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Posts tagged ‘stockport county’

Jul 9

#COC

Starting a post with have you seen #COC could lead to all sorts of innuendo.  I was simply trying to think which hashtag my beloved County might use on its leisure shirts,  if we were to mirror those seen at Turf Moor (home of Burnley FC) today.  They proudly showed off #UTC which I can only surmise is for ‘Up the Clarets?’.  So I thought we’d have to apply #COC, #IOC (not to be confused with International Olympic Committee) or #SMFW.  I’m hoping all County followers who read this blog appreciate these abbreviations?  Or if un-inventive simply #COUNTY.

Anyway this preamble only leads to my addressing the point that, how time changes fortunes? The old rivals return to the EPL whilst we languish in regional football at Tier 6.  Similarly, as recent dealings with our commercial department has been pants – Burnley react in an all much more professional manner.

The Club Shop is well stocked with all sorts of imaginative and quality merchandise.  Not typical tat but something for all pockets.  Today the creative subbuteo players on T-shirts mocking their arch-enemy Blackburn Rovers tickled me.  The staff was friendly – even with a stranger taking photos to share with the Rovers fraternity on Twitter who naturally I have more affinity with having sponsored Tugay all those years before.

My rambling around Turf Moor today was for #ExpoNorthWest but I am proud to have been enlisted as an Associate Lecture to University College of Football Business (UCFB) that is located in the Ground.  This sharing my knowledge on commercial marketing and emerging markets to both undergraduates and visiting delegations. Yes, the Club even has its own University – an entrepreneurial development with venues in Burnley and Wembley.

So a return to the Premier and its associated riches surely means a widening of the gap – yet only the delusional County faithful would say we are on a par with that Club on or off the pitch.  But don’t worry the only claret I’ll ever follow is #COC (Come on county!)

May 31

Stockport County Supporters' Co-operative

It’s good to share

Latest news release issued from Stockport County Supporters Co-operative:

“Each shareholder was asked to clarify their intentions prior to the end of last season. Former Chairman Peter Snape, Mike Clark, David Dyson, Ken Graham and Stewart Vann have each decided to write off their outstanding loans and gift their shares back to the club.

A Club spokesperson said: “The Club is indebted to Peter, Mike, David, Ken and Stewart for this extremely generous gesture. Each of the aforementioned individuals was there for the club in its hour of need, investing their personal finances into Stockport County to ensure that the club survived. We thank them wholeheartedly for their support then and also for their support now which allows the club to advance its search for further investment.”

Former Shareholder Mike Clark said: “Stockport County is an integral part of our town and I had no hesitation in supporting the club in its hour of need. The club is in safe hands and I wish the remaining shareholders and the board of directors well in their search for new investment to secure its future. I have also informed the board that if I am able to help in any way in the future then I am more than happy to do so.”

Six other shareholders have decided to retain their shareholding and to continue to support the Hatters financially. Simon Bellamy, Sharon Brammall, Malcolm Cooke, Richard Park, Spencer Fearn and Stockport Sports Trust are working together with the board of directors and the current management team at Edgeley Park to continue the rebuilding of the club. The clarification of the shareholding situation also allows the club to progress its search for new investment.

The club is currently awaiting the decision of two other shareholders and expects this to be clarified in the very near future.”

Dec 27

What’s in a name?

The debate is topical – with focus on Asian owners.  I reported earlier in S’PORT about the lack of empathy in the Malaysian one changing the historic identity of Cardiff as ‘Bluebirds’.  More recently, the Owner at Hull City has requested a name change to ‘Hull Tigers’ apparently to maximize marketing and merchandising value.  I’m the first to appreciate heritage and thought a compromise could have been Hull City Tigers.  In fact a solution first aired on TALKsport.  I was taken to task by a young vociferous upstart, saying how would I like it if we became Stockport County Hatters.  Well that option wouldn’t have bothered me.  I retorted better than a former proposed ‘County Cobras’. Allegedly the Club’s worst sponsorship deal with a success fee only remuneration dependant on amount of Cobra Lager consumed in North West.  I was informed it was single figures of crates in a season – this before Cobra established itself in the UK.  The County Cobras quip was no doubt over his head – long before he supported our Club.

Fan ownership is gaining momentum.  Surprisingly as though its never materialised before at Stockport! I’ll always remain positive about supporters engagement but when I see the new Board at the Stockport County Co-operative I suspect hidden agendas by some.  Indeed, one source supposedly ‘in the know’ expects a rival bid from ‘same old faces’ (and manager) may derail the white knights from China.  I would genuinely be interested if a part-share arrangement can’t result would the true County fans want the supporters to try and run the Club again – or let the Chinese Consortium have a go?

Aug 27

Aman for all seasons

The ‘Indian’ economy is the World’s tenth-largest by nominal GDP and third-largest by purchasing power parity, yet few ‘exports’ have made it in British football.  I am delighted this Week to have become the sponsor of Stockport County’s latest recruit in Aman Verma – and wish him every success at Edgeley Park.

Aman said to the Manchester Evening News “the size of Stockport County made it an easy decision for him to join the club.”  We certainly need him to be a ‘red hot indian’ after the latest two defeats to Altrincham (away) and to Colwyn Bay (home).  In fairness, having witnessed both I personally felt that only Aman and Adriano Moke deserved any real credit from the performances.

COWS (County’s Official Web Site) states: “The midfielder began his career at Leicester City but having worked his way through their youth academy he failed to break into the first team squad and was eventually released.  Having then played well for Conference North outfit Redditch United he was invited back to Leicester for a trial in December 2008, when he did enough to secure a six-month contract, which was then extended for a further year.  Verma spent spells on loan at Crewe Alexandra, Histon, Kidderminster Harriers and Darlington before joining  Kettering Town for the 2011/12 campaign. Last season the midfielder spent time playing in the Maltese Premier League with Floriana (the Vaughan’s Club!), leaving the club after it ran into financial difficulties.”

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