Stockport County

Let’s start with the name, because there is not actually a county called Stockport. There used to be, kind of, but I confess this stuff confuses non-Brits. There was a county borough called Stockport, which was actually part of two other counties, and I’m glad I don’t have to explain all this because in 1972 it became simply the Metropolitan Borough of Stockport, which is a district of Greater Manchester.

Aside from its name, County has a typical origin story: formed in the 1880s at a school, joined the Football League (Second Division) in 1900, and moved to their current home in 1902. The next 90 or so years can basically be summed up as a tour of the third and fourth tiers, with a minor trophy or two, and some big games against local rivals for promotion or a cup that doesn’t exist anymore.

The glory years came starting in the early ’90s, when manager Danny Bergara got them to Wembley four times, including a League Trophy final and two promotion finals. They lost all, but the main stand at Edgeley Park bears his name anyway. In 1997 they made the League Cup semifinals, beating three Premier League teams along the way, and managed promotion to the second tier, now called the Championship. Their eighth-place finish there in 1998 remains their highest-ever league position.

If you’ve read much in this book, you know what happened next: the fall, then the financial problems, then the near extinction. Supporters took over the ownership for a while in the 2000s, and although new owners arrived in 2010, the next year County fell out of the league for the first time in 110 years. They even spent a few seasons in the sixth tier and became a part-time club.

A local businessman bought them in 2020, and in 2022 they crushed the National League, so County was promoted to League Two for the 2022–23 season. They also famously whipped League One Bolton Wanderers, 5–3, at home in the 2022 FA Cup. County continued with their success in 2023 by making a run to reach the League Two playoff final and nearly achieving back-to-back promotions before falling in penalties to Carlisle. But in 2024 they made it simpler by winning League Two, putting them into League One, where they finished 3rd and made the playoffs but lost on penalties to Leyton Orient.

2024–25 SEASON: 3rd in League One (lost in playoff semifinal), 3rd Round FA Cup, 1st Round League Cup

2025–26 SEASON: League One (promoted 2024)

They have almost no history with Manchester United or Manchester City, but any of the local clubs — Rochdale, Oldham or Crewe Alexandra — seem to qualify as rivals. When I posed this question to a supporter, he actually said Wrexham, due to some fan disturbance in a cup game. County will also be remembered as the villain of one of the “Welcome to Wrexham” seasons.

Stockport County LFC play in the FA Women’s National League Division One North. That’s the fourth tier of the women’s pyramid. Home games are at Stockport Sports Village, which is actually in nearby Woodley.

It was a good atmosphere when I was there, but I don’t recall any particularly unique songs.

Edgeley Park is a terrific old ground, with character all around and a good atmosphere, especially as County is known for higher attendances than most clubs in their level of the football world. The main Bergara Stand was built in the 1930s after the wooden main stand burned down; it has pillars across the front, but the best thing is the players’ “tunnel” is just a walkway through the stand, so getting to your seat may be interrupted by players going on or off the pitch during warmups.

Opposite is the Family Stand, which also houses the away supporters. At one end is the uncovered Railway End, which is generally used only if a big away contingent is on hand. And opposite that is the biggest stand, the Cheadle End, which at just over 5,000 capacity has half the seats in the ground. It opened in 1995 and is named for the part of town over that way. This is the part of the ground you can see from the Piccadilly-bound trains, off to the left as you pass through Stockport.

For character and a view of the away lot, sit in the Bergara Stand; for comfort and noise, the Cheadle.

TOURS: None.

GETTING THERE: It’s just a 10-minute walk from Stockport Railway Station, which is served by numerous trains out of Manchester Piccadilly Station. In fact, if you’re on a train to Piccadilly from London, Stockport is the next-to-last stop, and you can see the stadium on the left.

PUBS: One nice and convenient option is The Armoury, on your left as you walk over from the station. Just opposite that is a little high street called Castle Street, on which you can also find the Sir Robert Peel and the Prince Albert, which both look good options. The Royal Oak is a simple affair but does have a patio and attracts a good crowd of County fans.

GRUB: Also on Castle Street is the excellent Friary, a fish and chips place with takeaway and table service. Chilli Massala looks and smells like a pretty good Indian place.

AROUND TOWN: There really isn’t much to see around town, though it’s far from being an unpleasant place. Like seemingly every northern English town, it used to make something — in this case, hats and silk — during the Industrial Revolution. The last hat factory closed in 1997, but the Hat Works Museum opened in 2000 in a building that dates to 1830. Also like seemingly every northern English town, it doesn’t make much now, but it does have some nice old buildings, and it’s involved in a regeneration scheme. Of some interest, perhaps, is that the River Mersey forms in town; that’s the one that enters the ocean at Liverpool.