All Things Stockport County

With the long wait for the new season to kick off almost over here's a few of my County photos taken at home and away matches. Really looking forward to getting back to Edgeley Park to bring you some inspiring shots, and hopefully this will be the season to remember as we make the journey back to the Football League.    All images taken by © Andrew Machin    

Whilst the first teamers have a few weeks to wait before they start in earnest, County's younger players kick off their season this week with new managers, new home venues, and a higher level of competition.   The Academy is now under the control of former Hatters Damien Allen and Michael Raynes, with Alan Lord , a most wonderful servant of the Club , switching to a scouting role under the new regime.   Damien Allen( image - the late Sue Cordon.)   Damien, regarded as one of the fittest players on the books during his time at the club, went on to a lengthy career in the League of Wales which concluded in recent years. Michael, who also came through the old youth system at County, was reported as retiring when he was released by Hartlepool United at the end of last season, but in fact made his competitive debut for Ashton United in Saturday's FA Cup qualifying round victory over Squires Gate. He also built a lengthy career in the lower leagues of the EFL, only dropping

    All photos in this report were taken by hedgegrower.     Recently it was confirmed that a mouse sized elephant shrew ( the Somali Sengi) that sucks up ants through its tiny trunk like nose, mates for life   and used to race about at a nippy 19 mph in the Horn of Africa, has been discovered alive and well after being lost to science for 50 years.   It is not quite that long since last I watched County ply their trade, but it certainly feels about the same length of time! That said, it was a massive pleasure ( if one with an inbuilt frisson of fear honed by months of splendid isolation ) to make it to Harrison Drive today and see JG`s County side take on Colne FC of the Northern Premier League in front of an actual crowd! Colne Manager Nathan Rooney will be pleased with his side`s performance , that made things difficult for the blues for 90 odd minutes, making it another good work out for JG`s newly minted squad. It gave us a glimpse of what might be possible as the new se