Sport

Stockport County secure promotion back to League One after 16 years

They've been a cut above the rest for the bulk of the season. So well deserved.

Danny Jones Danny Jones - 13th April 2024

They’ve done it: Stockport County have been promoted back into League One with a 2-0 win over Morecambe FC, seeing them return to the English third division after 16 years.

Having been sat at the top of the table for the bulk of the season, the Hatters came into Saturday’s home game knowing that they only needed a point to climb out of League Two having only managed to end an 11-year exile from the EFL back in 2021/22.

Only a couple of years on and now the Greater Manchester side has managed to secure promotion with a fairly comfortable victory and time to spare, with all the potential to lift the trophy and come up as champions – which manager Dave Challinor has insisted is the only way squad want to do it.

Just look at how much it means:

Yeah, let’s be honest, they were never taking heed of that ‘no pitch invasions’ warning…

It was a familiar face opening the scoring as County’s top scorer made it 20 goals for the season to send Edgeley Park into early raptures.

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Stockport locals had already been dreaming long before these last few weeks as demonstrably one of the best teams for most of the year but it felt it touching distance at this point.

Then jumped up Fraser Horsfall – perhaps not the likeliest of scorers but certainly more than capable of climbing at the back post to power home a header, which is exactly what he did to tie a ribbon on the definitive result.

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Here was the moment the final whistle blew:

The second Stockport County fans knew they had been promoted.

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With title rivals and celebrity-backed Wrexham AFC also securing promotion with a 6-0 battering of Forest Green Rovers, it’s going to be a great shoot-out for the top spot and an electric end to the season as we wait to see who will win the league with just a few fixtures left to go.

All that being said, whether you’re a Stockport County fan or not, what a job Dave Challinor has done in the short time he’s been at the club.

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From languishing in the National League for over a decade to being back where a ground like theirs deserves to be, they’re sure to be a great addition to League One next season.

Well done to the Hatters and all the best to the County fans who we’re sure are going to make the most of the weekend celebrations.

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

Featured Images — Stockport County/bradyforth8829 (via X)

Sport

Wayne Rooney joins the cast of Gary Neville’s The Overlap

Danny Jones Danny Jones Wayne Rooney joining The Overlap cast

Wayne Rooney has secured a new job just a few months on from departing as Birmingham City head coach, with the Manchester United and England legend being named as the latest member of The Overlap team.

Set to join the cast of the popular Stick to Football online series alongside the likes of former teammates Gary Neville and Roy Keane, as well as the rest of the recurring panel.

Rooney is also set to feature on various other shows across The Overlap channel, including the likes of their regular fan debates and other interviews with athletes and well-known figures.

They announced the signing in true transfer window fashion as well.

As transfer expert Fabrizio Romano quips in the video, Rooney “has signed an agreement with The Overlap” and is expected to make his debut very soon

‘Wazza’ has appeared as a pundit on Sky Sports in recent weeks and has even been spotted playing some FIFA with comedy YouTuber AngryGinge as part of his pro clubs series, but hasn’t been in a steady role since being sacked as the Birmingham manager at the start of the year.

Having already appeared as a guest in one of the most popular episodes of Stick to Football and clearly sharing a strong chemistry with his old friends – as well as the likes of fellow Scouser Jamie Carragher, Jill Scott and Ian Wright – it looks to be a natural fit for the sport-based channel.

The 38-year-old revealed some pretty interesting details about his playing and managerial career last time around, not to mention some of the other offers he’s had since…

Wayne Rooney confirms he has had offers to take part in a boxing match

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Rooney reiterated during his own interview that his primary focus is still on coaching and finding his next managerial role, but for the time being, he’ll be bringing the insight of another ex-pro to the popular YouTube channel.

Speaking on his latest move, the former striker said, “I’m excited to announce that I will be joining my good mate Gary Neville and the team at The Overlap to appear on the channel across some of their brilliant shows on YouTube and the podcast. I can’t wait to get started”.

With an episode from at least one of their series going out most weeks, you can expect to see the footballing legend back on the channel soon.

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

Featured Images — The Overlap/Wayne Rooney (via Instagram)

Sport

Manchester City star Erling Haaland is now a playable character in Clash of Clans mobile game

Danny Jones Danny Jones Erling Haaland in Clash of Clans mobile game

In yet more proof that footballers just live in an entirely different world from us, Manchester City star Erling Haaland has popped up in the popular mobile game, Clash of Clans – and it’s not just a little cameo either.

Haaland‘s no stranger to the odd brand deal, so when we saw him cutting a promo for Clash of Clans we weren’t too surprised, but it’s safe to say we weren’t expecting to see footballers pop up in video games besides FIFA (sorry, EA FC) at any point this year.

The big number nine is not just a famous face to help push the already hugely popular mobile strategy and city-building game, they don’t need it; it turns out the lethal goalscorer is now going to be an actual playable character in the latest Clash of Clans update.

He even turned his hand to a bit of acting in the trailer:

As you can see, the 23-year-old stars in the new advert which sees troops appear in his home whilst he’s playing the game before being sucked into the game world.

Starring as the Barbarian King, he’s the first real person to ever feature in the game and will be available through a month-long football-themed seasonal event in-game.

When we stop and think about it, the Norwegian striker is pretty much a perfect fit given his Scandinavian heritage and the obvious Viking theme surrounding the franchise – not to mention the fact that he’s apparently been playing the game since he was 10.

He’s also been dropping a hint or two of late, in case you didn’t pick up on them.

why is erling haaland in clash of clans?
erling haaland character in clash of clans
Credit: Erling Haaland (via Instagram)

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Speaking on the collaboration, Haaland said: “I’ve been a huge fan of the game for a long time and know everything about it, so to appear as an in-game character is really cool”.

As for Finnish developer-publishers Supercell, CoC’s general manager Stuart McGaw said in an official announcement: “When we heard Erling Haaland was a fan of our game and that he wanted to partner with us, it was really a dream scenario.”

Haaland will be available to recruit in the game until 31 May, plus, if players raid his village and take down the Barbarian King himself, they can win additional rewards and a place on the leaderboards.

Weird but pretty cool, to be fair.

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

Featured Images — Clash Of Clans/Supercell

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