Post by thetourist on Oct 1, 2021 21:58:53 GMT
Hi,
Please excuse my English. It is not my native language. I'm from Norway and it's been a long time since I've spoken English.
I used to be a passionate Stockport County supporter when I was a teenager. All the other kids were making fun of me, but I was really proud of representing County in my neighborhood, far away from England. I was listening to the results on BBC radio every weekend, and I will never forget the first time watching Stockport "live" on SkySports against Everton in the FA-cup. I believe we lost 2-1. My favorite players were Big Kev, Alun Armstrong, Mike Flynn and Jim Gannon. I remember I was a bit sceptic when we signed Richard Landon. Rothman Football Yearbook was my reference at that time. I played a tournament in Manchester between 93-95 (cannot remember excact year). We were trained by City-coaches for a couple of hours and we also went to have a look at Old Trafford. I sat on the away bench when the parents took pictures. I must have talked about Stockport all the time, because one night a fed up dad took me on the bus from Manchester to Edgeley Park. County were not playing, we were just standing outside the stadium. Just looking at the big Cheadle End from outside the fence was a moment I will never forget. Then we went to the nearest pub close to a roundabout - the fed up dad had to relax before returning to Manchester, he obviuosly did not want to spend the whole night being in Stockport.
Next thing happening is absolutely crazy. I went to see Norway U21 against England U21 in my hometown in Norway (not Oslo). The first thing I saw when entering the stadium was a huge Stockport County-banner. Me and my friend were standing with the County-supporters during the match, singing England and Stockport-songs. I was in heaven. I suppose they were drunk, and we were just kids. I wrote a letter to one of them the same week but never got any answer. I don't blame him though. Poor guy who had to listen to me the whole time.
I lost interest in English football and Stockport for many years. Drinking, smoking and being cool was more important to me. Then I moved to Oslo and met some great people supporting a club a bit further north of Stockport. The club was at level two at that time, managed by a former Liverpool hero, called Kevin Keegan. Suddenly I was traveling to England watching this team with my friends several times every season. Then they became rich. Human rights did not bother them either. The local people were happy, because their neighborhood was being renovated by some rich sheiks. I made many good friends supporting that club, lovely people! But when talking to some of the locals at the pub I understood that they could no longer afford going to the games, because tourists led to more expensive tickets. I felt stupid, coming all the way from Scandinavia just to please a rich regime and punishing locals who had been to matches since 60-70s. I made a choice which was hard, as this club is still like a drug to me; I stopped watching, stopped traveling and just concentrated on my local team in Norway (which is also hard, because I have moved so many times that I do not feel the same about them, but still trying).
I miss English football and I miss the culture before and after games. I started following County on internet recently(yes, I know this is not the receipe for being a supporter) and I understand that you are not happy. New manager, new owner, lots of staff, new regime and JG is gone. Seems you are also afraid to be a new City, and then going bancrupt? My question is: if I take my wife to Edgeley Park... will we be welcome or will be hated as tourists? I would love to make my childhood dream come through; watching a game at Edgeley Park and maybe also attend an away game. But times are changing. I don't want you to be a new City and we do not want to be stupid tourists, like all cockneys at Old Trafford and all the other Norwegians in Liverpool. Football is not like it used to be, especially not in England.
Good luck against Weymouth tomorrow. Safe traveling.
Please excuse my English. It is not my native language. I'm from Norway and it's been a long time since I've spoken English.
I used to be a passionate Stockport County supporter when I was a teenager. All the other kids were making fun of me, but I was really proud of representing County in my neighborhood, far away from England. I was listening to the results on BBC radio every weekend, and I will never forget the first time watching Stockport "live" on SkySports against Everton in the FA-cup. I believe we lost 2-1. My favorite players were Big Kev, Alun Armstrong, Mike Flynn and Jim Gannon. I remember I was a bit sceptic when we signed Richard Landon. Rothman Football Yearbook was my reference at that time. I played a tournament in Manchester between 93-95 (cannot remember excact year). We were trained by City-coaches for a couple of hours and we also went to have a look at Old Trafford. I sat on the away bench when the parents took pictures. I must have talked about Stockport all the time, because one night a fed up dad took me on the bus from Manchester to Edgeley Park. County were not playing, we were just standing outside the stadium. Just looking at the big Cheadle End from outside the fence was a moment I will never forget. Then we went to the nearest pub close to a roundabout - the fed up dad had to relax before returning to Manchester, he obviuosly did not want to spend the whole night being in Stockport.
Next thing happening is absolutely crazy. I went to see Norway U21 against England U21 in my hometown in Norway (not Oslo). The first thing I saw when entering the stadium was a huge Stockport County-banner. Me and my friend were standing with the County-supporters during the match, singing England and Stockport-songs. I was in heaven. I suppose they were drunk, and we were just kids. I wrote a letter to one of them the same week but never got any answer. I don't blame him though. Poor guy who had to listen to me the whole time.
I lost interest in English football and Stockport for many years. Drinking, smoking and being cool was more important to me. Then I moved to Oslo and met some great people supporting a club a bit further north of Stockport. The club was at level two at that time, managed by a former Liverpool hero, called Kevin Keegan. Suddenly I was traveling to England watching this team with my friends several times every season. Then they became rich. Human rights did not bother them either. The local people were happy, because their neighborhood was being renovated by some rich sheiks. I made many good friends supporting that club, lovely people! But when talking to some of the locals at the pub I understood that they could no longer afford going to the games, because tourists led to more expensive tickets. I felt stupid, coming all the way from Scandinavia just to please a rich regime and punishing locals who had been to matches since 60-70s. I made a choice which was hard, as this club is still like a drug to me; I stopped watching, stopped traveling and just concentrated on my local team in Norway (which is also hard, because I have moved so many times that I do not feel the same about them, but still trying).
I miss English football and I miss the culture before and after games. I started following County on internet recently(yes, I know this is not the receipe for being a supporter) and I understand that you are not happy. New manager, new owner, lots of staff, new regime and JG is gone. Seems you are also afraid to be a new City, and then going bancrupt? My question is: if I take my wife to Edgeley Park... will we be welcome or will be hated as tourists? I would love to make my childhood dream come through; watching a game at Edgeley Park and maybe also attend an away game. But times are changing. I don't want you to be a new City and we do not want to be stupid tourists, like all cockneys at Old Trafford and all the other Norwegians in Liverpool. Football is not like it used to be, especially not in England.
Good luck against Weymouth tomorrow. Safe traveling.
