AN ACE UP THE SLEEVE

Alan Lord on the new Stockport County

By Alan Lord

Anyone who has watched Kristian Dennis and Rhys Turner in the pre-season friendlies will be excited about the coming season.

Kristian has so much potential and has showed glimpses of that in the games he has played so far.

Rhys? Well he's so fast and is already a very good player - unbelievable for his age. He has pace to burn and I can't see many defenders living with him this season.

Then you look at Kyle Jacobs. He's been so solid in pre-season. Just watching him I already know he is a player who is going to give us 7/10 or 8/10 performances every game this season.

But, for me, one of the little gems we've uncovered this season is Iain Howard.

He is the kind of player who often doesn't get the recognition he deserves. He is the fittest player at the club and puts in a double shift every match. He has a phenomenal work-rate. He gives us a solid base on what is usually a weak side of the pitch.

Jordan Fagbola could have an amazing season for us. He had an amazing season for a newcomer last time out and will be even better for us this season - he's already showing the signs of it and will be a major player for us.

Stephen O'Halloran is a traditional left back but can also be used as a marauding wing back and is equally as comfortable in either role. He's a very versatile player.

Kieran Charnock has a wealth of experience and is the best competitive close-marking centre-back we've seen here for some time. We will get a competitive, stable and solid performance from him every match - he's our Mr Dependable.

James Tunnicliffe will show us his versatility this year too - while he's a centre back, potentially a sweeper in a three-man centre-back line-up, he can also play as a holding midfielder and maybe used in that role at some point this season.

Iain Howard

Ian Craney is all set to be a major player at the club this year. He gives us solidity in the middle of the park, is a great passer of the ball and is Mr Lively in the dressing room. He has incredible experience of the leagues too - invaluable to pass on to some of the younger lads.

Jamie Hand will add the 'devil' we need in the centre of the park. He absolutely hates an opponent getting the better of him and will never, ever give up. He gives us a real competitive edge.

Phil Jevons is a constant goal threat. He's a target man, a back-to-goal centre forward who will bring the young strikers around him into play and link many of our attacking moves.

"We'll continue to look at the trialists...because you never know when the next Alex Kenyon may just pop out of the barrel"

Brandon Windsor started out life as a centre half and converted to a centre forward. He's only 18 and gives us that versatility that we want from many of our players this time around.

We've got two great shot-stopping goalkeepers too. Ian Ormson has great hands and gets down quick and there's a lot more to come from him this year.

Lewis King is like having a goalkeeper and a sweeper rolled into one because he reads the game and the balls over the top or into the channels so well and is always there to clean up - a real smotherer of a keeper.

We'll continue to look at the trialists and maintain those links with Myerscough College - we had six Myerscough students in the team versus Cheadle Town - because you never know when the next Alex Kenyon may just pop out of the barrel. Most of them are maybe 12 months off the level we require but matches like the Cheadle Town game are perfect to blood them in and see how they cope.

For me they were confident and comfortable in that second half. And they all displayed good attitude too.

As for the team for this season - we are ahead of where I thought we would be training-wise. We have been doing lots of 'disguised running' in training and the players are all responding well. Over the next few games we will see the first team start to play more of those matches and the trialists start to filter away.

So that by the time of the St Mirren match most of the first team will be playing for about 70 minutes.

I think we need another defender, one that can possibly play a dual role and also be comfortable as a full back when required.

We need another midfielder too. And it would be nice to have another striker to give us competition up front.

One of the remaining signings may very well be made right towards the end of the window because sometimes you don't know what's available and out there till the major business of the pre-season is concluded. So it is wise for us to leave a little leeway to take that opportunity if it arises.

We are tracking a player right now, a forward, but I can't say much more than that because he is also being looked at by a couple of other clubs and I don't want to spoil our chances before the deal is done.

Animo et Fide

THE WORD OF THE LORD

Alan Lord - Cheadle End Punk columnist

Alan Lord has signed up as a columnist for Cheadle End Punk.

Today will see the Stockport County assistant manager's debut piece published on the new County blog - a look at the team's pre-season so far and Alan's unique insight into the development of our new players.

Alan also casts his eye over the current crop of trialists and reveals how he and Ian Bogie are looking at another new signing, to help lead the team to glory next season.

Come back later for the full detail of Alan's unique perspective on the Stockport County universe from his unrivaled position on the inside of Edgeley Park.

Match Report: Cheadle Town 1 v 2 COUNTY

Another County attack

By Chris Larkin

The players of Stockport County and welcoming neighbours Cheadle Town took to the pitch on a lovely Wednesday night for the friendly 'Stockport Derby'.

I say 'friendly' but, clearly, someone forgot to explain that to Cheadle Town's No5.

County lined up in the first half with a team of trialists, with a few first teamers thrown into the mix - Ormson, Jacobs, O'Halloran, Bateman, Fagbola, Windsor, Donegan, Turner, Dennis, Brooke and Howard.

County started on the back foot, Cheadle Town having a couple of decent chances amid the early exchanges but, the Hatters soon settled in and started to get a foothold in the game.

Eventually after 11 minutes the pressure paid off, Kristian Dennis getting the goal following some neat passing moves from the team to calmly play in the promising forward.

Just five minutes later poacher Dennis got his 3rd goal in just two games after the exceptionally lively Rhys Turner had a shot well saved by the Cheadle goalkeeper.

The Town defence simply weren't quick enough to the ball with Dennis nipping in almost unchallenged to score his second of the night.

By this point the game was threatening to turn into a procession and County had chance after chance, corner after corner.

Town had their goalkeeper to thank for keeping them in the match. And the Hatters really should have had more - three goalbound shots were cleared off the line as County desperately tried to put the game to bed against the plucky amateurs of SK8.

But the half ended 2-0, with County spurning a glut of chances.

The second half began with 10 changes for County - Lewis King, replacing Ian Ormson, was the only 'first teamer' left on the pitch.

And though County sacrificed some of their first half fluency, the Royal Blue pressure, as the trialists all fought for a contract, continued. Two trial players really stood out - the number 15 and the youngster playing left-back.

As a result, County looked at their most dangerous down the left wing and it was from here they threatened to add to their tally.

But, as County went in search of a third goal in the final phases of the game, Cheadle Town struck against the run of play with Andy Lindon scoring for the home team after the Hatters defence failed to clear lines following a free kick. That defensive hesitation left Lewis King stranded and ended in an easy goal for the hosts.

Remarkably, in a game County looked like winning comfortably at half-time they were now teetering on the edge of a familiar abyss, snatching a draw from the jaws of victory. Last season, blowing a comfortable victory became habit forming and, with that history still clear in the mind you really couldn't blame Hatters fans for suffering deju vu.

Ultimately, the fears of the traveling County fans were unfounded, as not only did County hold on, they continued their stream of pressure and really should have walked away with a more comfortable scoreline had the trialists not squandered so many chances.

Overall though, it proved a good run-out for the team, an equally good run-out for Cheadle against 'better' opposition and a nice payday for our friends at the Park Road Stadium.

Both sides of half time were dominated by County, with every trialist looking to stake a claim for a place next season. How many will get a contract? Maybe two, at most.

See you at Nantwich.

TRIALISTS GET ANOTHER CHANCE AT CHEADLE

Trialist Tom Donegan

Ian Bogie is giving four of the current trialists at County another crack at securing a contract in the friendly match against Cheadle Town tomorrow night.

Tom Donegan, 21, the midfielder released by Fulham, Paris Bateman, 19, the defender from Crewe, 21-year-old Ryan Brooke, a centre-forward from Altrincham FC, Ross Fisher, 20, from Kilmarnock, and Sam Hibbert, the former County youth team member, will all be given a second chance to impress Bogie and his assistant Alan Lord.

Aliou Traore, formerly of Stockport Sports FC and Champion FC in Vanuatu, Fiji, won't be offered a second chance though and leaves the club still looking for a permanent deal.

Fisher, who impressed the most in the run-out against Northwich Victoria last weekend, is not available for the Cheadle Town friendly tomorrow but will be given his chance to secure a contract in the friendly against Nantwich instead.

The others will all appear at some point during the Cheadle Town friendly.

IS EXPECTATION KILLING YOUTH AT COUNTY?

Danny Whitehead

By Mark Smith

As the dust settled on a season of discontent and disgrace much was made of Danny Whitehead's move up five divisions to West Ham.

As fans scratched around for sources of hope for the future, Whitehead's name rarely came up.

To me at least, this was a surprise. His finesse and technique was a shining light at times last season, and while I'd be the first to acknowledge he never did it anything like consistently enough I never really expected him to. He's 19.

What we saw, particularly in the early season were flashes of Football League quality in a teenager who clearly shouldn't have been thrust into the uncertain pressure cooker we were experiencing.

His ability though, dictated otherwise and his knack for scoring spectacular goals out of nothing demanded his inclusion perhaps more so than his own development required.

Given how the season finished, it's easy to forget his late winner at Grimsby and his piledriver against Macclesfield but they both demonstrated an ability few have shown for us in recent years.

Much as I've little time for Crewe and their twee little "Production Line" reputation, their fans have always struck me as particularly supportive of young players. It's like they understand their role in the development of youngsters.

They're patient and know that if a kid makes a mistake it's part of his learning process and not reason to rant and villify him. What's the difference between us and them though?

In contrast to the stability and relative success Crewe have managed over the last couple of decades, County has been a chaotic environment for around 15 years now.

Most of our better young players have emerged into teams that were habitually losing. And of course the pattern for defeats usually spelt anger to a fanbase who had enjoyed unprecedented success the previous decade.

That success came mostly with a well-oiled conveyor belt of ready made players who were young enough to be fit and strong but also experienced. Few youngsters progressed through the ranks during this spell though and so we as County fans perhaps never got used to watching players of that ilk.

Dozens of youngsters have graduated from our now-defunct youth setup since the late 90s. Few managed to live up to their early promise and it's telling that of those who did, many spent their formative years playing for a team which wasn't getting hammered every week.

The problem at County is while we have sometimes had the footballing staff required to nurture promising youngsters, the rest of the club has been anything but the right atmosphere.

The poor leadership from the top has created disharmony and mistrust, going back more than ten years. That leads to more pressure from fans which all too often ends up being directed at those within easiest reach, the players.

Occasionally they deserve it but mostly they simply don't. Clearly, the lack of unity behind the scenes has seen the development of players stall.

Andy Halls

Andy Halls made his debut at Elland Road and finished up being relegated to a league four levels lower having struggled to stand out in far less salubrious surroundings. He got his fair share of stick though, seemingly without anyone pausing to notice he played for ten different managers in four seasons. Is it any wonder he never really improved?

While it has become crushingly evident that we as fans can't effect much of what happens in the boardroom, we can influence things on the pitch, and we should.

This season we'll begin with a side which has an age profile similar to the successful sides of the 90s, and yet in goal we have two young keepers with just 44 professional games behind them. We should support them, perhaps more so when the inevitable errors of judgement come.

Maybe Whitehead's move should be a final wakeup call to those who can't see beyond the players when they're seeking someone to blame.

Rickie Lambert tied with Frank Lampard as the highest scoring Englishman in the Premier League last season. That's the same Rickie Lambert who joined us eleven years ago aged just 20. He had just 36 league starts under his belt before he arrived at EP and we struggled to employ him correctly.

Whether Whitehead goes on to emulate Lambert remains to be seen. I'd be surprised if he does.

But maybe there's a lesson for some of those who have overlooked boardroom unrest, inconsistency in the dugout, financial uncertainty and mass mismanagement and instead just called teenagers names.

Maybe next season...

COULD ALEX MEANEY BE ON HIS WAY BACK TO COUNTY?

Alex Meaney

Rumours abound today that Alex Meaney could be heading back to Stockport County.

Meaney, 20, decided to see what else may be out there for him at the end of last season even after Ian Bogie offered to match the same contract terms he had during his first contract with the club last year.

The talented midfielder never really got the chance to prove his worth at Edgeley Park after injury halted his opportunities for most of last season during County's ill-fated relegation battle in the Blue Square Premier League.

But the club held on to the youngster - another talent unearthed by County assistant manager Alan Lord from the Myerscough College production line - after Help The Hatters agreed to pay his wages to see him remain on the staff list at County till the end of the season.

And while County fans may have only seen glimpses of his mercurial talent and passing ability, it is well-known that football bosses at the club still rate the attacking midfielder highly.

Meaney is also known to have a soft spot for County - especially for Alan Lord, who nurtured his prodigious skills from an early age through the Myerscough academy.

Strange then, that he turned down the same terms he was offered last season in a bid to see if he could ply his trade elsewhere.

Meaney's search for another club has been frustrating for the youngster, though. He played a couple of friendly games for Northwich Victoria and, we understand, was on the verge of being offered terms by a couple of other clubs.

But nothing suitable, for the player at least, has materialised. And it is that impasse that County staff have looked to exploit, according to our sources.

Following his no-show in the friendly match between Northwich Victoria and County last weekend, it seems the two parties are talking again. Softly, softly dialogue between officials linked to the club and the player himself have happened in the last couple of days, we are told.

And there is a real chance that the player could return to Edgeley Park to become part of Ian Bogie's brand new team for the new Conference North season, according to our sources.

THIS WEEK ON CHEADLE END PUNK

We've got loads of new stuff to bring you this week on Cheadle End Punk.

We've got wise words from Alan Lord.

We've got an in depth interview with John Fitzpatrick.

We've got Jamie Hand on what we can expect from the new hard-man of Hardcastle Street this season.

We've got Mark Smith asking whether there's too much expected of County's younger players.

We've got words and pictures from County's pre-season friendly at Cheadle Town.

Plus lots, lots more.

Stay tuned for everything Stockport County...as it happens.

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.

A LAUREL FOR HARDY

Harry Hardy's Cap

By Phil Brennan

Having just returned from a superb 10 day holiday in Mallorca (neatly sandwiched in between the highly successful kit launch and Rodger Wylde's testimonial) and with a fairly hectic pre-season schedule plus the new league season almost upon us, it made good sense  to spend a little time catching up with emails and missed calls before I returned to work on Monday.

One message I had received caught my attention more than most, it was from Steve White a Stockport 'exile' who wanted to talk to me about an item of County memorabilia that he had.

Those that know me well will understand my fascination with all things County 'collectable'. Over the years I have collected a vast and varied range of County stuff including over 100 different shirts and dozens of badges, mugs and ties.

I have a programme collection that goes back to the 1920's with some very rare issues and even have the original 'Go Go County' mirror from the old County Club (approx  6' x 3') amongst my stash.
 
I rang and left a message on Steve's answer phone to say I was back in the country and would love to talk to him about the item that he had, and then set about catching up with my other messages.

Having put the phone down I chuckled to myself at the fact that I must have sounded like an excitable child leaving my message, but such was the standard of the item that we were going to talk about, I knew that any 'collector' would feel exactly the same if they were in my position.

What was the item that had caught my imagination - was it the much sought after 'Romania' shirt we wore at Blackburn or the holy grail of shirts, the red 'Brighton'?.

It was neither.

Harry Hardy in Action

If you were to ask 100 Stockport County supporters who was the only player to represent England whilst a County player, I think it's fair to say that most of them would know the answer to be goalkeeper Harry Hardy.

Born in Stockport in 1895, Hardy joined the Hatters from local side Ward Street Old Boys, making his debut in a 3-0 defeat at Cardiff on September 4 1920, before going on to make a remarkable 170 consecutive appearances. He missed his first County game, a 1-1 draw with Southampton on October 11 1924, due to his involvement with the Football League representative side.

In total he played over 200 games for County in the 1920s, during which time he helped the Hatters to the Division Three (North) title in 1922, conceding just 21 goals during the campaign, a record that has never been bettered.

Hardy won his only England cap on December 8th 1924 keeping a clean sheet in England's 4-0 win against Belgium at the Hawthorns, home of West Bromwich Albion.

I think by now most have guessed that we are talking about the England 'cap' that had been awarded to the then County custodian.

Steve called me back and not only confirmed that he wanted me to have the cap, but also several other Hardy related items that had been in his possession for many years.

I offered to pay for the items but Steve would have none of it. He said: "I understand how important these items will be to you as a lifelong County fan, and I can tell from the excitement in your voice that they will be in safe hands.

"They are yours to do what you wish, whether it be to keep at home or put on display, I know you will cherish them."

Unbelievably Steve didn't even accept my offer to pay for delivery and although he sent his gift package that same day, it seemed an eternity before it arrived the following afternoon.

The Signed England Menu

I took the parcel to a corner where I could be alone to discover the delights within, I didn't want to be disturbed and definitely didn't want anyone sharing my initial excitement.

Having been a County fan for well over forty years, I have been in the privileged position of working for my club for the last three, having previously had the honour of co-writing History Books and DVD's.

Over the years I have collected many many County related artefacts, that will all hopefully one day be seen in a permanent County 'museum', but they all pale into insignificance compared to the latest addition to my collection.

There in the package was Harry Hardy's 1924 England International football cap.
A Maroon and Amber velvet cap with wire embroidered crest and date for the match against Belgium in 1924.

I can't remember being so happy at receiving an item of County 'history' before.

Two days earlier I hadn't ever thought about the chances of seeing, let alone owning, Harry Hardy's England cap, and yet here it was in my hand. Unbelievable.

After several minutes of just holding and staring at the cap, I began to peruse the other items in the package.

There were the sew on patches from Hardy's England appearances against Belgium and The Scottish Football League (1925/26), photos of him and team mates, and several match programmes from the England tour of Australia in 1925, which Hardy and County's Ernie Simms both represented their Country along with former Hatter James Walsh who had left Edgeley Park for Anfield in 1922.

Unfortunately although Hardy was first choice keeper and Simms was the team captain during the tour neither player received 'caps' as the 5 'Test Matches' against the Aussies were not regarded as full internationals.

A couple of  further 'nuggets' in the collection were Hardy's 'boarding card' for the R.M.S Orsova (the ship the squad travelled to Australia on) and a menu card from the celebration dinner which was held by The NSW & Metropolitan Soccer Football Associations  on May 30th 1925 after the game between England and NSW.

The card had been signed by the fourteen man England squad including both Hardy and Simms.
Now that I have calmed down I know that the items will be of huge interest to generations of County fans and with that in mind it is my intention to put the cap and other items on display at Edgeley Park, so that our supporters can witness this unique collection of County memorabilia.

Once again my thanks to Steve for his generosity in allowing me to grow my County collection/obsession.

The collection will be on display in the Club Shop from Saturday 27th July when County play host to St. Mirren in a pre-season friendly.

MATCH REPORT: VICS 2 - 1 COUNTY

By Chris Larkin

Once upon a time on a lovely July day in Flixton, Stockport County emerged from the tunnel in their dazzling Argentina style kits for the first 'serious' test of pre-season.

Our opponents, Northwich Flixtoria.

The Vics, with their Celtic-esque kit, met us under the hot Mancunian Sun and off we went.

County lined-up for the first half as follows: Lewis King, Kyle Jacobs, Jordan Fagbola, James Tunnicliffe, Sean O'Halloran, Trialist (Fisher), Jamie Hand, Ian Craney, Ian Howard, Phil Jevons and Kris Dennis

The Vics started the game in bright fashion really taking the game to the Hatters.

The defence struggled to contain the opposition forwards with our hooped hosts having a few decent opportunities in the first five minutes, with one particularly dangerous chance seeing the ball fizz across Lewis King's goal.

As the half went on, County's new players started to click with Craney spraying out some wonderful balls to the wings and Jacobs looking particularly impressive down the right flank.

Ian Howard, Phil Jevons and Kristian Dennis started linking up well too, as County went in search of the opener.

Finally, with about 30 minutes played and County's dominance growing, they took the lead with a lovely goal from Dennis.

As the ball bounced down in front of the new Hatters striker, he took it in his stride and unleashed a beautiful weighted lob over the on-rushing goalkeeper to send County 1-0 up.

The goal seemed to blow the wind out of both sides' sails as the rest of the first half petered out and neither side really looked like scoring again before the break.

It was all change when County came out for the second half.

The Hatters fielded plenty of trialists, and took on the challenge of the last 45 minutes with the line-up: Ian Ormson, Trialist (Sam Hibbert), James Tunnicliffe, Sean O'Halloran, Trialist (Ali Traore), Trialist (Tom Donegan), Trialist (Ross Fisher), Rhys Turner, Brandon Windsor and Trialist (Ryan Brooke).

The half started slowly with County having the best of the possession and looking dangerous down the wing with Ali Traore really pushing towards the Northwich goal.

However, no real chances ever came County's way. And as the half went on Northwich really started to get a grip on the game.

Eventually, as with County in the first half, the pressure finally paid off and former Hatters youth teamer Sam Hibbert brought down the Vics attacker in the box and the ref wasted no time in pointing to the spot with Taylor converting successfully on 72 minutes.

Just a minute or two later, Hibbert went some way to making amends for his costly earlier error with a fantastic goal-line clearance that denied an almost certain goal for the Vics.

It was all in vain though, as Northwich scored what proved to be the winning goal following what seemed to be a lack of communication at the back, somewhat unsurprising with so many trialists in the team.

But following the second goal, County never looked like getting an equaliser.

The 30 degree temperature was clearly taking its toll and the players looked exhausted and deflated from the goal. Neither side seemed like adding to their score and, sure enough, the game ended with the players collapsing to the floor, at the final whistle.

While it was disappointing for the traveling Hatters fans to see a 2-1 loss, it was good to finally have pre-season up and running and have our football fix back.

And while none of the trialists overly impressed, Ali Traore showed enough to suggest he might have something about him.

Fisher also looked useful in a right-sided midfield role. He likes to push forward, and was pretty vocal - particularly offering encouragement to the younger players and the trialists.

See you all at Cheadle Town!