But for a suspension to Frank Beaumont, Len White may never have arrived at Edgeley Park.

Beaumont, who provided most of the experience in a youthful County team that, despite being bottom of Division Four, had gloriously reached the FA Cup fourth round in 1965, had picked up a suspension.

After being drawn away at League champions Liverpool the Hatters were desperate to bolster their side so, four days after their momentous third round replay victory over Bristol Rovers, the club paid £4,000 to bring in White from Huddersfield Town.

The one-time idol of St. James' Park - White scored 153 goals in 269 league and cup appearances for Newcastle - could have been forgiven for playing out his career at Edgeley Park. After all he was close to his 35th birthday.

Nothing could have been further from the truth.

The maestro illuminated Edgeley Park like a beacon. His fitness was testimony to his honesty and professionalism. His ability on the ball was quite remarkable.
He made his County debut in the 2-0 home defeat by Torquay on January 16 1965. Seven days later the Hatters were again beaten at Edgeley Park, this time by Chesterfield, 1-0.

Hardly ideal preparation for the trip to face Bill Shankly's Liverpool!

One national newspaper predicted a 10-0 win for the Reds. The half-time scoreline, though, shook the football world . Liverpool 0 Stockport County 1.

Under the headline "White-hot in burst of super glory" the Football Pink's Eric Thornton wrote: "Then came the goal that rocked the Kop. Len White, who signed for County 15 days ago, headed County into a 20-minute lead.

"The goal came at the end of a wing-to-wing challenge. White, the former Newcastle Cup-medallist, swung the ball across to Watt, who's cross-shot was so hard that Lawrence could not hold it.

"The ball shot out of the 'keeper's gloves and White dashed in to score his first goal for the club."

To this day Len's header is probably the club's most-famous goal. And the performance is, arguably, the club's finest hour.

The following season White scored a goal that many an old-timer will say is the greatest ever seen at Edgeley Park.

The dream strike came in the 35th minute of the Fourth Division clash with Barnsley. Maurice Tillotson crossed to Len Allchurch who flicked the ball on to White. The centre forward controlled the ball on his thigh and turned almost 180 degrees to volley it from fully 35-yards into the top corner of the net.

That game against Barnsley came just 6 days after the Hatters had beaten Bradford City 7-1 at Valley Parade to register their biggest-ever away win.

Len White gave another virtuoso performance that afternoon scoring three of the County goals.

Len was released at the end of the 1965-66 season and he drifted into non-league football, first with neighbours Altrincham and then in his native Yorkshire.

That White is regarded as an Edgeley Park hero, despite spending less than 18-months at the club, is testimony to a player who was idolised by the County faithful.

Trevor Porteous, the manager who signed him from Huddersfield, once said: "Len was a good, good player. Brave, pacy and a great goalscorer. He was a quiet lad but everything about him was good."

Welsh international Len Allchurch, a teammate of White's at Edgeley Park, agreed "What a wonderful player." he said. "Len was a big friend of my brother Ivor from their days at Newcastle and although he was at the end of his career at Edgeley Park he was still a marvellous player."

And Porteous added poignantly: "Len was a super professional and his mere presence at Edgeley Park lifted everyone at the club."

When Len White sadly passed away in June 1994 Stockport County lost one of it's finest players, a sentiment that, I have no doubt whatsoever, will be echoed around the hallowed walls of St. James' Park, Newcastle.