HATTERS AND HAMMERS

The crest above represents a file of information about the World's oldest cup tournament, lovingly published regularly by Phil Annets @FACUPFACTFILE. 

Along with this, one of my weekly treats is "The Non-League Paper". I transfer £1.50 to the nice lady at the "quick" till, Tescos, and I'm set for the day.

Here are a few of Phil's observations, having delved deep into the history of the greatest competition. 

2 of the 4 Non-League clubs in the FA Cup 3rd Round are on record breaking runs, with National League club, Chorley,who have reached the furthest in the competition in their 113th campaign.

For the first time in four seasons there are 4 Non-League clubs making it through to the 3rd Round Proper, each with a "plum" draw.

1. Marine FC meet Spurs at their home Rossett Park. The two clubs have a gap in the footballing pyramid of 7 levels, a first in history. Marine, having "waded" through 7 rounds already, becoming the second club only from the 8th Tier to get this far in the Cup. 13 years ago Chasetown FC became the first to achieve this honour. Marine have attempted to make money by selling "virtual" tickets (5,000 sold so far creeping near their actual capacity), progammes etc. 

2. Chorley take on EFL Championship club, Derby County, becoming the first Step 6 club in Cup history to beat two Step 3 clubs, away, from home in the same season-Wigan Athletic and Peterborough United.

3. The third club to reach this stage is Boreham Wood (National League) who celebrate their 50th attempt and suitably a success to get to the 3rd Round of the FA Cup. They play Millwall at home, a club who were finalists in 2004 and who have reached the quarter-finals twice in the past four seasons.

4. Fourth are Stockport County, the "Hatters", who entertain West Ham Utd, on Monday night, so are guaranteed to be in the 4th Round draw. The Hatters have been to the 5th Round in the past, but as a "League" club and this will be the first time for them as a "Non-League" club. 

They have played the Hammers before in the Cup: In the 1935 3rd Rd there was a 1-1 draw at West Ham and then Stockport won 1-0 at Edgeley Park. The Hatters eventually reached Rd 5 where they met their match at home to West Bromich Albion losing 0-5.

January 1958 4th Round at West Ham and lost 3-2. 

In 1972 Stockport beat West Ham 2-1 in the League Cup 3rd Rd-see below 

Including the above, Stockport has W7 D3 L4, with 8 matches played in League Division 2 between 1920-38.

In December 1996, a League Cup 4th Round tie ended in a 1-1 draw and the replay was a 2-1 victory over West Ham at Edgeley Park.

Jamie Carragher has stepped in to support his local club and help with financing, following the club's loss in revenue on the day and of course since the "lock down" started. Prize money and TV fees for the Cup have been reduced to a minimum.

Stockport County was established in 1883 as Heaton Norris Rovers, in 1890 the name was changed to Stockport County to reflect the town gaining County Borough status. After winning the Lancashire League in 1900, the County gained admittance to the Football League. Joining the League meant the club soon outgrew their ground in Heaton Norris and, in 1902, they moved south of the River Mersey to Edgeley Park, then home of Stockport RLFC. County have played there ever since.

Hatmaking was an established industry in north Cheshire & south-east Lancashire by the 16th century. By the late 19th century Stockport had become a national centre for the trade, and by 1900 County's nickname of 'The Hatters' had became synonymous with the club. The phrase "Mad Hatters" crops up from time to time and is related to the hat industry which included mercury in the hat preparation...something to look up just in case you happen to have an historic TOP HAT!