Cod Almighty | Article

by Andy Atkins

10 August 2011

In a nutshell
Stockport flirted with the big knobs and now their back end's clapped out. Ringing any bells? Oh, and they usually play in blue.

Recent history
The Hatters joined the Football League in 1900 and knocked around the lower echelons until an upturn of fortunes in the 1990s. This saw a spell of second-flight football and, in 1996-97, perhaps their greatest cup run when they overcame Blackburn Rovers, Southampton and West Ham on their way to a 2-1 aggregate loss to Middlesbrough in the semi-final of the League Cup. Such were their ambitions that at one point County even considered moving to Maine Road when City decided to take up residence in the City of Manchester Stadium. That was until someone finally did the maths and worked out that stadium with a capacity of more than 47,000 would look a bit silly with 7,000 in it.

Still, credit to them for thinking big. It was only when Carlton Palmer took the reins at Edgeley Park in 2001 that the wheels began to fall off, and then the engine, and finally the chassis.A Stockport fan mourns relegation from the 3rd flight in 2005. Imagine how he feels now. Photo by LeSimonPix (cc by-nc-sa 2.0)

In the summer of 2003, Stockport and Edgeley Park were acquired by Brian Kennedy, the owner of the rugby club Sale Sharks. It was a short, unhappy interlude. In 2005, a supporters' trust took over Stockport, but Kennedy retained control of the ground, limiting the revenue available to the club. Attempts to regain ownership of Edgeley Park resulted only in debts, and the club went into administration in 2009. Relegation from the third flight followed, with just five league wins all season. 

Last season
Well, it didn't go too well, now, did it? For the second year on the trot County finished rock bottom and were subsequently booted out of the Football League.

Next season
If I were a County fan I'd be worried; put it that way. At the start of pre-season Ray Mathias was at the helm and now Dietmar Hamann is manager, installed by the new owners, a consortium led by Liverpool businessman Tony Evans. Hardly ideal preparation for the new season. When asked by a reporter: "Why Stockport County?" Hamann is said to have quipped: "Well, it's the club closest to the River Mersey." We laugh but I'm sure I'm not the only one who hopes his decision is based on a bit more than that.

They've signed that ginger striker who used to be at Everton, a couple of young Bolton rejects, a Scottish midfielder and Martin Gritton, so don't be surprised if he pops up with a late winner at Blundell Park in November. Realistically a season of mid-table mediocrity should ensue. However, I think that'll depend on how well they start their campaign.

Statistics
Squad size: Extensive research (checking on their official website) shows that County only have 16 signed professionals, nine of them new signings. Good luck, Didi! 
Betting: They're the same price as Grimsby to win the league, 14/1.Stockport viaduct. Photo by Smabs Sputzer (cc by 2.0)

Apart from the football
Well, Stockport boasts the biggest hat museum in the world. You could check that out if you're incredibly dull. Just around the corner is the slightly more interesting Stockport Viaduct, which represents a major feat in Victorian engineering by being of one western Europe's largest brick structures. Other than that, I wouldn't go expecting too much.