But not every team has received the recognition they deserve.
Stockport County FC – a club that sits seven miles south of Manchester and four tiers below the region’s two top teams – has been hit harder than most by the pandemic.
But they’ve still been doing their bit to help out their local community.
Right at the start of lockdown, The Hatters donated £75,000 at to the Stockport NHS Foundation Trust and have since pledged to donate £3 from every purchase of their new 2020/21 shirt to the trust as well.
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When the situation is put into perspective, it becomes clear just how significant the contributions from Edgeley Park actually are.
There are plenty of out of contract players in the lower divisions who are at risk of unemployment.
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Some football clubs may even go under entirely.
Things will only get worse if fans are not allowed into stadiums next season, with many teams relying on ticket sales to keep their clubs running.
That’s why a side in Stockport’s position, making donations in the current climate, is worthy of applause.
Of course, County know what it’s like to go through financial difficulties.
The club struggled throughout the 2000s, eventually being sold in 2005 to the Stockport County Supporter’s Trust for just £1.
The club were later placed into administration in 2009 as their situation failed to improve.
The financial troubles eventually spilled over onto the pitch, with the club sliding down the leagues until they dropped out of the football league entirely in 2011/12 for the first time in their history.
We are excited to kick-off the next chapter at Edgeley Park. Evolved Club badge, kit partnership and a famous Stopfordian celebrating the spirit of the Club. Enjoy the journey. pic.twitter.com/F2AacGkY0u
— Stockport County (@StockportCounty) June 1, 2020
Fans nowadays, however, about more positive about the future under new owner, Mark Stott.
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David, who runs the supporters group @stockport_fans on Twitter, believes the club will be “fine” during this time and has faith in the new owner to do what’s best for the club:
“Mark Stott has the financial punch to keep this club afloat while being sensible,” David tells The Manc.
“He has laid out plans of what he wants to do and achieve already and has put together a team to keep it that way.
“We can survive.”
It’s perhaps no surprise supporters are happy, given that their owner is a longtime fan of the club and recognises the importance of Stockport County to the town.
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Following the takeover back in January, Stott said that he wanted to deepen the club’s “longstanding ties with the local community”, calling Stockport a “unique community club”.
County clearly haven’t forget how the community supported them during their most “arduous” times, and they have been looking to lend a hand wherever possible during the pandemic.
In recent weeks, Stockport have also been putting the spotlight on their local sponsors.
On the club website, you’ll find a series which aims to “highlight the current operations and offerings of [their] club sponsors during these most difficult of times” in order to “return the favour” for all the support the businesses have given them over the years.
Despite the financial improvements over the past few months, fans are still weighing in to help the club in whatever way they can – backed by community group Help the Hatters.
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David, a volunteer for Help the Hatters has said the group is all about “getting things done”.
While volunteers primarily provide practical support to help maintain the facilities at Edgeley Park, they’ve also created The Stockport County Museum at the ground – turning an unused space into something useful for the community.
The group has defied its size to make a definite difference over the past decade.
Just last month, they were awarded the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service – which is the highest award a volunteer group can receive in the UK.
Wikipedia
Following their award, Chief Executive for the Hatters, Johnny Vaughan, said: “Ever since I came to County in January, I have been staggered by the amount of work this relatively small group of volunteers achieves on a weekly basis.
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“This accolade is deserved recognition for everything they do and we are delighted that they are being honoured for their incredible efforts.”
Community is at the heart of Stockport County, but above all else, fans just want to get back to watch their team play.
As Russ Johnson, founder of the fans podcast ‘The Scarf Bergara Wore’, aptly summarised: “County fans are so because we go to the games, we walk the streets and we know our club inside out.
“It doesn’t bear thinking about that we cannot have our match days.”
Sport
Oldham RLFC chairman to step aside following ‘stadium ban’ and winding-up petition
Danny Jones
Oldham Rugby League Football Club chairman Bill Quinn has said he is stepping down from his role at the organisation following a reported club-wide stadium ban and an HMRC winding-up petition earlier this month.
Quinn has now claimed that the petition, which requires a company to appear in court over debts, has since been resolved, but the 59-year-old is still set to leave the local outfit.
Mirroring the concerning circumstances that nearly saw Salford Red Devils disappear completely last year, before a former player’s investment rescued the sporting institute in the eleventh hour, Oldham RLFC looked to be staring down a deeply concerning period of uncertainty.
Speaking directly to Roughyeds fans in a lengthy video share on social media, Quinn said that while he disagreed with many of the comments left by supporters online over the last few weeks, he understands their frustration and right to know what’s going on in and around Boundary Park.
Reiterating that he’s “more than happy” to answer reasonable questions levelled by Oldham residents and matchgoers, he said that he denies allegations made by fellow native club, Oldham Athletic, stating that they are “totally unfounded and untrue”.
The Latics are currently refusing the rugby league side from using their usual home ground, with the football team also serving as landlords and raising concerns over unpaid taxes and outstanding funds still owed to debtors – including OAFC themselves.
You can read their most recent public statement in full HERE.
However, Quinn claims that both entities claim the other one owes them money, and the situation looks to be unfortunately heading towards formal litigation.
Nevertheless, while Chorley-based businessmen say the club is prepared to settle their monetary differences if arrears prove to be the case on their part, he has still said that he will soon be quitting.
As you can see, despite plenty of support and sympathy from the faithful fan base, the process looks to already be in motion, and many are being urged to provide their feedback on what should happen next.
"Trust between a club and its supporters relies on openness and communication — both of which currently feel lacking. This open letter is not written in a spirit of hostility, but out of genuine concern for the future of Oldham RLFC".
Despite Quinn’s insistence that “everyone will be paid”, the spectre of possible liquidation has still caused plenty of concern among the community.
In the case of Salford RLFC, they were fortunate enough to have ex-winger Mason Caton-Brown step in as part of a consortium – you can read our full interview with him HERE – but as the weeks and months of that saga proved, a lot can change even day to day.
As for the coaching front, Alan Kilshaw has been confirmed as the new boss of the Roughyeds following director of rugby Mike Ford and his assistant Callum Irving leaving last week.
While winding-up summons obviously still loom large over the club at the moment, Oldham fans do at least have games to look forward to, with the Greater Manchester Championship club set to face off against Dewsbury Rams in the third round of the Challenge Cup this Sunday, 8 February (3pm).
Tracey Neville appointed as Managing Director of brand new Stockport County Women’s team
Danny Jones
Stockport County FC have finally and officially launched their new women’s team in what they are hailing as a “new era” for the female football in the area.
Moreover, they’ve hired an experienced international coach to head up the department, with Tracey Neville MBE selected as the Managing Director of the new outfit.
Sister to footballing brothers Phil and Gary Neville, but with an oft-overlooked impressive reputation of her own – having not only won bronze at both the 1998 Commonwealth Games and World Netball Championship in ’99 before going on to coach her national team – she arrives with plenty of pedigree.
Now swapping her discipline for a different set of nets, Tracey Neville will lead the pre-existing Stockport County Ladies setup into their next modern chapter as the SCFC Women.
The club is delighted to announce the launch of Stockport County Women, marking an exciting new era for women’s football in our town.
Writing in a short announcement on social media, the Hatters said: “The club is delighted to announce the launch of Stockport County Women, marking an exciting new era for women’s football in our town.
“Founded in 1989 as Stockport County Ladies, the team has spent 37 years as a volunteer-led community club, providing opportunities for women and girls across the borough.
“From the 2026–27 season, the team will compete as Stockport County Women, reflecting the growth of the women’s game and the club’s commitment to equality and opportunity.”
Also confirming the appointment of an experienced women’s and international sports personality, Tracey Neville, as the new MD, they’ve issued a clear mission statement.
Put simply, she and the rest of her staff are going to be tasked with creating “a clear pathway from grassroots to elite women’s football for Stopfordians.”
Commenting on her new role in a lengthier club statement, Neville said: “I am incredibly proud to be joining Stockport County at such a pivotal moment for the club and for the women’s game.
“My career in elite sport has shown me what is possible when there is a clear vision, strong leadership and a genuine commitment to developing talent from the ground up. Women’s football is at a defining point, and Stockport has the opportunity to do something special.
She goes on to add: “This is a community club with deep roots, and my focus will be on creating a clear, credible pathway for girls and women to progress, while building the standards, culture and infrastructure needed to compete at the highest level.”
“We want young girls in Stockport to believe that they can reach the top of the game without leaving their community. That’s how you build something powerful, sustainable and truly representative of the people it serves.”
This comes following another major announcement with the news of the next phase of the infrastructural development, with the wider football club set to take control of Stockport Sports Village (SSV) and turn it into the home not only of the youth academy, but County Women and grassroots club Stockport Town.
As for Stockport County Women, it was only last year that they were playing against Liverpool’s female senior first team at Edgeley Park, and with all the investment happening in and around the organisation, you can expect more dates like these in the near future.
Stockport County Ladies become Women from next season onwards.
Kate Jackson -
14th July 2020 
