THE TALE OF HOW A CLUB ROCK BOTTOM OF THE LEAGUE CAPTURED THE IMAGINATION OF THE FOOTBALL WORLD …

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... AND HOW THE CLUB IS BASED IN ITS FANS

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In the middle of January 2021 my post on “The Changing Face of Edgeley Park Over the Years” brought a fair few responses. The way in which the ground has changed, with the development of new stands; and upgrading of others, and people’s memories of them. The debate then veered off into the Cheadle End and the importance of the fans, and there was a common theme. Stockport County is the fans. Owners; management and players come and go but the one constant is the fan-base.

Des Hinks, long time County fan, contacted me and suggested that nowhere was this better felt than during the famous FA Cup run in 1964/65, when a team that was rock bottom of the whole Football League progressed to the 4th Round, (beating Wigan and then Grimsby and Bristol Rovers, both riding high at the top of Division 3).

The prize was a tie against Liverpool, the then reigning League Champions at Anfield … and what a performance it was as County held them to a draw and gave a great account in the replay.

Des has pulled together his thoughts on the 6 games that featured in the run, and drawn on the press reports from the time. A common theme is the atmosphere and the role that the crowd played. Derek Hodgson, in his report on the Bristol Rovers replay captured this:

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If you want to be happy for an hour, says an old Chinese proverb, get drunk. But if you want to be happy forever, says the old Chinaman, make a garden.

Or you could of course support a football team. To those sad outcasts who have never known the fire and frenzy of football, this picture from Stockport last night would be incomprehensible.

Stockport County, bottom of Division Four, have beaten Bristol Rovers from the top of Division Three, 3-2 in a cup-tie. Now, 19,264 people have to make their way home. But after the drama and delights that suddenly surged through Stockport, they are reluctant to leave.

Bodies move involuntary, Edgeley Park becomes a seething mass of fans, exhausted by the sheer splendour of it all.

Small boys score imaginary goals. Mature men gaze wistfully at the scars left behind by their new-found idols. Women tug at limp arms seeking safe escort from the arena. And still the crowd lingers on.

And if you have been a County supporter for years, if you have known what it is to see teams from towns unknown, lording it over your lads, then you will have known that awful ache afterwards. But this morning you will know happiness, because Stockport is alive again!

Derek Hodgson: Daily Express – Tuesday, January 12, 1965

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Des Hinks added his own thoughts when sending me the clipping above:

“Derek Hodgson’s words still make the hairs stand on the back of my neck – my favourite words ever written about County.

Around 30 years later I met his son, who advised me his dad had retired, but he kindly gave me his address. I sent him an image of the Express for him to sign. Just check what he wrote before his signature. This is a leading national journalist who still clearly remembered the GO GO GO COUNTY revolution, remarkable.

And don’t you think that’s the best slogan ever associated with a football club? Do you remember a couple of years later Man City brought out ON ON ON WITH CITY. It was a blatant copy but they say imitation is the best form of flattery?!“

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Check out the links below to read Des’ thoughts and the words of journalists at the time about each of the ties in that famous Cup run. My thanks are due to him – I believe, and I know that Des agrees with me, that it is vital that times like this are recalled and preserved for posterity. To repeat what was said above,

“Owners; management and players come and go but the one constant is the fan-base”

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