Stockport Independent Issue 205

JULY 2026 20 JOPPE Meulensteen has been promoted to the role of First Team Coach at Edgeley Park. Joppe first joined County in 2021 as Head of Per- formance Analysis before returning to Edgeley Park in 2024 as First TeamCoach Analyst, following a season at Middlesbrough working under Michael Carrick. He has been an integral part of the club’s first-team staff throughout his time at County, leading the club’s analysis department during a key period of growth and success for the football club. Meulensteen’s new role will see him transition away from analysis into a more senior coaching position within the first-team set-up, working alongside Jason Taylor and Matty Done as part of Head Coach Jimmy McNulty’s backroom team. Sporting Director, Damien Allen said: “This is a hugely important appointment for our football club. Promot- ing from within reflects our commitment to continuity, consistency and creating a clear pathway for talented staff to develop. “Joppe has made a signif- icant impact as our First Team Coach Analyst over recent years and, through- out that time, has consist- ently demonstrated the highest levels of expertise, work ethic and character, embodying the standards we strive for across our foot- ball department. “We firmly believe Joppe has a very bright future ahead at County and will play a key role in our ambi- tion to build an elite football department, both now and A YOUNG boxer from Brinnington will be rep- resenting TeamGB at this year’s Youth Olympics in Senegal. Michael Maughan, aged 16, will be heading to Dakar, the capital of Senegal, to rep- resent Great Britain – and he’s hoping to bring a gold medal home. It’s fresh off the back of winning the European Box- ing Championships final last year, after defeating Shukar Aliyev of Azerbaijan. Maughan is among the first athletes to have been selected to take part in the Youth Olympics, along with fellow Team GB athlete Lily Bassett, a boxer from London who is also aiming to do Brit- ain proud. He’ll be in action from 31 October to 13 November. Speaking of his selection, Maughan said he felt “very honoured and proud” to rep- resent the country. “I’m very grateful to be given the opportunity to box on the world’s best stage”, he said. “Preparing to represent Team GB is a proud and exciting opportunity it means giving my best every day in training, staying disciplined and representing my country with professionalism, respect FOR the first time since 2020, County begin their league campaign away from home, with Jimmy McNulty’s first league game in charge seeing them make the long trip to Plymouth Argyle on Saturday 15th August. County’s first home game of the league season will see them host Blackpool on Sat- urday 22nd August. AUGUST 15 Plymouth Argyle (A) 22 Blackpool (H) 29 Wycombe Wanderers (H) SEPTEMBER 1 Luton Town (A) 5 Wigan Athletic (A) 12 Leicester City (H) 19 Sheffield Wednesday (A) 26 Peterborough United (H) OCTOBER 3 Oxford United (A) 10 Barnsley (H) 17 Bromley (H) 20 Doncaster Rovers (A) 24 Notts County (A) 31 AFC Wimbledon (H) NOVEMBER 14 Reading (H) 21 Cambridge United (A) 28 Leyton Orient (H) DECEMBER 1 Mansfield Town (A) 12 Stevenage (A) 19 MK Dons (H) 26 Bradford City (A) 29 Huddersfield Town (H) JANUARY 1 Burton Albion (H) 9 MK Dons (A) 16 Bromley (A) 19 Doncaster Rovers (H) 23 Notts County (H) 30 AFC Wimbledon (A) FEBRUARY 6 Wycombe Wanderers (A) 9 Luton Town (H) 13 Wigan Athletic (H) 20 Leicester City (A) 27 Reading (A) MARCH 6 Plymouth Argyle (H) 13 Blackpool (A) 20 Cambridge United (H) 26 Burton Albion (A) 29 Bradford City (H) APRIL 3 Huddersfield Town (A) 10 Stevenage (H) 13 Peterborough United (A) 17 Sheffield Wednesday (H) 24 Barnsley (A) 27 Oxford United (H) MAY 1 Leyton Orient (A) 8 Mansfield Town (H) Independent LOCAL SPORT LOCAL CRICKET ROUND-UP AS temperatures soared into the 30s, a host of batsmen made hay while the sun shone. Leading the way in the run- fest was Andrej Yaksender who made an astonishing double century for Cheshire County Cricket League Divi- sion One leaders Bollington. Yaksender smashed 21 fours and 13 sixes on his way to 224 as Bollington posted an imposing 346/1 at home to Macclesfield. His opening partner Richard Hough was also in the runs, hitting 112 in a first wicket stand of 300. There was another centu- rion in Macclesfield’s reply with Alex Thompson making 132 but his team went down by 64 runs. In the Premier Division Oxton openers Josh Brown (105) and Grant Hughes (93) put on a partnership of 172 in the drawn game with Cheadle. Oxton posted 312/7 as Cheadle replied with 263/9. Ashley Burton made 107 for Cheadle. Fred Vaughan-Hawkins hit 110 for Timperley in a losing cause against Hyde. George Balderson had impressive bowling figures of 5-18 as Timperley were all out for 198. Hyde skipper Andrew Jackson made 95 as his side won by 48 runs. Didsbury opened up a 20 points lead at the top of the table with a 116-run win at Neston. Didsbury were bowled out for 257 (Nick Anderson 67) but with James Green taking 6-36, Neston only managed 141. Nantwich drew level on points with second placed Hyde by beating Alder- ley Edge by 64 runs. Lin- dow had a four-wicket win at Bramhall. There was another big team score in Division One where Sale posted 347/6. Jonathan Davidson made 114 and Tyrone Lawrence weighed in with 78. In reply Urmston made 262/8, with Uzzair Shah top scoring with 81 in an 85-run defeat. Bowdon (263/8) had a 77-run victory over Stockport Georgians (186). Ashwin Sharma made 77 for Bowdon with Ben Duckworth hitting 81 in a losing cause. In Division 2 NE Cheshire beat Romiley by eight wick- ets and Cheadle Hulme had a narrow 10-run win over Oulton Park. Division Three leaders Ashton-on-Mersey had a three-wicket win over Mid- dlewich; Stockport won by the same margin over Hea- ton Mersey; Bredbury St Marks lost by two wickets at Warrington and Hale Barns were beaten by 77 runs at Winnington. Cheshire Cricket League Division One leaders Stock- port Trinity scraped home by just one run in a low scoring clash with Bunbury. Trinity were all out for 97 but Higgin- botham’s return of 4-27 saw Bunbury dismissed for 96. Northwich stay second bottom after going down by 92 runs at Langley. In reply to Langley’s 290, Northwich were all out for 198 despite JamieMcDougall making 97. The Division Two clash of the top two saw Holmes Chapel retain first place with a resounding eight- wicket win over Appleton. Paul Cudby ripped through the Appleton batsmen, fin- ishing with 6-18 in an all out total of 152. Mark Rebbeck top scored with an unbeaten 68 as Holmes Chapel cruised to 153/2. The clash of the two bot- tom teams in Division Three brought success for Glaze- bury who beat Winsford by 17 runs. North Staffs and South Cheshire Division One leaders Leycett continued their winning ways with a five-wicket success over Congleton. In a low scoring encounter Congleton were shot out for 89 while Leyc- ett posted 95/5 in reply. In Division Two there was a 31-run win for Wedgewood over Sandbach. YAKSENDER’S DOUBLE TON County hit road Boxing prodigy Michael Maughan (Image: England Boxing) Golden dream for Michael and pride both in and out of the ring. “My goals for the competi- tion is of course like any other and that is to come back with a gold medal for Britain and show the world who I am and to become Youth Olym- pic Champion.” He trains with coach Eric Drayson, who said:”What Michael has achieved is just incredible. It shows what young people can achieve through hard work and dedication.” The 2026 Youth Olympics in Senegal will bring together around 2,700 of the world’s best young athletes (aged between 14-18). COUNTY have swooped to land Jason Adigun from Chelmsford City, after the two clubs agreed an undisclosed compensation fee. The exciting young attack- ing midfielder has signed a two-year deal at EdgeleyPark, becoming the fifth signing of the summer transfer window. The22-year-oldwasnamed as Chelmsford’s Young Player of the Season for 2025/26 following a campaign that saw him register eight goals and 12 assists in all competi- tions for the National League South side. Adigun began his career as a highly rated winger in Charlton Athletic’s acad- emy, enjoying a loan spell at Welling United in the National League South before completing a perma- nent move to Dagenham & Redbridge in 2024. A loan spell at Eastbourne Borough during the second half of the 2024/25 campaign provided Jason with his first big breakthrough, scoring six and assisting eight from January onwards to help the Sports finish in the National League South Play-Off places. County swoop for Adigun OPPE MOVES ON UP for years to come. We’re delighted to see him take this next step as First Team Coach and look forward to watching his continued development at the club.” Joppe Meulensteen has been promoted to First Team Coach (Image: Stockport County) A short spell at Kidderminster Harriers then followed, before he joined Chelmsford City in October on a permanent deal. He enjoyed another out- standing season with The Clarets, showcasing his exceptional ability on the ball whilst operating out wide or centrally,scoringseveralspec- tacular goals as Chelmsford just missed out on securing a play-off spot.