“After what happened at the end of last season you won’t find anyone of a Cobblers persuasion taking anything for granted”
It’s All Cobblers To Me host Danny Brothers joins us ahead of Saturday’s crunch game at EP
Thursday 12 January 2023
Dear County fans, Stopfordians, and anyone else joining us today, a very warm welcome to your Thursday edition of The Scarf My Father Wore. Our attention turns to Saturday’s huge game against Northampton, the team currently occupying third place in League Two. Lose, and we’re 15 points behind the Cobblers; play-offs at best you’d have to say. Win, and the gap is down to 9 points; and with two games in hand, you’ve got to say it’s game on. Danny Brothers from It’s All Cobblers To Me joins us today for a look at Saturday’s six-pointer.
There’s not long to go until ‘A Curry with Colin Woodthorpe’ - our first live event of 2023. It’s taking place at Last Monsoon in Stockport on Monday 30 January at 7.30pm. Come and join us for an entertaining evening with one of Gary Megson’s first County signings ahead of our first season in Division One in 1997-98. Colin’s an absolutely lovely bloke, and having made 171 appearances for County, he’s got some fantastic stories from his five years at Edgeley Park.
You’ll also get poppadoms, mixed starters, curry, rice and naan breads. As well as a full colour souvenir programme. All for just £20. Fancy it? Send me a text or give me a call on 07816 111150, or you can email desmondhinks@hotmail.co.uk
Finally, today’s edition is sponsored by A E Thomas & Co. Big thank you to Scott, and if you need your windows cleaning, there’s further details below.
Des Junior
I'm an extremely optimistic County fan but even I'll concede we're probably not going to catch Orient or Stevenage from here. Can we pip you to 3rd though?
There’s every chance that anyone down to around 15th place can catch us at the moment. After what happened at the end of last season [Northampton had one foot in League One before Bristol Rovers made it 7-0 against Scunthorpe on the final day] you won’t find anyone of a Cobblers persuasion taking anything for granted. There’s still plenty of time for things to change.
Your last six games have yielded two wins, two draws and two defeats. That’s a bit tricky to analyse. How would you sum up your last few weeks on the pitch?
It’s been hit and miss because of injuries and illness but this was always going to be a tricky run even before that. We just need to hang on in there and if we come out of January still clear in third I’ll be very happy.
You’ve been promoted from the fourth tier five times since 1996-97. But on every occasion, you’ve been relegated within one, two or three seasons. Looking at those stats, are Northampton a fourth tier club, rather than third tier?
I think we sit somewhere in the middle at the moment! Most times we go up we have our manager and/or best players taken away pretty quickly and struggle to rebuild. I feel more confident that a good system is in place now, though, with longer contracts and a solid management team in place.
Fraser Horsfall. He’s decent, isn’t he?
He is. He seems to be much more of the main man with you whereas with us he was alongside a more experienced head most of the time. He’s done really well for you so we’re glad he’s out this weekend.
What’s your manager like?
Jon Brady is someone who has been managing in and around Northamptonshire for years, first in the non-league scene and then as youth team manager for us so he knows the area and community really well. This has come through in his passion for the club and we're so happy to finally have someone in charge who gets the club. Considering he had to rebuild the squad almost from scratch after relegation, the fact that he took us to 4th (and to within a goal of promotion) last season and 3rd this has been fantastic.
What’s your owner like?
He divides opinion but I personally think he has the best for the club at heart and is doing the best he can for us. We're far from a rich club but he's a good guy and explains decisions well.
As a Northampton fan, if your shoes broke, would you visit an actual cobbler to have them fixed, or just buy another pair?
Personally I believe more in fixing and reusing so I’d try and fix my shoes first. Cobblers all the way!
What’s your best memory following Northampton?
Winning 1-0 against Swansea in the 1996-97 Third Division play-off final with virtually the last kick of the game, and beating Liverpool in the League Cup on penalties in front of the Kop.
And the worst?
Any relegation and any defeat to Posh. Also the moment a few years back when I genuinely thought we might go under as a club.
Tell us a bit more about your podcast.
We’ve been going for four and a half years now and discuss the last game, have a laugh and take questions from listeners. We won the FSA Award for Best Football League Podcast in 2021.
Prediction for Saturday?
I’m going for an entertaining 2-2 draw.
Give those windows of yours a clean
There’s exciting things happening in Stockport at the moment isn’t there? County pushing for League One, parties at Bask every weekend, millions being spent on the town centre redevelopment. You want to be able to (metaphorically) see all these things clearly out of your windows don’t you? Step forward, A E Thomas & Co, one of the leading independent window cleaning companies covering Stockport and the north-west. Take a look at your windows right now. Are they a bit grubby? Get in touch with Scott and he’ll have them looking shinier than the National League trophy.
Address: 9 Forbes Close, Offerton, Stockport, SK1 4HG
Email: scott@aethomasandco.co.uk
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Website: aethomasandco.co.uk