Do Stockport's unique numbers SCAN?

A great story from our friends at the Football Supporters Federation.

Stockport County will approach the FA and the Football League to request permission to introduce a new player numbering scheme. The plans, drawn up by Stockport County Supporters’ Co-operative, would see every player to have appeared for the club in its history given a unique appearance number.

While this would be the first system of its kind in British football the England and Wales Cricket Board has long awarded Test players this honour. The club hope the FA and Football League will pass their plans in time for Saturday’s Edgeley Park clash with Barnet.

If approved the club will award every player a Stockport County Appearance Number (SCAN) along with a certificate which will record details of the date and opponent against whom their debut was made.

The Supporters’ Co-operative claim County have had 1284 players in their 124-year history – more than any other club in the Premier League or Football League. They argue the plans will “emphasise and strengthen the special relationship between the supporters, the players and the Club.”

Given that many traditionalists would like to see a return to 1-11, rather than the squad numbers system at present, it isn’t necessarily a move that would be popular with fans of every club.

Do the numbers SCAN? See if you can work out who’s who: Answers are below, so don’t cheat.

Number 796 – widely considered one of the greatest players in the history of the game (no, not Brett Angell) he spent 11 years just along the road grabbing league titles and a European Cup before playing three times for County.

Number 867 – a huge fans favourite, in both senses of the word. This rotund goal-getter might have made his name with Portsmouth, Newcastle and Coventry but his record at County was still outstanding.

Number 1014 – grabbed 49 goals for County in 160 appearances before Middlesbrough snapped him up for £1.6m in 1998. Shares his name with a British actor whose first film appearance was Get Carter. And no, his name is not Michael Caine.







Answers



796 – George Best made 3 appearances for County in 1975. County was his first league club since leaving Manchester United.

867 – The Mighty Quinn. Mickey Quinn a fans favourite who went on to star for Newcastle United, now racehorse trainer,

1014 – Alun Armstrong who went on to become Countys record transfer in 1998 .

You really want to know Number 1 is Joe Birchenall, who played in an F.A.Cup match against Burton Wanderers on 27th January 1894