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SUMMARY

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Played	Won	Drawn	Lost	Ave Att:
25	12	5	8	2,810

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Throughout the season the front covers of the programmes generally had a large picture of a player and a banner title “COUNTY”. This one, (for the first ever competitive visit of FC United of Manchester to EP on 5th December 2015), reproduced the style used in the 1966/67 through to the 1968/69 seasons. It is of course Andy Preece featured on the cover. The following season old style covers were used quite frequently.

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YOUNG WALKS AWAY

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New Years Day was barren as Wetherby Road, Harrogate was unfit. The first action of the year brought a home defeat by Telford, and with it a reaction from the fans. The statement, (‘Nothing but promotion’), coming out of EP back at the start of the season was now laughable. The turnover of players, (he used 36 in 27 games); the lack of discipline on the field, (4 red cards); and a mid table position, (with only 1 win in 12 games), made Young’s position untenable. He resigned a couple of days later saying, “I have another full time job and a young family and after those recent results and in particular Saturday’s it has really taken its toll, so I’ve decided to step down with immediate effect”.

I took no satisfaction that the reservations I had expressed the previous summer had come to fruition, and pointedly decided to make no comment on Yellow Board. It didn’t stop a personal attack on me from one of the posters there who has had a chequered record of bans and different user names. I was accused of being in Gannon’s pocket; having been his guest at Northwich’s cup game at Northampton, and having agitated against Young. Pitiful stuff. For the record, I had expressed reservations; was at EP watching us play FCUM on the day Northwich played, and have, (to this day), spoken to Jim Gannon twice in my life, (firstly during the 6-0 debcle at Macclesfield in December 2005 and subsequently at Bower Fold when Stalybridge were playing Brackley shortly before Christmas 2016).

It was of course the right decision, and I will give Young credit for stepping away, and leaving the Board without having to make a decision that was becoming more inevitable by the day. Mike Flynn was given the reins for the Nuneaton game the following week. It was good to see a “County man” in the dugout.

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GANNON RETURNS .. FOR THE THIRD TIME

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A couple of days after the draw with Nuneaton, the expected announcement was made. Jim Gannon was to return. It had been almost exactly three years since his shameful sacking at the hands of Snape; Fearn and McKnight. He left his job at Northwich Vics where he had fashioned a team which reached the play-offs in 2014/15; had reached the 2nd round of the FA Cup, losing narrowly, and very late in the game to Northampton; and had guided them to 2nd place in NPL Division 1 at the time he left. There was unfinished work for him. His previous two departures, (made redundant by the administrators, and then sacked), meant that things had to be completed. But it was going to be a case almost of starting from scratch.

The changes from January 2013 were multitude. A division lower; part-time; no youth set-up of any meaningful description; money tighter than ever. It was a supreme challenge, but the optimism amongst the couple of hundred County fans who travelled to Congleton the following evening was palpable. It was going to be intriguing to see how things would transpire, and the remaining 16 games were going to give us a real indication of that. In his normal measured way Gannon said:

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“Stockport County FC holds a special place in my heart, and to be given the opportunity to work here once again is both a very proud moment on a personal level, and also an exciting football challenge as a professional. It has been difficult last few days, but the decision to join County was made very easy by the professional way in which the representatives of the Board have presented the Club, its stability and vision for growth. Negotiations were simple and straightforward as it was clear we share the same strong desire to ensure progress is made on the playing front of the Club”.

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During that period we had the privilege of seeing a player who will undoubtedly go on to make a great career in the game. Dean Henderson, came on loan from Manchester United. (Pictured below in action at Whaddon Road in Gannon’s first League game after returning. Photo courtesy of “All Things Stockport County”)

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Only 18 when he arrived at the Park, he played 9 games, (broken by a brief return to Old Trafford in order to sit on the bench in an FA Cup tie). He showed us what a prospect he was. It’s certainly been borne out, as he now plays in the Premier League, and looks like he will succeed De Gea in the fulness of time.

When Gannon had returned in November 2011 it led to a fairly instant clear out of the players bequeathed to him by Hamann. This time round we certainly saw a few new faces but it was clear that the eye was on 2016/17. With Young having left us with virtually no strike force, he brought in the much travelled Richard Brodie, whose previous track record suggested that he came with some ‘baggage’. It was an interesting signing, and not the type of player that Gannon normally dealt with. It was a short lived association, but provided a handful of goals as did Obi Anoruo. John Marsden, who had made his debut in the Nuneaton game, had a greater impact, and featured as part of the squad in 2016/17.

We also saw a plethora of loan and temporary signings, (Conor Smith; Tom Field; Marcus Poscha; Brandon Wilson; and Sam Grimshaw). It was about having a look and preparing for the challenge ahead. The league season ended with a final placing of 9th. Gannon’s 16 games had brought 7 wins and 5 draws – a more than reasonable return of 26 points.

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A TROPHY LIFTED

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Gannon’s first game had been a Cheshire Senior Cup tie at Congleton. The purists might disagree but this was a 1st XI game – the competition rules demanded it, and certainly the teams fielded by him that season were adequate proof. It brought us to the Final a game played against Tranmere at the Weaver Stadium, Nantwich. In 56 years I had never seen us lift a trophy as winners of a competition.. We were Division 4 Champions in 1966/67 but that was in my youth, and before County became such a big part of my life. That was to follow in post-university days. Since then there had been the joy of three promotions, (and I suppose that the play-off win at Wembley could count as a trophy), but no other ‘Competition Winners’ accolade.

The game against an admittedly youthful Tranmere side was played on a windswept night, and with temperatures more akin to deep midwinter than late April. Things went to extra time, after a Marsden goal was equalised. It stayed all square until the very last minute of the 120 when Obi Anorou struck the winner. A trophy to lift!!

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It was a satisfying end to what had been a dismal affair until Gannon’s return. We looked forward to the summer and what new faces we would see brought in.

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ALL CHANGE … AND A HUGE IMPROVEMENT

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The early news was that Marsden and Odejayi had been offered new contracts, and then came a flood of new signings. Michael Clarke, (who had played for Gannon at Northwich); Sam Minihan, (from Worcester); Courtney Meppen-Walter, (once trumpeted as a future City star, but who had spent time ‘inside’ following a case which found him guilty of causing death by dangerous driving arrived from Chorley); Josh Amis, (another from Northwich); Gary Stopforth from Salford; Adam Thomas, (Hednesford) all arrived and there was a return for Scott Duxbury who has spent the previous 12 months at Northwich as well. It was known at the time of signing that Stopforth would only be available until Christmas, as he was moving to Australia.

Gannon then went to Fylde, and signed keeper Ben Hinchliffe, (Danny Hurst having had to retire following an injury at Lowestoft the previous November), and also Danny Lloyd. Without a shadow of a doubt the season at EP turned Lloyd’s career round. Full back Mark Ross came from Chorley, causing much comment from the Magpies boss, Matt Jansen, who said of the move that “They have acted unprofessionally and I am very disappointed”.

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Back (l to r): Scott Duxbury; Adam Etches; Ian Ormson; Ben Hinchliffe; George West; Glenn Rule

Middle: (l to r): Jordan Felgate (goalkeeping coach); Richard Landon, (kit-man); Ryan Ellison; Craig Carney; Adam Thomas; Chris Smalley; Kayede Odejayi; Josh Amis; Lewis Montrose; Courtney Meppen-Walter; Michael Clarke; Nick McCarthy, (Physio); Alan Lord, Nick Donnelly, (Fitness Coach)

Front (l to r): John Marsden; Mark Ross; Mike Flynn, (Asst Mgr); Jim Gannon, (Manager); Dave Conlon, (Asst Mgr); Sam Minihan; Danny Lloyd

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This all meant that virtually all of the players who had featured at the tail end of 2015/16 were deemed surplus to requirements. The squad on the opening day, as we beat Alfreton with a last gasp winner from Stopforth, had only 4 players that we had seen the previous year – Chris Smalley, Lewis Montrose and Odejayi in the starting XI and Scott Spencer on the bench.

A win at Bower Fold in the second game was then followed by a poor run of 2 points from 4 games. In recent years this would have seen a major turnover of players, but Gannon was reasonably content, knowing that this was about building a team rather than constant switching. It was about planning rather than reacting. Other than switching between Odejayi; Amis and Spencer up front, (and a single appearance from Thomas), the team remained unchanged for 8 games, until we travelled to Bishop Auckland, where we played Darlington, and Jimmy Ball, (who had scored for Stalybridge in the 2nd game), was unveiled as a new signing. He marked his debut with a goal as well.

Eight wins in 12 games, (including an extremely satisfying double over a Salford side who buying their way into the FL), left us entering November well placed, and with an FA Cup First Round tie at home to Woking. It was this game which showed the work that had to be done, if aspirations not only to return to the Conference, but also compete, were to be met. We went down 4-2, and it was duly followed by only a single win, (over Gainsborough), in the next 4 games, before a great run through December led to progress in the Trophy, (overcoming Bradford PA and Marine), together with 3 wins in 4 league games. The year ended with a single goal win at Harrogate, with Meppen-Walter scoring from 35 yards out.

Things looked good, and certainly the improvements that Gannon had made would continue in the New Year. Lloyd had been a revelation, and had already notched 14 goals. But from a personal perspective 2017 was going to be a much different year for me. The day after we beat Altrincham a week before Christmas, a raging toothache beset me. The tests that followed left me with a diagnosis which meant that much of 2017 would be spent undergoing chemo. The days of very rarely, if ever, missing a game, home or away, were over.

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Back to 2015 Forward to 2017 Home Games Summary Page Away Games 2016

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THE HOME GAMES I SAW THIS YEAR

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Day	Date	Competition	Tier / Round	Opponents	Res	F	A	Crowd	Home Game
Sat	09/01/16 (Highlights)	Vanarama Conference North	Tier 6	AFC Telford United	L	0	1	2,765	1,007
Sat	16/01/16 (Highlights)	Vanarama Conference North	Tier 6	Nuneaton Town	D	1	1	2,823	1,008
Sat	27/02/16 (Highlights)	Vanarama Conference North	Tier 6	Gainsborough Trinity	W	2	0	2,990	1,009
Tue	01/03/16 (Highlights)	Vanarama Conference North	Tier 6	Hednesford Town	W	3	0	2,289	1,010
Tue	08/03/16 (Highlights)	Cheshire Senior Cup	Semi-Final	Northwich Victoria	W	3	0	517	1,011
Sat	12/03/16 (Highlights)	Vanarama Conference North	Tier 6	Gloucester City	W	3	0	2,830	1,012
Mon	28/03/16 (Highlights)	Vanarama Conference North	Tier 6	AFC Fylde	L	0	4	3,399	1,013
Sat	02/04/16 (Highlights)	Vanarama Conference North	Tier 6	Lowestoft Town	L	0	2	2,396	1,014
Sat	16/04/16 (Highlights)	Vanarama Conference North	Tier 6	Corby Town	D	2	2	2,454	1,015
Sat	30/04/16 (Highlights)	Vanarama National League North	Tier 6	Curzon Ashton	D	0	0	3,876	1,016
Sat	06/08/16 (Highlights)	Vanarama National League North	Tier 6	Alfreton Town	W	4	3	3,008	1,017
Tue	16/08/16 (Highlights)	Vanarama National League North	Tier 6	FC Halifax Town	D	1	1	3,086	1,018
Sat	20/08/16 (Highlights)	Vanarama National League North	Tier 6	Brackley Town	L	2	4	2,529	1,019
Mon	29/08/16 (Highlights)	Vanarama National League North	Tier 6	Worcester City	W	1	0	2,514	1,020
Sat	10/09/16 (Highlights)	Vanarama National League North	Tier 6	Boston United	D	1	1	2,466	1,021
Tue	27/09/16 (Highlights)	Vanarama National League North	Tier 6	AFC Fylde	L	1	2	2,206	1,022
Sat	01/10/16 (Highlights)	FA Cup	Qualifying Round 3	Salford City	W	2	0	3,181	1,023
Sat	08/10/16 (Highlights)	Vanarama National League North	Tier 6	Salford City	W	2	1	3,830	1,024
Sat	15/10/16 (Highlights)	FA Cup	Qualifying Round 4	Bishop Auckland	W	2	0	2,770	1,025
Sat	29/10/16 (Highlights)	Vanarama National League North	Tier 6	Kidderminster Harriers	L	0	1	2,885	1,026
Sat	05/11/16 (Highlights)	FA Cup	Round 1	Woking	L	2	4	4,025	1,027
Tue	15/11/16 (Highlights)	Vanarama National League North	Tier 6	Gainsborough Trinity	W	1	0	2,112	1,028
Sat	19/11/16 (Highlights)	Vanarama National League North	Tier 6	Bradford Park Avenue	L	1	2	3,246	1,029
Sat	26/11/16 (Highlights)	FA Trophy	Qualifying Round 3	Bradford Park Avenue	W	2	0	1,164	1,030
Sat	10/12/16 (Highlights)	FA Trophy	Round 1	Marine	W	3	2	1,411	1,031
Sat	17/12/16 (Highlights)	Vanarama National League North	Tier 6	Altrincham	W	3	0	3,991	1,032