CHLOE BERESFORD

@ Chloejberesford

Last season was totally unexpected. Tenth in October, playing stale football with no cutting edge, Simon Rusk was sacked. Under Dave Challinor [ below], we went on to win the National League by six points, playing some great stuff.

The big talking point is away tickets. We struggled with massive demand for small allocations last season, and we’ve already surpassed 4,000 season ticket sales for this term. This season will be different because we’re in the Football League after more than a decade away.

Our key player will be Paddy Madden [ above]. Our captain leads by example with his work rate as well as his goals. I won’t be happy unless we secure another promotion! I honestly feel this is a club that’s going places. Our most underrated player is Ryan Croasdale. He’s a midfielder you don’t notice unless you’re really watching. Fans think our ground is too small for what we need. There are plans afoot.

The thing my club really gets right is listening to the fans. This never used to happen, but communication – and associated action – is better than ever.

Fans think our owner is a legend.

I’m least looking forward to playing

Crawley. It’s a long, long way, and it’ll feel like being back in non- league.

Look out for the supremely talented and versatile Myles Hippolyte. He’s got a good chant going for him, too. The opposition player I’d love here is

Andy Cannon, back from Hull. He’s got bags of talent in midfield. The fans’ opinion of the gaffer is amazing. I’m not sure we could love him any more! If he left, he should be replaced by

Jurgen Klopp? No, seriously, I wouldn’t want anyone else in the dugout.

The player I’d happily drive to

another club is Mark Kitching. Nothing against the guy personally, but he gets beaten over his shoulder far too often.

The pantomime villain will be our forward Scott Quigley. He loves winding up opposition fans and then walking away with a smile. The one change I’d make would be to somehow double the capacity of Edgeley Park. The fans are back again!

We’ll finish at least 3rd.

FFT VERDICT

2nd

Challinor took no time to stamp his 3- 5- 2 image on County. Boasting aggressive, attacking wing- backs, a pair of dangerous, interchanging strikers, a midfield that dictates with delightful authority and now Fraser Horsfall signed to fortify the defence, Stockport can go up again.