Loan Update: 2022/23 season – Stockport County

As the 2022/23 season comes to a close, we’re taking a closer look at all the players that have spent time out on loan this campaign to see how they’ve got on.

From teenage defenders to experienced strikers, here’s how our loanees have fared this last year:

Ethan Pye:

County defender Ethan Pye has gone on to have an outstanding first full season in senior men’s football, during his time out at National League Gateshead. The defender made his first-team debut for the club last season when he started in our 2-1 win away at Weymouth in the National League, before enjoying a successful loan move at Spennymoor in the National League North during the second half of the campaign.

Ethan is now back with the first team for our play-off campaign.

The highly rated defender signed a new deal at Edgeley Park in the Summer, before heading out to newly promoted Gateshead for the 2022/23 campaign.

Playing on the left-hand side of a back three, the 20-year-old quickly became a key part of the back line in a Gateshead team committed to playing expansive football out from the back under manager Mike Williamson.

During his time at the Gateshead International Stadium, Ethan was voted by supporters as the club’s Player of the Month in both January and March, as the side enjoyed a strong second half of the season to pull clear of the relegation zone and eventually finish in 14^th place.

The youngster made 41 appearances across all competitions for The Heed, also helping them secure a place at Wembley in the FA Trophy final this weekend. His efforts this season were recognised at their End of Season awards, as he was named as their Players’ Player of the Year for 2022/23.

Ethan has since been recalled early from his loan spell to be part of the first-team squad for our play-off campaign, with manager Dave Challinor going on to say the defender had a big future at Stockport County, confirming he is likely to be part of the first-team next season.

Cody Johnson:

18-year-old midfielder Cody signed his first pro-contract with the club towards the end of last season, and spent the first half of the campaign as a member of our first-team squad.

The teenager, so impressive in his FA Trophy appearances last season, made a further three appearances for the first time, starting our Papa John’s Trophy tie against Wolves U21s before coming on as a substitute in wins against League One Shrewsbury Town and Charlton Athletic.

Looking to gain regular first-team minutes in the next stage of his development, Cody made the move to Banbury United in January on a youth-loan deal until the end of the season, and made a big impression during his time with the National League North side.

Cody has made a further three appearances for the first-team this season.

He made his debut for the side just a day after making the move, coming on as a sub just before half-time with his side 1-0 down away at Hereford. He went on to quickly gain control of the midfield for The Puritans, as they turned it around in the second half to win 3-2.

Johnson went on to make 20 appearances for the club in all competitions, 17 of them from the start, as the side retained their National League North status. His reports from his time out on loan have been excellent, and at the end of the season he was described by a local reporter as ‘an 18-year-old going right to the top’, having produced ‘one of the best debuts seen from any Banbury player.’

Since returning from his loan spell, Cody has been rewarded for the form he has shown with a place on the substitutes bench in our games against Hartlepool United, and Salford City in the play-offs.

Keane Barugh:

Exciting talent Keane Barugh also enjoyed a brief loan spell at Banbury United alongside Cody Johnson, before going on to spend the rest of the season at FC United of Manchester in the Northern Premier League.

A star man for the Academy Scholars this season too, Keane made nine appearances during his time at FC United – a first time of senior men’s football for the 18-year-old.

Keane has impressed whilst playing in our B-team matches at Edgeley Park.

The attacking midfielder also played a big role in the club’s B-team fixtures at Edgeley Park this season, starting three of the four games played in April and May – scoring a sensational solo goal in our game against Huddersfield Town. Keane has a deal already in place for next season, when he will look to build further on a year of progress and development.

Ellis Farrar:

Teenage defender Ellis Farrar, a summer signing from Guiseley AFC, signed his first pro-deal with the club in February before heading out on loan to Irish Division One side, Finn Harps.

Ellis, 19, joined the academy’s full-time training programme at the beginning of the season, having previously caught the eye during his time playing for Guiseley U19s.

Ellis signed a pro-deal with the club before making the move to Ireland.

The left-sided centre-half has since gone from strength to strength whilst playing for the Scholars side under manager Jamie Crowther, earning the opportunity to train with the first-team at Carrington.

Playing as a left-sided centre-half, Ellis has started 12 of Harps’ 14 league games so far this season, quickly becoming an important part of their team before picking up an injury earlier this month, in their game against Athlone. With the Irish season still going on, Ellis will continue his development there over the Summer.

Daniel Okwute:

Pacy Irish striker Daniel Okwute joined County in September from Irish side Kerry for an undisclosed fee, having just finished the Irish U19s league as top scorer, with 17 goals in 16 games.

After initially spending time with the first-team squad, Daniel then had a short stint with non-league Warrington Rylands before joining Ellis Farrar in moving out to Irish side Finn Harps.

Daniel joined County from Kerry in September.

The forward has played in all 14 of their league games so far, grabbing his first goal for the club in a game against Waterford. Like Ellis, he will continue his development in Ireland as their season continues over the Summer.

Ethan Ross:

Goalkeeper Ethan Ross, a title-winner last season, joined newly promoted National League side York City in the Summer on a season-long loan deal.

The 26-year-old soon established himself as the number one between the sticks at the LNER Community Stadium, making 31 league appearances for the club and even captaining the side on occasion.

Ethan quickly established himself as first-choice ‘keeper at York before his injury, going on to captain the side.

Ethan’s season was cruelly cut short by injury in February, when he was substituted off in the first half of a 2-1 win against Yeovil Town and subsequently missed the final 13 games of the season.

Ben Barclay:

Defender Ben Barclay made 13 appearances for County last season after signing from Accrington Stanley, before spending the second half of the campaign on loan at Yeovil Town.

He again headed out on loan in the Summer, this time joining up with former County boss Paul Simpson at Carlisle United.

Ben has played his part in helping Carlisle reach the play-off semi-finals.

An succession of injuries sustained early on in his time at Brunton Park ruled him out for the majority of the season, but he regained his place in the team in March and has been a key figure ever since. The 26-year-old has started ten of Carlisle’s last 11 games in League Two, only missing the game against County in that period.

Ben has since had his loan spell extended for the duration of the play-offs – he would not, however, be eligible to face his parent side should we both reach the final at Wembley.

Scott Quigley:

Striker Scott Quigley made four appearances off the bench for County at the start of the season, before making a deadline day move to Rochdale AFC on a season-long loan deal.

Quigs scored five times in League Two for a struggling Rochdale side.

Quigs, a title-winner last season, made an immediate impression at the Crown Oil Arena with a brace on his debut away at Carlisle United, before grabbing further goals in games against Doncaster and Barrow.

He went on to make 26 appearances in League Two for Rochdale, scoring five times, before returning to Edgeley Park towards the end of the season to play in our final two B-team matches against Huddersfield Town and Manchester City.

Ollie Crankshaw:

Another key part of our National League title-winning season last year, Ollie spent the first half of the season at Edgeley Park where he made 27 appearances in all competitions, grabbing his first EFL goal for the club in our game away at Crawley Town.

In January, searching for more game time from the start having mainly been used as a substitute over those 27 games, Ollie made the move north of the border to join Scottish Premiership side Motherwell on loan until the end of the season.

Ollie returned from his loan spell early, going on to impress in our B-team matches at Edgeley Park.

He made his debut for the side in a 1-1 draw with Ross County shortly after and played in each of Motherwell’s next six league games, starting three of them.

Unfortunately for Ollie, a change in manager at Fir Park and a subsequent change in shape and tactics saw his game time limited under new boss Stuart Kettlewell and he subsequently returned to Edgeley Park to continue training with the County team.

Whilst unable to be registered for the first-team this season, Ollie came back to represent the club in our B-team fixtures at Edgeley Park, impressing with goals against Huddersfield Town and Manchester City.