Stockport County F.C.

Stockport County was formed in Heaton Norris in 1883 as Heaton Norris Rovers at McLaughlin's Cafe, by a group of pupils[1][lower-alpha 1] from Stockport Sunday School who were also members of the Wycliffe Congregational Church.[2][3] After playing home matches for several years in different parks in the Stockport area, Heaton Norris Rovers moved to Green Lane in 1889. This is recognised as the first official home ground of the team.[4] The club changed their name Stockport County in 1890 after the County Borough of Stockport,[3] and played in the Lancashire League and local cup competitions until 1900, when they gained admission to the Football League Second Division.[5]

1910 Cheshire ordnance survey map showing Edgeley Park and surrounding area

Stockport left their Green Lane home in 1902 and moved to Edgeley Park,[3][6] which at the time was home to Stockport RFC.[7] Stockport finished in the bottom three for their first four seasons and failed to gain re-election at the end 1903–04 season[8] After spending one season in the Lancashire Combination.[9] The club was re-admitted to the Football League, having been re-elected after a second voting ballot.[10] In October 1908 it was confirmed that Stockport County would become a 'limited liability company'.[11][12] The club remained in the Second Division of the Football League for seven years until the 1912–13 season, when they again had to seek re-election.[13][14] Stockport gained 22 votes and retained their football league status.[15]

David Ashworth was appointed as the team's first manager in 1914.[16] After the outbreak of World War I, competitive football was suspended. Stockport did however complete in the Lancashire section of the Wartime Football League which was played from 1915–16 to 1918–19. Ashworth would manage the team throughout the war, up to the end of 1919, when he joined Liverpool.[17]

An unsuccessful 1920–21 campaign saw Stockport finish bottom of the Second Division; however, instead of facing re-election,they were placed in the new Third Division North.[18] In the 1921–22 season Stockport won their first Football League title when they beat Darlington in front of 18,500 fans at Edgeley Park.[19] The manager Albert Williams was presented with the trophy seven days later before the final home game against Lincoln City.[20][21][lower-alpha 2]

The 1923–24 season, saw Ernest Barlow elected as the club chairman, a position he would hold for 30 years.[23] Stockport's goalkeeper Harry Hardy was called up to play for the England national team.[24][25] He kept a clean sheet in a 4–0 win against Belgium.[26][27][lower-alpha 3] The club closed out the 1920s in the Third Division North, with two consecutive second placed finishes but failed to gain promotion.[29][30]

From the start of the 1930s, Stockport County played in a home kit of white and black and were briefly nicknamed the 'Lilywhites'.[31] Shortly after midday on 23 July 1935; three weeks before the start of the 1935-36 season, the wooden main stand at Edgeley Park burned down, also causing damage to houses opposite. The fire also destroyed the club's records up to 1935.[32][33] The current Main Stand was built in 1936 and officially opened by Charles Sutcliffe, then president of the Football League.[34][35]

During the 1939–40 season, Stockport played only two matches (losing both and being bottom of the league) before war was declared. The Football League was then suspended and did not resume until after World War II.[36] Regional league competitions were set up; the FA Cup was also suspended and replaced with the Football League War Cup.[37] In 1945–46, Stockport hosted Doncaster Rovers in a League Three North Cup match, reputed to be the longest professional football match, lasting 203 minutes.[38][39]

The 1950s brought little league success, the regional Third Divisions were combined into national Third and Fourth Divisions after the 1957–58 campaign, Stockport finished in the top half of the Third Division North and so were placed in the following season's national Third Division.[40][41] Where they spent one season, before being relegated.[42] During the 1964–65 season, Stockport chairman Vic Bernard re-introduced the royal blue strip,[31] and hired former Manchester City goalkeeper and FA Cup winner, Bert Trautmann as the club's general manager to improve the club's image.[43] Trautmann and Bernard decided to move matches to Friday evenings in an attempt to improve revenue.[44] Trautmann resigned from his position in 1966.[44][45] Stockport returned to the Third Division by winning the Fourth Division in 1966–67.[46]

After the club was relegated at the end of the 1969–70 campaign, the 1970s and 1980s were times of mediocrity and struggles against relegation. Eric Webster managed Stockport on five separate occasions, four of which were as caretaker manager during the 1980s, having first joined in 1974 to look after the youth set up.[47][48] After 16 years service with the club, Webster was awarded a testimonial match against Manchester City in August 1990.[49] Following the introduction of automatic promotion and relegation between the Football League and the Football Conference at the start of the 1986–87 season, Stockport faced the prospect of non-League football, with just six points from 13 games. However, Colin Murphy was brought in for his second spell as manager, and Stockport gained 45 points from their final 31 games to survive, although Murphy left shortly after the end of the season.[4][lower-alpha 4]

Stockport play Oxford United at Edgeley park in 1994

Danny Bergara was appointed as manager in March 1989. Automatic promotion was gained in 1990–91.[50] In the 1992 Football League Trophy Final, Bergara became the first South American to lead an English team at Wembley[51] Bergara would lead Stockport to Wembley on three further occasions, once more in the Football League Trophy and twice in the Play-Offs, losing on all four occasions.[52] In March 1995 Bergara was sacked after an altercation with then-chairman Brendan Elwood,[53][54] and Dave Jones was appointed manager in April.[55]

Dave Jones, pictured in 2010, managed Stockport in the 1990s

A new all-seater, Cheadle End, holding just over 5,000 at capacity, was opened at the start of the 1995–96 season.[34] The following campaign proved to be the most successful in the club's history. They finished second in the Second Division[56] and reached the semi-final of the League Cup, knocking out three Premiership teams on the way before losing to Middlesbrough 2–1 over two legs.[57] Before the start of the 1997–98 season, Dave Jones left for Southampton and Gary Megson took over as manager. In his first season Stockport finished eighth in Division One, just two places off the playoffs—the club's best ever league placing.[58]

The 2001–02 season was the club's worst ever at the time. With Stockport bottom of Division One, a home defeat to Millwall saw manager Kilner sacked.[59] Former England international Carlton Palmer was appointed in November 2001,[60][61] but he failed to save the club from relegation to Division Two in 2001–02.[62] Palmer was unable to build a team capable of challenging for a return Division One the next season.[63]

The summer of 2003 saw an ownership change. Elwood sold the club to Sale Sharks owner Brian Kennedy in a move that would see Sale play their home games at Edgeley Park. A new company, Cheshire Sport, was created,[64] combining ownership of Stockport County, Sale Sharks and the Edgeley Park stadium.

Chart of yearly table positions of Stockport County in the English football league system[65]

In 2005, after reportedly losing £4 million in operating costs,[66] Cheshire Sports chairman Brian Kennedy handed ownership of the club to the Stockport County Supporters Trust.[67][68] Former player Jim Gannon was placed in charge, initially as caretaker manager.[69][70] He led the club to safety in 2005–06,[71] sustained a promotion challenge the next season, eventually missing out on the League Two playoffs on goal difference.[72] The following season, Stockport continued their success, reaching the playoffs and facing Rochdale at Wembley in the final, coming from behind to earn promotion to League One.[73][74]

In April 2009, Stockport County was placed into administration due to a loan to a creditor of around £300,000 and a tax debt of £250,000 to Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs.[75][76] On 12 June 2009, the club's administrator, Leonard Curtis, announced terms had been agreed with the Melrose Consortium—headed by ex-Manchester City player Jim Melrose, for the sale of the club.[77][78] Three months later, administrators agreed to a company voluntary arrangement with previous shareholders and creditors.[79] In December 2009 the training ground was put up for sale.[80] The following March, The Melrose Consortium bid was rejected by the Football League.[81] and a new consortium, the 2015 Group, had been given exclusivity to work towards a takeover of the club.[82]

The purchase of Stockport County by the 2015 Group was approved by the Football League at its May 2010 meeting, with the takeover announced on 17 June 2010.[83] Starting the 2010–11 season in League Two, the new owners pledged to "rebuild the club from top to bottom",[84] and appointed former Carlisle United boss Paul Simpson as manager.[85][86] He was sacked after only six months in charge.[87][88] Ray Mathias brought in as interim manager.[89] Despite an upturn in performances and results, Stockport were relegated into the Football Conference for the first time in their history.[90][91]

Stockport County players warm up before a home match in 2011.

After relegation a Liverpool-based businessman tried—and ultimately failed—to buy the club,[92] German international Dietmar Hamann, who had no prior managerial experience was named manager.[93] He won three of nineteen matches before resigning after his position had been undermined by a fans meeting after a home match in November 2011[94][95] This meeting called for Gannon, to be re-appointed as manager;[96][97] After overseeing an improvement in performances, Gannon steered Stockport away from the Conference Premier relegation zone, finishing 16th.[98]

The club regained sole tenancy of their Edgeley Park stadium for the first time in nine years from the beginning of the 2012–13 season, after Sale Sharks relocated to Salford City Reds' home ground.[99][100] On 15 January 2013, former fcbusiness magazine editor, 30 year old Ryan McKnight was named as the new chief executive officer at the club.[101][102] Gannon was subsequently dismissed for a second time.[103][104] Stockport employed two further managers in three months and were relegated to the Conference North on the final day of the season.[105] The club announced it was to lose its full-time status, proceeding with a part-time model.[106] McKnight announced his resignation in April 2014.[107]

The summer of 2015 saw Stockport starting their third season at National League North level. Neil Young was named as Stockport's new permanent manager after having previous successes in the same division with Chester.[108][109] After failing to mount a serious promotion challenge, he departed in January 2016.[110] The club once again turned to Gannon, who returned for a third stint as manager after a successful period at Northwich Victoria.[97][111]

Gannon stabilised the club on the pitch finishing around the play offs places for the next two seasons.[112][113] In 2017, a local search was carried out to locate descendants of the club's founders.[1][114] The 2018–19 season saw Stockport reached the second round of the FA Cup, semi-finals of the FA Trophy and winning their first league title in 52 years, and with it promotion back to the National League on the final day of the season[115][116]

Local businessman Mark Stott purchased County for an undisclosed sum in January 2020, making the club debt-free in the process; Stott pledged to return the club to full-time football, help to climb back up the Football League and find a new training ground for County.[117][118]

Heaton Norris Rovers originally played home matches at the Heaton Norris Recreation Ground, then at various locations in Stockport until settling at a park on Green Lane, Heaton Norris, in 1889. The nearby Nursery Inn served as the team's home, with players using a barn as changing rooms.[4] Green lane remained the club's home for its first two seasons in the Football League.[154]

Green Lane had one main stand that ran the length of the pitch, and a raised bank behind one of the goals. The remainder of the ground was uncovered terracing, with turnstiles located at the back of the Nursery Inn.[155]

By 1902 the club required a larger ground and moved to Edgeley Park, then home of the rugby league club Stockport, which went out of business three years later.[32] Green Lane was retained for use by the club's reserve team, and one further first team game was played at the ground on 18 April 1903 when Edgeley Park was being used by the rugby club.[156] The Green Lane site was later used for housing.[154] Stockport County have played home games at Edgeley Park since the start of the 1902–03 season, celebrating the centenary in 2002.[156]

View from Edgeley Park's Cheadle End stand

In 1995, a new 5,000 seat Cheadle End was built to replace the terrace. This made the stand an all-seater that now included conference and banqueting facilities.[34]

In late 2000, then Stockport County chairman Brendan Elwood considered moving the club to Maine Road, the former home of rivals Manchester City. The potential move was unpopular with supporters, and protests were staged after it was suggested that the club would change its name to Man-Stock County after the move.[157] Ultimately Manchester City Council decreed that Sale Sharks would make better tenants.[158] Maine Road has since been demolished to make way for a housing estate and Edgeley Park was then shared with Sale whose parent company, Cheshire Sports, owned the ground.[159] In 2001, The Railway End, opposite the Cheadle End was the last part of Edgeley Park to be converted to seating taking the total capacity to 10,852.[34]

There was another rumour that Stockport would leave Edgeley Park in 2012. This was dismissed by then chairman Lord Peter Snape,[160] before Sale Sharks confirmed that they would be moving to Salford City Reds' new stadium.[99][100] This left Stockport County as the only tenants at Edgeley Park.[161] On 23 May 2012, it was announced that Stockport County would rename the Main Stand "The Danny Bergara Stand" in honour of the club's manager during a successful period for the team in the 1990s.[162]

In the summer of 2015, Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council purchased the stadium to prevent it from being demolished and redeveloped.[163][164] After a plea from fans to safeguard the stadium,[165] an emergency council meeting was held, and the stadium was purchased for £2 million.[166][167] It is currently leased back to the football club.[168][169]

Help the Hatters is a group of unpaid volunteers who raise money for the club and help with the maintenance and upkeep of Edgeley Park.[190][191] They also helped organise the Players Fund[192][193] used to help pay the wages of young players.[194] The fund also used to give the Stockport County Supporters' Co-operative shares in the football club.[192][195] Help the Hatters transformed the clubs legends' lounge into the Stockport County Museum, which was officially opened by former player George Haigh on his 102nd Birthday.[196][197]

Stockport County Supporters' Co-operative is the other active supporters' group.[198][199] The Supporters' Co-Op also assists in running the Stockport County Appearance Number (SCAN) Scheme where every player who has played a senior professional game is recognised with a unique framed certificate and a number which shows their position on the list of players to make their debut for the club.[200][201]

As of 2 June 2020[208]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Position Player 1 GK Ben Hinchliffe 2 DF Sam Minihan 4 MF Paul Turnbull 5 DF Ashley Palmer 6 DF Jordan Keane 7 MF Adam Thomas 8 MF Sam Walker 10 MF Elliot Osborne 14 MF Alex Curran

No. Position Player 15 MF Darren Stephenson 16 FW Nyal Bell 18 DF Festus Arthur 20 DF Jordan Downing 23 FW Richie Bennett 24 MF Max Greenhalgh 27 MF Lois Maynard 29 DF Liam Hogan

This list contains the names of all past players/club staff who have been inducted into the Stockport County Hall of Fame.[209]

Based on win percentage in all competitions[213]

Name	Nat	From	To	Record
				P	W	D	L	%
Lincoln Hyde		1926	1931	221	128	35	58	57.92
Andrew Wilson		1932	1933	43	21	12	10	48.84
Dave Jones		1995	1997	117	57	32	28	48.72
Fred Westgarth		1934	1936	95	46	16	33	48.42
Andy Beattie		1949	1952	150	71	28	51	47.33
Bob Kelly		1936	1938	52	24	16	12	46.15
Jim Gannon (three spells in charge)		2006	Present	486	221	111	144	45.47
Eddie Quigley (first tenure)		1965	1966	65	28	8	29	43.08
Danny Bergara		1989	1995	319	137	83	99	42.95
Bob Marshall		1939	1949	141	60	28	53	42.55

^{*Current manager in bold. Statistics only include full-time managers. Interim or caretaker managers are not included.}

^{*Stats correct as of 11 April 2020}

• Football League Second Division/Football League One – Tier 3
  • Runners Up: 1996–97
  • Playoff Runners Up: 1991–92, 1993–94
• Football League Third Division North
  • Champions: 1921–22, 1936–37
  • Runners Up: 1928–29, 1929–30
• Football League Fourth Division/Football League Two – Tier 4
  • Champions: 1966–67
  • Runners Up: 1990–91
  • Play-Off Winners: 2007–08
• Division Three (North) Challenge Cup
  • Winners: 1934–35
• Football League Trophy
  • Runners Up: 1991–92, 1992–93

• National League North – Tier 6
  • Champions: 2018–19
• Lancashire League
  • Champions: 1899–1900
• Lancashire Combination
  • Champions: 1904–05
• Manchester Senior Cup
  • Winners: 1897–98, 1898–99, 1914–15, 1922–23
• 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
• Cheshire Senior Cup
  • Winners: 1905–06, 1946–47, 1948–49, 1965–66, 2015–16

• Biggest home win: 13–0 vs. Halifax Town, 6 January 1934, also a Football League record[214][215]
• Biggest home defeat: 0–6, most recently 24 April 2010 vs. Huddersfield Town[214][176]
• Biggest away win: 7–1 at Bradford City, 18 September 1965[214][216]
• Biggest away defeat: 0–9, vs. Everton Reserves, 9 December 1893[214]
• Consecutive wins: 9, 2006–07[214][176]
• Consecutive away wins: 8, 2007–08[176][217]
• Consecutive wins without conceding a goal: 9, 2006–07, also a Football League record[217][218]
• Consecutive defeats: 12, 2009–10[176]
• Consecutive games scored in: 30, 2007–08[176]
• Consecutive League games scored in: 26, 2007–08[176]
• Highest attendance: 27,833 vs. Liverpool, FA Cup Fifth Round, 11 February 1950[214][176]
• Highest league attendance: 27,304 vs. Lincoln City, Third Division North, 1 May 1937[214][219]
• Highest attendance (all-seated): 10,273 vs. Leeds United, EFL League One, 28 December 2008[176]
• Lowest attendance: 812 vs. Barrow, FA Trophy, 19 November 2013[220]
• Longest match: 3 hours 23 minutes vs. Doncaster Rovers, League Three North Cup, 30 March 1946[38]
• Lowest number of paying spectators: 13 vs. Leicester City (at Old Trafford), Second Division, 7 May 1921, also a Football League record.[lower-alpha 6]

• Most goals (season): 46 League by Alf Lythgoe, 1933–34[214][222]
• Most goals (career): 132 by Jack Connor (1951–1956)[214][223]
• Most appearances (career): 555 Andy Thorpe (1978–1986, 1988–1992)[214][224]
• Most international appearances (caps) – 9 Jarkko Wiss, Finland (2000–2002)[214][225]
• Youngest player: Paul Turnbull, aged 16 years 97 days v Wrexham, 30 April 2005[214]
• Oldest player: Alec Herd, aged 47 years 40 days vs. Crewe Alexandra, 25 December 1951[214]
• Most consecutive clean sheets: 9 by Wayne Hennessey, 2006–07, coinciding with league record for consecutive wins[218]

Stockport County hold a Football League record, winning nine matches in succession without conceding a goal.[6][226] This record ran from January to March 2007, when manager Jim Gannon led the club to the best form shown by a football club in Football League history.[31][216] The final match in this sequence was a 3–0 home win against Swindon Town.[227]

Wayne Hennessey, then on loan to Stockport from Wolves, kept all the clean sheets in his first nine games in professional football.[218] He made his footballing debut against Boston United where Stockport won 2–0. During this time, Hennessey received the League Two Player of the Month Award,[228] The other players involved in matches during the record-breaking run were: Robert Clare, Michael Rose, Ashley Williams, Gareth Owen, Stephen Gleeson, Jason Taylor, Adam Griffin, David Poole, Damien Allen, Anthony Pilkington, Tony Dinning, Dominic Blizzard, Liam Dickinson, Adam Proudlock, Tes Bramble and Anthony Elding.[229]