Reasons to be cheerful: Stockport County.

[ferrarilover]

Wotcha!

You'll recall, some short while ago, that we played (eventually) Stockport County in an FA Cup tie. At the time, we won 4-0 (I think) and Benners got a hat-trick. They were bottom of L1, but they were L1 none-the-less.

As it stands tonight, they are in the relegation zone in the Conference, (and, for those who haven't seen, they got humped 7-0 by Grimsby) having suffered consecutive demotions. My question, and the potential source of their reason to be cheerful is this: would they be the first side to be genuinely demoted three consecutive years (no points deductions, no multiple division deductions, no famine, pestilence or war etc) or have other sides done the same that we know of?

Matt.

[Southampton Gull]

Didn't Northampton do that after three successive promotions?

[cambgull]

Albeit Wikipedia but they were relegated 3 times in 4 years SG after 3 promotions in 6 years. 65-66, 66-67 and 68-69 (relegations).

I'm sure there is probably another case at some point in history but you could well be right. I know they've had money problems but I think we should include Argyle, just so we can point and laugh.

[Dave]

Bristol City have done it aswell, relegated from the old division 1 in 1979, 1980 relegated from 2 divison, 1981 relegated from division 3.

http://www.footballstatisticsresults.co ... eague.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; thought they had, checked on the linked site, which has league tables going back to 1950

[ferrarilover]

Agree about Argyle, I'll include them if (when) they go down. I wonder if 4 on the bounce is realistically possible.

Matt.

[stevegull]

Gritton is currently one of the members of the squad at County and by all accounts has been rather disapponting. After a brief spell in the side early in the season he was dropped and never heard of again, until he made his ill-fated started in their 7-0 mauling in the week. I think Gritts might make the step into coaching sooner rather than later!

[AustrianAndyGull]

I was at that FA Cup game at Macc, i remember a few of the home Macc fans standing in our end to give us their support. They were truly awful that night and by the looks of things they haven't improved since. Anyone who can ship 7 against the codheads have got serious problems but i think they should be ok. I bet start of the season the county fans would have been thinking they are going straight back up again with Hamann at the helm and the promise of money. Never usually works out like that at that level though ( unless you are Crawley and have loads of money AND cheat).

[Stoke_Gull]

I was at that game at Macclesfield, most memorable things from that game were Stockport getting torn apart and that Stockport's vocal support was reduced to a a bloke singing on his own and getting it all back from a couple of hundred Gulls

I was in Blackpool a few weeks ago, my dad and I decided to go and watch Fleetwood Town play against Stockport County. Fleetwood played them off the park for large amounts of the game but in the end they only won by an single goal and the scoreline was 2 - 1 to the hosts. Mind you, considering Stockport's terrible form and bad league position they managed to take over 1000 supporters with them and they were singing almost constantly up until about the 70th minute when the conceded the second goal. If Fleetwood come up which I suspect they will I would definitely recommend a visit to Highbury.

[ferrarilover]

Come on Stokie, CLEARLY, the most memorable thing from that game was the utter brilliance of the Macclesfield fans making our end (and, consequently, the entire ground) go absolutely silent every time their keeper got a goal kick, then, in perfect unison, shouting TW*T! just as the keeper kicked the ball. Genius, and not ever seen again.

Matt.

[Stoke_Gull]

Ah what memories come flooding back now. I knew that their keeper would get 45 minutes of non stop stick in the second half, Owain Fon - Williams I believe his name was. No idea where he is now. If I remember correctly had we not been drawn against Brighton in the next round of the cup? Can't imagine why else we would be singing "Bring on the Brighton!"

[Southampton Gull]

If Matt was there it would seem the perfect destination for someone of his sexual preferences

[MidDevon]

Ok I am an anorak I know, but when Bristol City dropped from the 1st division to the 4th it was actually 2 different clubs as Bristol City folded in 1982 and we re-formed. If the same thing had happened today then Bristol City would have dissapeared completely under FA rules....

The first season Bristol City were in the 4th division, they very nearly finished bottom and were indeed botom of the division for some time before a late run.....I actaully saw them get walloped 7.1 at Northampton Town on the old cricket pitch ground and could not believe that just 3 years earlier they were playing Manchester United

[BritishGAS]

Ok I am an anorak I know, but when Bristol City dropped from the 1st division to the 4th it was actually 2 different clubs as Bristol City folded in 1982 and we re-formed. If the same thing had happened today then Bristol City would have dissapeared completely under FA rules....

The first season Bristol City were in the 4th division, they very nearly finished bottom and were indeed botom of the division for some time before a late run.....I actaully saw them get walloped 7.1 at Northampton Town on the old cricket pitch ground and could not believe that just 3 years earlier they were playing Manchester United

They became Bristol City Football Club 1982 LTD when they were already in the 4th division.

So it was the same club.

[Glostergull]

I am pretty sure that Swansea City did it in the 80's. They (I think I am correct in this) hold the record for rising from our division (the old 4th) to the top of the 1st (now Premier) and then all the way down to the 4th again.
If I am also correct the manager under their rise was John Toshack. not sure whether he was manager all the way down though.