UK Stadiums: Edgeley Park, Stockport, England
Edgeley Park in Stockport, south of Manchester in northwest England, is the home ground of Stockport County. It is owned by Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council though the football club hope to buy the stadium in future.
Capacity
The stadium has a present capacity of 10,900 but there are plans to expand this to 19,900. Recent success and a return to League Two, then League One after a length spell in non-league football means that Edgeley Park now often sells out.
Opened in 1891, the stadium was originally built for Stockport RFC, a rugby league club. They went bust and Stockport County relocated here in 1903. County shared the ground with Sale Sharks Rugby Union Club between 2003 and 2012.
Club History
Stockport (nicknamed 'The Hatters' after the former hat-making industry in the town) have never played in the top league of English football (the old First Division, now the Premier League).
However, they were beating the likes of Manchester City in the Championship during their heyday in the mid- to late 1990s. Thereafter, financial problems ensued and County saw themselves sliding out of League football. The team remained in non-league football from 2011-2022 even spending some time in Conference North.
The record attendance at Edgeley Park is 27,833 for a FA Cup fifth round game against Liverpool in 1950.
The lowest attendance of 13 in 1921 is something of an anomaly. The game was against Leicester City and was held at Manchester United's Old Trafford. The number 13 was for "paying spectators" who paid to see the game held after Manchester United's home game against Derby County. Edgeley Park had been closed due to crowd trouble against Sheffield Wednesday so the match was rescheduled in Manchester. The lowest attendance at Edgeley Park is 812 versus Barrow, for an FA Trophy game during the dark days in 2013.
In recent years the town of Stockport has produced two young players who represent neighbours Manchester City and Manchester United. They are Phil Foden at City and Kobbie Mainoo at United.
Some players known to a wider audience who have played for Stockport County include striker Alun Armstrong, Finnish international Jarkko Wiss, Rickie Lambert, Shefki Kuqi, Ashley Williams. Adam Le Fondre, Brett Angell and one George Best.
Hatters' fans gather at various pubs near the ground before and after kick off. These include the Prince Albert and Sir Robert Peel on Castle Street and The Armoury in Shaw Heath.
Accessibility
Edgeley Park has improved its accessibility for wheelchair users, including the addition of a completed perimeter path for better movement around the pitch. The stadium offers dedicated accessible seating areas and has implemented initiatives like lower-height ticket windows to improve access.
Access - Getting There
The nearest railway station to the ground is Stockport Station which has trains to both Manchester Piccadilly and London Euston. Other routes from Stockport include local services south to Davenport, Woodsmoor, Hazel Grove and Buxton. There are also trains to Sheffield, Cleethorpes, Nottingham and Norwich with an hourly service to Manchester Airport via Piccadilly.
The ground is about 15-20 minutes on foot from the Edgeley entrance of the station.
The following buses stop near the stadium on Worral Street, the 11 (Stockport-Altrincham), 368 (Stockport-Manchester Airport) and 852 (Cheadle Heath - Edgeley - Davenport - Pownall Green).
Address: 16 Hardcastle Road, Edgeley, Stockport SK3 9DD
Nearby Hotels
If you are staying in Stockport try the Holiday Inn Express Stockport at the station.
Other possibilities include the Wycliffe Hotel, the two star Red Bull and the three star Alma Lodge Hotel opposite Stockport Grammar School.
See here for a listing of accommodation in Stockport to suit all budgets.
More UK Stadiums
Kirklees Stadium (John Smith's Stadium)
Gallery of Images of Edgeley Park
©Soccerphile.com
Buy tickets for soccer matches around the world