Everyone at Edgeley Park is saddened to hear of the passing of John Sainty. John was at Edgeley Park between 1989 and 1997, holding a number of positions including youth coach, first team coach and assistant manager.
He is perhaps best remembered at Edgeley Park as assistant to both Danny Bergara and Dave Jones, where in the background he played an important role in one of the most successful periods in the history of Stockport County Football Club.
The success he helped create, built a lasting legacy both on and off the field at Edgeley Park, creating a generation of loyal fans who have helped support the club in the last quarter of a century.
John was born in East London in 1946, representing Barking Boys and earning an England schoolboy cap in 1961. He signed for Tottenham Hotspur but never made the first team at White Hart Lane, despite being a prolific goalscoring centre forward. In 1967 he was sold to Reading for a record fee and in doing so had his first encounter with County. His debut at Elm Park was against a newly promoted Hatters side, backed by a huge support who had travelled down on the specially chartered “County Arrow” train. Sainty scored two goals in the 3-0 win for the Royals.
He later played for AFC Bournemouth and Aldershot, before reuniting with John Bond at Norwich City. He had first met Bond whilst at Dean Court, and Sainty took his first coaching position at Carrow Road. When Bond was offered the manager’s job at Manchester City in 1980, Sainty followed him to the north west. He had a spell as manager of Chester City, but dropped out of League football, managing non-league Armthorpe Welfare, Glossop North End and Mossley. He then became a local publican and was the landlord of the Railway Inn in Woodley whilst first working at Edgeley Park, before concentrating on full time coaching.
Following County’s record breaking 1996-97 season, Sainty followed manager Dave Jones to Southampton, providing invaluable experience to a manager making a huge step up to the Premiership. John was to spend five years at Saints also acting as chief scout and academy director.
He settled in Verwood on the edge of the New Forest and coached local sides, whilst also providing match analysis for the Press Association.
John came back to Stockport for a number of reunions and was always a very welcome visitor to Edgeley Park. He was fondly remembered for the important role that he played, supporting two of County’s greatest ever managers. Everybody at Stockport County FC pass on their condolences to John’s wife Lindsay and his family and friends.
