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Didi Hamman departed the Edgeley Park shores a few days before the long hike down to Stonebridge Road. He had presided over 19 league games, which produced the sum total of 3 wins, 10 draws and 6 defeats added to which was an FA Cup exit at Southport. A player at the highest level he was clearly unsuited to the travails of managing in the 5th tier. The appointment of Jim Gannon, for his second coming, was a few days in the future so the managerial reins were left in the hands of Willie McStay who had been Hamann’s right hand man.

He brought in a new keeper, Mark Halstead on loan from Blackpool. It was to be a singularly unsuccessful spell. Four games; four defeats; twelve goals conceded and which culminated in the 7 goal ‘social loafers’ debacle at Blundell Park. All within the space of 18 days.

This site reflects in various places that I found the spectator experience in non-league far more preferable than in league football. And without doubt Stonebridge Road was the most welcoming. It was a pleasure to visit, but more of that on the relevant page. I liked the stadium as well; a traditional wooden stand; covered terracing down one side; a covered end, (seated); and an open end, which is where Mark; Jeff and myself stationed ourselves.

The game was going well. Nick Chadwick had given us a lead from the spot in the first 20 minutes, and it remained that way until 10 minutes from time. As the fog swirled in from the Thames, we made out that Ebbsfleet had got an equaliser. Hopes of a 4th win had disappeared, but a draw on the road, far from home, wouldn’t have been too bad an outcome. McStay made a double substitution 3 minutes from time. Chadwick and Michael Paton went off, to be replaced by Antonio German and Jon Nolan. Twenty seconds later Ebbsfleet got their second and the deciding goal.

We slumped over a crush barrier – it was going to be a long drive back… but an even longer wait for a win. That was to take another 9 games, which featured an FA Trophy exit at Bower Fold, Stalybridge. The latter was the game that told me that a return to the FL was about as far away as possible. But little did I realise that as I sit writing this, 9 years later, that it was the Holy Grail that has still yet to be attained…..

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Memories of trips to Stonebridge Road

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THE GAMES

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Where the date is in bold click for highlights of the game

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	Date	Venue	Ground	Competition		F	A	Att:
Sat	20/08/11	h	Edgeley Park	Blue Square Bet Premier (Tier 5)	D	1	1	3,674
Sat	12/11/11	a	Stonebridge Road	Blue Square Bet Premier (Tier 5)	L	1	2	1,119
Sat	29/09/12	h	Edgeley Park	Blue Square Bet Premier (Tier 5)	W	3	1	4,641
Sat	16/02/13	a	Stonebridge Road	Blue Square Bet Premier (Tier 5)	D	0	0	912
Sat	23/11/19	h	Edgeley Park	Vanarama National League (Tier 5)	D	1	1	4,167

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