A NEW HOPE

We can't help but be excited about the start of the new season this weekend.

Yes, it's the Skrill North. Yes, it's the lowest league Stockport County has ever featured in.

Yes, we're far from safe from the spectre of financial mismanagement tripping us up as we round the corner of renewed hope.

Yes, this is Stockport County; something has to go wrong, doesn't it?

But it is a new season. We have a manager we are all, every single one of us, behind 100%.

We have a new team who have shown in pre-season that they are prepared to chase a lost cause and bust a gut for this club.

This is Stockport County.

Today we have hope. A new hope.

ANOTHER CHEADLE DEMOLITION JOB?

Hobson bags a goal at Cheadle Town last season

How much a year can change things, eh?

This time last year County were playing their first pre-season friendly against Cheadle Town and smashed eight past our nearest neighbours without reply.

There was a feelgood factor hovering above Edgeley Park like a newly-polished halo after that win.

County's other pre-season games saw the team, then led by Jim Gannon, give a decent account of themselves against some very good opposition including teams from Manchester City and Wigan.

The fans and those inside the club were all feeling pretty good about things by the time the season kicked off.

After the first two games of the season fans were talking about a return to the football league following two wins.

Wind it forward to today - and County have played a testimonial match against Sheffield Wednesday and their first pre-season friendly against Northwich Victoria. Both losses.

Look at how few of the squad who turned out to play against Cheadle Town in the pre-season friendly last season are still at the club

The first half kicked off with a line-up of:  Ormson, Halls, O’Donnell, Tunnicliffe, Newton, Nolan, Kenyon, Connor, Collins, Hattersley, Hobson. And the second half saw County represented by: Smith, Say, Piergianni, Fagbola, Brownhill, Sheridan, Graham (Omoboye 74), Meaney, Darkwah, Whitehead, Obi Agbo.

Only three of those players remain at Edgeley Park.

And, despite the defeat at the weekend, the squad - the ones who have already signed (not the trialists) - looked composed and determined against Northwich.

This time, there's unlikely to be a repeat of the 8-0 drubbing County gave to Cheadle Town last season.

But there were enough signs on Saturday that, early in their County career as they are,  the club at last has a group of players coming together that will produce on the field when it counts this time around.

Has Bogie finally eradicated the social loafer mentality at Edgeley Park?

Maybe...just, maybe.

OLD FRIENDS & NEW ENEMIES

Kieran Charnock

Today's pre-season friendly against fellow Cheshire club Northwich Victoria will be a homecoming for a few of the players on show.

There'll be a few who feel they have a thing or two to prove - none more so than young former County player Alex Meaney, who is expected to line up for Vics after impressing in their previous friendly outings this term.

It'll certainly be a homecoming for County's centre-half, Kieran Charnock. Charnock was widely revered by the Northwich fans, many hailing him as an integral part of one of the best defensive units the club has enjoyed in recent years.

James Tunnicliffe is also familiar with the Vics' set-up, having been a loanee at the club earlier in his career.

Let's hope Meaney doesn't choose today to prove he is every inch the prodigious talent that an excited Alan Lord billed him as when he signed for County at the start of last season.

Hatters fans didn't really have the chance to make a fair assessment of Meaney's talents after an early season injury put paid to his chances last term.

The game kicks off at 3pm and is staged at Flixton's Valley Road ground.

WE ARE ONE WEEK OLD

Cheadle End Punk is one week old today.

So far we've brought you 24 news stories and opinion pieces, an entire gallery of memorable Stockport County moments caught on camera, a new(ish) version of our fantastic club's history and the carefully chosen words of some of the best writers around.

We've stirred you into debate, we've caused rows and arguments and plenty of knowing nods of heads among the amazing County faithful.

Most importantly, we've got you talking. About every aspect of this wonderful club of ours.

We've provoked you into discussing the tiny details - the minutiae of every nook and cranny at Edgeley Park.

And that's got to be good, right?

We've plenty more to come throughout the season - interviews, guest columnists, hard-hitting opinion and all the positive news coming out of the club.

We've got contributions on the way from Stockport County legends like current assistant manager Alan Lord, former board member and Help The Hatters mainstay John Fitzpatrick, County's media man and commerical chief Phil Brennan and even a word or two penned by the players themselves.

We'll be bringing you competitions to win County merchandise and we'll be tracking every single ball that is kicked in County's name throughout the club's first season in the Conference North.

But we want your thoughts, your criticisms, your suggestions for what YOU want to see on Cheadle End Punk in the future.

Leave us your ideas in the comments section and we'll do everything we can to give you what you want. While we can't guarantee promotion at the first attempt, we'll give you the next best thing - the best Stockport County newzine available online, anywhere.

Thanks for helping us survive the first week. It's been a blast, so far.

Animo et Fide.