All Things Stockport County

Ian Bogie would have been looking for an improved performance from his team as they took the field before a brilliant Tuesday night crowd of 505 at Park Road. It`s early days of course but Saturday`s defeat at the hands of Northwich Victoria raised as many questions as it supplied answers. In response Bogie made changes, bringing Paris Bateman, Tom Donegan, Ryan Brooke , Rhys Turner  and Brandon Windsor into the starting line up at the expense of Tunnicliffe, Fisher, Craney, Jevons and Hand whilst swapping Ormson for King between the sticks. Again there was no sign of Charnock, but having seen him running up and down the Cheadle End steps on Tuesday evening this was no surprise! It was 4 at the back for County as the match kicked off with Windsor and Fagbola lining up between Jacobs and O`Halloran. I made Jacobs my M.O.M - he constantly out thought the opposing forwards and forged a potent link at times with the speedily impressive Rhys Turner. Windsor did well too staying on...

By mid July most discerning footy fans will have either had the family holiday or maybe still looking forward to it, if indeed one is planned. The season ticket sorted the fixture list scrutinised and maybe a peek at one or two of the 'friendlies' on offer. Ever budget conscious I have whittled down pre-season friendlies over the years but if one person deserved some patronage this year it was the 'Wylde' man. There is something about that first peek of a fresh new pitch, tempered with the smell of fresh paint. Hope abounds for the season to come. The relaxed relatively none combatant approach by both sides lends to a friendly laid back theme. Fans who by the middle of December would be multi layered and eyeing  their opposition counterparts  up with foreboding actually engage with each other whilst sporting the latest in summer attire and latest kit. OK we are not going to be playing Sheffield Wednesday competitively any time soon but I don't think from a fan to fa...

County`s pre season got off to something less than a flyer in the blistering summer sunshine at Valley Road yesterday. It was an interesting encounter but one that County lost, however ........that does not quite tell the whole story, as the flow and first team significance was, in routine pre-season style, diluted by County, who had dominated the first half, making wholesale changes at half time, and thereafter losing the plot and the game to a well drilled Vics side inspired by the stand out man of the match- Scott Harries. Ian Bogie would have learned some useful things from the encounter hopefully. In the first half, County lined up 3/5/2, and County`s Manager will want another look probably at Ross Fisher who took Charnock`s place at the back alongside Fagbola and Tunnicliffe. He played the whole 90 minutes but without ever being wholly convincing, whereas fullbacks O`Halloran and Jacobs again looked the part getting up the park at regular intervals to reasonably good effect....

Edgeley Park Working Party Update With Liam`s magnificent pitch inspiring everyone, HtH set about work on the unfamiliar day of Wednesday this week. This was a one off due to Rodgers testimonial match being on Tuesday.  HtH confined their activities to cleaning up 3 of the 4 stands, and I estimate that approximately forty tons of assorted litter was bagged up and binned in a relatively short time. Big thank you to all who turned up. Please note we are back to Tuesday next week , so see you at EP circa 18.30! Blog. The Blog goes from strength to strength , rattling up a total of over 1700 hits in 4 weeks / 543 in the last 7 days. People are visiting the site from all over this troubled world and this is a breakdown of same;- UK                      415 US                  ...

I have just finished watching the Womens European Championship opener between hosts Sweden and Denmark. It was a bit of a cracker and one played out before a packed house in Gothenburg. For years I have felt that the womens game has not attracted the attention it has deserved , but the outstanding quality of play last night pointed to the fact that this part of the great game is in rude health , at least in Europe and America. England for sure are improving at international level but it is hard to look beyond the Germans for the likely victors in the current tournament. If we look at the game nationally, here in the UK, a familiar picture emerges, one of FA neglect and indifference mixed with an eye for a fast buck. OK......the FA have launched a campaign recently ` Kick off Your Career' which is aimed at young women thinking of football as a career, but just what is on offer? Should they progress via the scheme there is pretty much only the Super League   that ...

With County fielding 22 substitutes throughout the game and Sheffield Wednesday upwards of 12, there was fat chance of the 2083 spectators who made it to Edgeley Park last night, then making it back home before the milkman it seemed, as Stockport   County and their supporters paid homage to the Clubs long serving physiotherapist Rodger Wylde, at his EP Testimonial match last night! Thankfully the referee, the excellent Uriah Rennie, not for the first time in an illustrious career, used his common sense and largely ignored added time thus sparing those on site the wrath of her( or him) indoors! The game, was a low key affair, with a skilful Sheffield Wednesday side largely in command,   but the pre match formalities more than compensated, with a plethora of blasts from County ,and Rodgers, past delighting us with their presence. On the lush Edgeley Park field of play they came, each to a fine reception....Rodger ( greeted warmly by...

Help the Hatters received a timely boost today as their actions in funding the Rhys Turner signing were backed up by a letter from   Stockport County CEO Ryan McKnight, confirming the Clubs intention to honour what they view as a `legally binding agreement`. This will come as a welcome relief to those doubting that this would transpire and is greatly to the Clubs credit! As previously stated provision is made, in the agreement, for the return of the HtH moneys ,plus a % bonus payment that varies according to any fee received if and   when Rhys leaves the Club. It`s a magnificent deal for Club....player and Help the Hatters and this uniquely ground breaking agreement does not stop there........ Help the Hatters will then hold any moneys returned , ring fenced, until such time as Ian and   Alan have a pressing need again- maybe for a loan signing in a promotion push. The moneys will then be put at the Managers disposal again, and thus another happy cycle ...