Opposition Lowdown: Dave Challinor’s Playoff Hopefuls Stockport County

Reading’s first home league game of 2025 sees them take on Stockport County at the SCL. Join us as we take a closer look at the opposition.

Form

Stockport County were promoted last season after finishing as champions of League Two, finishing four points ahead of runners-up Wrexham. They secured promotion back to the third tier in only their second season back in League Two, having secured promotion back to the Football League in 2022 after they finished as champions of the National League.

They are having a strong season so far, sitting seventh in the league, one place and three points behind Reading, having played one more game. They have won 10, drawn eight and lost seven of their 25 games in the league so far.

Their recent form has been mixed, having seen one win, two draws and two losses in their last five games. They come into this weekend’s game off the back of a narrow 1-0 defeat against Premier League Crystal Palace in the FA Cup, while their last league game saw them lose 1-2 away to Mansfield Town.

Stockport beat Reading 4-1 at home back in October, with Aston Villa loanee Louie Barry scoring twice.

The boss

Dave Challinor: Challinor became Stockport manager in November 2021, taking over from Simon Rusk, who was sacked after only nine months in charge.

Challinor had a 17-year career as a player and was a centre-back who represented the likes of Tranmere Rovers, Stockport County and Bury. Challinor ended his career with Colwyn Bay but became their player/manager in 2010.

He went on to manage AFC Fylde, where he spent eight years, securing promotion to the National League North in 2014 and then to the National League in 2017. He guided the side to the National League playoffs in 2018 and 2019 and won the FA Trophy in 2019. Challinor then went on to manage Hartlepool, where he spent two seasons, guiding them back to the Football League via the playoffs in 2021.

He joined Stockport the following season and guided them into the Football League, after finishing as National League champions. He led the side to the playoff final in their first season back in the Football League, but County lost to Carlisle United. However, Challinor secured promotion to the third tier last season, with the Hatters finishing as League Two champions.

The 49-year-old likes his sides to play with high intensity, while dominating possession.

Squad

Top scorer Louie Barry was recalled from his loan spell from Aston Villa at the end of December, leaving them light in front of goal, with the striker having scored 15 of Stockport’s 37 goals so far this season. They have however signed Icelandic striker Benony Breki Andresson from Club KR.

Predicted lineup

Addai, Knoyle, Connolly, Pye, Southam-Hales, Collar, Camps, Bailey, Touray, Wootton, Olaofe

Key player

Kyle Wootton: Forward Wootton signed for Stockport in June 2022, joining on a free transfer following the end of his contract at Notts County.

He started his career at Scunthorpe United where he progressed through their youth system, before making his debut for the club in 2014. He made 78 appearances for the Iron, scoring 11 goals, while also having loan spells at Lincoln City, North Ferriby United, Cheltenham Town, Stevenage, Halifax and Notts County.

Wootton signed a permanent deal at Notts County in 2020, following a successful loan spell, and spent two and a half years with the club, making 125 appearances, scoring 52 goals.

Since signing for Stockport, the 28-year-old has added another 34 goals to his career tally, with six of those coming this season. Wootton is a striker who, standing at 6 foot 3, is strong in the air.

One to watch

Ethan Pye: Defender Pye joined Stockport in 2021, having spent time in the academy at non-league Hyde United and Rochdale.

He joined County when they were in the National League and spent time on loan at Spennymoor Town and Gateshead, wracking up 60 first-team appearances across the two loan spells.

Pye became a first-team regular upon his return to Stockport last season and played 35 league games in their League Two promotion campaign. Pye has started all but one league game for County this season and has one League One goal to his name.

The 21-year-old is a centre-back, who usually plays on the left-hand side of defence, having also played as a left-back earlier on his career.