The Big Interview

DESPITE County’s slightly precarious league position at present, Football in the Community manager Mike Smith is as busy as ever and is determined to keep ‘spreading the word’ not only in Stockport, but right across the region.

And Gateshead-born Smith, aged 36, has been delighted with the response from young and old, especially since the Supporters Trust takeover of the club in the summer.

Smith said: "We get lots of positive feedback on the range and quality of our activities, not just from kids, but from parents and teachers as well.

"Our courses are professionally run to provide a safe and friendly environment for the children to enjoy themselves, and this has been recognised by the Football Association and Stockport MBC who have awarded us the prestigious Charter Standard for the quality of our soccer courses, and the Merits of Quality Play for our child care activities, respectively.

"Our staff are very busy at the moment. On top of delivering curriculum and after-school sessions in Stockport and the surrounding areas, we have been preparing for the BT Community Cup, a six-a-side tournament for schools where teams can progress through the local and regional heats to a national final played before the LDV Vans Trophy Final.

"Last season St Josephs carried the County banner all the way to the Millennium Stadium where they were very unlucky to go down to a 1-0 defeat against Millwall.

"Preparations for our ‘Football Frenzy’ soccer course in February, along with our holiday childcare provision, are also well under way.

"We are also very busy promoting County’s next two home games, against Bristol Rovers and Darlington, through our special Class and Team Pass initiatives, in more than 25 local schools and nearly 200 junior football clubs."

It certainly sounds as though Smith and his six full-time members of staff are keeping busy, and that’s just the way County chiefs would like it.

Smith added: "Apart from Stockport, FITC also spreads the County word throughout Tameside, North Cheshire and the High Peak, and it’s quite clear that since the Trust assumed control of the club in July more and more people are showing an interest in County.

"The public are talking about County in a positive way again, which is so important. Stockport County belongs to the community and I really hope the general community realises that, because we need the town to get behind the team.

"We have the vision, drive and ambition to get County back in the Championship, but to achieve that we need the full support of the people of Stockport."

Some potential new fans may still need to be won over with County’s first-team struggling at present, but what does Smith feel about the prospects under Chris Turner.

"Although our current position doesn’t make good reading, our prospects under Chris Turner look very good indeed," he added.

"Chris is working hard to improve the team and I’m certain it won’t be long before we start climbing League Two.

"He’s also very keen to get things right behind the scenes as well. He gets involved in every department within the club and he sees everyone at Edgeley Park as part of his team, which is a great example to follow and our motto in FITC is ‘nothing is achieved without enthusiasm!’

"Also since his appointment, the gaffer has made the players more accessible, and they now provide us with terrific support, which is so important to the children attending our courses.

"Overall, I honestly believe that County have a very bright future. Off the field we now have a great team of positive, hard-working and enthusiastic ‘Stockport County’ people, and with the support of the Trust members, volunteers and the magnificent County supporters we can achieve our ambition to get County back playing the likes of Wolves, Ipswich and Sheffield United sooner, rather than later!"

A County follower for 17 years, Mike Smith has worked for the club for 11 years and took over as manager of the Football in the Community department from Andy Kilner in 1999.

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