“We all live in a Champions town!”
Des Hinks Senior gives us a flavour of 1966-67, the last time County got their hands on a Football League title
Friday 12 April 2024
NEXT HOME GAME: Morecambe – Saturday 13 April, 3pm
NEXT AWAY GAME: Notts County – Tuesday 16 April, 7.45pm
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IT’S FRIDAY, BABY!
What do you reckon will be the exciting news from Edgeley Park today? Free season tickets next year? Stott to break the bank to bring hometown lad Phil Foden to EP? Caviar pies in the County Courtyard?
Or did someone in County’s media department just get a little too excited yesterday…
To be fair, we’re all getting a little bit giddy this weekend, to the extent we’re having a full on debate across social media and message boards about whether to invade the pitch or not! We have a go at Burnley and Macclesfield from time to time, but we really are an odd bunch in Stockport. Wouldn’t have it any other way though, would we? A truly bonkers but truly special club.
For any non-County fans joining us today, we’re excited because we only need a point at home to Morecambe tomorrow to mathematically clinch our promotion to League One. And potentially (although it’s unlikely as we’d need both Mansfield and Wrexham to lose) we could also be crowned champions this weekend. The Hatters haven’t achieved that as a Football League club for 57 years, so today I thought we’d get Des Hinks Senior (yes, that’s me dad!) to take a look back at that memorable campaign, to get us even more in the mood for tomorrow.
Today’s edition is sponsored by SAW Contracts Ltd. A big thank you to Steve. Give him a call on 0161 285 0307 or email sawcontracts@gmail.com if you’re looking for a qualified joiner in the Stockport area.
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: 136.36 miles
Total steps so far: 217,174
Total raised so far: £1,666
Total completed streets so far: 271 (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
Today, we’re travelling back to September 1966 and the final games of a month that saw County consolidate their place at the top of the table, a position they held throughout that epic campaign.
Albert Quixall’s injured knee, which almost kept him out of the previous game against Chesterfield, was County’s big worry as they prepared for the Saturday trip to Luton.
And to add to the problem, Fred Goodwin, Quixall’s obvious replacement in midfield, was also struggling with a knock picked up in a recent reserve game.
In the end, Quixall didn’t recover, but Goodwin did, and he was the only change to a County team that started the game like ‘champions’. Frank Lord missed a number of chances before he struck twice, one either side of half-time, to put the real Hatters very much in control.
When in front, though, County had a tendency to sit on their lead, much to the annoyance of many of their followers. And it happened again at Luton where they allowed the home side to come at them, and but for some sterling defensive work by Matt Woods, playing against his old team, and Eddie Stuart, Town could have made things very uncomfortable for Eddie Quigley’s men.
As it was, County struck again on 77 minutes. Gordon Riddick brought down Keith Allen in the box and Dave Shawcross, as ever, scored easily from the spot.
A tremendous (if rather flattering) result kept County a point clear of Southend United, but Bert Trautmann was far from happy. “I am not satisfied with our attack, and we relied too much on Frank Lord’s goals,” he said after the game.
Seven days later, the unbeaten start to the season ended with defeat at Rochdale. Despite clear opportunities for Lord, Goodwin and Allen, County were largely outplayed by a lively ‘Dale side who, with better finishing, could have won by two or three goals.
Lord played well on a ground where he had twice previously broken his leg, but for too much of the game he was lacking support, and County never really looked like ending their Spotland jinx of failing to win there for 20 years.
Fortunately, both the Hatters’ nearest rivals, Southport and Southend, lost as well, so County held on to top spot. “We obviously did not play well,” said Trautmann afterwards. “But after all, it was only 1-0. It is not the end of the world.”
20 coaches make midweek trip to Barnsley
Quixall made a shock return to the team to face Barnsley at Oakwell on 27 September. Trautmann was contemplating changing to a 4-3-3 formation to reinforce his midfield area but decided to stick with the trusty 4-2-4, despite Saturday’s hiccup at Rochdale.
So Quixall replaced Goodwin to link up again with Shawcross. And Tommy Henderson was chosen to stand in for tonsillitis victim, Len Allchurch.
Barnsley, who were still bottom of the table, stung their high-flying visitors and their massive travelling army – around 20 coaches made the midweek trip to South Yorkshire – with a goal from George Hamstead after just eleven minutes.
And the Tykes held on to that advantage until nineteen minutes into the second period when, moments after Fleet had produced a stunning save to deny Roger Barton, Tommy Henderson unleashed one of his ‘specials’ from 30 yards that gave Ray Woods in the home goal no chance at all.
In a bad-tempered game – Jimmy Meadows was on the field five times in the closing stages to treat injured players – County looked happy with a point until, with just a couple of minutes remaining, Henderson hammered home another missile from the exact spot he had launched his first, to give the Hatters an unlikely victory.
This was County’s fourth consecutive one-goal victory over the Tykes, a point not lost on the Barnsley Chronicle, who declared: “County are definitely Barnsley’s number one bogey side at the moment.”
The final game of September saw the arrival of old rivals Southport to Edgeley Park. And with both teams pushing for promotion a big crowd was expected. Those feelings were reinforced with the news that all stand tickets had been sold 36 hours before the game. “This has never happened the day before a League match in my time as chairman,” enthused Vic Bernard.
Record-breaking County sell 6,500 programmes
Over 14,000 people watched a titanic struggle between the two heavyweights, settled in County’s favour by a goal worthy of winning any game. Henderson shaped up to have a crack at goal from a 74th minute free kick but played it short to overlapping full-back Billy Haydock. Haydock raced to the goal line and crossed for Lord to send a booming header past Brian Reeves. The reaction from the vociferous County faithful shattered the night air! The big striker had found his form and fitness, and he was quickly becoming a cult figure, especially amongst the Cheadle Enders, who nicknamed him, affectionately, ‘Lord' Frank.
The gate was bigger than any in the Fourth or Third Divisions and bigger than over half in Division Two as well. Gate receipts of more than £2,500 were a club record for a League game and all 6,500 programmes were sold as well.
Away teams also benefited from this Go Go Go County bonanza. Southport’s share of the gate receipts was around £500, as much as they were banking from home games the previous season! In fact all visiting teams, in 1965-66 and 1966-67, received more than the minimum £100 handout as laid down by the Football League. No wonder clubs had no objections to playing County on Friday nights!
Bernard had said often enough that Edgeley Park was the place to be, and the whole town was now buzzing with talk, not just of promotion, but the championship as well.
That first victory over Southport for six years kept County a point clear of Southend at the top, and a full three points in front of fifth placed Aldershot.
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Photo of the day
The back of Stockport station
With Stockport County fans discussing possible promotion-winning pitch invasions on social media non-stop for the last 72 hours, the club have today brought in an extra 12 million troops to prevent any unsavoury scenes such as kissing Paddy Madden’s head.
Today in SK
🎬 Cinema
Two films at The Savoy Cinema (SK4) today. The Zone Of Interest (12A) at 6pm, followed by Back To Black (15) at 8.30pm. Click here for tickets.
💿 DJs
Stockport’s biggest party at the weekend is at Bask (SK1), with DJ Gareth Brooks playing till 3am. Last entry 1.30am.
The Nelson Tavern (SK1) have their resident DJ playing on a Friday night, with Dicko (Ian Dickinson) on from 8pm till 1am.
🍺 Food and drink
If you find yourself in Stockport today, pop into The Petersgate Tap (SK1) for a pint or two.
Fish Meal Deal at The Friary (SK3). Lite bite fish and chips with peas, curry or gravy. Plus tea or coffee. £9.75.
🎤 Karaoke
The Alexandra (SK3) with DJ Big Ace. 8pm.
🎸 Live music
The Aim at The Crown (SK6). 9pm.
Chloe Acoustic at The Rectory (SK8). 8.30pm.
Random County fan of the day #94 – Sam Jeffs!
One final thing before you go… if you’d like a spring clean for your car, carpets, house, oven or even your windows, get in touch with our brilliant bunch of sponsors!
🎨 Art & Gifts: Kate O’Brien Art
🧱 Builders Merchant: MKM Manchester South
🧽 Car Valeting: Rub A Dubz Detailing Ltd
🧼 Carpet Cleaning: A Star Clean Ltd
🏠 Carpets & Flooring: Kingsway Carpets & Rugs Ltd
🐈 Cat Flaps: That Cat Flap Company Ltd
👶 Child Health: The Sleep Nanny
🏠 Chimney Sweep: Three Shires Chimney Services
🧹 Cleaning: Beespoke Cleaning
🚙 Coatings: Colourtone Ltd
🚘 Driving School: CFN School of Motoring
💷 Financial Services: The Mortgage Mill
🔥 Fire Protection: Radial Fire And Security Limited
👟 Fitness: G Thomas Training
🍏 Greengrocers: Waterhouse’s Quality Food
🛁 Grout Refresh & Recolour: GroutGleam Stockport
💇♀️ Hairdressing: C West Hairstylist
💻 IT Services: Bridge Computer Services
🪚 Joinery: SAW Contracts Ltd
👨🍳 Kitchen Appliances: SW Appliances
🌳 Landscaping: PR Landscapes
🔑 Locksmith: APL Locksmiths Ltd
🧤 Oven Cleaning: That Oven Girl
🖌 Painter & Decorator: BGM Decorators
🚑 Personal Injury: Parkers Solicitors Ltd
📸 Photography: Holly Dwyer Photography
🎹 Piano Tutor: Sophie Grace Piano and Keyboard Tuition
🧱 Plastering: DT Plastering Services and Damp Proofing Specialists
🚰 Plumber: GTG Gary the Gasman
🦶 Podiatry: SK Podiatry
📕 Publishing: Victor Publishing
🤳 Social Media Management: Believe Media
☀️ Solar Panels: Malbern Solar Ltd
👨💼 Solicitors: B.J. McKenna & Co
⚽️ Sports Coaching: UK Sports Coaching Ltd
🪨 Stonemason: LM Stone Creative
🪵 Timber Supplies: Portwood Timber Division of Illingworth Ingham (Manchester) Ltd
☀️ Travel Agent: PTF Travel Ltd
⚖️ Weight Loss: Slimming World Reddish & Bredbury with Shlean
🪟 Window Cleaner: R ‘N’ B Window Cleaning
🧘♀️ Yoga: Greenshoots Yoga
I was 11 dad used to take me Friday night was county night I saw Stockport get the league on the Friday night and United get theirs on the Saturday just turn up early in those days and you got in . Used to love watching Johnny Price happy sometimes wet nights on the railway end still steam trains at the shed as well in those days .My first season back since I must be a lucky charm good way to spend my retirement.
Consecutive games against Chesterfield and Luton? Sounds familiar...