Foden, Mainoo, Palmer… why haven’t the media included Stockport’s other footballing icon too?

Des Junior is fuming (he isn’t really) on his latest Streets of Stockport walk, which takes him back to one of his old haunts

Jul 24, 2024

Wednesday 24 July 2024

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STOCKPORT COUNTY PREDICTION GAME 2024-25: Predict County’s top scorer, final league position, cup performances etc. £10 to enter. 40% of the pot to the winner, 30% to second, 20% to third, and 10% to Mentell. If you’d like to enter, drop us a message or an email.

County’s Twitter account this morning. 10am.

29 minutes later…

I was going to make a joke about the continuing headache suffered by County fans when it comes to buying tickets for away games, but I think it’s probably a bit too soon. (Actually, I did crack a little quip, but this will be the only one I promise. Hopefully everyone gets sorted when tickets go back on sale this Friday.)

I’m sure many County fans are feeling rather stressed today, having been unable to secure their tickets for Blackpool away. My advice would be to go for a walk. Or if you’re stuck in the office, you can read about my latest Streets of Stockport walk, which took place a couple of weeks ago in Heaton Mersey.

Today’s edition is sponsored by BGM Decorators. A big thank you to Ben.

Finally, I’m currently walking every street in Stockport to raise money for mental health charity Mentell. If you’d like to make a donation to help me reach my target, please click here.

Total distance so far: 176.31 miles

Total steps so far: 284,130

Total raised so far: £1,956

Total completed streets so far: 399 (Click here for the full list, which includes reports and photos from every day of the walk.)

Further information on the walk can be found by clicking here.

Des Junior

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It’s the morning of England’s Euro 24 semi-final against the Netherlands. For the last week or two, there’s been loads of stuff in the media about Stockport’s homegrown talents such as Phil Foden – who grew up in a terraced house a stone’s throw from Edgeley Park – and Kobbie Mainoo, who played for Cheadle & Gatley as a young boy. Cole Palmer’s name is also included in these conversations, having gone to school in Stockport and played lots of his early football in the town, even though he was born in Wythenshawe.

It’s lovely to read such positive articles on Stopfordian talent doing the country proud, but I’m utterly astonished the press haven’t mentioned one of the town’s other great footballing icons, who also honed his craft on the streets of Stockport before going on to score a plethora of stunning goals on park pitches throughout the area, as well as at Powerleague, where he’s now stood for an impromptu photo shoot.

I do feel a bit of a cock posing for this, I won’t lie. God knows what the young lad who works at Powerleague is thinking, as I pass him my phone. I don’t quite have the silky skills of Foden, or the vision of Mainoo, but I did score one or two goals at this place as a young lad. Not at first, mind you. I was 15 or 16 when I first started a team at Powerleague with a bunch of schoolmates, which was called SAGS FC, after Stockport Grammar School. Cringe, I know. We lost our first couple of games, both well into double figures. Eventually we won our first match, beating a load of old fat blokes 2-1. It probably wasn’t the best spectacle – we were shit, they were slow – but it was such a buzz, especially going into school the following day to regale our fellow pupils with our success.

I’ve played hundreds of games at Powerleague since then, whilst breaking both wrists and both feet over the years. From the wooden boards surrounding the pitches, to psychotic scallies intent on snapping you in half if you ever did a nutmeg on them, it could be a lethal place at times.

Speaking of cocks, by the way, the 39-year-old man stood having his picture taken in front of the Powerleague sign isn’t the only one down here this morning. Just around the corner, there’s another one. Somebody’s drawn a cock and balls on the sign for Furness Grove. I think this is the first cock and balls I’ve encountered on a road sign since starting my challenge. Considering I’ve now walked over 170 miles, I don’t think that’s too bad. I thought I’d have been flashed a lot more by now.

My plan for today is the whole of Didsbury Road, from Stockport to Parrs Wood, and all of the streets between the main road and the River Mersey. After completing the housing estate around Powerleague, I walk down Craig Road further into Heaton Mersey. My walk takes me past Mersey Vale Nature Park, Heaton Mersey Park, and then into the industrial estate where Burnage Rugby Club play their home games.

Back on Didsbury Road, I stop for a bowl of soup at The Heaton, before walking to Parrs Wood, past other pubs such as The Dog & Partridge and The Griffin. On the way back, I spot the Stockport sign, accompanied by the new advert for LM Stone Creative, one of our very own sponsors. They’ve got a brilliant competition running at the moment. All you need to do is take a selfie or a photo in front of the sign, wearing a Stockport County or Stockport Town hat or shirt, post it on social media (tagging LM Stone Creative and The Scarf My Father Wore), and at least one winner will receive a beautiful Quartz chopping board. I’m not wearing a County shirt today, but I do take a photo of my hand in front of the sign, just to show our readers where it is.

My afternoon comes to an end with one of my favourite parts of Stockport I’ve discovered so far. Down by the side of The Crown, along a cobbled street, there’s a row of cottages with flowers and plants and little trinkets on display. Beyond that, there’s a quaint row of terraced houses, with private gardens opposite, and a few of the old Victorian style street lamps still dotted about.

I walk back into Stockport and watch the England game, as they beat the Netherlands to book their place in the Euro 24 final. I realise my chances of representing my country are perhaps starting to dwindle. We’ve got Foden and Mainoo doing the town and country proud, however, and a future footballing star could be kicking a ball on the streets of Stockport as we speak. Although maybe not in the area I’ve just come from. Those flowers are far too nice for a future Phil Foden to be smashing footballs at.

Here’s a few of my other photos from Day 11 of the walk:

Today’s sponsor: BGM Decorators

Don’t be like this random stranger Des Junior found on the internet. He thought he could decorate his living room himself. But now look at him, sat forlorn on his floor covered in a tin of Dulux. His wife’s left him, and his evenings are now occupied by microwave meals and old repeats of The Sweeney. You know what he should have done, don’t you? He should have called BGM Decorators.

BGM Decorators is a family business that has been in the trade since 1988. They’ve been built on hard work, honesty, and a high quality service that has consistently enhanced their reputation. They provide a painting and decorating service on a domestic and commercial basis across Stockport, Greater Manchester and Cheshire, as well as offering tenant turnover services and working alongside estate agencies and private landlords.

Give Ben a call on 07816 589989 or email bgm.decorators@yahoo.co.uk.

Photo of the day

Edgeley Park, Stockport

It’s advantage Middlesbrough at the end of the League Cup semi-final first leg in 1996-97. A Sean Connelly screamer gave us a 1-0 win at the Riverside in the second leg, but we couldn’t quite make it to Wembley.

Today in SK

🎬 Cinema

Two films at The Savoy Cinema (SK4) today. Fly Me to the Moon (12A) at 4.30pm, followed by Kinds of Kindness (18) at 7pm. Click here for tickets.

🍺 Food and drink

Bitter £2.30 a pint all day at The Cross Keys (SK8). Plus, discounts on certain lagers between 12pm and 6pm.

If you’re simply in the mood for a couple of pints today, pop along to one of our featured venues such as AMP (SK1), Bask (SK1), The Nelson Tavern (SK1), The Petersgate Tap (SK1), Thread (SK1), The Crown (SK2), The Dog & Partridge (SK2), The Armoury (SK3), The Crown Inn (SK6), The Railway (SK6), The Steelworks (SK6), The Shady Oak (SK7), The Three Tunnes (SK7), The Railway (SK9), Flute & Firkin (SK12) or The Friendship (SK13).

🎱 Free pool

All day at The Marple Tavern (SK6).

🤔 Quiz night

Get ready for a night of brain-teasing fun at Reddish Working Men’s Club (SK5) with various rounds and cash prizes for the winners! 8pm. Free entry. Maximum of six in a team.

100 random grounds that County have played at

#73 – Lamb Ground, Tamworth

Last visit: Sam Minihan gave us the lead after just four minutes the last time we visited Tamworth, in August 2017, but the home side went on to win 3-1.