If you look closely at the back of the County shirts tomorrow, you will see that each one carries a unique number to reflect County’s support for the Stockport County Appearance Number (SCAN) initiative.
County have had more senior players than any other club, and SCAN was set up in 2010 to celebrate this fact.
SCAN is a supporter-led programme and was the first of its kind in the UK. It is administered by a small group of guardians, independent of the club, and funded by donations.
Following many years of research by the club historians, it became clear that County had more senior players than any other English Premiership or Football League club (1390 and counting). Every player who has ever played a senior game receives a unique SCAN number and a special certificate, presented in person by a County supporter.
County Director Jon Keighren said: “We are delighted to be able to support this wonderful initiative. County were the first club to adopt this kind of scheme, and it is now being copied even at international level, but this is the first time we have been permitted by the football authorities to add these unique numbers to our shirts. I would like to thank the SCAN guardians for their wonderful dedication to this project, and to kit man Richard Landon for bringing it to life.”
SCAN Guardian Marcus Heap said: “Both the Football Association and The Football League were originally approached to ask if the club could add these numbers to the match shirts, but both organisations unfortunately denied permission. We are pleased that the National League has agreed to our request and we are incredibly proud to see the numbers on the shirts.”
Players are eligible to receive a SCAN number if they have represented the club in the FA Cup Proper, the Football League, Division Three North Cup, the League Cup, the Football League Trophy and the Conference National League, as this was the first time the club had competed in a league with automatic entry to The Football League. It does not include the National League North.
Marcus said: “Each player or family is presented with a specially commissioned certificate. The certificate contains confirmation of the player’s debut (date and opponent) and their unique SCAN. For authenticity this is stamped with a wax seal and framed. The design of the commemorative certificate will remain unchanged throughout the lifetime of the scheme.”
In the last nine years, over 200 SCAN certificates have been presented.
The lowest numbered certificate to be presented to the player himself was made to County centurion George Haigh (482), who received his certificate from County’s youngest ever debutant Paul Turnbull (1182). The most recent SCAN number has been allocated to new signing Devante Rodney (1390).
