By Mark H
September 2 2003

Once upon a time, a devastatingly good looking (and modest?.Ed) chap called Mark H used to watch football every week (and every midweek) for his entertainment. For reasons too long to explain here, despite being Northampton born and bred, his poison of choice resided at Edgeley Park, Stockport. Those were the glory years - promotion from the then fourth division (including a win over the then league leaders and fast-fading Cobblers), followed the next season by two trips to Wembley in a week (both controversial defeats), then by a play-off semi-final defeat and another trip to Wembley in 92/93 (handball goal in a defeat), to be followed by a play-off final defeat to the hated Burnley in 93/94 (one up in two minutes, followed by two red cards - the first team ever to have two players sent off at Wembley - and an offside winner in a 2-1 defeat).

If I sound bitter that’s because I still am.

Marriage followed (big mistake!) and the trips became fewer - still enough to see promotion to the first division and being one goal away from a League Cup Final in 1997, and sporadic trips during the five years of first division football that followed.

By this time I had rediscovered Saints (ironically starting with a relegation), to the extent that last season I saw two County games, both against Cobblers, two wins, seven goals, none against.  We all knew that Sale would eventually move away from Heywood Road, the quaint back garden with fairy lights for floodlights, but I certainly thought that it would be over to Maine Road in Manchester.  When that fell through, a ground share with Bury was mooted and very quickly rejected - and then stories of a possible move to Edgeley Park started.  County chairman Brendan Elwood welcomed it (rumours had been going around the town for at least two years and, ironically, there had also been talk of County decamping to Maine Road as well).  So when the effective merger of Sale and Stockport became fact in May of this year, with Sale owner Brian Kennedy buying out Elwood, announcing the formation of a new company (Cheshire Sport) and moving Sale away from Heywood Road and into Edgeley.

Somewhat ironically, having been the first visitors in their last season at Heywood Road, Saints are to be the first ZP visitors to Edgeley Park.  Despite all the rumours, I never thought that it would actually happen, and rugby would return to the ground after a hundred years.  And this is where I come in…

Getting to the ground

It’s one of the easier ones to get to, especially if your surname is Hoddle!  If you’re going by road, then the easiest way is up the M6, come off at junction 19, and head right for the A556 (the same way that you’d go to Sale), then after short journeys on the M56 and M60, the ground is signposted and on your right hand side coming into Edgeley.  Full directions can be found here:-

http://www.nationwide.co.uk/football/common/FanGuidePage.asp?W=0&TeamID=132#GetThere

As it says, car parking is sparse.  Do not under any circumstances park in Morrisons car park on your way in - they clamp you.  Your best bet, especially as the game is a Friday night, is to drive past the ground, taking the first turning left, then left again, into the Castle Street shopping precinct car park.  It’s a two minute walk to the ground, and shouldn’t be that busy.  Alternatively, try the street parking, but note that the Greater Manchester Police (GMP) will not let you park on any of the streets backing onto the ground.  Also, as they’re expecting a near sell out, do not be surprised to see the GMP horses out - they really won’t know what to expect.

From the station, follow the instructions, but don’t walk up to the roundabout.  At the end of Station Road, cross over and walk down the cobbled street along the side of the school playground.  At the end of the fence, turn left and head straight on for the main shopping area (Castle Street).  If you look left though, you’ll find the Greyhound pub, which serves the best pint of Boddingtons in Stockport.  One thing I will say about the train - if you’re coming from Northampton you won’t get back on the night, the last train leaves just after 8...

Food and drink

Right, where do we start?  There are 13 pubs within a 15 minute walk of the ground (venue for the first annual “Saints With Beer” pub crawl?), most of which are on Castle Street.  I’ve told you about the Greyhound; also near the station are the Bluebell and the Church Inn.  On Castle Street are the Royal Oak, Prince Albert, Sir Robert Peel (my usual stop off and known locally as the Bobby Peel), the Pineapple, Rafferties Irish Bar, the Jolly Crofter and the Grapes.  The Bobby Peel is the nearest to the ground and has a small garden out the back.  It will usually be heaving, but is well worth the effort.

Food wise, take your pick.  Castle Street’s got just about everything there - chips, pizza, Chinese, Indian, Italian, supermarkets and offies (I can particularly recommend the Chinese after a night on the falling down juice - they‘re VERY patient!).  If you want to go further afield, then your posher restaurants are in the town centre (go through the station when walking back, or when you get off the train, turn right and follow the brick wall!), and before that, your usual American fast food restaurants.

Accomodation

As I said, if you’re coming by train you may have to stay over.  Your best bet is contacting the tourist information centre, but here’s a couple of lists that may give you a few ideas (the Wycliffe is about a ten to fifteen minute walk away from the ground, but is handily placed for the Castle Street pub crawl):-

http://www.stockport.gov.uk/tourism/wheretostay/hotels.htm
http://www.stockport.gov.uk/tourism/wheretostay/guesthouses.htm

County are away at Sheffield Wednesday on the Saturday, so there’s not the opportunity to watch football on the afternoon after the night before - unless, like me, you’re considering traipsing over to Hillsborough, and then going on to watch Newcastle v Sarries on the Sunday (glutton and punishment spring to mind).

Edgeley Park

Right, you’re fed, you’ve eaten, now you want to watch a game of rugby.  The four stands at Edgeley Park are four individual entities, with a total capacity of between 10 and 11 thousand (depending who you believe), and I’ll leave what I think is the best for last.  The whole ground is all-seater, so pick carefully…

Railway End - the uncovered stand behind one try line.  It’s basically the old football terrace with seats bolted onto it, and is the stand allocated to the away fans for football matches.  As such, it’s not brilliant, but the toilets are at least better than the fence behind the terrace at Heywood Road.  Just.  It holds approximately 1,500 people and if it is windy the wind usually blows straight in your face sitting here.  Without a roof as well, it is very difficult to generate any atmosphere (especially with the wind blowing the singing onto the railway line).  No bars, and average catering (i.e. a burger bar - but see the note below).

Stockport Express Stand - Otherwise know as the main stand, this is the stand that runs along Hardcastle Road.  The food stands are at the ends of the stand, but are VERY small.  The stand also has pillars (it’s about 70 years old), so beware if you get stuck behind one.  It runs the length of the pitch (nearly - I would guess that the last fifteen metres will be where the food stand is at the Cheadle End of the ground).  Mainly covered, although some seats at the front are open to the elements.

Vernon Building Society Stand - Or as it used to be called, the Pop Side before the football licensing authorities shut the old terrace down in 1993 and forced County to slap seats on it very quickly.  As a result, it is slightly low, although does run the full length of the pitch, but some of the views of the corners (especially if you are stuck up one end) are poor to say the least.  No bars here either, but there is a food stand.

Robinsons Brewery Stand - No disrespect for what Robbies have done for County, but you’ll hear more people referring to this as the Cheadle End.  The stand was built in 1995 and is two tier, and has the best views in the ground, even if they are behind a try line (height helps!), and the best facilities, with a bar, restaurant, snack bar, televisions and clean toilets.  This stand also houses the ticket office, club shop (both outside the ground) and various banqueting suites, one of which is going to be used by the rugby supporters as an unofficial supporters club bar.  The best views (in my opinion) are towards the back of Lower Tier 3, although LT2 and LT4 are also not bad.   Try and go for rows L upwards if you are in the lower tier; the front of the stand (as with all of them) is at ground level as in front of the Church’s Stand, so the early leavers will get on your wick.

In-Ground catering

After Cheshire Sport took over, one of the first things they said they would do is look at all of the catering contracts.  As a result, it’s a bit of an unknown what we will come to find.  However, I am planning an early mission to watch County v Tranmere on August Bank Holiday Monday, so will report back.  It will be a shame if the pie, peas and gravy has gone.

Club Shop

Obviously I can only go on the County club shop and what I saw at Sale last season, but there is room for both in the one building.  It’s situated at the bottom of the Cheadle End, facing the executive car park.

Ticket Prices

The ticket office is also located under the Cheadle End stand.  And here is the rub.  Ask any Sale fan what they think of the ticket prices and be prepared for a rant of epic proportions, and they do have a point.  To set the scene - football prices are £15 behind the goal and £17 down the side.  The rugby prices are:-

Railway End (remember, uncovered and behind the try line) - £15
Cheadle End (behind the try line) - £18
Vernon Stand - £20 and £25
Stockport Express Stand - £20, £25 and £28 - both the Vernon and Stockport Express stand prices depend on how close you sit to halfway.

Note that all of the ticket prices are subject to confirmation - there’s been such an outcry that the club are now supposedly offering reductions for buying tickets earlier than the day before the match.  £5 reductions have been mentioned.  Personally, I’m heading for the Cheadle End.  It’s where I sit when I watch County, offers a good view from which you can see the game develop, and it’s best protected from the elements.

Now all we need is a Saints win (and a County one the next day - I know which one I’d expect to see, and it augurs for a Good Friday).

Copyright of COYSDC 2003, not to be reproduced without permission in any way or form.