Stockport, Greater Manchester · Opened 1902 · Capacity 10,852

Edgeley Park

History

Edgeley Park has been the home of Stockport County since 1902, making it one of the longer-standing ground associations in English football. Situated in the Edgeley area of Stockport, just south of Manchester, the ground has served the Hatters through a turbulent history that has encompassed the full range of footballing fortunes, from the edges of the Premier League to the depths of non-league football.

The stadium has been gradually developed over its 120-plus years of existence, with the most significant modern changes coming during Stockport's period of relative prosperity in the late 1990s. The Cheadle End and the Vernon Building Society Stand (now the Danny Bergara Stand) were among the improvements that raised the ground's capacity to its current 10,852. The stadium's tight, enclosed feel creates an atmosphere that belies the club's often modest attendances.

Edgeley Park's greatest era came in the late 1990s, when Stockport County competed in the Championship (then Division One) and reached the semi-finals of the League Cup, defeating Premier League opposition along the way. The ground hosted some memorable evenings during that period, with the atmosphere against top-flight clubs creating memories that sustain the Stockport faithful through leaner times. The subsequent decline through the divisions, including a spell in the National League, was a painful contrast.

The club's recent resurgence, including consecutive promotions that returned Stockport to League One, has brought renewed energy and optimism to Edgeley Park. The ground once again hosts competitive football at a level befitting its capacity and history, and attendances have risen to reflect the growing excitement around the club. Edgeley Park may be showing its age in places, but its character and the passion of the supporters who fill it ensure that it remains a formidable venue on matchdays.