Burton 0 County 3

We’re up to third with an easy three points at the Pirelli

Nov 25, 2024

Monday 25 November 2024

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.

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

“Comfortable.” That’s the one-word summary from Hannah Brown below, as part of another entertaining write-up for us. She’s not wrong. Burton were shit, weren’t they? An easy three points and a decent away day on a proper terrace which sets us up nicely for the trip to Birmingham next week (after our FA Cup date with Brackley obviously).

Today’s edition is sponsored by Kingsway Carpets and MKM Manchester South. A big thank you to Neil, and also to Mark and James.

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: £2,027

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

✍️ Saturday’s match in one word

Comfortable.

🤔 Pre-match thoughts

I may or may not have put money on Ben Whitfield to score first and Burton to win. On paper they absolutely shouldn’t have done, but that made it even more compelling a bet because it would be very County to lose. Instead it ended up being Birmingham, so as we kicked off Burton were bottom.

🧐 Post-match thoughts

Felt like we never really got out of first gear. I know a few of the Burton players and couldn’t even summon up a “you did well at xyz” text in sympathy. They were terrible.

🟡 Verdict on Burton

They were awful. If I was a Burton fan I’d be horrified because there were no positives. They didn’t have any fight in them whatsoever, and given the players in the squad they should be so much better. But like Carlisle in League Two they’re evidence that building an all star squad of individually great players doesn’t equal success.

🟣 Verdict on County

Some really nice passing and like against Wrexham, the interceptions were nailed on. Ben didn’t have to do much work, and Barry’s goals were beautiful. Lovely to see Bate on the scoresheet too. Clearly all very predictable though – I got 13/11 on FanHub with a perfect line-up, assist for Woots, and goal for Louie.

🍺 Top Brewer

Crocombe, begrudgingly, because of the Woots booking.

🎩 Top Hatter

I’m going Norwood because Barry is too predictable. He controlled the game perfectly from the midfield, pushing forward and communicating incredibly well with the team. Given Chally’s historical frustrations about the players not doing what they need to, he might be the perfect antidote to that.

👂 Atmosphere

Really good, and it translated to the stream too. It was pretty crowded on the terrace but we managed to be at the front so didn’t get banged around too much.

🙏 Hopes for the rest of the season

We’re up to third, but it’s still only three points. Birmingham will be a different world and they play on Tuesday (as do a lot of the teams around us) so it’s likely the table will move around a fair bit by the time we play them. Long way to go yet.

😀 Best part of the day

Really enjoyed the County fans in the seated section giving the groundsman instructions on repairing the pitch. He’d looked like he was doing more harm than good in the box so probably appreciated some direction.

😡 Worst part of the day

Paying to park on someone’s drive only to realise we could have parked on their road for free. PSA: Be careful where you park at St Andrew’s – lots of stories about fans’ cars being damaged nearby.

The British Library receives a copy of every single book published in the UK. In the same fashion, Des Junior believes a detailed record of every County game should be preserved for the history books. So here’s the full story of our 3-0 victory at Burton Albion on Saturday 23 November, as told from his County-related WhatsApp groups…

3.31pm: What happened there then?

3.32pm: Everyone fell on the ball and it just seemed to get knocked out into Bate’s path.

3.42pm: 2-0. Burton are doomed.

3.56pm: Comfortable, even though the end product wasn't high quality enough for the better part of half an hour. We've controlled the possession and territory, whilst Burton have struggled whenever we've stepped up the tempo. They look like what the table has them as: relegation candidates. Barry broke away to effectively create the first, and looked like he was fouled on his way into the box, but Wootton and Bate were following up and the latter got the goal. The second was a long kick from Ben, which Wootton cleverly flicked on for Barry to get another. We could have had a third before the break, but Wootton's acrobatic effort was tipped over.

4.19pm: Another Barry belter. He’s gone in January isn’t he.

4.22pm: Brainless from Horsfall that. Misses Birmingham now.

6.31pm: After a mini revival (of sorts) from Burton at the start of the second half, that was another controlled performance from County. We could and should have had more than three goals, but the third killed any faint hopes Burton might have had. It also allowed us to make changes to spread game time across the squad. Tanto was unlucky with a flicked effort and Camps passed when he looked better placed to shoot, but I'll happily take 3-0.

7.07pm: Good day out?

7.08pm: One of the best!

2.32am: Severely wankered but in a very, very happy place xx.

If you’re looking to install a stair runner at home, get in touch with Kingsway Carpets

This is pretty smart, isn’t it? If you’re looking to install a stair runner at home, or you’ve got any other flooring ideas, give Kingsway Carpets a call on 0161 225 7294 or email info@kingsway-carpets.co.uk.

Kingsway Carpets is a family-run business with over 40 years experience. They offer a free measuring service, repayment plans, and guarantee to beat any like for like quotation!

Visit kingsway-carpets.co.uk for further details.

Bits and bobs

An email from Graham Hall, a subscriber living on the Costa del Sol: “We just happened to be in one of our local pubs recently (in Puerto de la Duquesa, Manilva) and I was lamenting the Wycombe defeat with a Villa fan who was truly sympathetic. Then this chap joined me at the bar, and told me he'd heard part of the conversation. I looked at him: OH MY GOD – it was Mike Flynn. Yes, Captain Fantastic himself! I was totally in awe.”
Wrexham fan Gaz from Chips for a Quid has always written some great stuff for us. His own Substack is a quality read, too. Here’s an extract from his EP write-up: “We all had a good idea of what the outcome of Stockport vs Wrexham would be. Recent history has taught us never to expect a win at Edgeley Park. As much as its neighbouring city of Manchester likes to scream about ‘doing things differently here!’ – like an over-caffeinated client services manager welcoming potential investors to an office block – Stockport is actually a pretty predictable place. Every visit is identical: Short journey, big hype, great pies, wretched football, abuse upon exit.” Click here for the full article.
A number of staff redundancies are taking place behind the scenes at EP at the moment.
Saturday morning. One County fan leaves the house for Burton away. Slips on the pavement outside, and ends up in hospital with a broken arm! Get well soon. 💙

A friendly greeting from one of our sponsors!

Yellow there. We’re MKM Building Supplies Sharston on Altrincham Road.

We’re not your average builders merchant, we’re open to tradies and public too. Our friendly local team are always ready for first class service on first name terms. Oh, and free tea and coffee too.

Building, timber, plumbing, heating, kitchens, bathrooms or landscaping? We’ve got everything including the kitchen sink. The only thing you’ll have to sort is the elbow grease. But we will deliver it locally for free in a big yellow truck.

We’re just around the corner, and the kettle’s on!

Visit mkm.com/branches/manchester-south for further details.

Photo of the day

Spotted on eBay

There are some sick and twisted individuals in this world.

Today in SK

🎬 Cinema

Two films at The Savoy Cinema (SK4) today. Paddington In Peru (PG) at 6pm, followed by Gladiator II (15) at 8.15pm. Click here for tickets.

🥪 Food and drink

Happy Hour at Covent Garden Café (SK1) between 1.30pm and 2.30pm. If you spend £20 or more you get to roll the dice, and if you roll a 6 your bill is half price!

Bitter £2.30 a pint all day at The Cross Keys (SK8). Plus, discounts on certain lagers between 12pm and 6pm.

If you’re simply in the mood for a couple of pints today, pop along to one of our featured venues such as The Crown (SK2), The Dog & Partridge (SK2), The Alexandra (SK3), The Crown Inn (SK6) or The Three Tunnes (SK7).

🎶 Free jukebox

The Nelson Tavern (SK1). From 6.30pm.

Random photos of County players at other clubs

#55 – Eric Nixon, Tranmere

After Paul Jones followed Dave Jones to Southampton in the summer of 1997, Ian Gray started County’s first season in Division One in goal, but Eric Nixon ended up being the main replacement between the sticks. After nine years at Tranmere, Gary Megson brought Nixon to Edgeley Park and he made 47 appearances during the 1997-98 campaign. There were a few hammerings along the way (we conceded four at Birmingham, Sunderland and City, and five at Sheffield United) but Nixon kept 10 clean sheets as County finished 8th – the club’s highest ever position.