No manager took charge of more games in The Emirates FA Cup last season than Jim Gannon.
He guided Northwich Victoria from the preliminary round through to the second round proper – the furthest a club from Step 8 progressed last season.
In all, that was ten games that Gannon oversaw on Victoria’s historic run – three more than Manchester United contested en route to lifting the trophy.
Stockport County v Hyde United
The Emirates FA Cup
Second Round Qualifying
3pm, Saturday 17 September 2016
Edgeley Park, Stockport County FC
Winners receive £4500 from prize fund
By Charlie Talbot-Smith
Click here for fixtures
But now he is back at his spiritual home of Stockport County and dreaming of doing something similar.
On Victoria’s run to the second round they twice faced off against Hyde United – the first game had to be replayed after Northwich fielded an ineligible goalkeeper.
And the fixture gods have thrown up another meeting this season – albeit now Gannon is back at Stockport for a third managerial spell at the club where he also made his name as a player.
And the 48-year-old is excited about locking horns with familiar opponents, and he got a good look at them on Tuesday night when County’s game was cancelled but Hyde’s went ahead.
"They have a 4G pitch so I hurried over there to watch them as their game was still on," he said.
"It was nice to get a feel of what they are about.
"It was quite a fantastic Cup run last year with Northwich – we played more cup games than any other side including the winners.
"It was great for Northwich and we are hoping that this year for Stockport we can do something similar."
Stockport County host Hyde United in The Emirates FA Cup on Saturday
County are currently in the National League North while Hyde are two rungs below in the Northern Premier League Division One North.
But Gannon knows better than most what drama The Emirates FA Cup can throw up.
"We have to approach it professionally – they are a team with strengths and weaknesses who are capable of playing a couple of different formations," he added.
"It will not be an easy game by any stretch of the imagination.
"Last year was very disappointing for Stockport going out in this round.
"The FA Cup is a fantastic competition – it always makes a difference to go on a run, we are very conscious of how it lifts the mood amongst the fans, the players, the club gets a boost.
"It’s exciting for the club – you have big games, derbies and big underdogs – drama is guaranteed.
"We put ourselves in with a chance – it will be a good test and hopefully that little bit of extra quality will see us through in the end."
Emirates FA Cup history
This is the first Emirates FA Cup meeting between the two clubs despite their local proximity and 185 FA Cup campaigns between them. Hyde United have made the first round three times while Stockport reached the fifth round twice as a Football League club, most recently in 2000-01. The Hatters’ exit in the second round qualifying last season was their worst FA Cup performance for 119 years.
Did you know?
This season marks the 20-year anniversary of Stockport’s fantastic run to the League Cup semi-finals in 1996-97. They beat three Premier League teams in Blackburn Rovers, Southampton and West Ham United along the way before losing to Middlesbrough in the semi-finals.
One to watch
Gannon made plenty of summer signings for Stockport with a focus on youth and experience at this level and none epitomise that more than Danny Lloyd – the tricky winger signed from AFC Fylde. Lloyd took part in three play-off campaigns in a row with Fylde and has hit the ground running with the Hatters and has four goals to his name already
The Prize
A spot in third round qualifying and £4500 from the prize pot of awaits the winner.
