Veteran Paddy Madden to leave Stockport County after leading the club to promotion

Veteran Madden (35) was County’s second-top scorer with 17 goals in his 42 league games as they won the League Two title under his captaincy, but is now on the move.

“The club can confirm that captain Paddy Madden will depart Edgeley Park in the summer. Unfortunately, both parties could not come to a satisfactory agreement,” the club said today.

“Paddy leaves with nothing but the best wishes of everyone at Stockport County Football Club after his decisive impact in two title wins since joining us in 2021. The Irishman’s place as a club legend is already assured, having hit 65 goals in 157 County appearances – making him the tenth highest goalscorer in our history.

"As our first captain back in the Football League, his influence and contribution on and off the pitch over the last few years cannot be underestimated, with his 22 goals this season playing a huge part in securing our first EFL title in 57 years.

“He will always be remembered in Stockport as perhaps the defining signing of the Mark Stott era, the man whose goals ended an 11-year exile in the wilderness of non-league in 2022, and a player who epitomised what it meant to represent Stockport County Football Club. Leaving everything out there on the pitch week in, week out, he has led by example from day one.

“He will always remain a part of the County family and community, and we wish him well in the next chapter of his career.”

Capped once at senior level in 2013, Madden moved to Carlisle from Bohemians in 2011 and lined out for Carlisle, Yeovil, Scunthorpe, Fleetwood and Stockport, scoring over 200 league goals.