Play-off king seeking straight promotions

A HIGH heart rate in May is almost an annual tradition for Stockport County manager Dave Challinor.

- ALEX JAMES

The 47-year-old is preparing for his ninth play-off campaign in 13 years in management.

Today’s Wembley offering is a long way from his first, when he led Colwyn Bay out of the Northern Premier League in 2010 at the expense of FC United.

Two more play-off successes, and five defeats, have followed with AFC Fylde, Hartlepool United and now County. Challinor has also claimed three league titles in that time, including the National League a year ago. His sole season without a play off campaign or Championship was the Covid-impacted 2019-2020 campaign, when a Hartlepool side he joined midseason finished 12th in the national league on points per game.

Today he’s hoping to guide Stockport to a second successive promotion when they face Carlisle United.

County edged past Salford City on penalties in the semi-finals and finished ahead of their final opponents in the regular season, taking four points off the Cumbrians. But it’s this afternoon that matters most.