Stockport County F.C.: League, Owner, Stadium, Stats

Stockport County’s climb through English football’s lower tiers has turned into one of the decade’s more compelling stories. Twelve consecutive seasons of league position progression ended with a third-place finish in League One in 2024/25 — their best result in over a decade — and the club now sits in the third tier with plans to keep pushing upward. Here’s what the numbers actually show.

Current League: EFL League One ·
Home Ground: Edgeley, Stockport ·
Established: 1883 ·
Owner: Mark Stott ·
Official Site: stockportcounty.com

What league is Stockport County in now?

Stockport County currently competes in EFL League One, the third tier of English football. The club finished the 2024/25 season in third place with 87 points — their best league position in over a decade. That strong finish came after returning to the EFL following promotion from the National League in 2022, and a second consecutive promotion to League One the following year.

The club based its home at Edgeley Park since 1902, a 10,852-capacity ground in the Edgeley district of Stockport. Plans exist to expand that to 18,305, which would significantly change what a matchday looks like at the stadium.

Current standings

Third place in League One represents a remarkable trajectory. Twelve consecutive seasons of league position progression have carried the club from lower National League positions to the upper reaches of the third tier. The 2024/25 result with 87 points marked the club’s highest finish in many years.

Recent promotions

The club topped the National League in the 2021–22 season to earn promotion back to the EFL after an 11-year absence. They then secured a second promotion the following season to reach League One, marking a return to the third tier after a 15-year gap from the Football League entirely.

The implication: finishing third in League One puts the club in genuine contention for a promotion push in the seasons ahead, assuming the financial model that has supported the climb continues to function.

What is the average attendance at Stockport County?

Average attendance at Edgeley Park during the 2024/25 season came to 9,758, representing roughly 90% capacity utilisation of the 10,852-seat ground. That figure reflects a significant turnaround from the lower-league years when crowds were substantially smaller.

The club sold over 3,200 season tickets in the 12 months to June 2022, a 45% increase from the prior year, and the 2021/22 final game drew the highest attendance at Edgeley Park in 22 years. Season ticket sales and matchday revenue have grown alongside the club’s league position improvements.

Home match figures

The 9,758 average for 2024/25 sits near the stadium’s functional capacity, meaning the club is approaching the ceiling of what the current ground can generate on matchdays. With 90% utilisation, filling every seat has become the norm rather than the exception on matchdays.

Comparison to league averages

League One average attendances vary considerably, but a sub-10,000 average for a club finishing third in the table suggests the stadium constraint is already limiting what the club can earn from matchday income. Whether the planned expansion to 18,305 capacity can attract and sustain higher crowds will be a key factor in the club’s financial trajectory.

The pattern: strong attendance figures relative to stadium size, but the growth ceiling is already visible without expansion.

Are Stockport County in debt?

The club carries no operating debt. Stockport County reported an operating loss of £9.1 million for 2024/25, but that loss was more than offset by £10.2 million in owner funding that was converted to equity rather than borrowed. According to the club’s own statements, Mark Stott’s continued commitment to converting his investment into equity means the club is not burdened with debt during this growth phase.

The approach differs from many clubs at this level. Rather than taking on debt to cover losses or fund investments, the ownership model converts funding directly into equity. The club has remained debt-free since Stott took over in January 2020, when he bought the club for cash and paid off all existing debts.

Financial statements

Revenue for the year ending June 2025 reached £11.5 million, up 25.6% from £9.2 million the prior year. That growth from £4.8 million three years earlier represents a 2.4× increase in revenue since the promotion-winning 2021/22 season. The operating loss of £9.1 million in 2024/25 follows a £4.9 million operating loss in 2022, showing that losses have grown in absolute terms alongside revenue.

Annual report 2024/25

The annual report and financial results for 2024/25 (Stockport County Official) confirm the £9.1 million operating loss and the £10.2 million owner funding converted to equity. An earlier annual report for the year ending June 2024 was also published via the club’s official channel. The ownership writes off debts rather than carrying them — more than £7 million in debt was written off in 2022 alone.

How did Mark Stott make his money?

Mark Stott built his wealth through multiple business ventures before buying Stockport County. According to Football League World (football finance and club ownership reporting), he established and grew a sportswear company and a software business. Those interests provided the capital he used to acquire Stockport County in January 2020, paying cash and immediately clearing the club’s existing debts.

He invested an additional £7.7 million post-takeover, converted to equity. Football finance analyst Kieran Maguire estimated that Stott injected approximately £11 million in the year before 2026, contributing to total losses since takeover. The pattern of converting funding to equity rather than taking loans means the club’s balance sheet does not reflect the scale of personal capital being deployed.

Business background

The sportswear and software businesses gave Stott a cash position sufficient to buy the club outright and fund its operations without seeking external investment or borrowing. He has not publicly disclosed his total net worth, but the scale of investment — well over £18 million in total across takeover, equity conversion, and ongoing funding — indicates substantial personal wealth.

Investment in club

The ownership model is notable for its directness: cash acquisition, immediate debt clearance, and ongoing equity funding rather than debt instruments. Stott and Director of Football Simon Wilson have articulated a seven-year plan with Championship promotion as the target. For that ambition to become reality, either the current ownership model continues at scale or external investment would need to be introduced — which would change the club’s governance structure.

The catch: Stott’s wealth is real and his commitment appears genuine, but the scale of funding required to reach the Championship means the model depends on one individual’s continued willingness to invest.

Is Stockport in Manchester or Greater Manchester?

Stockport is in Greater Manchester. The town sits approximately 7–8 miles southeast of Manchester city centre, forming part of the Greater Manchester metropolitan area. It is a unitary authority, meaning it administers its own local services, and it sits within the historic county of Cheshire rather than Lancashire. The town is well connected to Manchester via road (the M60 ring road passes nearby) and rail, with direct train services to Manchester Piccadilly taking around 15–20 minutes.

Edgeley Park, the club’s home ground, is located in the Edgeley district of Stockport itself — not Manchester proper. The broader area includes towns like Bredbury, Romiley, Hazel Grove, and Marple, each within a short distance of the town centre.

Location details

The Stockport area has a population of roughly 300,000 in the wider borough. Its position within Greater Manchester places it in one of the UK’s largest metropolitan economies, though the town retains its own identity and local governance structure.

Administrative area

Greater Manchester is a metropolitan county made up of ten local authorities, of which Stockport is one. The combined authority has some strategic functions, but Stockport as a unitary authority retains significant local control. For the club, this means it draws support from a defined local population while benefiting from proximity to Manchester’s broader transport links and media infrastructure.

Edgeley Park details

Edgeley Park has been Stockport County’s home since 1902. The current capacity of 10,852 positions it at the smaller end of League One venues, though the 90% utilisation rate in 2024/25 shows the ground is being used effectively. The club’s expansion plans — targeting 18,305 capacity — would transform its position within the league’s stadium landscape if executed.

Capacity and access

The planned expansion would bring Edgeley Park closer to mid-tier Championship stadium sizes, significantly increasing matchday revenue potential. The potential takeover of Stockport Sports Village as a training facility, reportedly targeted for late 2026, would address another infrastructure gap. Taken together, the expansion plans represent a significant infrastructure investment program beyond the day-to-day running of the club.

“Mark Stott’s continued commitment to convert his investment in the club into equity ensures that the club is not burdened with debt while we are in the growth stage of our ambitious plans.”

— Stockport County Official, annual report 2022

“The 21/22 season will go down in the history books as one of Stockport County’s most successful.”

— Stockport County Official, annual report 2022

For Stockport County, the path from National League survival to League One contention required sustained investment and debt-free ownership. The seven-year plan that targets Championship promotion will demand the same — or more. Whether that comes from the current owner, external investment, or a combination, the financial architecture being built now will determine what happens next.

Related reading: Premier League H2H results

Stockport’s defensive solidity shone in the recent 0-0 draw vs Leyton Orient at Edgeley Park, bolstering their third-place push in EFL League One.

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