Stockport County v Wealdstone

Official Matchday Programme

vs Wealdstone Monday 3rd May Kick-off 3:00pm

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, 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, Harry Barrett, Pete Attwell.

With thanks to: Paul Fruin at Wealdstone FC Design by: Daniel Parker, Duplexity Artwork.

Stockport County FC is the trading name of Stockport County 2010 Ltd (7254012), which is wholly owned by Stockport Community Leisure Company Ltd (7240006), a private company limited by shares. The registered office is: Edgeley Park, Hardcastle Road, Edgeley, Stockport SK3 9DD

Inside...

05 25

08

36

55

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 again, and a warm welcome back to Edgeley Park for this Bank Holiday clash with Wealdstone.

I’d also like to welcome Stuart Maynard, Matt Saunders, and all the players and staff travelling up from Wealdstone for the game today.

It’s great to be back at home again this afternoon after a challenging run of three away games in the last week, which we did extremely well to come out of with maximum points, and no goals conceded.

Our form at the minute is good, as is our collective team spirit, and it’s important now that we continue to focus on maintaining our own high standards.

The demands of this unique season, and the condensed games programme we’ve had to deal with this year, requires a lot of mental resilience – a trait I think we have continued to display consistently in recent weeks and months.

Today’s game will be a different type of test for

us to the ones we’ve faced in those three away games, and we need to be prepared to adapt to the challenges that Wealdstone will pose us this afternoon.

To play two games in just 48 hours also brings with it its own challenges, and naturally will mean us managing our squad carefully over this period – I’m fortunate in that sense to have a squad of players I have absolute trust in to do what we ask of them.

As ever, we know how much support we are receiving even without having people in the ground – we can’t wait to have you all back with us soon, and hopefully we can give everyone an exciting end to the season, starting today.

Enjoy the game.

Simon 05

Proud to sponsor Stockport County Football Club

togethermoney.com

Club News Who Am I?

In a test of how well they know their team-mates, Alex Reid and Macauley Southam-Hales went head to head at Carrington recently in a game of ‘Who Am I?’ Visit our YouTube channel and find out who comes out on top!

Win the Ultimate Matchday Experience

Reid signs new deal

We are pleased to announce that striker Alex Reid has signed a new two-year deal with the Club, keeping him at Edgeley Park until 2023.

Reid, who joined the club in the summer on a free transfer following his release by League Two Stevenage, has had an exceptional first season in SK3 with 18 goals in 38 appearances so far. His 14 National League goals currently make him the third-highest goalscorer in the division, with only Kabongo Tshimanga and Michael Cheek scoring more than him this campaign.

The former Aston Villa academy product has become the latest player to commit his immediate future to the club, following on from new deals for Sam Minihan, Jordan Keane, and the permanent signing of Elliot Newby in recent weeks.

To celebrate the launch of our newly refurbished events space, we’re offering you and five lucky guests the chance to come and experience the new venue on a match-day!

We’re giving away six hospitality tickets to a league game of your choice next season.

Who will you be bringing along?

All you have to do is head over to our brand new Edgeley Park Instagram or Facebook page, like our Ultimate Matchday Experience competition post, and tag who you’ll share the tickets with*.

We’ll be picking the winner soon, so stay tuned and give our new pages a follow to see who’s announced as the lucky winner. *Visit our website for the Terms and Conditions.

Kieron Rowley is our latest County Hero Our first series of County Heroes comes to a perfect conclusion with the story of 14-year-old County fan Kieron Rowley, described by his Dad Lee, as “the best son you could ever wish for.” Kieron has been an incredible help to his family whilst his Nana has been ill, we’re very proud of everything he has done and is doing. Read the full story on our website now.

07

08

Ryan Rydel Throughout the season County have made a steady stream of eye-catching signings who have improved the team and bolstered the squad massively which has catapulted The Hatters right in the mix with the cluster of clubs at the top who are vying for the National League title.

Last month, left-sided player Ryan Rydel was the latest signing to arrive at the Club, joining from League One side Fleetwood Town, for an undisclosed fee.

Oldham-born Ryan, 20, previously played for Fleetwood having made 13 appearances in League One for the Cod Army after coming through their academy, and immediately signed a three-year-deal at Edgeley Park.

“I’ve settled in really well,” said Ryan, who is capable of playing anywhere down the left-hand side.“It’s always strange when you move to a new Club but I

already knew Paddy (Madden) and Macauley (Southam-Hales) from when we were at Fleetwood so that was a big help.”

Ryan made his professional debut for Fleetwood at the age of just 17 away against Southend United back in September 2018.

He made his full EFL debut for the side just a few months later against Walsall, impressing enough to retain his place in the side over the next three games and drawing high praise from then manager Joey Barton.

Looking to play regular first-team football, Rydel spent the last part

of the 2019/20 season out on loan at Northern Premier League side Lancaster City, making six appearances and scoring once before their season was cut short.

Ryan has again been involved in the first-team picture at Highbury Stadium this season, making an additional seven appearances for the Club this campaign and starting their last game against Crewe earlier in the season.

He joins fellow ex-teammates Paddy Madden and Macauley Southam-Hales in making the move from Fleetwood to County this season.

09

Favourite TV programme?

I’m A Celebrity Best goal? I scored in the last minute in a youth team match at Preston for Fleetwood. We were 3-2 down and I scored to make it 3-3.

Boyhood team? Manchester United Highlight of your career so far?

Making my full debut for Fleetwood against Plymouth at home. We won 2-0.

Best stadium played in? Hull City If you could buy a ticket for one sporting event what would it be?

World Cup Final Twitter or Facebook? Twitter Best game you’ve played in for atmosphere? I’ll have to go for my home debut for Fleetwood.

Favourite gadget? My phone.

If you could offer any advice to County fans looking to get involved in the game what would it be?

Be confident, don’t put too much pressure on yourself, and to enjoy it.

10

On his move, Ryan said: “I spoke to my agent and the gaffer. My agent told me all about the Club and they were interested in signing me. I spoke to the gaffer, who impressed me with his plans. The Club are ambitious and want to get back into the Football League and I want to be a part of it.”

County made it 13 games unbeaten on Saturday when they emerged from a difficult trip at FC Halifax Town with a single-goal victory, which reinforced their credentials as title challengers, and Ryan says he can’t help but be impressed by the quality of the Hatters squad, while offering his own qualities to an already impressive set-up.

“I’ve been very impressed with the lads,” said Ryan.

“There is so much quality in the squad and I believe that the quality is better than a lot of the League One clubs.

The lads have been on a very good run and are full of confidence so I understand that I will have to wait for my chance but I will keep working hard in training so that I will be ready if I am called on.

“I’ve learned a lot from my time at Fleetwood and working with the likes of Stephen Crainey – who played as a left-back at a very high level, and has helped me so much. I owe him a lot.”

“We not only want to have the best players for now, but also for the future.

Ryan has an opportunity to be a bit of both. Young, athletic, natural left-sided players are not always easy to find and this is an excellent signing for the club.”

SIMON WILSON

This season has been difficult for Clubs across the country on and off the pitch and Ryan says that although it was difficult during the pandemic, players have had to remain professional and focused on the task in hand. However, when restrictions being relaxed, Ryan can’t wait to play in front of a passionate, noisy County following home and away.

“I’m really looking forward to it,” he said. “We’ve not been playing in front of fans for some time now, but hopefully they will be back before the end of the season, because we are going to need them.

We’ve had some great results away from home at Boreham Wood, King’s Lynn and FC Halifax Town.

However, Wealdstone will be a tough test this afternoon, we’ve got a run of four successive home games so we’ll be looking to close the gap further on the top of the table.”

“I’m delighted Ryan has chosen us for the next stage of his career. Ryan is a good age, with plenty of development ahead of him. He brings competition and balance to our squad and is a good fit for our future ambitions.”

SIMON RUSK 11

Welcome...

Wealdstone Wealdstone FC make the near 200-mile journey from the outskirts of London to Edgeley Park for the first time ever for this afternoon’s fixture, searching for a first away win of 2021.

The Stones’ last success on the road came on November 10th at Halifax and at the time represented a fifth consecutive win for the club, leaving them sitting proudly in second place - one behind Torquay and one above County after achieving promotion as champions of the National League South last season.

The goals were flying in at the time too striker Danny Parish’s late winner at Halifax was their 12th goal in five games - though things have changed considerably since then.

Just four wins have been gained in the following 28 games - the last one coming on April 5th when Barnet were thrashed 5-1.

Those goals represent half of their tally over the last 10 games, with The Stones failing to score in six of those matches.

12

FACT FILE

Nickname: The Stones Founded: 1899 Stadium: Grosvenor Vale Capacity: 4,085 Address: Grosvenor Vale, Ruislip Postcode: HA4 6JQ Distance from Edgeley Park: 193.4 miles (3 hours 16 minutes) Current league position: 19th Conceding too many goals has been a problem all season long, even in the enjoyable early weeks of the campaign, and subsequently Wealdstone have the leakiest defence in the league, with 83 conceded to date.

Recent results emphatically underline those issues, with hefty home defeats to Hartlepool (2-7) and Maidenhead (0-6) preceding Saturday’s 2-0 defeat to Yeovil. Indeed, The Stones have shipped three or more goals in 16 games this season.

Consequently, the club tumbled from near the top in November to 19th now and have a record of nine wins, six draws and 21 defeats from 36 games.

Former Stones player Stuart Maynard is in charge of the team, having replaced titleDID YOU winning manager KNOW? Dean Brennan Remarkably, th e firstin February. ever televised match in Maynard was England was Barnet v part of Brennan’s Wealdstone in 1946 management team, as was his assistant Matt Saunders, and the duo have helped to secure three wins together so far, overseeing victories against Boreham Wood, King’s Lynn and Barnet.

The Gaffer: Stuart Maynard Maynard came to the Stones in May 2019 as Assistant to former boss Dean Brennan, whom he had worked with since 2012 at Hemel Hempstead Town, Billericay Town and Kingstonian. Maynard also played for the Stones back in 1999/00 after his release from Watford and had a lengthy playing career in non-league with St Albans City, Aylesbury United, Enfield, Hitchin Town, Dunstable Town, Chesham United, Barton Rovers, Halesowen Town, Aylesbury and Hemel Hempstead Town.

Clearly it’s been a topsy-turvy season of results for Wealdstone, though perhaps that was to be expected for a club that hasn’t competed at this level since 1988, back when the league was known as the Alliance Premier League. Indeed, The Stones were one of the founding members of the leaue in 1979, facing their modern-day opponents Altrincham, Barnet, Weymouth and Yeovil in that inaugural season.

As the 2020-21 campaign enters its final month all at Wealdstone can reflect on a season of two halves, with the first few months providing lots of happy memories and the latter months less so, though they do at least have the distinction of featuring in the games with the most goals. With 127 goals being scored in Wealdstone’s games so far we might well be in for an entertaining afternoon!

13

The Players JAKE ASKEW (b:Feb 2000 s:May 2020) Goalkeeper who joined after leaving Chelsea.

JACK CAWLEY (b:Sep 1992 s:) Central defender who joined from Concord Rangers. Earlier in his career he has figured for Clacton, Bury Town, Maldon & Tiptree, Heybridge Swifts, Leiston, Wivenhoe Town and AFC Sudbury with experience in the USA with Ann Arbor.

ASHLEY CHARLES (b:Sep 1999 s:Oct 2019) A product of the academy at Watford from where he was loaned out to Barnet. The midfield man spent part of this season at Concord.

ALEX DYER (b:Jun 1990 s:Oct 2020) Defensive midfield player who started with Northampton Town. His career continued with Cheshunt, a first spell at Wealdstone and Welling United before heading to Scandinavia. After experience with Östersund, Elfsborg and Lillestrøm SK, he headed home via Al-Tadamon of Kuwait.

MICHEE EFETE (b:Mar 1997 s:Jul 2019) After time with Crystal Palace, started his professional career with Norwich City being sent on loan to Breidablik of Iceland and Torquay United.

On his release the right-back spent half a season each with Maidstone United and Billericay, the first of those sides loaning him to Bath City.

MOSES EMMANUEL (b:Jul 1989 s:Jan 2020) Initially connected with Cray Wanderers and Croydon Athletic he moved to Brentford. Loaned to Crawley and Welling then continued with Woking, Eastleigh, and Dover Athletic, with a loan stint at Canvey Island and time on the books of Bromley. He moved on again joining Sutton United, who loaned him to Maidenhead United.

The left-winger joined today’s opponents after leaving Billericay.

CRAIG FASANMADE (b:Jun 2000 s:Mar 2021) Midfielder who joined on loan from Hungerford Town. A Reading product, he moved to Oxford City being loaned to Thame United and Banbury United.

RYAN GONDOH (b:Jun 1997 s:Mar 2021) As a youngster this winger played for Whyteleafe and Carshalton Athletic before joining Barnet They loaned him to Hendon and Staines Town before he progressed via Metropolitan Police, Kingstonian, AFC Wimbledon, Maldon to Colchester. After a loan with FC Halifax Town he returned to Carshalton and this season he has figured for Whyteleafe and Hampton.

DANNY GREEN (b:Aug 1990 s:May 2016) Described as a creative midfielder when he signed from Margate. Started with Harlow Town, and went on to play for Cheshunt, Bishop’s Stortford and Billericay. He stepped up to the EFL by joining Dagenham & Redbridge. On his release he found his way to Margate via Sudbury, back at Stortford, Thurrock and Maidenhead.

CHARLEE HUGHES (s:Jul 2020) Striker who was close to 30 goals for Maldon last season when things were brought to a halt. He joined them from Brentwood Town.

Ross Lafayette

14

ROSS LAFAYETTE (b:Apr 1987 s:Jun 2019) In his second spell with the club, the first coming after he had figured for Chesham, Barton Rovers and Aylesbury United. He returned to Aylesbury then added Burnham, Hemel Hempstead, Welling and Luton to his CV. The forward’s other permanent employers have been Eastleigh, Dover, Sutton and Billericay.

GEORGE LANGSTON (b:Nov 2002 s:Jan 2021) Central defender who has joined on loan from first club Watford.

MATT LENCH (b:Oct 1992 s:Dec 2020) Attacking midfielder brought in from Slough where he returned after a previous spell with today’s opponents. His previous clubs were Chesham and Hitchin Town.

DENNON LEWIS (b:May 1997 s:Jun 2010) Joined the club from Bromley. This forward started in Watford’s academy, and had loan spells at Woking and Crawley. Went to play for Falkirk on his release, before the Bromley spell.

JOSH MEEKINGS (b:Sep 1992 s:Jan 2021) Starting as a youngster with Ipswich Town, this central defender moved to Scotland to sign for Inverness Caledonian Thistle. He then had time with Dundee joining the Stones some weeks after leaving them.

JACOB MENDY (b:Dec 1996 s:’Jul 2019) Left-winger who can also be used in central midfield and at full-back. He was connected with Spain’s Atletico Madrid as a youngster, and he moved to England to join his most recent previous club Carshalton.

JEROME OKIMO (b:Jun 1988 s:Jul 2017) In his second spell with today’s opponents, previously spending a year with them following a move from his first club Chalfont Saint Peter. Whilst away the left-back has played for Stevenage and Braintree Town.

JOSEPH OLOWU (b:Nov 1999 s:Feb 2021) Joined on loan from Arsenal for the rest of the season. The central defender has spent eight years with them since switching from Charlton whilst a schoolboy, and has also been on loan with Cork City.

DANNY PARISH (b:Oct 1998 s:Jul 2020) Joined from Maldon, after scoring 30 goals in the 19-20 season. The forward started with Brentford before playing for Concord, Thamesmead Town and Ashford United (Kent).

MICHAEL PHILLIPS (b:Sep 1997 s:Jul 2019) Started with Crystal Palace but did not make the first team. When released was signed by Maidstone for whom he faced County in the FA Trophy.

JOROME SLEW (b:Nov 1997 s:Oct 2020) Forward who initially played in more northerly climes with Sheffield United, loans at Mickleover Sports and Matlock Town, then on to Goole AFC, Chester FC, North Ferriby United, Ashton United and Ramsbottom United. He then had a first spell with Wealdstone, returning after time with Maldon.

CONNOR SMITH (b:Mar 1993 s:Jun 2019) Signed from Billericay, although he ended his stint there out on loan with Kingstonian. A central midfielder, he left Mullingar Athletic to join Watford, and was previously with the Stones on loan from there. He also had temporary deals at Gillingham and Stevenage. His other clubs were AFC Wimbledon, Plymouth Argyle, Yeovil and Boreham Wood.

CONNOR STEVENS (b:Jan 1998 s:Jul 2018) Another to progress to a pro contract with Watford. They loaned him to Oxford City, but when he was released it was today’s opponents who signed him on.

NIKOLA TAVARES (b:Jan 1999 s:Mar 2021) Joined after being released by Crystal Palace. The central defender had started with Hellenic FC in South Africa before joining Brentford.

DAN WISHART (b:May 1992 s:Jul 2020) Started out at Margate, Ramsgate and Whitstable Town before the first of his spells at Hayes & Yeading United. They loaned him to Hendon and Burnham, before he moved on to Herne Bay then Alfreton Town, back on loan to both Hayes and Margate, and to Eastleigh on the same terms. Then he had a return to Hayes and the right-back or right-winger has also added Forest Green Rovers, sandwiched by two spells with Sutton and most recently Maidstone.

ELI HEARN Midfield player whose Academy performances have recently seen him join the first-team squad.

SONNY LO-EVERTON (b:Sep 2002 s:Apr 2021) Right-winger signed for the rest of the season. He comes in from Watford on loan.

GEORGE SHELVEY (b:Apr 2001 s:Apr 2021) Goalkeeper signed on loan for the rest of the season from the club where he developed, Nottingham Forest.

TECCANE SHROWDER Academy prospect who has been in the selected sixteen recently. Plays in defence.

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

County Heaven Hatter in Macc writes: Happy Bank Holiday, everyone and greetings from Edgeley Park for the first of four successive games in SK3.

Since our last notes, ahead of the draw here with Maidenhead, the team has responded in great style to a disappointing result on home turf. Three subsequent jaunts on the road - although arduous collectively, with a total approaching 750 miles on the clock for the trilogy of round trips - have produced footballing outcomes that were nothing less than splendid: a maximum nine points gained; no goals conceded; ‘doubles’ over Halifax and King’s Lynn achieved; and a first-ever victory at the fourth attempt against modern-day bogey team Boreham Wood chalked up.

So far, so excellent. And the business-end of the National League makes for fascinating viewing as the competition embarks upon its final scheduled month. The form table - that shows County disputing the lead with ‘real’ table-toppers, Torquay - does, too. Winning has certainly become a habit for the Hatters of late, and this will hopefully now continue back here at EP.

This afternoon, we welcome Wealdstone - a club with a proud tradition in the English amateur game, that also shares with current fellow National Leaguers Barnet the distinction of featuring in the first-ever UK match to be televised. The BBC cameras were at Underhill to bring coverage of part of the first half, and the second half in its entirety, to the post-war nation’s living rooms, and bestow a little piece of history on the then-Athenian League ‘Bees’ and ‘Stones’, on 19 October 1946.

So much, then, for the Stones.

As of now, I’m ‘Out of Time’– but here’s Sandy to keep things Rolling…

Sandbach Hatter writes: Stone me, Maccy, that shows the difference in our respective Rock upbringings – my first thought when you mentioned ‘Out of Time’ was the album by R.E.M.!

Anyway, I was going to make a terrible stone pun of my own, but decided to skip it…

Moving swiftly on, while these notes are being penned in April, by the time they reach the Masses (Mr and Mrs X. Mass, of Davenport) it will be May, so, if I may – and it’s my article, so I may - let’s have a round-up of the

County Heaven Games Room for the month gone by, shall we?

Firstly, in Macc & Archie’s Prediction League, my very good friend and co-host (him above) took the title for April, whilst over in the County-based prediction game run by Ceefer, he is currently leading there too, albeit narrowly from the chasing pack of Lennie, Hermann and Mini-Herm.

Meanwhile, the last three winners in Lennie’s Limerick Lounge were Epworth, Archie and Maccy, for their closing lines relating to the recent fixtures against Maidenhead, Boreham Wood and King’s Lynn, respectively.

Finally, my latest quiz launched last week, where Heaveners are trying to guess a quartet of former Hatters from the clues provided, then the clever (?) link between them. There’s not much to go on so far, as we’ve only uncovered Super Alun Armstrong, but that means there’s still time to sign up and take part!

That’s it from us. Until next time, stay safe, folks.

Animo et Fide. www.countyheaven.com 17

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

A birthplace of Harrow Weald… which may come as a surprise to some, given that today’s subject often pretended during his lifetime to have been born in Upminster - around 40 miles away by road, and over an hour on the Tube. Convincingly so, too, it would seem, as most of the UK press obituaries, following Ian Dury’s untimely passing in 2000, reported on him incorrectly as being an Essex Man by birth (although he went on to live there as a youngster, and his 1981 album ‘Lord Upminster’ was named after the town). In fact, he had entered the world nearly 58 years earlier in North West London at 43 Weald Rise within the Harrow

18

Borough parish whose boundary to the north meets the sarsen ‘Weald Stone’ that gives the district from which this afternoon’s visitors originally hail its name.

And before anyone gets geographically nitpicky, just beware. You could otherwise have been reading the next few hundred words about The Wealdstone Raider - on the strength of his Top Five smash, ‘Got No Fans’, from seven Christmases ago! Fine effort though it was as a charity single, let’s ‘Take Five’ with Mr. Dury instead - courtesy of a quintet of his own song-titles…

1. Crippled With Nerves So Dury sang, by way of a touching love ballad with his first band, pub rockers Kilburn and the High Roads, that he formed in 1971. By that time he had borne the pain and discomfort from being crippled physically (as opposed to emotionally) for more than two decades, after contracting polio as a sevenyear-old during the 1949 epidemic - leaving him with paralysis and withering of his left leg, shoulder and arm - and having to spend two years in hospital recovering. But his handicap did not prove to be an obstacle, as, after leaving school, he studied and then taught art, before first coming to light as a musical talent. Commercial success evaded Kilburn and the High Roads, and Dury, while with them, was yet to develop fully the exaggerated spivvy Cockney stage persona that served him so notably well later in the ‘70s - although the band did attract a dedicated following, and also had an influence on punk and new wave, with certain teenage fans among the pub audiences later going on to form the Sex Pistols and Madness.

2. (You’re My) Inspiration As a 30-something, modern-day update of a Dickensian rogue, hobbling on to stage supported by a stick, as well as infusing his songs with bawdy humour, lyrical poetry, word play, character sketches, a touch of the music hall, and observations on everyday life around Essex and the East End, Dury cut an unlikely figure for pop stardom. But, with these ingredients allied to the tight mix of rock ’n’ roll and funk played by the Blockheads - the group he began fronting from 1977, as the punk era was under way - a remarkable debut album, ‘New Boots and Panties!!’, resulted that was full of invention and charm, housed in an iconic sleeve that featured Dury, together with his five-year-old son, and contemporary indie geezer, Baxter, in front of a lingerie shop close to London Victoria Station.

And then there were the classic singles - generally left off the long-players by Dury as a matter of personal policy, so that they could be treasured as stand-alone gems. ‘What a Waste’ went Top 10 during the summer of 1978 - followed by ‘Hit Me with Your Rhythm Stick’, which topped the charts late in the following January. Not that all of his 45s were considered radio-friendly, mind. Early classic ‘Sex & Drugs & Rock ’n’ Roll’, while not lyrically a celebration of salacious and other excesses, had enough in its title to earn a BBC ban. As did Dury’s uncompromising, yet realistic, 1981 protest around disability issues, ‘Spasticus (Autisticus)’ - although, by way of positive progress and recognition over 30 years later, that composition attracted star billing, while performed by Orbital, at the opening of the 2012 London Paralympics.

3. That’s Not All The waning of punk and the rise of the New Romantics in the early ‘80s saw Dury’s music gradually fall out of fashion, and the Blockheads disbanded during 1982 (although they subsequently reformed - including with their old vocalist for the final four years of his life - and continue in business to this day). Never one to remain idle, Dury took a break from singing to concentrate on acting – both on television, and in some small film parts – as well as presenting TV art shows, and writing his own musical, ‘Apples’ for London’s Royal Court Theatre.

4. Common As Muck During his musical sabbatical, Dury was offered the chance by Andrew Lloyd Webber to enhance further his theatrical profile by writing a libtretto

for ‘Cats’. He turned this down – and the gig was offered instead to easy-listening satirical lyricist Richard Stilgoe, who reportedly earned millions from it – but, irrespective of his own lack of concern about personal wealth, Dury had a classic explanation for refusing Lloyd Webber’s offer: “I can’t stand his music.”

5. Reasons To Be Cheerful Having been diagnosed with, and recovered from surgery for, cancer in 1996, Dury reunited with the Blockheads. But further tumours were subsequently detected, and he took to the stage for the final time in February 2000 for an event in aid of the CancerBACUP charity at the London Palladium, before passing away six weeks later. The ‘Reasons To Be Cheerful’, in the wake of his far-too-early departure? One, bearing that very inscription, takes the form of a musical memorial bench in Richmond Park, which is solar powered to allow visitors to listen to his songs and an interview. Be sure to have a butcher’s whenever you find yourself in the vicinity of Poets’ Corner…

Rebellious Jukebox Rating:… Come In No. NINE. 19

STOCKPORT COUNTY

2

MAIDENHEAD UNITED

2

Cardwell 38’, Madden 78’

Parry 26’, Orsi-Dadomo 74’

Saturday 17th April | Vanarama National League | Edgeley Park

The Hatters’ second home match of the week saw them have to settle for a share of the spoils against a spirited Maidenhead United side.

County twice came from behind – with goals in each half from Harry Cardwell and Paddy Madden salvaging a point at Edgeley Park.

20

21

Harry Barrett reflects on the Northern Section County became the first club to twice win the Northern Section, when in 1936/37, Joe Hill’s 21 goals propelled them to the title.

Sadly, as with many a promoted side, relegation immediately followed and somewhat topically, given current discourse surrounding a European Super League, membership of Division Three North barely changed in the thirties, forties and fifties.

It was effectively a closed shop.

Just one promotion place was available and the gulf in class between the Football League third and second tiers was all too apparent. As well as Stockport, Tranmere and luckless Nelson also managed one campaign following promotion.

Doncaster, Chesterfield, Darlington and Lincoln survived two, and Hull three seasons in Division Two, before returning to more familiar territory.

At the other end an ‘old pals act’ developed, after the culling of financially stretched clubs during the 1920s. Following Chester’s elevation in 1932, replacing bankrupt Wigan Borough, only New Brighton, in 1951, were voted out of the League.

Just one promotion place was available and the gulf in class between the Football League third and second tiers was all too apparent 22

The Rakers, what a great nickname, had applied for re-election on five occasions, a number shared with Accrington, Barrow and Southport, while Halifax went cap in hand six times up to 1958 when the regionalised third tier was replaced.

God loves a trier but not necessarily the Football League Management Committee. Nelson disbanded after their 1931 rejection, reformed and applied ten times to get back. Shrewsbury after eight unsuccessful attempts were admitted in 1950 when the division was extended to 24 clubs, Scunthorpe joining them. Once in loyalty ruled.

Workington after replacing New Brighton in 1951

Image taken at the 100 Years in the Football League exhibition in 2000

successfully sought re-election in their first two seasons. As with Halifax and Barrow, League administrators were determined to support the round ball in rugby strongholds.

Missionary work though was not always supported. Bangor, Rhyl and Connahs Quay’s ambitions in North Wales were given short shrift and the North East, famous for being a ‘hot bed of football’ was regularly overlooked. No doubt chastened by the failure of New Brighton were voted out of the League Durham City and Ashington, legitimate aspirants Blyth, North Shields, Consett and Stockton were perennial failures when seeking election.

More realistically the 1947 application of Annfield Who knows, but County’s 2-0 win is indisputable.

Plain, a large village in County Durham was not Mind, Lincoln strongly objected to both goals. seriously considered. That year, during the postJim Smailes committed a clear foul – according to war attendance boom, 15 clubs sought admission.

City - when goalie and ball were bundled over the Thwarted, Plain never again bothered and now line, and then in the visitors’ eyes, Leo Stevens reside in the Wearside League. converted a dodgy penalty.

Northern Section clubs may have struggled in Division Two, but they and their southern counterparts regularly sought an additional promotion place – always denied. Seven times, in its 30-season history a single point separated first and second in the Northern Section. Had second spot earned promotion football’s history in Rochdale and Gateshead might have been different. ‘Dale missed out by the slenderest of margins to Wolves in 23/24 despite drawing both games against the eventual champs. Even more heart breaking was the plight of Gateshead. They finished level with title winners Lincoln in 31/32, but missed promotion by 0.3 of a goal. Then, goal average, where goals scored were divided by goals conceded, settled the final position of teams level on points.

Lincoln themselves missed out when Stockport secured that 36/37 championship having being top on the penultimate Saturday, when County’s unbeaten run of ten games put the clubs level on 57 points. The Hatters and Imps met at Edgeley on the last Saturday. The official attendance was 27,304, but did that include a hundred or so sat atop the Main Stand?

So ended an eventful five years for County. They never finished lower than seventh, netted 115 goals in 33/34, including 13 past a bemused Stan Milton making his debut in the Halifax goal and saw the Main Stand go up in flames. The conflagration engulfed a dozen nearby homes making 50 residents homeless, but in a testimony to Stockport’s standing in Footyland, Football League president Charles Sutcliffe chose to open Edgeley’s replacement edifice, in preference to cutting the ribbon at Highbury’s massive East Stand on the same day. Then again Edgeley Park was nearer his Rawtenstall home and he was 74.

Debate over Stockport’s promotion continued into the next season. Eleven Carlisle players were fined and suspended for accepting ‘incentives’ from a County director, to secure victories over Lincoln in the Easter fixtures. Carlisle won one and lost one thereby in part assisting County’s promotion push.

Next time we take a look at the war years, attendances going through the roof and the forerunner of the Auto Windscreens / LDV Vans / Johnstone’s Paint / Checkatrade / Leasing.com or whatever it’s now called Trophy.

23

Official Partners of The National League

County Ladies First-team friendly away at Doncaster Belles

Emma Lysons (pic: Heather King Photography/Doncaster Belles)

The first team travelled to Doncaster Rovers Belles for a friendly last Sunday. Doncaster were in second place in the FAWNL, Midlands Division One, when the season finished in January.

County started the game well and took the lead within the first 15 minutes, a move down the right finished by Maria Figueiredo. Moments later a great free-kick from Emily Bradshaw found Chloe Howard at the back post but her header hit the woodwork, while back at the other end a great save from goalkeeper Jess Linford kept the score at 1-0.

County kept up the pressure with great work down the left from Liv Wild, who clipped a ball to the

Sophie John (pic: Heather King Photography/Doncaster Belles)

back post but just too high for Emily Bradshaw to head home.

However, a defensive mix-up let the Belles equalise just before the break.

Doncaster came out of the blocks strongly after half-time and took the lead. Manager Ronnie Green then changed formation to a 4-2-3-1, introducing Rosie Anderson and Annabelle Veryard for their first games, giving the team more width and causing the opposition new problems.

Despite this an error at a setpiece allowed the home side to increase their lead to 3-1. County continued to press, playing good football, moving the ball around sharply in midfield and delivering some great crosses,

unfortunately without an end product.

Then, good link-up play down the right from Anderson and Bradshaw culminated in a great cross from Anderson, picking out Figueiredo on the penalty spot, who volleyed home her second of the game to make it 3-2.

The last ten minutes saw relentless County pressure. A great ball from Sophie John put Figueiredo through on goal again, only to see her shot saved by the Doncaster keeper.

A very competitive game where we were unfortunate not to come out on top. Thank you to Doncaster Belles for hosting and all the best for the upcoming season.

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. What is the name of the Wealdstone Raider?

2. For which club did Wealdstone former great Stuart Pearce sign in 1983?

3. Against whom did Stockport-born Phil Foden make his full England international debut?

4. Apart from Manchester United, which other Premier League club has Ole Gunnar Solskjaer managed?

5. Which team have spent the most seasons in the Championship?

6. Who was the last permanent manager of Burnley before Sean Dyche?

7. How many times have Stockport County played at Wembley?

8. Who is the most capped player while playing for the Hatters?

Y K B S S U N B T X T G L A P I V T L J

N A A U B I E M L A N J U A N M A T A O

A N P X X H H D E E U J I I W N W W T Z

E Z V E A E S I T A I G Q D H U M G I Y

P G P H D L T A R Z B W A I M D W L M O

J L K P V E O U Q Y B J I U L T R F C T

H O P M U B O W G E D T P T U X U D A Z

I W R V X M T V F S Z G W A I W G X H D

N C T G S E H P K Z U J A M E K I R I A

B S C A I D D Y J N Z O X T M Y B X L M

Y N C I K N X G D P B R E N N O J N L V

T U I N N O H O S Y D F H X W X P P I G

L J N N N A G O L M U M A B B Y J O Q K

U Q A C A A J D L M E O R U I M A I A L

J X D Z N B W P S A G E R B A F C I Z W

Z E R H A M D A Y I R L Y N T P O P N C

H O N H D X A I Y Q E H K M T A N Z Q M

L T U Y T B H A Z L Z G A S Z Y B M Y B

U G Y S X L E R J R M G N P Y D C I M P

T G V X B X Z K L I N S E O O Y W F M A

Answers:

BOATENG DEMBELE DEPAY FABREGAS GUNDOGAN HARRY KANE JORGINHO JUAN MATA LUCAS MOURA MATUIDI PJANIC RIYAD MAHREZ SANE TIM CAHILL

Who Am I? Bobby Blood

WORDSEARCH

Trivia 1: Gordon Hill 2: Coventry City 3: Iceland 4: Cardiff City 5: Barnsley 6. Eddie Howe 7. Four 8. Martin Nash

I signed for the Hatters from West Brom for a fee of £3,000 in 1924.

27

Opposition View Chris Woods and Tim Parks provide us with their thoughts from a visiting perspective ahead of this afternoon’s big game.

Grosvenor Vale had to undergo ground improvements over the summer

How do you assess your season so far?

CW: It’s been a rollercoaster with some big highs and stooping to some lows too. I think if this would have been a regular season it would’ve been largely fun throughout.

TP: Our season has been a tale of two grants; one honoured and one not

We had to undertake over £150,000 of ground improvements to satisfy the capacity criteria to stay in the National League 28

honoured. We found ourselves in the heady heights of second place after a 1-0 win at Halifax in November... our fifth in a row... and then up to fourth by middle of December but as the New Year began the club realised the enormity of completing the season without further funding. Thus, our most potent (expensive) players were furloughed; others moved on to cut the wage bill; while we had to undertake over £150,000 of ground improvements to satisfy the capacity criteria to stay in the National League, even though (with no crowds) that could surely have been delayed by a year?

Only three wins have been chalked up since then, which is admirable considering that set of events - 1-0 over Boreham Wood, 3-1 over King’s Lynn and then the ‘derby’ 5-1 win over Barnet which will be enough for Stones fans to warm their hands on until the start of the next, proper, campaign.

What have been the highlights of your season?

CW: Beating local rivals Barnet 5-1 on Easter Monday, but it was bittersweet having no fans there to savour the moment, also hitting the dizzy heights of second place earlier on in the season, too.

TP: The highlights have been our first win at this level since 1988, 4-3 against Wrexham at Grosvenor Vale back in October, followed a few days later with a 3-2 win over Chesterfield, results and opposition we could not have dreamed of two decades ago when the club were playing eight levels lower.

Who are the Wealdstone players to look out for?

CW: Jacob Mendy Mendy, so good they named him twice. He is a real talent, has a thunderous strike on him and can play anywhere on the pitch. I would be very surprised if we didn’t see him in the EFL soon.

TP: Jacob Mendy Mendy (both barrels please, it’s on his passport) gave it both barrels with a 25-yard goal in each of those games and the former Atletico Madrid youngster is rightly singled out as the Stones’ dangerman. He has scored eight times this season from left-back!

Otherwise we have Dennon Lewis (seven goals) who was dynamite in the NL Southwinning team last season; but in truth we have so few attacking options the team is shaped around containment and damage limitation.

What are your thoughts on County and do you have any memories of games against The Hatters?

CW: I missed the game at Grosvenor Vale earlier on in the season but the feeling amongst everybody at the club is that Stockport have been the best side we

have faced this season and that feeling still resonates with people even this far into the season.

TP: The whole League knows about Stockport’s strength, and as live stream commentator for Wealdstone I invited my journalistic pal Howard Wheatcroft (son of Stockport) to do co-commentary on the early season game at The Vale... he gave me chapter and verse on the club’s history and current playing power and rightly identified John Rooney as the man to watch.

He scored a hat-trick! County did trail 2-1 for much of the game until Richie Bennett popped up with the leveller.

Have you been to Edgeley Park before?

CW: No, and I’m really looking forward to visiting. It’s a proper stadium with a proper fanbase.

TP: No, I’ve never been to Edgeley Park but hope to next season, but I had seen County play at Watford back in the late 1970s when Garner scored a late winner for the home side, ruining my carefully prepared prose for the Manchester Evening News. The 5-2 win for Stockport earlier this season confirmed them to be the strongest club in the division, as the then-Stones boss Dean Brennan noted after the game.

What is your prediction for the game?

CW: We were full strength when Stockport beat us 5-2 at our place and with the situation with key players furloughed and County going for promotion I think it could be a similar scoreline. But I’ll go with my heart over my head and say 3-1 Wealdstone in the hope that Stockport get complacent!

TP: My prediction is County to win by a narrower margin that many are expecting as Wealdstone will have a few players back from injury and might even have five on the bench. I’d go for 2-0 County so prove me wrong, Stones!

29

Steve Bellis Squinting Barmaids, Glue Sniffers and Bourbon Creams!

After a series of long journeys it is great to be back at Edgeley Park this afternoon for the first of four crucial home games.

Much has happened since Maidenhead visited SK3 last month and as far as we are concerned it has been a very productive period.

Firstly, we headed south to Meadow Park, home of Boreham Wood FC, nicknamed ‘The Wood’ (I bet it took them ages to think that one up).

Actually, on recent form (they have drawn 11 of their last 15 games) the nickname ‘Bore ‘em senseless’ might be more appropriate.

Now, Boreham Wood are sticking to the Covid rules extremely tightly and the three of us that were permitted entry (it became four) were warned not to expect their usual hospitality.

The evening before the game was special as we were able to enjoy a beer (or seven) outside a pub thanks to the relaxation of Covid regs.

We managed to get a table under a heater in the Red Lion in Bushey.

It felt so real and we were all smiles. We then noticed that Matt Jansen was smiling more than us.

He then pointed out that the good-looking barmaid was giving him the eye.

As it turned out she was squinting in the sun.

It was a beautiful day down in Hertfordshire the next day and we rocked up about 30 minutes before kick-off.

Once we had had our temperatures taken and given our customary lanyard (why are they called that?) we were handed a brown paper bag with our names on containing some snacks.

I was quite excited, it took me back to buying a lucky bag (remember them) when I was a child.

We sat in the stand we had been allocated and started to rummage through our bags nose-deep, looking like a group of glue sniffers.

There was a bottle of water, two of the smallest cheese rolls (they weren’t big enough to call barms) I have ever seen, a mini Mars bar, a Jaffa Cake roll and a bag of crisps. I only really like salt and vinegar or prawn cocktail crisps so I was quite chuffed when I saw that the bag was blue. After all salt and vinegar crisps come in blue bags right? No, not right. Some stump at Walkers decided to put the cheese and onion in blue bags completely ruining my picnic in the stand.

I actually have done some research on this (like you do) and Walkers have had the colours wrong from day one.

It’s Golden Wonder for me from now on.

Salt and vinegar crisps should be in a blue packet

30

Anyway, back to my Boreham Wood bag of goodies. I thought I had reached the end of my bag (I gave the crisps to Richard Landon, he’ll eat anything) but no, there was another little surprise lurking at the bottom. A little packet of biscuits.

Excitedly I retrieved them from the amidst the wrappers of the other goodies only to find they had actually had the audacity to give us a two-pack of Bourbon Creams. Bourbon bloody Creams for God’s sake.

They clearly don’t like us very much as no-one in the world eats Bourbon Creams. Whenever you had a box of Family Circle biscuits you could bet your bottom dollar that the Bourbons would still be left at the end to go soft. I gave these to Lando, too!

The home side liked us even less by half-time as we went two goals up before the break.

Ash Palmer popped up (like he does) to head home from a corner before John Rooney added to his list of Goal of the Season contenders with another sunny strike in the sunshine.

We decided to stand in said sunshine behind the goal in the second half and were joined by Seamus Jennings, father of Connor and James.

It is easy to see why the latter are such great lads, Jennings senior is a true gentleman and was very good company.

He had driven James down on the morning of the game as JJ’s wife had given birth to a beautiful baby girl the previous day.

It turned out to be a great second half too with Macauley running the home side ragged down the right.

We had numerous chances but it was left to the in-form Alex Reid to come off the bench and put the game beyond reach with his 19th goal of the season.

Puerto Banus or Rwanda, it’s a tough choice

The most amusing assumption I have heard about the ESL is that it ended up being like a lads’ night out being organised before anyone had asked their Mrs. As it turned out, bananas from Netto lasted longer than the ESL and a level of decency was preserved.

Back to this afternoon and it is a great pleasure to welcome our friends from Wealdstone to Edgeley Park.

Needless to say the journey home was a pleasant one.

We were made extremely welcome at the Grosvenor Vale stadium and we look forward to returning the hospitality this afternoon.

I was very interested to see the ‘Visit Rwanda’ signage around the perimeter of the ground at Meadow Park.

It is another must-win game as far as we are concerned as we push to regain our place in the Football League.

It got me thinking how many people had turned up at Boreham Wood thinking about booking a couple of weeks in Puerto Banus and then (having seen the sign) deciding to head off to Rwanda instead.

As ever, it will be a tough game and we will need to be at our best to get the maximum points haul that we need.

On the way back we discussed the cons and cons of the European Super League.

Finally, why do people say they have slept like a baby when babies actually wake up every two hours?

31

GAME CHANGER footballfoundation.org.uk

Terrace Talk Wealdstone are the visitors to Edgeley Park for this Bank Holiday Monday fixture in the National League and a warm welcome to Stuart Maynard and his staff who have made the journey up from London.

It has been quite a profitable time away from Stockport in recent games taking into consideration the wins over King’s Lynn Town and Boreham Wood. Simon Rusk will be pleased that in the last five games before this weekend’s round of fixtures there have been sixteen goals scored and just a couple conceded against Maidenhead.

It’s not like every game is reliant on Alex Reid and John Rooney finding the net either, Harry Cardwell scored twice against King’s Lynn and Paddy Madden and Ash Palmer have also found the onion bag in recent weeks too.

Back in October in this reverse fixture, John helped himself to a hat-trick at Grosvenor Vale, taking home the match ball with two late efforts past Harvey Isted for what was County’s first win on the road in the 2020-21 season.

It has been a tough season for the last season’s National League South champions, last year’s title-winning boss Dean Brennan left in February after just over twenty months in the role and his right-hand man and former Wealdstone player Stuart Maynard has stepped up to take the reins since.

Harry Cardwell chipped in with two goals at King’s Lynn

Despite the results not going as favourably as they would have liked, Wealdstone still remain five points outside the relegation zone with Woking, King’s Lynn and Barnet all below them in the National League table.

have done in order to catch Hartlepool United and even Sutton United, the away record for The Hatters is the best in the National League as things stand and the home record is up amongst the top eight teams.

The rule of thumb is often to survive the first season after promotion and then build up further and with a few matches still to play the incentive is there to put some clear daylight between those chasing below.

The recent League Cup final between Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur saw a small number of fans return to see the game live at Wembley so hopefully there will be scope for the County support to be back in Edgeley Park for next season – who knows? Maybe upon returning with the status of EFL League Two football on this ground once more.

Back to Hatters matters and the carrot of automatic promotion is still there to be had.County can’t do much more than they

33

The County Years

1937

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

Opening game Continuing a run of years during which County finished as Champions, in 1937 one of our promotion rivals from the current season, Wrexham, visited on the second day of the new year.

County: Frank McDonough, Billy Bocking, Fred Jenkinson, Billy Titterington, Len Jones, Bob Still, Leo Stevens, Joe Hill, Alec Scott, Jimmy Smailes, Barney Sullivan.

10,164 were in Edgeley Park to see the Hatters maintain their second place in the Division Three (North) table. The game was all but wrapped up by half-time with goals from Leo Stevens and Jimmy Smailes. The Welsh visitors were unable to make any inroads in the second half. It was a good couple of days as those fans in the crowd who came out for the Cheshire League game against Hyde United the day before had seen the reserves win 6-2.

First debutants Two men made their first appearance for the club at Oldham Athletic on 6th February. Joe Mantle and Joe Taylor were part of a complicated transfer deal that saw County pay a fee to

34

Carlisle United, and also transfer Tony Leach, Alec Scott and William Smith to the Brunton Park side. Forward Mantle scored in the 2-0 win that day but moved on to Heart of Midlothian in November. Taylor stayed a little longer with the half-back or winger leaving at the end of the following season for Oldham.

Summer business With County crowned Champions for the second time the released list was mainly reserve men but Peter Molloy and Les Gore both left for Carlisle, and Jimmy Lovery (Wolverhampton).

Coming in for the Division Two campaign were Fred Kennedy (from Racing Club de Paris), Dick

Fuller (Charlton Athletic), and William Jackson (Tranmere Rovers).

Worst run 4 games without win (4th to 25th December) D2 L2

Last debutant Forward Walter Hunt (SCAN 470) was bought from Rochdale for £400 and went into the side for a game at Newcastle United on Christmas Day. The then mid-table Hatters earned a point with a 0-0 draw in front of a 29,376 crowd. Scoring twice in eleven games, he only stayed until the season’s end before joining Accrington Stanley along with Jack Daniels in exchange for Jack Bowles.

This run reached 10 games before we next won.

Closing game Return match ends early.

County: McDonough, Jenkinson, Gwyn Jones, Duggie Reid, Len Jones, Still, Bernard Oxley, Billy Harker, Hunt, Titterington, Smailes.

Two days later the sides met again but the EP match was to go unfinished, being abandoned after 76 minutes due to fog. It had been entertaining whilst it lasted for those of the around 18,000 able to see the action. The visitors had gone into an early two-goal lead thanks to John Park on nine minutes and Jack Smith eight minutes later. After the break, insisted on by the County captain, Bernard Oxley and Hunt scored on 51 and 56 minutes.

Most apps in calendar year Bob Still 43 (ever present), Frank McDonough 42, Fred Jenkinson 41 Most goals in calendar year Joe Mantle 12, Joe Hill 8, Bernard Oxley, Jimmy Smailes and Leo Stevens 7 each

Best run 13 games unbeaten (13th March to 1st September) W10 D3 The man in charge That transfer deal with Carlisle described above can mainly go down to the fact that in November 1936 County appointed former England International Bob Kelly as manager, and former Hatters boss Fred Westgarth had just taken over at Brunton. Bob had just completed around a year as manager with Carlisle, also playing for them at least initially. One of the half dozen men to lead County to a title, Kelly was to resign in 1938, and is next known acting as trainer to Sporting Lisbon after the war.

And finally...

A home programme reported that Hunt is not a bad singer and he and Jackson showed their skills whilst staying at Newcastle over Christmas. In fact, the County player’s contribution to the community carol singing and mass performances of songs such as Ilkely Moor and Blaydon Races was popular with other residents at the hotel.

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

35

BOREHAM WOOD

0

STOCKPORT COUNTY

3

-

Palmer 16’, Rooney 32’, Reid 70’

Saturday 24th April | Vanarama National League | Meadow Park

A superb County showing made it eleven games unbeaten for The Hatters, as two first-half goals set Simon Rusk’s men on the way to an emphatic 3-0 win at Boreham Wood in the National League.

After Ash Palmer had headed County into an early lead at Meadow Park, John Rooney doubled the advantage with another stunning strike before the break – after which super-sub Alex Reid celebrated his recent contract extension with a fine finish to seal a first-ever win over Boreham Wood.

36

37

KING’S LYNN TOWN

0

STOCKPORT COUNTY

4

-

Madden 9’, Gash (OG) 14’, Cardwell 37’, 43’

Tuesday 27th April | Vanarama National League | The Walks

A dominant first-half showing set a relentless County on their way to a 4-0 win at King’s Lynn Town, keeping the pressure on the top three.

A Paddy Madden header and a Michael Gash own goal had given The Hatters a two-goal advantage inside the opening 15 minutes and, despite a bright spell for the home side late in the first half, Harry Cardwell netted twice in the eight minutes before the break to put the game beyond doubt.

38

39

Physio

Luke Smith Good afternoon everyone.

The Stockport County Sports Injury Clinic

This week’s injury list consists of Will Collar who was withdrawn during our last game due to a soft tissue injury. We are hopeful that he will be back before the end of the season. He has been focusing on his recovery and we should have a better indication of the extent of the damage by the end of the week.

Mark Kitching is feeling a lot better, but we don’t expect to see him play another part for the rest of the season. He has progressed since his interventions over the past few weeks but he won’t be match fit and we will look to have him ready for pre-season.

Enjoy the game, Luke

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

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

Will Collar

41

42

SNAPPED! County boss Simon Rusk deep in thought during another training session at Carring ton

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

Well, we said we would do it and we have!

The Supporters’ Co-operative board swung into action a couple of days ago and, as promised in the County programme, launched their extensive consultation project which seeks to obtain the input of supporters of every hue on a range of subjects.

Following the takeover of Stockport County by Mark Stott, the Supporters’ Co-operative took the view that they needed to maybe consider whether our current focus was the correct one viewed in the prism of the current situation nationally, and the massively changed lot of County fans.

We thought that to seek the views of all County fans, irrespective of whether they are in membership of the Supporters’ Co-operative or not, was of vital importance in helping us reach our conclusions.

The Co-op board is seeking to understand the values supporters consider important, how the Cooperative can boost membership, and the areas we do well or indeed where we do less well and can improve.

The Co-operative board are excited by the prospect of getting a real insight into what is important to County fans today and have committed to publishing a report containing the results of this study as soon as possible.

The response so far has been excellent. To boost the numbers further we have agreed that all supporters who complete the survey and provide valid contact details will be entered into a draw to win a County season ticket.

This survey will take around eight to 10 minutes to complete and your contribution would help us map out where we are going and ensure that we are better able to represent your interests to the Club.

You can reach the survey here: https://s.surveyplanet.com/baszytK6W And members can check their membership, or non-members can join here: https://webcollect.org.uk/coop Good luck and thank you!

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 Edgeley Park for this afternoon’s game with our visitors Wealdstone.

We hope you are enjoying the Bank Holiday weekend and that the weather has been kind. I cannot believe that we are into May and, after today, we have just four games left, with three at home and just the last game away at Yeovil Town.

We have, of course, a free Saturday next weekend as we should be away to Dover Athletic. The stand-out fixture will be a week on Saturday when we entertain Torquay United. The final positions in the table is anyone’s guess at present.

Our last two home games against King’s Lynn Town and Maidenhead United turned out to be hard-fought games. I was really impressed with King’s Lynn until they ran out of steam in the second half resulting in a 4-0 victory. What a difference when there is no fear of relegation and a team can play without fear! On to Maidenhead, against whom we were twice behind and fought back to earn a point. Not the result we all hoped for but at this stage a point is better than none. As already mentioned, we were away at Boreham Wood last week, and at 3-0 what another great away win it was which has kept us in touch with the teams above us.

That’s all for today, enjoy the rest of the Bank Holiday.

Mascot Harry

Age: 12 Attends: Stockport School Plays for: Hazel Grove United Favourite County player: Macauley Southam-Hales Also likes: To play the guitar

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.

Northern Section Cup. Being moved around did not hamper his progress as he impressed throughout the outfield positions. The Scotsman, who had played junior football in the town, had ten seasons at the club, but as soon as he was demobbed Pompey pounced paying a County record fee of around £7,000. He won the English title with them and after retiring worked at Fratton Park until the 1970s.

JIMMY SMAILES Winger Jimmy was to score 17 goals in 66 games for the club after joining aged 29. At just 5’ 4” tall he was one of the shortest men in the side but his contribution was vital to County’s second Division Three (North) title win. Having started his career with Tow Law Town the competitive part of it ended when he moved to Bradford City for the 1938-39 season, he was too old to resume post WWII.

ARTHUR RICE Inside left who joined after a couple of seasons at Old Trafford. The Liverpool-born player came in to bolster our Championship challenge but despite staying until the relegation from Division Two he was only really a fringe player, notching up just 16 games in all senior competitions. He had started as an amateur with then Football League side New Brighton, and left us for Crewe but the war appears to have ended his career at least at a high level.

DUGGIE REID A legend on the South Coast for his long service to Portsmouth, Duggie attracted interest from other clubs soon after making that debut for the Hatters, in which he scored twice versus Crewe in the

48

JACK BOWLES Possibly the best servant between the sticks for the club. He was already 24 when he came to Stockport and would make the green

shirt more or less his own until 1953 when he moved to Winsford United. Fittingly the former Badsey Rangers, Cheltenham Town and Newport County stopper kept the New Brighton forward line at bay in that debut, as County brought back a 0-0 draw. It is worth including a breakdown of his games by competition, League 275, FA Cup 31, Annulled games (when the 39-40 season was abandoned) 2, and War Time 32 GEORGE HAIGH A man who the Hatters faithful and officials took to their hearts in his later years when he was the oldest surviving former first teamer. Born in Reddish in 1915 George was to make just two first team appearances after switching from Manchester City. War intervened and he worked as a PT instructor with the RAF playing for non-league sides. He impressed both with his natural spirit which he retained until his death, and had a bank of stories from his experiences in and out of football; it was a privilege to know this man and his family were impressed with the bundle of cards he received from Hatters fans on his 100th birthday. George died in the week before County claimed promotion at Nuneaton, and members of his family helped carry a tribute banner produced by the club around the pitch before that game.

ARTHUR BURROWS Born in the town soon after his father moved to County from the North East Arthur junior had a longer career in the side at Edgeley Park but most of it came in wartime games. He was regularly in the local papers for his schoolboy football exploits, after joining us he was described as a sturdy player who works hard. Playing for County either side of the war before moving to Ashton United, He returned to the club later to coach the juniors.

Player

Debut

Signed From

Barney Sullivan

08.02.1936 Whitburn Welfare

Billy Brown

21.03.1936 Chelsea

Tony Leach

29.08.1936 Newcastle U

Bernard Oxley

29.08.1936 Plymouth Argyle

Jimmy Smailes

29.08.1936 Grimsby T

Leo Stevens

29.08.1936 Southend U

Les Gore

26.09.1936 Fulham

Billy Harker

30.09.1936 Portsmouth

Duggie Reid

30.09.1936 Heaton Chapel

Colin Beardshaw

26.10.1936 Gateshead

Peter Molloy

26.10.1936 Queens Park R

William Walton

26.10.1936 Grimsby T

Joe Mantle

06.02.1937 Carlisle U

Joe Taylor

06.02.1937 Carlisle U

Edward Beasley

08.02.1937 None

Jimmy Lovery

08.02.1937 Junior ex-Ward Street OB

Arthur Rice

08.02.1937 Manchester U

Gwyn Jones

26.03.1937 Rochdale

Fred Kennedy

28.08.1937 Racing Club de Paris, FRA

Peter McArdle

06.11.1937 Barnsley

William Jackson

20.11.1937 Tranmere Rovers

Dick Fuller

27.11.1937 Charlton Athletic

Daniel Lewis

18.12.1937 Lowestoft T

Walter Hunt

25.12.1937 Rochdale

Billy Woodward

29.01.1938 Chesterfield

Walter Rigby

19.03.1938 Shrewsbury T

Charlie Sargeant

19.03.1938 Chester

Walter Lumby

26.03.1938 Grimsby T

Charlie Amery

16.04.1938 Tranmere Rovers

Tom West

07.05.1938 McMahons

Tommy Bagley

27.08.1938 Bradford C

Jack Bowles

27.08.1938 Accrington S

Jack Essex

27.08.1938 Crewe Alex

George Sherwood

27.08.1938 Huddersfield T

Billy Smith

27.08.1938 Portsmouth

George Haigh

01.10.1938 Manchester C

Pat Owens

10.12.1938 Fleetwood

49

CONFERENCE & EVENTS CONFERENCE & EVENTS CONFERENCE & EVENTS

Stockport’s premier Stockport’s premier Stockport’s premier conference & events venue conference & events conference & events venue venue Five beautifully refurbished event spaces, Fiveabeautifully refurbished event present unique destination at one ofspaces, Stockport’s Five beautifully refurbished event spaces, present a unique destination at one of Stockport’s most ahistoric venues, Edgeley Park. present uniquesporting destination at one of Stockport’s most historic sporting venues, Edgeley Park. most historic sporting venues, Edgeley Park.

50

Edgeley Park, Hardcastle Road, Stockport, Cheshire, SK3 9DD EdgeleyT.Park, Stockport, Cheshire, SK3 9DD 0161Hardcastle 286 8888 Road, E. events@edgeleypark.com EdgeleyT.Park, Road, Stockport, Cheshire, SK3 9DD 0161Hardcastle 286 8888 E. events@edgeleypark.com edgeleypark.com T. 0161 286 8888 E. events@edgeleypark.com edgeleypark.com edgeleypark.com

Strawberry Radio Jon Keighren

I’m writing these notes ahead of County’s trip to FC Halifax Town on Saturday, but regardless of the result at the Shay, County’s incredible recent run under Simon Rusk should be applauded.

It continued last Tuesday with a thumping 4-0 win at King’s Lynn to cap a 12-game unbeaten run and keep our promotion dreams alive.

For today’s visitors, Wealdstone FC, it’s been a struggle since the turn of the year; a dramatic loss of form and an acrimonious split with previous manager Dean Brennan has seen the campaign fizzle out.

At the time of writing these notes, County boast the best goal difference in the National League, which could be crucial come the final day, whilst no team in the league has scored more or conceded fewer than Stockport County.

With Richie Bennett back in form and back in the fold after returning to Edgeley Park, having rediscovered his scoring touch during a one-month loan at Hartlepool, there is healthy competition for places during the run-in.

Whilst the goals of Alex Reid, Paddy Madden and John Rooney might have caught the headlines in recent weeks, it’s the clean sheets which have given County the platform from which to build, and I really want to highlight the contribution of unsung hero James Jennings.

When JJ came to the club, I feared he might find himself as a squad player with several

The Stones made a brilliant start rising to fourth in December, dreaming of the Play-Offs, but with seven players now on furlough, new boss Stuart Maynard says his squad are ‘dead on their feet’.

Richie Bennett is back in the fold after a productive loan spell

strong left-sided players already in the ranks, but his contribution this season has been immense, particularly since the lengthy layoff suffered by Mark Kitching.

I also assumed JJ would be a left-back but he has revelled in his role as a left-sided centre half under Simon Rusk and has been virtually ever-present under the new gaffer. He’s probably one of the first names on the team sheet now, his form has never dipped throughout County’s excellent run and he deserves huge credit for his quality, application and leadership.

They’ve lost four in a row, conceding 18 goals across those four games, and have won just one of their last ten during their alarming decline. The Stones now have the worst defensive record in the National League, an indicator of how low their confidence has slipped in recent months.

County can’t afford to have any sympathy, however, and Simon Rusk will be urging his players to continue to demonstrate their recent ruthless streak.

I hope you’re able to enjoy our live stream this afternoon – and hopefully we can see you all back inside the ground in a fortnight. It can’t come soon enough.

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 I can recall few occasions on which the all the major stakeholders in English football have been united in solidarity on a single issue. But the universal condemnation of the proposed European Super League gave truth to the old saying, ‘the enemy of my enemy is my friend’. Even the UK government aligned with the football authorities to repel moves by 12 founding clubs to create a new competition comprised purely of football’s selfproclaimed elite clubs. I do of course use the word ‘elite’ in loose terms given the inclusion of serial non-achievers Spurs and Arsenal within this moneymaking cartel.

What a beautiful world for the privileged few. There would be no relegation for the ‘founding fathers’ with the concession that a few clubs would be granted entry into this exclusive band of brothers through qualification each year. The project would have guaranteed each of the founding clubs £310m to join the competition and as much as £213m for competing in the league. Given that Barcelona are currently £274m in debt with their ‘El Clasico’ rivals Real Madrid also in hock to the tune of £150m, that would constitute welcome and much needed

What has been heartening is the way in which the voice of the fans, so often a voice in the wilderness, has been amplified by the support of managers, players and pundits alike and has now become a mighty roar 52

revenue. Both clubs require a radical solution to address the poor stewardship of their respective clubs, driven by a relentless obligation to win trophies at all costs. Real President Florentino Perez claims that the Super League was created to save football but, in the form proposed, it presents more problems than solutions.

What has been heartening is the way in which the voice of the fans, so often a voice in the wilderness, has been amplified by the support of managers, players and pundits alike and has now become a mighty roar. The strength of feeling is so profound that fans have resorted to direct action protesting against what they see as the corporate greed of predominantly overseas owners. One thing which has really angered the fans is the total disregard for their wishes, with no open dialogue or consultation about the proposed breakaway or its impact on those who have been the heartbeat of football for over 130 years.

The ESL cartel disparagingly refer to traditional club supporters as ‘legacy fans’ (i.e. history) whilst their sights are firmly set on the ‘fans of the future’, young people whom they believe only want to see the top players perform week in week out.

Has David slain Goliath or merely appeased him?

Thankfully, the world and his dog rejected this dystopian vision of the future so fervently that the owners and CEOs of many of the rebel clubs have issued grovelling apologies to the fans and the football family in general. So, for the time being the European Super League project is shelved and the Champions League will continue as the preeminent competition for Europe’s elite clubs. UEFA’s expanded 36-team competition wasn’t exactly embraced with open arms when it was proposed, but under cover of the ESL furore the new format was approved last Monday. Some may consider it to be the lesser of two evils but at least it preserves the fragile consensus necessary for the recovery of the game in the aftermath of an economically crippling pandemic. It may be as wobbly as a drunk on a unicycle, but the trick is to keep peddling and moving forward however precariously.

Unfortunately, David has not slain Goliath, he has merely appeased him. As far as the architects of this audacious power grab are concerned their strategy was the right thing at the wrong time. Like a Bond supervillain they will already be planning their next assault on the structures of European football and the financial dominance of the Premier League.

And whilst all this may seem a million miles from County’s current mission to gain promotion back into the English Football League, change at the top of the football tree usually reverberates through the whole pyramid. Lower-league and grassroots

Unfortunately, David has not slain Goliath, he has merely appeased him. As far as the architects of this audacious power grab are concerned their strategy was the right thing at the wrong time football receives funding from the Premier League.

There is no indication that such monies would be forthcoming from a European Super League and any change affecting finances within the pyramid structure could see smaller clubs go out of business.

When Florentino Perez said that ‘future fans’ want to see superstar players perform every week, he demonstrated a complete ignorance of the essence of football. Speaking on behalf of legacy fans all over the globe, Senor Perez needs to understand that we don’t just watch football, we live it!

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

Jim Goodwin & Stuart Barlow Hello and welcome to this afternoon’s Bank Holiday digital programme as we play Wealdstone in what is to be the start of four home games on the bounce – all very exciting and nail-biting times ahead as the end of the season draws upon us.

This afternoon, I’m going to recall two players who signed for us in the early “noughties”, including one player who was an FA Cup winner with Everton, and another player who went on to sign an exCounty forward for the team he currently manages.

Stuart Barlow

Defensive player Jim Goodwin played over 100 games for County after signing in 2002/03 via Carlton Palmer. He made his debut against QPR in the league and mainly was used as a sub role that season although he scored the third in a 3-0 win away to Northampton Town.

The season after he found the net six times and played some very impressive football, getting a lot more game time and cementing himself in the squad and fans’ hearts. This then led to him moving to Scunthorpe in 2005 and playing also around 100 games for them as well. Whilst on loan with Oldham Jim did come back to play at EP and added at the time that he really enjoyed his spell here and was having to not let sentiment get in the way of business.

After playing over 100 games for Scottish Premiership outfit St Mirren he then went on to manage them in 2019.

In 2020 they signed familiar face Kristian Dennis who this season was in the squad that beat Rangers as well as scoring against Celtic.

During the 2003/04 season,County also signed Stuart Barlow who also boasted quite the impressive CV. He was part of the FA Cup winning

Jim Goodwin

side who went on to beat Manchester United in 1995 and scored the winner in a FA Cup 4-3 comeback as Tranmere beat Premier League outfit Southampton in the Fifth Round.

Making his debut against Wycombe Wanderers in the league Stuart played around 70 games for County, scoring the winner in his next game and getting two headed goals against Rushden & Diamonds, Stuart fitted well into the team and scored some important goals throughout the campaign including five goals in a five-game spell.

Transferring to Bury in 2005, he went on to play at Conference level for Morecambe in 2006 before he later retired from football in 2009 despite being offered a new contract at the time.

He then started to watch his sons play football at Formby Juniors, but like many others who have played the game he struggled to keep his fingers out of the pie and ended up coaching them at the same time.

This then led to management where he moved to a few clubs, including our old foes of the Conference North Colwyn Bay, as well as occasional TV and radio work as a pundit.

55

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

Community Foundation scfcfoundation.com

@scfcfoundation

Stockport County Community Foundation

0161 286 8888 option 3

57

Talking Football Sam Preston

Most football fans can agree that the six English clubs who tried to join the failed Super League need to be punished.

They cannot be allowed to return like nothing ever happened.

But a bizarre line of argument has emerged in some quarters, that the managers, fans and players of those clubs should not be punished – just the owners.

The plot to form the new 15-team reeked of England’s richest clubs thinking it should be one rule for them and another for everyone else. That’s one of the reasons it stunk so much.

But this approach to punishing them would fall down the same lines.

It is imperative to get this sanction right. Too lenient, and it offers carte blanche to these clubs to keep threatening to break away until they hit on a formula the watching public doesn’t find too unpalatable 58

Brighton warm up in t-shirts opposing the European Super League

Crawley, Portsmouth, Wrexham, Cambridge, Rotherham, Darlington, Crystal Palace, Plymouth, Port Vale, Coventry, Southampton, Bury, Wigan, Leeds, Bournemouth, Luton, Bolton and of course Stockport have all been handed points deductions for going into administration.

Was the financial plight of those clubs the fault of the fans, players, staff or manager? No, but they were the ones who felt the impact anyway.

Why should the self-styled ‘Big 6’ be treated any differently? Why is it just their fans who should be exempt from the punishment?

Fans make their feelings known at the Carabao Cup Final

It doesn’t make any sense. If a punishment is brought forward which only punishes the owners, it will only widen the gap between the top of English football and everyone else.

There will be supporters of all of the six clubs who understand the need to take whatever punishment comes their way on the chin.

Of course, they wouldn’t welcome it but they will understand it.

Gary Neville led the way on this when he proposed that his – and my - boyhood club Manchester United be deducted points or relegated.

There’s a debate to be had over whether those punishments are plausible, but the clubs need to face consequences in a way which will actually affect them.

Not a nominal fine which can be paid off in the blink of an eye or appealed through a long, drawn-out process.

It remains to be seen which sanctions are enforceable and suitable. One potential option is a suspended sentence.

If the clubs step out of line again, for example, trying another ham-fisted Big Picture attempt or a Super League 2.0, this time with promotion, relegation and PR, an agreed punishment is dropped on them.

And it has to be significant – a points deduction or a monster fine.

Of course, the downside of that plan is that nothing happens now. The rich clubs worm their way back in and the furore fades to the back of people’s memories.

It is imperative to get this sanction right. Too lenient, and it offers carte blanche to these clubs to keep threatening to break away until they hit on a formula the watching public doesn’t find too unpalatable.

And that would be a crying shame because at the moment, the other 14 Premier League clubs hold more power than they have for a long time.

The other six have played the trump card they’ve held for years and it was a busted flush within two days. That should provide fertile ground for a rebalance of the power within English football.

The pressure is on the FA, the Premier League and UEFA. They found themselves on the right side of the battle against the Super League, but most football fans saw through their attempts to pretend those bodies are on their side.

All three played their part in leading us to a point where a Super League is even proposed. Now they must punish the clubs involved. If it impacts their fans, then so be it.

59

The Hatters v The Stones

Facts & Figures Head to Head

Goals scored

Played (all competitions): 1

County: 5

They played for both clubs

Wealdstone: 2

Tom Collins Colin Hardman Michael Malcolm

County: 1 Draws: 0 Wealdstone: 0

Last time out Wealdstone 2-5 County Tuesday 20th October 2020 Vanarama National League

A stunning hat-trick by John Rooney sealed a second-half fightback by The Hatters at Wealdstone, as County romped to a 5-2 win to seal a third successive victory in the National League.

Despite twice falling behind either side of the interval to goals from Michee Effeto and Ross Lafayette, Rooney’s treble along with first goals for the club from Richie Bennett and Lois Maynard earned County a first away win of the campaign.

The Hatters moved up to second in the National League table early in the campaign with a big win in North London, ahead of the televised trip to Chesterfield.

County line-up: Hinchliffe; Minihan, Hogan (C), Palmer, J. Jennings (Kitching, 60); Maynard, Keane; C. Jennings, Rooney (Croasdale, 89), Reid (Thomas, 60); Bennett.

Subs not used: Barnes, Bell.

60

2020-21

CHE

Statistics Home L 4 3 3 2 6 4 7 4 7 7 6 7 6 7 5 4 9 10 9 8 9 13 0

F 32 35 30 23 32 24 26 21 28 25 20 27 28 24 18 26 20 22 31 24 23 11 0

A 18 14 15 12 27 13 15 12 28 16 20 23 20 24 20 14 24 30 41 28 34 35 0

W 11 10 7 12 8 8 9 6 9 6 7 6 5 7 6 3 6 4 2 3 3 2 0

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

Away L 4 3 4 5 6 7 7 7 4 4 9 5 9 10 5 12 8 9 12 12 12 11 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 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 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 0 14

A 17 15 19 16 20 21 22 24 21 19 23 21 34 29 18 30 26 24 42 24 42 43 0

W 22 21 20 19 17 16 17 15 15 15 14 13 14 14 10 13 11 10 9 8 7 5 0

D 7 9 10 11 8 9 5 11 10 9 7 9 6 6 16 6 9 6 6 8 8 6 0

Total L F 8 62 6 59 7 57 7 60 12 57 11 50 14 48 11 41 11 55 11 45 15 39 12 51 15 52 17 49 10 40 16 42 17 40 19 41 21 44 20 34 21 39 24 28 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 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 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 0 2

Subs

0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 18 8 3 2 0 4 0 0 11 3 5 1 9 5 1 2 26 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 38 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 35 0 1 2 0 0 0 0 14 3 2 1 21 5 2 2 22 3 1 5 15 2 2 1 11 1 6 3 21 3 1 5 25 11 0 3 6 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 26 2 3 2 29 7 15 4 30 1 14 4 0 1 0 0 1 1 0 0 16 8 1 1 0 0 0 0 11 0 0 1 2 3 3 1 3 10 1 1 16 1 1 0 6 10 0 1 1 - 63 43

F 30 24 27 37 25 26 22 20 27 20 19 24 24 25 22 16 20 19 13 10 16 17 0

A 35 29 34 28 47 34 37 36 49 35 43 44 54 53 38 44 50 54 83 52 76 78 0

GD 27 30 23 32 10 16 11 5 6 10 -4 7 -2 -4 2 -2 -10 -13 -39 -18 -37 -50 0

Pts 73 72 70 68 59 57 56 56 55 54 49 48 48 48 46 45 42 36 33 32 29 21 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 Ryan Rydel Nathan Shaw Macauley Southam-Hales Finley Stanyer Jamie Stott Jack Stretton Adam Thomas Tom Walker Jordan Williams Own goals Total

D 4 4 3 8 4 6 2 6 6 2 5 3 2 3 9 2 4 2 2 6 6 2 0

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

Player Roll-Call

W 11 11 13 7 9 8 8 9 6 9 7 7 9 7 4 10 5 6 7 5 4 3 0

Starts

Promotion

P 37 36 37 37 37 36 36 37 36 35 36 34 35 37 36 35 37 35 36 36 36 35 0

2 0 21 1 11 9 32 0 3 0 0 4 0 43 0 40 0 20 22 28 19 11 24 27 6 0 32 35 35 0 1 18 0 17 2 8 16 8 -

0 0 0 3 0 0 10 4 2 5 0 0 3 5 1 5 1 2 4 0 2 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 2 2 1 0 0 4 3 2 5 2 2 3 1 5 3 2 1 1 6 3 6 1 6 14 0 3 5 0 0 0 0 0 3 5 2 8 19 4 2 19 4 1 0 0 1 0 0 10 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 3 3 1 11 1 1 1 1 0 13 0 1 1 - 77 47

Goals

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

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 0 2

Biggest Win Most Goals Highest Attendance Lowest Attendance Top Goalscorer

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

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

Relegation

National League Records Saturday 12th December 2020 Chesterfield 6-0 Barnet Tuesday 20th April 2021 Wealdstone 0-6 Maidenhead United Saturday 17th April 2021 Wealdstone 2-7 Hartlepool United Saturday 26th December 2020 Torquay United 6-1 Yeovil Town 1,323 Tuesday 15th December 2020 Weymouth 2-3 Wrexham 337 Michael Cheek (Bromley) 20 = 15 Goals + 5 Penalties

Harry Cardwell scored twice against King’s Lynn Town

# 1 2 22

National League Fair Play Team Stockport County 43 Boreham Wood 51 Yeovil Town 95

2 0 3

Pts 192 204 410

*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 2nd May 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 4-0 2-2 3-0 4-0*

-

4 4 4 4 4 4 4

Hinchliffe Hinchliffe Hinchliffe Hinchliffe Hinchliffe Hinchliffe Hinchliffe

Minihan Southam-Hales Southam-Hales Southam-Hales ² Southam-Hales Southam-Hales Minihan

Jennings J Jennings J Jennings J Jennings J Jennings J Jennings J Jennings J

Croasdale Croasdale Croasdale Croasdale Croasdale Croasdale ² Croasdale

Palmer 1 Palmer Palmer Palmer Palmer Palmer 1 Palmer

Hogan Hogan Hogan Hogan Hogan Hogan Hogan ¹

Walker ³ Walker ² Walker Walker Walker ¹ Walker Walker ²

A H A H H H A

NL NL NL NL NL NL NL

1-0

-

4

Hinchliffe

Southam-Hales

Jennings J

Croasdale

Palmer

Hogan

Walker ³

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 Rooney 1 Rooney Rooney 1 ³ Rooney

Madden Madden Madden ¹ Madden 2 Madden 1 Madden Madden 1

Cardwell Cardwell Cardwell ³ Cardwell ¹ Cardwell 1 Cardwell ¹ Cardwell 2 ²

Collar ² Collar ¹ Reid 2 Reid 1 ³ Reid ² Collar Newby

Fitzsimons Fitzsimons Fitzsimons Fitzsimons Fitzsimons Fitzsimons Fitzsimons

Newby Newby ¹ Newby ¹ Newby Newby ¹ Newby ³ Rydel ²

Rooney ¹ Keane Maynard ² Williams ³ Williams Maynard ² Maynard

Southam-Hales ² Minihan ² Minihan ³ Minihan ² Minihan ² Minihan Southam-Hales ¹

Reid ³ Reid Collar Collar ¹ Collar Reid 1 ¹ Reid ³

Rooney

Madden 1

Cardwell ²

Collar ¹

Fitzsimons

Bennett ²

Maynard ¹

Minihan ³

Reid

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

It would take a very brave person to state with any certainty who’s going to win the National League title this season, with four teams locked in a thrilling battle for supremacy as we near the end of the campaign.

Top of the table right now are Torquay, who very nearly relinquished that prized place last Tuesday, only to find a 97thminute winner against Aldershot to remain a point clear of Sutton United. Loan striker Scott Boden was the hero on that occasion, though remarkably it was the ninth time this season that The Gulls have scored on or after the 90th minute, with their late dramas helping the club gain ten points.

What a testimony to their workrate, fitness and fortitude.

evokes that classic football fan question: “Would you rather have games in hand or points already secured?”. Most of us would choose the latter option, though with only a one-point deficit to make up Sutton know that it they win all of their remaining games they will be champions.

As it was, Saturday’s game with play-off chasing Eastleigh didn’t require any such late interventions, though another vital three points were claimed with a 3-1 win. Gary Johnson’s men have now topped the table after 20 of the 37 games they’ve played, a substantially greater accolade than all their opponents, though they have three very testing games ahead against fellow promotion hopefuls, starting with Chesterfield away today, then Bromley at home, before they visit County on May 15th. Those look like the kind of games that can make or break a season.

It seems also that Sutton have overcome a mini-wobble which had threatened to curtail their promotion prospects. Between March 27th and April 24th, The U’s took just six points from six games (winning one, drawing three and losing two), though back-to-back home wins against Barnet and Aldershot since then will have given Matt Gray’s men a much-needed boost, and their quest for a first-ever Football League place continues.

Something that will be occupying the minds of Gulls’ fans too is second-placed Sutton United’s game in hand. It’s a situation that 66

That game in hand takes place a week today, when Sutton face Woking, whose recent form is dire. Before then they take on Notts County and Weymouth.

Hartlepool are hot on the heels of Torquay and Sutton in third place, and they made it 16 games unbeaten when defeating Chesterfield 3-1 on Saturday. It’s an outstanding run that stretches back to mid-February and has fostered great hope amongst

their supporters of a return to Football League status, which they lost in 2017 after 96 years at that level.

Pools’ club record for consecutive victories is 22, dating all the way back to 1910. They have just five to play this season, including a tantalising tie with Sutton in the penultimate game of the campaign. Who knows, perhaps it might be written in the stars that they remain unbeaten, win the league, and get the chance to equal their 111-year record on their return to the Football League?

Meanwhile, whisper it quietly, but it’s actually County that sit top of the form table for the last six games, with our unbeaten run stretching to 13 on Saturday after a fifth win in six. Excitingly it’s entirely possible that any of the top four could finish first, second, third or fourth at this stage. With County and Torquay still to meet, and Sutton versus Hartlepool also ahead, not all of the four teams can secure maximum points in the remaining fixtures, so opportunities to capitalise will arise. And just think, pretty soon fans should be back in the grounds again to witness the key moments. What a month May might be!

Rated Excellent On TrustPilot

Stockport County 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 14 15 16 17 18 19 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 34

Ben Hinchliffe Sam Minihan James Jennings Liam Hogan Ash Palmer Lois Maynard Adam Thomas John Rooney Richie Bennett 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 Ryan Rydel Paddy Madden

Wealdstone FC [1357] [1359] [1397] [1395] [1372] [1394] [1373] [1400] [1396] [1339] [1404] [1398] [1380] [1370] [1401] [1402] [1399] [1407]

[1405] [1406] [1388] [1409] [1410] [1414]

1 2 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 28 29 30 31 34

George Shelvey Michee Efete Ashley Charles Connor Stevens Jerome Okimo Michael Phillips Connor Smith Ross Lafayette Daniel Green Dennon Lewis Charlee Hughes Daniel Wishart Daniel Parish Riley-Jay Harbottle Sonny Lo-Everton Jacob Mendy Alex Dyer Moses Emmanuel Jorome Slew Nikola Tavares Joseph Olowu Ryan Gondoh Josh Meekings Jake Askew Craig Fasanmade Matthew Lench Tecane Shrowder Elijah Hearn George Langston Jack Cawley

Today’s other Vanarama National League fixtures (3:00pm unless stated)

Boreham Wood v King’s Lynn Town Bromley v Hartlepool United Chesterfield v Torquay United Dagenham & Redbridge v Woking Maidenhead United v Wrexham Solihull Moors v Altrincham Weymouth v Barnet Yeovil Town v FC Halifax Town Notts County v Sutton United (5pm, Tues)

Match Officials Referee Thomas Parsons Assistant Referee 1 Reece Davies Assistant Referee 2 Scott Taylor Fourth Official Barry Lamb

Next At Edgeley Park

Dagenham & Redbridge Tuesday 11th May 2021 Kick-off: 7.00pm Vanarama National League

Match Sponsor

[1412]

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

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