Once Upon a Time…
Stockport County was flying high. Their main rivals were Manchester City, and they found themselves on the winning side of most encounters. Between 1997 and 2003, Stockport and Man City met six times, with Stockport winning three and losing only one of those encounters. The early noughties saw Stockport bouncing between English football’s second and third tiers. However, the footballing world can be cruel, as we know all too well what happened to Bury in 2019.
In 2009, the team entered administration. This was followed by back-to-back relegations, which saw them drop out of the Football League. Things would only get worse when Stockport found themselves relegated, once again, to the sixth tier of English Football. They wouldn’t return to the fifth tier until the 2018/19 season.
Six seasons would pass until Stockport found themselves back into the National League. In January 2020, local businessman Mark Stott purchased the club, clearing their debts and declaring lofty ambitions for the club. However, promotion and return to the illustrious Football League still alluded to them. Up stepped Dave Challinor…
Dave Challinor: A Knight in Shining Armour
Dave Challinor was no stranger to Stockport County, having played for them between 2002 and 2004. The ex-Centre back enjoyed a long career playing for Tranmere Rovers, Stockport County, Bury and finally Colwyn Bay. The latter would be where he got his first big break into world management. Under the management of Challinor, Colwyn Bay would secure promotion to the Conference North.
Challinor would be given the job at AFC Fylde, in the Northern Premier League Division One North, where he would continue to secure promotions, finally leaving with the club in the National League. At Fylde, he missed out on promotion to the football league in the 2018/19 season after losing the play-off final to Salford. However, he would lift the FA Trophy with the club a week later. After a difficult start to the following season, which saw the club in the relegation zone, Fylde parted ways with Challinor.
Almost a month later, Challinor was back at work. He was appointed Hartlepool United manager. After a season of consolidation, in his first season in charge, Challinor guided Hartlepool to the National League playoffs, where they would knock out Stockport in the semi-finals. Hartlepool would face Torquay in the playoff final, after drama at both ends which saw Torquay goalkeeper Lucas Covolan scoring a late equalizer, the game went to penalties. After missing the initial penalties, Hartlepool would win 5-4 and return to the Football League. Dave Challinor was rewarded with a new three-year contract but would leave less than a month after signing, a decision that angered the Hartlepool board and fans.
From here, Dave Challinor will be appointed manager. This is where Stockport County’s upturn in fortunes will truly begin. After joining the club in 9th position during the 2021/22 season, Challinor will guide them to 1st place, losing only one of his first twenty-three matches in charge of the club. However, it will not be so straightforward for Stockport that season, as another fallen club will emerge that season.
The Red Dragon Awakens
Wrexham. Everyone is familiar with their story at this point. You’ve seen the constant coverage from Sky Sports or the Disney Plus docuseries. Either way, I won’t waste my time delving too much into detail about Wrexham, which is already so well documented nowadays. But, like Stockport, they saw themselves receiving new owners, albeit much more high-profile, which reignited their club and fanbase.
The 2021/22 season saw Wrexham’s first season under their new ownership. Bringing in experience all over the pitch, from manager Phil Parkinson to striker Paul Mullin, Wrexham had a team strong enough to compete for the National League title. Throughout the season, Paul Mullin scored 26 goals, pipping Chesterfield’s Kabongo Tshimanga and Stockport’s Paddy Madden, scoring 24 and 23, respectively.
However, this wouldn’t be enough for Wrexham to snatch the title from Stockport’s grasp. As mentioned earlier, Stockport would only lose one of his first twenty-three matches in charge under Dave Challinor. They would beat Wrexham 2-1 at home before losing 3-0 to them away on May 8th. As a result of Wrexham dropping points elsewhere, Stockport would still go on to secure the league title, forcing Wrexham to spend another season in the National League.
Stockport County: Returning to the Football League
Returning to League Two for the first time since the 2010/11 season, they gave a perfect account of themselves. A fantastic season saw them finish 4th and secure a playoff spot the first time asking. Dave Challinor had got a tune out of this team. They brought in some reinforcements for the 2022/23 season for their return to League Football. Two standouts came in veteran defender Chris Hussey, on free from Port Vale, and Notts County’s star striker Kyle Wootton, who had scored 19 goals the previous season.
Kyle Wootton continued to score goals and showed that he was more than up for the jump to League Two. He would score 14 goals and get four assists throughout the season. Chris Hussey would put in a monumental season, placing him amongst the top performers for the season and even achieving six assists. These two additions to an already well-oiled Stockport side would be more than enough to secure a playoff spot and a place in the playoff final.
Stockport County would face Carlisle United in the League Two playoff final. After dispatching Salford on penalties, Stockport players would again have to step up to the spot in hopes of securing back-to-back promotions. Unfortunately, after a tense shootout, Carlisle was perfect, converting every spot kick. Stockport had fallen at the final hurdle, but this wouldn’t be the end of their story.
Old Foes Reunited
The 2023/24 season saw them face off against Wrexham again, this time in the football league. Phil Parkinson’s men took to League Two as well as Stockport had the previous year, whilst Challinor’s Stockport continued to impress. At home, Stockport secured a dominant 5-0 victory over Wrexham; however, away from home, they would lose 2-1.
The battle between the two teams would continue until the end of the season, with even Mansfield having a fair chance of topping the league. However, Paul Mullin’s 24 goals wouldn’t be enough to secure the title for Wrexham, as they missed out by 4 points. Stockport County would win the league with 92 points, confirming their return to League One in style.
Losing Chris Hussey after such a strong season could’ve been damaging, yet Stockport found a way. With the help of Isaac Olaofe’s 20 goals and club captain Paddy Madden’s 17 goals, Stockport County continued to defy expectations and win the league. Kyle Wootton would only manage eight goals this season; however, his story is far from over.
Stockport County: Happy Ever After?
This brings our story to the present day when we find Stockport County and Wrexham in League One. Both clubs have had a monumental rise, and both sets of fans have enjoyed life in recent years. As of writing, most teams in League One have played six games. Wrexham sits on top of the table with 13 points, the same as League One favourites Birmingham City. Stockport County, however, sits in a very respectable fifth place with 11 points from five games.
Kyle Wootton has jumped to League One quite comfortably, scoring three goals with two assists. However, Stockport have another prolific striker. Youngster Louie Barry joined the club on loan from Premier League outfit Aston Villa and has already scored four goals, with one being an incredible lob from far out. If these two keep up their form in front of goal and Stockport continue to defy the odds, we could see another chapter to this fairytale.
After a difficult start to the previous decade, Stockport County has recovered and risen like a phoenix. They have soared through the leagues, given their fans something to cheer about, and kept pace with a financially stronger club like Wrexham. Securing two league titles in three years is nothing short of a fairytale for Stockport fans, and the club is showing no signs of slowing down.