History of Stockport County F.C.

[3] After playing home matches for several years in different parks in the area, Heaton Norris Rovers moved to Green Lane in 1889.

[6] In 1894, Stockport qualified for the first round proper of the FA Cup for the first time in their history—the first Lancashire Combination club to reach this stage.

[18] In their first season back in the Football League, Stockport had intentions of having a first-class team, regardless of expense, by paying wages and advertising for a professional trainer.

[20] During the early part of the 1908–09 season, the Stockport County board issued a prospectus for the club to become a 'limited liability company' which was confirmed in October 1908.

[25] During this time Stockport used friendly and charity matches to scout potential new players,[26] David Ashworth was appointed as the team's first manager in 1914.

In the 1928–29 season, they amassed 62 points, scored over 100 goals, averaged 10,000 fans for the first time, and won nine of their last eleven matches, but it was not enough to win the league.

[63] Shortly after midday on 23 July 1935; three weeks before the start of the 1935-36 season, the wooden main stand at Edgeley Park burned down, also causing damage to houses opposite.

[88][89] They also enjoyed some success in the FA Cup defeating First Division team Luton Town 3–0, before being eliminated by a score of 3–2 in the fourth round away to West Ham United.

Stockport, then bottom of the Fourth Division, played to an unexpected 1–1 draw after taking the lead through Len White,[90][91] but lost the replay 2–0.

[96] Trautmann's native German connections helped in arranging a friendly at the end of the 1964–65 season with FSV Frankfurt which Stockport lost 3–1.

[97] During the following pre-season, Stockport toured Germany where they played three friendlies in five days, against VfL Bochum, SC Opel Rüsselsheim and FSV Frankfurt.

[96][100] A friendly with SV Hamburg in May 1966 at Edgeley Park ended in a 5–1 defeat; Len White scored Stockport's only goal.

[119][120] In March 1995 Bergara was sacked after an altercation with then-chairman Brendan Elwood,[121][122] and Dave Jones was appointed manager in April.

[132][133] His tenure started with a 2–1 defeat of Manchester City at Maine Road,[134] and on Boxing Day the club were sixth, holding a playoff spot.

A new company, Cheshire Sport, was created,[142] combining ownership of Stockport County, Sale Sharks and the Edgeley Park stadium.

[153][154] He led the club to safety in 2005–06,[155] sustained a promotion challenge the next season, eventually missing out on the League Two playoffs on goal difference.

[156] The following season, Stockport County continued their success, despite losing an FA Cup first round replay away to non-League Staines Town on penalties.

[159] However, after beating Wycombe Wanderers 2–1 on aggregate in the play-off semi-final,[160] Stockport played Rochdale at Wembley in the final, coming from behind to secure a 3–2 victory and earn promotion to League One for the next season.

[161][162] During the 2008–09 season, Stockport were in the League One play off places at Christmas,[163][164] but their form dipped during the final months with just two wins in their last ten games, which saw them slip to mid-table.

[169] Four days later, Stockport County was placed into administration due to a loan to a creditor of around £300,000 and a tax debt of £250,000 to Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs.

[178] The purchase of Stockport County by the '2015 Group' of investors was approved by the Football League at its May 2010 meeting, with the takeover announced on 17 June 2010.

[180] Starting the 2010-11 season in League Two, the new owners pledged to "rebuild the club from top to bottom",[181] and appointed former Carlisle United boss Paul Simpson as manager.

[184][185] However, with no proper succession plan in place, Peter Ward was appointed as interim manager, with former Wigan Athletic boss Ray Mathias brought in as assistant.

[187] Despite an upturn in performances and results under Mathias, Stockport were relegated into the Conference for the first time in their history, after 106 years in the Football League.

[190] However, before the pre-season campaign got underway, he was dismissed when a Liverpool-based businessman tried—and ultimately failed—to buy the club,[191] replacing Mathias with former German international Dietmar Hamann.

[199] The club regained sole tenancy of their Edgeley Park stadium for the first time in nine years from the beginning of the 2012–13 season, after Sale Sharks relocated to Salford City Reds' home ground.

[200][201] On 15 January 2013, former fcbusiness magazine editor, 30 year old Ryan McKnight was named as the new chief executive officer at the club, becoming the youngest in UK football.

[202][203] Gannon was subsequently sacked for a second time,[204][205] and was replaced by Swiss Darije Kalezić, who had never managed in English football previously.

[217][218] In February 2015, The Stockport County board of directors issued an open statement about the future aspirations of the football club, named the 'Moving Forward' Document.

[242][243] Managed by Dave Challinor (appointed in November 2021),[244][245] County topped the National League in 2021–22, securing promotion back to the EFL after an 11-year absence.