Stockport County 2 Forest Green Rovers 1
(Conference National) Saturday 19th January 2013 – Edgeley Park, Stockport
Multiple circumstances converged to make Edgeley Park the venue of my first non-league fixture in 2013. Firstly, the distinctly unappealing prospect of an afternoon in Wiltshire in the company of media darling Di Canio and his expensive band of mercenaries following Salop (there are two teams in this division who will simply not see any of my hard earned – Swindon being one and Milton Keynes the other). Secondly, the freezing conditions ruling out my first and second choices of the weekend. Thirdly, my imminent relocation to within spitting distance of this classic football ground meant I should probably put in an appearance – in the home end for once!
If there was ever a club that is beginning to deserve the prefix of “troubled”, then surely it is Stockport County. Crippling financial troubles ensured back to back relegations and a tumble out of the football league for the first time in their history in 2011. Last season, it took the return of club legend Jim Gannon to the managerial hot seat to steer them away from the Conference National relegation places and ensure at least another season in non-leagues top flight. My last visit to EP was in 2010 when on a late summers afternoon I took my place in the open away end to witness Shrewsbury run ragged over relegation bound County in a 4-0 away win. Two and a half years on, the destructive downward spiral into oblivion has unfortunately yet to be broken – before the match County were again sat in the relegation places, having just sacked Gannon mid week, sparking a backlash amongst supporters against the board led by Lord Peter Snape.
The 23 bus took me across South Manchester to Stockport bus station, which is ten minutes brisk walk from Edgeley Park. The atmosphere in the terraced streets around the ground pre kick off is palpable, and sets up a proper old fashioned match day feel which is struck a blow every time an identikit out of town stadium pops up.
In a hang-over from better times, the stadium, for home supporters at least, is an all-ticket affair, necessitating queueing at the ticket office before making your way to the turnstiles. I was duly allocated a place in the gargantuan and relatively modern Cheadle End – the biggest stand in English non-league football fact fans! A traditional Main Stand and the Popular Side run the length of the touchlines, and the aforementioned uncovered Railway End (out of use on this occasion) holds larger away crowds (Forest Green fans were seated in the South East corner of the Popular Side). Despite being allocated a seat, I was assured by a seasoned County fan that it was pretty much a sit-where-you-like affair, although I rather liked my vantage point just above-left of the goal.
Full credit must go to the ground staff and volunteers for getting the match on – I hadn’t been this cold at a football match since the vegetarian chilli wore off at Bradford City away last season! It looked up to 100 brave souls had made their way from Gloucestershire to support play-off chasing Forest Green, managed incidentally by former Salopian Dave Hockaday.
As the referee blew for kick off, the atmosphere in the rapidly filling Cheadle End built to electrical proportions, as County fans banged the metal sides and chanted incessantly. Forest Green, kitted out in a lurid neon green strip, started brightest and brimming with confidence, forcing a series of corners and countless high-and-mighty clearances from County centre halves James Tunnicliffe and Jordan Fagbola. Rovers forward Matt Taylor was a persistantly michievous and impish presence in the penalty area, however his failing to find a way past County keeper Richard O’Donnell in a one-on-one in the first half proved to be a turning point in the match. Rovers spurred two further good opportunities – with two close range headers spinning off target – before Stockport broke away, drawing a foul from Forest Green on the edge of their box. A stunning free kick from County full back Sean Newton drew first blood at the end of the first half.
Half time: Stockport County 1 Forest Green Rovers 0
Half time prompted a cheerleading exhibition in the centre circle (has one of these ever been witnessed at a football match outside of Greater Manchester?) and the kids near me taking custody of a particularly unappetising portion of mashed potato and gravy in a polystyrene tray which they proceeded to smear over the seats.
The second half saw County attacking the Cheadle End. Minutes after kick off, Rovers keeper Sam Russell fumbled a fairly routine save into the path of County midfielder Jon Nolan who bundled in from close range, sending the faithful into raptures.
The match became increasingly fragmented as nerves began to kick in on both sides, and Forest Green pulled one back, with an impressive solo effort from Reece Styche who lost his marker, pulled away and shot from the edge of the box into the top left corner, setting up a tempestous final third. Despite their precarious position near the foot of the table, County managed to see out the match relatively comfortably and collect a vital three points. Despite having no prior attachment to the club, I couldn’t help but get caught in the emotion at the final whistle, as caretaker manager Alan Lord led his young team to applaud the fantastic Cheadle End support, before we spilled out jubilantly into the streets happy at a job well done.
Full time: Stockport County 2 Forest Green Rovers 1
There is no doubt that County are one of the biggest teams in the Conference (attendance this time just a shade over 2800), and you can’t help but feel for the supporters who have certainly been through the mill in recent years. You sense that should the worst happen, relegation to the Conference North could make things very difficult indeed. I look forward to following their endeavours more closely when I move in just round the corner, and hope they can banish their demons once and for all in the near future, and take steps to take up a place once again in the league.
Level of the pyramid: 5
Lost balls: 0 (though anybody who could clear the roof of the Cheadle End would probably want to consider a future in rugby!)
Star of the future: FGR striker Matt Taylor was formerly a prolific marksman for North Leigh, hitting over 80 goals in two seasons for the Southern League South & West outfit. He’s handled the step up well too, with eight goals in the current campaign for Rovers. With Kidderminster’s Jamille Matt recently commanding a six figure transfer fee from a lower league club, Taylor must surely be well established on the scouts radar.
inthecowshed 