From the depths of the National League North, Stockport County have undergone a meteoric rise, having achieved three promotions in the last six years.
A return to League One for the first time in 14 years was met with a third-place finish for David Challinor’s men, which saw the Hatters miss out on promotion via a penalty shootout against Leyton Orient.
Despite this heartbreak, County fans can take comfort in the continuous progress being made at the club, with owners investing in both the long-term and short-term future of the club.
Having impressed last season, improvement for Stockport County could likely mean a fourth promotion since 2019, but how possible is this for the Edgeley Park outfit?
How did Stockport County Fare Last Season?
Following their promotion, Stockport went against many expectations and continued their series of promotion battles with Wrexham, dating back to their National League days.
Falling short of the Red Dragons this time, Stockport finished third after going toe-to-toe with the division’s best all season.
The first half of the 2024-25 campaign saw the Hatters spearheaded by bright attacking talent Louie Barry, whose phenomenal half-campaign saw the Aston Villa loanee tally 15 goals and two assists before being recalled, spending the remainder of the campaign with Championship outfit Hull City.
Many expected this loss to impact County’s league form, which was far from the reality.
Testament to Challinor and his squad, the Manchester club’s form in the second half of the campaign was only second to Birmingham City, accumulating 50 points of an available 69 following Barry’s departure.
Ethan Pye’s stern defensive performances, Isaac Oloafe and Kyle Wootton’s strike partnership, Lewis Bate’s commanding midfield showings, all tied together by Challinor’s leadership, Stockport were an excellent side throughout the 2024-25 campaign.
Summer Activity So Far
Since their play-off defeat at home to Leyton Orient, County have wasted no time in building a squad ready to go again in the 2025-26 campaign.
Peterborough striking prospect Malik Mothersille signed for a club record fee, with full-back Tayo Edun also making the switch from their divisional rivals.
Joseph Olowu made the switch from Doncaster Rovers, while Corey O’Keefe joins on loan from Barnsley.
On the other hand, Challinor has endured some major losses to his squad this window, with Olaofe stepping up to the Championship with Charlton Athletic, while central defender Fraser Horsfall rejected a new deal with the club in favour of a switch to Blackpool.
While relatively quiet in comparison to previous years, this summer has more so been a story of minor adjustments rather than mass player turnover, having held on to the bulk of a squad that finished third in League One last season.
Mothersille is a like-for-like replacement for Olaofe, with great potential for sell-on-value, while Edun, Olowu, and O’Keefe add excellent options and competition throughout the squad.
Star Players
Challinor’s achievements at County have not been defined by individuals, with their well-drilled system and organisation winning plaudits.
While it is difficult to pick individuals, Ethan Pye is a particular standout at Edgeley Park.
Having joined from Stoke City in 2021, the defender spent a few loan spells away from Edgeley Park before establishing himself in Challinor’s first team.
However, time spent at Spennymoor Town and Gateshead proved valuable, as Pye has been a stalwart in the County defence since returning to the club in the summer of 2023.
Making 91 appearances for the club since his return from Gateshead, the left-footed defender has a clear capacity to play above League One, and the best piece of business Stockport can do in the remainder of the window is to secure his services for the coming campaign.
Where Will Stockport County Finish?
With Challinor at the helm and the club moving in a continuously positive direction, troubling the top two in League One may prove to be their biggest challenge yet.
With the division shaping up to be a tough competition, with the likes of Cardiff City, Plymouth Argyle, and Luton Town coming down from the Championship, partnered with several clubs expecting to challenge, such as Bolton Wanderers, Barnsley, and Wycombe Wanderers, the division is debatably more difficult across the board next season.
That being said, there is no doubt that Stockport cannot stake their claim in the promotion chase.
One advantage County have over their competitors is their project, with Challinor well in tune with the squad he has built over the years, compared to others that are starting their squads from scratch.
The Hatters have an exceptionally strong and organised team, with a healthy blend of youth and experience, all pieced together by a manager who has created an impressive winning culture at the club since 2021.
A club culture can carry a long way, and there is certainly a chance for Stockport County to achieve promotion in 2026.