NANTWICH TOWN defender Mat Bailey can’t wait to face his old club Stockport County after the pair were drawn against each other in the FA Trophy.
Bailey played for the Hatters from 2003-2005 while they were plying their trade in League One and he is set to return next weekend with the Dabbers travelling to Edgeley Park in the third round qualifying.
Nantwich have already seen off Salford City and King’s Lynn Town in the Trophy and now face a tough test at Stockport – one Bailey is looking forward to.
“It’s been a few years since I’ve been to Edgeley Park and I’ve got some very good memories from my time there from earlier in my career,” he said.
“I was a striker back then and he (Stockport manager Carlton Palmer) signed me on a three-year deal.
“But things didn’t go exactly to plan as in three years I had three managers.
“Obviously I had Carlton, who signed me, Sammy McIlroy and then Chris Turner who in the end got rid of everyone. I had to start again at Northwich Victoria and I kicked on from there.
“I honestly can’t wait to go back to Edgeley Park. It’s got nothing but good memories for me.”
And the striker-turned-defender is confident the Dabbers, flying high in the Evo-Stik NPL Premier can cause an upset at his former club.
“I think we can beat anyone in Non-League,” he said. “On our day we have got enough quality in our team to beat anyone.
“We know we can play football and especially on a good pitch like Edgeley Park we can show what Nantwich Town can do.
“It’s good to be able to play on good surface as, like the pitch at our place, it will allow us to get the ball down on the ground and allow us to play.”
