Stockport Council has greenlit Stockport County for a brand new fan zone as part of their redevelopment plans for Edgeley Park.
The council-approved plans were confirmed on Monday, 28 November, detailing the exciting new fan zone which aims to ease congestion around the stadium and surrounding areas in Edgeley as match attendance numbers continue to go from strength to strength.
County currently sit 14th in League Two after having returned football league this year following an 11-year-stint outside the EFL by lifting the National League trophy last season.
As a result, matchday ticket sales have been on the rise in the Greater Manchester borough, as have the number of away fans who travel to the games, meaning expansion only makes sense.
Stockport Council has approved plans for an exciting new fan zone at Edgeley Park, which aims to ease congestion around the ground as match attendance numbers go from strength-to-strength.
Now, the Hatters’ dedicated new fan zone, dubbed the ‘County Courtyard’, will be able to cater for up to 1,500 fans thanks to three shipping containers and a large stretch tent providing cover to shelter supporters from the Northern weather.
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As per the announcement, the club also say they’ll be providing additional seating for fans to enjoy pre-match some grub and pints along and one of the containers will house additional accessible toilets and baby-changing facilities.
Dishing up a host of fan favourites’ including craft beers, award-winning pies from the Great North Pie Co., as well as various street food from around the world, the new food court will create the perfect place to take in the pre and post-match atmosphere whilst reducing footfall around the ground at peak times.
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Furthermore, the County Courtyard is projected to create at least 20 new jobs alone, with a host of vacancies available including bar staff, stewards and chefs. Who knows how many jobs the stadium redevelopment as a whole will generate?
The council has given the thumbs up to start work on the fan zone immediately, with the end product expected to be complete before the end of the year. You love to see it.
The club is urging anyone with interest in the various roles to apply via email ([email protected]).
CEO Jonathan Vaughan said: “We’re delighted Stockport Council has approved plans for the County Fan Zone, we know that creating a fantastic matchday experience goes beyond what happens on the pitch and we need to do everything we can to welcome fans into Edgeley Park and keep them coming back.
“This planning approval allows further investment into the ground which not only adds to the fan experience but brings new jobs and helps drive Stockport County’s progress on the pitch.”
Work on the rest of the Hatters’ home starts next summer with the expansion of the Railway End.
Erling Haaland has named his four favourite films… and fans have a lot to say on it
Emily Sergeant
Erling Haaland has answered the all-important question.
The question heard around the world, the question on everyone’s lips, a question that has absolutely nothing to do with football whatsoever… that’s right, he’s answered Letterboxd’s famous question of ‘what are your four favourite films?’.
If you’re unaware of what Letterboxd is, it describes itself as being an ‘online diary platform and app for film lovers’ and it gives users the chance to display their four favourite films at the top of their profile for all to see (and judge).
An extension of this has then been Letterboxd asking celebrities in press junket interviews and on red carpets what their ‘four faves’ are – and it’s gone on to become something of a phenomenon in the film world.
Everyone from massive A-list movie stars, to indie darlings and up-and-coming names have answered this question before, and now (it appears) to be Erling Haaland’s turn.
He’s not the first footballer to be tasked with question though, as the entire Spurs team was ambushed with it by former player – and famously massive cinephile – Alfie Whiteman last year, but it’s fair to say that after the summer he’s had with Norway at the World Cup, achieving international fame in the process, that Haaland is one of the most high-profile to answer it in a long while.
So, what’s on Erling’s list then?
Well, to self-confessed ‘film bros’ out there, you’re not going to find any deep cuts in this selection unfortunately, and you’re probably not going to get any recommendations for movies you haven’t seen before either, but come on, he is only a footballer after all.
Erling Haaland has named his four favourite films… and fans have a lot to say on it / Credit: Letterboxd
First up for the Manchester City striker is a pretty common pick by straight white men, it’s The Wolf of Wall Street, and he doesn’t give much of a reason for it, other than just suggesting: “I think you understand why”.
He then follows that up with Ridley Scott’s classic Gladiator, calling it ‘amazing’, before naming 2004’s epic Troy, and then rounding it out with a Christmas favourite for many, Home Alone, adding that he ‘watched it a lot as a kid, and then again now’.
As for fan reaction to Haaland’s four favourites, let’s just say it’s been mixed.
Among the 1,000+ comments on the Instagram video, you’ll find just as many people called him ‘king’ and saying he has ‘goated’ taste, as you will comments like this: “He has the most male gazed top four in history of Letterboxd.”
Manchester City reveal world-first third kit… designed by AI
Daisy Jackson
Manchester City have just revealed the club’s third kit for the season, and it’s a world-first AI-designed kit.
The new Man City and Puma kit was revealed in full this morning after days of teasing on billboards across Manchester.
For the first time in professional football history, the kit is designed by a fan, using AI.
180,000 fans submitted designs through the Puma AI Creator, with the winning design now projected on some of the city’s biggest digital billboards – on Market Street, and at Printworks.
Created by lifelong Cityzen and stills photographer Elliott, the final design is inspired by Manchester City’s iconic 13/14 season away shirt.
Elliott’s creative interpretation was crowned in January 2025 after a global fan vote.
The digital billboards show each different stage of the AI design process, from prompt to finished design, with the tagline ‘designed by one of us, chosen by all of us’.
The AI Man City kit reveal
Eagle-eyed Man City fans may have noticed a cryptic ‘loading’ screen in town on Tuesday, with just a hint of the shirt visible.
Then on Wednesday, the screens displayed: “AI prompt accepted. Fan vote confirmed. Final Manchester City 26/27 Third Kit design processing.”
Then the full reveal has taken place today, Thursday 27 August, finally unveiling the full shirt with the words: “Designed by one of us. Chosen by all of us”.
Reacting to live images of the billboards, Elliott said: “Seeing my complete design revealed on billboards in the city centre this morning was unbelievable.
“City has been part of our family’s life for as long as I can remember, so this is as good as it gets for me.
“Creativity is naturally part of my everyday life as a photographer, but it was good to turn my hand to something else and see what could be created with the use of AI.
“The 13/14 away shirt was always my favourite, so it felt like the natural starting point for my prompt. From there, it was amazing to see the technology take that spark of an idea and turn it into something I could actually shape and refine.
“To know that a shirt I designed on my lunch break will now be worn by the players is something I still can’t quite get my head around!”
The 26/27 Manchester City Third Kit will be available at mancity.com/shop and Manchester City Official Stores, with 10% off for Members and Seasoncard holders (automatically applied when logged in with a Member account online).
Danny Jones -
29th November 2022 
