With Stockport County set to line up Anthony Elding (Leeds Utd, Ferencváros, Rochdale) err Anthony Pulis and potentially Big Ben Futcher (Grimsby Town, Peterborough United & Bury) and group their fans onto the famous ‘Pop’ side, an already massive game has an even sharper edge. Its some atmosphere up there and to give them their due an inspiration for the early Passionistas.
Here we take a look at the opposition with a huge array of stats, so grab a four pack and savour the build up to a Cup final league 2 style.
On a positive note of sorts, both sides are great going forward but woeful at the back suggesting a high scoring affair. Perhaps we have cursed the game but nil nil is unlikely given the Hatters minus 30 goal difference and the Imps flimsy case for the defence. Stockport certainly have a pedigree for goals, remember Liam Dickinson Imps? However the incredible 1933–34 season outshone them all and saw 115 goals, including a 13–0 win over Halifax Town, which still stands as a Football League record.
Stockport have an incredible knack of bouncing back from the brink, living up to their nickname and always pulling something out of their Hats. Escaping extinction last season is another chapter in a history of brinkmanship so to speak, modern legend Jim Gannon led them to safety in 2005/6 before setting a Football League record of 9 consecutive wins without conceding a goal, yet the Hatters missed the playoffs on - you've guessed it - goal difference.
The great Gannon got it right in 2007/8 as the Hatters beat rivals Rochdale to go up via the playoffs. In 2008/9, County then narrowly missed out on a league 1 playoff spot as Gannon turned down Brighton's advances, only to see the club enter administration in December 2009. He got out but County's Annus Horribulus would be a long and protracted affair lasting beyond relegation and into this summer when the 2015 Group finally showed the way forward. Thus far that path still seems up hill all the way.
But to the facts & Stats, the heroes & villains fellow footy fans.
Form & Seasonal Highs & Lows
Biggest Home Win 2-1 Barnet
Biggest Away Win Macclesfield Town 0-2, Barnet 1-3
Heaviest Home Defeat 0-5 Hereford United, 0-5 Port Vale
Heaviest Away Defeat Morecambe 5-0
Highest Aggregate Score 3-3 Crewe Alexandra, 1-5 Gillingham, 3-3 Rotherham United
Longest Winning run: 1 game: at Barnet
Longest Unbeaten run: 5 games: at Macclesfield Town, Bradford City, at Oxford United, Aldershot Town, Accrington Stanley
Current Losing run: 1 game: at Hereford United
Current Winless run: 5 games: at Chesterfield, Morecambe, Gillingham, Rotherham United, at Hereford United
Longest Losing run: 3 games: at Chesterfield, Morecambe, Gillingham
Home Form
The Hatters are ranked 23rd in respect of home prowess.
P 13 W 1 D 7 L 5 F 15 A 34 GC-19
Away Form
County are ranked 14th in the league away from home.
P 13 W 4 D 2 L 7 F 12 A 23 GC-11
Overall position
Stockport are currently 21st in Npower League 2 with the following tale of the tape.
P 26 W 5 D 9 L 12 F 27 A 57 GC-30
Ker-ching - Crowds
Highest Gate 4571 Port Vale
Lowest Gate 3573 Gillingham
Average Attendance 3994
Aggregate Attendance 51927
Hatters Heroes & Villains.
Here are this seasons player statistics in all competitions
Goal Takers
8 - George Donnelly
6 Greg Tansey
3- Paul Turnbull,
2 - Ishmel Demontagnac, Stephen Husband,
1 - Mansour Assoumani, Robbie Williams, David Poole, Anthony Pulis, Wes Fletcher, Tom Fisher,
Goal Makers
3 - Mark Lynch, Jake Simpson,
2 - Anthony Elding, Paul Turnbull, Adam Griffin, Robbie Williams,
1 - George Donnelly, Greg Tansey, David Poole, Wes Fletcher, Jamie Proctor,
Keeper Corner
Matthew Glennon
Games 24
Saves 138 (L2-112 FAC-19 JPT-7)
Clean sheets 4 (L2- 4 one against Imps)
Owain fon Williams has played 6 (20 saves 2 clean sheets)
Card Collectors
Yellows - 38
6 Robbie Williams
5 Greg Tansey
4 Mansour Assoumani, Danny Swailes
3 George Donnelly,
2 Paul Turnbull, Adam Griffin, Anthony Pulis, Ishmel Demontagnac
1 Mark Lynch, Wes Fletcher, Jordan Rose, Tom Aldred, Barry Conlon, Matty Mainwaring, Jamie Proctor, Stephen Husband
Red Cards - 3
1 Mansour Assoumani, Jake Simpson, Stephen Husband