Not many people can have contributed more to the survival of Stockport County in every conceivable way than Eric Webster who, in his 16 years at Edgeley Park, filled almost every non-playing position at the club, some officially, others through necessity.

Born in Manchester on 24 June 1931, he played as a winger for Ardwick Lads Club before signing as an amateur with Manchester City.

After serving his two years National Service, he signed full time professional forms at Maine Road in February 1952.

While serving his apprenticeship at City, Eric Webster had been switched to wing half, the position he occupied in his one and only Football League game against Cardiff City at Ninian Park, during the 1951-52 season.

Following his release from Maine Road in June 1953, he spent the rest of his playing career in non-League football with Ashton United, Hyde United, Nantlle Vale, Pwllheli and finally at Stalybridge Celtic.

At these last three clubs, Webster's manager was the former Accrington Stanley player, Freddie Pye, and the link between the two continued for over three decades.

After Stalybridge sacked Pye, Webster was promoted to his first manager's job, but he too was sacked shortly afterwards, returning to Hyde United, the club where he enjoyed his greatest success as a player.

Three seasons at Hyde were inevitably followed by the sack, the same fate awaiting him 12 months later at Runcorn before he returned to another former club Ashton United where he resigned after one season.

Meanwhile, Freddie Pye had joined the board of Stockport County and remembering Webster's commitment and genuine dedication to the game, brought him to Edgeley Park in 1974 to look after the club's youngsters.

He moved up to manage the youth team before being appointed as Mike Summerbee's assistant manager in 1978.

At this point in Stockport County's history, when managers were rarely lasting more than one season and the club had virtually no money for new players, it was left to the expert eye of Eric Webster to unearth young footballers from local and non-League soccer and free transfer bargains upon whom the club relied to survive.

He supported both Mike Summerbee and Jimmy McGuigan in this capacity before himself becoming manager in May 1982.

It was thanks to Webster's character and vision that he continued to develop and find players for little or no outlay who, because of County's persistent financial problems, could then be sold and bring in much needed money.

Along with what was probably his most astute signing, that of Mick Quinn on a free transfer from Wigan Athletic, he brought in money by selling Mike Salmon, John Kerr, Mark Leonard, Dean Emerson and Oshor Williams.

The inevitable consequence of having to sell such talented players was that County's struggles went on, their highest position under Webster being 16^th in 1983-84.

Undoubtedly, the highlight for Webster was the wonderful commitment shown over the two legs of the Milk Cup (League Cup) second round tie against Liverpool in the autumn of 1984.

Over 180 minutes, the Hatters did not concede a goal to the, then, European Champions and it was only during extra time at Anfield that County's defence was finally breached.

After being replaced by Colin Murphy in August 1985, he continued to support the new manager and his successors, Les Chapman (another player Webster brought to Edgeley Park), Jimmy Melia, Asa Hartford and Danny Bergara.

Under Hartford, he recommended Tony Hancock, whom he had seen playing local Sunday football, resulting in a £50,000 profit for a young man who had made only 22 appearances, ten as substitute when he moved onto Burnley.

After practically living at Edgeley Park for 16 years in his various capacities, which even included groundsman both before and after his spell as manager, he was rewarded with an excellently attended Testimonial match against Manchester City.

In 2006 Eric Webster's immense contribution to Stockport County was fully recognised when he was voted into the club's prestigious Hall of Fame.