Stockport County’s impressive run in the FA Cup this season has landed them a highly anticipated battle with West Ham United, in a competition famous for the underdog.

Following a thrilling extra-time winner against Yeovil City, the National League side booked their place in the third-round for the first time since 2007. Edgeley Park will host a Premier League team for the first time in over a decade, bringing a long-awaited sense of excitement and opportunity to the club.

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Liam Richardson, who studies BA (Hons) Multimedia Sports Journalism at UCFB, said: “It’s a fantastic draw, not just for the football club but for the town of Stockport as well. It encapsulates the magic of the FA Cup. The atmosphere around the training ground since the draw was made has been surreal.”

Mark Stott’s takeover of Stockport in January has resulted in serious investments and improvements in the club, igniting the belief that the Hatters can defy the odds and beat the Premier League side to progress through to the fourth round of the prestigious competition.

 

Liam said: “The last ten years have been an extremely difficult time for the club and its fans, but this draw highlights the fantastic progress made on and off the pitch over the last few years. It’s a real throwback to the club’s glory days in the 1990s when we regularly hosted, and beat, Premier League teams.”

He added: “It’s been a challenge to organise logistically in a Covid-orientated world, but we’re looking forward to reminding everyone that the club is on its way up again.”

The match is set to take place on Monday 11th January, and will be the third time the two clubs have played each other in the FA Cup. With draws, resulting in replays, in two of the three previous fixtures between the sides, history implies we're in for a tighter game than one might be expecting.