‘Stockport County’s promotion to League One will really help put our up-and-coming town on the map’
Stockport County fans believe their club’s promotion is yet another sign that they live in a growing community.
Dave Challinor’s side is returning to League One after winning the League Two title 14 years ago.On Sunday, an open-top bus parade took players and staff from a private reception at town hall, through streets lined with thousands of fans, and finished at Edgeley Park.
Edwin Powell, 53, has supported the club for 44 years.
“An actual football league trophy, it’s the first one I’ve seen and probably a lot of the fans have seen all the generation – it’s something I’ll treasure for the rest of my life,” said the player.
“It’ll give the town a huge huge boost – it’s developing a new bus station, new apartments, this is going to give the town a humongous lift.”
Nursery cook Kirsty Hazlehurst, 33, began supporting County last year after following in her children’s footsteps.
“All the games we’ve been to just recently they’re just playing absolutely amazing, it’s just brilliant,” she went on to say. “As a community, everyone comes together like a big family, which is amazing; they deserve it because they’ve done so well. It just brings everyone together, and it’s a wonderful atmosphere; everyone is so happy and joyful.”
Liam Matthews, 43, travels from Llandudno to support his side. He was quoted as saying: “It’s a great achievement to get back to League One, I can remember the days of the Championship, so it’s great.”
Phillip Wright, 73, a retired engineer who lives in town, has been a fan of the club since he was six.
“Through thick and thin, ups and downs, all weathers, all players,” he went on to say. “We’ve always been on the verge of promotion, but 14 years later, we’ve got the right support, the right team, and, most importantly, the right manager, which is unbelievable. “I believe it will help put Stockport on the map.”
Tom Madden, 38, is a commercial manager from Stockport. He shared in the celebrations with his daughter Sadie, nine.
“It’s just surreal, me and my wife met at Stockport, we’ve been taking my children since they were four, so they’ve seen almost as many promotions as I have,” he said. “(Owner) Mark Stott’s put his money exactly where his mouth is, and he’s followed through with every promise.
“As much as it’s fantastic and it’s a step forward, I think everyone’s just revving themselves up for League One.”
He said he thinks the success of the team is only going to add to Stockport as an up-and-coming town.
“You walk through Stockport and it’s slowly starting to look like Manchester – it’s only going to get better and better, it’s fantastic,” Tom added.
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