Squad can be Hatters heroes says Jim
COUNTY chief Jim Gannon has called on his players to ‘make themselves heroes’, as The Hatters head into their National League North play-off clash with promotion rivals Chorley at Edgeley Park tonight.
After guiding The Hatters to a fifth-place finish in the division Gannon admitted he was “very proud” of his side, but warned there was “more hard work to come”, as the town of Stockport prepared itself for the club’s biggest game in a decade.
More than 6,000 supporters filed into the Edgeley Park stands for Saturday’s entertaining 1-1 draw with the Quakers, smashing a league record which was set by The Hatters in last season’s curtain-closing clash with Gloucester City.
Despite fifth place not being mathematically secured before kick-off, County were safe in the knowledge that a play-off berth was already sealed. And so leading scorer Jason Oswell was taken out of the squad altogether, along with influential midfielder Jimmy Ball, and star defender Chris Smalley.
Number one goalkeeper Ben Hinchliffe was also given a rest, with the deputising Ian Ormson coming into the starting eleven.
“I’m sure the likes of Jason Oswell and Jimmy Ball would have loved to have played in front of such a crowd, but the side we picked was as professional as possible and we were fortunate enough to rest plenty of the lads before Wednesday night,” Gannon said.
The huge crowd in attendance broke two National League records; both held previously by The Hatters.
And the club have been busy throughout the week, with more than 3,500 tickets already sold to home supporters alone for tonight’s clash with Matt Jansen’s Chorley, with pay-on-the-gate tickets still available before kick-off.
“The fans never surprise me. I was manager here on the last game of the season when 10,000 fans turned up, or when we had a sell out for the playoffs back in League Two.
“I hope they’ve seen signs of life in the last few months and want to be part of something here,” said Gannon.
The daunting task of a trip to second-placed Harrogate Town this Sunday awaits the victors of this evening’s tie, with all play-off fixtures now taking place over one leg in the new format.
“Chorley have done brilliantly, and I’ve always said that if we finished above them we’d be in the play-offs. It’s nice to finish fifth and show that we’re in there on merit.
“Wednesday will be a fantastic occasion between two good teams, and it’s been all about working hard this week in preparation for the challenge they’ll give us,” said Gannon.
County head into the tie on the back of a terrific run of form, winning eight out of their last eleven outings, with two draws and just one defeat accompanying the mammoth 26 points collected from a possible 33.
Indeed, only Bradford Park Avenue – who incredibly snuck into the final play-off berth with a 94thminute winner over Kidderminster Harriers, best The Hatters in the form table over the last five games; and Gannon admitted that, whilst County’s rich vein of form was a big advantage, “nothing could be taken for granted”.
“It’s a great run to end the campaign,” he said. “We’re doing well financially, we’re the Community Club of the Year and we’ve for a great academy too. The attendances show what County mean to a lot of people in the town.
“I’m very proud to be manager of this club, and I believe we will be fully prepared to have a real go at the play-offs on what will be another special and emotional occasion at Edgeley Park under the lights. The lads know they have a chance to be heroes, and it’s up to us now to work and prepare as hard and as thoroughly as possible to make that happen.”