Neither player features in County's top-twenty goalscorers, yet the mere mention of Jim Fryatt and Bill Atkins still provokes a passionate response from fans lucky enough to watch them play in the halcyon GO GO GO COUNTY era of the 1960s.

Atkins was first to arrive at Edgeley Park, in a swap deal with Halifax Town that saw David Shawcross travel in the opposite direction, a move that was completed with just four minutes to spare on transfer-deadline day in March 1967.

His County debut was, ironically, against his old club, and his first Hatters' goal came the following game when he netted in the 1-1 draw at Crewe Alexandra.

An estimated 7,000 travelling fans swelled the Gresty Road attendance that afternoon to 11,280, the Alex's third-highest League gate of all time.

Big Bill, who also headed the 82^nd-minute promotion-winning goal at Notts County the following month, ended the campaign with a Fourth Division title medal,

County paid Torquay United £7,500 to bring Fryatt to Edgeley Park in October 1967, and the pair lined up for the first time against old rivals, Southport.

Bill, tall and mobile with an abundance of skill for a big man, was the perfect foil for 'Pancho' - as he was affectionately named by the Hatters faithful due to his large bushy sideburns - a big, bustling old-fashioned centre forward.

They forged an instant understanding; Atkins hit a brace with Fryatt adding one as County came from 3-2 down at half-time to beat the Sandgrounders 4-3. Derek Kevan was the other marksman on a night EP shook to the Edgeley Roar.

Fryatt's goal was a trademark bullet header, and it was often said he could head a ball harder than modern day players can shoot.

His renowned arial prowess was underlined later in the season when he scored his second County hat-trick in the 3-1 victory over Bristol Rovers; all headers.

Mind you, although the two legendary marksmen grabbed the headlines for their goals, the bullets were undeniably supplied by the late, great Johnny Price and County's Welsh wizard, Len Allchurch.

Arguably, the club's greatest wing pairing, both players were so different in style yet both shared one quality; the uncanny ability to deliver pin-point crosses into the box.

And how Atkins and Fryatt gorged themselves!

Fryatt finished the season with 22 goals from 32 games. Eight more for his previous club took his tally to 30.

And, but for two 'goals' being credited to Bury players in the season's final game, Pancho would have ended the campaign as the country's leading scorer.

Atkins chipped in with 16 goals from 44 games.

The prolific partnership was showing no signs of slowing down when, 13 games into the following season, County fans were, literally, stunned by the news Fryatt had been sold to Blackburn Rovers for a club-record £30,000.

Jim Mulholland arrived from Barrow, and then the Hatters broke their transfer record by paying £15,000 for former Everton golden boy Alex Young, to try and fill the void. Mulholland's move, though, didn't work out and Young was plagued by injury, leaving Atkins as County's main goal threat.

But, after scoring 14 goals in the 22 games after Fryatt's departure, the Yorkshireman also left EP when Portsmouth paid £18,000 to take him to Fratton Park in March 1969.

Another crowd favourite, Len Allchurch, also left at the end of the campaign. The following season County were relegated, and it wasn't until the arrival of Danny Bergara that the Hatters regained Third Division status two decades later.

After Blackburn, Fryatt helped Oldham and then Southport win promotion from the Fourth Division.

He then made a sentimental return to Edgeley Park in October 1974, but the Pop Side hero made just one appearance. He scored against Rochdale; a header, of course.

It was to be his 189^th and final League goal, which included one for Bradford Park Avenue, which is still credited as the fastest goal of all time coming just four seconds after kick off.

Atkins also returned to one of his former clubs, Halifax Town, when he left Portsmouth before ending his career with stints at Rochdale and then Darlington with 157 League goals to his name.

At Edgeley Park the deadly duo pulled on the famous white shirt with blue chestband together 87 times, scoring 45 goals between them.

At the Gala Dinner of 2002 to celebrate 100 years of football at Edgeley Park, Jim Fryatt - who had travelled from his home in Las Vegas - and Bill Atkins were jointly enrolled into the Stockport County Hall of Fame.