County kitted out like the heroes of ‘67
STOCKPORT County clinched the Division Four title in 1967, and fifty years on the current team will be hosting Gloucester City on 29th April at Edgeley Park wearing an exact replica of this iconic strip.
The club owes a debt of gratitude to sponsors ESEM, RESB, and NK Electrical who have waived their rights to have their logos displayed on the kit, and kit providers JR Sports and Joma who have allowed a third party to create this bespoke kit.
The 1967 replica home shirt is available in many sizes via pre-paid pre-order only and are retailing at the same price as this season’s shirts £38.50 adults and £33.50 juniors.
Fans can pre-order your shirts online or direct from the club shop. The cut-off date for orders of this faithful reproduction of a classic shirt is Tuesday 28th February and the shirts will be in store for collection or postage on 20th April.
By the time the 1966-67 season came around, chairman Vic Bernard’s Go Go Go County bandwagon was in full swing.
The Hatters were the talk of the town after assembling one of the strongest squad of players ever seen at Edgeley Park.
Bernard had told everyone and anyone that County would win promotion. And, after dominating the division all season, that bold prophecy was fulfilled following a 2-2 draw at Notts County with five games still to play.
Then, three days later, another 2-2 draw, this time at Wrexham, saw the Hatters gloriously secure the Division Four title.
The date of that championship-winning game in north Wales was April 29 and, by a strange quirk of fate, the football Gods have, later this season, conspired to give the club a home game against Gloucester City, exactly 50 years to the day from one of the most memorable moments in our proud history.
And, to mark the occasion, the club has invited all the surviving members from that marvelous squad to join them as Guests of Honour in what is sure to be an emotional afternoon at Edgeley Park.
Seven champions have already confirmed their attendance; the legendry Bill Atkins, Steve Fleet, local hero Freddie Goodwin, Tommy Henderson, Peter Jones, Tony Morrin and Ken Mulhearn.
That number could increase further as the club is still working hard to make contact with Keith East and Keith Allen.
County have also taken what the decision to mark the historic achievement by asking the current squad to run out against Gloucester wearing an exact replica of the kit worn in 1966-67.
The royal blue shirt, with ringed colours and cuffs, will have the inscription ‘Division Four Champions, April 29, 1967, 50-Year Anniversary’ to the left of the current club crest. Each player’s shirt will also, discreetly, include the name of the County star who wore the same number in the title winning game.
Supporters are not forgotten, either. The famous Cheadle End song, ‘We all live in a Champions’ Town,’ is embroidered towards the bottom of the shirt on the reverse.
A limited number of these iconic shirts will be available to supporters on a pre-order basis via the County Club Shop and countyonlineshop.com.