Stockport face sold-out Cray cup tie with Oxford now level on league points
Sunday 8 November 2026 · By Agnes Burtleby
This is a preview written before kick-off. Stockport County visit Cray Wanderers at Flamingo Park today, Sunday 8 November, for a 14:15 GMT FA Cup first-round tie. The match has not been played at this article’s morning cutoff, and County have not yet secured a second-round place.
Cray’s official preview confirms a sold-out occasion for their first appearance in the first round proper. The game is being shown on TNT Sports 3 and BBC Two, giving the hosts a national audience for a landmark afternoon. For Jimmy McNulty’s side, the task is to turn their higher league status into a result rather than assume progression.
There are no replays at this stage. The tie must be decided on the day, with extra time and penalties available if needed. Any involvement in Monday’s second-round draw therefore remains conditional on County winning at Flamingo Park.
The league picture has changed while Stockport have been preparing for the cup. Oxford United’s 2–0 victory over Reading on Wednesday brought Oxford level on 26 points. County retain second place because their goal difference is plus 12, one better than Oxford’s plus 11. Oxford also have a game in hand, so Stockport’s automatic-promotion position is far from a comfortable points cushion.
County’s latest league match was the 2–1 comeback win over AFC Wimbledon on 31 October. Jack Diamond and Ethan Ennis scored, a result repeated in Cray’s current preview as background to today’s meeting. It is not a new result from this weekend.
No fresh verbatim McNulty reaction is available before the tie. Nor is a predicted rotated team being presented as an announced starting line-up. Unconfirmed medical reports concerning Brad Hills and Kyron Gordon have been left out rather than treated as established absences. County’s league run contains four wins, a draw and a defeat in six, but that record cannot decide a one-off cup assignment before the teams take the field.
The BBC league table, updated on 5 November at 01:20 GMT, records Stockport County in position 2 on 26 points from 14 games: 8 wins, 2 draws and 4 defeats, with goal difference +12. The last-six league form, oldest first, is W–W–W–D–L–W. These figures cover League One only, not this weekend’s FA Cup ties.
The next scheduled fixtures are Tranmere at home on Tuesday 10 November at 19:00 GMT in the Jersey Mike’s Trophy, followed by Reading at home on Saturday 14 November at 15:00 GMT in League One.
If they win today, attention will turn to the second-round draw on Monday 9 November at approximately 18:45 GMT, on TNT Sports 1, HBO Max and TNT YouTube. Round two is scheduled around 5 December; no opponent is known yet. League One’s top two go up automatically, third to sixth enter the play-offs and the bottom four are relegated.
Edgeley Park has been Stockport County’s home since 1902. It sits in the Edgeley district, about a mile from Stockport town centre and roughly a ten-minute walk from Stockport railway station. Capacity is around 10,850 all-seated. The ground is compact, close to houses and streets, and often loud when the Cheadle End is full. Visiting supporters should check the allocation for their fixture: away fans are usually in the Vitality Railway End behind the eastern goal, with overflow or alternative seating sometimes used in the south-east of the Together Stand (the old Popular Side).
The four stands are easy to place once you have the compass in your head. West is the big two-tier Cheadle End, home of the loudest County support and almost half the ground by itself. East is the smaller Railway End, historically open to the weather and the usual away end. North, along Hardcastle Road, is the Danny Bergara Stand — the old Main Stand — which does not run the full length of the pitch and houses the dugouts, changing rooms and much of the hospitality. South is the Together Stand, a lower, full-length side popular with families. Goals sit in front of the Cheadle End and the Railway End, not the side stands.
Turnstiles generally open ninety minutes before kick-off. For the Railway End and the south-east away area, expect Gate F at the south-east corner, reached from the walkway off Booth Street and the away coach park. Step-free access is usually Gate E at the north-east corner on Hardcastle Road; a steward can take you on from there. The away ticket office, when used, is at the north-west corner in the Cheadle End car park. Edgeley Park is cashless, so cards or contactless only for pies, mushy peas, hot dogs, burgers, soft drinks and alcohol at the kiosks.
Do not plan on parking inside the club car park. That is reserved for players, staff, directors and officials. Use nearby pay-and-display instead: Caroline Street, Armoury Street, James Street, York Street and Bulkeley Street are all a short walk. The NCP at Stockport station often runs a cheap matchday rate. Away coaches pay to use the official drop-off off Bergara Close (SK3 9AX). From the station, the usual walk is down the platform steps, left away from the booking office, along Station Road, across before the roundabout onto Mercian Way, then left towards Caroline Street and the ground.
Most pubs tight to the ground lean home. County themselves point visiting fans towards the Nelson Tavern on Wellington Road South (about a fifteen-minute walk) and The Calverts Court Wetherspoons in the town centre. Stockport has a strong real-ale scene further into town if you arrive early. Flags without poles are usually fine if they carry a fire certificate and no discriminatory or commercial content. Pyrotechnics, flares and weapons are banned. There is a quiet room with soft seating if anyone in your party needs a calmer space — ask a steward or contact the club in advance.
Views from the Railway End are honest rather than plush: you are close to the pitch and looking straight at the Cheadle End, but pillars and weather can intrude depending on the exact roof arrangement that season. Expansion plans would eventually rebuild the east stand and lift capacity towards the high teens, so always treat a published map as a snapshot. Check your club’s travelling notes and Stockport County’s supporter services (0161 266 2700, option 2, or [email protected]) before you set off. Address for sat-nav is 16 Hardcastle Road, Edgeley, Stockport, SK3 9DD.