Tranmere Rovers
Pre-Match Chat: Stockport County Fan
By Deadly Submarine
October 27 2008
Ahead of tomorrow's League One clash between Stockport and Tranmere tomorrow night, Deadly Submarine took the time to chat to County Fan James Bishop to gain his views on his team, League One and on tomorrow's meeting at Edgeley Park between the two sides.
What is you name and for how long have you supported Stockport County?
Hi, my name is James Bishop, I'm currently 16, 17 next month, and I've supported County for about 7 or 8 years now.
ABOUT YOUR CLUB
What is your most memorable Stockport County moment or match?
Since I've been going regularly we've had some really bad moments but since Jim Gannon took over in 2006 things have been on the up and there's been so many good moments and matches it's hard to pick just one.
I think I'll plump for the Wembley win at the end of last season though. After four previous visits and four defeats it was great to go there and win, and thoroughly deserved after a superb last half of the season.
EDITORS NOTE - Four Total Tranmere Members were also at that game at Wembley last May to witness the triumph.
Your worst moment supporting Stockport County?
There's been plenty to be honest. The terrible football/players/results etc we had to endure under previous managers could count as one terrible moment really but the biggie was definitely the 6-0 defeat against Macclesfield on Boxing Day 2006.
Thankfully I was away over that Christmas period and missed the game but that defeat was one memory many County fans old and new will have high up there in their worst ever moments, an absolute spineless, gutless performance and it left us six points adrift at the bottom of League Two, looking pretty much odds on to go down but I guess you could put a positive spin on it and say it was the turning point for the club with Chris Turner being sacked and bringing in club legend Jim Gannon who kept us up.
In your eyes who is Stockport County's All-Time Greatest Player and why?
It's quite a tough one for me as I'm fairly young but I'm just old enough to remember players like Kevin Francis and Jim Gannon at the end of their County careers, both are members of County's Hall of Fame, and Kevin Francis was voted the club's Player of the Century in 2002.
His goal record speaks for itself really, 117 goals in 198 appearances, he scored some massive goals for us as well and was part of the team that began its rise up the divisions at the start of the 1990's. There are plenty of other players as well that it could have gone to.
Taxi For? (To which Player would you pay a Taxi Fare to leave the Club?)
At the moment - no-one. All the deadwood is out of the club and we've got an exciting young squad that love playing for the club.
I know there are a fair few fans that would have said Matty McNeil to this question, mainly because he doesn't score that many goals and is injured a fair bit but when he's fit he can play an important Emile Heskey type role for us.
Which Stockport County player can do most damage to Tranmere Rovers on Tuesday?
We've got several players really that can cause problems. The young midfield is probably our most threatening area, we've got players like Anthony Pilkington and Tommy Rowe who's rumoured to have attracted interest from the likes of Arsenal and Rangers who can cause major damage on their day.
Our captain Michael Raynes is a big goal-scoring defender who has started playing a floating role recently where he drifts into midfield and sometimes up front to win flick on's and he's looked excellent in that role but he came off injured a couple of weeks ago and tomorrow will probably come too quick for him but you never know.
Is Jim Gannon the right man to get Stockport County out of League One?
Most definitely, he's turned the club around completely since he's been here, and while a small minority of fans always seem to be on his case over some of the things he does, most trust him as he's not done much wrong so far. He's got all the coaching badges etc and has done a cracking job.
Any Stockport County Chants we should try to listen out for at the game?
Not really, I'd imagine they'll be the usual Scouse songs but other than that it's generally the usual Jim Gannon's Blue and White Army, The Scarf etc.
LEAGUE ONE VIEWS
What is your Top Two Prediction for League One this season?
Scunthorpe and Leicester
Play-Off Winners?
Leeds
Your tip for the Bottom Four places?
Crewe, Yeovil, Hereford, Cheltenham
THE TWO CLUBS
Where do you think Stockport County will finish this season?
We've certainly got a good chance of making the play-offs if we can get a good run going after Christmas like we have done the last couple of years.
I'd be happy with a top half finish though as a lot of fans would, before making a promotion push next year. I'll go for 9th.
Do you think Tranmere will be Promoted/Relegated from League One and why?
Barring some disastrous form, relegation is out of the question for you. I doubt you've got what it takes to go up though, I know you have some decent players at Prenton Park but from what I've seen you're too inconsistent to mount a proper promotion push.
If you can keep your good recent form up you could just sneak into the play-offs though.
In your opinion, what was current Rovers player Ian Moore like in his Edgeley Park days?
He's still our record signing to date at £800k, and while he was a pretty popular figure round here he was never that prolific in front of goal, scoring 23 in 104 games for us.
What is your Prediction for Tuesday's game between the two sides?
Our home form has really been letting us down for the past year or so and with your good form of late it'll be tough so I'll go for a 1-1 draw.
Any other comments to add?
Good luck for the season after Tuesday, expect to see you up in the top half come May.
Thanks very much for your time and enjoy the game (but not too much) and good luck for the rest of the Season after Tuesday.
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