Browse Sections

• Stockport County FC
• Sale Sharks
• Local football
• Local cricket

'The lads were magnificent'

28/ 5/2008

PROUD County chairman Norman Beverley saluted Jim Gannon and his exciting young team on Monday night, and revealed to the Express that he feels that another promotion campaign could be on the cards next season.

Beverley, who along with club managing director Mark Maguire appeared to be overcome with joy and emotion after County’s dramatic 3-2 play-off final win over Rochdale, tried his best to describe his feelings after a wonderful, never-to-be-forgotten day at Wembley stadium.

Beverley said: "Once Liam Dickinson scored and we went 3-1 up, time just seemed to drag on forever.

"Rochdale got themselves a goal back and I thought the clock had stopped - in fact I thought it had started to go backwards.

"We played a lot of good football today though, and in the end I felt we were worthy winners.

"Credit to Rochdale, they tried to play football as well as us, but overall we were undoubtedly the better side.

"All the lads were magnificent on the day, from Conrad Logan in goal to Liam up front.

"Everybody ran their hearts out and gave their best for our club.

"We’ve shown once again that we can play great football, and that we can play football in the right way.

"It’s been such an emotional day for everyone, not least for people like Jan Bergara [Danny Bergara’s widow] who was here. Today’s win was for lots of people like that, and of course all our brilliant fans."

Beverley and Maguire will now sit down and talk about a squad budget with heroic boss Gannon as League One beckons, but not quite yet.

Certainly this week will be a time for celebration and reflection in the aftermath of such an amazing achievement, an achievement which will probably have swelled County’s coffers by well over half a million pounds.

Beverley added: "It’s too early to be considering things like money for next season just yet.

"I’m not saying there will or there won’t be any more money available for Jim next season, but what we will do is sit down sensibly soon and discuss things in detail.

"If we do have additional money to spend, we’re certainly not going to waste it.

"I believe that with the squad we’ve already got, and the youngsters who are around the fringes, we are quite capable of going up again next season. I really believe that."