Stockport boss Dave Challinor is the promotion king as they aim for League One

Twelve seasons in management, six promotions, finished outside of the play-off places just once. Pound for pound, does anyone in English football have a better c.v. than Dave Challinor in the last decade?

His first coaching role was in the depths of our pyramid at Colwyn Bay, where his job title was officially first-team manager but, at that level, that also tasked him as chief groundsman, kitman and logistics manager.

Asked how leading Stockport out at Wembley for a place in League One compares to those formative days in north Wales, Challinor chuckles. ‘Yeah, it’s a bit different… you could say that,’ he tells Mail Sport.

‘At Colwyn Bay I very much jumped straight in at the deep end as a player-manager but sorting out training, booking travel, signing players, contracts, you name it. But it was a really good starting point and grounding.’

Ahead of Sunday’s grand final at the national stadium, it is interesting to hear Challinor speak about the art of consistency. 

Stockport’s player celebrate their penalty shoot-out win over Salford City last weekend

In terms of preparation, the Chester-born former defender has not changed from semi-professional divisions to the Football League.

Why would he change with a hit-rate of one promotion every other season on average?

‘My mindset has always been that, even at part-time level, it is about working as professionally as possible,’ he adds. 

‘Whether it’s the top level or part-time leagues, you need to minimise excuses and make people accountable.

‘At Colwyn Bay it was a group of players who were really good mates, I’d just brought together a bit of organisation and professionalism and it took them to the Conference North – we were massively batting above our weight and level.’

Challinor has always been adaptable. His Colwyn Bay side trained in Chester so they could attract players from nearby cities of Manchester and Liverpool. 

After taking them to the National League North, he stepped down two tiers to join Lancashire club AFC Fylde in the eighth tier.

Within six seasons, they had climbed to the National League with three promotions and lost a play-off final for a place in the Football League, while they also won an FA Trophy at Wembley.

Challinor lifts the trophy after Stockport secured their Football League return last season

‘I dropped down two divisions to Fylde but it was a unique opportunity and journey,’ says Challinor. ‘It was run as a business with a 15-year plan to get into the EFL. We were 90 minutes from doing that. We went through it all – a basic non-league club to one with professionalism.

‘I was still all hands on deck – cutting and watering pitches. Every manager has their blue-sky way of thinking but it’s all about minimising excuses and not cutting corners.

‘After Fylde I joined Hartlepool in the National League. It was about playing to the fans’ needs sometimes. We had a counter-attacking team but we needed to give the fans something to shout about… get them aggressive and on the front foot.’

Yep, you guessed it. Challinor won promotion at Hartlepool in his first and only full season in County Durham. 

And that brings us on to Stockport, bringing them back to the Football League after 11 years away in his first campaign – and now one game from League One.

Stockport could secure back-to-back promotions if they overcome Carlisle on Sunday

‘The fact I’m managing in this final – noting I only have taken charge of 60 something games in the EFL – is an honour,’ he says. 

‘It’s important that with all the baggage, it’s just another game and my players need to remember that.

‘I have won and lost at Wembley and I can tell you now I know what I prefer. Football moves on really quick, you have success one year but then the season after it’s on you – you have no time to breathe.

‘We just need to look at each other after the game and know we’ve given it our all and have no regrets. 

‘Many people and teams better than us have lost important games. It’s unfortunate but there will be 50,000 there on Sunday and half will leave the stadium mortified.

‘The impact the club is having on the community is not lost on us and League One would open up loads from the club’s perspective – stadium and academy improvements. 

‘That’s out of the players hands – all they can do is be a team our fans can resonate with and give their all.’