Stockport County manager Dave Challinor and his remarkable 15-year managerial record

Stockport County boss Dave Challinor boasts an incredible record of never finishing lower than a play-off position throughout his managerial career.

Challinor was a lower-league centre-back who was famous for his mammoth long throw during his time at Tranmere Rovers, Stockport and Bury.

Since venturing into management in the summer of 2010, Challinor has been one of the most consistent managers in English football.

Leading Stockport into the League One play-offs this season was the 15th time he has secured a play-off finish or better in his 15th full season as a manager.

Rise through non-league football

Challinor was appointed as player-manager at Colwyn Bay in May 2010 and his only full season at the club saw him finish second in the Northern Premier League Premier Division, before winning the play-offs and promotion to the National League North.

He then joined AFC Fylde in November 2011 and led the club to the National League First Division North title in his first season.

The following season saw Fylde lose in the play-offs, but they won promotion to the National League North in the 2013/14 campaign after beating Ashton United via the play-offs.

The next two seasons resulted in play-off defeats before Fylde then won the National League North in the 2016/17 season.

Challinor left Fylde in October 2019 after reaching the National League play-offs twice more and he immediately guided Hartlepool into the National League play-offs in 2019/20.

The following season saw Challinor lead Hartlepool back into the football league with a victory over Torquay United in the 2021 National League play-off final.

Transforming Stockport County's fortunes

Despite signing a new three-year deal at Hartlepool in September 2021, Challinor moved back into the National League to take charge of Stockport in November.

After arriving with the club sitting in ninth place and 10 points off the league leaders, Challinor led the club to the title and a return to the EFL.

Their first season in League Two resulted in a penalty shootout defeat to Carlisle United in the play-off final, but they then won promotion to League One by winning the title in the 2023/24 season.

Stockport reached the League One play-offs in the 2024/25 season before doing the same again in 2025/26, only to lose 4-1 to Bolton Wanderers in the final.

Dave Challinor Managerial Record

• 2010/11 - Colwyn Bay (Northern Premier League Premier Division) - 2nd - Promotion via play-offs
• 2011/12 - AFC Fylde (Northern Premier League Premier Division) - 1st - Promotion
• 2012/13 - AFC Fylde (Northern Premier League Premier Division) - 5th - Lost in play-offs
• 2013/14 - AFC Fylde (Northern Premier League Premier Division) - 3rd - Promotion via play-offs
• 2014/15 - AFC Fylde (National League North) - 2nd - Lost in play-offs
• 2015/16 - AFC Fylde (National League North) - 3rd - Lost in play-offs
• 2016/17 - AFC Fylde (National League North) - 1st - Promotion
• 2017/18 - AFC Fylde (National League) - 7th - Lost in play-offs
• 2018/19 - AFC Fylde (National League) - 5th - Lost in play-offs
• 2019/20 - Hartlepool (National League) - 4th - Lost in play-offs
• 2020/21 - Hartlepool (National League) - 4th - Promotion via play-offs
• 2021/22 - Stockport County (National League) - 1st - Promotion
• 2022/23 - Stockport County (League Two) - 4th - Lost in play-offs
• 2023/24 - Stockport County (League Two) - 1st - Promotion
• 2024/25 - Stockport County (League One) - 3rd - Lost in play-offs
• 2025/26 - Stockport County (League One) - 3rd - Lost in play-offs