Blackpool v County

Let’s do this…

Aug 17, 2024

Saturday 17 August 2024

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Dear County fans, Stopfordians, Blackpool supporters, and anyone else from The Football Family joining us today, a very warm welcome to your Saturday edition of The Scarf My Father Wore.

Russ Johnson, Ian Brown, Jonathan Baker, Nick Lee and John Giles join us today, as the Stopfordian seaside invasion gets underway.

Today’s edition is sponsored by CFN School of Motoring. A big thank you to Craig.

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: 176.31 miles

Total steps so far: 284,130

Total raised so far: £1,981

Total completed streets so far: 399 (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

Russ Johnson, The Scarf Bergara Wore

Blackpool 1 County 2

You’ve drawn the short straw I’m afraid. The others have had fun questions about dodgems, donkeys and candy floss (alright, that might be a slight exaggeration…) but I feel we’ve got to touch on Tuesday night’s 6-1 defeat as well. What’s your thoughts?

Proper split fanbase after Tuesday. Some saying we should have played more first-teamers, some saying it was right to play the kids, and others saying “£10 for that was too much”, in a world where watching (very good) kids at a local theatre costs £15 these days.

For me, it’s a bigger picture with squad thought process, so I agree with Chally in that respect… but… I think he could have played one or two others who could have contributed. The risk was high, the reward was, well, a lesser loss or a miraculous win and for what? In the end, Blackpool away.

On to today. Blackpool. A draw or sneak a narrow win. Their podcasts have said they’re poor but not at home. And Apter, if he plays, will be a concern.

Russ is part of The Scarf Bergara Wore team, hosting live County podcasts every Wednesday at 8pm. Click here for links.

Ian Brown, All Things Stockport County

Blackpool 2 County 3

It’s been a while since we’ve played them but we have met Blackpool 77 times over the years. What are your best and worst memories?

The worst experience I can recall goes back to September 2003 with Cheshire Sport ruling the EP roost, having just sacked Carlton Palmer.

Ex-County keeper Lee Jones guarded Blackpool’s goal that day and he had loads to do in a first half in which the visitors’ discipline went AWOL. Jones kept Pool afloat annoyingly until another foul, this time on Aaron Wilbraham, saw Rickie Lambert slam a belter home from the free-kick, giving us a 1-0 lead at half-time.

After the break it all went pear-shaped. I’ve absolutely no idea what came over County but their defence was abysmal at times, allowing ex-Hatter Simon Grayson to cruise in and nick one 11 minutes in, Chris Clarke to head home unattended not long after, before the whole sorry affair was rounded off by a goal from John Murphy just four minutes after he’d come on as a substitute.

Then, 3-1 down at home, we brought a full-back (Shaun Smith) on for Lambert. County fans were livid; the game was lost.

Good memories are not thick on the ground for me, but we did tonk them rather soundly at their place the following season.

Sammy McIlroy was in charge by now and this would be one of just 14 wins under his stewardship as County manager.

If we had a decent set of players wearing blue that afternoon, they were mightily helped as they went along their way by a home side that left their much-worn copy of ‘The Bumper Book of Football Defending’ elsewhere on this occasion as County had an unopposed field day at the seaside.

Danny Jackman opened the scoring after 10 minutes before the excellent Warren Feeney doubled our advantage just past the half-hour mark courtesy of more slack Pool defending.

Luke Beckett headed home early in the second half before adding his second and County’s fourth via a brilliant lob from way outside the box shortly after the hour mark. There was plenty of time for Luke to get his hat-trick, but it was not to be, despite the away end trying to will the ball into the net at times for him.

The 4-0 win made us feel good and possibly made Sammy Mac think that Lady Luck would smile his way at last, but instead she swung her famously heavy fashion accessory in his direction, and he was gone within three months.

I’ve only just realised it’s serious stuff this score forecasting Des. You’ve upped and started a league table (or did I sleep through one last season?) so that said, I nervelessly opt for Blackpool 2 County 3.

Ian follows County home and away, producing detailed match reports every week, along with lots of other great content. Head over to hedgegrower.blogspot.com.

Jonathan Baker, The County Away Day Show

Blackpool 2 County 2

Only one question for you today my Geordie friend. Top five songs for a trip to the seaside?

5) “Cada Dia Es Domingo” by Mexrissey

The classic ode to maudlin English seaside small town blues, given a Latin twist. What is not to like?

4) “Jumble Sailing” by Clearlake

I’m not entirely sure this is set at the seaside, but it feels rather innocently and nostalgically coastal to me, like a stick of Morecambe rock.

3) “Missed the Boat (Jumped in the Sea)” by The Royston Club

Surely the most joyously catchy of this contemporary outfit's impressive and growing oeuvre of instant three-minute post-punk classics. I believe they're from Wrexham, but let's not hold that against them.

2) “Day Trip to Bangor” by Fiddler’s Dram

Perhaps concerningly for a man about to set off for a weekend's drive to Anglesey I had to check just now that Bangor is indeed on the coast (it is). This I think is just a lovely and timeless number, like Cider with Rosie set to tune.

1) “Sunglasses” by Tracey Ullman

This minor hit for the underrated 80s wall-of-sound songstress was a cover version of an even more obscure 1960s Stateside country music release. Built around an inventory of “necessary items for a day in the sun” it provides highly practical seaside advice as well as a sizzling summertime beat. Definitely recommended as background accompaniment for the Blackpool-bag-packing of the discerning County fan!

Click here for Geordie Hatter’s seaside playlist!

Jonathan, aka Geordie Hatter, hosts The County Away Day Show on selected Saturday mornings during the season, when the Hatters are on the road (the next one’s Mansfield). All episodes can be found at the-geordie-hatter.mixlr.com.

Nick Lee, SK3 TV

Blackpool 1 County 2

4,000 County fans at the seaside in mid-August. What could possibly go wrong?

What could go wrong indeed? Well, let’s have a look.

Falling in the sea
Donkey related incidents
Losing your ticket
Winning loads of 2ps in the arcade and having to carry them round with you all day
Getting so pissed you don’t get let in the ground
All of the above except you’ve pissed and shat yourself

Nick’s one of the co-hosts of SK3 TV, a new podcast for the 2024-25 season, with live episodes every Monday at 8pm. Click here for links.

John Giles, Stockport County Supporters Co-operative

Blackpool 2 County 2

You recently announced details for An Evening with Dave Jones, which looks great. What’s your favourite game from the Jones era?

There are so many contenders: the 2-2 draw at Goodison Park against Everton in the FA Cup; the 1-0 win at Blackburn was special as they had only recently won the Premier League; holding West Ham away and beating them 2-1 at home thanks to that stunning Iain Dowie own goal; drawing against Southampton at home, with Mike Flynn making an amazing clearance from a Le Tissier chip, before beating them at The Dell; the 5-1 victory against Millwall and fantastic banter between the Cheadle End and Ray Wilkins (RIP); and then that magical night at Saltergate, where we secured automatic promotion.

However, we started the 1996-97 season quite slowly, drawing two and losing four, and there were strong rumours about Jones' position before we played Plymouth Argyle at home. The team had an extensive group talk to address the problems and two goals from Jim Gannon and one from Alun Armstrong led to a 3-1 win, changing the course of the season and history. That game was absolutely key and stands out for me as a favourite.

Tickets are priced at £5 for Co-op members and £10 for non-members.

Joining the Stockport County Supporters Co-operative costs £12 a year for adults, £3 for those aged 16-25 or £1 for under-16s. Click here for further details.

Today’s other prediction

Hatters Matters: Blackpool 1 County 3

We’re looking for one Blackpool fan with a business to be featured as part of our Football Family section, and you’ll also have your logo, photos and editorial included alongside any Seasiders content we publish. It’s £45 for the year. If you’re interested, email thescarfmyfatherwore@substack.com for a chat.

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Photo of the day

Coral Island, Blackpool

Loads of County fans stayed over in Blackpool last night, including this handsome little chap, Parker Cash, pictured outside the town’s famous amusement arcade on the Golden Mile, resplendent in this season’s third strip.

Today in SK

🎬 Cinema

Three films at The Savoy Cinema (SK4) today. Despicable Me 4 (U) at 3.45pm, followed by Twisters (12A) at 6pm and 8.30pm. Click here for tickets.

💿 DJ

Stockport’s biggest party at the weekend is at Bask (SK1), with DJ Gareth Brooks playing till 3am. Last entry 1.30am.

🍺 Food and drink

All pints £2.50 at The Cross Keys (SK8) from 6pm till 9pm.

If you’re simply in the mood for a couple of pints today, pop along to one of our featured venues such as AMP (SK1), The Crown (SK2), The Armoury (SK3), Reddish Working Men’s Club (SK5), The Steelworks (SK6), The Shady Oak (SK7) or The Three Tunnes (SK7).

🎵 Karaoke

The Nelson Tavern (SK1) with Lee. From 8pm.

🎸 Live music

Pete Maclaine and the Clan at The Dog & Partridge (SK2). 8pm.

100 random grounds that County have played at

#88 – Plough Lane, AFC Wimbledon

Last visit: September 2023. Our first away win of last season. Dave Challinor’s men were a goal down at the break but second half strikes from Louie Barry and Will Collar saw County take all three points back home from the capital.