A tribute to Mike Yarwood
Phil Brennan looks back at the life of one of County’s most famous celebrity fans
Monday 11 September 2023
NEXT HOME GAME: Wrexham – Saturday 23 September, 3pm
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Dear County fans, Stopfordians, and anyone else joining us today, a very warm welcome to your Monday edition of The Scarf My Father Wore.
Following the sad news on Friday that one of County’s best known celebrity fans Mike Yarwood has passed away, today we pay tribute to the comedian and impressionist with this lovely piece from Phil Brennan.
Today’s edition is sponsored by Coach Conroy. A big thank you to Lee.
Des Junior
Today it appears that the football team of your choice is judged by the “celebrities” that have attached themselves to the club.
Back when I was a kid, in the times of just three, still black and white, TV channels, my club Stockport County had their fixtures up on the wall in the Rovers Return, the pub where many iconic scenes took place in the biggest TV soap opera Coronation Street.
Several characters would often discuss the latest result and reference the next game, whilst it wasn’t uncommon to see some of the stars of the show at Edgeley Park thanks to our then chairman Vic Bernard being on friendly terms with many local TV and cabaret stars.
One such star that Bernard didn’t have to court was Bredbury-born Mike Yarwood, who was quite simply the biggest TV star of his day.
Yarwood had been a regular on the terraces at Edgeley Park as a schoolboy and remained a fan of his local club even though his career had taken him off to the bright lights of that London.
Bernard invited Yarwood to become an honorary vice president at Edgeley Park in 1968, just 10 years after he had stood on the pitch as a supporter with hundreds of other ecstatic County fans celebrating the club’s 3-0 FA Cup victory over top tier Luton Town.
Yarwood remained in his vice president role for over 20 years and often described his feeling at sitting in the directors’ box as “glowing with pride”.
One particular image always springs to mind when I think of Mike Yarwood and his support of County. The Hatters had won away at Blackburn Rovers in the second round of the League Cup – thanks to goals from Steve Massey (2) and Paul Fletcher – and been drawn at home to First Division Everton in the third round.
The local papers took some photos of Yarwood with several County players, including goalscorers Massey and Fletcher, at Edgeley Park before the big game.
Over 15,000 supporters were inside Edgeley Park, with several finding their way onto the Cheadle End roof via the builders’ yard behind the stand, as County lost by a single goal to their illustrious visitors. England striker Bob Latchford credited with the goal which in reality came via an unfortunate goalkeeping error from Ian Holbrook.
It may come as a surprise to many of today’s County supporters just how big a star Yarwood was back in the day.
He became a household name in the 60s and 70s thanks to his unique brand of comedy, with his 1977 Christmas special The Mike Yarwood Show holding the record for the largest single Christmas Day audience of 21.4m viewers, according to the Royal Variety Charity.
Yarwood was often called “the impressionist's impressionist” and is rightly acknowledged as the performer that blazed the trail for those that followed in his wake.
Two of the biggest names in UK entertainment posted tributes in the wake of his passing. Jon Culshaw paid tribute on social media: “So full of sorrow and sadness to learn that dear Mike Yarwood has left us. The Godfather of impressions on TV. First to have all the multi cameras and split screens which he used ingeniously to make all his characters burst into vivid life. An inspiration and a wonderful soul xx.”
Rory Bremner posted: “Heavens. Can’t believe Mike Yarwood’s died. I was recording an interview for a C5 tribute to him four hours ago. Jon Culshaw and Alistair McGowan did pieces too. He was the Gov’nor. Inspired us, propelled impressionists up the bill and was the court jester of the “golden age” of TV…”
BBC director-general Tim Davie said: “Mike Yarwood was simply one of the greats. Part of the golden generation of entertainers that defined television for decades. From Harold Wilson to Frank Spencer, his legendary impressions were always pin sharp, warm and funny. We will remember them all with a smile. He was rightly one of Britain’s most loved performers and will be hugely missed. Our thoughts are with his family.”
RIP Mike Yarwood… and “I mean that most sincerely, folks.”
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That's a lovely article, and a fitting tribute to a fan, and man, who was loved by so many. Thank you Phil.
A good piece that Phil , every time I used to get a job in the cab to prestbury , I would refer to the passenger that mine yarwood once lived up here , I read a couple of years ago he was in a nursing home down south and another resident was Richard o Sullivan . Actor that was in a programme called man about the house . I bet the residents in there were in stitches with Mike yarwood doing his impressions , a lot of them would have been his era . Rest in peace Mike yarwood . X