Edgeley Park, home of Stockport County based in Greater Manchester and play their trade in the National League… But for how much longer!? Nicknamed the “Hatters” after the town’s history in the hat making market.
In 2011, this club dropped out of the Football League after a spell in administration and even went one better 2 years later dropping into the National League North… Stockport would be down there until 2019 when they won the league and went back up to the National League. This once proud club who were once situated in what we now know as the Championship went all the way down in to Step 2 of the non league… You’re not too big to be down there!
Tonight they find themselves 4 points away from returning to the Football League after 11 years!! They can’t mathematically do it tonight against Torquay United but they can put themselves a draw away from their long awaited return and me and the Super Stag will be there!! It’s been strongly recommended by the Merry Miller over the years and thanks to the idea of the Super Stag, I’m ticking it off at last!! Bring it on!!
The drive now from Shirebrook through Chesterfield and through the High Peak District and into Stockport with an hour to spare before kick off!
Fireworks!! Fans are in high spirits for tonight’s game already! They believe that the Football League is in their grasp! The short walk over to the ground now as I wait for the Super Stag. What’s that noise…? A quick jog around the corner and…
The atmosphere certainly is building alright!! The Super Stag is here and in we go! The Cheadle End sold out tonight unfortunately for us so we’re in the Together Stand. £18 for this National League tie! Astounding! The atmosphere is building fast!! “We’re the boys in Blue & White and we come from Edgeley!”
Kick Off! “Dave Challinor’s Blue & White army!” 11 minutes in and Stockport come forward, Myles Hippolyte finds himself free in the box and he shoots… Good block by the Torquay man and it’s over for a corner, in it comes… Keeper claims.
18 minutes now and Stockport have it on the left, it’s played to Myles Hippolyte in the box, he dummies and he plays it across and here’s Will Collar to shoot first time… Over! Stockport looking the better of the 2 teams as the game goes on so far!
31 minutes gone and Stockport have a corner, “HI HO COUNTY! COUNTY HI HO!” In it comes… Headed in the air and it comes for Ash Palmer… He can’t control his header and it goes wide. 4 minutes later and Stockport play down the right flank, Torquay intercept… But it’s rebounded off the Stockport man and it’s fallen to Antoni Sarcevic who goes for it first time… Ooooooh! Just over! Stockport are getting closer!
43rd minute and Stockport come again, down the right again and they work it into the box, Myles Hippolyte has it and he goes for goal… Deflected… It falls to Paddy MADDEN!! Oh brilliant save!! Shaun MacDonald in the Torquay goal to the rescue there!
Right on half time now and Stockport play down the right again, crossed in, it’s Paddy Madden… He’s mis hit it but Stockport get it back, it’s played in again, Hippolyte with the header… Keeper comes for it but so does Will Collar… Collar gets there first… OFF THE LINE!! Torquay clear! How have Stockport not scored!? Is it going to be one of those nights for Stockport…? It’s 0-0 at half time.
Second half, Torquay changing the keeper this half due to an injury to Shaun MacDonald. 56 minutes on the clock and Stockport play down the left wing this time, it’s crossed in, Will Collar with the header… Good save by Mark Halstead the sub keeper for Torquay! “At Edgeley Park the greatest pride is the SCARF my father wore!” Lovely chant that!!
61 minutes now and Stockport have a corner, in it comes… Ash Palmer at the back post… Wide! 1 minute later and Stockport down the right again, crossed in, Will Collar with the header AGAIN!! OH! A brilliant stretch save by Halstead!! “Blue army! Blue army!” Stockport fans still going strong!
64th minute now and Stockport down the right once again, it’s played in low, it falls to Paddy Madden running in…
YOU KNOW WHAT COMES NEXT!!!! Paddy Madden again for Stockport!! And Edgeley Park goes CRAZY!!! The Football League is getting closer for Stockport now! They can feel it in their grasp now!! 1-0!!
“Stockport County we’re gonna win the league! We’re gonna win the league! We’re gonna win the league! F*** you Wrexham we’re gonna win the league! We’re gonna win the league! We’re gonna win the league!” 71st minute and Stockport have a corner…
In comes the corner… Paddy Madden with the header… It’s deflected out for another, in it comes… Torquay clear. Into the last 10 minutes now and Torquay are starting to come forward now for the first time in this game… Can Stockport hold on here?
80th minute and Torquay have a corner, Joe Lewis with the header… OH! Just over! Heart in your mouth moment for Stockport there! 2 minutes later and Torquay have the ball in their own half… But they lose it and Oliver Crankshaw gets it on the left, he drives into the box and he shoots… YES… No it’s the side netting… It looked in but it’s wide… He should’ve scored though!
86th minute and it’s Stockport down the right hand side once again, it’s crossed in, here comes Myles Hippolyte running in… OH! WHAT A SAVE THAT IS!! Somehow Mark Halstead touches it over from point blank! Unbelievable goalkeeping there! It is a corner, in it comes… All the way out for a throw in on the far side for Torquay…
88th minute and Torquay play down the right with Stephen Duke-McKenna, he gets a cross in, it’s flicked towards goal… OFF THE BAR! It’s loose… It’s tipped onto the roof of the net by the Stockport keeper and it’s a corner for Torquay, in it comes… Stockport clear and they break, Oliver Crankshaw drives at goal… He wins a free kick on the edge of the box, Paddy Madden steps up… Saved by the keeper!
Into the last minute of stoppage time and Torquay have a free kick on the right, last chance! The keeper comes up… What a game he’s had! Could he possibly end it on an even higher note!? In comes the cross… It’s a poor one and it’s out for a throw in… That’s it!! VICTORY FOR STOCKPORT!! 1 more point will do it!!!
FT: Stockport County 1-0 Torquay United
Ratings
- Atmosphere: 10/10 – What a fanbase!!! Unbelievable support from the Stockport faithful! Relentless throughout! They’re like a European fanbase they’re that good!! Love the scarf chant! Stockport fall into the category of making the hair on your arms stand up! The Super Stag agrees on that one! Simply sensational support! No wonder the Merry Miller has a soft spot for them!
- The Ground: 9/10 – A lovely traditional ground!! 100% League One standard! Borderline Championship in my opinion!! Love the Cheadle End stand! A great ground all in all!
- Expense: 10/10 – A great game and a great spectacle! Drama at the end as well! Can’t complain with that!
- Overall Experience: 10/10 – We were buzzing after that!! Hats off to Stockport! What a club! A great game and an evening well spent by me and the Super Stag!!
39/40 – LEADERS!!!
Great write up you covered every area of the night thank you Stuart watching county since 1962
Thank you mate! All the best for Sunday, I hope you finish the job!
Great write up! Particular thanks for the kind comments about our amazing fan base. From a County fan since 1962.
Thanks mate! Good luck Sunday!
Thanks for the kind words.
We’ve been through some tough times but even at our worst loads of fans stayed loyal and kept believing.
Fan since the early 1990s so had our ups and downs.
The club is certainly on the way back up mate! I think they’ll kick on if they go up Sunday!
Great write up that mate, summed up the night perfectly. Thanks for the support and hope you enjoyed the night.
Thanks mate! Loved it! Will deffo be back one day!
Love this blog mate I really do hope we can complete the job on Sunday C’MON THE COUNTY we’ll get rid of any the National League signs that make sure we never go down to this tinpot league ever again
I hope you do it too mate! I’m sure you’ll kick on if you go up too!