The Rise of Stockport County
In the 90s and Early 2000s County were in the same division as Manchester City in the second division battering them and gaining points pretty much every time the sides faced. Then In 2008 Stockport County were Promoted to League One after beating fellow Greater Manchester Team Rochdale. The Season after they were relegated back to league two after unpaid wages and eventually fell into administration and were relegated again to the national league losing 36 out of 41 matches that season and lost a football league status of 106 years. During the spell in the national league 5 managers were hired in 2 years including ex manager Jim Gannon who got the hatters promoted the first time. In 2013 County were relegated to the sixth tier of english football and lost their status as a professional club and players worked jobs. The reason for the decline was because of one man Brian Kennedy who owned County and Sale Sharks (Rugby Union Team) sold the club for £1 to the fans however the sale did not include the stadium Edgeley Park and had to pay £12,500 a month just to play in their own stadium. In 2009 Brian sold the training facilities and made them play at a sports centre. This left the club with no assets. In 2015 the ground faced demolition however the Stockport Council purchased the ground for 2 million pounds. That Season the club finished 8th and the next 5th. In the 2018/19 season Stockport County were Champions of the National League North and returned to the national league to become a professional team. On the 16th January 2020 Mark Stott Completed the takeover of the club. The club finished 7th in the lockdown season. During the break Edgeley Park was redeveloped. The following Season the hatters finished in the playoffs yet again losing to Hartlepool 1-0. Later that year (2021) they hired current manager Dave Challinor and on his first game took on League One Side Bolton Wanderers at the University of Bolton stadium. They eventually drew the game and sent a replay to Edgeley Park which was an incredible game with the hatters progressing after a 5-3 result. At the end of the season an 11 year exile from the football league. Last Season County Finished 4th in the league and what a season that was. There was 3-1 defeats last minute goals and 119 minute play off equalizers. They unfortunately lost the play off final on penalties and currently sit 1st in the league with some amazing records such as 5-0 victories to Wrexham. A 12 game winning streak and even an 8-0 victory.
Written by Lewis Molloy Smith