County’s attention turns to the Emirates FA Cup this weekend, as the League Two leaders take on Northern Premier League side Worksop Town at Edgeley Park.
On a record-breaking 11-game winning run, Dave Challinor will be hoping for another good run in the cup this season, having reached the third round of the competition last year before losing to Walsall. County have reached at least the second round of the competition in four of the last five seasons.
Opponents Worksop are competing in the First Round Proper for the first time since 2001, having progressed through four qualifying rounds already to reach this stage. Their place in the first round was sealed with a 3-2 win over National League North side Boston United three weeks ago.
Craig Parry’s side were last in action on Tuesday night, drawing 1-1 at home to Guiseley in the Northern Premier League, a result that leaves them four unbeaten in the league.
Things you need to know:
- Tickets for Saturday’s game are still available to buy online and from the ticket office, available for just £10! Click here to order yours today!
- We encourage supporters to find sustainable ways of travelling to the game where possible. There is now bike storage available in the car park behind the Vitality Railway End, allowing supporters cycling to the game to store their bikes during the game.
- Coming to the game on Saturday? Click here to view our Fan Information pack, containing all you need to know ahead of your visit to Edgeley Park.
- Saturday’s game will not be available to stream on Stockport County Live, due to broadcast regulations. Audio commentary will still be available via your subscription packages, featuring Jon Keighren and Liam Richardson.
- The game will also be our dedicated Remembrance Day fixture, as we pay our respects to our fallen servicemen and women. We ask that supporters are in their seats prior to kick-off, for a minute’s silence and the playing of the Last Post.
Our Opponents:
One of the founder members of the Conference North in 2004, Worksop Town have spent much of the last decade playing as far down as the ninth tier of English football after financial difficulties in 2014 saw the club resign from the Northern Premier League, dropping into the Northern Counties East League.
After taking time to rebuild, The Tigers have started to climb the football pyramid again, back towards the upper regions of non-league football. They won promotion from Northern Counties East League as champions in 2018/19, before winning the Division One East title last season with seven games to spare – becoming the first team in English football to achieve promotion in 2022/23.
Back competing in the Northern Premier League, just one level below the National League North, a well-backed Worksop side have made an impressive start to the new campaign. They currently sit fourth in the table, having lost just three of their opening 12 league games, winning seven. They have lost only one of their last nine in all competitions – a 5-0 FA Trophy defeat to Mickleover for a much-changed Worksop side.
Their cup campaign began with wins over Sheffield FC and Lincoln United in the early rounds, before two National League North opponents were put to the sword. Having drawn 1-1 away at Blyth Spartans in the Third Qualifying Round, the Tigers mauled their higher league opponents in the replay 5-0 before going on to beat Boston in the next round.
They have a number of former EFL players in their experienced squad, including former Bradford City hero James Hanson, ex-Plymouth defender Hamza Bencherif and one-time Scunthorpe United man George Taft.
Match Stats:
- This will be the first meeting between the two clubs since 1904/05 in the Midlands League. County lost 5-2 away from home, before drawing 2-2 at Edgeley Park.
- County’s last defeat to lower-league opposition in the FA Cup came in 2019 – a 1-0 defeat away to National League North side York City, for a Hatters side recently promoted to the National League.
- County are on a run of five straight wins at Edgeley Park, scoring 13 and conceding just twice in that time. We have lost just two of 24 home games in 2023
