A decade ago, Stockport County were languishing in the National League North following years of financial difficulties. They suffered significant hardship, including semi-professional football, before Mark Stott purchased the club in 2020. Today Stockport sit 4th in League One, well placed to earn a playoff spot and potential promotion. Their story has seen challenges, but their last decade has seen an upwards trend that may continue into the Championship.
History
Stockport County have a proud history as a football league club. They were founded in 1883 as Heaton Norris Rovers, and they spent over 100 years in the football league. Those years included spending time in the old First Division, England’s second tier, where they finished 8th in 1998, their highest football league finish. Danny Bergara led his County side on 4 trips to Wembley in the early 90’s, and after his departure they reached the League Cup semi-final in 1997.
However, the good times did not last. Stockport were relegated from the second tier in 2002, and down again in 2005. Jim Gannon took over as manager and prevented them from suffering relegation out of the Football League the following season, before earning them promotion back to League One in 2008. Unfortunately, from there County suffered a harsh decline. Successive relegations in 2010 and 2011 saw them fall out of the Football League, and another in 2013 meant that the Hatters were playing regional football for the first time in a century.
National League North
County suffered in the 6th tier of English football for six seasons. The first two seasons of semi-professional football under Alan Lord saw them stabilise at the level, finishing 14th and then 11th.
Jim Gannon was reinstated as manager in 2016, and he oversaw the revival of the clubs’ fortunes. They finished 9th and then 8th in his first two seasons, before finishing 5th and qualifying for the playoffs. County lost to Chorley in the quarterfinals, meaning they had to endure another season in the National League North.
The following year, County finally secured their promotion. They won the league title thanks to a 3-0 win at Nuneaton Borough on the final day, ensuring they would be back in the National League for the 2019/20 season.
On the Way Back
During their first season back, County were taken over by local businessman Mark Stott, who vowed to return the Hatters to full time, as well as to take Stockport back to the Championship within 7 years.
Jim Gannon steered them to a 7th place finish in their first season back, although that season was curtailed by COVID. He was replaced halfway through the next campaign by Simon Rusk. However, Rusk would also fail to win promotion. County finished the 20/21 season in 3rd place, but lost in the playoff semi-finals to Hartlepool United who would go on to secure promotion.
Simon Rusk was dismissed early in the 21/22 campaign, as they were 12th after 12 games. Dave Challinor replaced him, and he took advantage of a County squad that included experienced football league players Paddy Madden and Antoni Sarcevic. Stockport then went on a run that saw them win promotion. The league title was secured with a 2-0 win over Halifax Town on the final match of the season, and that meant Stockport County were back in the football league for the first time in a decade.
The Rise Up the Football League
Stockport received a baptism of fire upon their return to the football league, as they went 3-0 down at home to Barrow within the first half of their opening fixture. Despite this, they recovered well, and a run of only one defeat in their last 17 matches saw them with a chance at automatic promotion at the first time of asking on the final day of the season. However, Connor Evans missed a last-minute penalty in a 1-1 draw at home to already relegated Hartlepool United. That result wasn’t enough, and they were sent to the playoffs.
In the playoffs, County faced Salford. They lost the first leg 1-0, but a late Jack Stretton’s late equalising goal made the aggregate score 2-2, sending the tie to penalties. Antoni Sarcevic scored the winning penalty, sending Stockport to the final at Wembley. The Hatters took on Carlisle United in the final, and a 1-1 draw sent them to yet another penalty shootout. This time, Carlisle keeper Tomas Holy denied County by saving Ryan Rydel’s penalty. This sent United up and halted County’s rise for another year.
This defeat didn’t derail County’s momentum for long, as County romped to the League Two title the following season. They had a 12-match winning run through September and October, and a separate run of 8 wins and 2 draws in 10 matches at the end of the season to secure promotion. Standout results include 5-0 wins over Wrexham and MK Dons, as well as an 8-0 thrashing at home to Sutton United. Promotion was won with a 2-0 victory over Morecambe, and the league title followed with a 5-2 at Notts County, as County returned to League One for the first time since 2010.
The Hatters started the League One campaign well, winning their first 3 matches. Ollie Norward signed after having spent last season in the Premier League, whilst Louie Barry retuned on loan from Aston Villa. Barry scored 15 goals in the first half of the season before being recalled, and his goals fired County into playoff contention, and they have continued to maintain their form since his departure. With 10 games to go, they occupy a playoff spot, and look well placed to be competing for a spot in the Championship in May.
Mark Stott has stated that his aim is to see County in the Championship, and the Hatters are well on their way to achieving that aim. County have finished in a higher league position than the season before for 11 straight seasons, and there is no indication that this trend will end soon. Stockport have a great chance at earning promotion this season, but even if they are unsuccessful this time, it can be expected that they will continue to challenge in the coming seasons.
