Edgeley Park: Stockport County

Formed as Heaton Norris Rovers in 1883, Stockport County took on its current name seven years later in honour of the County Borough in which the club was based. Originally, the club played in red and white kits but changed to blue and white in 1914. Nicknamed The Hatters because of Stockport’s link to the millinery industry, the club moved into its current ground of Edgeley Park in 1902 and has played its games there ever since.

Edgeley Park was originally built for Stockport Rugby Football Club, opening its doors for the first time in 1891. By 1903, the rugby club had gone bust, but Edgeley Park was able to keep going on account of the fact that Stockport County had moved there from the club’s previous ground of Green Lane. For a time, Edgeley Park also played host to Sale Sharks, a rugby union side that played its matches at the ground between 2003 and 2012.

Stats

Edgeley Park Photos

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Edgeley Park Seating Plan & Where to Sit

Unsurprisingly for a stadium as old as Edgeley Park, the design is very much in the classical English nature of having a stand in each side of the pitch. The Railway End and the Cheadle End are behind the two goals, whilst the Popular Side stands opposite the Hardcastle Main Stand, with both running along the length of the pitch.

Stockport County Ticket Prices

Adults wanting to go to Stockport County matches can expect to pay between £22 - £24 for tickets, with students, disabled supporters and adults over the age of 65 likely to pay more like £16-£17 for their tickets. Tickets are the same price throughout the ground, but games are categories as A or B depending on the opposition.

How To Get Stockport County Tickets

Those wishing to get student tickets will need to provide proof that they are in full-time education, whilst disabled fans will need to be able to prove their disability by a number of different methods. The ticket office os open on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays as well as on match days, but the best way of getting tickets is by visiting the club’s website.

Where to Buy

Getting To Edgeley Park

Train - For train users, Stockport Railway Station is about half a mile away from Edgeley Park, making it a definite option for people that would rather not clog up the roads and drive there in a car.

Bus - Worral Street is the closest bus stop to the ground and is served by routes 11, 323, 368, 852, 857, 863, 874 and 877, amongst others. There are also special buses that run from the centre of Stockport out to the ground on match days.

Car - There are numerous different ways to get to Edgeley Park by road, depending on the direction that you’re coming from. It is just off the M60, so that is the motorway to aim for if you’re driving. As always, though, the best thing to do is to use a sat-nav or map application on your phone.

By Air - Manchester Airport is one of the biggest transport hubs outside of London, and is located less than 15 minutes away by car. If you’re flying in to go and watch a Stockport County match, that is the airport to aim for.

Taxi - If you want to get a taxi from the train station to the football ground, you’ll be looking at paying in the region of £6, traffic dependent.

Parking Near Edgeley Park

Though car parking at the club itself is limited to players, staff, match officials and visiting club officials, there are a number of pay-and-display car parks close by that are very reasonable. Streets close to the stadium are resident parking only and you might get a ticket if you ignore that and take a chance.

• See Available Parking Near Edgeley Park

Useful Resources

Edgeley Park Hotels

Nearby Manchester may overshadow little old Stockport, but as a commuter town it has plenty of good hotel options.

Alma Lodge Hotel & Restaurant - £60+

149 Buxton Road, Stockport, SK2 6EL

Set in an Edwardian building and offering guests free parking and Wi-Fi, the Alma Lodge Hotel also has a restaurant and bar on-site. If the weather is pleasant whilst you’re staying there then you might want to have a walk around the garden, but if it isn’t then there is a fireplace in the reception area that you can warm yourself up in front of. There is a conference centre, for those of you that need to do some business whilst you’re visiting. More details.

Bredbury Hall Hotel - £75+

Osborne Street, 0, Stockport, SK6 2DH

The joy of Stockport as an area is that it is rather leafy and has plenty to offer guests. As a result, Bredbury Hall Hotel joins Alma Lodge in having a garden area where you can spend time during your stay. There is a business centre and a fitness centre, covering the needs of most people, as well as free parking if you’ve driven and free Wi-Fi if you need to get online. There is a restaurant and lounge area, with breakfast available if needed. More details.

Holiday Inn Express Stockport - £100+

11 Station Road, Cheshire, Stockport, SK3 9JD

Sometimes it is good to stay in a chain hotel because you know exactly what you’re going to get. That is why the Holiday Inn Express might appeal to some of you, with its garden including a picnic area and a pleasant terrace you can sit out on if the weather is nice. You get a continental breakfast included in the price of your stay, plus there is Wi-Fi should you need to use it. The ‘Express’ nature of the hotel means it is rather no-frills, but that isn’t always a bad thing. More details.

Pubs & Bars Near Edgeley Park

With Robinsons Brewery located in Stockport, there are some excellent watering holes in the area, old and new, with a trendy vibe setting in during recent times if that's your sort of thing.

Facilities

The recent refurbishment of Edgeley Park means that the facilities are impressive for a club that spent more than a decade outside of the Football League. Whilst you’re not going to get the same level of facilities that you might expect for a Premier League ground, they are on a par with, if not better than, most other stadiums in League Two.

Prices

• Programme: 3.00
• Pie: 5.00
• Cup of tea: 2.00
• Beer: 4.00

Hospitality

Edgeley Park has undergone something of a refurbishment in recent times, with the match day hospitality areas one of the sections of the ground that has seen the biggest improvement. Whether you’re a business or a private individual, in the 1883 Suite you’ll be able to enjoy a unique and thrilling experience including a three-course meal, complimentary programme and entertainment before kick-off.

Private Hire

Stadium Tours & Museum

At the time of writing, it is not possible to do a tour of Edgeley Park and nor is there any sort of museum on site. That can always change, of course, so if it does we’ll be quick to update this section of the page. In the meantime, there are a few tour style videos on Youtube.

About Stockport County

Heaton Norris Rovers Football Club was formed by a group of pupils from the town’s Sunday school at McLaughlin's Cafe in Heaton Norris in 1883. In 1890 the decision was taken to change the club’s name to Stockport County, which it has remained ever since. The club was appointed to the Football League in 1900 before needing to seek re-election and being rejected four years later. It returned to the Football League in 1905 and played in it continuously for the following 106 years.

Stockport County were relegated out of the Football League in 2011, spending more than decade trying to get back in. Financial troubles were largely blamed for the issues that followed, eventually enjoying a period of stability that allowed the club to regain its league status. The club’s most successful period was in the 1990s, which was when they competed in the First Division for five seasons and eve made it to the semi-finals of the League Cup in the 1996-1997 season, losing to Middlesbrough.

Edgeley Park History

During the formative years of Stockport County’s existence, the club played its matches in various park in the local area. In 1889, the team began playing matches at Green Lane, which is considered to be its first official football ground. In 1902, however, the decision was taken to move to Edgeley Park, which was at that time still the host of the local rugby club. Within a year, though, the rugby club had gone bust and Stockport County played at the stadium on their own.

The land on which Edgeley Park stands was donated to Stockport by the Sykes Family, who owned Sykes Bleaching Company. They sold it to Stockport County in 1932 for £1,600. Three years later and the main stand burnt down in a fire, which also saw the football club’s official records going up in flames too. Interestingly, it was used to host the World Lacrosse Championship in 1978, whilst Chester City played a home match in the Rumbelows Cup against Manchester City in 1991.

Future Developments

Obviously the ground has been completely redeveloped since Stockport County moved into it more than 100 years ago, with the most recently opened stand being the Cheadle End, which was built anew in 1995. In 2015, Stockport Council bought the stadium for around £2 million and leased it back to the club, with numerous different upgrades and refurbishments carried out since, but a huge multi phase expansion to 20,000 seats is in the first stages of talks, although Stockport will have to maintain their place in the league, and perhaps even gain promotion before that happens.