Stockport County
Edgeley Park
Capacity:
9,475 (all seated)
Address:
Hardcastle Road, Stockport, SK3 9DD
Telephone:
0161 286 8888
Ticket Office:
0161 266 2700
Pitch Size:
113 x 72 yards
Pitch Type:
Grass
Club Nickname:
The Hatters
Year Ground Opened:
1902
Undersoil Heating:
No
Home Kit:
Blue and White
Away fans are normally housed on one side of the Popular Side Stand, where up to 900 seats can be allocated, across two blocks. This stand is covered, however, there are a number of supporting pillars which could impede your view if there is a large turnout. But really for most visiting teams then this area is more than adequate. You can access the entrance to this stand by walking behind the Railway End.
For the really big games then visiting supporters can also be allocated all or part of the Railway End, where the capacity is 1,366. This former terrace has been converted to all seating but is lacking a roof and so you are at the mercy of the weather. The facilities within the ground are pretty good, with modern toilets, whilst the refreshment kiosk staffed by friendly faces, offers a good range of pies. As Stockport County are a well-supported club, then this can make for a lively atmosphere within the ground.
If you are an airplane spotter then this is your ground, as during the game many large airplanes fly over Edgeley Park having taken off from nearby Manchester Airport!
Edgeley Park is of a good size for this level of football. At one end is the large Cheadle End Stand which towers over the rest of the stadium. This stand which was opened at the beginning of the 1995-96 season is two-tiered, covered and all seated. It has a large lower tier, with a smaller upper tier above. The stand is ‘encased’ by large red tubular steel supports and is flanked by two large modern looking floodlight pylons.
Opposite, is the Railway End, a former open terrace which was converted to a seating area in 2001. This end has been unused on matchdays for some time and the club have elected to cover the seating in large advertising hoardings. Above the Railway End is a small electric scoreboard. Both sides are quite old looking stands, that are both covered and all seated. The Danny Bergara Main Stand (which is named after a former manager) is only about two thirds the length of the pitch and straddles the halfway line. This stand was opened in 1936. Originally it had a terrace at the front but this was filled with seating in the 1980s. It is particularly striking when viewed from outside, with its bright blue and white colours. On the other side is the Popular Side, known as the Vernon Stand, a former covered terrace which was later made rebuilt and made all-seated in 1993. However the Popular Side Roof dates back to 1956.
There is a small Labour Club (C.I.U. Affiliated) right by the entrance to the Railway End, that allows visitors in, for a small entrance fee. It is a small club that could do with modernising, but I found it both comfortable and welcoming. Around a five minute walk away is the Armoury pub, which is located beside the roundabout at the top of Castle Street and serves beers from the local Robinson’s Brewery. Steve Johnson recommends ‘The Armoury is excellent for away fans. The Landlord is very friendly, the Robinsons beers are excellent and the home fans there are very welcoming’. This pub also shows Sky Sports and is not far from Stockport Railway Station. Also near the station on Chatham Street is the CAMRA Good Beer Guide listed ‘The Olde Vic’.
Otherwise there are a number of pubs along a shopping area, across the main road from the away end. John Keane adds; ‘away fans will get a warm welcome in the Sir Robert Peel half way up Castle Street’. Whilst Vaughan Skirrey a visiting Sheffield Wednesday supporter recommends ‘The Grapes’. As you come up the hill from the station, the pub is on the left at the top of Castle Street. Please note that alcohol is not available in the away end.
Adam Hodson adds; ‘If you are near Edgeley Shopping Centre then I would recommend the Priory, which is one of the best fish and chip shops in Stockport.’
The Edgeley Park ground is well signposted around the area.
From The South
M6 to Junction 19. Take the A556 towards Manchester/Altrincham. Then join the M56 towards Manchester Airport. After a few miles leave the M56 and join the M60 towards Stockport. Leave the M60 at Junction 2 (the A560 Cheadle turn off) and at the roundabout take the A560 towards Stockport. At the traffic lights (with the Farmers Arms pub on the right-hand corner) turn right onto the B5465 Edgeley Road. Continue along Edgeley Road, passing a Morrisons supermarket on your left and continue straight on at the mini roundabout. Go through two sets of traffic lights and as the road bends around to the right, the floodlights of the ground can be seen on the right-hand side. Turn right into Caroline Street and the ground is at the bottom of this street.
From The East M62 to junction 18. Take the M60 towards Stockport. Leave the M60 at Junction 1 and head towards Stockport. Turn right at the second set of traffic lights to go onto the A560 towards Cheadle. Then turn left into the B5465 Edgeley Road (with the Farmers Arms pub on the left-hand corner). Then as ‘From the South’.
From The North
M6 to Junction 20A and then take the M56 towards Manchester Airport and then join the M60 towards Stockport. Then as ‘From the South’.
Car Parking
Mostly street parking, although beware of some new residents only parking areas that have been introduced recently.
Post Code For Sat-Nav: SK3 9DD
Stockport Railway Station is located half a mile away from Edgeley Park. About a ten minute walk. It has two entrances/exits. Do not use the main entrance/exit but the smaller one on the western side. Then turn left up Station Road, and continue up the hill towards the roundabout. Go straight over the roundabout and turn left into Caroline Street for the ground.
Mark White adds; ‘The main entrance to Stockport Station is located on the opposite side of the station from the ground. If you find yourself in the ticket hall with a taxi rank in front of you, go back into the station through the subways under the platforms, then follow the directions above.’
Booking train tickets in advance will normally save you money! Find train times, prices and book tickets with Trainline. Visit the website below to see how much you can save on the price of your tickets:
Official Programme £3
Adults £18
Over 65’s/Students* £12
Under 18’s £5
Under 6’s Free**
* Students must be in full time education and have ID as proof of status.
** Under 6 Free tickets must be obtained from the ticket office.
Stockport County FC fixture list (takes you to the BBC Sports Website).
The Club were traditionally rivals with the big Manchester Clubs and Oldham Athletic. However with Stockport having played Non-League football for a number of years now, focus has shifted to local fellow Non-League Clubs, Curzon Ashton, Ashton United, Stalybridge Celtic and FC United.
Record Attendance
27,833 v Liverpool
FA Cup Fifth Round, 11th February 1950
Modern All-Seated Attendance Record
10,273 v Leeds United League One, 28th December 2008.
Average Attendance
2018-2019: 3,997 (National League North)
2017-2018: 3,433 (National League North)
2016-2017: 3,477 (National League North)
If you require hotel accommodation in Stockport or Manchester then first try a hotel booking service provided by Booking.com. They offer all types of accommodation to suit all tastes and pockets from; Budget Hotels, Traditional Bed & Breakfast establishments to Five Star Hotels and Serviced Apartments. Plus their booking system is straightforward and easy to use. Just input the relevant dates and click on “Search” below or on the hotel of interest on the map to get more information. The map is centered on the football ground. However, you can drag the map around or click on +/- to reveal more hotels in the town centre or further afield.
Official Web Sites: www.stockportcounty.com
Unofficial Web Sites:
Hatters Matters(Club Fanzine Network)
Stockport County Supporters Co-operative
Supporters Message Board
All Things Stockport County
Vital Stockport (Vital Football Network)
County Heaven (Forum)
If anything is incorrect or you have something to add, please e-mail me at: [email protected] and I’ll update the guide.
I was looking forward to the visit to Stockport for what should have been a good game. We had beaten Morecambe 2-0 the previous week and confidence was high. However I wasn't looking forward to the visiting the ground because of the reputation its stewards had managed to build as some of the strictest in the league and also because in 11 meetings the chairboys have never won there!
Coming up from London as I did was a very easy journey on the train, going from London Euston to Manchester Piccadilly via Stockport in about 2 hours. From there its about a 10 minute walk to the ground which is easy enough to find just by following the crowd.
Finding food before the game is quite an easy task near to the train station with McDonalds, Subway and various chippys being nearby. I have to say though I didn't see any pubs near the ground. Any home fans seemed helpful in pointing me in the right direction and seemed friendly enough in general.
The ground seemed nice, a typical lower league ground with stands of all different sizes. The away fans are in the smallest stand (I think!) behind one goal which is uncovered so hope for no rain! The home end behind the opposite goal is a very large 2 tier stand where the main atmosphere seems to come from. The other 2 stands are average size and nothing spectacular. If it is raining, as it was when I previously went, away fans are put in one corner of the Popular Stand which has a couple of supporting pillars which can obstruct your view of the far goal.
The game itself was dire with neither team having many chances. The atmosphere was quite flat oweing to the stewards who operate a strict non standing policy which did not go down well with our fans to say the least. The stewards aren't afraid to eject anyone either, the total of our previous visit there being 32 fans ejected so you have been warned! However the seats have enough leg room to keep people happy and the view is quite good. What's also good for any plane spotters is that the stadium is near to Manchester airport so there are always planes flying over the stadium. The toilets are standard and kept in a good enough condition compared to others in the league. I didn't buy any food at half time so I'm afraid I can't comment on that but I know it sells a variety of things including various pies. Come full time I had no problems at all with getting away from the game as there was a small attendance and there where various exits.
Overall I think I've had much better away days supporting the team. The ground itself is nice enough but the stewarding can take a lot of the fun out of a otherwise good day. on the plus side the ground is easy to get to, the facilities are quite good and the ticket prices are reasonable. if only Wycombe would finally win there…
Stockport County v Fleetwood Town
Conference Premier League
Tuesday, September 27th, 2011, 7.45pm
Dave Higgin (Fleetwood Town fan)
I had never been to Stockport before and was looking forward to going as it's always nice to visit new grounds and another 'ticked off' the growing list of stadiums visited.
The journey was easy enough, although Man Utd were at home the same night so the Motorway was busy. Edgeley Park is well sign posted once you get close and we managed to park quite near the stadium without much trouble.
A few of us met for a drink at the nearby Sir Robert Peel pub, which had a friendly atmosphere and served a good pint. The home fans we spoke to seemed a friendly enough bunch, with the usual banter going on.
The first impressions of the ground were good. 'A proper football ground' as my Dad called it. The away end where we were sitting had no roof but it was a lovely warm evening, so it didn't really matter, but better take a coat just in case. Most of the home fans were behind the opposite goal in a two tiered stand which looked quite impressive.
The game started well with Fleetwood scoring after just two minutes. It was a bit frantic at times and when Stockport equalised, it was definitely game on. Fleetwood were flying after half time and raced into a 3-1 lead, but Stockport pegged one back to make it 3-2. Stockport then threw everything at us and to be honest I still can't believe they didn't score again. We managed to breakaway right at the end to make the final score 4-2, but that didn't really tell the whole story of the match. The atmosphere was great although the home fans did seem to get on their teams back a lot when things weren't going well.
After the game, the journey home was fairly easy, although it was a bit busy on the motorway.
All in all a very enjoyable experience. Nice ground, reasonable food prices, decent atmosphere, and a great game to watch. Would definitely go back again.
Stockport County v Tamworth
Conference Premier
Saturday, April 21st, 2012, 3pm
Scot Rowland (Tamworth fan)
1. Why were you looking forward to going to the ground (or not as the case may be):
I was looking forward to visiting Edgeley Park as it was a new ground for me and looked like a ground with a bit of character which I look for in stadiums I visit. As well as this being last away game of the season which is always an enjoyable day
2. How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking:
My journey went well if not a little ridiculous. Having decided to try and arrive early in Stockport I left myself needing to leave Ipswich at 2:45am to catch a coach to Stansted Airport, then a further coach to London before my 7:20 train to Stockport arriving at 9:20, I’m fully aware this all could have been avoided by just arriving later but for all the changes the journey wasn’t as bad as it sounds and passed relatively quick. The ground is easy enough to find upon leaving the station using the directions on the guide and doesn’t take very long at all.
3. What you did before the game pub/chippy. Home fans friendly:
We first headed to the Culvers Court Wetherspoons on St Petersgate in the town centre (heading away from the ground), which is a typical ‘Spoons. We then headed to the Egerton Arms which is just across the road from the it’s a smallish, and quite un-assuming pub but has an interesting SCFC mural painted on the wall. Unfortunately a few of the outlets we had planned to attend had closed down. So we decided to take in a pint at the Bakers Arms on Market Place, which is in all honesty a bit of a dive although it is welcoming, it is in need of sprucing up.
One pub I would recommend is Winters which is a small pub and very cosy with a big crowd but gives a very friendly welcome and is extremely cheap, a real snug old boozer and well worth a visit. This pub is on the lower level of the town centre which can be accessed by the flight of stairs you come across heading to Market Place near the Culverts Court and Egerton Arms. We then headed to The Sir Robert Peel close to Edgeley Park, a decent pub with a nice beer garden and reasonable prices although does get busy with Hatters Fans. The Stockport fans we came across there were very friendly and many of us enjoyed a good chat with the home supporters.
4. What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of the away end and other sides of the ground:
Edgeley Park looks very tired and is showing its age, but is still and impressive stadium to be in Non – League. The Railway End the away stand has a decent view but is uncovered so it’s best to hope for sunshine. Opposite this is the Cheadle End a very large two tiered stand that towers over the rest of the ground and is a very impressive stand. The Main Stand straddles the half way line but is quite old and has a number of supporting pillars although it does feature Stockport County painted on the rear of the stand which looks quite good. Opposite the Main Stand is the Popular Side which is similar to the Main Stand just slightly smaller but also has a number of supporting pillars.
5. Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, toilets ect..
The game wasn’t the best for large parts both sides spent the majority of the first half trying to get a foot hold in the game, with both side not really having very many clear cut chances, although Connor Gudger should have put Tamworth 1-0 up with a wasted chance. At half time I had a Chicken Balti Pie with peas and gravy for around £3.50 which was a touch expensive as it wasn’t very nice in honesty.
Stockport started to take control right from the off in the second half and O’Donnell headed them into the lead on 48 mins. County pressed for much of the half then in the 77th min they made the points safe when Sheridan was put through and he chipped Hedge in the Tamworth goal for Hattersley to head in. Whitehead could have added a third but struck the post late on. The atmosphere was good the travelling Lambs fans tried to make some noise in the open and The Hatters fans grew in noise as the game wore on.
The stewards were a funny bunch approaching kick off and the start of the game they were very over the top bordering on pathetic at times, not allowing fans in and even confiscating beach balls, but seemed to mellow out as the game wore on and became more relaxed towards the end.
6. Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
Walking from the stadium to the station is fine and easy to find your way, we had no problems getting back.
7. Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
Stockport is a very good away day and I’d recommend a trip, the ground for away supporters is not blessed with the facilities of some but it doesn’t take away from the enjoyment and Stockport is brimming with decent watering holes. The stewarding has a lot to be desired but all in all a very enjoyable day.
Stockport County v FC Halifax Town
Conference North
Tuesday 16th August 2016, 7.45pm
Michael Cromack (FC Halifax Town)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting Edgeley Park?
In the past, I kept getting teasing glimpses of the ground on the train on my way in or out of Manchester. So when Halifax dropped down a division this ground was a must-visit job.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
That question deserves a chapter on its own. With the wife not at work she came with me. I parked the car at Dewsbury station and we had an all day breakfast in the pub on the platform. So far so good. Then we found out that our train to Manchester Piccadilly was cancelled so had to get on the Manchester Victoria service. From there we were advised to take the supertram to Piccadilly, got to Piccadilly to find the service to Stockport was late, by now we accepted we would miss the kick off. Got off the next train to Stockport and hurriedly got in a taxi. Through utter confusion between us,the 1st taxi, some other people wanting a taxi and the 2nd taxi the 2 drivers got into an argument over who was taking who and where (the other people were going to the airport and so their fair would have been more) not realising my wife had not yet got in the car the driver set off……..WOAH wait a minute mate. Got as far as a set of traffic lights on red and this row between the two drivers led to them both getting out of their cabs and squaring up to each other. We had just about made up our minds to get out and walk when the driver got back in and apologised. Finally got in the ground 10 minutes into the match……phew!
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
No time whatsoever. Straight into the ground looking for 2 spare seats a town fan must have seen us looking and pointed to 2 near him.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of Edgeley Park?
A tidy ground the focal point being the impressive and big stand behind the goal at the other end. We were at the open seated uncovered stand behind the goal. We needed to sit down after the taxi episode! Two traditional stands at both sides made up the rest of the ground.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
A good turnout probably due to a nice warm evening and a good attendance at the away end. A few low flying airplanes were another feature of the ground. 1 up at half time town went to sleep in the second half and Stockport inevitably equalised 1-1 draw a fair result.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
Just before being dropped off the taxi driver pointed to the back way into the station. If I had known about this I wouldn't have got a taxi. Another late train back to Dewsbury saw us not getting home till gone midnight.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
Well life is full of surprises and experiences and this night was certainly one of those alright!
Stockport County v Tamworth
National League North
Saturday 25th March 2017, 3pm
Sam Walker (Neutral fan)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting Edgeley Park?
Since Leicester City were promoted to the Premier League in 2014, Dad and I spent away days travelling to various lower-league grounds, mainly due to cost and availability of tickets. Whilst normally sticking relatively close to our home in Norwich, we decided to try somewhere further afield, and Edgeley Park Stockport would be a new ground for me.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
As it would be a long journey, we left Norwich on the 8:57am train. A long but thankfully trouble-free (and picturesque when travelling through the Peak District) saw us arrive in Stockport in the bright sunshine at around 1.30pm. After initially leaving via the wrong exit, we made our way around the station towards the ground and arrived approximately ten minutes later.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
As the turnstiles were not yet open we decided to visit the small social club at the ground. This was small but very welcoming, and the Stockport fans were very chatty and friendly. When the ground opened we headed inside.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of Edgeley Park?
We were sat on the Popular Side along one side. The most dominant feature of the ground is the Cheadle End behind the goal, and its relatively modern look made the rest of the ground look dated in places, but Edgeley Park is still a characteristic ground and it certainly looked splendid in the sunshine, with nice views of Stockport and Manchester visible beyond. A nice touch was the Uruguayan flag flying over the Railway End as a tribute to former Stockport manager Danny Bergara.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
Before the game, I bought a cheeseburger and a cup of tea, which were both very nice and reasonably priced, whilst waiting allowed for a close-up view of the River Mersey at the back of the stand which again looked even better in the sunshine. The game was preceded by a minute's silence in memory of the Westminster terror attack, which both sets of fans observed impeccably. Once the game began it was Tamworth who had the early chances, and they took the lead on the 29th minute when Ross Dyer headed in at the back post from Callum Powell's cross. Stockport responded slowly but picked up during the second half and equalised in the 72nd minute when captain Mark Ross prodded home after a goalmouth scramble. Following that the tide turned and Stockport took the lead in the 80th minute when Danny Lloyd fired home from 12 yards. Despite late pressure from Tamworth, Stockport held on to keep alive their hopes of making the playoffs. The attendance was 3,349 with 59 (very vocal) fans from Tamworth. The only downside was seeing someone being led away via the Railway End by stewards.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
We left on the final whistle, and with over two hours until the train left we first went to a Subway outlet before seeing out the remaining wait on Stockport station, with its location on a viaduct allowing a spectacular view of the sunset. The train arrived at 7pm and another long but fortunately, relaxed journey saw us arrive back in Norwich at around 11.10pm.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
A long and tiring day but one that was ultimately well worth it. A chance to visit somewhere new and with very friendly residents means Stockport is a place I would welcome a return to. Stockport County have fallen on hard times but they appear to be on their way back up and aided by healthy crowds and vocal support, especially with the Manchester clubs on their doorstep and Liverpool not too far away either, means that it appears the club are finally making some progress in their return to the Football League, and a welcome return it would be.
Stockport County v Preston North End
Pre-Season Friendly Match
Saturday 15th July 2017, 3pm
Ian Bradley (Neutral fan)
Stockport County v Dorking Wanderers
FA Trophy Round 2 Replay
Tuesday 14th January 2020, 7.45pm
David London (Dorking Wanderers)
Stockport County v Sutton United
National League
Saturday 18th January 2020, 3pm
Mark J Anderson (Sutton United)
Stockport County v Bromley
National League
Saturday 15th February 2020, 3pm
Richard Mackey (Bromley)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting Edgeley Park?
Manchester is a great city for a football weekend and I have a mate who lives up there that I can stay with. So once I saw this game was being played on a Saturday I was always going to go.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
I stayed at my friend's house overnight, so it was a 20 minute bus journey to get into the middle of Stockport.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
I had some food at a cafe on the town square, then headed towards the ground. I chose a pub at random called the Jolly Crofter, but as it was already 2:30 so I didn't spend long in there. The pub was nothing special and I wouldn't recommend it.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of Edgeley Park?
Edgeley Park is impressive for non-league, although having to walk to the other end of it to queue up, buy a ticket for the away end and then walk back to the away turnstile was annoying. The away fans are sat on the side undercover (very important for this game), and you mostly get a reasonable view. There is a large TV gantry suspended from the roof which obscures the view if you try to sit at the back as close to the halfway line as possible – not a problem if your team doesn't bring a lot of fans but it would be a big problem if all the seats were sold out and fans had to sit there. The home end behind the goal is impressive, as was the size of the home support – you can tell that Stockport belongs in the Football League even though they've been through a very rough decade. If the game is dull you also get a good view of planes in the landing queue for Manchester Airport.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
This game was played on the day storm Dennis hit the UK and was one of only three in the National League to go ahead. The wind was very strong and as such the game was never going to be high quality. Bromley did well to keep it at 0-0 in the first half as the wind was against us; although we had a lot more of the play in the second half we conceded a cheap goal from a corner and couldn't get the equaliser. The catering looked basic, but as I'd already had lunch I didn't use it.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
An easy ten minute walk to the station, where I got a train to join my friend on a pub crawl.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
A decent day out despite the result. Hopefully there will be better weather for my next visit.
Game Attended
Stockport v ColchesterCompetition
League 2Date
13/08/2022Kick Off Time
3pmTeam Supported
StockportWhy were you looking forward to this game and visiting the ground itself?
Since working in Stockport over 20 years ago whilst residing in the UK, I have been an avid fan of Stockport County. In recent years I have followed County's highs and many lows from afar in Australia. High on my agenda for my trip to the UK was to attend a County game once again after a long absence. Fortunately a County home game aligned with my time in Manchester.How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
I was staying nearby in Didsbury so I was able to easily make my way to the ground by taxi. With a prepurchased ticket I was able to quickly find my seat once I entered the ground,What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
Spent some time wandering around the perimeter of Edgeley Park soaking up the atmosphere and taking some photos. I then paid a visit to the excellent club shop and purchased several items. The majority of the crowd were home fans and there was a buzz and sense of expectation in the air that County would perform well that afternoon.What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the stadium?
Edgeley Park is an impressive stadium for League 2 . It is incredible how loyal County fans have been over the past decade, continuing to fill the ground for many seasons whilst the club languished outside of the Football league. I sat in the Danny Begara stand which offered excellent views of the pitch . The noise coming from the home supporters in the Cheadle End was befitting that of a crowd three times the size.Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
Stockport had the majority of possession in the first half but were not able to capitalise on the scoreboard. Colchester had a couple of chances to score against the run of play. Early in the second half Stockport scored what proved to be the only goal of the game and managed to retain its supremacy till the final whistle, earning a hard fought win. The facilities are more than acceptable for a ground of this size with reasonable access to refreshments and toilets etc. Had no interaction with the stewards but they appeared to be fulfilling their roles with minimal fuss.Comment on getting away from the ground after the game
Very easy getaway from the ground on the final whistle and up to the bus stop which is a few hundred yards from the ground.Summary of overall thoughts of the day out
A win to County, a fantastic atmosphere and some summer sunshine made for an excellent day out. This traditional football ground defies its age and provides a fantastic venue from which to watch football. If and when the opportunity arises I will certainly be back again.Images
Game Attended
Stockport v BradfordCompetition
League 2Date
24/01/2023Kick Off Time
19:45Team Supported
NeutralWhy were you looking forward to this game and visiting the ground itself?
Our visit was a very last minute decision. The match we were going to was postponed due to a frozen pitch. Stockport was the nearest 'required ground'.How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
Our journey was a simple hop across the M62. I was concerned about the lack of parking and the permit holder parking only zones around the ground. However a quick search on google earth revealed a small car park just to the north of the stadium on Caroline street. It only holds about 40 cars but it is free after 6pm. We left early and had no problem finding a space and it only cost 75p for the 3 hours up to 6pm !What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
Caroline Street car park is right next to the Prince Albert pub which was very warm, had a friendly atmosphere and very reasonable drinks prices. Not sure how accommodating they would be to away fans wearing colours though. We then went to a restaurant called Chilli Masala about 5 minutes walk in the direction of the station. This eatery is cash only and not licensed (although you can take in your own booze). That said the food and service were superb and if you have the time and curry is your thing then this is the place to visit. We also visited the Sir Robert Peel Hotel but by this time it was quite busy.What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the stadium?
We were in the Together Stand and were very impressed with the ground and its facilities. The surrounding terraces have some degree of character which added to the atmosphere. There was a fan zone with bars and fast food outlets on the car park at the west end of the stadium. It seems quite a modern set up although the away fans were out in the open.Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
This was by no means the best game I have seen and it finished 0 - 0. That said it was entertaining and the home side were certainly the more dominant for the first 75 minutes or so. The home fans were loud and proud and the atmosphere was tremendous. Stewarding was low key.Comment on getting away from the ground after the game
Getting away after the match was not a major issue but obviously there was some queuing involved but it was not for long. There is easy and straightforward access to the M60. We had more of an issue with the usual nocturnal lane closures on the M62.Summary of overall thoughts of the day out
To quote my son on the subject ' this was one of the best away days we have had'. (and we've had a few..) For a spur of the moment decision this was a good evening out.Images