John Rutter
County's FA Cup clash with Swansea City in December 2004 marked the end of an era at Edgeley Park when John Rutter said farewell to the Hatters after a remarkable 29-years' service.
It was back in 1976 that Rutter, following his release by Exeter City, wrote to a number of north west clubs asking for a trial.
County took him up on his offer and, but for a six-month spell at the end of his footballing career, he has been a permanent fixture at EP ever since.
A pre-season injury to Ian Buckley gave John his chance and he grabbed it with both hands.
And he formed an instant understanding with his new team-mates as County stormed to the top of Division Four with maximum points from their first four games - and no goals conceded.
It didn't last, but JR did. He played all 46 games. Just as he did the following season.
In 1978-79 he played 45 games, 1979-80 it was 42. He was ever-present again in 1980-81. 39 games in 1981-82 preceded 44 the following year. The next two seasons he made 41 and 38 appearances, respectively, before injury restricted his games in 1985-86, his final one as a player, to 17.
Wearing Rutts' No. 2 shirt for much of that season was Clive Evans who, incidentally, is here today as John's guest on what will undoubtedly be a an emotional afternoon for the Warrington-born defender.
In 10 seasons John Rutter played an astonishing 404 league games for Stockport County placing him 3rd in the club's all-time appearance table behind Bobby Murray and his one-time team-mate, Andy Thorpe.
He managed just 10 goals and the first, strangely, came against this afternoon's visitors, Swansea City on March 22nd, 1977.
With County leading 1-0 thanks to Ian Buckley's 25th-minute strike Rutts doubled the Hatters' advantage before half-time. Derek Loadwick drove the ball to Barney Daniels on the wing. The powerful striker beat his fullback by shear speed and moved the ball inside to JR, lurking in the inside-right position, to apply the finishing touch.
Dave Leonard stunned the Swans biggest gate of the season, 6,383, by adding a third after the break.
And when Wyndham Evans turned the ball past Steve Potter to register an own goal Swansea looked down an out.
Manager Harry Griffiths threw caution to the wind, though, and moved his two big central defenders, Eddie May and Pat Lally, up front.
And the move reaped an instant reward when George Smith and then Les Chapell scored within a couple of minutes of each other to half the deficit.
May buried a header to make it 3-4 and, when Alan Curtis equalised, the referee threatened to abandon the game due to a pitch invasion by delirious Swans' fans.
Their delight was understandable. Swansea had come from 4-0 down to equalise with four goals past a shell-shocked Paul Hopkinson in the space of 14 hectic minutes.
There should have been another twist in the tale, though, as Daniels and then Buckley wasted golden opportunities to win the game for County!
His career over John took up a post with a property company but, after just six months, he returned 'home' to accept the Commercial Manager's post at Edgeley Park.
And there he's remained ever since cultivating the local business community in his own inimitable way.
Stockport County would like to sincerely thank John for the outstanding service he's given the club both on and off the field. He will be badly missed.
John's County Career Record Aps Gls League 404 10 FA Cup 16 0 League Cup 29 0 Others 4 0 Total 453 10
