Stockport County FC agree 250-year lease for Edgeley Park

Stockport County have agreed a 250-year lease for Edgeley Park securing the long-term future of the club.

The new lease safeguards the long-term home of the club, allowing County to build upon its existing investment into infrastructure, ensuring that further investment can be made on the ground and its facilities.

Since the Club takeover in January 2020 by Mark Stott, investment into infrastructure has exceeded £3m with improvements to the pitch, upgraded conference and events facilities, new seating, and training facilities.

Jonathan Vaughan, Stockport County Football Club CEO said: “Over the last two years, significant investment has been made into the Club’s infrastructure, re-engaging fans and shifting the Club’s position in the table.

“Now the Club can focus on the long-term future of the Club whilst having a positive impact on the town and its people, taking football into schools, providing better facilities for people to learn and train, whilst having a positive impact on the town’s economic growth.”

Stockport Council will retain the freehold of the ground and will continue “to contribute to the economic transformation of the Borough” by helping raise the profile of Stockport on a national level, as the club targets re-entry into the English Football League.

It also want to unlock the Club’s capacity to deliver a range of community programmes through its Community Trust.

A wider strategic partnership between Stockport Council and Stockport County Football Club was also agreed by a recent Cabinet meeting to build a platform for success for both the Club and the town, bringing investment into grass-roots football, education and local regeneration, supporting the long-term aspirations of both.

Councillor Elise Wilson said: “Agreeing the long-term lease for Edgeley Park with Stockport County is a big win for all parties.

“The club is in the hearts of minds of so many people across the borough, and this new lease is all about backing our club at the same time as backing our town.

“Stockport is currently in the middle of massive change that will transform our town for the better, and it is right that Stockport County is part of this journey.”

Stockport County is currently top of the National League and is hoping for a return to the English Football League for the first time since 2011.