Celebrating Stockport County's 2023/24 League Two Title-winning Campaign
by Phil Brennan
In November 2020 I released the original book ‘Champions’ as I had been thinking for some time that whilst there have been several books on the history of Stockport County, there had never really been space in any of them to give more information on the six league titles that had been won by the club and especially some of the individuals that played their part in winning their respective divisions.
In typical Stockport County fashion, having waited for over fifty years between winning the Fourth Division title in 1967 and the National League North title in 2019, just three seasons later The Hatters clinched the seventh title in their history as they clinched The National League crown and more importantly their place back in The Football League (EFL) in May 2022.
In celebration of the club’s escape from non-league football after eleven years I added a new chapter and made some minor amendments to the original book to provide supporters old and new with some insight to the players and staff that played their part in the club’s title wins over the years.
Just two years later Stockport County won their eight Championship crown, gaining a return to the third tier of English football fourteen years after they last played there.
Once again I have added another chapter to include this latest title triumph, to outline the achievements of the players and staff in the 2023/24 campaign.
The information within this book has been collated from many historical Stockport County publications from over the years, and my debt to my former writing partner, the late Richard Harnwell, is immense. His collection of original County photos, programmes and to be honest anything that had the club’s name on it, was probably the main reason that made this and other books I have worked on possible.
It always feels strange writing about the history of our fantastic club without him, but hopefully I have done him proud once more.
I am also indebted to several others for the most recent images all of whom are credited within this book.
Phil Brennan (May 2024)
I’m a journalist, author, and editor with a passion for football, storytelling, and creative writing. From working with clubs like Stockport County and Oldham Athletic to writing and editing books on football and beyond, I’ve spent over a decade immersed in media, sport, and the written word. Whether it's matchday reporting, children’s books, or spoken word poetry, my work is all about capturing the stories that connect us.
I’m a journalist, author, editor, and lifelong football enthusiast with a career rooted in storytelling and media. My journey began with roles at the heart of the game, as Press Officer and Media Manager at Stockport County Football Club, and later as Contributing Editor at TheNonLeague Magazine. Initially a regional publication for non-league supporters in the North West, TheNonLeague Magazine expanded into a national platform under my editorial leadership. I played a key role in its growth by securing advertising and sponsorship deals with major companies, helping to bring grassroots football coverage to a wider audience. In 2013, I published my first book, The Man from Uruguay, the biography of Danny Bergara. Its success allowed me to transition into full-time freelance journalism. Since then, I’ve contributed weekly football content, primarily non-league coverage, for newspapers, websites, and magazines across the UK. I’ve also worked directly with clubs, including a spell at Oldham Athletic FC, where I helped rebuild their social media and website presence during a period of internal restructuring. Alongside journalism, I’ve authored a range of children’s books in collaboration with illustrators Rob Purdon, Ric Pennington, and James Richardson. These titles include The Scarf, Football Alphabet, Cricket Alphabet, Football Football Football, Stay at Gnome – A Lockdown Tale, Tangerine Dream, and Granny’s Galactic Garden. As an editor, I’ve worked on several notable football titles, including the Non-League Groundhopper Diaries series and LOST – Football in the 1980s. My writing also extends into poetry, a creative outlet since my schooldays. I’ve written personal poems for family milestones and, more recently, have embraced performing my work at spoken word events, sharing pieces from my collections The Transient Curmudgeon and The Transient Mancunian. Whether through sport, storytelling, or verse, my work continues to explore the spaces where community, culture, and creativity intersect.
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