I S O L J N Y S A

R Q T H T O M I T S I J U Z H J X Y F N

S F B V T R V F H B B R O V V F N M B I

C X N J U D E Y X F T A U T Y L U G R E

H W W Y V I N A L O L G E X M D M V H L

U A R J L A L U I S S U A R E Z X W V A

E O S N O L A S Q N F M N D Q U O E Y L

Q U P D G B J L I D E L E A L L I M Y V

J X Q U A A S D A J X O H Y Q Q T O I E

V D Z I Z C O F A C H I O X H P K J I S

E W A F P G E M N N A R F K C Z C V X R

H E P V O D I M I Z A Z Z W C Q P A B E

A X A G I E R T B H J Q E K S L S M C L

B J E X V D U A T Z X H H T B J I V Q X

J I J A L O D C R F Q D M R T I K A S A

D T R E M N P E T E W A X Z Q E Z J R R

S D T U Z N R G G R G A H Y Q F C I Q D

Y K B M T H E C T E L Q M U S K T M T N

X K R R U T T A S X A O Z N T R G O O M

Answers:

ALONSO COURTOIS DANIEL ALVES DAVID DE GEA DELE ALLI DIEGO GODIN DRAXLER GERARD PIQUE HAKIM ZIYECH JAMIE VARDY JORDI ALBA LACAZETTE LUIS SUAREZ MOUTINHO

Who Am I? Jonny Price

WORDSEARCH

Trivia 1: Tottenham Hotspur 2: Mick Wright 3: Ian Rush 4: Parma 5: Nottingham Forest 6. Leyton Orient & Millwall 7. £800,000 8. Ange IF

I’m a former Hatter signed from Burnley in 1965 and I had two spells for County.

27

GAME CHANGER footballfoundation.org.uk

LIAM HOGAN

Steve Bellis Nobby, Bargain Hunt, and Invisible Ink! I was looking forward to a rarebit of Welsh hospitality on Saturday but sadly it wasn’t to be. We usually receive a warm welcome at the Racecourse Ground and it seemed fitting to be there on Grand National Day but Wrexham are certainly keen on clearing all the hurdles when it comes to Covid regulations.

When the welcoming e-mail says bring your own drinks and snacks you know that the hospitality will be of the non-existent variety.

However, I am not complaining (well I am, but I don’t want to appear ungrateful). I understand just how lucky I am to be able to represent the club at such fixtures especially as I looked longingly to my right from the Directors’ Box. It was there that a magnificent County following cheered the team on to a 2-1 victory on the last day of August 2019. On that afternoon I looked on in some envy at our hordes clearly enjoying our victory over our long-term Welsh rivals. You can’t really rip your shirt off and swirl it round your head in the Directors’ Box and start singing Nob Nob Nobby.

Rooney made no mistake putting the game beyond Wrexham’s reach.

It was a terrific win and hugely important given the other results on the way home. We navigated the one-way system out of the ground with huge smiles on our faces but of course remained polite and professional to our hosts.

I turned the radio on during the journey home and I was distressed to hear about the death of one of our country’s most notable and popular individuals.

Yes, Nikki Grahame had died from anorexia leaving millions of Big Brother fans with their heads between their knees in sorrow.

To make matters worse we also learned of the passing of the Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Phillip.

Whether you are a Royalist or not it is difficult to ignore the contribution that the Duke has made to our country.

He has stood by our Queen for over 70 years undoubtedly being there for her when she needed support.

To be honest we didn’t start well and were second best for the first ten minutes but after Alex Reid had taken advantage of hesitancy in the Wrexham box we were always in the ascendancy.

Reidy grabbed his second before half-time and we were all smiles as we were directed through a bizarre one-way system to the toilets which we didn’t actually need having had no hospitality.

However, we had a plan and did a detour to our team coach where Adam (our team coach driver/ owner) had our half-time coffees waiting.

The second half started rather cautiously but when we were awarded a richly deserved penalty following a hack on Macca in the box, John 30

Interrupting Bargain Hunt was sacrilegious

He was also ahead of his time in terms of youth provision and his Duke of Edinburgh awards made a huge impact on young people around the world.

Actually, I was intending to do the D of E awards next year but there’s probably not much point now.

The Duke certainly deserves recognition but I can’t help thinking that the TV/radio coverage was a little over the top.

Let’s face it, at 99 he was always teetering on the brink but obviously no-one likes seeing family members pass.

He had his moments did Prince Philip but he always saw the positivity in any situation.

The decision by the BBC to broadcast the same footage on BBC One and Two was however a tad bizarre. They even interrupted Bargain Hunt on Friday which was downright sacrilegious.

To not hear how much ‘left over lolly’ each pairing had ruined my Friday and weekend.

Other than cheering the lads on to victory on Saturday I actually spent most of the weekend looking forward to Monday.

Yes, Monday was the day when we could get a pint at a pub again. I even went to bed early on Sunday to make sure I was well prepared.

I had booked my table at the Spinners in Bollington of course. I didn’t want to appear too keen so I booked it for 12:30 rather than 12:00 when it opened.

I was so excited I had to take a picture of my pint

I didn’t realise how much I had missed those little P-wave mats in the urinals and it felt great to be reacquainted with them. I’ll have to stop talking about that now as I’m getting emotional.

Anyway, back to tonight and we extend a warm welcome to our friends from King’s Lynn which is a long way away.

The weather was unusually kind and when the sun appeared out of the clouds it felt great.

It is the Linnets’ first-ever league match at Edgeley Park and we sincerely hope they enjoy most of their evening with us.

I was so happy to be out with friends in a pub beer garden that I even took a picture of my pint.

They have certainly pulled off some good results in recent weeks and we will need to be at our best if we are to secure all three points.

Yes, strangely it was going to the toilet that gave me the greatest pleasure, not just in terms of relief but because it meant actually going inside the pub which felt really naughty.

We wish them a safe journey home and look forward to visiting them in a fortnight at The Walks.

Invisible Ink... how do you know when it runs out?

Finally, have you ever wondered how you know when invisible ink runs out?

31

Opposition View Jamie Heaphey gives us his thoughts in this evening’s visiting view from King’s Lynn Town.

How do you assess King’s Lynn Town’s season so far?

As expected, it’s been difficult.

We’ve had some heavy defeats early on but as the season has gone on we’ve got better.

Although we’ve still lost games, we’ve been in them for the majority of the game and it’s been the silly mistakes that have cost us. The squad is very different now to the start of the season due to players being furloughed, but it seems to have galvanised the club and the last couple of performances have been good.

What have been the highlights of your season so far?

In the league, the first win of the season which was a last-minute winner at Maidenhead, and also the 2-2 draw at Notts County where another last-minute goal gave us a share of the points.

We have to look at the win over Port Vale at their ground in the FA Cup as the main highlight.

We have to look at the win over Port Vale at their ground in the FA Cup as the main highlight 32

King’s Lynn knocked Port Vale out of the FA Cup

Who are the King’s Lynn Town players to watch this evening?

Kairo Mitchell is currently in good form, scoring five goals in seven games, and he also recently played for Grenada in a World Cup qualifier. Attacking midfielders Cameron King and Sonny Carey are in good form as well.

What are your thoughts on County?

I remember Stockport always being a good league club with the likes of Brett Angell and Kevin Francis playing for them.

I never thought Lynn would end up playing them in the league,

especially after we were wound up as a club in 2009. We probably shouldn’t be at this level, but it gives us the chance of testing ourselves against ex-league clubs.

Have you been to Edgeley Park before?

No, I’ve never been but it was on my ‘to go to’ list before the season started. If Stockport don’t go up then it’s on my list for next season.

What is your prediction for the game?

To be honest, Stockport should win, but we go there in decent form after two straight wins.

Therefore, I’ll be delighted with a point!

Terrace Talk After a comprehensive victory in North Wales against Wrexham on Saturday afternoon matters now turn to tonight’s clash against King’s Lynn Town at Edgeley Park for what will be the first of two fixtures against the Linnets over the next few weeks.

Ian Culverhouse’s side make the long journey from Norfolk to Edgeley Park tonight and in a fortnight from now Simon Rusk will take County on the reverse journey so it’s fair to say that the sides will know all about each other’s strengths and weaknesses come the end of April.

Whilst Bromley’s Michael Cheek and Boreham Wood’s Kabongo Tshimanga head the National League goalscoring charts, it is pleasing to see two County players also hot on their heels in the shape of Alex Reid and John Rooney.

Alex scored a first-half double in the 3-0 win over Wrexham to take his overall tally up to 13, whilst John’s second-half penalty saw him just behind that to register 12 for the season. If you include goals from the FA Cup run then both are now neck and neck with 17 for the season. Both will likely be having some friendly rivalry in the dressing room to see who can score the most goals come the end of May but either way it is all of benefit to the team going forward.

King’s Lynn suffered defeat to Chesterfield at the weekend due to conceding two goals within quick succession a quarter of an hour from time

Alex Reid took his league tally to 13 at the weekend

in a 2-1 loss, but prior to that they had ended March and started April by grabbing much needed wins over Eastleigh and Altrincham.

Former Leicester City reserve Kairo Mitchell netted twice against Alty late on and the Grenada international is a player to watch for Town as he has shown he is good for a goal in recent times with five goals from the last seven games. Also on the scoresheet recently have been youngster Michael Gyasi and the evergreen 34-year old Canadian Simeon Jackson, who

netted his first goal for King’s Lynn after an extensive EFL career which saw him represent ten league clubs, play in the Premier League for Norwich City and also have spells in Scotland and Germany.

Finally, last week saw The Hatters manage to secure both Sam Minihan and Jordan Keane to new contracts until 2023. Both have contributed heavily to County’s success in recent times and it is excellent news that Simon and the board have managed to persuade them that their futures lie here at Edgeley Park.

33

The County Years

1912

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

Opening game There were 12,000 inside Edgeley Park as County welcomed Derby County on Monday 1st January 1912.

County: Billy McIver, William Froehlich, Fred Houghton, Jack Rourke, Harry Beech, Jimmy Hindmarsh, Tommy Charlton, Billy Devlin, Fred Smith, Jimmy Lomax, Dick O’Brien.

The Hatters fans in that crowd certainly had an enjoyable New Year’s Day at least from a football perspective. Dick O’Brien put the hosts in front on 11 minutes. The scores stayed that way until soon Dick O’Brien after half-time when Jimmy Lomax got in on the action. He scored again on 55 minutes and Fred Smith completed the scoring as the final whistle neared, to give a 4-0 victory against Jimmy Lomax a side that would end the season as Champions and included the renowned Steve Bloomer. Sadly, the result still left the Hatters in 18th place.

34

First debutant Winger George Trotter (SCAN 188) had been signed from Blyth Spartans back in May, and finally broke into the first team for the match at Hull City on 24th February. He made two more appearances that season, and, although transfer listed in May went on to add 14 more, scoring once in 1912-13 before leaving for destinations unknown.

Summer business County improved over the remaining months of the 1911-12 season to a 16th-placed finish.

Leaving the club were Lomax and Rourke (who both joined Nelson), Devlin (Cardiff City), Joe Norton (Atherstone Town), David Melville (York City) and Robert Russell (untraced).

Signing on during the summer were future Scan recipients full-back Stephen Fagan (Bristol City), half-backs James Blair (Bradford City), Fred Garrett (Notts County), Harold Tattersall (Haslingden) and Bill Chivers (Hindley Central). New forwards were Tom Bryden (Wallsend), Harry Crossthwaite (Heywood United) and Chester’s top scorer Lol Cook.

Closing game & last debutant We finished the year with a trip to Lincoln.

Harry Crossthwaite

County: McIver, Ralph Goodwin, Fagan, Tattersall, Garrett, Blair, Crossthwaite, Rodgers, Chivers, Charlton, O’Brien.

Norman Rodgers and Tom Charlton scored for County but they were to suffer defeat. The Imps scored three times, George Barrell notching a brace and Ranji Hubbard also scoring, the result completing Norman Rodgers a run of three consecutive League reverses following the game mentioned at the end of this article.

Crossthwaite finally made his Hatters debut in this match. He would stay with the club until March 1920 when he was sold to Stoke City for £1,250 having scored 13 in 30 games that season.

Most apps in calendar year Billy McIver 41 (max 42), Ralph Goodwin 39, Tom Charlton and Norman Rodgers 37 each.

Most goals in calendar year Norman Rodgers 17, Tom Charlton 12, Fred Smith 10 (only nine different scorers)

Billy McIver

Worst run 10 without a win (13th April to 28th September) D4 L6 Best run 5 games unbeaten (3rd February to 2nd March) W4 D1

Fred Smith completed the scoring as the final whistle neared, to give a 4-0 victory against a side that would end the season as Champions...

The man in charge Harry Lewis was a Yorkshire man born in Rotherham where he played for and was Director of the Town club. After 15 years with the Sheffield and Hallamshire FA, Harry Lewis County appointed the former referee as Fred Stewart’s replacement as Secretary Manager in June 1911. After a difficult second season when County had to survive re-election his players climbed to 12th place but the temptation to return to his home county proved too much and he left on 6th April 1914 to take on the manager’s job at Barnsley.

And finally...

This was the only year in which County previously faced a King’s Lynn team. That game came on 14th December, when they travelled for a Fifth Qualifying Round FA Cup tie. League clubs were not guaranteed exemption until the competition proper in those days. The away side led 3-1 at half time and eventually went through 7-2 with goals from Lol Cook 2, Norman Rodgers 2, Fred Garrett, Tom Charlton, and an own goal from Allen.

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

35

WREXHAM

0

STOCKPORT COUNTY

3

-

Reid 14’, 26’, Rooney (p) 70’

Saturday 10th April | Vanarama National League | The Racecourse Ground

A first-half double by Alex Reid set County on the way to a superb 3-0 win at Wrexham in the National League, as The Hatters extended their unbeaten run to eight games with a resounding three points at the Racecourse.

Following Monday’s frustrating draw with Bromley at Edgeley Park, John Rooney added to Reid’s brace in the second half to seal a big victory on the road for County, who solidified their position in the play-offs.

37

Sam Byrne Saturday’s comfortable win at play-off chasing Wrexham was a real statement of intent by Simon Rusk and County with regards to the National League run-in - and it was a victory which got me thinking about just how far The Hatters have come in a short space of time.

To clarify, that’s not referring to how far the team has come this footballing season, but rather how far the club has come in the last calendar year.

If I can somehow say this in the least arrogant way possible, we as County fans seem to now view the vast majority of fixtures in this division as an expected three points, regardless of the standing, stature or form of the opposition.

Of course, that point of view is certainly understandable and natural given Mark Stott’s incredible investment into the club over the past twelve-plus months - but it’s definitely a point of

Whether it’s this season or not (and make no mistake, it’s still all up for grabs this season with ten games left to play), it now seems a matter of ‘when’ and not ‘if’ for The Hatters 38

view which hits home when you consider that The Hatters go to the home of a fellow former Football League club, one which has been vying for a return to League Two for a number of years now, and ease to such a win.

There was an awful lot of feedback from Wrexham supporters over the weekend that County are at the sort of level as a club and a team that the Welshmen should be aiming to emulate in their mission to return to the EFL. Obviously no job is ever complete until the trophy is being lifted, but hearing those sorts of comments from opposition supporters of a club a similar size and heritage to County really made me ponder on how far the club has come.

Checking over my notes during my time covering the club, I read that five years ago this week, we were playing out a late 3-2 win at mid-table Worcester City (with nothing to play for ourselves) before a 2-2 draw with already-relegated Corby Town at Edgeley Park in the National League North.

Now none of this column is to suggest that supporters fall over themselves to rejoice at every single thing that goes on around Edgeley Park from here on out just because we’re no longer losing at Vauxhall Motors or Stalybridge Celtic, but rather that it’s easy to get lost in the heat of particular moments in a season without ever pausing to take stock of the bigger picture.

Saturday’s comfortable win at Wrexham showed how far County have come

That bigger picture for me is that County will return to the Football League sooner rather than later on this current trajectory.

Whether it’s this season or not (and make no mistake, it’s still all up for grabs this season with ten games left to play), it now seems a matter of ‘when’ and not ‘if’ for The Hatters.

Yes, nothing is guaranteed even when backed as superbly as County have been by Mark Stott and company - but compare that notion of ‘when, not in’ to even eighteen months ago, when our first season back in this division was seen as one of consolidation, and fixtures against the vast majority of sides in the league at the time were seen as ones that could genuinely go either way, and the difference is stark.

Of course there are always decisions made with regards to the team on the pitch which football fans will agree and disagree with, but generally speaking, it is a genuinely refreshing feeling as a County fan to have real hope for the future after years of decline and half-measures.

It is a genuinely refreshing feeling as a County fan to have real hope for the future after years of decline and half-measures One thing that looks certain for County in 2021 is that there are no half-measures - and given that Simon Rusk’s men are in the midst of an eightgame unbeaten run and looking like timing their run of form to perfection, who could possibly rule out a return to where we belong (with fans back in attendance to boot!) come the end of this most bizarre of seasons?

Enjoy the game!

39

Physio

Luke Smith Good evening everyone.

This week we had Adam Thomas complete his return-to-play session and will see him return to first-team training this week.

Connor has been working hard in the gym and on the field to keep himself as fit as possible. We are currently waiting on further updates from the specialists dealing with his current issue. Finally, Mark Kitching has shown some progress but we have no return date as of yet as we are still working hard in the gym to improve his mobility, reduce any pain symptoms, and build his strength and fitness levels back up. He has been extremely professional throughout his injury and has kept positive at every stage.

Enjoy the game, Luke

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

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

Treatment Injury Assessment and Treatment

£40

Sports Massage 1 Hour

£40

Sports Massage 1/2 Hour

£25

Sports Massage Home Visit

£30

41

SNAPPED! With you all the way CJ!

42

43

Thank you to our NHS

LOOKING FOR AN INSURANCE BROKER YOU CAN TRUST? Let us show you what our team can do!

FCA Registration number 309053

BESPOKE SOLUTIONS

We help our clients find the right policy for the right price

Transport

Credit Insurance

Commercial

Motor Trade

High Net worth

Risk Management

Healthcare Insurance

Employee Benefits

CONTACT US TO FIND YOUR TAILORED INSURANCE SOLUTION info@cc-insure.com

0161 406 4800

Official Club Sponsor

Supporters’ Co-operative Previously via the County programme, we have indicated that the Supporters’ Co-operative were anxious to find out the views of the Stockport County fan base on a range of issues.

The decision was made, not to restrict our enquiries to our membership, but to seek the widest possible input as we look to represent County supporters in the post-Covid world.

If we are to represent those supporters effectively, we need to ascertain how they view us as an organisation, which direction they think we ought reasonably be going, and what our focus should be following the Club’s takeover by Mark Stott.

We need to know what values supporters hold dear and think we should be adhering to, and what we should be focusing on going forward.

We would obviously like to boost our membership and thus by doing so better represent the supporters to the Club. We are therefore asking how we might best achieve this, and what fans think is a reasonable level as far as membership fees are concerned.

In addition, we would like to know what personal benefits fans would look for from membership of the Supporters’ Co-operative, along with an indication as to how we can improve, but also word on any areas we might be doing well with!

Publication of our survey, covering all the above and more,

is imminent and may even have happened twixt this article’s submission and match-day.

We look forward to a good response.

Supporters can be sure that we will look to act on any issues raised, and we are offering a free Stockport County season ticket to one lucky participant in our survey, so make sure you take part!

Look out for the survey.

Meanwhile, members can check on their membership situation, and non-members join up here: webcollect.org.uk/coop/ subscription Thank you for your support.

45

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

COUNTY JUNIORS

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

Hello again and welcome back to another Tuesday night under the lights here at Edgeley Park. Tonight, we welcome our visitors King’s Lynn Town who have made the long trip across the country from Norfolk.

Mascots Our mascots for Tuesday night are brother and sister.

I hope you all enjoyed your Easter holiday, with most of you returning to school yesterday. It must seem a strange school year for most of you up until now.

By now we will have played three matches since our last programme notes. On Good Friday, we were away at Aldershot, a ground where we had never won. Thank goodness that run was broken as we came away with a 2-1 victory, a great result. It was just a pity the teams around us managed to score late goals to keep their places in the table. Easter Monday saw us back here at Edgeley Park for our BT televised match with Bromley, and a disappointing 0-0 draw. Like our game with Hartlepool we had our chances but the ball would just not go into the net.

That’s all for tonight.

Charlie is 10 years old and goes to Banks Lane Junior School. Charlie has been a season ticket holder since he was three and loves going to away games. He plays for Offerton Park Under-11s and his favourite player is Adam Thomas.

Lyla is 7 years old and she goes to Banks Lane Infant School. She has had a season ticket since she was four. Lyla also attends Offerton Park FC academy for girls and her favourite player is Sam Minihan.

Ian Butterworth 47

All Past Players Following on from the successful All Past Opponents feature that has run over the last few seasons, we begin our All Past Players series which profiles the men who have worn the County shirts of various colours over the years.

The basis of these articles will be the years of research done by those who were or have been official or unofficial historians of the club. Starting back in the 1960s with Simon Myers, through Peter Freeman and Richard Harnwell and on to Marcus Heap and Ian Watts. These researches eventually led to Peter’s books and then to the Stockport County Appearance Number (SCAN) scheme.

BILLY MATTHEWS A tall centre-half, standing over 6ft, Billy stayed with County for just five months, half of that being in the summer.

His senior career started with Liverpool in WW1 but he arrived at the Hatters via Bristol City, Wrexham, Northwich Victoria, Barrow and Bradford (Park Avenue).

Competition was too stiff for Billy and he played just four times before moving on to New Brighton in October.

Billy Matthews

JOE TAYLOR Joe was signed from fellow Cheshire side New Brighton in exchange for Matthews. His time with County was far more productive staying for six years before switching to Chesterfield.

He had to wait a couple of weeks for his debut that came in a 6-0 win against Barrow, but the player who would now be regarded as a midfielder went on to figure in 90 senior competitive games and contributed 12 goals.

48

Joe Taylor

FRED SMITH Fred was born in Buxton and started his career playing in the Manchester League before signing for a fledgling Wigan Town in December 1905.

His professional career began in 1906 during which he played League football for County and Derby County before giving up playing full-time to concentrate on his job as a motor mechanic in Macclesfield.

EDDIE LLOYD Born in Oldham, Lloyd was in his mid-20s when he joined County from the amateur ranks of Oldham Athletic. He made two first-team appearances in the last few games of the 1930/31 season, but was a first-team regular for the Hatters for two seasons ahead of his move to Hull City.

Lloyd joined Carlisle United in August 1935 and was an ever-present in the League for the Cumbrians during 1935/36. However, he appears to have stopped playing in the 1936 close season. He later moved to North Wales and died in Aberconwy towards the end of 1976.

Player

Debut

Signed From

Tom Curry

19.01.1929

Newcastle U

Syd Waites

19.01.1929

Halifax T

Frank Hudspeth

26.01.1929

Newcastle U

William Morrison

26.01.1929

Caernarfon T

John Pennington

02.02.1929

Halifax T

Eddie Vincent

30.03.1929

Prudhoe U

Cecil Turner

01.04.1929

Middlesbrough

Andy Lincoln

31.08.1929

Northampton T

Billy Richardson

21.09.1929

Bury

Arthur Seabrook

05.10.1929

Crewe Alex

Harry Cooper

26.10.1929

Lancaster T

Charlie Gee

26.10.1929

Reddish Green Weslyians

Jack Marshall

15.02.1930

Liverpool

Jimmy McGann

15.02.1930

Wilmslow

Len Butt

19.02.1930

Witton A

Norman Brown

22.03.1930

Huddersfield T ?

Albert Lambourne

03.05.1930

Linotype Works

Bert Garner

30.08.1930

Leicester C

Reg Keating

30.08.1930

Scarborough

Billy Matthews

30.08.1930

Bradford (PA)

Harvey Simmons

30.08.1930

Scunthorpe & Lindsey U

Norman Beedles

01.09.1930

Altrincham

Cyril Matthews

06.09.1930

Notts Co

Billy Webster

13.09.1930

Usworth Colliery

Billy Brown

15.09.1930

Fulham

Matthew Rathbone

27.09.1930

Junior

Norman Gowland

01.11.1930

Middlesbrough

Joe Taylor

08.11.1930

New Brighton

Jack Fantham

21.02.1931

Manchester Cen ?

Walter Horsfall

21.02.1931

Didsbury U

Eddie Lloyd

21.02.1931

Brunswick Weslyians

Harold Johnson

28.03.1931

Junior ex-Corpus Christie

Jack Barber

29.08.1931

Rochdale

Tommy Gale

29.08.1931

Barnsley

Bill Inglis

29.08.1931

Exeter C

Fred Jenkinson

29.08.1931

Intake WMC

Arthur Nelson

29.08.1931

Notts Co

Bob Shanks

29.08.1931

Exeter C

Fred Smith

29.08.1931

Chadderton

Bill Burns

05.09.1931

Stoke C

Sam Jennings

12.09.1931

Port Vale

Samuel Hooley

19.09.1931

New Mills

Webster Swift

03.10.1931

Wombwell

George Farrow

25.12.1931

Whitburn

Freddie Howe

26.12.1931

Hyde U ?

Bill Rigby

26.12.1931

Wigan Bor

49

County Heaven Hatter in Macc writes: Evening, everyone - and greetings from Edgeley Park for our first-ever contest with King’s Lynn Town.

On one level, it is hardly a surprise that we have never met before with the ‘Linnets’, in their current guise, being the National League’s youngest club at a tender 11 years old, and with our respective trades having been plied at different levels until this term. That said, there have been a couple of false starts that prevented us from playing at The Walks before facing each other in SK3.

The most recent instance was, of course, just under three months ago, when a frozen pitch in Lynn saw our inaugural NL fixture there postponed until later in April. And eight Januarys prior to that, the Hatters missed out on a Third Round FA Trophy-tie at The Walks by fluffing their lines in a replay against Southport after the draw had been made.

County did once appear at The Walks in the FA Cup and against the now-defunct King’s Lynn FC - albeit way, way back in late 1912, when a 7-2 victory took us through the qualifying stages to earn a plum draw (but, alas, suffer a heavy 5-1 defeat) at Everton.

By contrast, we have faced Wrexham over 100 times in all 50

competitions. Our 113th meeting on Saturday was far from unlucky for us, either, as a fine three-goal victory not only achieved a ‘double’ over the ‘Red Dragons’, but also saw a return to winning ways after Easter Monday’s disappointing stalemate here against the ‘Ravens’ of Bromley.

in the introduction. Yes, the link between the five players – MIKEl Arteta, CHARLIE Adam, VICTOR Moses, PAPA Bouba Diop and OSCAR – was that their names all contained letters of the phonetic alphabet. See, its easy when you spot the little hints I leave lying around!

For this, our third successive match against clubs who take their nicknames from winged creatures, we can hopefully carry on where we left off against the mythical ones in North Wales rather than those known as guardians of the Tower of London!

Elsewhere, Maccy also had a good start to April’s Prediction League, as he is currently joint-top of his own competition (cohosted with Archie) alongside MarketHarborough, whereas in the County Prediction Competition run

by Ceefer, it’s… oh, Maccy is top of that one as well.

But so much for tonight’s visitors.

Time now for me to be cal-Lynn on my esteemed co-contributor to be tel-Lynn you about things Heavenly. What’s befall-Lynn, Sandy?

Sandbach Hatter writes: Ah, Maccy, ever the cunning Lynn-guist!

Over at County Heaven my latest quiz has recently concluded – and it was the bloke I find on top of me every other home match (I’m on top of him for the others), Maccy, who came out victorious, after fighting off the competition for the past five weeks. I suspect his win had a lot to do with noticing my clue to the link on the opening day, when I used the word ‘Bravo’

Thank goodness for the Limerick Lounge then, where our last two winners (for the games against Bromley and Aldershot) were Epworth and… oh, for Heaven’s sake… Maccy! He might as well change his name to Fort Knox, he’s had that much gold recently…

Before I go, I just wanted to make sure you all knew what I meant above, about Maccy and I being on top of one another at home games. You understood that I was only referring to our article, right?

And, on that bombshell, enjoy the match.

Animo et Fide. www.countyheaven.com

Strawberry Radio Jon Keighren

County’s purple patch under Simon Rusk continued on Saturday with a stunning 3-0 win away to Wrexham, to cap an eight-game unbeaten run.

Here at Edgeley Park it’s also eight unbeaten for the Hatters, with just two goals conceded across the last eight home games, keeping County firmly in the promotion race.

This evening, our joint top scorers Alex Reid and John Rooney will hope they can continue their rich veins of form in County’s first-ever league meeting against our friends from King’s Lynn Town.

Whilst Stockport County owner Mark Stott has been spending big in his ambitious bid to return County to the Football League, the Covid pandemic has decimated our visitors from Norfolk.

Chairman Stephen Cleeve has been a vocal critic of the authorities for forcing the part-timers to see out the current season behind closed doors. But to his credit, he has been creative in handling the crisis.

Rather than shutting the doors like Dover Athletic, and being hit with hefty fines as a result, the Linnets have opted to furlough half a dozen first teamers and relied largely on youngsters and loans simply to finish the campaign.

Cleeve says they feel like they’ve got ‘a gun at their heads’ to force them to complete the fixtures – but ironically, there has been an upturn in form since clearing the decks, with King’s Lynn winning two of

Saturday’s 3-0 win capped an eight-game unbeaten run

their last three. However, they came unstuck on Saturday, losing narrowly 2-1 at home to promotion hopefuls Chesterfield, despite having the lead at half-time.

This week saw the departures of their top scorer Adam Marriott and star midfielder Kairo Mitchell, tying the hands of manager Ian Culverhouse even further, but the former Norwich City legend must still be encouraged by the grit and dedication shown by his remaining threadbare squad.

Culverhouse has done a tremendous job since taking over at The Walks, leading his side to back-to-back promotions in the last two seasons. Although King’s Lynn start the day third from bottom, with the threat of relegation lifted, the Linnets can be

forgiven for looking ahead to next season already.

So the big question - can County still win the title? I genuinely believe we are the best team in this division, with the best management team and the best infrastructure. We just have to keep doing what we’re doing, keep going for wins in the remaining ten games. If we forget about everyone else and just concentrate on ourselves, we can still do this.

As a famous astronaut once said, “If we shoot for the moon and miss, at least we’ll land among the stars” - and if we can secure second or third place, that would be a huge advantage in the playoffs. But don’t rule Simon Rusk’s men out of top spot just yet.

I hope you enjoy tonight’s live stream.

Payroll and Accounting QED suite powering the UK’s flexible workforce market.

Call today on 0161 925 6162 for a friendly chat about your accounting needs or visit www.mydigitalaccounts.com

51

Oshor Williams Watching the news last night, I had to check the date to make sure I hadn’t been transported back in time to VE Day 1945. In London, drunken revellers spilled onto the streets of Soho and the West End to celebrate the lifting of COVID-19 restrictions in England.

Unlike the German surrender which ended the Second World War, reports of a coronavirus capitulation in the face of the successful vaccine roll-out may be premature and it is important for us to remain committed to the wider measures which have protected most people from this awful pandemic over the last year.

However, it would be churlish not to feel optimistic following yesterday’s partial lifting of restrictions which saw people pouring into shopping centres nationwide to indulge in some long-awaited retail therapy and the joys of mass human interaction.

When I speak to almost any player who has transitioned out of the game, the thing they miss the most is the camaraderie and the ‘banter’. Dressing rooms can genuinely be places of uproarious hilarity 52

For football too it may herald a roadmap to the welcome return of fans subject to the outcome of a government pilot using enhanced testing and reduced social distancing measures. And it will be great for the players to return to the dressing room for the daily communal congregation which has been denied them during the COVID era. The dressing room dynamic is critical to team cohesion and effectiveness and it is amazing how those daily periods of pre-training assembly and post-training disassembly set the tone and identity of the squad.

A good dressing room is no guarantee of success, but it can provide a team with one of those crucial marginal gains which can be the difference between success and failure. A dressing room with a toxic atmosphere is a recipe for disaster and I have never known an unhappy or disunited dressing room achieve anything, irrespective of the talented individuals involved.

When I speak to almost any player who has transitioned out of the game, the thing they miss the most is the camaraderie and the ‘banter’.

Dressing rooms can genuinely be places of uproarious hilarity. Understandable given the diverse cast of characters which populate the world of football. Few remain at the same club throughout their careers unlike County stalwarts such as Sword, Thorpe and Rutter, whom I wrote about in the last programme. Most players outside of the top flight are resigned to the fact that they will change club every two years and

The essential dressing room ingredients remain the same - let’s hope that County’s mix can cook up something special!

that has created a vast community of footballing ‘itinerants’ who move from club to club forming new friendships and acquaintances, bringing a fresh injection of vitality and personality to both the team and the dressing room.

However, like a recipe handed down from generation to generation, despite a few variations the essential dressing room ingredients remain the same. There’s the joker, the person who is always looking for some fun. They are vital to any dressing room because they break the monotony and ensure that no two days are quite the same. Unfortunately, one man’s fun is another man’s underpants smeared with ‘Deep Heat’ or ‘Tiger Balm’ and I have seen some pranks go too far. But the ability to send squad members out to training with a smile on their faces cannot be underestimated. As well as the joker, every dressing room has a leader, usually, but not always, the captain. A good dressing room leader is well respected, is often one of the more senior squad members and a definitive role model to the younger players. Invariably

they are trusted not only by their team-mates but also by the management team and will frequently liaise between the two in the interests of maintaining harmony within the squad. There’s always an organiser who arranges all the squad ‘entertainment’ whether it be the Christmas night out, special celebrations or, as in my day, the endof-season trip abroad. These three key ingredients form the core elements of the basic dressing room recipe, but there are numerous additional options to the mix. These may include the deep thinker, the fashion victim, the DJ (in control of all the dressing room music), the naïve one or, quite frequently, the lovably crazy one.

So, dear reader, although not definitive this is just one of many recipes for an effective and harmonious dressing room. Let’s hope that County’s own special mix can cook up something special for us over the final weeks of the season.

Enjoy the game.

Osh 53

The power to engage and connect through Digital Solutions

Unit 5, Hamilton Road, S Park Business Park, Stockport SK1 2AE. info@pioneergroup.co.uk Main partner of Stockport County FC

Wilmslow Road, Didsbury, Manchester, M20 5WZ Tel: 0161 971 7000 Email: hello@waterside-hotel.co.uk

Deadly Duos Steven Davies

Danny Rowe & Danny Hattersley Today’s page could easily be called something like “The tale of the two Dannys,” as the deadly duo I am going to write about is Danny Hattersley and Danny Rowe. Both scored a fair few goals whilst wearing a County shirt circa 2011/12, which to be fair was not the greatest of times to be a Hatters fan.

Danny Hattersley was only 19 years old when he was signed

by County after catching our eye with an impressive run at Lancaster City, where his 23 goals before March had made him a target for a few teams.

started the 2012/13 season in County colours.

Making his debut against Southport with only eight games left that season Danny went on to score a very impressive six goals in eight and was quickly a player that had the fans’ attention.

In the opening game against Alfreton, Hattersley scored the only goal in a 1-0 win and in the next game away to Grimsby Danny Rowe scored the first in what was to be a 2-1 win.

Although not signed on a permanent deal, Danny Rowe, who played for Fleetwood Town, came to County after a loan spell at Droylsden where he had hit the back of the net 11 times in 22 games.

Sadly, Rowe’s loan spell came to an end and he returned to Fleetwood after scoring three goals in five starts, finding himself more on the bench, Danny Hattersley scored 12 goals in 29 games before moving to Southport for an undisclosed fee.

During his time there he helped them win promotion to the National League by scoring 50 goals that season! This won him the League’s Player of the Year, Fylde’s Player of the Season, Goal of the Season, Golden Boot, and also Players’ Player of the Season.

One thing I do remember about Hattersley was that he was a very good striker and I always expected him to move to a league club. I also remember him knocking himself unconscious in a cup match when he tried an overhead kick that went slightly wrong!

His hunger for league football attracted League Two side Oldham who tempted him to put pen to paper, this was followed by another transfer in January just this year to League Two team Bradford City, where he is currently their top scorer as they fight for a play-off place.

Danny made his debut away to Gateshead before coming on as a sub to score in a 2-2 draw against Braintree. He then went on to score eight goals in his first 13 starts before the 2011/12 season finished.

Because of this Danny Rowe was kept on loan and both himself and Danny Hattersley

Spells at Halifax, Chester and Altrincham followed for Hattersley before leaving by mutual consent.

Danny Rowe, on the other hand, signed for Lincoln City before spending six very successful years at Fylde, scoring over 150 goals.

55

County Store

SHOP OUR RANGE ONLINE NOW

PADDED JACKET

HOODIE

FROM

£55.00

2020/21 HOME SHIRT

WATERPROOF RAIN JACKET

FROM

£27.95

FROM

27.95

StockportCounty.com/Store | Shop Online Now | Click & Collect Available

FROM

£35.00

Community Foundation scfcfoundation.com

@scfcfoundation

Stockport County Community Foundation

0161 286 8888 option 3

57

STOCKPORT COUNTY

0

BROMLEY

0

-

-

Monday 5th April | Vanarama National League | Edgeley Park

The Hatters completed their Easter weekend programme back in SK3, and before the television cameras, for the visit of Bromley.

Edgeley Park witnessed its fourth goalless stalemate of the campaign though, with Simon Rusk’s County unable to break down the 10th-placed Ravens.

58

59

Stockport CountyFC FC Stockport County Official Club Sponsors Official Club Sponsors

SPORTS KITS EQUIPMENT CLOTHING

Saving Businesses of Stockport Money

Saving Businesses of Stockport Money

SPORTS KITS EQUIPMENT CLOTHING

2020-21

CHE

Statistics Home L 3 2 4 2 6 5 3 4 4 6 4 7 7 6 4 6 6 6 4 9 7 12 0

F 27 31 25 17 25 24 26 22 18 27 18 21 17 25 19 24 15 29 19 22 23 8 0

A 14 12 14 10 15 11 18 12 12 26 17 23 16 21 12 20 18 26 14 27 27 32 0

W 6 9 9 9 6 8 7 6 5 6 6 6 6 5 3 4 5 2 3 2 3 1 0

D 7 5 3 3 5 2 4 3 5 4 6 3 5 4 4 4 2 4 2 4 1 3 0

Away L 4 2 4 5 2 6 6 7 5 4 4 7 8 5 9 8 9 11 10 9 10 10 0

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

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

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

A 17 14 17 16 12 18 19 21 19 16 17 21 26 19 22 29 23 40 21 22 33 40 0

W 18 18 18 15 15 16 14 13 12 12 10 12 11 11 11 11 10 9 8 8 7 3 0

D 10 9 6 10 7 3 8 8 11 10 14 5 8 7 6 6 7 6 8 6 6 5 0

Total L F 7 47 4 51 8 52 7 46 8 41 11 43 9 49 11 40 9 36 10 46 8 40 14 40 15 37 11 41 13 32 14 45 15 29 17 42 14 28 18 36 17 36 22 22 0 0

Total

0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 4

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

Subs

Goals

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

Subs

0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 18 7 3 2 0 4 0 0 6 3 2 1 7 4 1 2 21 3 0 1 0 0 0 0 3 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 33 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 30 0 1 2 0 0 0 0 14 3 2 1 16 5 2 2 22 3 1 5 15 2 2 1 6 1 1 2 21 1 1 5 24 8 0 3 5 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 21 2 2 1 27 5 13 4 25 1 12 2 1 1 0 0 12 7 1 0 0 0 0 0 11 0 0 1 2 3 3 1 3 10 1 1 11 1 1 0 6 9 0 1 0 - 49 38

F 20 20 27 29 16 19 23 18 18 19 22 19 20 16 13 21 14 13 9 14 13 14 0

A 31 26 31 26 27 29 37 33 31 42 34 44 42 40 34 49 41 66 35 49 60 72 0

GD 16 25 21 20 14 14 12 7 5 4 6 -4 -5 1 -2 -4 -12 -24 -7 -13 -24 -50 0

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

Cup

Goals

League Starts

Josh Barnes Nyal Bell Richie Bennett Louis Britton Harry Cardwell Will Collar Ryan Croasdale Alex Curran Sam Dalby Jordan Downing Ross Fitzsimons Harvey Gilmour Max Greenhalgh Ben Hinchliffe Jack Hinchy Liam Hogan Jack Hopkins Connor Jennings James Jennings Jordan Keane Mark Kitching Paddy Madden Lois Maynard Sam Minihan Elliot Newby Adam Owen Ash Palmer Alex Reid John Rooney Nathan Shaw Macauley Southam-Hales Finley Stanyer Jamie Stott Jack Stretton Adam Thomas Tom Walker Jordan Williams Own goals Total

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

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

Player Roll-Call

W 12 9 9 6 9 8 7 7 7 6 4 6 5 6 8 7 5 7 5 6 4 2 0

Starts

Promotion

P 35 31 32 32 30 30 31 32 32 32 32 31 34 29 30 31 32 32 30 32 30 30 0

Biggest Win

Goals

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

Subs

# 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 21 9 4 2 1 5 0 0 6 3 2 1 7 4 1 2 27 4 0 2 0 0 0 0 3 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 38 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 35 0 2 2 0 1 0 0 20 4 3 2 17 5 2 2 28 3 1 5 19 3 2 1 6 1 1 2 24 4 1 6 26 11 0 3 5 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 27 3 4 1 33 6 17 4 30 2 17 2 1 1 0 0 14 9 1 0 0 0 0 0 17 0 0 2 2 3 3 1 8 11 1 1 11 1 1 0 8 12 0 1 0 - 63 42

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

Most Goals

Highest Attendance Lowest Attendance Top Goalscorer

Pts 64 63 60 55 52 51 50 47 47 46 44 41 41 40 39 39 37 33 32 30 27 14 0

W W W D W L W W W W D D D W L L W L D D D L -

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

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 23rd January 2021 Wealdstone 3-4 Aldershot Town Saturday 26th December 2020 Torquay United 6-1 Yeovil Town 1,323 Tuesday 15th December 2020 Weymouth 2-3 Wrexham 337 Michael Cheek (Bromley) 17 = 13 Goals + 4 Penalties

Substitute Elliot Newby in action against Wrexham

# 1 2 22

National League Fair Play Team Stockport County 38 Boreham Wood 45 Yeovil Town 83

2 0 3

Pts 172 180 362

*Dover Athletic’s results for this season have been expunged for failing to meet fixture obligations, the player roll-call still includes our 3-0 win statistics against them Cut off dates for number of yellow cards in league matches only, cups are different: 5 = Following 23 fixtures, 10 = Following 37 fixtures, 15/20 = End of the season Automatic league suspension starts next match after an offence, automatic cup suspension starts next match after an offence in the same competition Yellow cards are specific to each competition, red cards apply across all competitions All details up to date as of Sunday 11th April 2021

61

Kit Sponsorship Ben

Sam

Hinchliffe

HOME

HOME

BEN WALKER

STOCKPORT TADPOLES

LEE THORNEYCROFT

A WAY

A WAY

A WAY

BENJI GRIGGS

LLOYD & DEAN CHADWICK

AVA RAE FELLOWES

02

Adam

03

John

Thomas

Bennett

HOME

HOME

ANDY BIRCHENOUGH

MATTHEW STANDING

JACOB THORP

A WAY

A WAY

A WAY

THE ITALIAN

CHARLIE AND HARRY JOHNSON

ADRIAN CAVILLE

08

Jamie

09

Jordan

Stott

ZANE PEAT

15

Macauley

Keane HOME

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

Finley

Gilmour

Stanyer

HOME

HOME

HOME

AVAILABLE

AVAILABLE

PHILL GREEN

A WAY

A WAY

A WAY

ADA ELIZABETH WALKER

AVAILABLE 22

Tom

AVAILABLE 23

Harry

Walker

Elliot

Cardwell

HOME

Newby

HOME

HOME

ANDY F & CATH H

AVAILABLE

RICK FLETCHER AND GEORGINA SCREATON

A WAY

A WAY

A WAY

AVAILABLE

RICK FLETCHER AND GEORGINA SCREATON

BEN WALKER

62

Richie

Rooney

HOME

07

29

Jennings

HOME

01

21

James

Minihan

30

31

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

Lois

Palmer

HOME

IAN DOOLEY

MAYNARD FAMILY

A WAY

A WAY

KEVIN AND SAM BOON

HJS JOINTING SERVICES LTD

05

Connor

Maynard

HOME

A WAY

£

MORTGAGES ・PROTECTION ・INVESTMENTS ・ pensions

06

Jordan

Jennings

ARNOLD GORSE

Mark

Williams

Kitching

HOME

HOME

HOME

LEE THORNEYCROFT

HELP THE HATTERS

KATE GLASS

A WAY

A WAY

A WAY

BIGSY BATT 10

GREENHILL 11

Ryan

Alex

Croasdale

18

14

Nyal

Reid

Bell

HOME

HOME

HOME

GARY KIMBER

MIKE WHORRALL

RAY JOHNSON

A WAY

A WAY

A WAY

AVA RAE FELLOWES

ASHLEIGH THORP

TOMMY ARMSTRONG

19

Ross

20

Jack

Fitzsimons

Will

Hinchy

HOME

Collar

HOME

HOME

AVAILABLE

AVAILABLE

BROWN & WILLIAMS

A WAY

A WAY

A WAY

AVAILABLE 26

AVAILABLE 27

AVAILABLE 28

Paddy

Madden HOME

BEN WALKER A WAY

34

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 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 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 Tue 27 King's Lynn Town May 2021 Sat 1 FC Halifax Town Mon 3 Wealdstone Sat 8 Dover Athletic Tue 11 Dagenham & Redbridge Sat 15 Torquay United Sat 22 Woking Sat 29 Yeovil Town

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 Keane Minihan Minihan Southam-Hales ¹

Jennings J Jennings J Williams Southam-Hales ¹ 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

NL FAC3 FAT4 NL NL NL

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

-

4 4 4 3

Hinchliffe Hinchliffe Barnes Hinchliffe Hinchliffe Hinchliffe

Southam-Hales ¹ Minihan 5 Southam-Hales ³ Minihan Keane Minihan

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

Maynard Maynard Maynard Maynard Maynard Maynard

Keane Keane Palmer 1 Keane Palmer Keane

Hogan Hogan Stott Hogan Hogan Hogan

Kitching Kitching Williams Kitching Kitching ¹ Kitching

H H H A A H H

NL NL NL NL NL NL NL

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

-

5 3 4 4 6 6 4

Hinchliffe Hinchliffe Hinchliffe Hinchliffe Hinchliffe Hinchliffe Hinchliffe

Minihan Southam-Hales Southam-Hales Southam-Hales Southam-Hales Minihan Minihan

Southam-Hales Stott Jennings J Stott Stott ¹ Jennings J Jennings J 1

Maynard ² Croasdale Maynard Maynard ³ Minihan Croasdale Croasdale

Keane Palmer Palmer Palmer Palmer Palmer Palmer

Hogan Hogan Hogan Hogan Hogan Hogan Hogan

Kitching ¹ Williams ¹ Williams Collar ² Collar ³ Walker ¹ Walker ²

A A H A H H

NL NL NL NL NL NL

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

-

4 4 5 4 4 4

Hinchliffe Hinchliffe Hinchliffe Hinchliffe Hinchliffe Hinchliffe

Minihan Minihan Minihan Minihan Minihan Minihan ³

Jennings J Jennings J Jennings J Jennings J 1 Jennings J Jennings J

Croasdale Maynard Maynard Maynard ³ Croasdale Croasdale

Palmer ³ Keane Keane Keane Palmer Palmer

Hogan Hogan Hogan 1 Hogan Keane Keane

Walker ² Walker 1 Walker ² Stretton ² Walker ² Shaw ¹

A H A H H A A

NL NL NL NL NL NL NL

2-1 0-0 3-0

-

4 4 4

Hinchliffe Hinchliffe Hinchliffe

Minihan Southam-Hales Southam-Hales

Jennings J Jennings J Jennings J

Croasdale Croasdale Croasdale

Palmer 1 Palmer Palmer

Hogan Hogan Hogan

Walker ³ Walker ² Walker

A H A H H H A

NL NL NL NL NL NL NL

C-C

-

Hinchliffe Hinchliffe Hinchliffe

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

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 Rooney 1 ² Gilmour Gilmour Gilmour

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

Britton ² Britton ² Britton Bennett Britton Bennett Britton ³

Rooney 1 Rooney 4 Croasdale Rooney Rooney 1 Rooney 1 ³

Bennett ³ Croasdale Bennett Bennett 1 ³ Bennett Croasdale

Croasdale Jennings C ² Jennings C ² Croasdale Jennings C Jennings C 1

Reid 1 ² Reid ¹ Thomas Reid 1 ¹ Reid ² Reid 1 ²

Barnes Barnes Hinchliffe Barnes Barnes Barnes

Minihan ¹ Hinchy 4 Minihan ² Jennings C ³ Minihan Palmer ³

Gilmour Gilmour Rooney Palmer Stott Stott

Williams ² Southam-Hales ² Hogan Williams ¹ Williams ¹ Williams ²

Thomas ³ Thomas ³ Reid ³ Thomas ² Croasdale ² Bennett ¹

Rooney Rooney Rooney Rooney Rooney Rooney Rooney ³

Croasdale Bennett Bennett Keane Bennett ² Dalby Dalby ¹

Jennings C Jennings C Walker ² Walker ¹ Gilmour Gilmour Gilmour

Reid ³ Reid 1 ² Reid ¹ Reid Reid Reid ² Reid 1

Barnes Barnes Barnes Barnes Barnes Barnes Barnes

Palmer ² Jennings J ² Stott Jennings J Jennings J ¹ Keane Keane ³

Stott Maynard Collar ¹ Williams ³ Williams ³ Collar ² Collar ²

Williams ¹ Minihan ¹ Minihan ² Minihan ² Maynard Maynard Cardwell ¹

Bennett ³ Thomas Keane Bennett ¹ Dalby ² Bennett ¹ Newby

Newby Rooney 2 ² Newby ³ Newby ¹ Newby ¹ Newby

Dalby ¹ Croasdale Croasdale Madden Madden ³ Madden 1

Collar Cardwell 1 ¹ Cardwell ¹ Croasdale Cardwell 1 Collar

Reid Reid ³ Reid Reid Collar 1 Reid ²

Barnes Barnes Barnes Barnes Barnes Barnes

Keane ² Newby ² Shaw Walker ² Shaw ² Walker

Maynard Collar Collar ² Collar Stretton Stretton ³

Cardwell ¹ Stretton 1 ¹ Stretton 1 ³ Southam-Hales ¹ Southam-Hales ³ Southam-Hales ¹

Bennett ³ Bennett ³ Madden ¹ Bennett ³ Reid 1 ¹ Cardwell ²

Stretton 1 ¹ Rooney Rooney 1 ²

Madden Madden Madden ¹

Cardwell Cardwell Cardwell ³

Collar ² Collar ¹ Reid 2

Fitzsimons Fitzsimons Fitzsimons

Newby Newby ¹ Newby ¹

Rooney ¹ Keane Maynard ²

Southam-Hales ² Reid ³ Minihan ² Reid Minihan ³ Collar

Stanyer

Hopkins

Williams ² Williams ³

Minihan Minihan ¹

Williams ³

Minihan ¹

Palmer 5 Kitching ¹

Bennett ¹ # Keane

65

National League News CHE

STERFIELD FC

The fiercely-contested battle for promotion took another intriguing turn at the weekend, with Hartlepool United reaching the summit of the league for the first time since the opening month of the season.

Pools defeated fellow contenders Notts County 2-0 to leapfrog Sutton, who weren’t in action on Saturday. Goals in each half ensured Hartlepool extended their unbeaten run to 14 games, though Sutton are blessed with four games in hand and only a onepoint deficit to make up.

It will be interesting to see how this latest plot twist affects Sutton, who are suddenly cast back in the role of the hunters again, albeit perhaps just temporarily. The U’s previously hunted down the seemingly unstoppable Torquay United when their form suddenly faltered and must surely feel confident of meting out the same treatment to Hartlepool over the coming weeks.

Like Pools, Sutton have a lengthy unbeaten run ongoing too, currently standing at 13 games, though they have drawn their last three, and face third-placed Torquay United tonight. What a game that could be!

For their part Torquay look to be back to their best, appropriately earning three ‘W’s’ from their recent games against Woking, Wrexham and Weymouth.

Talismanic striker Danny Wright made a goalscoring return from injury to secure the first of those wins and his return to fitness

66

has been integral to their upturn in form. The Gulls won just 7 of the 18 games Wright missed, relinquishing their grip on top spot in that time, though their title hopes remain alive, with three games in hand on Hartlepool and only four points separating the two teams.

Hartlepool aren’t in action tonight, so it’s a great opportunity for Sutton or Torquay to earn a vital victory and send out a statement of intent.

Of course, the result at Sutton’s Gander Green Lane will be of great interest to ourselves, Notts County, Chesterfield and Halifax too, who are all vying for the premier play-off places, with second and third spot guaranteeing a home tie in the play-off semi-finals.

We’re all somewhat reliant on those above dropping points, though equally Chesterfield, Halifax and County (our County) are all taking care of their own results impressively at the moment too.

Chesterfield have won nine of their last 12, including five straight wins, Halifax have won seven of their last ten and County are of course unbeaten in eight now, winning five.

Notts County’s form, meanwhile, is somewhat more patchy, with four wins, three draws and three losses from their last ten games.

Of course, they changed their manager within that time too, with new boss Ian Burchnall having won two and lost two of his four league games so far.

Burchnall might be new at Notts, though around the league three management teams all signed extended contracts to stay with their respective clubs recently.

Sutton staved off any potential suitors for their man of the moment, Matt Gray (who must surely be awarded Manager of the Season for the remarkable campaign he’s masterminded), signing him and assistant Jason Goodliffe up to new long-term contracts.

Elsewhere, Altrincham’s Phil Parkinson and Woking’s Alan Dowson also both committed their futures to their clubs, both signing full-time contracts as the two clubs begin the transition from previous part-time operations.

It’s an historic move for Altrincham, with Parkinson becoming their first ever full-time manager after 130 years of operating as a semiprofessional club. Quite an honour for Parkinson then, at one of the most esteemed of non-league clubs. It will be interesting to track our near neighbours’ progress in the coming years.

Rated Excellent On TrustPilot

Stockport County 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 10 11 12 14 15 16 17 18 19 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 34

Ben Hinchliffe Sam Minihan James Jennings Liam Hogan Ash Palmer Lois Maynard Adam Thomas John Rooney Connor Jennings Jordan Williams The Blue & White Army Mark Kitching Jamie Stott Jordan Keane Macauley Southam-Hales Ryan Croasdale Alex Reid Joshua Barnes Harvey Gilmour Finley Stanyer Jack Hopkins Adam Owen Ross Fitzsimons Jack Hinchy Will Collar Tom Walker Harry Cardwell Elliot Newby Paddy Madden

King’s Lynn Town [1357] [1359] [1397] [1395] [1372] [1394] [1373] [1400] [1339] [1404] [1398] [1380] [1370] [1401] [1402] [1399] [1407]

[1405] [1406] [1388] [1409] [1410] [1412]

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 12 14 15 17 18 20 21 22 23 24 25 28 29 30 31 33 35 37 38 39 40

Theo Richardson Aaron Jones Alex Brown Kyle Callan-McFadden Chris Smith Rory McAuley Michael Clunan Jordan Richards Michael Gash Michael Gyasi Ryan Jarvis Tai Fleming Cameron King Sam Kelly Dayle Southwell Archie Mair Ross Barrows Alex Kiwomya Sonny Carey Tyler Denton Alfie Payne Alex Babos Paul Bastock Simeon Jackson Florian Tsaguim Jak Hickman Ethan Coleman Elkan Baggott Rob Howard Joe Gascoigne

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

Tonight’s other Vanarama National League fixtures (7:45pm unless stated)

Dagenham & Redbridge v Eastleigh (7pm) FC Halifax Town v Wrexham (7pm) Solihull Moors v Notts County (7pm) Sutton United v Torquay United (7pm) Chesterfield v Boreham Wood Weymouth v Aldershot Town Woking v Bromley

Match Officials Referee Simon Mather Assistant Referee 1 Alan Hull Assistant Referee 2 Daniel Guest Fourth Official Stuart Morland

Next At Edgeley Park

Maidenhead United Saturday 17th April 2021 Kick-off: 12.30pm Vanarama National League

For Tr

Match Sponsor

PROUD S STOCKPO