Hatters' fans hail heroes

Neal Keeling

May 28, 2008

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Stockport County FC parade their trophy through the town.

Stockport County FC parade their trophy through the town. 1/11 Play Slideshow

A LONDON-born `Irishman' was crowned Stockport County's local hero as the Hatters showed Greater Manchester how to party at a civic reception to mark the team's promotion to Division One.

Manager Jim Gannon, who was born in Southwark but raised in Dundalk, triggered euphoric applause from thousands of fans when he appeared with his baby daughter Caitlin on the Town Hall balcony.

The A6 was closed and the town came to a standstill as a real homecoming was staged for the team - unlike Manchester United who missed out despite their double success.

Each player involved in the 3-2 play-off final win over Rochdale raised the trophy, but the crowd went mad for Gannon, who also played for the club for 10 years. Two years ago the club was heading for non-league football.

He said: "We have had fantastic support. I know as a player myself that the noise and backing from fans lifts you - it can give players extra energy."

For chairman Norman Beverley, who attended his first County game in 1959, it was an unforgettable evening. He said: "I think my dad took me to see County as a punishment once and I've been a fan ever since!"

The players rode from Edgeley Park to the town centre in an open top bus. The Mayor of Stockport, Coun Pam King, said: "The civic reception is the least we could do for the club which proudly takes Stockport's name all over the UK."

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Drew_Peacock, stockport (28/05/2008 at 10:28)

Well done County!!! And well done the 12th man for turning out in numbers.
And well done SMBC for actually putting a PA system on this time...I can remember the embarressing attempts of players and Dave Jones trying to shout when this happened last.

Grief Tourist, Tameside (28/05/2008 at 10:38)

I find this rather sad, they haven't won anything. The play offs are a gimmick, and unfair. You could finish in third place - many points in front of the other teams, and still not go up. The site of a two thirds empty Wembley was also a pitiful sight.

ARTHUR BROWNLOW, STOCKPORT (28/05/2008 at 11:32)

Grief tourist. Get a life and try not to be so bitter.At a guess you're probably a city or united glory hunter,the sort who will snub his home town team in favour of a big city club in the hope of success.Fortunately,you're in the minority as most united and city fans i know wished us all the best.County have never claimed to be a big club,so were never going to fill Wembley.Why is that so bad-the fans that went are just as loyal as any that turn out for bigger teams finals.If you're so negative and bitter,you must lead a sad existence-go away and find another club to 'hate' as that's what negative people like you love to do!
By the way,County finished highest out of the play off teams,so promotion was hardly undeserved,though great credit to Rochdale and their fans who were generous in defeat.

Old Tom (28/05/2008 at 11:35)

Grief Tourist, perhaps you should stick to things you know something about. Hereford finished third. You can go and do some research into which division they'll be playing in next season if you like.

Whilst you're doing that, consider that Stockport is celebrating success. Thhs is a Good Thing.

Also consider that in the 'old days' pre-play-offs we'd have gone up automatically in 4th anyway.

Please take your cynical misery elsewhere. The rest of us will enjoy life at a football club neither owned by Americans saddling us with horrendous debt nor by someone accused of human rights abuses who hoodwinked a load of gullible Mancs into thinking he was a nice guy simply by flashing his wallet at them.

We own our football club.

Bowerfold, Stockport (28/05/2008 at 11:45)

As a Man United fan who now lives in Heaton Moor, I am seriously considering giving up on the cash vampires at the Theatre of Dreams(TM) and watching County instead. I suppose that make me a gloryhunter.

John, Marple (28/05/2008 at 11:49)

It's a great achievement and who cares if Wembley was two thirds empty, we don't have the number of glory hunters that United and City can boast.

It's much harder to support a club that begin every season as perenial underdogs.

Don't get wound up by these bitter people, instead feel sorry for them, they'll never know or fully understand just what it means to be a football fan at this level. They're just a cog in a big wheel.

Sam Byrne (28/05/2008 at 11:51)

Greif Tourist, you bitter bitter man. It shows how much you know that you said it is unfair because a team could finish 3rd and not get promoted. Who finished 3rd? Hereford. And they got automatic promotion!

I don't blame you though, just got a hunch that you are a Manure or Citeh gloryhunting armchair supporter.

Please go elsewhere to try to infect people with your cynicism, and just remember while your moaning and ranting about things you haven't got a clue about, most people in Stockport are celebrating. Even Manure and Citeh fans are wishing us well. Clubs like ours don't need anybody pumping money into our club for success. So maybe you can brush up on your football knowledge a little and stop being so bitter.

alvinlwh (28/05/2008 at 11:56)

Good for them. They can have this party because they did not have a gang of Scotsman trashing their town.

Princess_Pam, Crumpsall (28/05/2008 at 12:09)

If County had played Chris Coward, they might have made automatic promotion. This Record Holder (Youngest player in the league cup) has been a consistant goalscorer in the reserves and even scored a couple of goals against united in the Manchester Seniors cup in 2006/7. At the moment though, his dad has played three times at Wembley and he hasn't played once. Give him a chance and go up again next season.

RandallFlagg, Manchester (28/05/2008 at 12:16)

Tragic that someone from Tameside feels the need to live up to stereotype.

hmbadger, Stockport (28/05/2008 at 12:24)

Message for Bowerfold - I'm a vague Utd fan in Heaton Moor who started going regularly to County 4 years ago. I can guarantee you that if you do the same you will not regret it. No garbage from the stadium announcer, no foreign owners only in it for the money. Just real fans and real football.

sneakitawc (28/05/2008 at 12:35)

the play-off system gives mid-table teams something to play for right throughout the season. would be mediocre without them.

poc (28/05/2008 at 12:35)

Grief Tourist, you say that "they haven't won anything". In that case my eyes must be playing tricks on me as there seems to be a trophy in the picture... Didn't we WIN promotion too?

There was recently a comment made which was "that goal changes nothing". He was a sad mad too but I suspect that you two would get along great.

poc (28/05/2008 at 12:43)

Bowerfield, you ask if coming to County makes you a glory hunter and to that I make this point...

One of the biggest benefits we, as a small club, get from appearing at Wembley is the appearance of new fans at Edgeley Park so you'd be welcome with open arms.

Coming to County will play with every emotion that you have, from delight, to frustration and sometimes anger but in truth that's what football is all about. If we wanted to watch a team winning every week we too would have been Man United fans but instead we chose real football with real feelings.

Glory hunters are fans who boycott the club when things are bad. Come and join us at EP and lets see if your heart allows you to leave! Only then will you know if you're a glory hunter or not.

polkyb (28/05/2008 at 14:11)

What's this?

A football team? On an open top bus? In Greater Manchester?

Well done Stockport! You not only won promotion, but you got one past the councils too!

:-)

bluetruth (28/05/2008 at 19:54)

Haven't won anything Grief Tourist?
Look at the picture we have the play-off winners Trophy!
You must be a bitter City supporter, no wonder your so depressed, United do the Double, County go to Wembley and win promotion and City win NOTHING again!
What must stick in your throat even more Grief Tourist is even Rochdale made it to the new Wembley by the time City reach Wembley (if ever) the stadium will be 50+ years old!

Leese's Parade [formerly Scrotnig] (29/05/2008 at 09:21)

Great to see Stockport achieving some success, it's a great club that's well run, there's always schemes going on to encourage families etc.

And they got a parade! Over in Manchester they are trying to make that an imprisonable offence. Make sure you don't cross the city boundary.

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