We’re all set for another Greater Manchester derby as Stockport County are set to face Salford City in the EFL League Two play-offs.
The two local rivals are now set to play each other for a third and fourth time this season after County missed out on automatic promotion during the final day of the season following a 1-1 draw against Hartlepool and Northampton securing the third spot.
As a result, the two Greater Manchester teams will now meet each other in the League Two play-off semis which will be decided across two legs, with the winner set to play either one of Bradford City or Carlisle United in the final for the final promotion place.
Salford will now welcome the Hatters to the Peninsula Stadium on Saturday, 13 May at 7.45pm, with Neil Wood’s side set to travel down the road to Edgeley Park a week later for a 12:30pm kick-off on 20 May.
— Sky Bet League Two (@SkyBetLeagueTwo) May 8, 2023
Salford rounded off the final day of the season with a 1-0 loss to Gillingham at home but still narrowly managed to secure their play-off place thanks to some seriously fine margins, boasting just one more goal than Mansfield Town in eighth place.
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Co-owner Gary Neville lead the congratulations on Twitter, quipping, “I did not enjoy that!” but nevertheless saying, “well done lads over the season and to all the other teams”.
Regardless of missing out on automatic places on the final day when the odds were admittedly stacked against them, he says they only finished eight points short of the initial target they set themselves and is nevertheless looking forward to a massive two-legged semi-final.
“It’s been a great season for us.”
“We need to give ourselves the best chance of getting into League One.” #StockportCounty boss Dave Challinor on finishing 4th in League Two. They face Salford now in the play-offs.
The winners will progress to the final at Wembley on Sunday, May 28, in the hopes of securing a place in the play-off final and potentially a spot in League One for the 2023/24 season.
Should Stockport manage to progress, it will be their highest league position since 2010 and as for Salford, promotion would see them competing in the third division for the first time in their history.
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Once again, they’ll have to get past one of Bradford or Carlisle first but should either pull it off, you can expect some serious celebrations.
Tributes paid as Curzon Ashton FC founder Harry Twamley dies following a ‘long illness’
Danny Jones
Tributes are pouring as local team Curzon Ashton FC have confirmed that club founder Harry Twamley BEM has sadly passed awayat the age of 82.
Based in Ashton-under-Lyne, Tameside, the National League North side shared the news on Wednesday morning, with fans across the region as well as up and down the English footballing pyramid paying their respects.
Posting on social media, the Curzon Ashton official accounts wrote: “It is with deep regret that we announce that Harry Twamley (BEM) passed away after a long illness.”
“Our condolences are expressed to Richard and Jayne and to the rest of his family at this time.”
While they explained that a full statement will be shared online in the coming days, the initial announcement on the club website featured heartfelt words from former club chairman Wayne Salkeld, who took over from Twamley back in the 2018/19 season, spending five years at the helm.
Salkeld said: “It’s a sad day for everyone at the club. I was honoured when Harry asked me to become chairman in 2018/19 and I will never forget that day.
“I’m going to miss our phone calls which were every day. Thanks for the memories and we will work hard to keep your legacy going.”
Curzon Ashton director Oliver Newall also shared a touching tribute to the club founder, who set up the club back in 1963, adding: “What an incredible man. Someone who brought Curzon Ashton into the world and whom without we would not have had so many amazing moments and memories.
“The word legend gets thrown around too often… Harry Twamley was a legend and he will be missed so much.” He was joined by numerous fans and other clubs in offering their condolences.
By all accounts, one of the loveliest men in football. (Credit: Screenshots via X)
Other teams paying tribute included Salford City, Saddleworth Cricket Club and nearby non-league outfit, FC United of Manchester.
The lattermost wrote: “From all at FC United, we would like to pay our respects to a legend of the game in Greater Manchester, we ground-shared at Curzon Ashton and saw first-hand what an immense character Harry was.”
Twamley was named in Queen Elizabeth II’s New Year’s Honours list back in 2017 and awarded an Order of the British Empire medal for his services to amateur football. Our thoughts go out to his friends, family, The Nash and their supporters.
Rest in peace to an important local figure and treasured champion of the grassroots game.
Manchester City is looking for ‘diehard fans’ to be part of a new documentary series
Emily Sergeant
Manchester City is looking for some diehard fans to be part of a new documentary series by sharing their love for the club.
The Sky Blues are no stranger to a documentary, having had several successful series and feature-length shows air on Amazon Prime, Netflix, and the club’s own online TV platform CITY+, over the past couple of years – drawing in millions of viewers across the globe each time.
But now, it sounds like there’s another one in the works… and you could be a part of it.
The football club is looking for families with four generations of supporters to share their special memories of following Manchester City down the years.
📣 We’re looking for diehard fans to share their special City memories for an exciting new documentary series!
On top of this, the club is also keen to find fan videos that can help take documentary viewers into the stands from a City fan’s perspective, and is asking that people get in touch and send footage that they’ve taken of some of the club’s most famous moments from over the years – including reactions to Sergio Aguero’s famous goal against QPR in 2012, and the Treble-winning season.
Footage could also be submitted from other important milestones such as the 1999 play off final, or from things like random away days in the 1980s, or even City-themed kids’ birthday parties from the 1950s, 60s, and 70s.
No matter whether the footage was taken on a mobile phone, old-school video camera, or something similar, it could come in useful.
Manchester City is looking for ‘diehard fans’ to be part of a new documentary series / Credit: Manchester City
The only condition is that all footage submitted by fans must be their own, and not recordings from commercial media, or copied from YouTube or any other media/social media outlets.
Keen to be a part of the production then?
If you would like you and your family to be considered for the documentary, then you can email [email protected] with your details and stories about supporting City.
Danny Jones -
9th May 2023 
