In the 2011–12 season they were demoted to the North West Counties Football League Premier Division for ground grading reasons and changed their name to Stockport Sports.

Work to enclose the ground began in 1996–97, and Woodley's application to join the North West Counties League was accepted.

Both had played at the highest levels for professional and semi-professional clubs such as Manchester City, Crystal Palace, Macclesfield and Runcorn.

The 1999–2000 season saw the club's first ever FA Cup Match against reigning NCEL champions Ossett Albion, which resulted in a 2–1 victory for the Steelmen.

The continued work of the club was rewarded that season when the Steelmen won the Second Division championship on goal difference from Curzon, winning 12 of their last 13 matches and drawing the other, to take its place in the top flight of the North West Counties League.

With the Lambeth Grove stadium passed for the Northern Premier League, the Club declared itself a limited company effective 1 August 2004.

Phase one was the installation of a synthetic surface in July 2005, which ensured no future postponements and provided an income stream for the club from hiring of the facilities.

Future plans included new floodlights, additional seating, covered standing accommodations, new perimeter fencing and new treatment rooms for use by players and spectators.

Woodley were owed £150,000 from Stockport County for the sale of Liam Dickinson, and this shortfall put the club's future in doubt.