Trevor Porteous arrived at Edgeley Park as a promising young defender from his hometown club, Hull City, in 1956 for a fee of £1,500.

He could never have imagined that some 41 years later, after serving the club in a variety of roles, he was still helping his beloved Stockport County.

He made his debut in a very rare 1-0 win at Southport on August 25 1956 in a County team that pressed for promotion for much of the season.

Derby County were eventually crowned Third Division (North) champions with the Hatters back in 5th place.

The following season, 1957-58, was significant in Football League history. It had been decided to scrap the regional Third Divisions at the end of the campaign for a national Division 3 and a newly created national Division 4.

In the final month, with County struggling in the bottom half of the table, relegation was looking inevitable. However, three successive home wins in seven days, all 2-1, watched by a remarkable 32,900 spectators, saw them finish three places above the bottom 12 clubs who all became founder members of Division Four.

For Trevor, beating the odds and avoiding the drop to the new basement division was one of the highlights of his playing career at Edgeley Park.

He said: "It was a desperate fight against the odds, but the team reached the safety level and we knew that 1958-59 would be spent in the Third. I had felt that during the last few games of that tough season when we saved our bacon I turned on my best performances for the club."

The Hatters reprieve, though, was short-lived. The following season saw them finish 21st and with it relegation.

Supporters' hopes that County could make a quick return were soon dashed. Gates fell and the club teetered on the verge of bankruptcy.

Despite the problems Porteous was a consistent performer, never giving less than his best and rarely missing a game.
And, when manager Reg Flewin left for Bournemouth in 1963, the board turned to Trevor to take over as player-manager.

Accrington Stanley folded in 1962 and many felt County would soon follow. Somehow they managed to stumble through to 1964-65, but their financial position was critical.

In the summer of 1964 secretary Maurice Watkins, along with a number of other members of staff, was dismissed as a cost-cutting exercise, leaving just Trevor along with Billy Newton, Billy Stevenson and Harold Allock, three Edgeley Park stalwarts, to run the club.

Trevor said: "When pre-season started I had just eight players. A week before the opening game I brought in Mike Eckersall, John Watts, Ean Cuthbert, Derek Hodgkinson, Peter Phoenix, Ian Sandiford and John Collins fore the princely sum of £600.

"The club was down and almost out and I'm sure the Directors were ready to throw in the towel. We had to sell our better players and we couldn't even manage to meet the wage bill let alone bring in any more new recruitments."

Although the Hatters finished rock bottom that season they embarked on a cup run that would capture the hearts of the nation.

Trevor led his young-charges all the way to Liverpool for a fourth-round tie where his team, incredibly, led 1-0 at half time in front of almost 52,000 fans.

The game against the reigning League Champions ended 1-1 and the Reds won the replay 2-0 thanks to a couple of goals from future England World Cup winner Roger Hunt.

But another bumper 24,000+ attendance - almost 130,000 fans watched County's six Cup-ties - not only helped to keep the bank manager happy but it also fuelled enthusiasm amongst the County faithful to unprecedented levels.

Trevor added: "After drawing at Anfield I arrived at Edgeley Park on the Sunday morning to find that supporters had been camping out all night to be first in the queue for a ticket. Hardcastle Road was so full I could hardly get my car through.

"It was a marvellous time with everyone wanting to shake my hand and congratulate me. I remember we sold something like 18,000 tickets in about four hours. It seemed that everybody in the town wanted to see the game.

"I think we made about £12,500 from the cup run and there's no doubt that the money saved the club. The enthusiasm generated also helped form a basis for further success."

Two years after finishing bottom County, with Trevor as assistant manager, strolled to the Fourth Division title in 1967.

The halcyon GO GO GO COUNTY era ended in 1970 when the club were relegated back to Division Four; they would remain in the basement for 21 long years.

But, as players and managers came and left with alarming regularity, Porteous remained. Happy to serve the club in any capacity.

Groundsman, physiotherapist, scout, youth team manager .

You name it, Trevor did it. He even had a stint as manager of the old County Club on the Cheadle End car park!

A modest man, and a man of dignity. Trevor was awarded a thoroughly deserved testimonial on the tenth anniversary of his arrival at Edgeley Park.

In a special souvenir brochure he wrote: "In 10 years you have all the time and opportunity you want to learn about a football club and its fans. Your feelings, your fortunes go through the mill in such a span of time. The fillips, the flops - the whole wide range of footballing experiences are encountered. And if any man can turn round and say 'no regrets' after such a long run, then it must surely add stature and increased respect for the club he has served and the people around it. There are fancy words that could serve my purpose in this memorable month, but I know no greater tribute I can pay to County and its faithful followers by saying . 'No regrets - thanks to you all.'"

Uncomplicated. Unfussy. Straight to the point. Sincere. Qualities that the Yorkshireman had in abundance.

The word 'loyalty' is often used lightly. Not so when describing Trevor Porteous.
Trevor sadly passed away soon after watching his beloved County clinch promotion to Division One in 1997 . Edgeley Park will never see the likes of him again.

TREVOR PORTEOUS' LEAGUE CAREER
CLUB	DATE SIGNED	APPS	GLS
Hull City	Oct '50	61	1
Stockport County	Jun '56	337	9
TOTAL		398	10