A 1980s Stockport County star has fondly recalled his time with the club in a new book, detailing what football was like almost 40 years ago.

Last week saw the release of the new book Head for the Floodlights: Around the 92 in the 1980s.

Former goalkeeper Mike Salmon, who played for Stockport County FC for three years between 1983 and 1986, contributed to the book. 

The book details a football-mad son, and a football-ambivalent dad, driving to all 92 Football League grounds in the late 1980s, in an unforgettable bonding experience.

Author Giles Goford, spoke to 70 ex-professionals in the book, to get a flavour of what it was like to play at those grounds as a professional footballer.

And Mike Salmon, who is now 60, was one of them.

"Edgeley Park had the best atmosphere of all the smaller grounds I ever played in," said Mike, in the new book.

The former County keeper was signed by the late manager Eric Webster, from Blackburn Rovers.

Mike Salmon, today.

After three years, Mike left County for Bolton Wanderers, and then Wrexham.

Mike Salmon also played between the sticks for Chester City, Charlton Athletic, and Oxford United.

Mike went on to detail to Stockport Nub News, some of his favourite memories playing for County.

"One of my best memories was playing the mighty Liverpool in the League Cup at Edgeley Park under the lights, in September 1984," he said.

The nostalgic football book can be purchased by clicking the red link at the bottom of this article. (Image - Stockport Nub News)

"Liverpool were champions of just about everything in 1984 and we were struggling in Division 4 at the time. There were over 20,000 people crammed into the ground, all expecting us to get annihilated. 

"The atmosphere was electric and we used that energy to hold off the Reds for what seemed like an age, with wave after wave of relentless attacks coming at us for 90mins. We clung on to get an incredible 0-0 draw with the prospect of a 2nd leg at Anfield to come. 

"It was such a shocker of a scoreline that it actually made News at 10 that night. What a game, what a night. Edgeley Park in all its glory.

"Incredibly we also managed to hold on at Anfield in the 2nd leg [in October] for the whole 90 mins, it finished 0-0. 

Mike in the middle, keeper shirt, of course. (Image - Stockport County FC)

"The game went to extra time when the superstars of Liverpool finally broke through to win 2-0 (goals from Michael Robinson and Ronnie Whelan), but the whole club was well and truly put on the map for those performances in 1984.

Mike now works in Canada, as Soccer Development Officer for BC Soccer (British Columbia).

Edgeley Park was the 14th of the 92 grounds Giles and his father Jeremy visited in the book.

Giles visited County just before the start of the Danny Bergara-era. (Image - Jeremy Goford)

Unfortunately, at the time of Giles' visit in 1988, Mike Salmon had left the club, so could not see him play.

In the book, Giles expresses his fondness for The Hatters, despite being an Ipswich Town fan.

Perhaps it is because Giles lives in Bollington, the village near Macclesfield that is full of Stockport County fans. (Indeed, the League Two promotion trophy tour stopped off at pubs in Bollington. No comment if Giles was there!)

Coincidentally, Mike Salmon also signed for Ipswich Town at the end of his career, but did not turn out for them.

First time author Giles Goford has written a book about road-tripping around 92 Football League clubs in England. (Image - Stockport Nub News)

Giles and his dad Jeremy visited every Football League ground from April 1988 to August 1989, or in footballing terms, every team included within the top 92 from the 1987-88 season to the 89-90 season. 

At the time of his visit, Giles was about to turn 15, and the only thing he knew about Stockport was that their football club were "perennial division four strugglers."

However, Giles would later became a fan of Manchester band The Smiths, and appreciate the town's connections with Strawberry Studios, where the band recorded.

In 2000, Giles would visit County a second time, when he did the 92 challenge again, this time in four days.

The late Jeremy Goford (left) and a teenage Giles Goford (right), around the same time of their challenge and bonding trip to visit every Football League ground. (Image - The Goford Family)

After he moved to Bollington in 2011, he was encouraged to go and watch a match at Edgeley Park. Giles was full of compliments for the club today.

"They have regenerated that club superbly. It is a good, proper ground with local fans," Giles said.

"I am so pleased they have got back up to where they deserved to be.

"After my introduction to football as a 7-year old in 1980, they didn't finish higher than 11th in Division Four until 1990, then won promotion in 1991.

Edgeley Park today, of 16 Hardcastle Road, Stockport. (Image - Stockport Nub News)

"I still love that the big sign is there on Hardcastle Road, in an era where not many clubs had big signs like that. That, combined with the blue paint they branded themselves well.

"I go quite a lot now. It is a real classic ground.

"I've been fortunate to see a few games at Edgeley Park as the Club continues to progress.

"It has echoes of Watford's success in the early '80s, a family atmosphere where the vibrancy of youth brings an energy to proceedings.

Giles and his dad visited every Football League ground from April 1988 to August 1989, or in footballing terms, every team included within the top 92 from the 1987-88 season to the 89-90 season. Almost 40 years on, the book is an important historical document, as much as it is the story of the love between father-and-son. (Image - Giles Goford / Conker)

"That is reflected in the current team, managed by Dave Challinor, and I can see Championship-level football returning to Stockport once again."

Head for the Floodlights: Around the 92 in the 1980s is out now.

The book costs £16 can be purchased on THIS LINK.

You can learn more about Giles on social media.