This week in County History Part 9... 1994

 

 

 

Back to 1994 for this week with a good win for a team chasing promotion and the first signs of the end of terraces.

 

Reporting on the Hatters most recent League game the Manchester Evening News said that Ian Ironside only got the call to play against Rotherham United 75 minutes before the start of the game. He replaced John Keeley who had picked up an injury after minding the goals in the 4-2 victory over York, a game that would prove to be his last for County.

The man who a year earlier had become our first goalkeeper substitute kept a clean sheet in a 1-0 win.

Another player with an injury that would end his County spell - albeit he was only on a monthly contract, was Kevin Brock - who played just one game for the first team. Stockport find out the tribunal fee for Paul Ware later today., Kevin Brock's injury problem is his hamstring and recovery will take him beyond his month's contract.

 

The following day saw the confirmation of the fee that County would have to pay for Stoke City man Paul Ware.

 County must pay £30,000 for Ware with half of that paid immediately. Another £5,000 will be paid after 25 games with the rest after 50 matches. The tribunal also added a 10% sell on clause.

Stoke had asked for £75,000.

 

 

 

Manager Bergara commented on County's forward line with special reference to his pleasure with the way the partnership between Kevin Francis and Alun Armstrong is developing.

Brendan Elwood gave an update on the state of the finances at EP which included the info that when he took over the receiver was about to be called in, the club was £500,000 in debt and losing 3-4,000 a week. For the first few years he had to put money in but he hasn't had to do so for three years now.

The Chairman says the owners have worked hard but there is lots more to do. They have gone through every department and put in people of quality and ability. A major push is now for the schools and children in Stockport and as part of this The next County Roadshow is at the Greyhound on Edgeley.

 

This week's matches started on Wednesday 12th October when the Reserves, despite including several first team men, suffered a bit of a humbling at home to Lincoln City in the Melville Midland Senior League . Our second half consolation came from  our signing from Barnsley Deniol Graham.

County Reserves: Neil Edwards, Dean Connelly (Paul Jones), Mick Wallace, Dean Emerson, Steven Burns, Dave Robinson, David Frain, Paul Ware, Deiniol Graham, Chris Beaumont and Michael Oliver. Unused Subs Kevin Gray, Ryan Honeyman

The team sheet illustrated was produced post  match by the late Geoff Thomas who for several seasons was a regular at non-first team games and offered the most complete info on happenings away from the senior side. A service that us historians sadly miss these days.

 

 

 

 

Cometh the Saturday cometh the man as one of those players the manager had discussed proved the main difference at London Road.

 

It was Saturday 15th October  in an Endsleigh Football League Division Two game which was goalless at half time. On the hour mark Alun Armstrong, later to become County's record sale, a record that stood for many years , put the visitors ahead. That goal proved to be the winner

as County climbed to third.

 

Peterborough: Mark Prudhoe, Kevin Ashley (Lee Williams), Simon Clark, Marcus Ebdon, Gary Breen, Steve Welsh, Dave Morrison, Brian McGorry, Jason Brissett (Sean Farrell), Ken Charlery and Liburd Henry. Unused Sub(s): Mark Tyler

County: Ian Ironside, Paul Ware, Lee Todd, Jeff Eckhardt, Mike Flynn, Tony Dinning, Jim Gannon, Peter Ward, Kevin Francis, Alun Armstrong and Chris Beaumont. Unused Subs Neil Edwards, Deiniol Graham, Mick Wallace

 

 

Charlery would play a brief cameo loan for the Hatters for the final months of our promotion season in 1997, including what seemed at the time several minutes holding off the Chesterfield men with the ball at his feet as we awaited the final whistle to confirm our promotion to the second tier.

 

On the same day our third tier side suffered a heavy defeat at Liverpool going down 5-1. The side included a couple of men who gained  SCAN qualification during their time at the club in Lea Jones (son of a future manager') and goalscorer Michael Oliver. Also involved   is the man who has played a large part in getting the Isle of Man side into the non-league pyramid for the last seven or so years, Paul Jones, who came from our school of excellence on the island to earn a trainee contract.

County: Kevin Gray, Nick Jenkins (Paul Jones), Danny Yongo (Robert Knight), Leon Davies, Lea Jones, Dave Robinson, Steve Smith, Steven Burns, Steven Schofield, Michael Oliver and Ryan Honeyman

 

Ian Watts