Source: FOOTYMAD
The S24 Preview: Southend United v Stockport County
So it all starts again, with a little interest after Paul Sturrock's revolution at Roots Hall, how many of the players will you recognise? Shrimpers v Hatters, Saturday, August 7th; kick-off 15.00. v SHRIMPERSLeft-back Peter Gilbert has an ankle problem and is likely to miss the first few weeks of the season.Winger Ryan Halll is unavailable after picking up a red card late last season while he was still at former club Bromley. Here's an report from May 2nd 2010, just over three months ago, when we beat Stockport 2-1 in the battle of the relegated teams, and the Southend side that played, remember them?:Before the kick-off Simon Francis picked up his player-of-the-year award while Blues boss Steve Tilson handed out to young Harry Crawford his first full senior start for the injured Francis Laurent.For the rest of the hamstring horror victims, Jean-Yves M'Voto started in the place of Adam Barrett, while another former Under-18 star, Stuart O'Keefe, slotted into Jean-Francois Christophe's midfield place. Southend believed they had taken the lead as early as the fourth minute when O'Keefe set Macca free, who lobbed the ball over Hatters keeper Lloyd Rigby but the assistant in front of the East stand had his flag raised for offside. Great move though, and the right decision.That was about it for the first 45 as the dead rubber match took on the feel of a testimonial in the Spring sunshine. Chances for Macca and James Vincent for Stockport came and went and David Poole should have done better, hitting over the bar from close range, minutes into the second half.So that looked to be that with the bottom two sides in League One happy to share the points, however failed Blues loanee striker Jabo Ibehre had other ideas and opened the scoring in the 71st minute after spending the time before that falling over a lot without a Blue shirt near him!A free kick from the right from Danny Pilkington was met by the head of Ibehre who found the back of the net far too easily. This livened up the singing away support behind Steve Mildenhall's goal, which was matched by the Blue Voice faithful that were taking advantage of being allowed into the North Bank for the second time, hopefully to be kept for most of next season.It also livened events on the pitch and four minutes later the Shrimpers were level, and it was that boy Crawford who got the final touch from a great cross from Johnny Herd after County's Danny Swailes did everything bar actually put the ball into his own net, the second time in the game he had done his best to do so.Matt Paterson had come off the bench for the soon to be departed Scott Vernon, back to the Farmers for him please, and the former Saints striker immediatly sprung into action with a brilliant volley, equally matched by the save from Rigby who just got to the ball with an outstretched hand to push it over the bar.Crawford and Paterson, we have seen the future.And with a minute left on the clock young Matt was to be involved again with when he went past two bemused Stockport defenders to put over a beautiful left wing cross that was begging for someone to score, and McCormack obliged, heading home from the edge of the six yard area. A consolation win maybe, and only the second this miserable year, but try and say that to the majority in the very good 7,000 plus crowd who at least could start their post-match celebrations with a smile on their face.More so than some of the players as they took off on the obligatory end-of-season trip around Roots Hall to thank the loyal Shrimper support, how many will we see come August? (Answer - not many!)Southend player markings: Mildenhall - 6, Francis - 6, M'Voto - 7, Herd - 6, O'Keefe - 7, McCormack - 7, Grant - 6, Moussa - 6, Vernon - 5 (Paterson - 7), Crawford - 8. Saturday's side, err....possibily, the team that started against the Hammers Tuesday, maybe:Morris, Clohessy, Phillips, Prosser, Barker, Soares (Sturrock 77), Grant (Herd 88), Easton, Gill, Spencer, Corr.Subs: Evans, Coughlan, Herd, Zaaboub, Sturrock, Crawford, Paterson, If I've forgotten somebody, apologies!COME ON YOU BLUES!!!!!OPPOSITION Stockport and their new manager Paul Simpson have made five new signings of their own over the summer, (five, the wimps).Centre-halves Jordan Rose and Mansour Assoumani plenty of experience in non-league football, while former Shrimper striker Barry Conlon will be back to Roots Hall 9see below), along with right-back Mark Lynch.Another forward in the shape of Plymouth Argyle man George Donnelly, so he should be well known by Paul Sturrock, has joined the Hatters again for the second time on loan.The Amazing Career of Barry ConlonConlon playing for Grimsby TownPersonal informationFull nameBarry John ConlonDate of birth1 October 1978 (1978-10-01) (age 31)Place of birthDrogheda, Republic of IrelandHeight1.91 m (6 ft 3 in)Playing positionStrikerClub informationCurrent clubStockport CountyNumber9Senior career*YearsTeamApps†(Gls)†1996-1997Queens Park Rangers0(0)1997-1998Manchester City7(0)1998→ Plymouth Argyle (loan)13(2)1998-1999Southend United34(7)1999-2001York City48(11)2001→ Colchester United (loan)26(8)2001-2004Darlington115(39)2004-2006Barnsley35(7)2006→ Rotherham United (loan)3(1)2006-2007Darlington19(6)2007Mansfield Town17(6)2007-2009Bradford City72(17)2009→ Grimsby Town (loan)8(5)2009-2010Grimsby Town16(5)2010→ Chesterfield (loan)4(1)2010Chesterfield15(6)2010-Stockport County0(0)National team‡1998-1999Republic of Ireland U217(0)*Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 18:11, 15 July 2010 (UTC).† Appearances (Goals).‡National team caps and goals correct as of 18:11, 15 July 2010 (UTC)PREVIOUSLYAt Southend Utd. (13)At Stockport Co. (13)ResultsTotal%ResultsTotal%Southend Utd.646.15Stockport Co.646.15Stockport Co.215.38Southend Utd.430.77Draws538.46Draws323.08GoalsTotalAv.pgGoalsTotalAv.pgSouthend Utd.171.31Stockport Co.151.15Stockport Co.100.77Southend Utd.120.92On Neutral Ground (0)Overall (26 matches)ResultsTotal%ResultsTotal%Southend Utd.00.00Southend Utd.1038.46Stockport Co.00.00Stockport Co.830.77Draws00.00Draws830.77GoalsTotalAv.pgGoalsTotalAv.pgSouthend Utd.00.00Southend Utd.291.12Stockport Co.00.00Stockport Co.250.96RecordsHighest Aggregate6Southend Utd. 4 - 2Stockport Co.1971/1972 Highest Southend Utd. score:4Southend Utd. 4 - 2Stockport Co.1971/1972 Highest Stockport Co. score:4Stockport Co. 4 - 1Southend Utd.1966/1967 SeasonDateHomeScoreAwayCompetition 2009/2010Sat 01 MaySouthend Utd.2 - 1Stockport Co.League One Sat 03 OctStockport Co.0 - 2Southend Utd.League One 2008/2009Sat 17 JanStockport Co.3 - 1Southend Utd.League One Sat 11 OctSouthend Utd.1 - 1Stockport Co.League One 1989/1990Fri 23 MarSouthend Utd.2 - 0Stockport Co.Fourth Division Mon 16 OctStockport Co.1 - 0Southend Utd.Fourth Division 1986/1987Fri 08 MayStockport Co.0 - 2Southend Utd.Fourth Division Sat 13 DecSouthend Utd.0 - 0Stockport Co.Fourth Division 1985/1986Mon 03 MarStockport Co.2 - 1Southend Utd.Fourth Division Tue 01 OctSouthend Utd.0 - 0Stockport Co.Fourth Division 1984/1985Fri 15 FebStockport Co.1 - 2Southend Utd.Fourth Division Mon 17 SepSouthend Utd.1 - 1Stockport Co.Fourth Division 1980/1981Fri 03 AprStockport Co.1 - 0Southend Utd.Fourth Division Fri 31 OctSouthend Utd.2 - 0Stockport Co.Fourth Division 1977/1978Mon 24 AprStockport Co.1 - 0Southend Utd.Fourth Division Mon 03 OctSouthend Utd.0 - 2Stockport Co.Fourth Division 1976/1977Mon 18 AprStockport Co.0 - 0Southend Utd.Fourth Division Fri 28 JanSouthend Utd.0 - 0Stockport Co.Fourth Division 1971/1972Fri 14 AprStockport Co.2 - 2Southend Utd.Fourth Division Fri 26 NovSouthend Utd.4 - 2Stockport Co.Fourth Division 1970/1971Fri 19 FebStockport Co.0 - 0Southend Utd.Fourth Division Mon 09 NovSouthend Utd.2 - 1Stockport Co.Fourth Division 1966/1967Sat 13 MaySouthend Utd.0 - 1Stockport Co.Fourth Division Sat 25 MarStockport Co.4 - 1Southend Utd.Fourth Division 1958/1959Sat 27 DecSouthend Utd.3 - 1Stockport Co.Third Division Mon 20 OctStockport Co.0 - 1Southend Utd.Third Division REFThe man in the middle is Iain Williamson from Berkshire.FIXTURESSaturday, August 7th: (all kick-offs 15.00); BETTo Win:Southend (to win) - 11/10, Draw - 12/5, Stockport (to win) - 11/4. For all the footy odds go here: www.oddschecker.com/football/english/league-two/HISTORYStockport County were formed in 1883 as Heaton Norris Rovers by members of the Wycliffe Congressional Church, and played their first recorded game in October the next year. Shortly after they merged with a similarly named club, Heaton Norris, and on the 24th May 1890 changed their name to Stockport County to reflect Stockport becoming a County Borough.The club adopted 'The Hatters' as their nickname, owing to Stockport's history as the centre of the hat-making industry, a nickname that is shared with Luton Town. Stockport supporters generally refer to the team simply as 'County'.Stockport played in the Lancashire League until 1900. They then gained admission to the Football League Second Division. Unfortunately, the club finished in the bottom three for their first four seasons and at the end of the 1903-04 season they failed to gain re-election. They then had one season in the Lancashire Combination, and were league champions. They were re-admitted to the Football League for the 1905-06 season, and the club have now been in this league for over a hundred years, although they have had to seek re-election on four further occasions.On 30 April 2009, Stockport County were placed into administration following a battle to repay creditors. It followed a petition by a creditor to repay a loan of around £300,000. Recently, the club has struggled to repay a tax debt of £250,000 to Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs.On Friday 12th of June, Leonard Curtis, administrators of Stockport County Football Club, announced that they had agreed terms with the Melrose Consortium for the sale of the club. Paul Reeves, one of the joint administrators commented that: "Whilst a deal has been agreed, it is subject to the Melrose Consortium obtaining landlord approval. This is a positive step to safeguarding the club's future." Gary Ablett, former manager of Liverpool reserves, was appointed manager on 8 July 2009 following talks with the new owners.Sadly, Gary couldn't keep the Hatters from being the first team to be relegated from League One for the 2009/10 season.In March 2010 it was announced that a new consortium, the '2015 Group' had been given exclusivity to work towards a takeover of the club. The Group hope to be approved by the Football League at their May 2010 meeting.It was announced on Thursday 17th June 2010 that the 2015 Group had taken control of the club. On the same day, it was announced that Gary Ablett had been relieved of his managerial duties by 'mutual consent'.On 12th July 2010, former Carlisle United manager Paul Simpson was unveiled as Gary Ablett's successor as the new manager of the club at a press conference at Edgeley Park. Simpson will be assisted by Peter Ward, who was assistant manager at the club between 2005 - 2009 under former manager Jim Gannon, and who also played for the club in the 1990's. There's an even more comprehensive history of the club available here:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Stockport_County_F.C..
