The Football League Cup was first played for in the 1960-61 season and County's opening game in the new competition was a home tie against Carlisle United.

The Hatters had already beaten the Cumbrians 2-0 in a Fourth Division clash in the August, and they were to repeat that scoreline when Carlisle travelled south on October 10, 1961.

Mercurial winger Gene Wilson (pictured) gave County the lead on the half hour with Tom Anderson making the game safe with 20 minutes remaining.

The Edgeley faithful certainly responded positively to the new competition with an excellent 7,953 on the Park to witness County's victory.

County: Harold Lea, Bob Murray, Billy Webb, Jack Bennion, Ken Hodder, Trevor Porteous, Gene Wilson, Tommy Anderson, Bill Ritchie, Bobby Murdoch and Mike Davock

Carlisle: George Thompson, Alan McBain, James Terris, Gordon Bradley, Bob Doran, Tommy McMillan, Barry Brayton, Tommy Cavanagh, Ken Smith, George Stewart and Wendell Morgan

Referee: J E Carr (Sheffield)

County's interest in the 1960-61 League Cup ended at the next stage after a 3-0 defeat against Manchester City, with Denis Law scoring twice for the Sky Blues.

The attendance at Maine Road, incidentally, was a bumper 21,005.

However, defeat in Moss Side started a dismal League Cup sequence for County who went out at the first hurdle in the following six seasons.

The Hatters next League Cup victory came on August 28, 1967 when Crewe Alexandra were beaten 3-0 in a first round replay.

Hero on the night was Bill Atkins who scored all three goals. The County legend remains the only Hatters' player to score a hat trick in the competition.

Although County's League Cup record in the 1960s was disappointing they would eventually enjoy some real success in the competition.

In 1972 they became the first Fourth Division club to win away at top-flight opposition when Hugh Ryden's goal was enough to beat Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park.

And in 1980 the Hatters entered the record books again when they became the first Fourth Division side to beat top-flight opposition over two legs.

After a 1-1 draw at Edgeley Park in the first leg Sunderland looked to have booked their passage to round three when Stan Cummins fired them in front with just 20 minutes remaining at Roker Park.

However, County hit back to level through Dave Sunley - who had also scored in the first game - and then netted a sensational winner when the ice-cool Tommy Sword converted a penalty awarded for a foul on Les Bradd.

And who will ever forget the 1996-97 season when Dave Jones' heroes went so close to reaching the Wembley Final. Beating FOUR Premiership sides, (Blackburn Rovers, West Ham United, Southampton and Middlesbrough), along the way to the semi-final created another record.

County's biggest home gate in the League Cup is the 16,535 that saw the fourth round defeat in 1972 against a Norwich City side who went onto lose 1-0 to Spurs in the final.

However, had the Edgeley Park capacity been big enough that attendance would have been bettered four years later when Everton visited SK3 in a third round tie. The official attendance was 15,031 with an estimated 5,000 + locked out.

Away from home, after switching the 1978 second round tie from Edgeley Park, the 42,834 that watched the Hatters' hugely controversial 3-2 defeat at Manchester United is the biggest gate involving a Fourth Division club.

County's top scorer in the League Cup is Alun Armstrong, 8, whilst their record appearance holder is Jim Gannon, 37.
 
This article has been produced with the help of Stockport County's Historical Advisors