Sport

Dave Challinor labelled ‘top class’ after touching tribute to late young fan as Stockport County secure League Two title

It couldn't have been a more fitting fixture to honour him either.

Danny Jones Danny Jones - 17th April 2024

Stockport County manager Dave Challinor is being labelled as “top class” after he decided to dedicate his team winning the League Two title to young fan George Thompson, who sadly passed away in 2021, honouring him in a truly touching tribute.

The former defender, who made a century of appearances for the club back in his playing days before ultimately returning to Edgeley Park as head coach back in 2021, saw his high-flying and free-scoring side seal the League Two title in a 5-2 win over Notts County on Tuesday night.

Promotion was already secured this past weekend but Challinor has insisted from the start that his squad only wanted to go up one way: as champions. More importantly, he wanted to provide the fans and one local family in particular with something extra special to remember.

With a trophy lift and more jubilant scenes still to come this Saturday, the 48-year-old made sure to mark the celebrations in the best way possible by asking lifelong supporter and father Dave Thompson if he could borrow a very meaningful flag that has become so important to the entire County fan base.

Heartwarming stuff.

After the final whistle blew and the team went over to celebrate in front of the travelling fans who made the weeknight journey to Meadow Lane in Nottingham, the manager wasted no time in picking out Dave in the crowd and carrying the flag made in memory of his late son George over to his squad.

George Thompson was a loyal County fan and regular matchgoer who tragically died after being hit by a train back in October 2021 at the age of just 18, only a month before Challinor was given the job.

The young fan struggled with mental health for several years before his death and had already been rushed to hospital once after previously trying to step in front of a train in September. He had described lows as being like battling through “thunderstorms” and sadly decided to take his own life.

Ever since his dad has been helping raise money for mental health and suicide prevention causes such as the Mentell Charity formed by fellow Stockport locals. In August 2023, Dave and his other son Will set themselves the challenge of boxing for as many minutes as possible over 24 hours in honour of George, who loved combat sports.

dave thompson boxing challenge in memory of son george
The Thompson’s boxing challenge
george thompson tributes
George
mentell charity stockport county
County x Mentell
Credit: Family handout/Dave Thompson (via X)

A gut-wrenching local story that the Hatters have taken deep into their hearts, the personalised St George’s Cross is carried to virtually every County game and to see it held aloft by the players clearly hit home for all those involved, let alone just the Thompsons.

Reacting in the immediate aftermath as Challinor came over to grab the flag, George’s dad simply said: “I have no words. If you saw the end, then you know”.

Not only was it a championship-sealing win but Notts County also happened to be the last away game the youngster ever attended, with Dave going on to thank the Chester-born coach for “creating something so, so special” and a moment he’ll never forget.

As expected, the heartfelt gesture moved countless SK natives and more, with people labelling the moment “superb”, and “Just beautiful” as well as having brought them to tears, not to mention hailing Challinor as “absolutely top class” and “a special man in charge full of empathy and decency”.

Dave Challinor speaks on the team’s touching tribute to George Thompson.

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Truly heartwarming stuff.

As for the man himself, he has come out to declare winning League Two with the Hatters as “the greatest achievement” of his career to date, crediting the likes of club legend Paddy Madden – who scored his second hattrick in four games – and fan Graham Allsopp, who currently lives in France but sent him a ‘lucky gold pen’ at the start of the season which has clearly worked wonders.

That’s now two promotions with County for Challinor and seven promotions all-told as a manager, with this being his first-ever EFL title and County’s first in the football league since 1967. Quite the achievement indeed for a club that languished in non-league for over a decade.

You can watch his post-match interview after County’s in full down below and we look forward to seeing them back in the third division next season.

You can watch his full post-match interview HERE.

For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.

Featured Images — Stockport County (via YouTube)/Dave Thompson/@Bomberobates (via X)

Sport

Manchester sandwich specialists Bada Bing strike up new sponsorship deal with local football team

Danny Jones Danny Jones Bada Bing now sponsoring FC United of Manchester

Beloved city centre sandwich shop Bada Bing has struck up a somewhat unexpected but exciting new partnership with local football team, FC United of Manchester, who are now sponsored by the sub specialists.

We can’t think of any better matchday scran than a massive butty, to be fair.

Confirming that they will be sponsoring FC United for the 2025/26 season, Bada Bing is taking its first foray into football, with their branding already up on the advertising boards around the ground.

While they’re yet to confirm any more specific details apart from that they’re joining forces with the Moston-based outfit, supporters are already licking their lips at the mere thought of their famous hoagies coming to Broadhurst Park stadium.

Having plenty of fun with the announcement online with a classic Sopranos reference (why break the habit of a lifetime?), Sam and Josh – both big footy fans, themselves – stood proudly beside the hoardings this week.

Although we still know very little about what FC United fans can expect from the latest Manc brand marriage, we’d bet on the odd game-defining hero appearing both on the pitch and in the hands of ‘Red Rebels’ stood watching and, hopefully, eating just beside it.

Of course, this is by no means the only noteworthy crossover Bada Bing has enjoyed since reopening last year; their viral merch is famously made by Stretford-based fashion label, UN:IK Clothing.

In fact, it isn’t even their sole step in sports, either. Regularly teaming up with outdoor content creator and trail runner, Sam Matthew – a.k.a. Peaks and Pubs – they’ve already held charity relays, pop-up events with New Balance, and we’re sure there is more to come with the Northern Premier League side.

They are, after all, the king of collabs and tapping into local, contemporary culture in the area just at the right moment.

It was only last month that we saw them working with Thatziki to create a Greek butty fit for the gods, and they’ve most recently teamed up with Indian street food favourites, Bundobust, too.

Commenting underneath the social media post, FC United simply replied: “Thanks for your support! Great to have you on board!”

Once again, please just give a hint—ANY kind of sign that Bada Bing menu items are coming to Lightbowne Road, because if so, Greater Manchester’s ‘Footy Scran‘ game is about to level up big time.

As for FC games, they’re still some of the most affordable in the region, and you don’t need to be a disillusioned Man United fan to get invested in the now 20-year-old phoenix club.

Go support a local grassroots team if you can, and fingers crossed, you can grab a Bing while you’re at it.

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Featured Images — Bada Bing (via Instagram)/The Manc Group

Sport

Local LGBTQIA+ football team Manchester Laces are set to play in the FA Cup for the first time ever

Danny Jones Danny Jones Manchester Laces playing in Women's FA Cup for the first-time ever

Inclusive football team Manchester Laces are set to break even more new ground as they prepare to compete in the Adobe FA Women’s Cup for the first time ever.

What a truly incredible few years it’s been for the club.

Set to play their maiden match in the female division of the sport’s oldest competition this weekend, Manchester Laces’ Yellows squad will be taking on rival Greater Manchester Women’s Football League (GMWFL) side, Northwich Victoria, in another historic milestone for the local outfit.

Announced last month, the game is now fast approaching, and they’re hoping that plenty of Manc natives will turn up in support.

For anyone unfamiliar with the story, Manchester Laces has grown to become the leading women’s, non-binary and LGBTQIA+ positive sporting bodies in the region.

In fact, as part of a wider family (which includes clubs in Hackney, South London and Limehouse Laces, not to mention players over in Canada too), they’re comfortably one of the biggest in the entire country.

Sticking with MCR Laces alone, founded by Helen Hardy, they have grown so much in reputation and size that they have six different teams besides just the Yellows: the other Manchester squads include the Blues, Greens, Oranges, Purples, as well as the budding new Reds and Blacks.

It’s this kind of impressive expansion and, crucially, representation that has seen them win two Football v Homophobia Awards and Grassroots Initiative of the Year back in 2023.

Side-note: they also happen to have one of our favourite fooy kits of the entire year so far…

Boasting a new regular stadium at Timpson Road and set to take part not only in the North West Women’s Regional Football League (NWWFL)/GMWFL, but now FA Cup and county cup games, 2025 could be their most momentous year yet.

Providing access to countless women and people from within the queer and non-binary community who love the beautiful game and may have otherwise struggled to find an outlet, their work has been crucial in and around Greater Manchester.

With that in mind, taking part in an inaugural run within the prestigious knockout tournament feels like yet another watershed moment for the organisation.

Posting ahead of the fixture, the club wrote on social media: “In 2021, we started our journey in Div 2 of the GMWFL with the aim of creating an inclusive and welcoming space for all. After winning consecutive league titles and earning back-to-back promotions, we are now a Tier 6 team.

Speaking to The Manc, they went on to add: ” A group of mates came together at a park in Wythenshawe for a kick about, feeling a little out of place at other clubs; ‘we should make our own team‘ was thrown out as a somewhat joke.

“A month later, a friendly was played where nine people turned up to start the game, somebody’s girlfriend who’d never kicked a ball played left wing, and a hungover mate turned up after half time to get us to 11 (somehow we won the game).

“Four years later – after becoming one of the largest LGBTQ+ clubs in the country, housing 8 teams – our Yellow side, after back-to-back promotions, will be competing in the FA cup for the very first time.

“We’re so proud as a club to be competing in such a historic competition, as a club that set up to focus on being inclusive and a safe space for people to play football, to achieve what we have is beyond what we could have ever imagined.”

Manchester Laces: the non-binary football club leading the charge on inclusivity in sport
Tickets for Manchester Laces’ debut FA Cup game are just £2 and can be purchased on entry

They signed off by quipping that their story is one that serves as “proof that you can, in fact, fall upwards”, but in all seriousness, what they’ve achieved in such a short time is nothing short of remarkable.

Playing at Ericstan Park, now both the home of Wythenshawe Town FC and the Yellows’ own new home ground too, they kick off at 2pm on Sunday, 7 September. It goes without saying that we wish them the best of luck.

Nothing like the magic of the cup, eh?

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Featured Images — Wythenshawe Town FC/Manchester Laces (via Instagram/Facebook)

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