Hatters Worldwide - 1 Akito Aoki ( Japan )

By -

  

 

 

 image-andrewmachinphotography 

 

 

Hatters Worldwide – 1 Akito Aoki (Japan)

( most of images in this article kindly provided by https://twitter.com/MachinSports )

It has been the source of constant satisfaction to be able, via this blog, to provide reports and images from County`s games home and away over the years.

Particular satisfaction is derived from knowing that the reports, and other articles are appreciated by so many out there including the enormous number of exiled County supporters all over the globe.

With the blog averaging between 2500 and 3000 pv`s per week,and heading towards the million fast before Covid struck ( now sitting at 802513) it has been a massive disappointment , to colleague Andrew Machin and hedgegrower, to  be unable to continue reporting- we hope this will change soon !

However…something shines brightly throughout all the pandemic awfulness-  the strength of the County family worldwide. Log on to Twitter or any County message board and exiles are there in force keeping the dream alive.

This series of articles is hedgegrower`s way of acknowledging those individuals who, on the international stage, help to make Stockport County more than just a football club.

We start in Japan where County supporter Akito Aoki is fast becoming a County Legend!

 

Akito at EP- image AndrewMachin Photography

 

Akito hails from Shinagawa ( special ward in Tokyo), and is well known and loved by County supporters after his visit earlier in the year firmly cemented ties between Akito and Stockport County fans, following on line contacts with various County supporters.

 

 Shinagwa-image theculturetrip.com

 

 

 

 

(Shinagawa  ,  home to the Tennozu Isle, a high-rise complex with a boardwalk, pub, shops, and restaurants. Elegant Sengaku-ji Temple the burial site for 47 renowned samurai. Colourful bridges span the tree-lined Meguro River, while Shinagawa Park has picnic spots and an aquarium. High-tech sports facilities built for the 2020 Olympics include climbing walls, cycle tracks, and beach volleyball courts.)

Welcome indeed !-image andrewmachinphotography


 

 

 

 

His visit to Stockport was a stand-out highlight of a desultory 2020 and County fans took him to their hearts highlighted by his appearance on the pitch at Edgeley Park to receive the accolade from the Club and its fans, completing a great day by doing the half time draw for us!

 

 

  and the winner is....... image andrewmachinphotography

 

 

 

 

During his visit Akito took time out to visit Help the Hatters and they were delighted to see him and make the acquaintance of such a fine gentleman- a great ambassador for his country! The Stockport County Supporters Cooperative were also pleased later to welcome Akito into membership  along with fellow countryman  Taroh Toyoura, further cementing the bond.

Since returning home, Akito has been a live wire communicator , via Twitter and Facebook, with the County fan base, and despite the obvious difficulties in doing so, has been a regular watcher of County`s games so far this season via the various streaming systems !

There`s more….he …and the growing County following in Japan can now be reached here:-

https://twitter.com/HattersNippon

 

And….we can do no more than  give you the bio from the site…

Hatters Nippon, an unofficial supporters club in Stockport County, UK 5th Division. We plan to hold various events in the future while communicating the charm of the club and town. Unofficial Stockport County supporters club in Japan branch.


……well said Akito , good fortune to Hatters Nippon !

 

Hopefully you can see what a great addition to the County Family Akito is, and when conditions allow it, we look forward to welcoming him back to Stockport again!

 

 

Now exiles, I know you are out there, get in touch and let me tell the rest of the County Family about you. Or…if you are not an exile but know of someone who is and we might usefully highlight, please contact me.

Thank you .

Keep well…Stay Safe !

 

hedgegrower

 



 

Comments

Post a Comment

Top Posts

Simply Disgraceful !

By -
Simply Disgraceful ! This day will rank in infamy    with some of the darkest in our Club`s history- the owners of Stockport County have sacked Jim Gannon…..a dreadful decision......... totally bereft of merit, and one heralded by a shamefully inadequate announcement, as insulting to County fans as it is to Jim. Champions under Jim in our last completed season, fourth in the league after as impressive a win as any Club Chair could wish to witness from his team on Tuesday, despite the interrupted nature of the current season, and clearly playing well, so this smacks of something other than prudence or good decision making and as for being rational and fair………….. Sadly the Club`s owners rather added to the anger their foolish decision has already triggered, by stating that the decision was not results based, but based on `culture`.   Jim is a proven quality Manager , who knows what it takes to make County tick, has done so many times in the past, and   has forg...
Read more

Wrexham 1 Stockport County 2 ( Vanarama National League) 31 August 2019

By -
Image
“Where`s the goals gonna come from”-is a familiar refrain from those wanting County to ship in a new striker every other week, and County once again fully answered that one with “ from almost everywhere” as goals from defenders Sam Minihan and Ash Palmer secured all the points at the Racecourse Ground today against Wrexham. A 2-0 County lead at half time seemed to signal a rout, but Wrexham fought well upon the re-start and made a real match of it , albeit that an imperious display by County`s superb back line limited them largely to shots from distance. The defensive display from JG`s boys, in the second 45 minutes, if somewhat hard on the nerves, was again excellent , but a late goal to the Welshmen made the last few minutes tenser than perhaps they should have been. It all ended well however, as ,   with Festus Arthur on in place of Bell ,for his longest stretch of on the park minutes so far, and Mulhern on for Turnbull, marshalled by Keano and Palmer, ...
Read more

Notts County 2 Stockport County 1 ( Vanarama National League) Saturday 23 October 2021

By -
Image
        Perhaps expectations were a touch excessive, after all most visits to Meadow Lane usually result in a stiff test from a home side hell bent on victory. Today was no exception to this as County were outplayed for 94 and a half minutes of the 96 played, by a Notts County side drilled to do the basics correctly, and doing just that. Almost all their passes, no matter the situation, inevitably found a man in a black and white shirt who knew thereafter precisely what they should do with it, whereas if County had no shortage of possession at times, they appeared to be largely lacking a basic pattern to work to that went beyond the sideways pass, and the occasional long ball from Rooney. This resulted in Simon Rusk`s side trailing 2-0 two minutes into four added minutes, when unaccountably the previously immaculately drilled home back line pressed the panic button resulting in a County penalty ( 1-2) and a welter of frenzied County attacks and corners, but it ...
Read more