24 photos from the final day of the (regular) season, as County clinch 3rd place at Wycombe
Plus! An interview with comedian Freddy Quinne
Sunday 4 May 2025
If you’d like to write an article for The Scarf My Father Wore, share a few snippets or photos, or advertise your business, please email thescarfmyfatherwore@substack.com.
NEXT HOME GAME: Leyton Orient – Wednesday 14 May, 8pm
NEXT AWAY GAME: Leyton Orient – Saturday 10 May, 12.30pm
Dear County fans, Stopfordians, Wycombe supporters, and anyone else from The Football Family joining us today, a very warm welcome to your Sunday edition of The Scarf My Father Wore.
A jam-packed edition for you today. There’s 24 photos from my trip to Buckinghamshire yesterday. The hilarious Freddy Quinne (opening my next Desmond’s Comedy Club show at the end of this month) drops in for a quick chat. And our ChatGPT adventure continues, with County having made it to Wembley!
Today’s edition is sponsored by Parkers Solicitors Ltd. A big thank you to Adam and all the team. If you’ve been injured in an accident and would like to discuss the matter further, call 0161 477 9451 or email info@parkers-solicitors.co.uk.
Finally, I’m currently walking every street in Stockport to raise money for mental health charity Mentell. If you’d like to make a donation to help me reach my target, please click here.
Total distance so far: 253.75 miles
Total steps so far: 418,084
Total raised so far: £2,302
Total completed streets so far: 474 (Click here for the full list, which includes reports and photos from every day of the walk.)
Further information on the walk can be found by clicking here.
Des Junior
Have you suffered an injury as a result of another person’s negligence?
If the answer to that question is yes, then you may have a claim for compensation for personal injury.
Parkers Solicitors have extensive experience in dealing with different types of personal injury claims, such as the following:
Road Traffic Accidents
Accidents at Work
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➡️ For further details visit parkers-solicitors.co.uk.
10 questions with Freddy Quinne!
Co-host of the popular Dead Men Talking podcast (as well as being a regular on the global smash hit Have A Word), Freddy Quinne’s an award-winning comedian who regularly performs at many of the biggest and best comedy clubs in the country where he performs his shamelessly opinionated no-holds barred stand up. He’s known for his frank approach and often brutal punchlines, covering everything from topical news to universal truths. Today, he tells us what’s going to happen if you don’t come along to the show this month…
1) Thanks for joining us Mr Quinne. Firstly, I don’t want to alarm you, but do you realise there’s an E hanging round at the end of your surname?
*screams and runs for cover*
2) You’re the co-host of the Dead Men Talking podcast, and you’re also a regular part of the Have A Word crew. Who’d win in a fight between the two?
A hundred men is a lot but I think the gorilla takes it on power and size alone.
3) What’s been your favourite comedy gig so far?
Comedy At The Castle in Warwick. Some of the most beautiful gigs I've ever done.
4) And the worst?
I once did a gig in Leigh where a man with clear learning difficulties tried to fight me on stage.
5) Who’s your comedy hero?
Patrice O'Neal.
6) Best thing about being a comedian?
The freedom to pursue whatever you want.
7) Worst thing about being a comedian?
Other acts.
8) What’s your thoughts on the town of Stockport?
Shithole turned boujie little enclave.
9) Where will you be travelling from for the gig in Stockport, how will you be getting there, and what snacks do you reckon you’ll be eating on the journey?
Preston. An hour. Zero snacks, possible Diet Coke.
10) And finally, obviously I do these little interviews to sell tickets for the shows. Why should people come and see you in Stockport in May?
Because if you don't, I will go on a mass shooting spree. Targeting any coffee shop where a flat white is over £4, any restaurant that thinks a portion of chips is three massive fat chips, and primary schools.
➡️ Come and see Freddy (and me!) on Friday 30 May. Drop me a message, call/text 07816 111150 or email thescarfmyfatherwore@substack.com.
Photo(s) of the day
It’s Leyton Orient in the play-offs for County. Ahead of the first leg at their place on Saturday, I’ll be sharing all the photos from my last trip to Brisbane Road in February, when Kyle Wootton’s early goal gave County all three points in the capital.
Chapter 4: The Fallout
Today’s ChatGPT tale follows on from the previous three chapters, but I’ve included a few prompts from myself for this one. The result is, erm, well you can see for yourself…
By Sunday morning, the dust hadn’t settled — it had been kicked up, swept into the air like ticker tape, and now hung thick over every part of Stockport.
The papers called it a “gutsy win.” The club called it “massive.” The fans — well, they called it everything. On forums, in pubs, in WhatsApp groups named things like “County Til I Die” and “Edgeley Ultras (Soft Lad Division)”, the debate raged.
Some were ecstatic. “Marsh is the real deal.” “Jenkins was unplayable.” “This team’s got something Wembley about it.”
Others were already worrying. “Too open at the back.” “We’ll get caught out at Wembley.” “That Crawley goal — Sunday League defending.”
But one thing united them all: it was still in their hands.
Danny Hartley spent most of the day pacing between the kitchen and the living room, where the highlights played on repeat. Lucy had gone upstairs with a notebook full of formations and player stats (“just ideas, Dad, if the gaffer needs them”), and he didn’t have the heart to tell her it didn’t work like that. Not yet, anyway.
He sipped lukewarm coffee, watching Marsh’s free kick fly in for the fifteenth time.
It still gave him goosebumps.
His phone buzzed — a message from Andy Reynolds, the assistant coach.
“We go again. Don’t say anything but Marsh might be a doubt for Tuesday. Ankle.”
Danny stared at the screen.
No Marsh?
That changed everything.
**
At the club offices above the Cheadle End, preparations were already fraying. The marketing team were arguing over poster designs. The kit man had two separate spreadsheets for potential Wembley shirt orders — one if they made it, one if they didn’t. The ticket office phone hadn’t stopped ringing since full-time.
And in the manager’s office, Dave Challinor sat with a pen tapping rhythmically against his notepad.
He hadn’t celebrated after the game. Not properly. He’d shook hands, thanked the players, nodded at fans. But there was still the final. Always another ninety minutes.
And without Marsh?
He rubbed his temples. “We’ll need options,” he muttered.
**
Elsewhere, the Bonnie Blue debate rumbled on.
The local press had picked it up now. The Stockport Express ran a column titled “Blue Idol or Blue Embarrassment?” Radio Manchester held another phone-in. Bonnie herself had tried to stay quiet, but she posted a photo of herself at the game — face painted, scarf raised — with the caption: “That one was for my dad.”
It got 3,000 likes.
It also got 300 comments.
Some cruel. Some kind. Most just confused.
In the café on Castle Street, an older couple discussed it over toast and tea.
“She’s harmless,” said the woman. “Just trying to support.”
“It’s not her,” said the man. “It’s the timing. Makes it all about her, not the team.”
They both stared at the window where the club had put up a “PAINT IT BLUE” sign.
Above it, someone had scrawled “FOCUS ON THE GAME.”
**
At Edgeley Park, Marsh limped out of physio. The strap around his ankle was thick, white, ugly.
Challinor caught his eye. “How bad?”
Marsh grimaced. “I’ve played through worse.”
“Not asking if you’ve played. Asking if you should.”
The lad didn’t answer. Just nodded and walked on.
**
And at home, Lucy sat at her desk, headphones in, drawing out another mock team sheet. She didn’t know about Marsh’s ankle. She didn’t know about the club’s chaos, or the Bonnie backlash, or the sponsorship wrangles that had suddenly turned the Wembley planning into a PR minefield.
She just saw the pitch.
Just saw what they could do.
In her mind, the team clicked. Passes connected. Chances came. Victory followed.
She smiled to herself and wrote, in neat capital letters at the top of the page:
WEMBLEY PLAN – VERSION THREE.
Because belief — real belief — didn’t care about injuries or rows or headlines.
It just cared about one thing:
The next game.
Today in SK
🍴 Food and drink
Enjoy a delicious Sunday roast at The Crown (SK2) or The Three Tunnes (SK7) with homemade Yorkshire puddings and all the trimmings. Served till 6pm.
There’s a BBQ at The Steelworks (SK6) till 8pm, along with music from DJ Tommy Mac.
A number of venues are featured on The Scarf My Father Wore such as The Dog & Partridge (SK2), The Alexandra (SK3), The Cross Keys (SK8) and The Ram’s Head (SK12). Support them this month by popping in for a few drinks and a bite to eat.
🎱 Free pool
The Nelson Tavern (SK1). 8pm - 11pm.
🎶 Karaoke
Karaoke with Rob at The Crown Inn (SK6). 9pm.
🎤 Live music
Jayne Macfarlane (4pm - 6pm) and Roy Bennett (7pm - 9pm) at Flute & Firkin (SK12).
A huge thank you to the following businesses supporting The Scarf My Father Wore in May
🪟 Blinds & Shutters: Bauhaus Blinds and Shutters
♨️ Boiler Repair & Servicing: Gas Care UK (NW)
🫧 Carpet Cleaning: Freshio
🏠 Carpets & Flooring: Kingsway Carpets & Rugs Ltd
🐈 Cat Flaps: That Cat Flap Company Ltd
🚙 Coatings: Colourtone Ltd
🚘 Driving School: CFN School of Motoring
🔌 Electrician: Hey Electrics
🏠 Estate Agent: The Agency UK
🫧 Exterior Cleaning: Impact Pro Clean
💷 Financial Services: The Mortgage Mill
💐 Florist: The Flower House
🪚 Joinery: SAW Contracts Ltd
🔌 Kitchen Appliances: SW Appliances
🪴 Landscaping: Impact Gardens & Driveways
📮 Leaflet Distribution: Wolf Distribution
🔑 Locksmith: APL Locksmiths Ltd
💪 Male Weight Loss: MAN v FAT
🖌 Painter & Decorator: BGM Decorators
📸 Photographer: Adam Edwards Photography
🥧 Pies: Eric Twigg Foods
🧱 Plastering: DT Plastering Services and Damp Proofing Specialists
👨💼 Solicitors: B.J. McKenna & Co / Parkers Solicitors Ltd
🍹 Spirits: Guerrilla Chicken Spirits
🪨 Stonemason: LM Stone Creative
🚕 Taxi Hire: Lynx Taxis
☀️ Travel Agent: PTF Travel Ltd
📺 TV Aerials: SDS Aerials
🧰 Vehicle Repairs: C J Motors Stockport